| Gypsy Moon lives up to its slogan. It truly is the most romantic clothing in the universe. We talked to the brains behind the designs. Hip Chick Zine: So what's the story behind Gypsy Moon? Gypsy Moon: Gypsy Moon began in 1991. I had been dancing in a gypsy troupe at King Richard's Faire and making our costumes out of bits of Edwardian silk and lace. People constantly tried to buy my costumes, so I decided to start making a line of hyper-romantic clothing, based on history and fantasy but street wearable, not costumes. We began immediately by distressing contemporary silks to get the feel of the antique pieces and people just loved it. HCZ: How did it get its name? GM: Gypsy Moon refers to a phase of the moon, which, traditionally, Gypsies preferred for travel. It lent enough light to see what they were doing, but not so much that everyone else could see them. HCZ: What other companies or designers have you worked with? GM: When I was very young, I worked for a designer in Florence, Italy, where I grew up. Other than that, my main business was a dance studio until I opened The Grande Trousseau in 1985. That was my first experience with buying, restoring and selling antique dresses and wedding gowns, and that's where my costume parts came from. HCZ: What are you inspired by? GM: I'm inspired by history: the Pre-Raphaelites, all the romantics (including Adam Ant) and everything I've ever read. HCZ: What are your favorite pieces? GM: My favorite pieces are always changing. Right now, I'm working on a rock and roll-inspired collection and we're very excited about that. |