In anticipation of the launch of the Moura Tote, a special collaboration with Shaina Mote for the FW19 season, we caught up with Cecilia in her home and studio to learn about what's keeping her inspired this Fall.
What shapes, textures, and palettes encompass the sensory details of your present self?
As the season changes, I’m looking forward to layering and incorporating more browns and earth tones. I continue a love affair with pleats and gathering, both in my work and personal style.
What is something you have loved for a long time?
Quiet moments in bed with crisp sheets, a cup of tea and a book
What is something you have recently rediscovered?
After traveling for a few weeks and returning home, I’m relishing in my favorite aspects of Los Angeles: the rustling of palm fronds, the warmth of the sun on my face, the 1920s-40s early modernist architecture, the quality of light - especially at dusk - and returning to my routines. These sights and experiences are not new to me, but they feel sweeter and welcoming right now.
Please share the story behind a modern “talisman” you own — an object in your possession that you consider either a token of good luck or energy.
I have a small collection of chestnuts that I’ve found over the years and traveling throughout Europe. I often like to keep one with me, either in my pocket or placed on my nightstand. The most recent one was found along a winding path in the gardens of Versailles. I heard a thump and turned around to find a fresh chestnut, still in its husk but cracked open. The smooth round shape with it’s subtle hills and valleys is satisfying to hold and tumble around my finger tips. It serves as a reassurance of a certain kind.
At what moments are you the truest version of yourself?
When I’m alone or with people I hold dear.
What landscapes or places in nature are most resonant? Where do you feel the deepest connection with the outdoors?
Being in water always takes me out of my head, as well as seeing the horizon line above an ocean. These places provide a sense of quiet reflection and appreciation for the natural world.
Can you share the story behind a meaningful garment you own — perhaps an heirloom, or something that feels weighted with a special significance?
A simple cream colored silk blouse that belonged to my mother. I believe she wore it to work in the 1980s/90s under her vintage 1940s blazers. I always feel at home wearing it, whether dressing it up or down. The thought of her wearing it when I was a child, both of us unaware that I would someday make it my own, feels like a special shared secret between the two of us.
Can you share more details on one act of “wellness” that brings you joy in its ritual — maybe a special tea, or a favorite walk, or another ritual that you use to come back to yourself?
The one wellness act that has become quite important for me over the last year and a half is transcendental meditation. It’s one of the first things I do every morning before becoming distracted with work or communications with others. This ritual allows me to establish a baseline of calm and sets me up for feeling centered throughout the day. Knowing that I have done at least one thing on any given day that is just for me, for my own wellbeing, is an important source of purpose.
Can you share a recipe or idea for a simple, healing meal that you make for yourself often?
I’m a big fan of large hearty salads with roasted vegetables, shallots, a sprinkle of feta, olive oil, rice vinegar, salt and pepper. It’s so simple, but I enjoy letting the seasonal flavors show themselves and the mixture of textures among crisp leafy greens and soft cooked veggies.
What books are you reading right now (or have read recently)?
My Mother Laughs by Chantal Akerman and always The New Yorker magazine.
What book(s) do you always recommend to friends?
Books and essays written by Joan Didion and a photo book of Uta Barth’s work called The Long Now
What music is in rotation for you this month?
Alice Coltrane
Ah Um by Charles Mingus
Concorde by The Modern Jazz Quartet
John Cage