Inspiration Orientation

I get inspiration from just about everything– places I’ve visited, movies, music, nature…the list goes on.  As inspiration is such a huge part of my world, I’ve decided to make a change.  Can you see/guess what it is? …As you may have noticed, the name of the blog has changed! And over the course of the next week or so, we’ll be making some other additions and modifications to the blog and the layout in the spirit of this theme.

Just as every fairytale begins with ‘Once upon a time…” — every creation of mine starts with a seam.  But more meaningful to me is the inspiration behind the seams, and what inspires every design, collection, photograph and fashion film from the very beginning. I love reading and seeing the inspiration behind other artists’ work, just as I enjoy sharing mine. Inspiration is a story, and you can read all of my stories on ‘Once Upon a Seam.’

One of my biggest sources of inspiration is travel – and visiting new places.  While I frequently trade Los Angeles for a change of scenery in Big Bear,  it’s not exactly a “new place”- as it’s more like a second home. However, on a recent trip I did a little exploring  of the town of Fawnskin, CA–nestled on the other side of Big Bear Lake.  As you enter the rustic town square, it’s hard to miss the massive and seemingly abandoned Fawn Lodge.  Today it looks like a wild-west inspired saloon, but apparently it wasn’t always that way (it even holds a deep dark secret.) I love it’s kitschy look, and it helped inspired the wild west cowboys and indians theme and concept of our 2014 SWIM campaign film, shot entirely in Big Bear.  While exploring, I paired the western-inspired “Polly” dress from ‘Laine by Lauren Elaine’ with a chunky wool cardigan, tights, and my favorite boots. Gingham can be a go-to year round with the right layering.