Jill photographed by Marko MacPherson for KiC
Perhaps the best way to describe author and mother of three, Jill Kargman, is to compare her to Wednesday Addams (of the Addams family)–albeit Jill is the grown-up version, who lives in a classic Upper East Side apartment and has a far more enviable wardrobe. (Style, and success for that matter, run deep in her close-knit family; Jill’s father was president of Chanel for many years, her mother is insanely chic, and her art consultant brother, Will, is Drew Barrymore’s fiancé.).
Jill is elegant, girlish, and goth, an unusual mix that would make Tim Burton swoon. But it is her sublime, sharp-as-a-tack wit that is her most disarming characteristic; a conversation with her is filled with zingy one-liners that leave you breathless with laughter. Her honest, off-beat humor is the reason her novels are such as success. (The Washington Post dubbed her “Queen of the Beach Read”.) Her 10th book, The Rock Star in Seat 3A, hits the shelves May 22nd. Here, a peek into her latest obsessions and fashion must-haves.
What I love most about writing is….That I get to work from home. Even though I am not in PJ’s but in full dress and heels!
Five Spring essentials: Marc by Marc Jacobs flirty dresses, a vintage Chanel gray leather jacket cause I’m always cold, Valentino strappy sandals that don’t kill my feet, Chanel camellia sunglasses to avoid more squinty crow’s feet, and water.
Designers with the most hanger space in my closet: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Anna Sui, Phillip Lim 3.1
Three beauty musts: Pounding water, slathering Chanel Sublimage moisturizer, and Biotin by the handful. Think Valley of the Dolls handfuls.
Next destination: Disney World. AKA Orlandon’t.
A perfect day is…. No kiddies waking me up, a big vat of coffee, arriving at Soul Cycle to miraculously find the person before me had all the same bike settings, scalding shower, yummy brunch with my family, a massage, a nap, an early Mexican dinner, a Broadway show, and a yellow cab that happens to be right there when we exit the theater.
Favorite authors: Woody Allen and David Sedaris
Latest obsession: Planning book tour for The Rock Star in Seat 3A, my forthcoming summer beach read.
Keeps me sane: Working out, my best girlfriends, sleep.
Lauren photographed at home for KiC by Marko MacPherson
We have known Lauren for years beginning when we were all at Vogue in the 90s. We love Lauren for her irreverence and devil-may-care attitude, her feminine, grown-up style (she loves fashion but is no slave), and her warmth and generosity. These days she juggles being a mother of three, wife of artist Richard duPont, serving as the Creative Director at Jack Rogers and a creative consultant to Aerin Lauder’s soon-to-launch line, AERIN.
We had such a laugh while shooting her picture, reminiscing about the (sometimes) good old days as struggling editors and discussing kids’ camps and other issues that are now forefront on our minds.
4 Essential wardrobe items: A printed Dries Van Noten I bought at Barneys that I can wear for evening or during the day, a long printed Elizabeth & James skirt that is long and flowy and looks great with a boyish sweater, and two Comptoirs des Cottoniers dresses that look like sweaters with a skirt but are actually one piece–one is black sweater on top with polka-dot skirt, the other all plum. They are great and make getting dressed idiot-proof, great for weekends or work.
Rediscovered in my closet: A Pringle camel hair v-neck sweater that my Dad gave me when he was cleaning out his closet a few years ago. It’s big so it looks good with jeans and long skirts. I’ve also been pulling out my old fishermans sweaters that I used to wear back when I was a teenager. An Ann Demeulemeester black oversized boyfriend jacket that I bought in the late 90s (looks great with skinny pants and jeans). A Martin Margiela denim jacket with knit collar and denim skirt. Both timeless but until recently, shoved to the back of the closet.
What inspires you: Art, interiors, vintage fairs, estate sales and my crazy friends.
Home obsessions: William Morris wallpaper. I just wallpapered two bedrooms in my house in Connecticut in them. I could have done the whole house! I am obsessed with glass wear. I honestly can’t stop myself. The best finds are in Maine at the auction that comes to town and estate sales in Connecticut. Fabric is my other obsession, vintage and current. I buy bolts of things I love, even if I have nowhere to use it. One day I will use them, by then those fabrics will probably be discontinued.
Holiday hostess gift: Sweet Revolution caramels and the Alberto Pinto book on table settings. These are go-to gifts for people who have just about everything.
Holiday hostess outfit: To be honest, I am rarely a hostess. I have three children and entertaining makes me nervous.
Favorite holiday tradition you do with your kids: Opening boxes of ornaments and decorating the tree together. Last year every ornament and garland was felt (last year I went a little bonkers at the gift show).
Where will your next trip take you? Hopefully to the Mayflower Inn in Connecticut for a quiet weekend with my husband.
