005 | Katherine Moffett's OTT Childhood Outfits Will Make You Smile
Katherine Moffett is one of our favorite illustrators, not just for the studied cleverness she brings to her whimsical designs—from floral depictions inspired by the Victorian language of flowers, to fashionable femmes languidly relaxing out on an NYC fire escape—but also for the excitement she brings to just about everything she’s doing. Whether it’s immersing herself in the late-60s fashions of last year’s Beatles documentary series, Get Back, enjoying a favorite new sandwich at a local cafe in her east village neighborhood, or trying on wigs at a random art show, Katherine seems to delight in all of it. It’s refreshing and fun, which is why she seemed like an obvious choice for «Dress Codes.» And of course, she delivered. Major shout-outs to Katherine’s mom, for the priceless outfits she fashioned for her brood. Clearly, a creative flair runs in the family.
What sorts of things were you wearing as a child of the 80s in Texas? I was very girly—like over the top. Lots of ruffles. Also, my mom made a lot of our clothes. My sister and I would have matching dresses, and my mom would have the adult version. And she would even do these funny little sweatsuits with themes and embellishments, like a little puffy fish or a puffy turtle on the leg.
You had a fun mom! Yeah! My mom made a lot of stuff like that. But she also made really pretty things. I remember this blue and white, paisley-like dress with puffy sleeves. It wasn’t Laura Ashley, but in that vein.
Did you like dressing that way? Yeah, though I was always a little bit more outlandish than my mom and sister. I was the baby, so I got to be crazier. Then as I got a bit older, I was very into Gap Kids and Limited Too.
Did you wear a uniform to school? No, I always wanted to! I loved that look—the preppy, east coast, blazers, plaid. I was all about that.
That’s very different from the girly, crinoline, puffy-sleeve dresses you wore. Totally. And I think I’ve started to embrace the girly stuff again as the trend for Victorian style has come back in. It reminds me of my childhood and that girlishness.
But you did have a preppy moment? I kind of wish I had gone for it more. I never felt like I could be that expressive in Texas. It just seems like you’re trying too hard. So when I got to New York for art school—so many people in art school were letting it go—you kind of felt free to let your freak flag fly. I had this 80s blazer that was halfway-preppy, but also punky.
Where were you shopping then? I mean, I had no money. So it was just like, H&M or Beacon’s Closet a lot of weekends. And I got a bunch of clothes for free.
From friends? No! Back in Texas there was this estate sale where they were just giving things away for free. I don’t know why. But I got this amazing vintage yellow coat that was double-breasted. And another coat I still have—it’s green and black, big herringbone plaid.
College is such a major moment for personal style evolutions. How far did you take things in art school? You know, it was honestly encouraged—like you were almost pressured—to just let it go.
Give us an example. Ok, I had these tights with all these weird little holes. Fishnets? They were just really torn up, but I was like, ‘Ok, it’s like Madonna.’ And I’d wear all these weird colors together, and my drawing teacher—he loved colors—so I felt like I got positive reinforcement for showing up in her classes like that. The further out there you could be, the better. It’s like there was this knee-jerk reaction to not want to seem boring or dull.
That honestly seems like its own weird form of pressure. Yeah, some kids dressed boring, but they were perceived as kind of phoning it in. Like they weren’t really artists or something.
WOW. How would you describe your style now? Is there anything you’re really loving that still connects you to that time? I do love love Isabel Marant, how she often has that 80s thing going. But I also really love the more feminine designers, like Chloe, Stella McCartney. But also uniform-like, structured pieces—those are two ends of the spectrum, I realize, but I like it when they come together.
You said you’re really excited about the Victorian trend coming back. Well it’s so nice to have something so nice and romantic. I feel like we’ve been in such a hard place in fashion for so long. I really hate this Y2K look. The low-rise jeans, the Britney Spears-look…I hated it then, I hated it now.
You’ve worked with some fashion labels in the past, making illustrations. Which ones are currently on your wish list? Oh god! Stella McCartney, Isabel Marant, Chloe, Chanel, Louis Vuitton. Those are the dream!
What would your last meal be, and what would you wear? I’d like to think I haven’t found that final outfit yet, but if I had to choose now, I’d want a floral dress from Erdem—totally elegant for the occasion, with an appropriate touch of goth. And the meal? A giant seafood tower and Parker House rolls. And a very dirty martini.
<< CLOTHING CREDITS >>
Designer brands: I wear a lot of pieces from Veronica Beard, and I’ve worked with the brand in the past. The aesthetic fits my style: practical, with flattering tailoring, and a little bit of flair. Other brands I like usually involve a mix of beautiful textiles, cool styling, and an element of romance: Erdem, Dior, Giambattista Valli, Gucci, Isabel Marant, Cynthia Rowley. I also really love a lot of the smaller brands that my friend Sabrina Burda curates on her retail platform, Random Acts of Creativity.
Bag: Coach! I have a vintage Penny pocket bag that I’ve owned since 2011, only now I use a shorter braided strap from Clare V.
Denim: In Texas, where I grew up, denim is a way of life. Currently, I have a favorite denim dress from Sea New York, and I went through this past summer with two pairs of sailor jeans from Anthropologie, but I’ve also had past success with Paige and Joe’s Jeans.
Tailor: I recently had an amazing alteration done to one of my mother's wool blazers at Alteration Specialists on Crosby Street in Soho. It's a calm, pleasant experience in contrast to other tailors I've been to.
Magazines: Vogue; Architectural Digest
Fashion books: Marimekko: Fabrics, Fashion, Architecture; Pucci (Taschen)
Other inspiring visuals: Films from the 60s-90s; Vogue Runway; And my insane image archives I keep in binders and use for drawing.