Interview with Jaclyn from Audrey Grace

Jaclyn Bethany is owner of  Audrey Grace, pop-up shop that’s going to open its doors on December 17th in Jackson, Mississippi. With clothes by our favorite labels and pieces of art by our favorite artists, Jaclyn created something like our favorite shop in a dreamland. I met this lovely lady few months ago when she contacted me about the collages for her shop, and she is very hardworking and dedicated in the pursuit of only the perfect things for Audrey Grace. Meet this charming girl and find out more about her and the shop in interview below.

Hello Jaclyn, first I want to know how did you get an idea for Audrey Grace pop-up shop?

Growing up, I always loved fashion. I always wanted to open my own business- my own shop. I decided to open a pop-up shop to test the market. The name Audrey Grace comes from my two favorite style icons, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, who I think are timeless and women today can relate to them.

Where shop is based?

My hometown- Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.A.

Is there any chance that Audrey Grace becomes a permanent shop?

I would love that. However, It depends on lots of factors and what I am doing in the future. I would love to open a permanent space for Audrey Grace that has a different feel. I think if I opened up a permanent space I would change it around. I've always imagined a tea room within my shop; I think that'd be perfect!

The list of great designers and labels that you going to stock in AG is too long; TBA, Orla Kiely, Elizabeth Lau, Vivetta, Lady Petrova, Rachel Antonoff, Alexandra Grecco, Erin Fetherston…Audrey Grace is really a dream shop. So Jaclyn are there any pieces that you don’t want to sell?

Thank you! Well, I love everything but some of the pieces aren't my size, etc. I have kept a few pieces for myself though. And each day the shop is open I will be wearing a different outfit from Audrey Grace to promote the store!

Tell me a little bit about art pieces and paper things in the shop?

I have worked with photographers, illustrators, and artists from all over the world. It has been such a blessing and a privilege. There are probably around 300 art pieces that will be sold in the shop. Most of the artwork is inspired by style icons and designers that are stocked within Audrey Grace. The Australian artist Caitlin Shearer created a beautiful lookbook of all the custom dresses that are being stocked in Audrey Grace. And your collages are stunning of course!

I read on Audrey Grace’s facebook page that walls of shop will be in Tiffany blue. Can you reveal us a little bit more about interior and décor?

Yes, there is a picture of the walls now, did you see it! So it's just a pop-up shop so I can't go too over the top with decorating although if I opened a permanent shop the focus would be more on interiors. Basically, we are using antique pieces from my home and then the artwork will decorate the walls.

How are you preparing for the shop opening? Is there going to be a party?

There will be a party! Just something special to celebrate the opening on December 17th with champagne and macaroons, of course!

About the process of choosing labels for store…Did you have a plan or it was based on what you like?

No, I didn't really have a plan. I remember starting on Etsy about six months ago and contacting sellers that way. Then I started reaching out to larger labels. It was based on what I liked and what I knew other girls liked but couldn't find.

What about vintage? What can we expect on that field?

Some of the vintage I have sourced myself, others I have asked various stylists/bloggers to source including Ashley Ording of Fancy Fine, Emily Theobold of It Girl, Rag Doll, Jessica Butler, and the stylists behind the London boutique, Koh Samui. The selections are amazing and really reflect the beauty of the store.

Now a little bit about Jaclyn…

Tell me a little about your education and what are you doing besides Audrey Grace?

I am a senior in university, studying acting, it is my main focus. I am currently in a production of Twelfth Night at school and considering applying to graduate schools…I'm so busy! (But a good busy!)

What are the favorite pieces in your closet?

I love my shoes (Miu Miu, Louboutins, Manolos, Charlotte Olympia, etc.) my Mulberry bags, and the things made by Chanel that I own.

Favorite designers?

Well high-end designers- Chanel, Miu Miu, Prada, Mulberry, Rodarte, and Valentino are some of my favorites. For affordable pieces I love Nadinoo, Erin Fetherston, TBA, Nishe, Jill Stuart, Orla Kiely Sretsis, Alex Grecco, etc. Basically all of the labels I am stocking in the store. For basics, I generally wear J. Crew.

Favorite places to shop?

Hmmm.. I love Orla Kiely- her NYC and London boutiques. I like Opening Ceremony although sometimes it's a bit edgy for me. Their NYC store is like a museum. The Jill Stuart and Anna Sui stores downtown are always fun and whimsical. I live in NYC, so when I go shopping it's usually in Soho. Topshop is wonderful too. I love ASOS online- All the best brands in one place. In London, I like the shops Fifi Wilson, Liberty, Harvey Nichols, Whistles, Lucy in Disguise and all the vintage shops on Portobello and Camden Passage.

Favorite movie, book and fairytale characters?

My favorite movies for fashion are Picnic at Hanging Rock and Breakfast at Tiffany's. I was in Australia over the summer and wanted to visit Hanging Rock but never made it! My favorite book is The Great Gatsby, can't wait for the new movie! My favorite fairy tale is Alice in Wonderland.

Do you have a style icon?

Alexa Chung is my style icon.

What does fashion mean to you?

I think fashion is important because it's constantly changing and has basically shaped our conceptions of clothing over time.

Your secret world…how would it look like…what would you wear, where would you live and what would you eat?

