bunnyshop shopping fashion blog

We Can't Believe It Either

Good morning, and welcome to the first-ever Bunnyshop interview, with an actual, living person, and not a figment of our imagination. Not just any person, but Jessica Ciarla, whose Ciarla dresses are absolutely our choice for the summer. In fact, we liked them so much, we wrote about them a few weeks ago. We'd sent Jessica some ridiculous questions, which she was unbelievably nice enough to answer, and she also sent us a copy of the cover of the new book Full Frontal Fashion: Never Worry Again About What to Wear, which features the Ciarla tulle party skirt! If we sound a little swoony, we'll blame it on the weather.

And blame us for the questions. Check out Jessica's website at ciarla.com and buy her lovely things at Virgin Threads. This demands full Bunnyshop support.

BS: What is your favorite thing to do on a summer weekend, and what is your favorite outfit for doing it?

Jessica Ciarla: I'm originally from California so I love being outside and near the water. My favorite thing to do is wake up late and go have brunch at an outdoor cafe overlooking the water where I can drink a cappuccino and catch up with a week's worth of gossip with my friends. It gives me an excuse to wear one of my Ciarla green back tie camis with a pair of my favorite worn-in jeans and strappy heels which I think are the perfect for this occasion.

BS: Is there any spring \\ summer trend you have been totally repulsed by (i.e. espadrilles, not that we're hinting)?

JC: I don't really like the fur bags that are becoming popular. I'm not against using leathers and furs, but I think an entire fur bag looks excessive and a little crude. It screams money, which I think is tacky!

BS: We love the mod influence in your work — what do you respond to in the original mod era?

JC: My first collection had a little more mod influence than the others. I was really inspired by twiggy. I did a lit of empire waist dresses that seem to be popular right now. I love watching movies from the 50s and 60s set in NYC. Everything is so styled. The women really "dressed" even when going to the market. Everything was so polished and put together. I think it's fantastic! Although it may not be practical I love the idea of wearing heels and a fitted dress everyday.

BS: What is your guilty pleasure this summer?

JC: Vanilla and chocolate swirled ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. I could eat it every day.

BS: Do you have a favorite summer drink?

JC: The mojito. Very refreshing!

Now let's all go to Virgin Threads and buy some Ciarla. Personally, we're picking up the pleated chiffon bustier. The lemon color is excellent and despite our previous strapless-top-ban, we can probably will our boobs to stay aloft this time.

Our New Favorite Designer: Jessica Ciarla

We're too old for proms. Maybe when we have children, in 1000 years, we will see them off to the prom and dress up as prom-gear to, you know, get in the spirit. We have, however, been hearing about adult-only hipster proms in Williamsburg and Los Feliz, and if we were invited to one of those (or if we are scary mom-type in prom dress) we would absolutely, positively wear Jessica Ciarla, our new (as noted) favorite fashion designer. In fact, they're really not so much prom as mod, and we have always wanted to be a mod ’60s London girl and date Mick Jagger, but only 1968-vintage Mick Jagger, when he was hot.

Once, no kidding, we went to an auction at Sotheby's, where a friend of ours, a TV producer, was taping an episode of The Apprentice. It was black tie. Nobody told us. We wore jeans. But we had on the nicest vintage coat, that cost us $50, and all these rich people said nice things about it. So we felt like a big winner, that night, but a really poor big winner. If we had money, we would have worn Ciarla's Tuxedo Ballgown, above, $650. And then we wouldn't have felt all poor and Brooklyn-y and v. Eliza Doolittle-ish. Because they went home and ate lobster and foie gras on their waterbeds. We went home and ate Stouffer's Turkey Tetrazzini on the floor of our apartment.

We love the silhouette of this dress: See, instant waist! Black Satin Mini Dress, $430

Same silhouette, so mod. And even though it looks like a cut-up of a gray sweatsuit it's actually Italian wool with pink silk trim. And how nice, that neckline. Very Audrey Hepburn in 2005 colors. Mini Dress, $395

And finally, the tulle wonder. V Carrie Bradshaw, but it'd still be fun to wear. Just the skirt, $275