Haute Takes

Join Jules and Madi in this special episode as they talk to retail expert and total She.E.O. Lynn Shanahan. Lynn is an impressive woman with an even more impressive career. Not only did she start her own business at the age of 23-years-old, Lynn singed on to become one of five major players who turned Tommy Hilfiger from a bankrupt company in the early ’90s to the brand we now know and love. Her forward thinking and solution driven approach to problem solving have been key attributes in helping her navigate her unique career journey. She has worked with some of retails top innovators and investors, including Joan Horowitz, Lawrence Stroll, Leonard Lauder, and, of course, Tommy Hilfiger. Tune in to share our OMG moments as Lynn shares her unmatched industry knowledge, encourages risk taking and entrepreneurship, and spills her haute takes on what the future of retail will look like.

This week on Haute Takes, Jules and Madi chat with President and COO of Indeed Labs Dimitra Davidson. Indeed Labs is a Canadian based skincare brand aimed at giving real results to real people. Before making the switch to skincare, Dimitra worked in finance and luxury sales with brands including Tiffany & Co. When the opportunity to touch and grow an affordable luxury skincare brand presented itself, she fearlessly jumped on it. Now, the skincare brand she co-founded with only three products has a global presence and a growing assortment. The Indeed Lab products are innovative and solution-driven, much like Dimitra. There is so much to learn from this #CareerQueen, so tune in to hear her share how she turned a personal pain point into a booming business, what it takes to remain competitive in a high pressure industry, and why optimism and fearlessness are keys to success. Follow @indeedlabs on Instagram and head to https://indeedlabs.com/ to shop products—trust us, you need the Hydraluron Moisture Jelly.

Calling all #GirlBosses, get ready for a Haute Takes switch-up as Madi and Jules dive into the feminine care industry with Viv For Your V founder Katie Diasti. Viv For Your V is a DTC, period care brand aimed at providing anyone who menstruates with safe and sustainable products. The idea for Viv came to Katie while she was a student at Boston College studying marketing and managing social impact, and researching sustainability and periods. She immediately recognized pain points and used her network to transform her research into a game-changing business—like, same? After graduating from BC, Katie pivoted from accepting a full-time position at a big company to becoming a Gen Z founder. Tune in to hear how she got Viv off the ground, what her longterm goals are for Viv, how her team established the brand’s voice, what it’s like working with a very young team, and why the F#$% we need to make safe period care a priority! Use our exclusive code HAUTETAKES10 to shop 10% off all Viv products and follow them on Instagram @vivforyourv.

To kickoff the interview portion of She.E.Os, Jules and Madi sit down with Emma Johnson, founder of Oprah-approved accessory brand EmJohn. As a Gen-Z founder, Emma had no idea what she was doing when she started selling bracelets made with repurposed fabric from her grandfather’s ties. Fast forward a few years, and this #GirlBoss used her unexpected success to pay for her college education. Tune in to hear why Emma set the goal of paying for college through EmJohn, how she turned a hobby into a business, why close friends are so important to have, and what it’s like to balance EmJohn with a full-time job. Check out her Instagram @emjohnjewelry and shop her website with the promo code HAUTETAKES20 for 20% off your EmJohn purchases, effective through January 1st.

Welcome to the first official mini-series of Haute Takes: She.E.Os. Haute Takers know this podcast is about building a network and community of passionate creatives, who want to inspire and motivate change in industries very shaken by the endless hurdles of 2020. These challenges have disrupted many traditional structures within the worlds of fashion, beauty, and retail and pointed out major institutional flaws. One big one? A lack of female leadership. This season is dedicated to the women who are breaking boundaries in these industries. From Gen-Z startups to big name C.E.Os, the #GirlBosses on this series know no limit to what women can achieve. In this intro episode, Madi and Jules talk about what this series means to them, who their biggest female boss inspos are, what you can expect from the episodes, and how you can get involved on the @hautetakepod Instagram. Get ready for lots of girl power energy, and even more LinkedIn stalking, because these women NEVER fail to impress. Shoutout to Dorian Dreyfuss, @dor_drey on Instagram, for our series graphics. Also, stay tuned for some exclusive promo codes from some of our female founders.

