CELEBRITY CLOSETS

VINTAGE ARTICLE!!! MILLA

IN THIS FEATURE: Meet Milla Fashion Focus Biography

yCloset.com:

What is your personal style and how does it influence your line?

MJ: MY MOM WAS THE VERY BEGINNING OF MY PERSONAL STYLE. SHE WAS AN ACTRESS IN RUSSIA IN THE SEVENTIES. SHE WAS ALWAYS SO GLAMOROUS. WHEN WE CAME TO AMERICA IN 1980, WE DIDN’T HAVE ANY MONEY. SO WE WERE GOING TO SWAP MEETS, GARAGE SALES, FINDING REALLY COOL VINTAGE PIECES. YOU KNOW LITTLE SIXTIES DRESSES WITH BEADS, LONG FLOWING KINDS OF GOWNS, LITTLE FIFTIES JACKIE O JACKETS AND SKIRTS. THAT’S WHAT WE DID TOGETHER.

Did you hold onto the childhood/teen vintage finds in your closet?

MJ: OH YEAH. MY MOM DOESN’T THROW ANYTHING AWAY. FOR THE LINE, I’VE CONSTANTLY RAIDED HER CLOSET. YOU KNOW, WHERE’S THAT OLD THING? THE THINGS I HAD AS A KID, I NOW WEAR THEM WITH A TOTALLY DIFFERENT FEELING. CERTAIN COATS NOW FIT ME LIKE JACKETS. I ALSO INCORPORATE CERTAIN SCARVES MY MOM USED TO WEAR.

You’ve had a little girl. How was the baby shopping?

MJ: IT WAS SO MUCH. IT WAS RIDICULOUS. I GOT HER THE CUTEST LITTLE FROG SLIPPERS AND A BUNNY JACKET. I’M REALLY INTO ANIMAL CLOTHES. I’M ONE OF THOSE CHEESY PARENTS THAT WILL DRESS HER UP LIKE A LITTLE BEAR ALL THE TIME.

SOME OF THE LITTLE BEAR HATS FIT ME AND I’M GOING TO WEAR THEM. I’M INTO WEIRD DRESSING UP. I LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR WHEN IT COMES TO FASHION. IT’S IMPORTANT TO LOOK CHIC BUT ALSO TO HAVE A GOOD LAUGH.

Any fashion faux pas?

MJ: I WENT THROUGH A PERIOD WHEN I WAS SORT OF URBAN, SKATE BOARDERS, REBELLING AGAINST FASHION ALL TOGETHER. IT WAS ALL REALLY BAGGY JEANS, T-SHIRTS, AND BASEBALL CAPS. I STARTED MODELING SO YOUNG, SO I REBELLED AGAINST THAT. I TRIED TO BE LIKE, “YO WHAT’S UP?” I DID NOT WANT TO GET DRESSED UP AT ALL, KIND OF BUM IT. CUTTING THE TOPS OF WEDDING DRESSES OFF AND WEARING THEM LIKE SCARVES, WEIRD STUFF.

If you could bring back any era of fashion what would it be?

MJ: WITH THE LINE, WE REALLY BRING BACK MANY DIFFERENT ERAS. IT’S NOT LITERAL. A REAL TWIST, MODERNIZING THINGS, PUTTING LOOKS TOGETHER IN UNEXPECTED WAYS.

WE USE THE BEDROOM AS A THEME. WITH THE CLOTHES, WE TAKE THE COLORS OF NEGLIGEES. THE FEELING WE’VE CREATED WITHOUT MAKING YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE WEARING UNDERWEAR. YOU HAVE THE BEDROOM SEXINESS AND THAT KIND OF PERSONAL FEELING.

Style Icons?

MJ: WOMEN FROM THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. THE GIBSON GIRLS. LILY BARTON IS A STYLE ICON. ANYBODY FROM EDITH WHARTON BOOKS, THAT KIND OF FEMALE FROM HIGH SOCIETY GONE BAD.
I LOVE STEVIE NICKS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SEVENTIES. I LOVE COCO CHANEL AND JOAN CRAWFORD.

When do you discard things in your closet?

MJ: IT DEPENDS. VINTAGE PIECES I KEEP. NEW CLOTHES, I END UP GIVING TO CHARITY.
T-SHIRTS, JEANS...CERTAIN JEANS I CAN’T GET RID OF.

Like what?

MJ (WHILE PREGNANT): I’VE GOT QUITE A LOT. IT’S BEEN SO LONG WITH MY PREGNANCY (LAUGHS) THAT I’VE ACTUALLY WORN A PAIR OF JEANS.

Speaking of your pregnancy, many women clean closets because they go through a kind of nesting thing. Did you?

MJ: WELL, YEAH. MY CLOSET WAS A NO MAN’S LAND FOR ME WHILE I WAS PREGNANT. I FELT LIKE A STRANGER IN MHY CLOSET. IT WAS A BIT DEPRESSING. I HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING. I GOT RID OF A BUNCH OF SHOES. MY FEET GREW A LOT. I WAS LIKE, NO WAY! THESE CAN BARELY FIT ME! MY FEET WON’T GO BACK. THEY WERE ALREADY A FORTY-ONE (EUROPEAN FOR SIZE TEN).

Any pair where you felt, oh no I don’t want to throw these out?

MJ: NO. ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I HAVE A LINE, CLOTHES ARE REALLY CONDITIONAL. BUT THE VINTAGE PIECES, ALL THESE REALLY SPECIAL LITTLE THINGS. I’M REALLY ATTACHED TO SCARVES AND CAPES AND LITTLE HAIRPIECES.

Favorite designers?

MJ: MIUCCIA PRADA. GALLIANO. CHLOE. I ADMIRE PEOPLE WHO REALLY UNDERSTAND QUALITY. THE FABRICS ARE AMAZING. I’M A SUCKER. I BOUGHT THIS HEAVY BLACK WOOL CHLOE COAT WITH A BIG COLLAR. IT’S SO GORGEOUS. I CAN’T WAIT! IT’S MY MOTIVATION COAT.