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The Women Who series is evolving–in this special edition, Isabel, our head of marketing, interviews her mother, Ilene, about heirlooms, parenting to foster creativity.
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A root of the ER ethos is interpretation of the heirloom. What do you consider to be an "heirloom"?
The ‘heirloom’ that I attribute to my father is my ability to be discerning. He taught me what good is. From that I extrapolated the desire to strive to be excellent at what I chose to do, that extended to work ethic in general. It has always been my hope that that set a strong example to my children. The most valuable thing that I inherited from my mother (a bit of this I credit to my father as well) is seeing things, really seeing.
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What was a forming memory of creativity within yourself? Thinking back on that inward presence, how did it shape you as a parent?
In my youth creativity was my way of thinking, my approach to the world, my way of dressing. It was mostly met with dissatisfaction in my family. As a parent I knew I wanted to encourage my children to know I was comfortable with who they were and that flying your freak flag was to be celebrated.
Do you consider creativity an "heirloom"? How do you try to pass it down?
Point out the unexpected less obvious things of beauty in the everyday. I schlepped you and your sister to museums when you were too young and didn’t want to go. But we did it anyway. And talking about color, in depth and often.
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What gives you confidence? In the everyday? As a parent?
An additional piece of crucial advice that I received from an instructor in college who was critiquing a design project (don’t think it was even mine) - ‘the more personal, the more universal’. I found this to be a words-to-live-by phrase, not just in creative pursuits. How do you approach getting dressed when you want to feel confident?
Dressing to feel confident - I suppose I’m a product of my time and my nyc design school training...I wear all black.
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What ER pieces are we wearing?
Ilene: Despite my subconscious (or conscious?) habit to wear all black...here I am in the opposite palette. Emma's pieces are so versatile and essentially seasonless. As a uniform dresser...this is important to me. The railroad denim Cedar Swing Jacket is now front and center in the closet. And I might just steal your Anna Trouser to wear as a set. Watch out.
Isabel: The Anna Trouser is hands down a new favorite (you can't have them!). I'm already a fan of the Tati Trouser and I love this new iteration with the waistband removed. The level of detail is what I truly appreciate about ER. Fabric choices, sustainability, colors...copper buttons on the Cedar Swing Jacket that compliment the copper hue in the weave of the railroad denim is chef's kiss. My spring look on repeat: Anna Trouser + Pointelle Henley + Oversized Hollis. Mom, I think I inherited a little bit of your uniform dressing gene!
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Shop Isabel & Ilene's Picks
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