Interview with Ashley Ording of Fancy Fine!

I have been a big fan of Ashley's blog, Fancy Fine, and her adorable vintage style for a while now. In setting up Audrey Grace I have been reaching out to some of my favorite bloggers and vintage stylists to collaborate on curating a small section of the boutique. Ashley agreed, and her section will be vintage, of course! I am so excited to share this interview with her.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your blog.

I live in the hills of San Francisco with my cat Donut and way too many dresses. I started Fancy Fine about a year and a half ago because I figured it was time I started sharing my obsessively collected vintage with likeminded folks. Opening a shop on Etsy came shortly after and although it's a lot of work I'm loving every minute of it. 

Tell me about the vintage pieces you chose for Audrey Grace.

I chose pieces from many different decades: the 1940's through the 1980's. Despite being from very different times they look wonderfully dreamy together. I went with a pale, romantic color palette with lots of lace and sweet details. Overall, I wanted the pieces to be super feminine and special, the kind of treasures that elicit a happy gasp when merely looked at.

Who is your style icon?

I couldn't possibly name just one! I will always have a soft spot for 1960's dolls like Anna Karina, Brigitte Bardot, Marianne Faithfull, and Pattie Boyd. I've also been reading a lot of books about 1920's starlets like Clara Bow and Louise Brooks and their style is endlessly inspiring. But I think I'm most inspired these days by fellow vintage style bloggers, there are so many amazing ladies with singular style.

What are your favorite Audrey and Grace films?

My favorite Audrey film is a tie between Funny Face and Charade, both are so different but wonderful. My favorite Grace film is How to Catch a Thief, she looks so unbelievably beautiful in those costumes.

What can you see yourself buying from Audrey Grace?

I adore the dresses made by Kelsey Genna and Alexandra Grecco. I had the pleasure of meeting both of them last month during a New York adventure and they were sweet as can be. I was so impressed to hear about how they run their labels almost singlehandedly, there is so much work involved and they do it all with style.

What was your favorite SS12 show?

I really loved the Carven show, especially the colors and the ankle strap shoes. I also adored everything about Luisa Beccaria's collection, everything about it was so pretty and romantic. I also fell in love with nearly every Valentino dress, as usual.

Who are your favorite artists and designers?

When it comes to art I've always been drawn to photography more than anything, and my a few of my favorites are Todd Hido (a good friend of mine), Tim Walker, Martin Parr, and David Hamilton.

What other blogs do you admire?

A few of my favorites (there are so many!) are It Girl Rag Doll, Hannah & Landon, Nakedcowgirl Vintage, The Little Deer, and Tales of Endearment.

If you could style any celebrity who would it be?

I would love to work with someone that already has lovely personal style, like Kirsten Dunst. It would be so much fun to source beautiful vintage pieces from around the world for her to wear at fancy parties. Although I suppose it would be better to pick someone completely clueless about what to wear, eh?

What are your favorite films for fashion?

My favorite fashion scene in a movie is the montage in Funny Face where Fred Astaire is photographing Audrey Hepburn all over Paris wearing the most fabulous outfits imaginable. And Picnic at Hanging Rock definitely fuels my passion for white dresses and boater hats.

What are your favorite spots in NYC and San Francisco?

My new favorite NYC spot is a bar called Maison Premiere, a beautifully old fashioned place with perfect cocktails and oysters. In San Francisco I could probably go and on about my favorite spots, but I keep going back to Encore Karaoke for signing with my buddies, NOPA for a perfect meal, Held Over for racks and racks of vintage dresses at decent prices, Arizmendi Bakery for my favorite cookies on earth, and Smuggler's Cove for the ultimate Tiki drinks.

Any vintage shopping secrets or tips?

Look everywhere, not just in vintage stores. Look in thrift stores, especially ones in small towns. Be open-minded about hemming things and switching out ugly buttons for cute ones. Bring a giant tote bag with you. Go to flea markets. And, most importantly, buy only what you love... even if it seems like something you might never wear. You never know, maybe you just need a glass of champagne before taking that silver brocade mini dress out on the town!

Thank you so much, Ashley! (All photos are courtesy of Ashley) 

Interview with Ashley Cheeks of It's Okay My Dear!