Join Jules and Madi as they chat with leading E-commerce Technologist Michael Bower about all things digital. At the age of 22-years-old, Michael started digital commerce agency Sellry. Now, he’s partnered with tech giant Facebook, and some of our favorite brands including Supergoop, Tocin, and Mada (DUH). Tune in to hear major #HauteTakes on why Gen Z may be more helpful for brands than millennials--sorry not sorry--and what beauty and fashion brands need to do to win in an increasingly digital world. Also, the tech life has had Michael and his team working remotely for years. You won’t want to miss the WFH tips he has to share. To learn more about what Michael does, check out https://sellry.com/. As always, remember to send in your #HauteTakes to @HauteTakesPod on Instagram and leave your reviews.

The girls are talking digital this week with e-commerce expert Ingrid Milman Cordy. From Goldman Sachs to Esteè Lauder, Ingrid has developed digital platforms across industries. She's held positions high and low and has worked for agencies as well as individual brands. This #BossBabe has unparalleled knowledge of the digital world--pretty much every brand she touches turns to gold. Her impressive career is largely a result of her passion--yes, she admits her life priorities are work, work, and yoga. Tune in to listen to how she completely rebranded E.L.F. Cosmetics, how she balances a side hustle with a demanding career, and What The F*$%# brands should be doing to stay relevant and real on digital right now *cough TikTok.*

This week on Haute Takes, Fashion Photographer Nick DeLeito talks to Jules and Madi about his work and gossips with the girls about major career moments--think Givenchy photoshoots in France. Nick got his "breakthrough" start after sneaking into runway shows and not taking no for an answer. Now, he's worked with some of the industry's most revered labels, publications, and personalities. The life of a freelance photographer, however, is not always as glamorous as it seems. Tune in to listen to Nick get real about the pros and cons of freelance work, his creative process, what he hopes the future of fashion will look like, and how he came to know and love Kaia Gerber and Bella Hadid. Follow him on Instagram @actuallynicholas and check out his website www.nickdeleito.com.

On this week's episode, Jules and Madi chat with the fabulous Mariko Ichikawa, buyer-turned-designer. Mariko graduated from Penn and began her career in product development at Macy's (sound familiar?), soon becoming a buyer in the home department at Bergdorf Goodman. Feeling the need to spice things up, Mariko picked up and moved to Dubai, where she familiarized herself with a whole new international market, collaborating with colleagues from England, France, Lebanon, and Egypt, amongst others. Back in NYC, Mariko worked as a buyer for designer RTW at Barneys before creating her own line of beautiful, repurposed, authentic Japanese kimonos. Her designs have been seen on celebs like Karamo Brown of Queer Eye. Tune in to hear Mariko share how she continues to go after it through career ups and downs and her insanely contagious laugh. Follow her on Instagram @marikoichikawanyc and shop or browse her amazing designs at marikoichikawa.com.

On this week’s episode, Jules and Madi chat with Zoe Nochlin, social media associate manager at rag & bone. Zoe has always used fashion as a way to express herself. After college, she extended her bold choices from her closet to her career, using social media to create a brand’s unique voice, to spread useful information and to stay connected to the industry. You all know how much we love a side-hustle (hello, why we’re here!), and Zoe has recently taken on the social media for Thief and Heist, a unisex jewelry company that reimagines plastic, turning it into something precious and meaningful. Tune in to hear Zoe share her path to social media finesse, her dos and don'ts of posting, and how to create an authentic brand presence. Follow her @zoenochlin on Instagram, and throw @ragandbone a follow while you're at it. LINK IN BIO!

