she's an unorthodox rainbow: an interview with holly rivers

*Note: this interview was conducted a few months ago. -Britney F.
1. What inspired your eccentric, unorthodox style? 

Eccentric and unorthodox? Me? Really?!!

 I have always been interested in clothes and design so I guess my style has just evolved naturally over the years. I experimented with the obligatory cliched skater girl, indy kid, grunge chick looks as every teen girl does, but eventually I just let myself be inspired by a wider range of sources and it made manifest in the ecclectic outfits i like wearing today! Today I'm inspired by an mish-mash mixture of Japanese culture and design, children's books, retro toys, the 80s and 90s, music, street style, pattern, colour, texture, monsters, comics, illustration and whatever else crosses my path each day. I feel very comfortable in what I wear and getting dressed is a lovely part of each day for me.

2. Why did you decide to start your blog?

To be honest I was unemployed and bored and needed something to keep my creative juices flowing! I had also been getting stopped a lot in the street  for photographs so thought it would be a good space for me to document my style like a visual diary. I have always blogged for myself really and I'm very humbled and glad that other people like following my sartorial adventure too. 

3. Who are your main inspirations, not only style-wise, but in general?

OOOH SO MANY! Bjork is a massive inspiration in every sense - her unique music, her originality, her passion, her incredible style, her attitude to work, her ability to grow and change so organically without seeming contrived, and of course her one-in-a-million voice. In terms of style and design I get fan girlish about Fred Butler, Fam Irvoll, Zandra Rhodes, Lazy Oaf, Bernard Wilhelm, Meadham Kirchhoff and Pam Hogg. My girlfriend, family and friends also put a massive cheesy smile on my face every day.

4. What blogs do you frequently read?

To be honest I'm shite at reading other blogs! When I first started out and had loads of time on my hands I read loads of other blogs as inspiration, but now I don't seem to find a spare five minutes as I have a proper grown ups job! I also find that the internet is over-saturated with watered down, copy-cat, style blogs these days and therefore a lot of them blend into one these days; I prefer to read books and graphic novels when I want to relax or go people watching if I want to be inspired. 

5. What are your favorite shops?

I shop in a mixture of charity shops (or thrift stores as you yanks call them!), markets, boot sales, online, boutiques and the high street. I'd love to dress head to toe in bespoke pieces but until that lottery win comes in I like to get a bargain. I also love to customize pieces and adding my own spin to plain garments - can't get enough of pom-poms, ribbons, paint, studs and buttons.

6. What books would you recommend? 

I adore children's books and I'm attempting to write my own at the moment so I'd have to say anything and everything by Roald Dahl...the man was a complete genius...dark and twisted stories that don't patronize children! Other faves are Geek Love by Katheryn Dunn, The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks, Snake Rope by Jess Richards, The First Book of Calamity Leek by Paula Lichtarowicz, Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess  and A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett - I love stories that are hyper realistic with a dark undertone! 

7. And finally, what are your goals for the future?

I like having fingers in lots of pies and I keep myself busy with so many things! I'm not a 9-5 kinda girl and get bored fairly easily. I'm restarting my career in acting at the moment and I just got cast as a 1977 punk in a short horror film this month, as well as embarking on a 2 month UK theatre tour of Alice in Wonderland this Autumn; both of which are insanely exciting. I'd like to write and publish my children's book in the next couple of years, maybe design a range of clothes at some point, have some babies, do more traveling, get more tattooes, buy a house boat......so many things to tick off my list. As long as I keep doing creative work and don't turn into a beige wearing, PTA attending, cookie baking,  home owner then I'll be happy!