A few months ago, I discovered an adorable line called It's Okay My Dear. I contacted the designer, the lovely Ashley, and was so excited to know she had created an adorable spring collection! I was aesthetic as I looked through the lookbook, focusing on pieces appropriately named the "Hello Kitty" shorts, and the "Trapeze" top. Even though these items won't be in other stores until the spring, they will be exclusively available at Audrey Grace and I am so excited! Then Ashley mentioned she lived in Jackson for ten years, and I just couldn't believe it! It's basically fate. I am so excited to be stocking a Southern designer in the store! Ashley is based in NYC like me, seems like we have lots in common!

Hi Ashley, tell me a little bit about yourself and your line, It's Okay My Dear. I am originally from New Orleans, but have been living and working in Brooklyn for about 4.5 years. My line is a collection of dresses, and separates. I dabble in hair accessories from time to time. I love mixing vintage style with a modern twist. All of my designs tend to have a nostalgic essence to them, extending to the name of my brand which is from a lullaby my mom wrote for me when I was a baby. 
What did you like about living in Jackson? What were some favorite Jackson spots, and how do you think Audrey Grace will contribute to the retail scene there? My favorite part about living in Jackson was the artist community in Fondren and being surrounded by such talented people like William Goodman, Jason Marlow, & Ginger Williams. I also miss having ladies dance night at the dive bar WC Dons (RIP). Audrey Grace will be a breath of fresh air for Jackson! The brands you've picked up are cult worthy in the blog world so seeing the pieces in person in Jackson would be a dream come true. 
Who is your style icon? That is a hard one to answer.... there are so many stylish ladies & gents around! I would say Anna Karina, Edie Sedgwick, Alexa Chung, and definitely old photos of children in the early 1900s! Kids seem to be able to wear anything in those days and look incredible.  


 

What are your favorite places in Brooklyn? Bakeri is a must. Delicious little treats and they have a heavenly oasis in the back with a small pond. Hotel Delmano for cocktails... I wish their main parlor was my private kitchen. The interior is very historically beautiful. 
Who are your favorite designers? Definitely Balenciaga throughout the 1950s/60s and I love Luella. I also tend to like particular collections of designers.... always depends on the story they are telling. I used to watch the Chanel Couture SS2006/07 show continuously. The first time I ever saw it I cried. My favorite era's of style would be children's wear in the early 1900s and women's wear in 1940s-60s
If you could visit any place in the world where would it be? I would visit Paris again, and stay try to stay as long possible until they kicked me out! I'm also dying to visit Berlin. 
What are your favorite Audrey and Grace films? For Audrey... how do choose just one! The scene in How to Steal A Million when she is wearing the black lace eye mask and her sparkly eye shadow glitters beneath always has stuck with me. All the Givenchy in Funny Face is so beautiful and I always just loved the first scene in the movie with all the different colored doors at the Magazine house. For Grace, To Catch A Thief! The lighting in the fireworks scene is so beautiful.
 Which celebrity would you love to see wear your line? Sooo many cute ladies out there! Carey Mulligan, Zooey Deschanel, and Alexa Chung all wear clothes so beautifully. I also am getting a little crazy over Elle Fanning. She is adorable! 
What could you see yourself buying at Audrey Grace? I'm sure I would want to buy one of everything!! I love purchasing artwork so maybe a piece from one of your commissioned illustrators! 

It's Okay My Dear Lookbook- Trapeze top and Hello Kitty shorts, available at Audrey Grace Boutique!

                                                     

 

Thank you so much, Ashley! 

I have had such a busy, exciting week! I visited the Jill Stuart and Sretsis showrooms, picked up my orders from Rachel Antonoff, and Zoe Twitt, I was also contacted by designer Samantha Pleet and I am excited to be stocking her fall line in the shop! It's so dreamy! I also visited Alexandra Grecco and got to see her new collection up close, and discuss some new custom pieces which is so exciting! I also did an interview for a magazine today, which will be printed in December. I'm doing the shoot for it Sunday, I can't wait! I've also kept busy watching films at the New York Film Festival. I went to the premiere of Melancholia, and Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg (two very stylish ladies) and the dashing Alexander Skarsgaard were all there! Such a beautiful film, I hope Kirsten gets some recognition because she truly deserves it. That's all lovelies! I hope you are enjoying my series of interviews, I am having so much fun with it!