Stylist, Designer of Laveer. New York
We’re all about humble beginnings. We’re also firm believers that nobody starts as the CEO. It takes baby steps, time, and a litttttle bit of luck. Kate Ciepluch got her start in fashion a little over a decade ago at a little known company called ShopBop (that little known company is now one of our digital shopping bibles). She was working at their original brick and mortar shop in Madison, WI on the sales floor, folding tees and hanging dresses while she was a young’n during her freshman year at University of Wisconsin. She graduated, packed her stuff up, and headed to the big apple, and as the brand went viral, she climbed the corporate ladder (in Thakoon booties we can imagine), launching their footwear, swim, jewelry and handbag categories for the site, helping to evolve ShopBop from a primarily only denim source to a leading contemporary fashion go-to destination. And that she did! With countless snaps on every street style blog (we’ve always admired her sartorial choices), she continued climbing and climbing where she landed as the site’s Fashion Director, infusing her simplistic laid back style into the e-tailers business plan. Her New York City apartment has beautiful wood anecdotes and vintage finds, like the fish sculpture she nabbed at the Brooklyn Flea in Williamsburg. She is a California girl after all. Our ideal outfit: her rad IRO matte sequins motorcycle jacket with one of her outfit-completing hats. “I love hats because they provide this smart, pulled together look (and they are honestly great when you're hair is not at it's best)” she says. “It is the accessory that can take a mediocre sort of boring outfit to "cool" instantly”. Sorry Kate, but we really don’t think you ever have that problem!
The founder of Shopbop, Bob Lamey, gave me this sketch. He commissioned a super talented worker in the warehouse to do these to give to his staff for Christmas. Speaking of Christmas gifts, I gave harmonica necklaces to all my girls one year, makes for a fun night out!
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Harmonica Necklace, BLOW
My boyfriend got this photograph of the Big Island in Hawaii. He has awesome taste. We love the colors and how it feels a little dangerous.
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Wallet, Pendleton
I love hats because they provide this smart, pulled-together look (and they are honestly great when your hair is not at its best!). It's the accessory that can take a mediocre, sort of boring outfit to cool—instantly. I definitely don't discriminate when it comes to brands. You can find a great hat anywhere. I love my blue straw Zimmermann hat I got in Sydney. I picked up a basic grey hat at Comptoir des Cotonniers that I have worn countless times. This fall I am loving Rag & Bone's unique neutral shades, heather grey and a spicy brick orange.
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Hats, Various Designers
A day in the life of Kate: count up your change and check out some music.
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Pouchette, Jérôme Dreyfuss; Sunglasses, 3.1 Phillip Lim
Dress, Vintage
I wear these sneakers constantly. I was probably wearing them when I picked up this fish at Brooklyn Flea in Williamsburg. Great news: sneakers are going to be huge for spring. We have so many cool ones coming out, it's outrageous. Everyone's making a pair, from Margiela to Giuseppe and Alexander Wang. The fish was one of those things we saw and didn't even think about it—we had to have it. It reminds me of my lake house in Wisconsin and snorkeling in Hawaii. My Rag & Bone multicolored macrame skirt looks mighty nice hanging on it. I love this picture. It embodies a feminine sophisticated surf/skate fashion.
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Shoes, See By Chloé; Skirt, Rag & Bone
Isn't this brown gorgeous? I remember seeing this jacket in the showroom and talking to our buyer about how unexpected the rhinestones were on the brown. The black was gorgeous too but a little obvious. It's all about bling on cognac leather. I love this photo and the grouping of products. Brooklyn cowgirl!
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Jacket, 3.1 Phillip Lim; Pants, Rag & bone; Boots, Golden Goose; Hat, Club Monaco
I loved this collection. Phillip had Bianca Jagger in mind, and came up with the chicest showstoppers. I got this bar stool at an antique store on Abbot Kinney in Venice, CA. I love the mixed materials.
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Jumpsuit, 3.1 Phillip Lim
It never fails. We always use Skovgaards when we shoot our editorial lookbooks.
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Dress, Alexander Wang; Shoe, Camilla Skovgaard
The fringe piece is actually a top that my dear friend Marsha Welcher made (she has a line called Thayer that's great). These heels rock my world. I wore them during fashion week, and more recently to a party celebrating Alice Temperley's 10-year anniversary and to the launch of True British, a coffee table book chronicling her amazing career. I was also wearing them one night when I was hanging out with my friend's two-year-old daughter. She was enamored by them and could not stop playing with them—it was the cutest.
