Meet Designer, Blythe Hill
"The Blythe" dress has some groovy elements to it: a key hole cut out back, bell sleeves, and pockets. Today we get to hear from our founder, Blythe Hill on her idea behind "The Blythe" design and the women who inspire her.
Name: Blythe Hill
Title and Company: Founder and CEO, Dressember
Why I designed my dress the way I did:
I’m a big fan of sack dresses, so made sure to design a dress that hangs loosely. Maybe it’s because I love to eat and so often experience a “food baby”, but there is something so freeing about a dress that doesn’t hug your body. I also love the boho vibe it intrinsically gives off. Bell sleeves are having a comeback right now, so I knew I wanted to capitalize on that, and the cut out in the back was just a playful, unexpected detail I threw in at the end. Pockets were a no brainer. All five designers added pockets to their designs without being prompted, which is a nice utilitarian nod.
My biggest design influence/inspiration:
I’m really inspired by Justina Blakeney of The Jungalow. I love her “more is more” aesthetic-- the layered textiles, the abundance of greenery, the idea of every item telling a story. While she is primarily an interior designer, she brings that approach into her wardrobe as well. I’m obsessed.
Why I partnered with Dressember / what I love about Dressember:
I love that as Dressember grows, there are more and more opportunities to collaborate with other brands and designers. I love that what started out as an out-on-a-limb idea for myself to engage in anti-trafficking in a meaningful way continues to grow and expand to include more people in the conversation and the effort.
A woman I admire:
There are so many! I admire Nora Ephron for the complex and hilarious female characters she created for her films. I admire Hillary Clinton for her resilience and ambition in the face of the harshest criticism. I admire Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for the strength and grace with which she articulates feminism. I admire each of the women who designed dresses for this collection: Penny, for the way she weaves activism into all she does, wears, says, and who she is; Jessica, for how she has carved a path in the business world that allows her to be uniquely herself while uplifting and empowering so many others; Brit, for the excellence she strives for in her work at The Giving Keys and in all areas of her life; and Sierra, as a relatively new friend who is so delightfully layered and full of surprises (she’s a world traveler, a costume designer, a stunt woman in training)! These women epitomize the “you can doing anything in a dress” message, and I love how they are each pursuing the most vibrant and free versions of themselves, and they inspire me to do the same.
“I love that what started out as an out-on-a-limb idea for myself to engage in anti-trafficking in a meaningful way continues to grow and expand to include more people in the conversation and the effort.”
What I wish I knew when I first started my professional journey:
Leaders aren’t born, they’re created. I never ‘planned’ on leading a company or a movement, and so there was a lot of fear starting out. There are still times I feel like a fraud-- who is this girl who didn’t go to business school, trying to lead a company?! But I keep learning and growing, and I keep reminding myself I’m not in this position because I sought to be; I’m here because I was called to be. I’m grateful for the people in my life who have encouraged and believed in me-- those who have seen how steep the learning curve is and reminded me I have it in me to lead.
My Favorite quote(s):
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
- Winston Churchill
“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” - Chinese proverb
What is the craziest thing you would do/have done in a dress:
I have a Vespa, and I ride it wearing dresses often. It doesn’t seem that crazy to me, but I do get a lot of funny looks from people! Don’t worry-- I usually wear bike shorts under my dress, so I’m not getting looks for that reason!
XO