VP of PR, Coach
Kerry Diamond © Marko Macpherson
We both worked with Kerry at Bazaar when she was the Beauty Director. She left to become the Vice President of PR at Lancôme, and is now the divisional Vice President of PR at Coach. She is also the co-owner of the notably cool Brooklyn restaurant Seersucker with her boyfriend and chef, Robert Newton. (They serve up good Southern food and perfect biscuits. Amen to that.) And because she doesn’t have enough to do (!), earlier this month, they also launched a coffee and baked goods shop down the street, Smith Canteen.
Kerry is tall and confident and fashion forward. From jeans to cutting edge designers, Kerry can (and often does) pull just about anything off with style.
Style icons: Amanda Ross, Maggie Gyllenhal (3), Cecilia Dean, Michelle Obama, Christene Barberich, Amanda Brooks.
Go-to outfit: A knee-length dress by Maria Cornejo [her dress, above]–she’s good with pockets, a lot of designers forget them, paired with Reed Krakoff high-heel sandals–they look gorgeous and have a walkable heel height.
Weekend uniform: Striped shirts by Chance, J Brand skinny jeans and white Converse. I spend most weekends helping out at Seersucker or Smith Canteen, so I have to wear something I can run around in.
Can never have too many: Me & Ro jewels and Coach bags.
Summer destination and what you’ll pack: My house share in Sagaponack. Vintage Mexican dresses to bum around in and wear as caftans, J. Crew bikini, K. Jacques sandals, Reed Krakoff tortoiseshell sunglasses. I don’t need much because I don’t do much once I’m out there–backyard, beach, farmer’s market–that’s it.
In your beach bag: Sunscreen by Lancôme from duty free (it’s different than the US version), Lancôme Soleil Lip gloss, too many magazines, iPod.
Everyday bag and contents: Right now it’s a Coach navy duffel (6), inside is my iPhone and Blackberry, lots of Lancôme lip glosses, Clark’s Botanicals Lip Balm, Laura Mercier pressed powder, Reed Krakoff wallet, ponytail holders.
Fall picks: Slingback clogs, an orange, layered dress (4) and aqua chunky-knit sweater, all by Reed Krakoff, Dries Van Noten chunky-knit black and white sweater, Coach Madison black leather jacket, gray Costello Tagliapietra dress, and Thakoon’s Massai puffer which I pre-ordered from Moda Operandi (2).
Fave meal: Anything from Seersucker!
3 Beauty essentials: Lancôme Collaser Serum (5), Tracie Martyn Enzyme Exfoliant, Clark’s Botanicals Ultra-Rich Lip Tint.
Scent: (untitled) by Maison Martin Margiela
De-stress regimen: Kickboxing classes at CKO Kickboxing in Carroll Gardens.
Work and life balance: I’m still figuring that one out!
Kerry at Seersucker © Marko Macpherson
On your nightstand: Tom Shone’s In the Rooms.
On your iPod: Danger Mouse, Theophilos London, Best Coast Lovers, Kaiser Cartel, Mark McAdam, tons of old New Wave.
Fave sites: Net-a-Porter, Garance Dore, Into the Gloss, Man Repeller, and YouTube for Michelle Phan videos.
Fave film: The Royal Tennenbaums (1). Every frame is beautiful.
Fave hotel: Hotel Amour in Paris.
Fave cause: My alma mater, SUNY Plattsburgh, and the Red Cross.
Can’t go one day without: Talking to my boyfriend.
One week without: Ice cream from Il Laboratorio del Gelato or Blue Marble. In a few years Seersucker and Smith Canteen will have their own!
One month without: Visiting a museum, even for just one exhibit.
Always searching for: The perfect white jeans.
We have been desperately trying to figure out how to describe our good friend, Kristina O’Neill, a former colleague and Executive Editor of Harper’s Bazaar. Our best? She is very much like Jo in Little Women. Kristina is one of the most authentic women in fashion we know. She is enthusiastic, completely lacking in pretense (a feat in itself when it comes to fashion), hard-working, and glamorous without really realizing so. She is a working mother with a gorgeous daughter and adorable husband.
We have watched her grow into her position over the years and are proud and not at all surprised at what she has accomplished. Despite her hectic schedule, she was happy to answer our extensive questionnaire. Of course, so were we….
Current Uniform: Black, black, and more black. I am making a real effort to pull myself together more, and black seems to be the easiest route. That means I’m mixing all my shades and textures, so a typical outfit is my thick linen Alexander Wang jacket with an ankle-length Zero dress, Uniqlo heat-tech tights, and my suede Burberry wedges from last winter. I bought a pair of Celine tuxedo pants with a satin cummerbund that I love wearing with a white T-shirt, my Rick Owens motorcycle jacket, and my Michael Kors Mongolian vest. I am not precious about my clothes, and the more push-pull in an outfit the better. I am STILL rocking my Balmain fringe boots from a few years back—those are going to be hard to retire. I’ve also been wearing red lipstick morning, noon, and night.
