What does “the Art of Being Female” mean to you?
The dynamic and beautiful ways women express their femininity.
Tell us about Minnow Swim…
Minnow is a boutique children’s swimwear label, designed and made in California offering classic and timeless children’s styles for boys and girls infant to 10 years old.
How did you decide to do a children’s swim line?
I launched minnow two years ago, pregnant at the time with my second child. The idea was sparked while my family and I were doing a month long home exchange in London. We decided to take a weekender to the Amalfi Coast, so I went looking for a swimsuit for my then 14 month old son. It was mid July, and in London with it’s massive children’s clothing offering– and I couldn’t find anything without a decal, slogan or character on it! I finally found one that was cute enough and started thinking why is it so hard to find classic, simple and clean swimwear for boys. I thought about the suits I did have for my son back home, and they all felt like “finds” some suits I actually bought vintage off etsy so they would hit above his knee. There wasn’t a consistent and reliable brand I could go to that was dedicated to classic children’s swimwear.
You recently had us to your new little office locale on Balboa Island, how are you liking it on the island? Do you have to say no to hippo cookies, Balboa bars and Dad’s frozen bananas all the time?!? We couldn’t do it…
Island life is the best life! It feels really good to be there, it always feels happy, like you’re on vacation time – families visiting, local moms walking the island, people enjoying their lives. It’s been a great spot for us, luckily we’re closer proximity to the fresh juice stop and Starbucks otherwise we’d be in trouble for the sweets….
Did you grow up around the water?
I did! I lived in Newport Beach with my family until I was 16, then we moved down to Laguna Beach where my parents are both originally from. The beach culture and swim has always been a central part of our lifestyle.
How many kids do you have? Tell us about them…
I have two children: Theo is 4 and a character with strong personality and lots of interests (currently being a spanish matador + hip hop dancing). And my Georgia is 21 months, loves to be held, cuddled and loved on. She is my mama’s girl.
What’s your favorite thing about being a mom?
The amount of love you can feel for someone, a new kind of love that you can’t really prepare for or even know exists until you enter motherhood.
What is your best advice to other mothers? Working mothers?
You’re doing better than you think. You never know the ways in which you are being an inspiration. I feel like the things I valued most in my own mom, weren’t necessarily the things she pushed. My mom worked (part-time) with five children at the time I think she saw it as a burden, but I saw it as strength what she was able to for our family.
How did you know you wanted to work rather than be a stay at home mom?
I’ve always been a worker, I got a job as hostess at Lido Diner when i was 14 with a workers permit and I haven’t really ever stopped. It’s just in me to always be working on a project. Although, I knew I wanted motherhood to be my #1 so a flexible working scenario was important to me, one reason I was drawn to being an entrepreneur.
How did you and your husband meet? How long have you been together? Do you have any tricks to keeping a marriage alive and healthy in the raising small children years?
10 years this year, 8 years married in September. We met in college, dated for 2.5 years -we did have a break up where I moved to NY after college for a job and then he surprised me and showed up on my doorstep. He knew I was into the chase 😉 What girl isn’t, right?!
You were on MTV’s Laguna Beach reality TV show… what was your role for those of us who didn’t watch? What was it like being on one of the first reality shows?
At the time we really didn’t know what it was going to be, they told us it was a show documenting 7 high school kids lives in Laguna Beach – I pictured it like the “true life” series that was currently existing on their network. We had no idea it would turn into what it did. I would say I didn’t bring too much ‘drama’. I wanted to go to college and study abroad and have the more traditional college experiences. When the show came out, I was a freshman in the dorms and we didn’t even have cable. MTV would send me the VHS tapes (so vintage) one week ahead of the launch and I would head over to my friends apartment to watch. It was a really unique experience for a 17 year old and definitely a fun phase of my life.
We loved your recent collab with Molly Sims, how did you decide on her as the face of minnow for Spring?
Molly and minnow just felt like a perfect match for our mother’s day capsule. Molly Sims has traditional southern roots, genuinely so sweet and gracious as they come as a hands-on mom to three. Yet also, Molly is very forward and stylish now raising her family by the coast in the Pacific Palisades. She appreciates tradition and the classics, but also her timeless style is current and fresh which is what minnow is all about.
You had a really cute event to launch that line with Molly at The Surfrider Hotel in Malibu… what did you think of that new kind of “it” hotel? We love what we’ve seen but have yet to stay!
It’s beautiful! The owners are Australian and it just seems those Aussies always have the best taste. No detail is overlooked, very tranquil – the perfect relaxing stay for a couple’s getaway.
We also love all things Maisonette. Their branding in particular is to die for, but also their selection. Can you tell us about the minnow x Maisonette collaboration in their pattern?
Yes! We love the talented women behind Maisonette and everything they are doing to bring an edited children’s offering to the market. They approached us about joining forces to bring their signature doodle print (that felt so cheerful and fresh) to our classic minnow swimsuits for their first anniversary celebration and welcome into summer, and we couldn’t be more excited to team up.
