We caught up with Mischa Barton to discuss her new collection.
The actress-turned-designer is back with her latest collection of handbags and we love them! Practical, affordable and on-trend, it’s everything we want. In a hidden corner of London, we stole a few minutes with Mischa to chat bags, style and body-image.
Hi Mischa! We’re loving the new collection of handbags, which one’s your favourite? Hi! it’s difficult to pick- i love all the bags so much! The satchel styles are probably my favourite though, and the most roomy and useful for everyday.
What kind of things do you always carry around in your bag then? I’m guilty of throwing a lot of things in my purses a lot of like. I carry lip gloss, mascara, eye liner and my iPhone. Oh, and a book usually. My bags are usually big enough to fit my book in.
So what was your inspiration when you were designing them? I’ll buy a stack of magazines and whatever the runway collections are in the magazines and then take out my favourite pieces of inspiration. Which is everything from vintage bags, I take a lot from Japanese style, I take a lot from brands like Miu Miu and Prada. Some stuff from vintage fairs and things that I own.
Cool and have you got a muse or an ideal person you would like to see with your bag? It would have to be Kate Middleton because she’s a good, current fashion icon and I like that she’s got class to her and that’s the kind of image I want.
Yeah she always looks so stylish. Do you find that hard when people analyse everything you wear? I hate that aspect of things. I mean I haven’t been purposefully in the public eye for a long time and I haven’t been going out but paparazzi shots you see of me I’m wandering around LA just living life. I hate the public scrutiny about clothes. I think it’s stupid. If it’s not gonna be positive I think it shouldn’t be there at all because I like clothes at much as the next person. I like risk-taking when it comes to clothes and also just trying different things, whatever makes you feel comfortable.
Do you feel confident when you go out? Yeah I’ve got a good regime of like working out and a good balanced diet and I’m pretty comfortable with the way it is.
Would you ever consider having plastic surgery? It’s really not something that, god, I mean you never say never do you but it sounds horrific so I don’t know but who knows maybe when you get older what you’ll want to do.
And what trends and bags do you like now it’s getting into autumn/winter. Although I don’t suppose it’s that cold in LA… No, it’s still hot to be honest. It’s really hot over there. But I like all kinds of stuff - big chunky scarves, lots of V-neck sweaters, lots of t-shirts and layering stuff, long-sleeved t-shirts.
So what are your favourite brands from the UK then, are there any that you really like? ASOS and Topshop I would say kind of top the list. I’m a huge ASOS fan and I’m really happy that they carry as much of the line as they do. They’ve upped what they bought for next season which is a big deal because I really do love their stuff I buy it myself.
