What is your WHY?
My kids are my Why. I want my legacy for them to be fun, laughter, kindness, love, acceptance, & growth. One of the best things I hope I'm teaching them is to take care of, and be kind to yourself as well as others. So, I have become my own Why as well. I've grown to know that I'm worth it!
How did COVID-19 impact your business and family life?
With the shutdown, we were forced to close the store in March, 2020 and didn’t know if or when we would be able to reopen. The unknown was the scariest part. It's been challenging and at the same time, incredibly rewarding to work alongside these amazing women to help shape THREAD moving forward. The support of our customers has been amazing.
Family wise - All 3 of my kids + my husband did school & work from home.
My two daughters had to come home early from college. My oldest was a Junior and played volleyball. She ended up losing her senior season. She played her last volleyball game in November, 2019 and didn't know that it was her last. That was heartbreaking.
My middle daughter lost the entire spring quarter of her freshman year at the University of Oregon. She was just getting in her groove and had to come home. Her sophomore was entirely online and nowhere near the college experience that we expected.
My son just graduated from High School. He missed out on all of the "normal" High School things - a season of sports, prom, hanging with his friends, in-person school,... There are things you just won’t ever get back. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but it’s not nothing either.
It was great to have everyone one home and hanging out together. I wish it had been for a happier reason.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a woman throughout your career
It’s from Miranda: A rising tide lifts all boats.
Essentially, there are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up. It's always better to be pulling up!
Do you have a hidden talent?
Do we consider using humor at inappropriate times & in uncomfortable situations to be a talent?
Honestly - I do have a really great card trick that I've been doing since college.
What’s one shopping trend we could all live without?
Hmmm... loudly talking on your cell phone as you stroll through a store, oblivious to how it is affecting anyone around you.
How do you strike a balance between trendy and timeless?
Wearing what looks good on YOU and what makes you feel GOOD about yourself never goes out of style. If whatever the hot new style is looks good on you, it won't feel trendy. If it doesn't suit you and/or you don't feel comfortable in it - it's going to show.
Having some good, solid timeless classics in your closet, (nice pair of denim, black blazer, denim jacket,...) allows you to mix in trendy pieces without being caught up in the fad of the moment. And you'll still feel like YOU.
What trend should people keep in mind while shopping for next year?
I don't think athleisure is going anywhere. And at the same time, people are really excited to get dressed up again. It’s been a year of missed events and celebrations, and people are really looking forward to the opportunity to show off their style.
#1 style tip for getting dressed in the morning?
Steam the wrinkles out of your clothes. I'm not talking about pressing your clothes like your grandmother did. Not an iron - a steamer. It’s super quick, and the easiest way to make sure you look pulled together.
If you don't have a steamer, go get one right now.
#1 thing to have in your closet right now?
I'm always going to say a great pair of dark denim.
What do you do or say to your children to inspire them? How did your own parents inspire you?
Here's what we say in our house:
- Make good choices.
- Be kind.
- Life isn’t fair.
- Worry about yourself.
- And, no white drugs. (Remember what I said about the inappropriate humor?!? It started out as a joke, but now that they're older - I'm really getting serious about it!)
I tell them that if they work hard and are kind to people, they're going to do pretty well in life. I also tell each one of them that they are my favorite child. And I mean it every single time I say it!
My parents believed in me - even when I didn't. My mom didn't go to college, and it was her goal that her kids go. So she showed me that you can parent & encourage your way through things you have no personal frame of reference about. My dad was drafted to serve in Vietnam, came back and finished college. He didn’t talk about it when we were growing up. As he’s gotten older, we talk about it a little more, and how that experience really shaped him. He taught me that life can be hard; and that we can do really hard things.