Beige top with bow – H&M

Mustard yellow skirt – Kimchi Blue from Urban Outfitters

Floral bag – Vintage (similar here)

Sometimes you need to take some risks and try new things to figure out what you want to do.  That’s what illustrator Amanda has done since graduating from school where she studied textile design with a focus in illustration.  While in school she had an internship in home design for TJX, where she continued to work for 6 months after graduating.  But the corporate life wasn’t for her and she wanted something new, so she took a chance and left TJX to work at a local Boston vintage boutique, Artifaktori.

It was while working for Artifaktori for 3 years that Amanda got to try new things and expand her skills.  She combined her design skills with her love for vintage to create Artifaktori’s brand identity, print ads, event posters, emails and she helped design the store, styled windows and worked at photoshoots.

After a successful 3 years working for the vintage boutique, Amanda was ready for another change and left her steady salary to work on her own from her apartment on 100% freelance jobs. Taking that chance and meeting new people along the way through her previous experiences paid off.  She’s been busy and has been able to work on a variety of projects to further hone her skills.

What has Amanda learned over the past few years?  To follow what you’re passionate about and don’t be afraid to get out there and ask questions.  Her advice for current students or recent graduates is to get an internship and explore your options.  At the internship, you will learn a lot and make connections with people in the industry, which can lead you into something you really love.  Design school doesn’t always present all of the options so don’t be afraid to make your own path.

Did you graduate from design school?  What advice do you have for current students?

Originally from Ireland, Sandra grew up surrounded by creativity.  Her mom and grandmother were home sewers and her dad owned a menswear store.  Given her surroundings, there was no escaping design.

She went to design school, moved to NYC and got her first job working at Victoria’s Secret.  She later moved onto work at other large fashion brands like The Gap and Hanes.  Working for the big brands had its pros and cons.  They guaranteed a steady income and benefits, but creativity was a challenge when her sketches filtered through so many people within the companies.

So after 10 years in the industry, Sandra was ready to move on to places where she could be more creative.  She applied for positions at high-end brands, but her resume wasn’t good enough.  And other jobs she was qualified for, she wasn’t interested in.  So, as Sandra told me “If you can’t find the job you want, why not make the job you want?”

Combining her design experience with her passion for vintage fashion, Sandra started her own clothing line, Recollection.  All she knew when starting the line was how to design.  She knew how to source fabrics from her previous jobs, but couldn’t work with them because they only dealt with large quantities.  Organizing a photoshoot?  She didn’t know how to do that, but she figured it out by talking to people, looking around online at what other designers were doing, and being patient with trial and error.

When I asked Sandra if she has any recommendations for other people who want to start a clothing line, she said “As much time and effort and money you think you’re going to need, double that at the very least. Feel like you’re ready for it.  It’s a very personal thing to do.  Stay true to yourself and your POV.  When you’re your own person, you rely on your opinion. Other people who haven’t worked as hard are offering up their POV.  Keep your integrity. Be authentic in what you do.”

If you’re also a new designer and want to connect with Sandra to share advice, she’s open to it.  You can reach her at: sandra@sandra-murphy.com

Thanks Sandra for the great interview – I’m looking forward to your future collections!

(click on the image to watch the video)

1. The necklace with flowers and leaves is a new necklace that I got this year as a Christmas present from a family friend.  It’s from Anthropologie and I love it.

2. For my company holiday party last year, I wanted a necklace with clear beads on it, preferably on a chain that was a mix of silver and gold.  I can never find exactly what I’m looking for when I have something that I made up in my head, but this was the perfect find from Filene’s Basement.

3. This is cute vintage necklace with a heart and key that I bought from Cafe Society a couple years ago.

4. The owl necklace!  A couple years ago, I decided that I wanted an owl necklace.  On one of my excursions to Loehmann’s, I found this perfect owl from Lucky Brand.  My co-workers love it when I wear it.

5. I really like this gold bracelet from Banana Republic with I guess what’s supposed to resemble diamonds. I’ve actually only worn it once because I think it’s a little fancy for day-to-day wear, but I really like it and need to wear it more often!

6. This is a gathering of two different variety bracelets from H&M. I like pairing this random grouping of bracelets together when I need to add something to my outfit.

7. There’s one image that has 4 of my favorite pairs of earrings.  Starting on the left, these are earrings my boyfriend bought me for Christmas last year.  He knows I like vintage jewelry and I think he did a great job finding some new earrings that look vintage! I bought the next earrings when I lived in New York when chandelier earrings were big.  I don’t remember where I got them, but I wore them when I went out at night a lot.  My mom got me the next pair of earrings for Christmas last year.  They are a regular go-to.  The pair on the right are black sapphire earrings that were my grandmother’s.

8. Taking clear pictures of rings was harder than I thought, so this is a little hard to see.  On the left is a ring I bought my senior year of high school when I went to France on a school trip.  At the time, my favorite color was red, my favorite number was 11 and I liked stars.  This ring had it all, so I bought it to remember that trip!  The middle is a ring with a pearl in it and the one on the right is a ring with opals.  Both are my mom’s.  I found them at my parent’s house one day and took them!

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But, She Hit Pause Studios made me realize that these poloraids would make a thoughtful, cool, unique gift for any occasion, like Valentine’s Day maybe (hint hint to the guys).  Take a look.  Do you like?

- buy dollpart’s original clothes and vintage finds from the online store that just opened this week

- help fund the clothing line through kickstarter.  there are only 12 more days left – ends October 27!

what do you think of dollparts?

last weekend i visited Cafe Society, a quaint vintage shop in Brookline Hills, just outside of Boston.  Café Society carries vintage clothes, purses, shoes, and jewelry primarily for women, but they also carry men’s and children’s vintage clothes.  while i was there, i bought a green/gray tweed blazer with brown buttons for only $25! it’s very menswear, and will look great with skinny jeans and heels.  i also had my eyes on a blue floral dress with a bow collar and a yellow and gray dress – both very Mad Men.

what i like best about Cafe Society is the woman who works there (i’m assuming the owner).  you know how it sometimes gets awkward when you walk into a store that’s not very busy and you feel like the person working there is watching your every move?  well this store is the opposite.  i searched around the whole store and tried things on with no pressure at all.  i was asked if i needed any help and when i responded that i was all set, i was happily on my own searching through the racks.

for a low-key vintage shopping excursion, drive out to Cafe Society in Brookline Village and let me know what you find!