Favorite spot in the Twin Cities? Tanpopo Noodle Shop in Lowertown St. Paul. The food is wonderful and the space is really beautiful and unpretentious. It's the place that made me fall in love with St. Paul.
Coffee, tea, or cocktail (and how do you take it)? Black Green Whiskey
In a few words, explain your style: Unexpected tailored. I enjoy mixing volume, shapes and textures. The beauty of style is that it can always be evolving and changing. Feeling great about who I am and showing that through what I'm wearing, that's my style goal.
Any daily rituals? Very hot coffee and loving my kids. Everyday!
One piece of advice you’ve taken to heart: "You could!" -My Mom
Which is your favorite? Hopper Coat by Studio Nicholson. It's classic while still having a modern edge. The coat feels really amazing on-it lays beautifully and is made so well!
What keeps you stable during the chaos of your work? This season has felt particularly busy, as I’m 33 weeks pregnant right now. We’ve been working double time to get things organized and finished in time for baby’s arrival, trying to ease the transition. I’ve been learning a lot about building a team, and letting the brand have its own life. I feel very connected with this work, so things are always harder than they seem - we’ve been pretty particular about sourcing and fostering healthy relationships with our partners and in the whole design process. But, what seems to keep me stable is perspective - which has changed a lot since becoming pregnant. There are so many things that can happen in a day that distract and deter your energy towards a certain goal, but as my time becomes even more limited with work, I’m finding that it’s easier to weed out what’s not worthwhile — allowing myself to more truly focus on what matters.
What people/place/things do you find yourself consistently going back to for inspiration? I really admire certain writers, filmmakers and artists - filmmaker Terrence Malik in particular has been someone who does a really incredible job of capturing human interaction and emotion that seems so real and honest to me. After I saw the Tree Of Life for the first time, I was silent for like 30 minutes! His ability to show beauty using the medium of film has been a constant inspiration for my work.
Flip to a page in the last book you read and give us an excerpt. This isn't a book, but I recently read a New Yorker article by Richard Brody who was reflecting on Terrence Malik’s “Knight of Cups” and it’s really stuck with me: “Physical and emotional pain is everywhere; poverty imposes specific and grievous agony, people who endure it are very nearby, and you’re likely to be upset by the sight of those who suffer from it—as you walk past them. Family relationships may suffer; that’s a sad commonplace. And there may well be a temptation to leave, to go home, or to go, at least, elsewhere. You are not likely to be an angel; it’s not part of the job description for being in the business, or, for that matter, for being an artist. But be honest about your experiences, about your failings—and about your enduring intimations of beauty even in places and situations that you’d hesitate to call beautiful, because the production of beauty in a world of suffering, and from your own suffering, is the closest thing to a higher calling that an artist has, the closest thing to the religious experience that art has to offer.”
What is your background? Is it specifically in fashion design? My background is in Intercultural Social Work - I’ve worked in South Africa with women dealing with HIV, and also in Nashville with refugees in resettlement before moving to New Zealand. It was while my husband and I lived in Wellington, New Zealand that my textile journey began to take shape. There I began a journey of being immersed in handspun knitwear, and had my first exposure to the fashion industry as I began to collaborate on knitwear projects with New Zealand designers. The brand really started there, and though we moved back to Nashville in 2013 to be closer to family, the work has been an exploration of textiles and beauty ever since.
If you weren’t a designer-- what other occupation could you see yourself in? I’m pretty good at math, and have been since I was young. I’d sometimes think being a math teacher would be fun — something that’s concrete and has answers :) I’m not sure I have the patience though and think I would really miss the creative process in what I do now. I feel pretty drawn to my work right now, but there are so many other interesting things to explore in life!
Hometown? I grew up in Pennsylvania, but left for Minnesota at age 15 to attend boarding school. So, it feels like somewhere in between Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
Favorite spot in the Twin Cities? In Minneapolis, I love walking around the North Loop. Stopping by The Foundry Home Goods and The Bachelor Farmer Cafe for coffee. I must admit though, St. Paul has a special place in my heart. Lowertown, St. Paul for their Farmers Market and breakfast at The Buttered Tin, and of course, Selby Avenue; Idun, BlackBlue, Cafe Nina’s, and La Grolla for some hearty Italian.
Coffee, tea, or cocktail (and how do you take it)? I love a good cocktail. I recently went to a gin+wine bar (they exist!) and had a lavender infused gin+tonic.
In a few words, explain your style: I like to play with dichotomies when dressing. Something seemingly masculine like an oversized, tailored blazer paired with a feminine skirt or something quirky like a patterned darner sock with a more traditional leather loafer.
Any daily rituals? French Press every morning with my husband, Jared and dog, Nala.
One piece of advice you’ve taken to heart: Søren Kierkegaard, my favorite Existentialist Philosopher, wrote, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” I think about this a lot, and try to remember at the end of life, what will matter. I know it’s dark, but it really puts life in perspective.
Which is your favorite? The Blob Abstract Brooch is really intriguing to me. I’ve never owned a brooch and this one is particularly beautiful and unexpected. I’d like to pin it on to all my outfits just to add some curiosity.
Embracing hygge, that balance of contentment and simplicity within one’s surroundings, can mean many things when it gets cold. To our friends at SKANDINAVISK, new light, warmth and delicious scent are what bring peace of mind, regardless of weather.
If you’re looking to do the same at home, or as you consider holiday gift-giving, we recommend JUL, SNO and HYGGE candles from SKANDINAVISK. With scents that range from winter berry to cinnamon, clove, and timberwood, these are the notes that uplift, soften the dark, and nourish the soul. Enjoy.
Favorite spot in the Twin Cities? Any piece of shoreline around Lake Minnetonka, a balcony seat at the Varsity Theater, or Baker Park Reserve, where I grew up cross-country skiing.
Coffee, tea, or cocktail (and how do you take it)? A miel at Kopplin’s in St. Paul or hot toddy at The Happy Gnome (just across the street from Idun).
In a few words, explain your style: Always, always evolving. My husband says the technical term is “impossible to shop for,” which basically means that from one season to the next, I’m not going to confine myself to one silhouette, designer, or aesthetic. "Is it interesting?" I guess that’s the question that guides me these days.
Any daily rituals? A 6:30 a.m. snuggle with my son, Sam, followed by a strong cup of coffee.
One piece of advice you’ve taken to heart: As someone who tends to overthink most things, I try to remember this line from Steve Martin in L.A. Story: "Let your mind go and your body will follow."
Which is your favorite? Honestly, the diffusers from Skandinavisk are a point of pride at our house; I have one on every floor and visitors are always asking where we picked them up. (And they last forever.)
Hometown?
What keeps you stable during the chaos of your work?
Hometown? Wayzata, MN