Katy: I noticed in the transfixing video you did with Gregory
Porter for his song "Be Good" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HvpIgHBSdo) that you wore a lovely vintage outfit. Why did you choose that look?
Holly: I wanted it to be classic and timeless and not
specific to 2012. Also the skirt needed
to flow. It needed twirlability. I also find it easier to find what I'm
looking for at thrift stores and on E-bay, so it's largely for lack of time.
K: How did the Tweed Ride and Seersucker Social start?
H: Eric Brewer organized the first Tweed Ride in 2009 after
hearing about a similar event in London, and I think it created a fashion shift
here. It reminded me how pleasurable it
is to walk around looking put-together or wearing a hat. It harks back to another era with different
rules of etiquette. I had an older
gentleman hail me a cab once when I was wearing a vintage outfit.
The Tweed Ride was such a success that it seemed a shame to
have to wait a whole year for another one, so I said, "How about
seersucker in summer?" Eric was
thinking the same thing so the Seersucker Social was born. Hillwood Mansion seemed like the perfect
site, and they were very welcoming of the event. That first year, we put the whole thing
together in three weeks. Now we start 6
months in advance.
K: I have been struck that the people who come seem relaxed,
joyful and improvisational in their
dressing. It isn't stuffy at all to my
thinking.
H: There is a similar
event on Governor's Island in New York where they are more precise and
historically accurate, but I think we have higher attendance numbers.
K: Where do you like
to shop for vintage clothing?
H: There are lots of
great vintage stores in town. I love the
sale they have at Polly Sue's where you
get to fill up a paper bag. Sometimes I
go to pop-up shops like those put together by Butler + Claypool. I liked the store Annie Creamcheese, but it's
closed.
K: And on-line?
H: I enjoy the blog, The President Wears Prada,
and I like Modcloth. I also like to browse on E-bay for certain
timeless designers like Calvin Klein, Diane Von Furstenberg and Givenchy.
K: Do you make your costumes for your performance
pieces? Tell me a bit about your process.
H: Well, I tend to
have an idea of what I want. First I go
to my costume box and work with what I have.
I have four under-the-bed storage boxes full of stuff. Then I look on-line and in thrift stores for
other things I need. For the Money Maker
piece at the Corcoran I wanted a 70's polyester pantsuit. I worked with artist Sarada Conaway to
bedazzle the belt and get that James Brown look. And I added the gold booty balls.
For the recent piece, "Girls in White
Dresses" I used curtain panels, a slip
and a dress that I had. I worked with
Lisa Markuson on that costume.
K: Tell me about the super-high platforms you wore in that:
H: A friend gave me the shoes and I looked on-line for how
to make platforms. You use foam core
insulation because it's hard and light.
I cut it to the shape I wanted with a steak knife and sanded it. There was duck tape involved too.
K: What's up next for
you? I see on your website that you're hosting the Wednesday Open Mic Night February 6 at
the 5th & K Busboys and Poets. And I
know you're working on a video of a performance piece called "Race: Talc and Ash"....
H: I'll be doing a new work at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art on Saturday March 9th, in honor of International Women's Day. That show is free to the public. And I'll be presenting Keepin It Moving at the Reston CenterStage on April 13th.
K: Well, I love what
you do and can't wait to see what you have in store for us in 2013.
"booty balls." I always wanted to know what they were called. Great interview!
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