Don't Baby Your Clothes: 3 Questions for Karen Robinovitz
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Time to read 2 min
I met Karen Robinovitz when she roller bladed into the construction site for my new concept store Kirna Zabete. It was 1999 and Karen was a real life Carrie Bradshaw writing for The New York Times, The New York Post and every top fashion magazine. It was love at first sight and we have been speaking fluent fashion together ever since. 3 questions for Karen:
As my career got more serious, so did my skirts...
SE: For many people a certain scent, song or street will bring up special memories. I think we both agree that for us, some of the most powerful memories come from fashion. An outfit can tell a whole story of not just what we were doing in a given moment, but also WHO we were and how we felt in that era.
Can you share a few examples from your own experience?
KR: My clothes have always been an expression of who I am and my mood.
I have a distinct memory of wearing the brand Imitation of Christ’s prom dress in the 90s with my hair in pigtails and rollerblades on my feet. I was a young journalist at that time and I had amazing opportunities to explore both New York and fashion - I was bursting with ideas, which showed up in wearing things most people would never have worn.
As my career got more serious, so did my skirts. I had a major pencil skirt era. It was a time when I segued from writing into marketing and consulting and I found a more grown up version of myself.
I feel better now in what I wear than I did at any other phase in my life and I am in my 50s. I still take fashion risks and like to go bold but I also keep it super casual at work given that my life is about slime. I think that also comes with settling in your skin and confidence, built over years of working through obstacles and insecurities.
"Does my outfit get along?!"
SE: Sometimes when I style a look together that I am happy with, I wonder if the various designers of the pieces I am wearing would get along together as well as their fashion does!? Am I normal or do you have these conversations with yourself? We should organize a dinner to test this.
Designers do show up for each other
KR: LOL! I love that and I wasn’t thinking about it that way but I am going to. When I saw how so many designers showed up at each others’ shows, I started to imagine mixing their pieces in looks.
Don't "baby" your clothes
SE: I always tell friends and clients “Don’t baby your clothes” which of course means, don’t save them for a special occasion! Wear them on a Tuesday morning to Wholefoods and just have a better day. As a result, many of my nice clothes are what Rick Owens would call “distressed.”
Do you keep really well-worn pieces in rotation or do you have a retirement plan for them?
KR: I wear my clothes. I don’t save things for a nice occasion - red balloon shoes at brunch? Yes please. I like when my bags get a bit worn. I know it’s because they’ve been loved. I also save all of my pieces for my niece - she is now 13 and walked in my closet recently and said, “this is all mine.”