The line: Formerly a women’s wear and accessories designer at Nordstrom before opening her Frock Shop boutique in 2006, Fairchild lets both the pattern and originating era of the fabric breathe life into her exceedingly wearable skirts and girly yet refined day dresses (often offered for less than $125). “I love the silhouettes and styles of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s; my designs are a mishmash of those eras. I like to take really feminine details from these eras, but then reenvision them; it’s not replication as much as a re-imagining for the modern woman.”

Creative spark: “Frankly, I’m a vintage-fabric hog,” says the 39-year-old, who attended fashion school in London, England. “I scour for it online, and trade with other designers; I’m a real textile person, and am obsessed with prints and patterns.”

Her muse: “In my head, she’s a composite of Michelle Williams, Zooey Deschanel and Carey Mulligan—a quirky ingénue type who likes vintage things and wants to look cute and fabulous at the same time.”

Mission statement: “Get dressed up, sweetie!”

Biggest fashion faux pas: “There are just so many! I mean, I was a teenager in the ’80s. I used to wear this loud patchwork blazer and matching peasant skirt in this terrible print. It was a look, though it was all from The Limited, so it must have been in style at the time. But now I look back and all I can remember is oversized shoulder pads.”

Favorite fashion trend: “I love lace! That’s a big one. The other is prints of animals, like birds and horses. I’m very enthralled by cat prints this fall. During that whole ‘put a bird on it’ phase, I felt like I had an aviary for a while in the store—but now the cats are coming in to eat the birds.”

How personal style influences her designs: “Most of what I make I would wear; my favorite uniform is a skirt paired with a jacket. I like to keep both my style and my designs very feminine. Nothing is stuffy or overdesigned, just garments you’ll feel and look great in.”

Line: Suzy Fairchild

Find it: The Frock Shop in Phinney Ridge (6500 Phinney Ave. N; 206.297.1638; shopfrockshop.com) or suzyfairchild.com

Clothing shown (From left to right): Polka-dot-printed, cotton button-down “Dotty Ruffle” dress with flutter sleeves, gathered ruffle skirt and inseam pockets; sleeveless tulip-printed vintage cotton “Bloomfield” dress with full skirt, inseam pockets and contrasting black cotton band trimming. Fairchild wears her own designs, a black cotton eyelet wrap dress with short sleeves and full skirt, and a large pink Italian silk flower fascinator with black feather trim; shoes are her own. Cap sleeve dot-print cotton/Lycra shirtwaist dot dress with patch pockets on bodice and skirt and contrasting piping throughout.