What can you attribute the success of minnow to? It’s so popular with all the cutest moms… that must make you feel so good to have hit the nail on the head.
The support has been overwhelming and completely unexpected and I truly feel so grateful for the love and loyalty. I personally felt as a mom there was a void in the market for classic and clean, high quality swim options and I’m so happy that other moms seemed to have felt the same.
How hard or easy is it to stay on brand with your messaging and partnerships along with content?
Brand marketing was background before minnow, so that is one of the areas of the business that I’m really passionate about. I think when you truly know who you are (as a brand) you can more easily and quickly say yes or no to opportunities to make decisions that are only in line with your brand. I do believe that someone, if not you, always needs to be the critical eye of your company, to keep that brand integrity and protect what you are about.
Describe your personal style…
I feel the most me in a dress. I like feminine, effortless style.
What are your favorite brands for seaside style?
I love the classics like saint james and salt water sandals but also love contemporary brands such as Loeffler Randall (sandals), Soludos (espadrilles) Zimmerman or Marysia Swim (women’s swim), recently I have loved Rhode Resort for easy vacation dresses.
Where do you derive inspiration?
Mainly our lifestyle, living by the beach but I also feels so happy and inspired when I travel.
What places do you like to go (near and far) to get away in your swimwear with your littles?
My list feels endless! Nearby getaways we love and can hop in the car for are Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and Catalina. In the south we love Seaside, Florida’s white sugar sand and sweet people. Also a big fan of east coast summers.
You seem to spend a lot of time in the south from watching your IG… do you particularly like it down there? I am from the south myself and my entire family still lives in Georgia 🙂
Oh I love it! I love the charm and the tradition, and also the nicest of people. I’m trying to talk my husband into moving to Charleston for a new adventure.
How do you manage your time between being a business owner with a thriving brand and also raising small children? Do you work certain hours only// do you take certain days off each week? I think it’s so nice to hear how other women do it in case I’m missing a great idea ha! It’s hard!
Yes! I’m always curious about this for moms, because everyone does it so differently and it’s so personal your schedule and what works for you. I work at our office M-F from 9am – 1pm. I schedule this time so that I can be efficient and focused at work, and then when i leave be as present as possible with my kids. I then jump back on after they are asleep which is around 7:30/8. If an activity or something for them comes up in the am, I can move things around to be there and visa versa if there is a work obligation in the afternoon I can be flexible – but by creating a schedule it helps me focus and be most efficient.
Do you have favorites as far as pieces go from minnow? What about prints?
It changes monthly and also by ages and stages. I lived for my Theo at 20 months and chubby in the minnow briefs, but now he wears the boardies so well. And Georgia in the ruffle one piece is so sweet I can’t get enough of her playing on the sand.
How would you describe the minnow customer…
She is smart, with a keen eye that has a passion for her dressing her children. She loves the classics and appreciates timeliness style but also values being fresh and current.
Do you have a beach beauty routine? You always look fresh and not overdone…
I always put on a tinted moisturizer for a little cover up and SPF. Then a straw hat, sunglasses and an easy cover up.
Do you have favorite “mom” websites to shop from or a constant good read? We love Cup of Jo, Maisonette, goop of course and mothermag… are we missing any?
I feel like you got all my favorites!
What’s on your summer playlist?
I wish I was still up on new music, but rolling stones “Beast of Burden” on PCH makes me feel like summer is here.
What’s a perfect summer day/night look like to you?
I love a long day in the sun at the beach with no real agenda, riding bikes to lunch and staying til magic hour. Then going back for a luke warm shower where you can feel the sun from that day, then heading back in comfy clothes for a bonfire.
What are your favorite children’s clothing and product brands? I love a tasteful mother’s lineup of favorite things.
I love Maisonette, Bon Ton, LaCoqueta, Jacadi, Petit Bateau, L’amore for shoes, salt water sandals a classic, Saint James Tees, Roberta Roller Rabbit for Jammies
Do you have summer travel plans? I see you in the Hamptons and Palm Beach 🙂
We are in a few stores in Amagansett and Sag Harbor, so we will be doing an event out there. Also hoping to get to Maine, where my cousins live. We love it there!
What are your favorite weekend getaway locales?
Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Catalina
Do you have any advice for working moms and also first time moms and also first time moms to two babies rather than one?
Be good to yourself, have patience and know there is always an adjustment at each transition. Also know it won’t always be the way it is, the good and the hard.
Are you listening to podcasts these days, if so, which are your favorite?
I’m currently into NPR’s ‘How I built this” and Tim Ferris
What can we expect from minnow in the upcoming months?
We have a lot of fun summer events coming up, we will also be building and adding to our curated beach market with new product offerings to provide our favorite beach necessities.
