I am very pleased to introduce you to my friend, Rebecca Lord. I first met Rebecca online, via Instagram. I had stumbled across one of her posts and I instantly fell in love with the dreaminess and the timeless appeal of her photos. When I later found out that she actually designs and makes her own clothes, I was completely blown away, and I knew I just had to connect with this fellow “old soul”!
Rebecca is an incredibly talented and kind individual, and I’m delighted to have had the chance to sit with her and hear a bit about her experience and inspirations. I hope you enjoy the interview!
What inspired you to begin making your own clothes?
I grew up in a religious family, and wearing modest clothing was a part of my life. Sadly, I could not find any casual lovely dresses that I liked at the clothing stores. Another reason for starting to sew was that I really love historical dresses, and as a student, I could not afford to purchase even a costume for masquerade, let alone a historical dress of better quality. That is why I started to make dresses for myself, casual and historically inspired.
How did you first learn to design and create clothing?
From early childhood, I loved to draw fashion ladies, to develop my own designs of clothing. As a teenager, I started to collect porcelain dolls and began to sew them beautiful dresses, hats, and coats. It was a long trial-and-error process, but that is how I learned to hold a needle and thread in my hand. The same story was when I learned to sew my own dresses and coats: many failed attempts, crooked stitches, and tens of meters of spoiled fabric; tons of patience and perseverance until the first good results.
What is your favorite type of dress to make?
I love feminine shapes of the dress. Gathered long skirt, accentuated waist, voluminous sleeves, and graceful neckline. Casual dresses are my big love. I am sure that there is no need to wait for any special occasion. The present moment is the best reason for wearing a dress.
Where do you find inspirations for your clothing designs?
My standard of beauty is historical fashion. Noble and elegant gowns from ancient paintings, such as Renaissance era, 18th century, 19th century, and vintage fashion of the 1940's and 1950’s.
Are your creations available for purchase?
At the moment I am taking an additional course to improve my sewing skills. After that, I really plan to open an online boutique where my designs will be available for purchase.
Your Instagram includes a section of stories featuring your "BeRetro" collection. Can you tell me more about that? What types of pieces are in the collection and what inspires your designs for it?
The "BeRetro" collection includes only handmade wool berets with handmade paintings on them. Each painting is one of a kind, and the drawing never repeats. I create them in dry felting technique. I use floral and plant motifs in these wool paintings. Nature is so inspiring!
Many of your beautiful photos include flowers and botanical inspirations. What is your favorite flower, and why?
My very favorite flowers are Lily of the Valley, Snowdrops, English Rose, Peony, Forget-Me-Not, Lilac, and Cherry/Apple Blossom. I love tender flowers, especially garden and forest ones—their look, scent, color...they are just perfect.
If you could dream up a perfectly cozy and lovely day, what would it be?
There are so many options... One of them is an autumn day in the woods, walking among the colorful trees, gathering berries and mushrooms, and then coming back to our forest house tired but happy, and baking a berry pie, cooking potatoes with gathered mushrooms, reading a book or watching a cozy movie together with my husband. At the end of the day, to be lulled by the melody of the rain outside the window.
Finally, what is your favorite bygone era, and why?
Depending on if we are talking about paintings or literature, it is completely different. I like the fashion and art of the past centuries, their attitude to nobility, morality and valor, their slow living, etc. But I would not want to live in the past, I guess.
Can you guess Rebecca's Signature Scent?
Why, it's Lavender Breeze, of course! ...She says English Fog is a close second ;-)
Thank you so much for chatting with me, Rebecca! For more pictures and interesting posts, please follow Rebecca on Instagram and visit her website!