The TEll// By Thrift & Tell
Welcome to THE TELL//BY THRIFT & TELL: a celebration of fashionable women who dress as smart as they shop.
This week’s guest on THE TELL// is LouLou Baker, artist and founder of her eponymous brand LouLou Baker. If you’re not yet familiar, LouLou creates beautiful pieces from stationery to custom bags. Her work is frequently featured in some of your favorite magazines, including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. When it comes to everyday attire, LouLou keeps it simple yet chic with splurge worth jeans from Khaite and accessible and comfortable shoes from Tretorns. It’s a pleasure to have a talented entrepreneur like LouLou be part of this series and please look forward to more stories from inspiring women to come!
//Your style in 3 words: Classic, clean, and sophisticated.
//Staple Outfit: Skinny jeans, crew neck sweater and Tretorns
//Style Icon(s): Jane Birkin, Audrey, Lee Radziwill, and Lauren Santo Domingo
//Your First Big Purchase: Manolo Blahniks my junior year of high school
//Do You Still Have It? Yes, and still wear them!
//Best Fashion Advice You Ever Received: Do not purchase something you don’t love.
//Types of clothing you invest in: Shoes, purses, coats and dresses (everything!).
//Types of clothing you save on: T-shirts – I destroy them and like to have very comfortable but disposable white t-shirts.
//Your greatest extravagance: This past winter I bought a Burberry shearling from Moda (on sale!!) it is so beautiful and kept me warm doing those freezing days in the winter.
//Brands That Will Stand the Test of Time: Chanel, YSL, Burberry, & Lanvin
//Favorite High Street Brands: Zara
//Favorite Designer Brands: Isabel Marant Etoile, Ulla Johnson, Zimmermann, reht, A.L.C, Iro, LoveShackFancy
//Favorite High-Low Brands to Mix: I love Zara for a low brand and think it pairs perfectly with a nice pair of shoes, bag and coat (my investment pieces).
//Favorite Places to Shop Consignment: I have not been a consignment shopper but I have had some generous friends who have gifted or nearly gifted their amazing clothes to me – mostly Chanel pieces.
//Favorite Places to Consign Your Own Closet: I have held onto almost every investment I have made and just recently reached out to The Real Real to get some estimates on a few Carolina Herrera dresses I bought last year.
//Currently Collecting Dust in the Back of your Closet: Most of my heels as I am sadly getting older and always opt for flats these days
//Your Closet Tried and Trues: Khaite denim, Tabitha flats and a La Ligne sweater
//Best investment you ever made in your style: All of my shoes
//Style Choice From Your Past That Haunts You: A few Comes Des Garcons tops that should be framed in a museum not worn out to Lit Lounge a decade ago.
//“It seemed like a good idea at the time” a.k.a Purchase you most regret: Fortunately, nothing I can think of.
//Closet From Which You Would Like to Borrow: Alexandra Macon of Over The Moon
//Last Time You Splurged? I treated myself to an Emilia Wickstead dress that has a little extra space as I am expecting my second child now.
//Currently Saving Your Pennies For: A Bottega Veneta Roma bag
//A Deal for the History Books/Your T&T Personal Best: I worked at Aeffe and got an Alberta Ferreti gown at the sample sale for $40 – it is stunning and I still wear it.
//Trend you wish would go way? Jean shorts that you can see too much.
//Advice to someone looking to define their own style: Go with your gut – it is telling you something. Don’t be over influenced.
//You feel great. What are you wearing? A summer dress because that means it is warm and I likely have a tan on my skin.
//Occasions when you splurge: Too frequently according to my husband
//Occasions when you save: I have been fortunate enough to receive a discount from most of the sites my company has worked with which makes me feel like I am always saving.
//Most prized possession: Chanel quilted bag
//Home Decor Style: Classic – I love wallpaper, antiques, and a dash of modern.
//Favorite place to hunt for home decor: John Derian in New York and I love just popping into antique stores whenever we are on the road.
//Go-to for unique items, whether it be clothing, accessories, home or art: While I lived in San Francisco there was a shop called The Apartment and so many of my antiques came from there.
//Your fashion motto: Be true to yourself.
//Your life motto: Never stop.
Fill in the blank:
//A woman should invest in- shoes. //You’re never too old to— dance your heart out. //A woman can never have too much— love. //Bury me in- cashmere. // True or False: More is More- False. I am more of a less I more when it comes to clothing – clean and classic. //Fashion is- a way to let people know who you are. //Style is: your own.
Currently Loving:
//Music: The National
//Print: The Wall Street Journal Off Duty and Magazine
//Food: Beef Shawarma
//Drink: Spindrift (I’m pregnant.)
//Film: Any rom-com
//TV: The Crown
//Instagram Handle: @louloubaker
//Designer: Brock Collection
ABOUT LOULOU
LouLou Baker, a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, founded Peep's Paper Products (now LouLou Baker) in 2011, while creating holiday cards for friends. Her company has organically evolved into a whimsical world of playing cards, invitations, birth announcements, and beautiful custom linens. She has collaborated with Moda Operandi, Goop, Bumble, VOGUE, Berenford, Over The Moon, Sony ATV, & many corporations.
Works have been featured in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, W, Travel + Leisure, The New York Times, Garden & Gun, Elle Decor, Teen Vogue, Elle Japan, Southern Living, The Washington Post, Veranda, The Boston Globe, Traditional Home, Town & Country, & Brides.
FIND LOULOU
Photos used courtesy of LouLou Baker.