Weekend Uniform: I wish I could say that it’s a huge departure from my workweek uniform, but it’s not: more black! Current/Elliot dark-gray jeans, Alexander Wang sweatshirts and T-shirts. It’s been so cold, I broke down and bought a Patagonia vest to layer under everything—my puffer, my furs. I haven’t felt the real motivation to put on proper footwear, just my trusty L.L. Bean boots.
What are you obsessed with for spring? I just bought my first Zero Maria Cornejo dress, and boy do I feel late to the party. Not sure how I’ve gone this long without her in my closet. I also loved all the denim on the runways, especially at Celine. I will probably splurge on the denim tunic when I’m in Paris.
Current favorite bag and shoes: A navy-blue quilted Chanel 2.55. It’s a bit oversize and feels so right against all the black. I’ve been on the hunt for a red jersey 2.55, but I haven’t had any luck. (Karl, if you are reading this, please reissue!) I wish I could say there’s some new footwear in my wardrobe, but I’ve been pretty uninspired lately. So back to the Burberry and Balmain boots!
You can never have too many… Striped T-shirts. My friends are ready to have a stripe-rvention!
Women whose style inspires you: Duh, Kate Moss! But also Stella McCartney, Phoebe Philo, and Sofia Coppola.
Carrying her Papier + notebooks and wearing K. Jacques sandals
Five essentials: couldn’t help myself, I did 10!
1. Quelques Fleurs perfume, so granny but so right!
2. Cartier stationery with my name engraved in hot pink
3. Papier + clothbound notebooks in gray
4. My stack of gold rings. I wear five on my ring finger—a superthin Jennifer Meyer with a teeny-tiny diamond, a superthin Caitlin Mociun band, my grandmother’s engagement ring from 1946 engraved with my grandfather’s name, a Cartier Entrelacés ring, and an organic Dean Harris ring my husband gave me as a “ring holder” when we got engaged and I couldn’t make up my mind about an engagement ring. The irony is that I only wear this ring now!
5. Falke tights
6. By Terry Baume de Rose
7. Klorane dry shampoo—non-areosol
8. Color with Reyed at Fekkai
9. Lancôme Red Haute lipstick
10. K. Jacques gladiator sandals. I always have three or four pairs in rotation when the weather warms up. I already bought my summer ones—red suede Fregate fringe gladiators and the classic Agopos in silver.
Hotel: The Lancaster in Paris
Favorite vacation spot: Bluefields Bay, Jamaica, and my parents’ house in Virginia. But I’m also very fond of the staycation.
Long-flight musts:
Back issues of The New Yorker and current issues of Grazia, People and Us Weekly
iPad
Armand Diradourian cashmere blanket
Lots of water to balance out the wine!
Favorite sites: I’m a Net-a-Porter fiend. I very rarely set foot into brick-and mortar stores these days, so almost all of my purchases come from NAP. I also love jcrew.com and shopbird.com.
Being a WORKING mom means… There’s no such thing as quantity time; it’s all about quality.
Favorite non-work activity: QT with my husband and daughter
My long-time friend and a KIC Style Setter, Amanda Ross (2), has been telling me for years that I should meet her friend Cathryn Collins, a woman who makes the most amazing cashmere knitwear. After meeting Cathryn at her office/showroom downtown and then at her Beekman Place home last month(3), I’m sorry I waited so long. I don’t know her well but I can tell that she is a complex, free-spirited and passionate person.
First, she does make gorgeous cashmere sweaters, jackets and scarves, along with fur pieces vests with custom printed-silk linings (7), old military coats lined in mink, which can be bought and custom ordered at her showroom I Pezzi DiPinti. (I have my eye on many pieces.) She is a global nomad and spends about six months a year traveling. Since I met her she has been to Russia, Paris, 3 weeks in India where she does a lot of her work and manufacturing, etc.
In her other life, she recently completed a documentary on the imprisoned Russian oligarch Mikhail Khordorkovsky and has served on a conservation board in Nepal for years.
Oh, and then there is her style. She might reside in a tony neighborhood and be married to one of New York’s premiere plastic surgeons–but she is naturally stunning (she credits her husband’s skincare line) and cites Mick Jagger as her fashion icon. To me, she defines cool.
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Interior Designer Katie Ridder
We have both known Katie for a few years–Jennifer and Katie are neighbors and Katie is the sister in law of Preston’s dear friend Helen Pennoyer (small world). Before founding her own firm Katie Ridder Interior Design and Decoration in 1995, Katie was an editor at House & Garden and House Beautiful and in the early 1990′s she had a great home furnishings store on the Upper East Side.
Katie Ridder Interiors
Katie’s work has been featured in all the top shelter magazines and she (herself) has been featured on the cover of House Beautiful and Elle Decor. Not surprisingly, Katie is on the list of “Top 100 designers” in New York Magazine, Elle Decor and House Beautiful.
We love Katie’s design sensibility and especially her use of color. We also love that she was willing to answer so many of our questions!
Katie and jewelry designer Mish Tworkowski (upper right), Katie and her husband Peter Pennoyer (middle)
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