Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Azuree Wiitala | Veronica Sheaffer Collection Images by Jake Joiner
Take us back to the beginning. When did you become passionate about fashion and clothing?
I’m trying to pinpoint some early memory, but the honest truth is that I’ve always been curious about style and art in general – how even the choice and saturation of colors, or lack of color, can change an entire mood. As a child, I was fascinated by the style of the illustrations in my books – those follow trends too, you know – and I wanted to understand not just a story, but when the story was written. How did it feel to live in that time? Fashion and clothing are such a big part of that. They are so transformative – they really have the power to transport you into a different life, both literally and figuratively.
You studied acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. During your time there were you interested in the costumes and clothing you saw in films?
Not just at that time, but I’ve always been almost obsessed with clothing and art direction in film. The fit of even a simple tee shirt can tell so much about a person, or a character. And historical costuming – I mean, come on. Is there anything more delicious?
I love this quote of yours: “I’ve finally given myself permission to treat the clothing as my art – to speak directly from the weird little girl in my soul.” When it came to creating the collection did you pull inspiration from tea parties and whimsical movies you watched or books you read in your childhood?
That’s so funny, because naturally a person would imagine child-like interests, but I’m speaking more to the misfit within me – the little girl sneaking to watch John Waters movies in the middle of the night. I grew up in a small town, and always just felt a little odd, even when I was trying so hard to fit in. I remember being twelve years old and truly, desperately wishing I lived in the late-nineteenth century because of the clothes. It wasn’t a small wish either – I was desperately unhappy over it. It’s kind of bizarre. This collection is more about the odd parts of me. Everything is still pretty, and it’s made really beautifully, but it’s also a little funny – it’s a little off – and that’s what feels most like me.
For your SS21 collection was it important for you to bring in a lot of color and go in a different direction from your past designs?
Yes, completely. Our first collection was very airy and white and silver – I was focused on pieces that could easily be layered, dressed up and down, very wearable. But now…you know everything feels heavy. We’re all longing for something new, something fun. And I just thought, what the hell? Let’s make it FUN.
During the pandemic how have you kept yourself creatively motivated?
In the early days, I was so worried, so paralyzed, and I felt so overwhelmed, but it didn’t take long to get going again. Designing and creating is my true love – it is the very thing that brings me happiness – so then I had the opportunity of TIME, which I never have. And I just worked like a maniac, alone in my workspace. I thought, you know, this lockdown could be the beginning of total financial ruin, which could happen either way, so just go for it. Be the artist you want to be. Live the unconventional life you want to live. And wow, I feel like I’ve now found my true rhythm and path.
What advice do you have for aspiring designers?
I think it’s such a shame that we all feel so much pressure to be a success so early in life when we have such long lives to live. And on top of that, we have to have DAILY success on social media. It’s too much. But it’s actually okay to try different paths – to learn a thing or two about yourself, to dig into different crafts, to have some actual EXPERIENCES – to bring into your work. People will still be delighted by you and your art when you’ve hit on something. Go be an actual artist. Go be a weirdo. That’s my advice to EVERYONE.
