Vena Cava's Lisa Mayock sounds off on her All Hell Breaks Loose style. By Christene Barberich, Photography by Kava Gorna
Left: Lisa in the doorway to her living room wearing a vintage Anne Klein jumpsuit, Vena Cava necklace (a sneak peek at Spring 2010--"expect beaded safety pins, collage prints, and acid-washed silks"), and vintage heels. Right: In the closet, a Pee Wee Herman doll wearing a Day of the Dead mask sits among Lisa's purse collection.
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A few months ago when Gap's recent designer collaboration broke in NYC, you may have been confronted by one of the collection's soaring billboard images featuring three gorgeous models and two equally striking designers: Vena Cava's Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai. Did they totally outshine Raquel Zimmerman? Pretty much.
But being extremely devoted VC followers, we're not surprised the Vena Cava message is making its mark out in the world. And certainly much of that mark stems from the style genius of the designers themselves, whose mutual penchants for old and new textiles, uncommon historical references, and incongruous match-ups runs deep. In fact, we spend much of our time wishing Lisa--an expert at pairing beat-up sweatshirts with oversized silver chokers or party dresses with Keds--would impart a few of her style secrets. Lucky for us, we got a private tour of her newly made-over Williamsburg nest, which like her look, has a lost-and-found sort of elegance and ease. How does she make it look so easy? We wish we knew...but here are a few tips to get us started.
Lisa on the street in Williamsburg wearing a pot leaf shirt from "Salvation Armani" (what Lisa likes to call it when she feels fancy), Chronicles of Never sunglasses, and Vena Cava's boyfriend mesh cardigan. Her lipstick is from a Polish 99-cent store. She has a lifetime supply stashed in her freezer.
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In 10 words or less, describe your style.
"How about three words: Confuse and Amuse. Some kind of incongruous element is always essential--a sweatshirt worn with a beaded collar, or a long black gown with an old E.T. pin from the '80s always makes me feel like myself."
Left: In the kitchen, Lisa wears a Vena Cava asymmetrical jacket, Marion Vidal ball necklace, old Adidas shorts, and Vena Cava for Via Spiga shoes. Right: Accessories galore in her covetable closet.
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Tell us your five key wardrobe pieces...the regular things you can't live without.
1. White Keds with studs on them.
2. Big silver jewelry--I feel kind of naked without lots of jewelry on.
3. VC black mesh boyfriend cardigan.
4. Acne pale gray men's shirt.
5. An ancient black shredded sweatshirt.
In the living room surrounded by some faves from her record collection, Lisa wears her favorite ripped sweatshirt and a Jane D'Arensbourg glass and ceramic necklace.
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What are your earliest memories of fashion? Things that made you feel early on you wanted to be a designer...
"I had a best friend growing up whose mom had the most incredible style--solid silk dress-suits with short pencil skirts, a severe black bob, and large colorful stones. I remember wanting to touch everything she had on--it was like visual candy."