On this week’s episode, Jules and Madi get real about organization, communication, and activism. Having both gotten their jobs back at Macy’s, they chat about how to manage a corporate job with a side hustle, and most importantly, how to make time for yourself and do what you love. Tune in to hear our hosts discuss how to delegate tasks and just be honest with yourself, because we all know that sometimes we put way too much pressure on ourselves to get s**t done. Jules and Madi also touch on the unethical incident with Shein, their thoughts on how activism should look, and what it means to be an ally and to support one another. LINK IN BIO!

In this episode, Jules and Madi chat with Cary Leitzes, founder and president of LEITZES&CO. At just 27, Cary became the Director of Photography at Harper’s Bazaar before going on to start her own creative agency, LEITZES&CO, that bridges the gap between artists, Fortune 500 companies, brands and creatives for blockbuster partnerships. Listen to Cary's fascinating path to starting her own company, her advice for young people entering the fashion industry and all of the connections and collaborations she’s masterminded along the way! Follow along with Cary's career on Instagram @leitzes and with her skincare line @mysuperflower. You can learn more about her company LEITZES&CO at https://www.leitzes.co/.

In this episode, Jules and Madi get real with 28 Row Founder Janie Smukler about what it’s like to start an influencer marketing company and work with college influencers. Janie worked as an assistant for Cindy Krupp, the founder and president of Krupp Group Public Relations, before co-founding 28 Row with Krupp in 2018. The company quickly dominated the college influencer space, matching brands with influencers and helping those brands tap into the sought-after demographic. Listen to Janie as she spills the tea on why she thinks being an assistant may just be the post-grad move, how she got started with 28 Row, why peer marketing is so important for brands, and how to become a 28 Row girl.

In this episode, Jules and Madi chat with Senior Manager of Partnerships and Business Development at Saks Fifth Avenue, Lauren Della Porta. Lauren got her first job out of college at the now-cult-favorite Rent the Runway when it was just a startup. Now, she holds a senior position at one of the most established retailers, and she’s not even 30-years-old! Whether or not you’re looking to build a career in fashion, we all have something to learn from this #BossBabe. Listen to Lauren talk about her career path and share her secrets to success. We doubt you’ll be able to finish this episode without wanting to make some money moves. **While Lauren discusses her experience at each company she has been employed at, she has made clear she is not a current or past official representative of that company and therefore clarifies that any statements made within this podcast is based fully on personal opinion and experience**

In this episode, Jules and Madi sit down with internationally awarded blogger and businesswoman Caitlyn Chase. Since starting her fashion blog Caviar & Cashmere in 2011, Caitlyn has monetized its success, launching multiple entrepreneurial pursuits including, most recently, a clean skincare line. In addition to her own businesses, she has been featured in publications like Vogue and Vanity Fair and has led marketing efforts for well-known beauty companies like GlamSquad. Tune in to hear how Caitlyn earned her status as a beauty veteran and luxury guru, where she sees the future of blogging heading, and, of course, what her five-minute makeup routine consists of.

In this episode, Jules and Madi talk to Madison Semarjian, the 22-year-old founder of Mada: a new smartphone app harnessing AI, machine learning, and a special human touch to offer a highly personalized shopping experience. She came up with the idea when she was a freshman at Boston College and officially launched it in January 2020. Listen to Madison tell the story of how she conceptualized the app and turned it into a revolutionary fashion platform.

In this episode, Jules and Madi answer your burning questions about the future of fashion. The girls discuss some of the biggest #HauteTakes on what the industry might look like post COVID-19--think virtual runway shows and morally conscious brands.

In this episode, Jules and Madi tell their fashion stories and get real about the pros and cons of building a career in fashion. Through high school and college, these girls had different experiences that led them to their jobs at Macy's. Listen to them chat about how they got started in the industry, school clubs they were a part of, internships they had, and how networking and mentorship helped pave their paths to success.

In this episode, get to know Jules and Madi as they tell all about what inspired them to start podcasting, how they are spending their time in quarantine, and what fashion means to them.