An aura of assurance and calmness enters the room with the presence of Emma Fletcher, the accomplished designer behind the revamped line of women's wear for Tocca. Her quiet confidence and unmistakable poise have helped her become not only extremely personable, but successful in the cutthroat world of fashion design.
When talking with Emma about her inspiration, Tocca's Spring '12 line, and her overall design aesthetic, there was an honesty in her voice that made everything clear: this woman loves what she does.
Leave out "current trends" and other forecasting BS, add ultra feminine details to vintage silhouettes, and make sure everything is done with luxurious, high quality fabrics, and there you have Emma Fletcher's Spring '12 line for Tocca.
Capturing the spirit of a whimsical girl and mixing it with the sophistication of the modern women, Emma Fletcher is able to create pieces that truly are one-of-a-kind. Eye-catching prints and hand knits are only a few of the extraordinary details you'll find while browsing the racks of Tocca's West Village boutique.
A devout vintage/thrift shopper, I felt the same excitement while pulling looks from Tocca that I get from exploring a flea market or digging through an antique store. These are the experiences that you know you're going to find something special, that one perfect item that lasts you a lifetime.
I didn't find that "one" perfect item, I found about 12! From there I narrowed my finds down to a few looks, which was one of the hardest moments of my shopping career (seriously).
High waisted shorts, silk blouses, and hand knit tops all immediately caught my eye...But the winner? The Inverted Scallop Dress! Not only was it one of the most comfortable dresses I have ever worn, it's appropriate to wear for a variety of occasions. Okay I can't lie, it made me feel like I walked right out of an episode of Mad Men and into the modern-day streets of Manhattan (still looking incredibly stylish!).
As you can see, I could go on, and on, and on, but I'll stop myself and allow you to explore Tocca for yourself. If you don't live in Manhattan, no problem! Check out Emma's Tocca collection.
Want to get to know Emma? Check out my interview with her below! So sweet and sincere, I guarantee you'll love her just as much as you'll love her clothes!
Caitlin: How did you get started in design?
Emma: I have no training. I made a bathing suit first (because I wanted one) then had 20 made. Later, I put them on consignment around stores downtown near where I lived.
The first weekend a lot sold out, so I just kept making…Then I added a top, then a coat. Later Steven Alan asked for my pieces in his showroom. That line was called Holmes and Lyell and was mainly just coats and bathing suits.
In 2003, I opened a store called Lyell, with vintage and my own line; a very small line. Things went well from there. Now I am here at Tocca and it’s been a very natural progression.
Caitlin: What an incredible start! Lyell developed a following pretty quickly, and it looks as if the same is happening with Tocca! It's all so exciting.
Caitlin: This is a hard one...but do you have a favorite piece in the Spring 12 collection?
Emma: The scallop neck blouses and ruched butt bathing suit!! I really love the blush and black organza dress too.
Caitlin: That scallop neck!!! It's so flattering. With so many amazing details I have to ask, what was the inspiration behind the Spring '12 collection?
Emma: envelope folds.
Caitlin: That truly amazes me. Such an unexpected source of inspiration. In a more general sense, Who/what inspires you?
Emma: Photography inspires me. Prints inspire me. Shapes in general.
Caitlin: When you aren’t designing, what are you doing? Hobbies/talents/etc.?
Emma: COLLAGES. I love them. I cut images and past them together. I have mainly done them for Lyell and Tocca but I also have done them for magazines and ones with children in them for friends. I really love it and wish I could spend more time on it. I want to do an enormous organic collage. I really am starting to get into a rhythm with it.
This style post is by our Hot Couture Fashionista, Caitlin Noel. Read more articles by Caitlin here.
For more fashion news, check out Caitlin on twitter @ http://twitter.com/#!/caitlinclovesyu
and view her Tumblr http://callmecait.tumblr.com/
