Interview with Nadia from Nadinoo!

I discovered Nadinoo earlier this year, and I am so happy I did. The designer, Nadia, manages to design the most dreamy collections season after season. There is truly something for every girl with Nadinoo. Nadia's designs are hand made, and she uses the most beautiful Liberty fabrics for her designs. She designs for three fictional girls who represent the Nadinoo brand- Fleur, Pixie and Lula. Needless to say, I own much of the spring and fall collections! I interviewed the lovely Nadia below..

Nadinoo's Winter 2011 Collection

Tell me a little bit about you and your line, Nadinoo.

My name is Nadia and I’m a British designer based in Manchester. I set up Nadinoo three years ago with aim of creating lovely handcrafted clothing that would be adored by the ladies who wear them.

What inspired you to create a fashion line?

I think it’s every fashion designer's dream to one day have their own collection to showcase their love and passion for clothing. I was always in love with the process of making a garment so setting up Nadinoo was a perfect way for me to get fully involved.

Where does the name Nadinoo come from?

Nadinoo is my nickname.

Have you always loved fashion?

I’ve always loved clothing from as far back as I remember, I don’t think I really knew what Fashion was until much later. My mother made most of our dresses as children which I’m sure were very unfashionable at the time but I loved them to bits. Was always thrilled when allowed to select fabrics, lace and other trims to adorn them. 

What do you love about living in Manchester and what are your favorite places there?

I’m only just starting to know the Manchester I love, my experience living here as a student was much different so I’m happy I’ve been able to come back and rediscover the city. My studio is on the edge of the Northern Quarter, which has most of my favorite shops and cafes. You are likely to find me hiding away on a rainy day in the Tea Cup or Home Sweet Home with a pot of tea and huge slice of carrot cake. This area is where most of the independent shops are located and the Craft and Design center where I’m hoping we can soon open up our first Nadinoo shop. I love that Manchester is constantly evolving with new places opening and events happening each month. Visiting the Artisan market once a month under the old railway bridges in Castlefield is a definite highlight for me. I love seeing people selling product and produce that they are so proud of and always fun to hear the story of how it’s made.

What's on your fall wish list?

I think I’ve already done most of my winter shopping, been pretty excited about the cold this year which is first for me. I have stocked up on woolly tights so I can carry on enjoying all my dresses. I found some beautiful Wellington boots from Kurt Geiger that are nicely fitted to look more like a regular boot in a shimmering brown colour. Some nice black patent lace ups from Office with a comfy heel to go with my new Orla Kiely checked coat I bagged at their sample sale in London. Also grabbed myself a pair of lovely navy tailored shorts from Kooples at the weekend so I can wear all my Nadinoo shirts this winter. I think my look is much smarter this season, I’m sure that is reflected in the Nadinoo collection. Wow that feels a little like a confessional although I know there is still more.

What are you looking forward to doing over the holiday season?

I’m looking forward to finding the perfect tree to decorate with all our many wonderful handmade decorations, drinking plenty of mulled wine with friends while roaming the Christmas markets, picking out silly stocking filler presents for my husband to make him laugh and enjoying time off with friends and family eating roast dinners galore.

Who other designers, photographers and artists do you admire?

At the moment I’m admiring smaller labels like TBA, Colenimo and Dear Creatures who have managed to successfully create beautiful clothing via the small production rout. I hope one day I can find the right factories I trust who will help produce our collections on a bigger scale. I don’t have as much time these days to scour the net for inspiring photographs, but the photographers I have been admiring lately are Jamie Hooper (http://jamiehopper.com/) Simon Filip (http://simonfilip.com/) and Jessie Adams (http://www.jessielilyadams.com/) All producing dreamy photographs that take me somewhere beautiful!

If you could see any celebrity wearing you dress who would it be and why?

Zooey Deschanel has been my answer to this question from the start so and I’m going to stick with her until she has no choice but to give in and wear nothing but Nadinoo. The girl is amazing I think we are all a little in love..

What are your favorite books and magazines for inspiration?

I love reading books that calm me or take me places I’ve never been, I read a really cute book recently about a young Chinese girl who moved to New York with her mother, it was such a sad but inspiring little story.  

