IT: Do you try to send out a message or theme in what you wear?
V: I'm not TRYING to send out a message. I’m dressing for myself. I will never be able to afford oil paintings by artists I admire, but I have found textiles to be a more than adequate substitute for that. And what’s nicer is that I get to carry my art collection around all day. I don’t have to wait till I get home.
The fact is, though, that I wind up sending out a message anyway. The message is ‘you CAN express yourself through what you wear. You don’t have to conform to the standard in order to look good and feel comfortable, and you can make a big difference with a small change
IT: Are there any aspects of your fashion that reflect different time periods?
V: There used to be elements of the 30s, 40s and 50s in my clothes, but now that’s mostly limited to my hats. Hats of those decades are immediately identifiable as such, but a good hat will not look outdated. A lot of them were very well made, and they complement the head and the outfit, rather than take it over, so I see them as modern and contemporary despite their age. Mostly my wardrobe probably looks 80s-ish, if I had to choose a period. I still like my shoulder pads!
outfit, rather than take it over, so I see contemporary despite their age. Mostly my wardrobe probably looks 80s-ish, if I had to choose a period. I still like my shoulder pads!
Cynthia Merhej from Rookie Magazine
IT: How have you seen the fashion industry change?
CM: I think what is pretty amazing about it is that it doesn't change as much as we like to believe it. Over the last decade so much has been recycled, old fashions, old concepts, even bringing back supermodels for the 1980s. It has changed in the aspect though were it's become much more democratic. You don't necessarily have to have studied fashion now to be a fashion designer (for example Mary Kate and Ashley with The Row), you don't have to have a lot of money to be fashionable (the rise of the "high street" shops, designer collaborations with commercial brands like H n M x Marni), and you don't have to be important to put your style and opinion out there and have it appreciated (style blogs!).
IT: How has your personal fashion changed over the years?