I started my career right out of college as the receptionist for a new magazine called Sassy, where I quickly moved up to the fashion/beauty assistant and then worked my way into fashion/beauty editor. We were a low-budget magazine, so we had to do everything ourselves. When I had a shoot I would cast it, style it and probably write the captions. I styled everything from the iconic Kurt & Courtney cover, to a makeover story with Joey Ramone (who used to call me a lot after! Oh how I wish I still had those voice messages!). My bosses Mary Clarke and Jacinta Dobson were so talented and open and creative and really taught me so much. I met Chloe Sevigny on the street and she later became our intern. A young Spike Jonze was around a lot. It was just an incredible experience. With lots of creativity in the air. After that, I went on to do some freelance writing and styling, doing a couple of commercials and working with the director Jesse Peretz on a few music videos (the best-known being Nada Surf’s Popular). Then I got a job at Harper’s Bazaar as a fashion writer and editor under the fabulous Liz Tilberis who said “I don’t understand her, but if you want to hire her, go right ahead!” That one was a shocker because I really didn’t fit into the fashion editor mold at the time. Everyone wore Prada or whatever was the thing, and I was in Daryl K jeans, a Hanes boys’ tee and vintage silver shoes at my interview I have told this story a thousand times, but I was actually reprimanded for wearing jeans to a fashion show (of course this would never happen now). I covered all of the shows in Milan and Paris, and wrote and edited big pieces. Then Kim France, my old co-worker from Sassy called and said she was working on a secret project for Conde Nast and I just HAD to come and do it with her, but she couldn’t tell me what it was. When she finally told me it was a magazine about shopping, I left Bazaar and ended up co-creating Lucky with her. It turned out to be the most successful launch in Conde Nast history, and we were both not really Conde Nast material so we were basically like the Munsters in that building!
I’m not so big on “fashion” with a capital F. When I would cover all the shows at Bazaar, I didn’t care that much about what was happening on the runways. I was way more excited to see all the French and Italian editors in the front rows. They were way cooler than their American counterparts. A little disheveled and not so “styled”. I have always been interested in what cool women of all ages are wearing in real life. Even when I was as young as five years old! Hence my book and blog I Want to be Her! And my latest book The Cool Factor, which celebrates real, individual style. I love clothes and accessories and am a big vintage collector. I’m just not really about fashion per se.
I am such a fan of 6397!! It’s obvious that everything is made with real women in mind. Nothing is trendy or cheesy and each piece is completely classic yet totally cool at the same time. Everything feels good on the body and is so effortlessly chic -- you can wear it forever! I like to think of it as cool luxury.
I would love a new president and for my child, family and friends to be happy and healthy.
