To some, Lauren Conrad might be just another reality television star turned celebrity. But, at 25 years-old, she has accomplished more than most. Among staring in the MTV reality shows Laguna Beach and The Hills, Lauren is a New York Times bestselling author and a fashion designer with a collection in Kohl’s stores nationwide.Lauren studied fashion at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in California. In addition, she interned at the magazine, Teen Vogue, and worked at the PR firm, People’s Revolution. In the Fall of 2009, Lauren partnered with Kohl’s and launched the LC Lauren Conrad collection for women. The line was carried in a select 300 Kohl’s stores before being released nationwide in the Spring of 2010.
The Spring 2011 line is the fourth collection to be released at Kohl’s and is reflective of Lauren's personal style. Pieces in the collection include elegant, flowery dresses and light-weight knits in soft tones of coral, pinks and creams.
Lauren opened up to me about the inspiration for designing the Spring 2011 collection for Kohl’s, as well as influences on her personal style. This is what she has to say.
SS: Where do you find inspiration for designing your fashion collections?
LC: I want my designs to be representative of my personal style and incorporate things that I find beautiful, like flowing fabrics and feminine floral prints. I work to create pieces that can stand alone or be mixed and matched to complement a number of different looks, allowing anyone who wears the clothes to enhance their wardrobes each season without having to sacrifice style for savings.
SS: What is your favorite piece in the Spring 2011 collection?
LC: I recently expanded my apparel collection to include shoes, jewelry and other accessories, so my favorite accessory is the Zander platform sandal. The wooden platform detail is very reminiscent of the ‘70s and the neutral color allows them to work with a variety of outlets.
SS: Even though I am sure you can shop among the best designers, do you wear pieces from your own collections for Kohl’s?
LC: Absolutely! Being able to wear the styles I create is one of the best parts of being a designer. The look of the LC Lauren Conrad collection is representative of what I want to wear each season.
SS: Like me, you were also born in the 1980s. What is one look that you sported then that would get you on a worst dressed list now?
LC: Those parachute pants that MC Hammer wore. Those were not the most flattering.
SS: If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?
LC: Dresses. I love them because they are so versatile and can easily be dressed-up or down by adding the right accessories.
The LC Lauren Conrad collection is available in Kohl’s store and online at www.kohls.com.
Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Sarah Sudar)