Life of the Designer

Out of anything you could do when you were younger, what inspired you to first start sewing?

I really have no idea, I was so young.  I just liked fabric and wanted to create a garment.

Taste

How would you describe your aesthetic?

Follow your passion no matter what age.

Unique Awesomeness

Give us your twitter answer on “what gives you your unique awesomeness?”

Curly red hair on a hot body.

Talent of the Design

What was the first item you ever sewed?

I designed and sewed by hand a dress with no sleeves in 2^nd grade. I was so proud of that dress that I never took it off for 2 days.

What did you sew in your teens?

Lots of skirts and blouses. I taught myself to sew and of course, there was the proverbial home economics class. I made all my clothes on an old Singer.

What did you sew in your 20’s?

In the 70’s (my favorite decade) I loved the Bohemian style clothes and I tie-dyed them as well. I especially liked Isadora Duncan, the avant-garde 1930’s dancer style of dress, as well as Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks. My favorite designers all originated from London. Thea Porter for her maxi dresses, Bill Gibb for his mixed prints and embellishments, and American designers Halston for his halter dress and Betsy Johnson for her wild and edgy colors and textures.

What did you sew in your 30’s?

In the 80’s everything was so damn big so I made big loose fitting clothes. The ugliest decade of all when I look back.

What were you sewing in your 40’s?

I lived in Massachusetts then and was working a lot so I don’t remember what I made.

What were you sewing in your 50’s?

Mostly warm weather clothes. I loved making light airy blouses and dresses, and loose fitting pants out of lawn, linen and georgette. As much as I like the Fall, I do not miss sewing clothes for the winter season.

What inspired you to sew convertible in your 60’s?

It was my daughter who moved here from Massachusetts after coming back from a trip to Europe that got me thinking about how wasteful fashion is. I have always admired handmade, unique clothing as I had been making it all my life.

You work with your daughter now, how do you inspire one another?

We talk a lot.

As the in-house designer for ecovogue365™, you are re-approaching fashion with a new concept for your Fall and Spring Collections called A.B.C. where you inspire yourself, the design and women to look at how fashion can be functional, fit and environmentally friendly through convertible clothing. Kind of like re-teaching everyone about the ABC’s of fashion. You are kicking off with B by russet for the Fall and C by russet for the Spring. Can you tell us more?

A was really birthed in 2010 with our entire concept. For me, that was my starting point in learning all about eco-fashion. I guess you could say I graduated to B, inspired by designs that could serve more than one function. That seemed more “eco” to me than making more and more fashion for the landfill. I wanted women to hold on to a garment and really become intimate with it. When a woman educates herself on the process of what it takes to get from fiber to fashion then that info gives her power to make better choices. Eco is a term not quite defined in the fashion industry yet but it is growing. We embrace 3 eco concepts that lessen a woman’s fashion footprint in our business, “convertible” “handmade” and “limiteds”. The B stands for Butterfli, a little gem of a garment that can metamorph into many pieces in your wardrobe. I am working on C by russet now, which will be all about drapy fabrics and prints in one convertible design known as the Caftan.

An Intimate Look

You’ve created this amazing online space, Russet’s Rave, representing the 40+ crowd in the city you currently live in. Who is Russet Raving about as the BEST……

Music scene?

Live music is the best anywhere you can hear it.

Place to eat?

Vizen and Yume for sushi, Pho Cali for Vietnamese, Eat Here for fish and chips, Libby’s for appetizers and dinner, Blue Dolphin for breakfast.

Beach dive?

O’Leary’s Tiki Bar.

Place you like to frequent?

Ocean Blues, Saturday Downtown Farmers Market.

Best Beach?

Beer Can is my choice but I don't think you can get on it these days so I would have to say Siesta Key Beach, listed as top 5 in the U.S.

Weekender plans?

Go to Farmers Market, then have lunch downtown with friends, take pics and walk the bridge.