House Dressing
The beginning
Hi, friends. Last night I went out with friends for dinner and had two glasses of wine. And today, I feel as if I drank… a bottle? It’s crazy that I just cannot handle that extra glass anymore. But on the rare occasion of a mama’s night out, how can you not? When one of my friends ordered a refill on her Aperol spritz, me and my other friend nearly lunging at the waitress for attempting to speed off without checking our own near-empty glasses. Lady, we have babies at home! Bring more wine!
I’ve been meaning to write, to fill you in on what’s been happening, because much has been happening. I’ve been deep in creation mode for the last few months, since August really. And just this week I have confirmed samples with my factory. Can you believe it? I have chills writing this now, because at some point earlier in the year I recall my astrologer saying, “at the end of October, you aren’t going to believe how far you’ve come.” Yup. I really did not know when I began this endeavor if I would be able to launch for, say, spring/summer 2023? It seemed ambitious. And here we are. Dare I say, it’s happening?
For anyone who may be new here (or, have I even properly announced this yet? not sure, forgive my wine brain) I am starting my eponymous line of homewares as well as RTW. Yes, I am designing women’s apparel — who would have thought? The idea began with caftans and robes and such, things I want to wear around the home that I couldn’t find out there in the world. Things in the colors I love, and prints (!), and… shibori (!!). Anyway now that I’ve started working on those pieces I’ve had so many ideas for dresses and other things I want to do. Who knows where this journey will lead…
I never thought I would be a fashion designer, but as I say this I think of my dear friend Shelly from high school, who always told me how stylish she thought I was, and how over the years other friends have said that they admired the way I put myself together. Still I never have considered myself particularly fashionable, I would have thought of it as more simple or classic — and maybe a little bohemian, a mesh of the two. As our styles do evolve over the years, I’ve personally become more drawn to colors and especially prints. Though I am very picky about them, having a hard time finding the ones I like — you know, finding myself poring over every online retailer for what felt like hours to find that one great printed dress. Who has time for that?
And the same with things for the home. I will always love neutrals as a base, but I love the idea of accessorizing my home with colors and prints and things that I can change out as I feel like it. I found myself looking for a pair of curtains or pillows to add something to a room, and I just couldn’t find what I desired.
And table linens! As a person who literally was a professional dinner party thrower in my last life, I found myself wondering, why is my own collection of tablecloths and napkins so sad? Well, I could never find all that much I truly loved. And table linens, well this is basically the best for accessorizing, for changing up the look in your home, not to mention the best way to make your meals feel special, even if just a weeknight or even takeout.
Yet you may recall that design isn’t completely new to me either, as I did design and create a line of aprons earlier in my career. But the problem with the aprons was, it was a selfish project, as I only needed one because I was cooking professionally at the time. Today I don’t really wear an apron, you know? But I do think I will have to bring them back for my line at some point as a throwback, a measure of respect as to where I came from. And now with the textiles I am creating I do feel my designs will be more compelling — perhaps I will feel inspired to wear aprons again.
There is much to share, because as of late the line has come together in a way that feels nearly magical. I have really developed my POV and what inspires me, and I’ve found so much of that is vintage. At first it was all 70s and 60s… an image of a Lanvin silk caftan from 1975 in pistachio green, all of the Halston, so many images of Jane Birkin, Brigitte Bardot. But also some Audrey and Grace, for good measure. I will always have a special thing for Grace Kelly because my dear grandmother was her twin. So you see the eras did go back earlier… But then I started finding these articles about the vintage hostess gown. And I nearly stopped breathing, I was so excited, I couldn’t get it down quick enough. Because it was as if everything I had been dreaming of had already occurred, in history.
These ideas of, “I want something chic to wear at home, that also feels comfy, something I can wear to host a dinner party but also lounge around in, WFH, or go to school drop-off, etc.” OK so back then maybe there was no WFH or school drop-off like today, but everything else about what I was envisioning — it happened, IRL, from the 1930s well into the 70s. So now I just have loads more inspiration, I am drowning in it.
The idea started with, I’m a new mom, and I just want easy things I can throw on and still feel stylish, or at least like myself, and we can do better than athleisure… a new category of loungewear perhaps? — but now it feels so much richer.
If you need me, I’ll be buried in these images for the next few days, weeks, forever? Stay safe and healthy, loved ones.
x Sarah
How absolutely lovely! Big congratulations, so excited for you and looking forward to seeing your designs!
Always love your sense of style (and you) Good luck!