Batsheva Hay
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Queens, an area called Kew Gardens, that was like kind of suburban Queens.
I know you came into the city for high school, do you think that changed how you viewed style?
Definitely. I definitely felt in Queens like I didn’t really fit in; people you know were just kind of more interested in like conforming or going to the mall. Being in the city every day and especially having the freedom of being on my own, I spent a lot of time going to vintage shops.
Do you remember where you went? Places you would always go?
I mean it’s so dating myself, but I used to X-girl for t-shirts. There was an amazing vintage shop on Lafayette street that had deadstock amazing ‘70s stuff. The whole vintage thing was so much better then. Definitely way cheaper, even Goodwills would have amazing stuff. Nothing was very picked through. And, then I did just general St. Marks Place.
Do you remember the first thing you bought at one of those vintage stores that started it for you?
I think I honestly had a lot of good luck at the Goodwill in Astoria, Queens. There were a lot of ‘50s dresses with the boob dart shape that I totally didn’t fill out in the boobs, and I’d have to stuff. But a lot of ‘50s shapes from that store I was wearing a lot.
Is there a time period you’d like to be dropped in just for the clothes?
That’s a good question. Almost any in a way. Probably Elizabethan mostly.
What do you think you pull from the most now, in terms of an era?
I guess mostly Victorian. Since there are so many ruffles, it ends up really being a mix. There’s a lot of ‘60s stuff and more recent. But I think the foundation is Victorian.
How would you describe your style?
I would say that it’s a little bit costumey, I guess. Which I know is a thing I probably shouldn’t say because that’s what makes it tricky. But the real idea was to have something that was comfortable enough to wear but maximum fun and interesting and old fashioned.
How do you think working in an [law] office for so long changed how you thought about clothes?
When I was at my law firm, I really hated getting dressed. I remember clothing always brought me so much pleasure my whole life, always. Clothing was always the thing - a lot of people have it. I’ve heard some people don’t love getting dressed, for me, sometimes it is a curse getting dressed, but at least it’s the thing that can elevate a lot of my experience in the day. For school, if I had something I really loved that I was wearing, it made my day better somehow.
I get that completely.
And then I just had none of that working at a law firm. Because even though that was the first time I was actually making money to buy stuff, I didn’t feel allowed to wear anything that I liked. The idea was you couldn’t stand out. And the thing is clothing is the only way, I tended to be pretty shy most of my life even in high school I was really shy, but the only way I was comfortable standing out was how I dressed. So then being stripped of that felt so sad. To the point, I remember that was my first thought when I quit, that I could dress however I wanted.
I think I’m a relatively shy person, I definitely express more through clothes.
Yeah! Like I used to really have costumes and capes and things like that. For some reason, I could do that, but I’d be sitting in the corner, not really talking.
Are you the type of person to plan an outfit? Or is it an instinct when you wake up?
I definitely never plan outfits out. I have a huge organization problem - as you know. I can’t; I’m really bad at putting things in the right place. So it really is, every day just going and feeling out what I see — stumbling upon things.
Do you think it sets the tone of your day - what you’re going to wear?
Definitely. It hugely affects my day. Like today, in sweatpants, it’s like, it’s just a certain type of thing I don’t know. I like it, I’m okay with it, but it’s -
That’s what you were feeling when you woke up!
Sometimes it’s just whatever I can find. It’s just - it’s okay, you know.
Does having young kids at home change how you think about getting dressed? Do you ever let Ruth [Batsheva’s daughter] pick out your outfit?
Ruth does insult me a lot if she doesn’t like what I’m wearing. But kind of in a way, I’m glad it didn’t do the thing which is make me feel like… I have that thought sometimes where I’m wearing something, and I’m like, “I’m someone’s mother I can’t wear this.” It’s a little bit too weird. Sometimes I do feel weird about dropping my kids off in certain things. But, also it’s mostly the neighborhood that we live in [Upper West Side] that makes it okay. It’s like I can kind of get away with whatever. It’s not like I need to show up at school where all the moms look perfect, and whatever, everyone is dressed a little awkwardly.
For sure - anything goes up here!
I know one of the things you were thinking about when you started the brand was not being able to find things you wanted to wear. Are you still looking for something that you can’t find when shopping?
