FW Part 3: Tara-Lynn

Up next we have 1/4 of what may be the cutest family to ever walk this planet. Tara-Lynn is an entrepreneur, a designer, a knitter, a mother and an inspiration! I've been following Tara-Lynn around the internet since our Livejournal days almost six years ago (is that right? Man, the time, it flies) and have been consistently charmed by her personality, her family, her screen-shots of favourite movies, her knack for hunting down incredible vintage photographs and her deliciously cozy knits! I have, like an absolute creep, thought many times how badly I wished she and her little crew lived nearer to me for the epic hang-outs and slumber parties that would no doubt take place.

1. What was your first fashion-related creation?

As a little girl I was always playing dress up, as all little girls do. I had a dress-up box that my aunt had contributed some of her clothing to. She had all these really outrageous wigs and crazy 1970's lingerie, negligee's and slips. The ballet Swan Lake, being the inspiration at the time, was the model for the outfits I would create. One outfit in particular consisted of a red frilly negligee, worn with frilly underpants as a swan feather head piece, paired with these red strappy high heels (of course all worn over top of my clothing!). Sadly, the dress up box no longer exists, but I am left with a handful of photos to remember ... 

(I want to see these photos so bad! - H)

2.What or Who inspires you?

I truly admire a girl with her own authentic style, one who looks timeless, and can put together a mix of modern and vintage. I really love a mix of patterns and colors that do not adhere to conventions, but somehow look great. Creative girls with the ability to sew, make patterns and who will take risks. I find I am always coming back to ballerinas, especially those from the Ballet Russes, 1940's and 1950's ballerinas photographed by Gjon Mili. The dancers evoked so much artistic style while hardly wearing a thing. Edie Sedgwick is a great example of someone who took the style of the ballerina, those infamous black tights! Anais Nin, always an inspiration. The writer Colette, Jean Rhys and the chorus girls of the early 1900's. I'm drawn to the rebellious bad girl. Girls of today that I am really inspired by, friends like Sam Purdy, Isabelle Hayes, Hannah Metz and bloggers such as Kennedy Holmes, Francesca Zmetra, Erin Perez Hagstrom, Jessica, Anja Verdugo and Siri Thorson. Every one of these girls has a truly original and sincerely dedicated sense of their own style.

3. Biggest sartorial blunder?

No regrets, I would rather take a risk than not. I am positive I have had a few blunders, or just wrong outfit choices, but I do feel it really all leads to something good in the end. Maybe I tend to give a little too much sometimes, for instance maybe I didn't need to wear a Kimono to the campfire.

4. If you had to have a uniform for this season what would it look like?

At the moment, I fantasize about a uniform that would include pretty vintage party dresses, skirts with mismatched blouses, patterned and brightly colored tights paired with inconvenient shoes that pinch your toes. This kind of uniform is meant for wearing out dancing, spilling drinks on, going to art galleries, shows to feel especially happy in.

5. Any words of wisdom for people wishing to follow in your footsteps?

Don't do it! Following in someones footsteps would only be boring and untruthful. Do your own thing, its way more fun and unpredictable.

Illustration by Jason Lee

Tara-Lynn's Shop
Tara-Lynn's Blog
Tara-Lynn's Flickr

*Edited to add: Mention Hannah & Landon when you place an order at Tara's shop and receive a free Norfolk Knitted Bow! I've got one that I wear all the time!

Jason Lee's Art
Jason Lee's Shop

Up Next, Kathryn of The Vamoose!