Fashionbride Interview: Old Soul, New Heart by Shea McGee

 “Tamara is Shea’s mother. She taught Shea that accessories never make you feel fat. She also taught her that well-placed ruffles, chains, sparkles and bows put you on the fast track to feeling pretty.

Shea listened.

So together they have scoured estate sales and shops across the globe, gleaning inspiration from decades past and present, to form Old Soul, New Heart – a collection of meticulously hand-crafted accessories that breathe new life into vintage finds and unique pieces.”

FashionBride also listened. A story about love, passion and… ruffles. Enjoy!

1. When did you decide to become a designer and why did you find this domain interesting?
Tamara studied fashion merchandising and worked with boutiques for many years. Both of us have always had an interest in fashion. We have always found accessories to be the perfect finishing touch to make a woman feel feminine and pretty. Designing accessories was a natural fit for us.

2. Talk us through the first years of you work. Maybe you could tell us what did change in time? Are your designs different from the very beginning?
Designing jewelry and hair accessories started merely as a hobby for the both of us and grew into a business after receiving much interest. When we first started, we focused mainly on creating pieces to dress up everyday wear. However, because have a weakness for sparkles, we had many requests to design wedding pieces. Our wedding line is our newest addition to our collection. We have stayed true to our original aesthetic – a modern take on vintage glamour.

3. Why should a bride-to-be choose one of your designs?
Our pieces are handmade and unique – many have a sense of history to them as we incorporate vintage materials. We understand that brides are looking for the best materials and a piece that will stand out without being a distraction on their big day. We believe we have mastered the art of subtle glamour with our bridal collection.

4. Do tell us a bit more about your inspiration sources.
We love looking through old family photos of my great grandmother – she loved costume jewelry and fancy headpieces. We also find inspiration looking through vintage wedding books and magazines. Last but not least, we love reading blogs to see what brides now are wearing.

5. Have you got any piece you’ve created and that has a very special meaning for you? Can you describe it or can show us a picture?
The Lily fascinator  is made from vintage organza petals found in an old factory and pieced together with wispy ostrich feathers and a beautiful rhinestone brooch. We love the detail of this piece and mix of old and new.

6. From your point of view, how should a perfect bride look like?
The perfect bride should be the very best version of herself. Your wedding day is a day to shine, but still be yourself. We love when brides look effortlessly glamorous. We think this is best achieved with a little more makeup than everyday – a soft, subtle smoky eye, a little blush and the perfect lip-gloss. When a bride feels beautiful and confident, that really shows through.

7. And tell us what would you give her and, maybe, other brands can’t.
Because all of our products are handmade and made-to-order we can offer customization for the bride that other mass-produced brands cannot.

8. Last but not least, do you have any advice for FashionBride readers?
Stay true to your personal aesthetic on your wedding day. Too often we see brides trying so hard to be what everyone else wants them to be on their wedding day. We say just be yourself and wear a beautiful gown that accentuates your best assets and accent it with a headpiece or veil that complements you without being a distraction.