When San Francisco fashion designer Elizabeth Seghezzi invited Mia to model the latest season from her clothing line Elizabeth On Jones I was thrilled. Elizabeth On Jones features beautiful dresses for younger girls ages 2 through 8 with impeccable attention to detail not usually found in children's clothing. Elizabeth's dresses are made to last for years and look beautiful in almost any occasion!
All the photos in this post were shot by Allen Harper, a Bay Area based photographer you should totally follow on Instagram. After Mia's shoot, I talked with Elizabeth about her goals and the inspiration that feeds her precious dresses.
What inspired you to design for young girls?
I get asked this question a lot and I always have trouble answering it. There wasn't a distinct moment...I guess I feel that there is more freedom and fun in designing for girlswear vs womenswear. I have worked with children for a long time. I've been nannying for five years and the two girls I take care of have been a huge source of inspiration. I love getting their feedback on my designs, seeing which colors and shapes they gravitate towards. My hope is to appeal to little girls and their parents equally. I've always worked small scale as well so it has always felt like the right fit.
How long have you been sewing and designing?
I started hand-sewing in elementary school but I did not get my own sewing machine until I was 20. I initially studied architecture before changing my major to textile design. I work very technically and it's easy for me to see the similarities between architecture and fashion/textile design, but I was drawn to a career with more color (and less stress!). I began studying art and design more seriously in 2006 and began focusing on childrens wear in the past few years. My business officially launched last April, 2016.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I have always been drawn to ballet and more specifically ballerinas. I interned at the Boston Ballet during college. Ballerinas are dedicated and focused and each movement they make appears effortless. I try to mirror these traits in my work. Labor intensive and painstakingly detailed but in the end each piece should appear to be magically constructed and precise. These traits also stand out with a specific European couturier that I admire, Cristobal Balenciaga. He was able to take part in every aspect of designing and I think it's rare for a designer to be so involved in every part of their business.
My goal is to create a business founded on quality. Dresses that will last through generations.