I never shop anymore - really. The only things I get are sneakers or an ugly warm coat — very practical things. Shoes, I guess. I haven’t really made many shoes. As for clothing, no. And I often do have a feeling like I really want something - like this housecoat, that Kitty [my sister] wore in the show, I was like, “I want to wear that,” so I made it.
It’s a nice thing to be able to do!
It has answered all my questions.
What are you go-to shoes at the moment? Are you still wearing Danskos?
Shoes are still a curse. I don’t know what I like in shoes. I still wear the Danskos clogs, but I hate them.
[I hate them too! Now it’s like everyone is picking up on it. It’s getting really trendy but it’s comfortable. I wake up and…-Delsy Gouw]
Your feet slide in! They’re like boats that you step into, “Let’s go!” I wear sneakers because my friend works at Nike. But there is no shoe that makes me feel right at the moment. I do like the Belgian Shoes.
They’re comfortable! Just not this weather.
It’s not this weather, not in the rain.
Are there any movies that changed the way you thought about clothes? Either recently or when you were younger.
I always loved period pieces no matter what just for the clothes. The Romeo and Juliet one with the super young kids, the Zeffirelli one, the girl in it is so beautiful and elegant - with the long hair. That definitely did it for me.
So in high school you really cared about clothes, do you remember what you were wearing? The piece you cared the most about?
I remember really loving my peacoat. I really loved that. I was really into coats. Particularly wool coats with little velvet details. I also wore a lot of ‘70s polyester shirts. That’s what they had at the deadstock place. They had amazing patterns — also, the wool sweater with the sheep and that kind of stuff.
Is there anything you wish you could go back and take so you could wear it now?
Honestly my mom and I are both hoarders, we saved everything so a lot of the things I’ve made have been trying to use patterns to make those things.
Do you call yourself a hoarder? I definitely consider myself a hoarder.
I’m definitely a hoarder. There is no question. Only recently have I started parting with things, it’s hard.
How do you part with things?
I’ve done the Real Real a few times. Giving away to friends is the easiest way. Because you know it’s going to a good home. The thing is, even when I’m over it, I’ll get into it again a few years later. I know it needs to chill for a few years and I’ll rediscover it.
Is there anything you’ve come back to recently that you let chill for a few years?
Sweaters. So we started doing a few knits and to do that I went actually looking through the sweaters I have. I’d forgotten about them, and then I started wearing them again. I always find old t-shirts, and I’m like “Aah! This one!!”
Graphic t-shirts?
I really really love vintage t-shirts, that’s probably my favorite thing.
Do you have something in mind when you go vintage shopping?
So now that I’m designing stuff, I go looking for dresses for inspiration. But generally, you know, we recently were in Miami, and there is so much good vintage. I ended up getting a weird coat that’s not at all the right thing and some blouse. I feel like I’m hunting. I always want to see what they have in the back. It just feels like I’m hunting.
Has it always felt that way?
Definitely, because I started with the Astoria Goodwill and Salvation Army that were just huge. You really had to dig, and there are real treasures.
Do you go back there now?
I haven’t been back in a long time. It’s not as good. Like all the Salvation Army is H&M stuff now.
Can you tell me a story about something you’re wearing right now?
The sweatpants are from my daughter’s school. And I felt pressured into buying them, but I’m actually going to wear them all winter. My blouse that’s a good one.
I know you said you don’t buy much anymore, but do you have “too much” of anything? If someone came into your closet they would say, “Ooh Batsheva you have a lot of ____.”
Dresses I think, I still buy a lot of dresses. Especially now, that’s mostly what I make. I feel like if I see something, I almost have to. If I find a cool prairie dress at a vintage store, “Okay so I have to get that.” I keep on collecting that — also vintage fabrics.
I feel like you can justify it all now which makes it so much easier.
I’m not so much of a “thing person.” It’s not like I buy a lot of lipsticks and sunglasses. I used to have more of a problem with that. Now I really don’t!
You’ve kind of created your own little world, I feel like you have everything you want!
I buy a lot of tights!
Where do you buy tights? I feel like a lot of people have trouble with that one.
Yeah! I have categories! I have my Spanx. I have the fun ones that I use for shoots. Like I got these Harley Quinn ones. And striped ones. Random shops when I see them in places with a good selection I always go in.