The magazines I like are a little more predictable Frankie and Lula have set the bar pretty high, would love for another mag to pop up that rivals them..

What is your favorite fairy tale?

At the moment I’m a little in love with Red Riding hood. I think I’m just eager to make a red cape to run through the woods in..

What are your favorite Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly films or looks they have worn?

I’m have a huge soft spot for Audrey, her style is timeless. I loved her pixie haircut and most the outfits she wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's. All her films take me to a happy place, especially on a rainy hangover day. Grace Kelly I’m not so familiar with, what films would you recommend? (All of them, but especially Rear Window and To Catch A Thief! 

What is the future like for you and your line? 

I really have no idea what will happen with Nadinoo from one collection to the next, I just hope we continue to grow and keep the amazing following we have gained so far.

Thank you so much, Nadia! Check out more lovely designs from Nadinoo below!

Interview with Carrie of WishWishWish!

I am so glad to be in my cozy apartment writing this post! New York City is having a massive snow storm, so strange for October! Anyway, I am sure most of you are familiar with Carrie's blog, WishWishWish. If you don't know it, be sure to check it out here. Carrie lives in my most favorite city in the world, London. She has amazing style and her blog really reflects that. Carrie is a true Audrey Grace girl. She already loves all of the brands I am stocking and also has a passion for vintage! It also seems like she loves her Alexa bag as much as I love mine! Carrie also takes beautiful photos. I loved her coverage of London fashion week, especially the Orla Kiely and Mulberry shows so much. Enjoy my interview with Carrie below.

Carrie and her beloved Mulberry Alexa

Carrie's coverage of the Orla Kiely show

Carrie's coverage of Mulberry SS12

Tell me a little bit about yourself, your blog and your work.

I'm a vintage loving twenty one year old living in London, blogging about what I get up to and the clothes that I wear!

I see your still in university, what are you studying?

I study Fashion Promotion, so we do everything from styling to creating fashion films! It's very broad.

What do you like about living in London?

It's just so diverse, everything and everyone is on your doorstep. It's a great place to hunt for vintage, and I don't feel like you could ever explore it all! There is always something new to see.

Describe your personal style.

I think I dress a bit like a little girl going to a birthday party! I'm very girly, and love to mix highstreet finds with vintage, and my favourite labels - Family Affairs, TBA, Vivetta..!

Describe an ideal day.

Sunshine, waffles for breakfast, a trip to a vintage market, a picnic, a trip to the cinema followed by seeing my favourite band!

What is your favorite type of tea? (And favorite place to get tea in London)

I don't drink tea too often as I have it with so much sugar that my teeth would fall out if I drank it every day! But I like a regular builders brew as we call it over here!

Who is your style icon?

I have a gazillion pictures of Anna Karina saved on my computer. Isn't she just perfect?

Who are your favorite designers?

I am in love with Vivetta, tba, Family Affairs, Mulberry, Orla Kiely..I love every collection from these talented ladies.

What was it like attending London fashion week? What was your favorite show?

It sounds very glamorous and exciting, but really it's a lot of hard work and the days are very long! My favourite show this year had to be Mulberry! They decorated Claridges ballrooom with hundreds of inflatable animals, it was amazing! Not to mention the pink lemonade they served up.

If you could take me shopping around London for a day where would you take me?

Okay! Firstly we'd have to hit up my favourite department store, Liberty - their stationary room is my favourite, and at this time of year, a trip to their Christmas shop is a must! I'd take you to east London where we'd hunt down the best vintage and visit shops like Caravan where the best homewares are sold. If we went on a Sunday, we'd visit Columbia Rd flower market and battle the crowds to visit the Rob Ryan store, and the wonderful Buddug (http://www.buddug.com/page2.htm).

Who are your favorite artists and photographers?

I'm a huge lover of Paolo Roversi. I love his dark style!

If you could style any celebrity who would it be?

That's a tough one, probably a kick ass girl from a band, like Alison Mosshart.

As a Londoner, are you a fan of Kate Middleton's style? Who are your favorite London girls?

I don't pay too much attention to what the Duchess wears I must admit, but she always looks very well put together. My fave London girl has to be Alexa Chung, obvious choice I know!

