What was your inspiration for this summer season?
I love summer – it is a time to travel and relax, so I love everything that inspires summer activities – cherry picking, vintage luggage labels, coral embroidery, floral prints. Our French workshop is in a neo-gothic billiard room in our house in the Loire Valley, and I am always inspired when I am there – the gray-blue of the water, the intense blue of the summer sky, the first green sprouts of the willow trees, and the generosity of the peonies, in their vibrant pinks and red.
How do you create new styles every season?
Designing is easy, and spontaneous. It can be something that I wore as a child, something that I see on the bus, or in a book. Inspiration comes from anywhere – a pair of curtains, or a beautiful embroidered tablecloth. I adore fabric, and I am very tactile, and like very soft things. So as we have grown our business, we now print many of our own exclusive fabrics. I have been collecting vintage fabrics since I was a teenager, so I have a wonderful archive collection that I dip into regularly. My favourite one at the moment is 1930’s ballerina’s holding brightly coloured balloons.
What is your favourite piece this season?
That is very difficult, as our outfits are perfect for many different kinds of occasions! I particularly love the red polka dot silk dress, great if you have an invitation to a garden party. I love the hand embroidered dresses for an evening by the beach, after swimming in the sea, and with wet hair neatly combed back, ready for a fancy dinner as the sun sets. I also love our casual pieces, the vintage rose ruched dress that can be worn anytime, and would brighten your spirits any day with its bright colours.
What is your favourite thing about the Summer?
We love to relax in our house in the Loire Valley, and we grow vegetables and cook, and eat outside, and linger and chat. We walk up to the kitchen garden and if we can creep quietly enough we can see the deer grazing at dusk. We like to travel, and discover the world, and I visit the flea markets in all the cities we have been to!
How do you imagine children wearing your clothing?
Some of our customers tell me they will save our clothes for best, and I always tell them to have less stuff and to wear it more often. That way a certain dress will remind you of a specific summer and where you went and what you did. Most of our clothes are machine-washable, so I tell them to enjoy them and wash them, and wear them over and over. Our clothes look better with age. I truly believe that if a child is dressed nicely, then either he behaves better, or at least he gives the impression that he is better behaved, or that is what I thought with my boys!
What is your favourite thing to wear?
I love to wear dresses, as I feel that it is as easy as pulling on a pair of jeans, but so much more elegant. I also like pieces to be comfortable and easy, so you can choose it in the morning and then forget about it, during the day, and it can follow through to evening too. I love print, but love lots of different prints for different occasions – they always make me feel bright and invigorated.
Who are your all-time style icons?
From when it came out, I absolutely adored The Sound of Music, and at my tender age I did not even appreciate the sewing skills when Maria made seven matching outfits for the Von Trapp children, all from the same cloth but matching their different ages and personalities, from the old drapes! I love Audrey Hepburn’s elegance and simplicity, both on and off screen, and Grace Kelly, for her grace and charm!
Rachel Riley childrenswear won our Best Independent Fashion Retailer award and was highly commended in both the Designer Girls' Fashion and Footwear categories.