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Skirt, Thayer; Shoes, Alexander Wang
Alex is running such a powerhouse. It's some serious pressure to be such a focal point of NYC fashion and he remains so sweet and happy. He knows how to enjoy life. Speaking of happy, this Edie Sedgwick photo so perfectly captures a moment of euphoria verging on insane. Amazing. Kate Moss in a headdress, yes please!
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All, Alexander Wang
Ring, Pamela Love
Sunglasses, Chloé; Hat, Rag & Bone; Jewelry, Isabel Marant; Bag, Rebecca Minkoff
Jacket, Helmut Lang; Skirt, Rag & Bone; Bag, Alexander Wang
Jacket, DSquared; Boots, Loeffler Randall; Bag, Alexander Wang; Hat, Rag & Bone
Cuff, Giles & Brother
Everyone in our office died for this dress. I wore it out in Paris to Derriere. Lace is probably the fabric I am drawn to the most and to see designers using it in colors is so fresh. Shopbop has a lot more colorful lace coming for resort and pre-spring as well.
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Dress, Lover; Shoe, Giuseppe Zanotti
Cuff, Anndra Neen; Knuckle Ring, Low Luv; Circular Ring, Elizabeth and James; Wood Ring, Kora
IRO makes the raddest jackets on earth! Since this one is made with matte sequins, you can totally rock it during the day. I love that Thakoon is doing these western booties.
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Jacket, IRO; Shoes, Thakoon
Necklace, Vintage
The founder of Shopbop, Bob Lamey, gave me this sketch. He commissioned a super talented worker in the warehouse to do these to give to his staff for Christmas. Speaking of Christmas gifts, I gave harmonica necklaces to all my girls one year, makes for a fun night out! Harmonica Necklace, BLOW
I love hats because they provide this smart, pulled-together look (and they are honestly great when your hair is not at its best!). It's the accessory that can take a mediocre, sort of boring outfit to cool—instantly. I definitely don't discriminate when it comes to brands. You can find a great hat anywhere. I love my blue straw Zimmermann hat I got in Sydney. I picked up a basic grey hat at Comptoir des Cotonniers that I have worn countless times. This fall I am loving Rag & Bone's unique neutral shades, heather grey and a spicy brick orange. Hats, Various Designers
I wear these sneakers constantly. I was probably wearing them when I picked up this fish at Brooklyn Flea in Williamsburg. Great news: sneakers are going to be huge for spring. We have so many cool ones coming out, it's outrageous. Everyone's making a pair, from Margiela to Giuseppe and Alexander Wang. The fish was one of those things we saw and didn't even think about it—we had to have it. It reminds me of my lake house in Wisconsin and snorkeling in Hawaii. My Rag & Bone multicolored macrame skirt looks mighty nice hanging on it. I love this picture. It embodies a feminine sophisticated surf/skate fashion. Shoes, See By Chloé; Skirt, Rag & Bone
Isn't this brown gorgeous? I remember seeing this jacket in the showroom and talking to our buyer about how unexpected the rhinestones were on the brown. The black was gorgeous too but a little obvious. It's all about bling on cognac leather. I love this photo and the grouping of products. Brooklyn cowgirl! Jacket, 3.1 Phillip Lim; Pants, Rag & bone; Boots, Golden Goose; Hat, Club Monaco
The fringe piece is actually a top that my dear friend Marsha Welcher made (she has a line called Thayer that's great). These heels rock my world. I wore them during fashion week, and more recently to a party celebrating Alice Temperley's 10-year anniversary and to the launch of True British, a coffee table book chronicling her amazing career. I was also wearing them one night when I was hanging out with my friend's two-year-old daughter. She was enamored by them and could not stop playing with them—it was the cutest. Skirt, Thayer; Shoes, Alexander Wang
Alex is running such a powerhouse. It's some serious pressure to be such a focal point of NYC fashion and he remains so sweet and happy. He knows how to enjoy life. Speaking of happy, this Edie Sedgwick photo so perfectly captures a moment of euphoria verging on insane. Amazing. Kate Moss in a headdress, yes please! All, Alexander Wang
Everyone in our office died for this dress. I wore it out in Paris to Derriere. Lace is probably the fabric I am drawn to the most and to see designers using it in colors is so fresh. Shopbop has a lot more colorful lace coming for resort and pre-spring as well. Dress, Lover; Shoe, Giuseppe Zanotti
