Clare Vivier

Today I want to show you my favorite bag designer, Clare Vivier's closet. Her closet is a small room with a beautiful back yard view. It's filled with massive vintage finds, her own handmade jewelry, and art by her son Oscar and friend "Simone Shubuck" (one of my favorite artists) and more. I really loved the idea of "closet with art" and enjoyed looking at every single little piece she collected. Clare was kind enough to show us her latest bag design, you can see it in a couple of photos. - it looks amazing. We also get a peek into her work space which I found really inspiring.

Big thanks to Clare for posing in winter coats in 95 degrees!

Can you describe your style?
Hmm, a mix of vintage and new. I like to be interestingly classic, but there's always something a little off, I can't avoid it, I often need to alter things I wear to be personalized for me.



What is the most important thing when you design a bag?
That it is chic but simple.



Who are your favorite designers/brands?
Lanvin, Phoebe Philo, Kathryn Bentley, Isabel Marant, Marni, Vanessa Bruno



What are your favorite shops?
Luxe De Ville on Sunset, Steven Alan, Le Bon Marché, APC, Merci, Comptoir des Cotonniers




Describe your typical day?
Wake at 7 make breakfast and get Oscar ready for school, take him to school, hike Runyon Canyon, come home to work, work, work, until I go get Oscar from school, come home and work more 'til dinner time, put Oscar to bed and work some more. (most days)



What's something you wouldn't be caught dead wearing?
hmm, so many things, but there was a moment of absolute dread when "belly T's" were supposedly making a comeback.



You go to France often.  Are there places that you check out every time you visit?
I do. It's boring, but I have my favorite shops and I have to go to them (mentioned above) also I always end up at Jardin du Palais Royal, and Cafe Charlot in the Marais.



Do you have any items you've been eyeing for fall?
I wanted a leather skirt and I just got one. But I'd also love a leather jacket and some ankle pants and I haven't gotten some shoes in a while.



What other bag designers do you admire and wear?
I don't wear many other designers' bags these days - unless it's something vintage. I have a vintage Bottega that I like a lot. I admire the classic French lines for their ability to make an absolute perfect stitch and I really like Lanvin's bags right now. I adore American heritage lines, like J.W. Hulme. And I also admire Vanessa Bruno for her perseverance and her style.



Do you have any fashion guilty pleasures?
SHOES



Who are your style icons?
Heather Taylor, Deb Kaplan, Simone Shubuck, Emmanuelle Alt, Charlotte Gainsbourg



Can you give advice to new designers who want to start their own lines?
Don't let self-doubt get you down, just put one foot in front of the other. It's what I try to do everyday.