DESIGNER'S DOORWAY

Victoria Bartlett

IN THIS FEATURE: Meet Victoria Fashion Focus Details

lived in a house on Rivington with friends. Arturo from the Ramones lived on the other side of us. We had a house of animals: armadillos, a mina bird, sixty parakeets.

Must have been hard on the clothes?

VBLT: THE CLOTHES WERE SCATTERED.

What’s the one item of clothing you would NEVER give away?

VBLT: THE APRICOT GIVENCHY DRESS, WITH THE GAY SHORTS. IT’S LIKE A FEMININE TOMBOY. PETER PAN, BUT SOPHISTICATED AT THE SAME TIME.

You do a lot of vintage scouting. Any prizes?

VBLT: THIS DIANE FRES DRESS. I FOUND IT AT AN ANTIQUE PLACE. I DIDN’T LOOK AT THE LABEL. IT’S SLIGHTLY JAPANESE, WITH A LIBERTY PRINT. I DIDN’T PAY THAT MUCH FOR IT. I GUESS SHE’S BECOMING MORE COLLECTIBLE.

Diane Fres was actually known as `Queen of the Gypsies.’ What’s one thing you regret throwing out?

VBLT: I HAD THIS KANSAI YAMAMOTO BIG OVERSIZED SWEATER, A BIG OPEN WEAVE KNIT. I LOST A LOT OF MY “BODY MAP” OVER THE YEARS. WHEN YOU ARE NEAR SOMETHING, YOU’RE OVER IT. AND YOU KIND OF MOVE ON. I’VE STARTED SQUIRRELING MORE.

What should you have thrown away, but can’t for nostalgia?

VBLT: THE MANOLO WEAVE DRESS. I WORKED WITH HIM. I WOULD NEVER WEAR IT. IT’S A BIT LIKE HOLLY HOBBY MEETS ETHNIC MERMAID.

What’s this little lace number? It’s a bit small for you!

VBLT: THIS IS MY CHRISTENING DRESS. I HAVE THREE OF THESE. MY BROTHER’S IS SIMPLER. THEY LOOK LIKE DOLL’S OUTFITS.