Stylist and Muse to young Israeli Fashion Designers. Married and mother of five, resides in Giv’at Shmuel
“Style is a language that speaks before a single word is said”
Beautiful Vardit, with her carefully styled hair and her unique and daring clothes, evokes a sense of astonishment and appreciation in me, and brings a smile to my face every time I see her – both in pictures and in real life. We met for the first time this year, shortly after I had read about her in Israeli fashion magazines, which left me quite intrigued – particularly due to her being referred to as “The Shenkar (Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art, commonly known as ‘Shenkar’) students’ Muse” (Vardit acted as a Muse to Shenkar Design students during a course about International Fashion Houses, taught by Ronen Levin, at the end of which – each student created a unique item of clothing especially for her). Add to this winning recipe her pleasant and empowering demeanor, and you’ll understand why the first post in my new blog – about inspiring women and treasures from their wardrobe – is dedicated to her.
Vardit lectures and conducts workshops about styling for women, in addition to holding a long-lasting (27 years!) position as an Executive Assistant at Yedioth Ahronoth (Israel’s most widely-read daily newspaper). Over the past few years, she returned to lecturing and conducting workshops for women focusing on styling in the age of Opulence, and about clothes in the age of Fast Fashion – subjects this blog will continue to discuss in detail.
In my eyes, Vardit is a Muse not only because of her unique style, but also due to her supportive attitude towards young Israeli Designers. Her support is shown by her attendance at Shankar’s graduates final collection fashion shows and at Tel Aviv Fashion Week shows, and by regularly purchasing and wearing items they designed.
This year, Vardit walked down the runways of Tel Aviv Fashion Week at shows by Anya Fleet and Shahar Avnet – two young designers she has strongly believed in from their first steps in the design world, and has an amicable relationship with. Vardit also modeled for designers Elisha Abergel and Maor Zabar – a photo from Abergel’s breathtaking catalog, photographed by Miri Davidovitz and styled by Oren Dar, actuallyopens this post.
I asked Vardit some questions regarding her personal wardrobe, memories and thoughts that relate to garments, fashion and style:
Your first Fashion memory?
A brown, two-piece Safari suit that I wore to my Bat Mitzvah. My mother was definitely ahead of her time by a few decades, but I was an easy child and was happy to humor her. For years later I avoided wearing anything brown (must have been some sort of PTSD…), only introducing the color back into my life in recent years.
What is your dream item (that you still don’t own) – current or from any period in history?
I can’t think of anything specific that answers this definition. However, I can tell you that I’ve yet to find a basic item – such as a denim jacket – that answers all my requirements: has a tailored fit, is made of a material that isn’t too thick and is reasonably priced.
“Two years ago I acted as a “Muse” for Shenkar design students, as part of a course about International Fashion Houses. A creative and unique year, at the end of which each student created a garment for me. Together we went through a special, fulfilling and exciting process”.
You’re very supportive of young, talented Israeli designers. Can you tell us about it and show us an item that has a special meaning for you?
Most of my wardrobe has a special meaning to me, and as someone who pays close attention to detail and treats clothes like works of art – it’s hard for me to choose one specific item. And still: a single sleeved dress with an accentuated shoulder, made from suiting material – part of Tamar Netanely’s Shenkar Graduate’s collection – is a dress in which I see art before anything else, due to its creativity and its high standard of finish. Also, I know how much thought and attention were invested in its creation, which makes it even more special – in my eyes.
Another, more casual dress is a pink midi-length dress by designer Elisha Abergel. I like the special fabric, the color that always adds liveliness, the fact that it can be used both day and night – and that it feels so delightful on your body. I use it in the summer as a dress, sometimes even adding different colored trousers from the same fabric, and during the winter I add a thin turtleneck. It’s special to me because I have a personal relationship with Elisha, and I love and appreciate his work. He’s true to his dreams and I truly respect the fact that he doesn’t compromise on the result.
Favorite international or local fashion designer, and why?
Every time I go abroad I seek out local designers. During a visit in Kiev, I met several talented and creative designers and encountered unique, high standard fashion. One of these designers is Yana Chervinska, a talented young woman who knits amazing woolen dresses. I was truly excited by her work – which isn’t really suitable for the Israeli climate, but I couldn’t resist the urge so I purchased two of her dresses, both of which always make me feel special.
The most sentimental item in your wardrobe?
Although my sentiment towards my wardrobe is “they were all my sons” – I choose my wedding dress, designed by Pnina Tornai. It holds a different sentimental value for me, which represents pleasant feelings and a memory from an exciting period.
“I see a direct connection between styling to confidence and empowerment. I know every woman can maximize her advantages in order to feel and look good, and you don’t have to be thin, tall and rich to do it right”
Your biggest Fashion Icon?
On a national level, the late Ronit Elkabetz is an iconic example of style, courage, openness to fashion, creativity and precise selection of garments.
On a more personal level, I choose Ronen Levin – senior lecturer at the Fashion Design Faculty in Shenkar, who is a friend and mentor to me. Who knows, loves and appreciates fashion. Ronen speaks and breaths fashion, and he’s the one who taught me that “if it’s good – it’s never too much”. His fashion choices are always a combination of classy and sporty, old and new, elegance and individuality – all done with thought, attention to detail and zero effort.
Tell me more about the choice in you to be a Muse and inspiration for students
The idea in the core of the “Muse” project was to demonstrate to the students the pressure that weighs on each process of inspiration – a customer, for at the end of the design process awaits an actual woman. It’s important to me that women understand we’re all human, and Ronen’s choice of me as a “Muse” is exactly because my life is paved with dreams, copings, goals and choices. All in addition to openness to fashion and creativity.
