Dear readers, I have a treat for you! Not only have I been lucky enough to get an interview with Davinia Vitrac, owner of the gorgeous company – The Dressing Gown - which designs glamorous 1950’s inspired dressing gowns but I have secured a 10% discount for all Applaud readers at the till!! Simply type in ‘Applaud’ at the checkout to receive the generous discount available until 31st July 2011!
Read on for my interview with the designer to find out what she is currently sporting trend-wise, why Jean Paul Gaultier is her inspiration and how her honeymoon sparked the start of her business.
Why did you become a Fashion Designer?
Dressmaking has always been a passion of mine. I have always been fascinated by fashion and clothing; how clothing can present a window into the personality of a person and how an outfit can completely alter how one feels. I had so many images in my mind of clothing that I would love to wear but that were simply not available so I started at a young age, I began by reviving and reworking pieces of clothing in my parents wardrobes and later I would make my own clothing from scratch.
Who and what are your biggest inspirations?
I take inspiration from everywhere, it is impossible to say where it may come from next but my biggest inspiration in the world of fashion must be Jean Paul Gaultier, not just for the beautiful collections that he has consistently been turning out since the year before I was born but also for his incredible attitude. Jean Paul Gaultier is unquestionably one of the most influential designers of our time yet he has the most approachable, personable character that does not discriminate or judge, his feet seem firmly on the ground yet his career has achieved unimaginable heights. One day I will meet and tell him this!
How many collections have you designed?
I am still a student at the international Fashion Academy (IFA) in Paris so my career is just launching. I have my own business, TheDressingGown.com and I design and manufacture ladies dressing gowns that have been inspired by the silver screen sirens of yesteryear. Dressing gowns are less seasonal than most collections so I have only designed 2 collections to-date. I intend to grow the business very quickly to expand our collections to include a dressing gown for every occasion as well as expanding into other lounge wear garments.
What is your favourite gown in your collection?
My favourite piece in our present collection is our Indian Summer gown although my preference changes daily, I recently went on vacation to the Dominican Republic and I wore the long and short version for the entire week, it was the perfect beach cover-up and the most comfortable and elegant evening attire.
What is your personal style?
I like to think that my personal style is 'effortlessly elegant'. I like to change to my look regularly; I love to team classic pieces in my wardrobe with vintage or modern accents. Right now I am sporting my current favourite - florescent canary yellow jeans from Marc Jacobs in celebration of the arrival of spring - fun and frivolous florescent yellow is a new look for me!
How would you describe The Dressing Gown collections?
My collections take inspiration from the 1950s screen sirens such as Myrna Loy, Vivien Leigh and Rita Hayworth, my intention is to always create floor length, figure hugging dressing gowns that ooze with the essence of femininity, something that Audrey Hepburn would have been proud of!
I have always loved the old black and white movies, the glamour and elegance that the sirens of the silver screen exuded was captivating to me. Perhaps it was also that element of the imagination that had to be employed, it was a time when kissing on film was forbidden and nudity was a no-no. The powers of suggestion were all that could be ultilised and the dressing gown played a key role in that.
Where did the idea come from to form The Dressing Gown?
On 22nd August 2007 I was getting married and with the entire wedding planned and prepared by the close of June I had turned my attention to the honeymoon. To be fair, there really was little for me to do in this department for the simple reason that my charming and handsome betrothed had planned, booked and paid for the entire two weeks! In fact all I needed to do was to decide what to pack!
With romantic notions in my head, of breakfasts on the veranda of a honeymoon suite in some far flung corner of the world, I set off in search of the perfect dressing gown that would suitably match such a grandiose occasion. Having trawled the internet, high street stores and boutiques of Edinburgh, London, Paris and New York I finally came to the realisation that no such garment existed; there was nothing else for it but to make my own!
After designing and making my perfect honeymoon dressing gown, several of my friends and family members asked if I could make also one for them and the idea of a business concept was born!
Is this your own company or is it a partnership with other designers?
I established the company in August 2008 alongside my husband Francois-Laurent Vitrac.
We are currently working on a warmer, winter collection to compliment our lighter dressing gowns.
What are your aspirations for the future?
Our mission is to become the number 1 online destination for dressing gowns. We are going for world domination!
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