My love of fashion came at an early age. I grew up in a town so small that only a few stores dotted the tiny Main Street. I found most of my clothes at a local thrift store. I remember being ten and finding a vest I loved, but it was too big on me. I was devastated, but my mom showed me how to use a sewing machine to tailor it. This changed my life — if I could change a piece of clothing to make it fit me, I could also turn old pieces into an entirely new design, and with lots of practice, eventually create my own clothes!
“There is a sense of openness that really begins to bloom in the spring. It allows me to breathe deeply after many winter months. There is nowhere else I feel this connection than in my hometown. Just being there is so inspiring.”
The Claire Dress is one of our newest designs; we shot her in the front yard of the house I grew up in. Notice my dad lurking in the background! ;)
I loved being able to shoot all around Placerville, revisiting some of my favorite places of the past. There are so many beautiful things to see in this town, and the Penny Jumper is the perfect sightseeing outfit!
It’s a six-hour drive through the sprawling countryside of California to reach Placerville from Los Angeles. We left in the morning when the poppies were just starting to open, our cell phones lost service and the air began to smell like Spring. We spent three days in Placerville shooting our Spring Collection, visiting my home that my parents still live in, grabbing a quick lunch in my favorite cafe, and letting the soil of Placerville warm the soles of our feet. The photographs capture the warmth of this sleepy town I call home. This small town inspired so much of the woman I am today.
It was in Placerville that my passion for designing and creating dresses was born and nurtured. I knew I wanted to shoot our Spring Collection there, where every tree and flower feels so special to me.
The Argonaut has always been one of my favorite places for a quick bite to eat. I love their organic salads and curry soup.
The Main Street of Placerville is tiny, but it has some of my favorite storefronts in the world. Midnight Kin sells beautiful linens and thoughtfully curated items for the home. Heyday Cafe offers yummy wine and food, Totem Coffee has the best coffee and gluten-free donuts, and I’ve been shopping for vintage at Violets are Blue and Placerville Antiques for as long as I can remember.
I’m fortunate to have grown up with parents who were so supportive of my dreams. It feels so poignant going back to Placerville as a mother of two young children now. I get to pass along that same openness and support, nurturing them to be anything they desire is a dream come true.
Whenever I leave Placerville, I know it won’t be long until I’m coming back for a visit…
xx, Christy
