Hey guyssss- happy Thursday (yay for the weekend!). Anyways, I am so very pleased to introduce you to the creative, fashionable, and adorable Jaqueleen Larson. Jaqueleen and I were put in contact by a friend who thought we’d hit it off… and we obviously did! She has a great sense of style and her turbands are sooo amazing- the fabric choices couldn’t be more spot on. I actually have a few in the mail that I will be sure to show you all when they arrive. Anyways, now for the good stuff…
✝ FL: Name/Age/Location/Occupation:
Jaqueleen Larson, 25
Long Beach, CA
Copywriter + Creative Strategist, Vision Design Studio
Owner/Designer, UNH
✝ FL: How did you get started in the business of fashion? Tell us your story!
JL: I’ve had a sewing machine since I was very young and would use it to make skirts or little dresses out of material I would find in my grandma’s sewing room, but never really applied myself to really creating something marketable.
A few years back, I wanted something cool and different to wear on New Year’s Eve. My hair has always been a frizz ball (no matter how diligent I am about Brazilian Blowouts) so I was thinking about a turban – my mind re-playing Prada FW06 runway show, where all the girls donned striking jewel-toned satin turbans that framed their faces oh-so elegantly. It was exactly the look I wanted to ring in the New Year with.
I must admit, my first crack at a turband was not so hot. There was definitely some hot glue involved. :-/ But it worked for the night and seemed to be a hit. At least, it was a conversation starter at the party I attended.
As more and more friends started to ask me to make them, I set up an online store. I did a couple pop-up craft shows, but knew I wanted to elevate the brand. The collaboration I did with my friend and jewelry designer Amanda Thomas of Luv Aj for her FW2011 collection was pretty much my launch pad. Within weeks of our initial conversation, I was meeting with manufacturers, sourcing material, ordering garment tags, making patterns, style sheets, and fulfilling orders upwards of 120 units. It was the ultimate crash course in running my line. Amanda and I are currently working on our second collab, this time it is an exclusive collection for a MAJORLY EXCITING BRAND. Details to come…
Where UNH is today–just the fact that there is UNH today–is amazing to me. I never anticipated my NYE headpiece to turn into such a gratifying, exciting, ball-busting e-comm venture that has taught me SO much about the industry and brought me into contact with some amazing girls who have helped me out along the way.
✝ FL: What is the most important thing you have learned in regards to working in the fashion industry?
JL: Nothing is truly original (don’t get bitter when someone beats you to the punch). Always have a back-up plan.
✝ FL: How would you describe your personal style?
JL: I lust for all things Balmain, Marant, and Wang–so I think puts my style somewhere near the intersection of tomboy and heavy metal glam. I also enjoy clothes with a sense of humor. I am actually in the process of designing one-of-a-kind embellished vintage jerseys – think old baseball tee with a studded number on the back and dip-dyed raglan sleeves.
✝ FLxx: What is your typical go to outfit?:
JL: When I am not in head-to-toe Lululemon (I would be lying if I told you I was Instagram #ootd– worthy 24/7), I am all about outfits that make people smile–or laugh!
The ability to make myself over to look entirely different than the day before is what I love most about fashion. So I try to have as much fun with it as possible. There is no trend I won’t try and no statement too bold to make.
On any given week I will be fresh out of a J.Crew catalog one day, donning acid wash overalls the next, and then stepping out in leather leggings and an over-sized vintage tee on the weekend.
When in doubt – I go black. Its cool factor will never fade.
FLxx: What trends are you loving for Summer 2012?
+ Athletic-Inspired anything
+ Metallics
+ Two-Strap Heels
+ Grunge GRUNGE vintage-femme GRUNGE
+ Embellished & Printed Denim (loving the pearl and rhinestoned cuffed J.Brands that came out in early June. H&M just did their play on the trend, in stores now.)
+ Tropical Print Revival
+ Wedge Sneaks
+ Embellished needlepoint prints (Fall)
✝ FLxx: How about trends that you find to be cringe-worthy?
+ Body-con dresses with cutouts (even worse if there is an exposed zipper involved)
+ Angry Birds apparel
+ Mary-jane heels
+ Infidelity
+ Violence
+ Cheap jeans
✝ FLxx: What are your favorite places to shop?
+ The online addictions: Asos, Gilt, Nasty Gal, The Outnet, Shopbop
+ The go-tos: H&M, Zara, Topshop, F21
+ The-wait-for-a-big-sale-to-splurges: Barney’s, Planet Blue, BCBG
+ The treasure hunts: Nordstrom Rack, Loehmann’s, Marshalls
✝ FLxx: Tell us all your most sacred beauty and/or fashion secret.
+ When in doubt, get it in black.
+ You don’t need underwear if it has an inseam.
+ I don’t care how drunk you are–wash your face before bed.
✝ FLxx: What is the most beloved item in your closet?
JL: This is like choosing a favorite child. Actually, its probably harder! Seriously, my most cherished piece changes weekly. I am SO impulsive with my buys and all over the grid with my day-to-day “looks” that I will have a torrid love affair with a piece for a fortnight and then cast it off to the back of a dresser drawer for months.
In heavy rotation at the moment:
+ Isabelle Marant black on black wedge sneaks (here they are in red).
+ Stone Cold Fox Mexican blanket bloomers.
+ Citizens of Humanity floral-print jeans.
+ Anthropologie textured white peplum tank.
+ Topshop jersey crop tops.
+ Dolce Vita orange suede booties.
(Follow @UNHTurbands on Instagram!!)