The Tamesis
Some people shop and some hunt. Jenny Walton has long been in the latter camp, the kind of antique collector who not only remembers what she bought, but also where she found it, what she was wearing when she stumbled upon it, and, most importantly, why it mattered. In her debut novel, Jenny Seth Quay (out April 29), Walton invites readers into this deeply personal process: part scrapbook, part sketchbook, part sartorial statement—although, as she writes, “the book is by no means a guide.”
Walton didn’t just write the book—she illustrated it, photographed it, and pieced it together like a visual diary of her own life. Loose ink drawings are juxtaposed with still lifes of precious objects, flea market finds are arranged like miniature stage sets, and candid snapshots of her life in Milan are collaged with painterly abandon. Even the cover—rendered in playful, trompe l’oeil-style hand-drawn lettering—has a delightful Beaton-esque feel, as if it had been drawn in the margins of a particularly chic sketchbook. The effect is intimate rather than refined, tactile rather than glossy—a refreshingly stylish book that feels like something handcrafted.
Photo: Courtesy of Phaidon
Walton offers not rules but permission. “A wardrobe that truly reflects the character of its owner cannot be purchased overnight,” she writes. Style, she believes, is not something to be acquired but something to be discovered slowly, instinctively, and often irrationally. It’s a journey into, in her words, “the chaotic and magical world of self-expression.”
celebrate FashionDuring Vintage Week (Vogue’s vintage market sale is just around the corner), Walton is doing what she does best: looking back. Here, she highlights a selection of pieces that have defined her wardrobe and, in many ways, her worldview. A coveted dress from the Marc Jacobs Spring 2008 collection was discovered deep in the late-night resale scroll; a hay-strewn circle skirt with a crinoline added extra drama; and Hermès scarves are constantly being reimagined. These are not just clothes, they are companions – things filled with memories, patience and a touch of serendipity.
Photo: Courtesy of Phaidon
This is probably my favorite dress of all time, just because I waited so long for it. I first saw it on Style.com in September 2007 when it appeared on the Marc Jacobs show. I was a freshman at Parsons School of Design studying fashion design, and Marc Jacobs was my obsession. I never dreamed I would own this dress (Look 41 to be exact), let alone anything in this collection. However, two years ago (15 years after it hit the runway), while browsing resale sites late at night, I stumbled upon someone selling it in Rouen, France. I bought it for 100 euros (I already had the matching heels). Spring 2008 Marc Jacobs is still one of my most coveted search terms.
