LAUNE x Ceci Brien
Meet Ceci Brien! Born and raised in the Bay Area and currently based in Santa Barbara, Ceci is the founder of @lovesknittingandfigs. From closet staples to Morgan Stewart to style advice, get to know fellow UCSB Gaucho Ceci below!
1. Tell me about yourself. Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in the Bay Area just outside of San Francisco. I was always the little girl wearing tutus and princess dresses to school despite it being 50 degrees outside. I was a funny little kid who beat my own drum and refused to brush my hair. I am the middle child of three, which in many ways informs who I am. Organized and type A yet unapologetically loud and opinionated.
2. What brought you to UCSB? What do you love about Isla Vista and Santa Barbara?
I grew up playing competitive soccer which led me to being recruited to UCSB to play Division 1 soccer. I verbally committed when I was a sophomore in high school so I was unsure of what I wanted from a college experience other than soccer. Luckily I chose a school that has so much more to offer because by the time I got there when I was 18 I was burnt out and uninspired. I ended up “retiring” (aka quitting) after only one season and found myself in a full on identity crisis. Soccer was all I had known and suddenly I had all this time on my hands. I was so used to being booked and busy that I found myself drawing and doing collaging, something I hadn’t done since I was 4 or 5 since soccer took over my life. What is so beautiful about Isla Vista is that I met people out and in classes I learned about people doing other similar things. Isla Vista fosters a creative community that not many other places do. So many people have such amazing niche talents and just simply like to create. Santa Barbara is one of the least judgemental, accepting places I have spent time in. Anything and everything goes.
3. Tell me about @lovesknittingandfigs? How was it created?
Loves Knitting and Figs began in my tiny apartment in Paris my junior year when I was studying abroad there. Life in Paris is so simple, it revolves around cappuccinos, aperol spritz, art museums and fashion. Being surrounded by some of the best art and fashion in the world inspired me to reconnect to my tutu wearing 4 year old self. I was inspired to express myself through avant garde clothing, bright colors, and crazy hats. I have always loved social media and especially instagram. I think it is an amazing form of self expression and creativity (if used right). But because I was just experimenting I wanted another little space to explore and create without feeling judgment. This is when lovesknittingandfigs was born. The name came to me because I had started knitting scarves to fill my free time and it was fig season in France, so that was all I was consuming. It's that simple. I thought it was fun, catchy and very expressive of me.
4. What is your LAUNE (mood)?
My mood right now is pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I graduate in the spring which has me thinking a lot about who I am and who I want to be. With almost four years under my belt at Isla Vista I have learned how to navigate it and stay true to myself, which includes intentional alone time, trips to the co-op and not going out every day of the week. I want to utilize this ground work and stability to explore even deeper into the world of fashion. I want to wear things that make me uncomfortable, post things that feel true to me and not just true to an aesthetic, and most importantly I want to push myself into a professional field that is hard. I know that I have found my passion in fashion but I would be lying if I said expectations and possible financial stability are deterring from pursuing it.
5. What inspires you?
Everything. My professor's old school blazer. My mom’s chunky glasses. The way a character is described in my book. The color of the ocean. The textures of a throw blanket. Genuinely everything.
6. What are three staple items that every closet should have?
A good slightly oversized brown blazer is my most worn and most treasured piece in my closet. It is my dads from the 80’s and I wear any chance I get. It is the perfect piece because it transitions from day to night and summer to winter. Second is a basic white short sleeve that's not too tight or too loose. My favorite is from Brandy Melville. I believe in investing in a timeless wardrobe and do not subscribe to trends. Not only is it wasteful but it doesn’t allow you to develop a personal style. However, when it comes to something that simply won’t last forever, like a white tee, I opt for something that can be worn excessively and be replaced. Last is a long patterned dress. This may seem too niche but I promise it's not. Every closet needs something that can be pulled easily and be an outfit on its own. I also love long dresses with sweaters and jackets for the winter.
7. Describe your style in three words.
Eccentric grandma meets cowgirl (that was four I’m sorry)
8. What’s next for you?
I love this question right now because I am working on something that I am so excited and proud of. I am launching my website for personal and wardrobe styling this month! I have always known I wanted to do something in the fashion industry but was not sure what direction I wanted to take it in. I was dabbling in creative directing and maybe buying but when my phone started blowing up with people asking me to pick out an outfit for them for some festival or some event I took it as a sign.
Rapid Fire:
1. Favorite brand?
Parke - I am trying to shop only small women owned companies right now
2. If you could only wear one designer for the rest of your life, who would it be?
Gucci 100% their pieces are so timeless yet make a statement
3. Favorite restaurant?
4. Favorite place in the world?
Lake Tahoe
5. Favorite spot in SB?
6. Favorite drink spot?
Pearl Social (specifically the Porn Star Martini)
7. Favorite store in SB?
8. Favorite style icon?
Morgan Stewart
9. Favorite movie?
The Great Gatsby
10. What are your ins and outs for 2024?
In
Lunchboxes
Rewearing outfits
Maximalism in outfits and decor
Unapologetically asking people to take a photo of you
Dessert every night
Fur hats
Monochrome outfits
Athleisure
The Theory of Contradiction (I created this but it is the idea of mixing masculine and feminine pieces in the same outfit)
Out
The idea of “not being able to pull something off”
Asking people what they think of your outfit
Feeling weird about posting something
Over shopping
Trends
Quantity over quality
Buying something for a specific event that you will never wear again
11. What are you loving right now?
So many things! The color blue, layering, stripes (always), not putting pressure on myself, sparking joy, cottage cheese, making coffees at home, my dads old sweaters, my 15 years old brothers tee shirts, and chunky glasses.
You can find Ceci on Instagram and @lovesknittingandfigs
xoxo Emma x Ceci Brien
