Thoughts
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Kate Baxter, The Fabric of My Life
Founder and author of The Fabric of My Life Blog Kate Baxter tells us about the inspirations behind her posts and her favourite vintage finds...
Why did you decide to do a lifestyle blog?
Fabric of my Life is my own little corner of cyberspace where I document my favourite inspirational finds, be it interiors, homewares, fashion or well-designed products that make me go ooooh! I started my blog when I was freelancing as an interiors stylist, as a way of cataloguing all the things I liked in one place in order to develop my own personal style but it has grown into so much more than that now.
Where do you find the inspiration for your posts?
Everywhere! That’s the great thing about inspiration; it can strike at any time from any direction. Somedays it might be from magazines or blogs, other days it’s from someone I pass in the street dressed in a knock-out outfit, or simply a vintage trinket spied in the window of a charity shop. I live in West London and mornings spent running by the river watching the sunrise are great for formulating fabulous ideas for posts as my mind is free to run wild. There is so much beauty in the world; you just have to open your eyes to see it.
What is your favourite piece of vintage that you own?
I have a gorgeous maroon floral 70s jumpsuit that I found at a vintage stall in Camden Passage. The pattern reminded me so much of a seventies dress my mother had when I was younger, which I loved to dress up in. I bought it to wear to Vintage at Goodwood last year and styled it up with some battered leather sandals, piles of bangles and my trusty vintage Dior sunnies – my summer staple! I’m also addicted to vintage kitchenwares, especially anything mid-century and Danish in origin.
How do you shop for vintage?
I’m not very methodical when shopping for vintage and never have particular pieces in mind, they just seem to find me somehow! Car boot sales and flea markets are my favourite places to unearth vintage treasures – I love the haphazard displays and the ‘thrill of the hunt’. Top of my design wish list is an Ercol sofa and an Eames lounge chair; finding either of these at a car boot would really make my heart sing.
Why do you think people should buy vintage pieces?
I'm always frustrated by the poor quality and high prices of high street clothing; nothing I find seems to fit very well or be made to last. Vintage clothing has often been tailor made so the finishing is of a much higher standard and you know that if it's lasted this long, it'll stand you in good stead for years to come. Plus, finding a vintage piece that truly speaks to you is like finding an old cherished childhood toy, making you feel all warm and gooey inside. You rarely get that feeling in the aisles of the high street.
What's your favourite vintage era and why?
It’s nice that with a bit of hindsight and a modern perspective you can cherry pick the best of each era and mix and match to create your own style. Embracing a particular vintage era whole-heartedly can often lead to looking like you’re going to a fancy dress party and I always prefer to use vintage sparingly and go for quality over quantity. Interior-wise I’m continually drawn to mid-century modern and love the simplicity and natural shapes of Scandinavian designs of this era.
How would you describe your personal style?
I’m fairly laid back in my fashion style and to be honest if I could live in jeans I probably would! Anything I can simply pull on and go works for me; my summer staples are playsuits, denim shorts and beautifully cut vest tops, which I accessorise with bangles and long chain necklaces for a seventies boho vibe. I’m tall so tend to stick with flat pumps or sandals and my size 7 feet mean vintage shoes are often hard to come by. I’m influenced by young French actresses such as Clémence Poésy and Lou Doillon who mix delicate feminine items with stronger masculine accents, and manage to make edgy and cool look effortless.
http://fabricofmylife.co.uk/
Why did you decide to do a lifestyle blog?
Fabric of my Life is my own little corner of cyberspace where I document my favourite inspirational finds, be it interiors, homewares, fashion or well-designed products that make me go ooooh! I started my blog when I was freelancing as an interiors stylist, as a way of cataloguing all the things I liked in one place in order to develop my own personal style but it has grown into so much more than that now.
Where do you find the inspiration for your posts?
Everywhere! That’s the great thing about inspiration; it can strike at any time from any direction. Somedays it might be from magazines or blogs, other days it’s from someone I pass in the street dressed in a knock-out outfit, or simply a vintage trinket spied in the window of a charity shop. I live in West London and mornings spent running by the river watching the sunrise are great for formulating fabulous ideas for posts as my mind is free to run wild. There is so much beauty in the world; you just have to open your eyes to see it.
What is your favourite piece of vintage that you own?
I have a gorgeous maroon floral 70s jumpsuit that I found at a vintage stall in Camden Passage. The pattern reminded me so much of a seventies dress my mother had when I was younger, which I loved to dress up in. I bought it to wear to Vintage at Goodwood last year and styled it up with some battered leather sandals, piles of bangles and my trusty vintage Dior sunnies – my summer staple! I’m also addicted to vintage kitchenwares, especially anything mid-century and Danish in origin.
How do you shop for vintage?
I’m not very methodical when shopping for vintage and never have particular pieces in mind, they just seem to find me somehow! Car boot sales and flea markets are my favourite places to unearth vintage treasures – I love the haphazard displays and the ‘thrill of the hunt’. Top of my design wish list is an Ercol sofa and an Eames lounge chair; finding either of these at a car boot would really make my heart sing.
Why do you think people should buy vintage pieces?
I'm always frustrated by the poor quality and high prices of high street clothing; nothing I find seems to fit very well or be made to last. Vintage clothing has often been tailor made so the finishing is of a much higher standard and you know that if it's lasted this long, it'll stand you in good stead for years to come. Plus, finding a vintage piece that truly speaks to you is like finding an old cherished childhood toy, making you feel all warm and gooey inside. You rarely get that feeling in the aisles of the high street.
What's your favourite vintage era and why?
It’s nice that with a bit of hindsight and a modern perspective you can cherry pick the best of each era and mix and match to create your own style. Embracing a particular vintage era whole-heartedly can often lead to looking like you’re going to a fancy dress party and I always prefer to use vintage sparingly and go for quality over quantity. Interior-wise I’m continually drawn to mid-century modern and love the simplicity and natural shapes of Scandinavian designs of this era.
How would you describe your personal style?
I’m fairly laid back in my fashion style and to be honest if I could live in jeans I probably would! Anything I can simply pull on and go works for me; my summer staples are playsuits, denim shorts and beautifully cut vest tops, which I accessorise with bangles and long chain necklaces for a seventies boho vibe. I’m tall so tend to stick with flat pumps or sandals and my size 7 feet mean vintage shoes are often hard to come by. I’m influenced by young French actresses such as Clémence Poésy and Lou Doillon who mix delicate feminine items with stronger masculine accents, and manage to make edgy and cool look effortless.
http://fabricofmylife.co.uk/
