Interview with Reachel Bagley from Cardigan Empire!
Hello Ladies! Today we want you to get to know Reachel from Cardigan Empire. We love her, and if you don’t know her yet, you will love her after reading this! Enjoy!
1. Reachel, we love your blog! We love your witty writing, your inspiring can-do attitude, and of course, your amazing taste in clothes. Oh, how I wish I could transport all of us to the nearest Anthropologie for a shopping fiesta! Could you tell us a little more about yourself?
At this moment I’m at the airport waiting for my husband to pick me up. I told him he wouldn’t recognize me because I was wearing athletic trainers. The lace ups constituted my bulkiest footwear, and I was determined to fit everything back into a single carry-on.
2. When did you develop such an enthusiasm for fashion? What influenced your style growing up? How about now?
I’ve fancied clothes ever since I was a toddler. At the age of three, my mom was forced to check my clothing out to me because I wanted to wear three to four outfits simultaneously. As the inches in my stature accumulated, I began to develop strong feelings for retro stylings with allegorical leanings. The shift dresses my Mom had sewn for herself in the sixties were favorites. I even had an ensemble dedicated to my love for the Rocky cinema series. I still believe in wearing items that remind you of what you love. Today I’ve donned a bracelet monogrammed with my husband’s initials and tax token earrings. My great-grandma had a play-store where the principal currency was tax tokens. Clothing is self expression, so choose your statements tastefully and don’t let anyone else put words in your mouth.
3. What are the three main mistakes that women make with their style?
Mistake one, two, and three can all be encapsulated in a single category: believing that one has to change their body to fit clothes properly. It’s so backwards it makes me feel slightly nauseated. Whether individuals are waiting to reach an illusive body ideal before investing in themselves, or wishing for what they believe to be a superior body type, or punishing themselves with thoughts on how they have “failed their clothes.” They are wrong. And as I am not aware of an emoticon for eye rolling, I will settle with saying “Clothes exist to serve you, procure items that are perfect for your body right now. Your clothes exist to serve you.” Carefully selected pretties can streamline and structure your existing form. Once well dressed, you may find yourself motivated to take better care of yourself or you may find yourself able to accept yourself exactly as you are. Marilyn Monroe was a voluptuous size 14 hourglass. Audrey Hepburn was a straight little size 2 linear. Both are iconic beauties. Learn your own body advantages and learn to love it.
4. When you started your blog, Cardigan Empire, what was your goal? Has your increased readership and success changed that?
My goal has always been to help women love themselves as they are. You don’t need to wear a dress size half the size of your shoe, or have a birthdate less than or equal to the current cover model. Just make yourself as beautiful as you can be, and learn to accept a compliment. Smile when you look at yourself in the mirror and maybe even give yourself a wink. I think we’d all be happier if our reflections winked at us now and then.
5. What are your favorite stores?
Besides Anthropologie, my heart flutters for boutiques. I like to shop local at home and whenever I travel. What I purchase becomes a tangible memory of where I’ve been.
6. Who are your fashion icon inspirations?
I adore Coco Chanel. In her ever so elegant own words, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”
7. Can we see a picture of you in a successful outfit?, one that gave you that “million bucks” feeling? How about a not so successful outfit? What made those respective outfits so successful or unsuccessful?
My “successful” outfit draws attention to my best features. I have a strong lower figure, so I’ve congregated the boldest patterns and details on my northern half to balance the figure equation. The bright colors are suited to my complexion and a riding belt works to narrow my waist. The trousers are comparatively subtle with wide legs draping straight down from my full hips. And the 4 inch heels under my cuffs turn my legs into leggies.
The unsuccessful outfit is actually demonically comfortable and right on trend, unfortunately it does nothing for my figure. The harem pants cuddle around my calf at its widest point and the shiny silk clings to every curve of my “athletic” thighs. The knit top looses my shape completely and the scarf (as my husband/photographer observed) makes me look like I’m ready for a magic carpet ride. I do like the shoes however; those shoes are champions. When I’m not sure about an outfit, I’ll commonly take a picture so I can see myself more objectively.
8. For us at Sensibly Styled, modesty is a key. What are your feelings about modesty in dress and the cause and/or effects of immodesty?
Demure dress allows your entire self to shine as one united front. Overexposure is distracting; you become a collection of disjointed body parts. Its all people can see whether they want to or not; they miss the whole of you.
9. We see on your blog that you offer Fashion Look Books and Virtual Shopping Assistance. I think I could use some of each! Can you tell us more about your services?
The Fashion Look Book is a personalized guide to your body type, coloring, signature style and lifestyle. It’s a little friend waiting in your purse to assist in all kinds of outfitting decisions. The virtual shopping session is an action packed shopping adventure. The session results in a portfolio of actual ensembles compiled for your evaluation and purchase. The fashion package delivers both services for a complete theoretical and practical fashion experience.
10. What can we expect from you in the future? What’s next for Cardigan Empire, or the Bagley Empire?
This week we’re entering the world of men’s fashion, specifically from the perspective of how ladies can assist their gentlemen in dressing their most dapper. Women have a gift of bringing beauty into the world around them: whether its a flower arrangement on the table or a pocket square in a suit jacket.
Reachel, thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions so we can all get to know you a little better!
Related posts:
I love this girl!
Us too!
I adore Reachel. Thank you so very much for such a well written spotlight.
Her “successful outfit” is totally stunning! Yellow is such a “happy” color and those trousers are so flattering.
Wow. Love the “successful outfit” SO flattering! I need that belt!! Where could I pick one up??
I think you look like Maggie Gyllenhaal in that first picture! the outfit is perfect too!
[...] the cardigan over the blouse, and then wrapped around with the belt on top (like the “successful” outfit by the gorgeous Reachel Bagley. Darn right, that outfit’s successful! She looks amazing.) The shoes would look killer [...]
[...] our interview with Reachel of Cardigan Empire, she talked about modesty and said, “Demure dress allows your [...]