Jane By Design's India de Beaufort Talks Fashion
India in her studio. Photo courtesy of Benny Haddad Photography.1/6Where did your love for fashion begin?
I trained in fashion and I've always had a big love for it. I trained in technical pattern making and I love the making of clothing.
Are you more into fashion or acting?
Your twenties is definitely the time to focus on making achievements. I think they're both equally my passion. At this point, acting pays my bills. But you have to have a passion that's not related to your career. I'm thrilled that I have a job that I love, and it makes me unbelievably happy, but having a side passion that I love is so important. You can't just do one thing anymore. You have to do one thing, and have a second bag of tricks.
India in her studio. Photo courtesy of Benny Haddad Photography.2/6Who inspires you, design-wise?
I have to say our costume designer Olivia Miles. She's the reason for a big change in the way that I dress and for getting a dress on the show in the first place. I took her styling tips as inspiration. She styles my character in a lot of fierce shapes and shoulder pads. I worked with that in mind when I designed the piece—cleaner cuts and sharper styles.
What designers do you love?
Phillip Lim, because he has clean, chic looks. I also love a lot of high street like AllSaints, which has a slight period feel. I love whimsical designers like vintage Dior—that's my heaven. If I could sit front at Fashion Week all day, that's would be heaven for me, too.
India in her studio. Photo courtesy of Benny Haddad Photography.3/6Where are your favorite places to shop?
Shareen Vintage in downtown LA. It's a huge warehouse and she edits beautifully. There's no boys. It's just a bunch of girls trying on clothes. Madewell, because they make some really nice basics. I love their shirts, their pants are great, and they have nice Parisian-inspired dresses.
India in her studio. Photo courtesy of Benny Haddad Photography.4/6How does your personal style differ from your character's?
My personal style is much more vintage. I buy a lot of vintage separates and pair them together with different eras of clothing. You end with this whimsical eclectic style. I've always been madly in love with period clothing. Prior to sixteen, I wanted to be Marie Antoinette. As I've gotten older, my style has edged into '40s and '50s.
India in her own design. Photo courtesy of India de Beaufort.5/6Do you talk fashion with your costars?
Erica and I have gone to a lot of vintage shops together. I have a blog called called Lovely Junk. I put videos up there about style, books, and vintage labels. I just did a piece with my friend Kate Lang Johnson, and Erica will be on soon.
What’s next for you?
My character is coming back in the fall, which will be a lovely surprise, and she’ll be more evil and menacing.
India in her own design. Photo courtesy of Benny Haddad Photography.6/6Tell us a little bit about your dress design that landed on the show.
The dress has a high neckline with an a-line skirt, and the embellishment in the front is made with draped tulle that I formed on the mannequin. Then I threw on an industrial zip in the back. The whole thing is a menacing kind of elegance, with the femininity of the tulle, but in a wicked shape. It's the juxtaposition of feminine and the evil harshness, mid in this chic Parisian shape.
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