What are your favorite books and magazines to look through for inspiration?

My favourite magazines are most definitely Frankie, Lula, and the Japanese magazine Fudge! All such feasts for the eyes!

What are your favorite blogs?

Oh I have too many to list! At the moment, I love Mariell, who has just moved to London. (http://hjartesmil.blogg.no/) Also, Fancy Fine - Ashley's collection of vintage is so enviable! Of course the lovely Sandra of Niotillfem is one of my favourites too.

I see your a big Mulberry fan, like me. I also have their Alexa bag. What are you covering from the AW collection?

Oh my!! I'm absolutely in love with all of their bags featuring the little foxes! I love the the Fox Lock bag. I need it!

What's on your fall wishlist?

The AW Vivetta collection! I absolutely adore the whole thing! I'm also loving cropped trousers right now, so a lovely wine coloured pair wouldn't go amiss!

What are you looking forward to this holiday season?

Big warm scarves, open fires, roast dinners, long socks and family!

Tell me a little bit about your photos. They are beautiful.

I'm really into taking photos lately actually! I've rediscovered my love! It's amazing being able to capture a particular look or feeling in an instant.

What are your favorite films for fashion?

I love all the Orla Kiely lookbooks, they are always so inspiring!

What could you see yourself buying at Audrey Grace?

Everything - I'm not even kidding! I love everything stocked, it's like my dream store!

What does the future look like for you and your blog? Any exciting collaborations or projects?

I do have an exciting collaboration coming up! But I'm afraid all I can say is that it's with one of my favourite independent English labels! Watch this space!

All photos courtesy of Carrie. Check out more photos of Carrie's adorable style below!

Up The Wooden Hills

Lisa Marie Andersson, designer of Up The Wooden Hills is creating some beautiful dresses for the shop. One based on Audrey and one on Grace. Perfection. Sneak peek below!

I can't wait to see the designs in person! I have also ordered Lisa's regular collection for the shop too, so customers can buy both the custom dresses and the regular Up The Wooden Hills collection! Interview and more photos of the Up The Wooden Hills collection below.

Where do you live?

I live in Gothenburg, Sweden. I’ve lived here for about five years. I’m originally from a small town in southern Sweden.Can you tell me a little about your design process and where do you draw your inspiration from? Also, where did the name Up The Wooden Hills come from? My design process is a bit spontaneous, I usually don’t work after a theme or a concept - more just on influences and impressions I get during the days. I’m very inspired by music, fabrics, flowers, interior design, films, Lula, The Gentlewoman, Elaine Benes in Seinfeld, Carrie Bradshaw in SATC, people I see on the street, walks in the city, trips to the country side, my hometown, my friends, my family and especially my grandmother. 

In the design process I always keep in mind how I want the clothes to feel, like when I made the Emilia dress it was more like trying to find a solution to the problem with impractical fashion. So I just focused on creating a very simple dress that was comfortable to wear and flattering for the body. A dress to feel pretty in.

The name of my brand comes from the title of an EP from my favorite band Saint Etienne that came together with an album called Tales from Turnpike House that was released in 2005. I still remember the day when I took a trip to Malmö with my dad and bought the album in a record store there, I was about 19 at the time. In the beginning I used the name for my blog and after a while it just felt natural to have the same name for the label. Besides Saint Etienne's music the name also makes me think of childhood memories from a forest near my hometown in southern Sweden where we always went on day trips and had picknicks with my school. That forest was also the shooting location for the S/S '11 shoot.

How long have you been designing? I’ve been designing for about five years but in the beginning it was more on a basic level and I didn’t start my own brand until December last year. My grandmother was very much into sewing, embrodidery, knitting and crochet so I learned that when I was a child and later on the interest for designing clothes emerged.

