01/04/2013
Harvin Plays by Her Own Rules
As a little girl, Harvin Eadon (Virginia's eldest daughter) had the freedom to express herself however she damn well pleased. Whether it was dressing up like a pretty fairy or channeling her inner tomboy by rolling around in the dirt with the animals at her family's South Carolina farm, the blonde never once felt boxed in. Today, she throws caution to the wind and lets her imagination run wild when it comes to fashion. An artist in her own right, Harvin pours her heart and soul into her upcoming jewelry line called She Blames Me, creating pieces inspired by her critics. Learn more about her unique perspective below. Then, catch her on Big Rich Atlanta January 23 at 8/7c on Style!
What was your style like when you were just a child?
I grew up in South Carolina on a farm. I literally walked around with just little white panties on, no top on whatsoever. I thought that was all I needed. I had the wildest blond hair. I was just a real tomboy—dirty and all that. I was around animals all the time. The one great thing about my childhood was that my parents never stifled our creativity. If we wanted to go to the store dressed like Tinker Bell with a real live rabbit in our pocketbook, we could! We could put stars all over our faces and have wands and we could be anybody we wanted to be to all day. My earliest memory of fashion would be using my tiny, little body as a canvas.
How did that foundation affect your style over the years?
It never stopped! I have moments when I feel like I'm jumping into my alter ego and I dress the part. I don't worry about appealing to the masses or even fitting in. I ride it out with my mood and play. Really and truly, I like to play. One night I may want to be Tinker Bell. Other nights, I want to be Lady Gaga.
What is it to have "style?" How do you define it?
It's who I am in that moment; it's who I feel like being that day; it's who I aspire to be in the future. Clothes alone are not what inspire my style. It is the mood they evoke, the context they are in and the statement they make when I am in them or see someone else in them. Style is the instant gratification and stimulation you soak in without ever saying a single word. The outfit and myself are not separate. I am the clothes and the clothes are me. It's the same as a painter who displays color and texture on canvas. It creates, promotes, and prods at your senses to interpret and make sense of things unspoken. It is art.
How would you describe your style as it is today?
Department stores are "blah" and do very little for me. I love to piece things together in my own way and rock things from up-and-coming designers who love taking risks. I love a rock 'n' roll look, but I can swoon over a boho chic look, too. I despise perfection. There is no mystery in perfection—no story, no creativity. I love beautiful messes. Most people will tell you that I do not make excuses for the way I dress. If you don't like it, I don't care. I believe that women should pull off whatever it is that makes them feel good about themselves. If you feel good about yourself, you are better to others. Conformity is for the birds. Why blend in with wallpaper? No woman on Earth likes to go unnoticed and unappreciated. I dress in a way that demands my own attention. My style is more than just the clothes I put on my body. It is my state of mind, and an empowering one at that.
What is your preference when it comes to dresses?
I am not the hugest dress fan. I do like to feel sexy in a dress. I look for things like knickers, hot pants—crazy garter-type pieces that are common in places like London and Europe.
What's your philosophy on accessorizing?
More is more! love necklaces that I can wear all the time and build on top of. I wear diamond studs regularly because big earrings can be distracting if you are like me and want to really decorate the rest of your body. I'm not huge on fake diamond jewelry and "bling" everywhere. I'm much more into the Western-inspired, boho pieces like the Spell and the Gypsy Collective brand, for example. That dreamy, Grecian goddess, Bohemian look is my style. I also love the edgy fierce look, like bullet bracelets and spiked cuffs. I absolutely love bangles to death. I will bangle out my arms right on up to my elbows without hesitation.
How about shoes? Which styles do you salivate over?
I love a wedge more than anything in this world, but it has to be a really hot wedge, like the ones from Jeffrey Campbell. I don't do kitten heels. I'm just not a good flat-wearing person.
What's inspiring you right now in terms of fashion?
I am really liking all the crazy, fun prints on skinny jeans. I'm am loving the use of transparent mesh fabric on dresses and tops. I never get tired of a top with oversized arm holes and this trend is still kickin' it! I love stark contrast colors, like black and white combined, that I am seeing more and more of. I am a pants and shorts kind of girl and I still have a good bit of tomboy in me, so I'm into the sexy masculine suit trend. The boho and rock 'n' roll themes continue to fly high in the ready-to-wear department, which keeps me very happy. To be completely honest, I do not really follow "trends" like a hawk. I like what I like and I love mixing and matching different styles and making them my own.
How did your mom's fashion sense impact you?
She's never not been blonde or bronzed—and she loves bright colors. She definitely taught me about color, even when it comes to interior stuff. Pops of color help with everything. Meyer and I borrow her clothes all the time. to be bronzed and dark, loving bright colors, and all that's totally rubbed off on me.
What different colors do you love to wear?
My standard go-to is black. You can do almost anything with black. I also love bright colors, like lime green or a real bright pink or a turquoise blue! I like neutrals sometimes, but golds are always great. It must be a blonde thing, but I love any gold.
How does your personal style translate at home?
I prefer clean and symmetrical. I love the contrast of blacks and whites. I like to throw in a print and I love pops of color.
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
I paint and draw. It's a stress relief thing for me. I go to my canvas to explore my emotions, good or bad. It's a release. I also love horseback riding and going to the shooting range. I have my concealed weapons permit and I allow myself to think I'm some Billy Badass when I go to the shooting range. I also love to dance. I cheered all my life, so shaking my tailfeather gets me excited.
Keep checking back to StyleNetwork.com for more Q&As with cast of Big Rich Atlanta.
