Well, Melanie Rockett, tell us a little more about yourself…
I’m Melanie, I own a vintage and handmade women’s line of clothing called Rockett Mansion. Right now I sell through Etsy as well as a destination art and fashion hub in Chicago called Verse. I like the smell of poisonous flowers and drinking hand-crafted cocktails. I studied fashion in college. I’m always finding new muses- in friends, strangers, strangers who were once friends… They may only be my muse for a day but they will have served their purpose. I dream in technicolor. I’m into emerging artist, designers and concepts. I grew up in thrift stores. I love and appreciate different styles when they’re well executed and aesthetically pleasing. I feel fashion has a bad reputation of being self-absorbed so I give 10% of the sales of my clothing to non-profit organizations.

And about the city you live
I’m currently living in Chicago. This city has the tendency to be a beer, baseball and burger town but every once in a while you run into an event that makes you forget you’re in middle-America. The architecture is both beautiful and inspiring and varies depending on what side of the city you’re in. Dive bars, art galleries and restaurants are plentiful and that’s all a girl really needs. It also has it’s own grungy music scene that’s quite attractive. Chicago is a bit behind when it comes to trends but when someone truly has good style it comes from deep within. Winters here are as bad as they seem but the summers are absolutely beautiful and the perfect time to enjoy the plenty of public spaces and outdoor events. Chicago has a simplicity about it that encourages creativity if you look in the right places.

Could you tell us more why you like blogging and what do you search inside them ?
I like blogging with pictures I take myself. I started dabbling in photography purely for the purpose of providing pictures for my Etsy shop but now I enjoy it and like getting feedback. I love blogs and bloggers because they give you a chance to see styles beyond your own streets. I love seeing what’s going on in Paris and Stockholm and any other city not outside my window. It keeps my head open to new ideas and I love seeing other interpretations of style.

Has fashion a big place in your everyday life ?
Absolutely. It’s played an big part in my life since the age of five. Fashion and I have been in a serious and very complicated relationship for 20 years now. My mother taught me to sew by hand first, then by machine and I started sketching a bit later. The first thing I made by hand was a small handbag decorated with a smiley face. It was pink felt with contrasting blue whipstitched yarn and blue felt handles. The eyes were two buttons and the mouth was stitched with red yarn. Making it gave me a good feeling and I was obsessed with sewing and fashion after that. I started having vivid, colorful dreams about clothes when I was about 7. That’s also when I began sketching in order to remember what I dreamt the night before. My first dream was of a full length summer dress with depictions of all of the feminine Disney characters- Minnie, Ariel, Cinderella, etc. Sounds silly now but it was the most exciting morning of my 7-year-old life. I still get ideas from my dreams and sometimes see things I’ve never seen in real life before. Fashion’s been a huge part of my life and also a very personal part sometimes making it hard for me to share with others. I’ve tried to run from it but I have no other skills so I’m learning to embrace, develope and share it with as many people that’ll look.

Can you describe your personal style ?
I personally love classic, clean silhouettes paired with edgy, ultra-feminine and/or even ethnic details. Black is my all time favorite color, or absence of color- however you want to look at it. I think hair and skin are the best accessories so I keep a vintage haircut and minimal make-up. I prefer quality over quantity so well-constructed pieces that fit my body are a must. I also enjoy mixing the old with the new. Vintage is a great way to add character and soul to your look. Too much vintage makes me feel like a character in a stage play and all new clothes make me feel plain so I find a happy medium.

Who is your fashion icon ? (fashion designer, artist, journalist, blogger, star, your mother…) ?
Actually it IS my mom. Her maiden name is really Rockett. She had some pieces you would easily pay $2,000+ for today and she gave it all away. I recently saw a picture of a pair of platform boots she owned that were attached to leggings and pull on like pants. I mean, seriously? She did keep some pieces so anytime I see something new I want I just look through her drawers and it never fails to be there. She does have the best style. I also love Andrea Crews, Maison Martin Margiela, Gareth Pugh, and Yves Saint Laurent as far as designers. My favorite bloggers are Betty of modepass.com/betty and leblogdebetty.com, modepass.com/Badgirl and modepass.com/dandyoui. My other favorite blogs on the net are hintmag.com, flair.modepass.com, styleclicker.net, celebratenothing.com and bookoobookoo.blogspot.com.

What is your favorite fashion or beauty ad ?
Right now, I love the Givenchy S/S 09 campaign. It’s still Givenchy but it has a rough edge and a little street cred.

What is your favorite period - fashionably speaking ?
1970s Paris and Los Angeles. The best styles and silhouettes come from those cities during that time. Paris, of course, had its brilliant couturiers and L.A. had its street style. This period was so feminine and beautiful yet empowering for women. Designers were exploring the beauty of other cultures and began incorporating those details almost verbatim into couture lines. Ethnicity was celebrated and Laurent was using African and Asian models. It was almost a precursor to the Post-Modern culture we’re ushering in now.

And now, start of, what we call, in french, a chinese portrait, a Portrait chinois.

If you were a fashion icon? Bianca Jagger. She was natural, sexy, chic and avant-glam all at the same time.

a clothe? I’d be a vintage black tapered leg jumpsuit with a plunging v-neckline and stand-up collar, cinched at the waist with a big vintage belt.

an accessory? Annie Hall/John Lenon-inspired circle-framed 1970’s sunglasses.

a fashion designer? Yves Saint Laurent when he was alive and sober.

a jewel? I would be a Tiger Eye.

a secret to become a stylish girl? A stylish girl wears what’s true to her. Personal style comes from within and it’s something you cannot fake. It’s great to explore new styles but do so because you genuinely want to and not because it’s what everyone is wearing. If you’re going for a certain look and it doesn’t really work for you, get creative and spin it until it becomes yours. Add yourself into the look instead of adding the look into you if that makes any sense. It’s important to keep a balance of fluidity and stability in your personal style. Always be willing to embrace new trends but know your own style at the core. That’ll help you not become a trend whore and you can look back at you photos with dignity. If you are, however, a trend whore I love it in you. Someone has to personify an entire decade with one ensemble.

Did you play on Paris Life Style on Modepass, what do you think about it ?
I did but I’m so plain that I love my page the way it is. I know, I’m boring. I do enjoy it and I like what people have done with their pages, very nice.

Do you want to add something personal in this interview (a word, drawing, writing ,….) ?
Thank you

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