Pink ballet shoes

It's always interesting to read about the creative process and what inspires designers and artists because what they do is so visual and (relatively speaking) immediate that scrutinizing the synergy between inspiration and end product is to my geeky nature at least, so much fun.

Dossier interviewed Rachel Antonoff recently and it's one of those interviews which really shouts out to me and had me furiously nodding my head (virtually of course) in response to the answers given. The notion of fashion as costume and playing dress up may be nothing new, but that sense of wonder and whimsy really does seem to come through her designs in general. I used to really love Mooka Kinney and it was definitely boo when they shuttered the brand. But as they say, you can't keep good talent down. The s/s 10 collection for her eponymous brand is lovely as it is. But knowing that she was inspired by ballet, and specifically ballet through a child's eye and all "the things that people love when they are five through nine", one can certainly see the inspirations infused in the pastels, short pouf skirts, the touches of peter pan collars and pockets on pants which were all part of a child's wardrobe growing up in the enid blyton era.


And it's almost scary that just as I have been recently inspired by the entire film noir theme in fashion and thinking about how to incorporate elements into daily wardrobe (that's subject of next post!), Antonoff spoke of how private detective theme is the inspiration for her next collection and spies and trench coats. Oh gosh, inspiration telepathy! Or great minds think alike! Or maybe we all spend too much time reading the same things. Hmm. On that note though, the only part of the interview which did not shout out to me was when she spoke about The Lovely Bones and how "If you read it without crying you might want to go to the doctor". Erm, I didn't cry, thought it was cliché in parts and frankly was bored to bits while reading the book. Lack of empathy?

(See more of collection at Rachel Antonoff)