Since 1995, when I was 7 years old, I’ve been cutting out images of glamorous woman wearing even more glamorous dresses from my mothers magazines. To this day, I still cut out frocks from magazines, and I study everything there is to know about them, and their creators. There was one I remember vividly, a lady wearing a black pirate styled hat, with lace trim. She was wearing what seemed to be a corset, white with a picture of a baby’s face on the front. It was quite Victorian, and had a dark aura about it. As a 7 year old, it appealed to me. I felt good inside when I looked at it, I wished I could be that woman in that picture, with the gorgeous beauty spot and perfect bosom. It wasn’t until today that I opened my recently delivered Vivienne Westwood book, that I saw this image for the very fist time since I was 7. It was like id been reconnected with my youth in a heart beat. My memories came flooding back to me of when I was that little girl, cutting out images of pretty woman in pretty frocks. It wasn’t until this day, that I found out that image was a Vivienne Westwood creation. But I do know from a young age, I knew her name and most certainly knew she was brilliant.
When I became a little older, maybe 9 or so, I used to go to my local library and borrow wedding, fashion and vogue magazines. With the turning of every page, my eyes would light up in awe of the images I were seeing. Sometimes I would even rip a page or two out of the magazine, believing that I could not live with out this image in my possession. I read the wedding magazines, because I loved to see the great big dresses, I wished I could see a world of people wearing those very dresses everyday. This was my fantasy as a child, owning a room full of gowns that i could just dream in. That’s why, John Galliano for Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Christian lacroix, Valentino, Chanel haute couture, are all my inspiration to my fantastical ideas and escapism.
So here I am, Karla Marie, consumed by fashion and everything it beholds. I’m writing to all you lovers of fantasy out there. I hope you enjoy my words.
Much love,
Karla Marie.