I found these at a flea market in Brewster, Mass. The woman selling had stacks of them because her father worked at Vogue in the 1960s.  I’m now working on a collection for a fashion show (STRUT-Burlington, VT September 12th) and these illustrations are my muse.  It isn’t the shapes I’m interested in, but the attempt at innovation.

It’s really hard to be truly original. 

I love this quote by filmmaker Jim Jarmusch:

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery – celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from – it’s where you take them to.”

Steal away AND give the object of your theft credit for inspiring you. Karma is a bitch and not worth the risk.