It’s clear that fashion is connecting more than ever with other disciplines—from architecture to design, from music to art. But fashion designer Caycee Black embodies this very convergence, deftly balancing her work as a painter, ballerina and fashion designer.

After graduating from Parsons School of Design and working with Anna Sui and TIBI, Black is now launching her own label. The autumn/winter ’09 collection, called “This Elusive Muse,” is a collage of her influences from the past 50 years, and takes its name from the film about George Balanchine’s ballerina muse Suzanne Farrell. This inspiration represents the thematic cross-section of Black’s talents—an unconditional passion for ballet that can be seen in the line’s open-back tops and scooped necklines. Meanwhile, her painterly sensibilities come through in a shadowy color—palette ranging from black to grey and chrome—that is interrupted by saturated greenish blue and ’40s peacock colors.

Of her many personal inspirations, Black explains: “I do not like to look at what others do, I am not that kind of designer. I believe people will come to me because I am doing something meaningful, that I always wanted to do and that they can get only from me.” This devotion is translated into a strict quality choice, of which she insists: “I am very particular about the fabrics I use. All of them are from Italy and everything is made in New York.”

As if all this multi-media inspiration weren’t enough, Black has also recently delved into music. She collaborated with the band The Depreciation Guild to model for their music video “Dream About Me” and she has collaborated with The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart on looks for their upcoming European tour.

At only 28-years-old, Caycee Black is effectively combining her skills and passions—meaning, we can probably expect many good surprises in the future.

For more information, see www.myspace.com/cayceeblack.

—Camilla Cannochi