Gosh, I have no idea! I suppose I would live at the Ritz in Paris, wear only Chanel and eat Laduree macaroons every day. I really think Amanda Harlech lives that life, actually. So maybe I'd want to be her!

To find out more visit;

Audrey Grace blog

Audrey Grace facebook

Dinner Date

VINTAGE LEOPARD COAT; ORLA KIELY DRESS; CHANEL TWO-TONE BALLET PUMPS, MARAIS TWO-TONED FLATS, VINTAGE CHANEL EARRINGS

Le Song

DIY; Lace collar with velvet bow

Dear readers, this is a super easy DIY and you don’t need much of a sewing talent to do it yourself. Since I am madly in love with lace I use old pieces to embellish tops and tees. I did this with the half of my tops. (I even use a lace from underwear pieces that I don’t wear). This lace collar with the bow is made from second hand shirt that had lace collar. First I removed the collar gently with thread snips, which are my super tool. Then I sewed collar on the long sleeve top. I made a velvet bow from velvet ribbon. Easiest way to make a velvet bow is from three pieces of ribbon (one bit larger and two that are the same. Ends of larger piece of ribbon you sew along then under that you stitch other two pieces in triangle shape). Have fun.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Lyell, Emma and Tocca

I was the one of those girls that had broken heart last year when I heard the news that New York City’s label Lyell is saying goodbye. Emma Fletcher, designer left very emotive note on her website for all her fans. I was the one that was also touched by her words and amazed with her passion. Although I’ve never stepped in Lyell’s boutique in New York’s Nolita nor I don’t know Emma Fletcher in personal, this news made me sad. At that time in my life I was thinking more about the ethics of a fashion, market and a consumer behavior so after the news that Lyell is shutting down with huge discount I was making presumptions of what happened to label. Is it because of the fast fashion and ability that you can buy very similar blouse for three times less money that’s created by a child? Or Emma wanted to close the chapter of success that label achieved? Or Emma couldn’t fit in the character of today’s designer that’s creating in sly manner. Why slyly? Because many of those that are making our clothes have to believe that we cannot have in the closet that we really need. Your pants are not exactly what you want but you going to buy them, and another year you would buy yourself another pair. Ordinary consumer could not believe how much of psychology is behind his pants. That’s how it goes in fashion, this is not the fairest world and fashion is part of that world. So what Emma Fletcher did differently? What kind of fashion is the fashion that Lyell used to offer? Unquestionably, that wasn’t fashion based on a trend. Forget about that. Patterns were very classical and feminine, details were smart, and collections were similar. Lyell girl was the girl that possessed sensuality of 1930s, frisky vibe of roaring twenties and was enough special to get a role in French 1960s movie. All that means that from Lyell you could get something that you will wear and could wear in a different ways. To go back on example of the pants that means you need just two pair of pants and you won’t buy eight other pairs if these are perfect. In the term of what fashion means today, could we even call that fashion? I don’t know and I am not very smart nor educated to declare that. But what I know is that Emma Fletcher did something beautiful and very personal. That was a kind of clothes that you would make if you were designing for yourself; not boring but what you need. So I believe that Emma Fletcher is designer in the true sense of the word. She knew exactly what girl needs and in the world of phonies that’s not a very usual case. One more thing that makes Emma not so ordinary designer is the fact that she doesn’t sketch or sew (interview in W mag). Seems that you don’t need the “old-school” for the “what’s good or not” feeling.

After all of this scribbles of mine, you are familiar with my connection with Lyell, so you understand how surprised I was when I heard recently that Emma teamed up with beauty brand Tocca to create their ready to wear line (Tocca had a popular RTW line back in the 90s). For the first collection this autumn Emma did a great job. Like in the case of the Lyell, there are plenty of lovely basics that can be romantic or sophisticated. Or both. Again Emma Fletcher paid attention to every detail so lace is imported from France, and wool for coats is from Italy and England. And every blouse is made in silk. So if social means that you have to pick the groups that determine you as a persona I can say I belong to the nostalgic Lyell group that is happy that Emma Fletcher is back.

IMAGES IN COLLAGE VIA LYELL, TOCCA

Dancing Friday

Which girl doesn’t like Fridays? As the day that marks the end of the working week, to a Girl Friday is day when she experiences the feeling of freedom. On that day, Girl likes to dance. When dancing, Girl feels like she is flying among the stars. And often she closes her eyes to chase away the problems. But you should watch out. When Girl is dancing she is not polite. At all. You wouldn’t tell by the way she looks. And she loves to look nice. Furthermore, Girl also believes that dressing up is a lovely moment and “what to wear emergency” is sweet little problem.

This girl, now when she is dressing up can't stop thinking about Michael Kors suede gray boots that she saw a while ago. They would be perfect for all those black pinafore dresses with pussy bow blouses. This girl can hear poem in her heart and Beatles melody in her ears every time she looks at these. And just for a case that perfect parallel universe really exists, this girl sees herself in these perfect over-the-knee boots. And in See by Chloe velvet dress with ruffled neckline. Hm hm.

MICHAEL KORS BOOTS FROM NET-A-PORTER; SEE BY CHLOE DRESS(FEW SEASONS AGO); CHARLES ANASTASE BRIELLE DRESS FROM LA GARCONNE; SESSUN DRESS FROM STEVEN ALAN