From a young age, Christine Blanchet Aitkins was captivated by design and architecture. Christine fondly remembers riding around Berkeley with her parents, eagerly selecting her favorite houses as she toured the town. This became a cherished pastime, and many of those childhood favorites still hold a special place in her heart.

Christine's appreciation for aesthetics was also evident during her time at the Madeleine, a Catholic school, where she looked forward to free dress days to showcase her personal style. One memorable outfit featured burgundy corduroy knickers, knee-high socks, and a white shirt with a curved collar. As an adult, her interest in design continued to flourish, highlighted by designing a petticoat for San Francisco’s Black & White Ball in the 2000s. With her mother as my seamstress, they created a black tulle petticoat, edged with black and white polka-dotted ribbon—a unique detail revealed when lifting the black crinoline skirt.