Many of the pieces in Bridget King's closet have stories to tell. There is that floral velvet column gown with a black lace overlay and a scooped back, which her friend Dan Rentillo made for her.
'He and I went to the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum years ago and he made this for me. And it was such a hit because everyone kept asking me who made it and I would proudly tell them it was made by this man right next to me,' says King, a mother of two and designer of jewellery line Brigetta.
She picks up a multistrand pearl and crystal necklace and says that it is actually a belt that she used to wear in the 1980s. 'I started wearing it as a necklace and I wore it to a party for the jeweller Kenneth Jay Lane, and he complimented me on it and he said that he should copy it. I went ahead and included it in my line before he got a chance,' she laughs. 'I also have these quilted Chanel bags from when I was 19 years old and I am glad I kept them because they are still in fashion.'
With every item she pulls from her well-organised closet - which has geometric black-and-white wallpaper that calls to mind the Hollywood Regency aesthetic of the decorator Kelly Wearstler - there is a cherished memory and sentimental meaning attached to it, like the vintage black halter gown with silver trim from Geoffrey Beene, which she's worn only once. There is also a black-and-white floor-length dress from Diane von Furstenberg that was included in the designer's recent retrospective in Shanghai. 'That's why I cannot part with what I have because they are not just clothes; they have meaning,' she says.
'For everyday wear I like greys and neutrals. But I also like colour, especially those colours that you can't quite put a name to,' she says, fishing out a wool strapless Michael Kors dress that could be anywhere from fuchsia to Hollywood cerise to hot magenta, and a Kotur snakeskin clutch that could be lavender, wisteria or thistle.
'My style is either very casual with a mix of masculine elements or very girlish,' she adds. This dichotomy in her style is reflected in what she's wearing today and what is hanging in one section of her closet. She is sporting a white shirt with a black waistcoat and flared jeans that are oozing with masculine-feminine style, while behind her are frilly, ruffled tops and dresses. 'The most important lesson I learned about dressing up is to wear clothes that make you feel comfortable and to be true to your personality,' she says.