Have you always been interested in fashion? I’ve been interested in style, clothes and combining different outfits since I was a child and I’ve always loved to sew, but it wasn’t until I was about 19 years old and had just started studying at the university when my fashion interest evolved for real and I started to read fashion magazines and books and become more interested in designers and historical and sociological perspectives of fashion. A few years later I also started to make patterns and sew clothes for real and that’s when I realised that I wanted to design clothes of my own, and start my own business. I think it was something I knew I wanted to do since I was a child, it just took me several years to realise it. What type of girl do you see wearing Up The Wooden Hills? What is her aesthetic? I want to think of the girl who wears Up The Wooden Hills as a girl that is happy with herself in her everyday life and who wants to have an easy and more comfortable lifestyle. She is playful, dreamy, sympatic, empatic and curious and she surrounds herself with people and/or things that makes her feel good, calm and happy. She likes beautiful things, flowers and pastels. Who would be the ultimate celebrity (or even a style icon from the past) that you would love to dress? It would actually be Audrey Hepburn. I’ve always loved her style and beautiful look and I always think of her as a very sweet, sympatic and wonderful person. It would be a great honour to dress her up in my designs. Since the boutique is called Audrey Grace what are your favorite Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly films or even specific outfits they have worn? My favorite Audrey Hepburn movie is definitely Breakfast at Tiffany’s and I like every outfit in that film - the black Givenchy dress with the big hat and sunglasses, the orange 1960's coat, the pink coctail dress and the beige trenchcoat just to mention a few. I also like the movies Funny Face, Charade, How To Steal A Million and Roman Holiday a lot. In Funny Face there is a scene were Hepburn wears a beige hood parka, black pants and black neat shoes. I really like that outfit, so simple and yet very classy. 

My favorite Grace Kelly movie is Rear Window and I love every outfit she wears in that film too, especially the black short sleeved, v-necklined top with a white full skirt and black pumps. I like that she combines the outfit with white silk gloves and a white scarf - so stunningly beautiful. Can you tell me a little bit about the Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn dresses you are creating for the boutique. The custom dresses for Audrey Grace are more a reference to a 1940’s and 1950’s dress silhouette with a bit of a longer full skirt. I've used the same dress silhouette as the one for my regular dresses but I've added little details to the design like ribbons, different necklines and visible pockets. The Liberty fabrics that will be used has a lot of different shades of pink in them. In a way these dresses might be an attempt to create a more cute vintage version of Up The Wooden Hills that I think goes really well with the Audrey Grace concept. I'm very excited about finishing the samples soon. Who are your favorite artists? Sigrid Hjertén, Carl Hammoud and David Hockney. Who are your favorite designers?  Margaret Howell, Nadinoo, TBA, Lover, Twenty-Seven Names and A.P.C. What (music) are you listening to now? Saint Etienne, Robyn, Au Revoir Simone, Kate Bush, Adele, Empire of the Sun, Ivy, Florence + The Machine, Ellie Goulding, Imogen Heap, Astrud Gilberto, Monica Zetterlund, She & Him, The Splendor, Heart, Massive Attack, Fleetwood Mac, The Honey Trees, Feist and Phoenix. Tell me about the Liberty fabrics you use in your designs. I've loved Liberty Fabrics for many years and since I love flower prints so much I realised that it was hard to find other fabrics that was just as beautiful as the Liberty ones. It was actually just a coincidence that I made the first sample of the Emilia dress in a Liberty fabric, but from that moment I knew I wanted to use Liberty fabrics for my designs. The good quality of the fabrics also goes hand in hand with the values of my brand. Who is your style icon? I think Elaine Benes in Seinfeld might be my style icon, even though she is just a character and not a real person. She has the typical Gentlewoman style that I like so much with long skirts, long coats, beautiful silk blouses, floral dresses, blazers and brogues or penny loafers combined with white ankle socks. Lastly, what can we expect in the future from you? I'm very excited that Audrey Grace Boutique is going to carry my dresses - it's my first stockists so it feels like a really big thing since I'm also creating custom dresses for the boutique. I’m soon going to start working on my A/W 2011 collection which will be a more regular collection with more dress models and a little addition of blouses and skirts. The A/W collection will be released sometime during the end of summer. During these last few weeks I have also been working on a little project with some friends of mine that will be revealed on my blog soon. 

Thanks, Lisa! Lisa has created a beautiful little short film that reflect her spring designs. You can watch it on her blog. Follow her lovely blog here: Up The Wooden Hills