I grew up in a secular home and from the age of 27, when I married a religious man, I’ve kept a religious lifestyle. That also has an effect on my fashion choices.
For years I battled with being overweight, and even then I didn’t cut myself any slack as far as my outfits were concerned, I was creative and stunning in times when the supply i the stores was very limited. I never let my weight manage me and always took pride in being well-dressed, to suit my size.
Fashion has always been a means of self expression, femininity, empowerment. I believe styling has kept me safe over the years, and still does.”
Best item you’ve ever purchased and why?
A black Boho dress by Liora Taragan. Always appropriate, has a pleasant feel, made of a perfect fabric, suitable for mornings paired with sandals and evenings – paired with high heels. Flattering even though it has a lot of fabric and is really super comfortable.
Is there an item you’d like to wear but you don’t dare?
-No, there’s no such thing.
Which Fashion Week would you rather visit? Paris, New York, Milan, London? Tel Aviv? Somewhere else? Why?
Milan and London are destination cities I prefer to stroll in. I’d never replace the Tel Avivian vibe – with our talented local designers. The atmosphere, attention to detail and the feeling of “being home” and “our own”, as far as I’m concerned – that tops anything else.
Do you have any special second hand/vintage items? What’s your view on such items?
Vera Wang bridal shoes which I purchased online. As someone who publicly speaks about styling in the age of fast fashion, I think there is a place of honor for quality vintage fashion.
“The shelf life of quality items is longer, so eventually – the purchase is smarter and more cost effective”
How do you choose your daily outfit? What guides you? What item do you usually begin with when assembling your outfit?
First and foremost – according to my tasks for that day. If a long day is planned – I’ll wear an outfit that can be upgraded, and carry various accessories along with me. As someone who believes our clothing affect us – I find great importance in choosing colors according to my mood. I keep close attention to maintaining a wardrobe that’s based on comfortable, flattering clothes that have a twist in their silhouette, fabric and the additions.
When I’m comfortable and I feel good in a garment – it’s evident in every activity and even affect your performance
What do Fashion, Style and clothing mean to you?
Style is a language that’s spoken before a single word is said. I believe styling is – before anything else – knowing what suits your body type, your needs and your lifestyle, and from that point on – the sky’s the limit and it’s all a matter of openness and experimenting.
In your lectures you reference clothing in the age of fast fashion and styling in the age of opulence – tell us more about that.
The past few years have been characterized by opulence and availability in all fields, as well as fashion. There are no longer any do’s or don’ts – there’s great openness to mixing styles, colors, old with new, and trends. It would appear that any woman can find or reinvent herself on a fashionable level – but that’s not the fact. In reality, for a lot of the woman I meet, the variety in stores is cause for a lot of confusion and frustration. They don’t know what to choose – they look for what they already know and have or purchase items that turn out as useless. Researches show that 80% of the time we wear 20% of our clothes. Thats a shaking statistic that shows a lot of purchases are unnecessary, and we haven’t even mentioned the great damage caused to the environment…
“Looking good is a choice and behind every successful woman – stands the woman herself “
In lectures, I find it important to teach women how to understand their body type and what patterns suit them the best. That’s the base of creating the right wardrobe, because a lot of the time – styling is a sort of play with optical illusion. I recommend to base your basic wardrobe on flattering patterns and colors that can be mixed and matched. I’m all for personal interpretation of trends and combining accessories – in order to create a variety of looks from the same basic wardrobe. And from that – my recommendation to all women is derived: invest in patterns made from quality fabrics that are suitable for them. It’s a larger budget expense but the shelf life of quality items is longer, so eventually – the purchase is smarter and more cost effective.
Your hair accessories and earrings sometimes attract more attention then the clothes themselves…
I take time to add bold accessories to the head or ears, because I believe that before anything else – we talk to people at eye level, so it’s important to pay attention to your torso as well, with styled hair and makeup. The most beautiful garment will look bad if we neglect those.
I saw this photo on Vardit’s Facebook page. She added this beautiful text to it:
“You’re brave…”
“You don’t care what people say…”
“There’s no way that would look good on me…”
These are all parts of sentences I hear from women in regards to my choice of outfits. I answer each of them individually, but I also answer them here
I don’t believe bravery is a word that has anything to do with fashion. It belongs to other copings in life, that involve actual difficulty.
Fashion is fun. Correct styling is completely connected to openness, experimenting, understanding that a garment can be used to relay a message and even to affect our performance, not to mention our confidence and self image. As the years go by, I know and preach more and more that there are no wrongs in fashion. As long we match our clothes to our body type, age and lifestyle – it will be right, and when it’s right – it’s never too much…
So don’t be afraid to try, what’s the worst that could happen? You might even succeed.
In the name of mischievousness, and in the spirit of the upcoming Eurovision – I chose this headband inspired by Neta’s cute ponytails, made by Maor Zabar.
To wrap things up, a few pairs of colorful shoes from Vardit’s Instagram feed
Thank you Vardit, for the inspiration and dedication. Want to continue following Vardit’s style? Visit her pages on Instagram and Facebook.
And I – Iris Fogel Ben Hamou, invite you to visit my Instagram page as well (you’ll even find two fashion illustrations I had made of Vardit), comment here on the blog or by email, and to sign up to receive every new post directly to your mailbox right down here – at the bottom of this page!
Thank you for reading!
Dreams in fabric 