Equally influential, but this time in the realm of fashion, are my beloved grandmothers. My maternal grandmother, whose spectacular hand-sewn costumes were worn on stage at the West End Theatre, inspired me not only to design my own clothing, but to style anyone I could get my hands on.
My paternal grandmother’s impeccable fashion sense made her a perennial walking fashion plate among San Francisco society. Often lauded as the most beautiful woman in the room, she inspired me to never shy away from wearing whatever moved me, even if it meant stepping outside the confines of what was considered on trend.
My love of flowers and horticulture was gifted to me by my grandfather and dear uncle. Both avid gardeners, they taught me everything I know about gardening. We would often stop to admire the delicate details of the homegrown flowers - the beauty and impermanence of which reminds me each day to savor every moment of life, no matter how big or how small.
And so the ancestral seeds for my floral brooches - a culmination of my love of art, fashion and flowers - were planted, directly in my family’s footsteps.
I wonder, who has influenced you the most?
