I help design my own tennis clothes.
My mother, Robin Bell, is the master of balancing the finite line between classic and creative when it comes to fashion. Mom has no qualms about unleashing the pinking shears on a vintage Givenchy dress if it means she'll wear it more once it's sleeveless.
I've always been into thrifting. I'm a fan of finding unique pieces and having them tailored or altered.
I think I get almost every piece of clothing that I buy altered and taken in just to fit me exactly the way it should.
On a red carpet, you really want to feel your best, so to work with a designer who will shape a dress to your figure and take into consideration your opinions is really a blessing.
You work around a body and adapt the clothes to your own customer, and this is the interesting part. This is why the haute couture exists: because in ready-to-wear, you have not too much fitting.
When you get a jean for a larger girl, you have to have them tailored for you. Tailoring is indeed everything.
If I had to start over, I'll do the same thing: street clothes are the future; the client can choose two or three things and combine them as she wants.
I really want to get into designing my own business suit. I've designed a couple suits for myself that I've worn in the past, and I have a good idea of what I want and need to use.
I like to customize my tights by cutting them myself to create a stirrup or convert the look into a capri.
I'm really into vintage clothes. So I've been... vintage shopping and kind of adding and reconstructing things and just doing a little bit of designing.
Everyone should have a tailor. David Wilkes, the guy who does my stuff, is like, 'Well you're a writer - do you want a special pen compartment or something?' Bespoke: That's the term you want to get out there.
