Meet Chelsea Rose Bell: Accessories Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Rose Bell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea Rose, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting my own business was about a lot of things. I wanted to have flexibility to create and also spend time with my family. I work when my kids are at school and then jump in the carpool line to pick them up myself. Sometimes if I’m still working on something, I sit and do it while my husband and I watch a show in the evening. The other thing I wanted with my business was to be engaged with the actual making. Often times in the fashion business you come up with ideas, but the products are made far away in a factory.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My background is in fashion design and design education. I have a BFA and MFA in Fashion Design and have spent most of my career as a college professor. My area of expertise is fashion history, which informs much of my creative work. My favorite fashion period is the 1960s and mod flourishes are often seen in my designs. I also incorporate quite a few vintage pieces in my new designs. I love the juxtaposition of the old and the new. I also love that these vintage pieces were made so well that they have lasted all of these years. They are not seen as “disposable” which is how so much modern fashion is viewed.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is very tricky given the pandemic. Our neighborhood is full of great restaurants, but they are now mostly enjoyed from the comfort of our home or on a patio if the weather is nice. If you are visiting from out of town, Mexican food is a must. Mariano’s is a great for fajitas and roasted salsa and Resident Taqueria is a must for unique tacos and margaritas. I would probably also recommend a little weekend getaway to my parents’ ranch near Buffalo Gap. It’s always fun to get away and drive the dirt roads in the buggies and there’s also usually a little fishing competition. And no trip to Buffalo Gap is complete without a patio meal at the closest restaurant to my parents’ ranch, the Perini Ranch Steakhouse. The steak is great, but my personal favorite is the fried catfish. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely think my husband deserves a shoutout here. He does his best to just avoid my studio space because the creative chaos is too much for him. But he is so supportive of this business which is amazing because it is challenging to be self-employed, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. I am also so appreciative of my customers who keep coming back to shop and sharing my website with their friends.

Website: www.rosieandbelle.com
Instagram: rosiebelle214
Facebook: rosie + belle

Image Credits
personal photo – Lexie Graeben Photography