Designer Interview: KATE SCHELTER

It’s a thrill today to chat with stylist, creative director, k a t e   s c h e l t e r.

Kate Schelter in a New York apartment window sill - photo by Natalie Joos of Tales of Endearment
photo by Natalie Joos –Tales of Endearment (thanks, Natalie!)

Kate’s agency works with Zac Posen, Vakko, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hollywould, House of Lavande, Lucy Sykes, ClosetCouture.net, The Palms Casino, American Express, and Universal Pictures.

Kate in her Gramercy Park apartment. (omg i love this very intimate peek below!)

Kate Schelter in straw hat applying makeup in mirror in her NYC apartment - photo by Natalie Joos.
photo by Natalie Joos

In addition to publishing work in The New York Times, V Magazine, Vanity Fair, Oprah, and W, Kate writes a style blog for The Huffington Post and has reported for Vogue, Style.com, The Style Network, and IMG.

Kate Schelter watercolor painting of Chanel red lipsticks.
Kate Schelter blog – ooooh, especially partial to this one reminding me of mom who loves her Chanel lipstick.

Some time ago, I began following Kate’s blog and fell in love with her watercolors, effortless chic, and engaging personality.

Kate Schelter watercolor painting of aviator sunglasses.

I asked Kate about creativity.

“It’s not a choice for me: I can’t imagine my life without creativity. I am a creative person, and I don’t understand any other way. Creating and designing all day long is what I do. From making the bed in the morning to cooking dinner at night, to styling an ad campaign or painting watercolors -everything is a creative process about making things beautiful, functional, comfortable, and real.”

As a creative soul, many of us can relate to feeling “wired” to create and how very natural the process is to life everyday.

Vanity Fair (Kate is wearing her YSL trench, and look who sneaked in teh shot!)

Kate was looking awwwwwfully perfect in the recent “Fashion’s Night In” spread (above), and I asked what comes to mind when she hears “beauty in imperfection.”

“Everything! Nature. Design. When something is too perfect it becomes static. I have a saying that I use for styling a lot “to jooge it up” which is my slang for: if it’s too perfect, push something askew. It will look better that way.”

styled by Kate for Lulu Frost

Yes! Jooge-ing keeps things alive and interesting.

Kate’s thoughts about humor intrigued me given my sneaky suspicion she had a wild sense of humor…see, I’ve seen dozens of photos where she’s laughing with a gorgeous big ol’ smile, surrounded by fun happy people.

“I’m obsessed with SNL, and I took improv comedy classes for years just for fun. Humor plays a huge part in my everyday life in that I love to laugh and crack jokes with friends and family. The fashion industry can take itself quite seriously (Zoolander?), and I find that to be a bit more laid back is a refreshing approach and helps me ease into my work.”

Knew it!

(A) thinkin’ Kate should host SNL.

(B) would love to hear the fun inside scoop from some of those serious fashion events (maybe not everybody there rolls like Kate)…yes?

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is vakko_c_line-1.jpg
a campaign Schelter styled for VAKKO

What inspires the uber successful, vintage loving future SNL host?

The short list goes like this:

  1. Prada stripes.

2. Vintage Ungaro.

and

3. Most importantly, my fiance.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 4031.jpeg
photo by Natalie Joos (at home with her precious “Bear.”)

One of the most important missions of this blog (and my life!) is to find lovely and sacredness in the “everyday,” and this is Kate’s take.

“There’s a famous design saying (from LeCorbusier – I think?) that “God is in the details,” and I think it’s so true. The way things are customized and personalized, down to the biggest decisions for the smallest items, is what makes them authentic and true to their core – and desirable.”

Hearing Kate say this somehow helps me feel better about taking the time today to paint my ugly yellow kitchen broom white.

True!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is HOLBlog.jpg
House of Lavande – one of Kate’s clients with the most beautiful site (designed by Kate) on the web. seriously.

Truly she is leading an inspired life.

Kate will be married this summer and is busy with wedding plans, so it was extra extra cool she took time for us!

Best to you and your groom, lovely Kate.

Thanks for reading, friends.

p.s.

Kate has her dream job…what would yours be?

Peace to you right where you are.

michele

Follow:

14 Comments

  1. April 8, 2011 / 2:57 pm

    Wow! Michele! What a fun interview! I never read an interview that I felt I was "in the room", just listening the two of you "talking", you know? It felt real and personal.

    I'm impressed by you and by this very talented woman as well.

    Great job!

    Have a very blessed weekend!

    xo

    Luciane at HomeBunch.com

  2. April 8, 2011 / 4:30 pm

    Wow, found your blog, stayed a while, fell in LOVE!
    Great blog you have.
    I`m your latest follower, please come and visit my blog, stay a little and maybe follow me back;)

    http://pudel-design.blogspot.com/

    Lovely greetings from Germany…

  3. April 8, 2011 / 5:26 pm

    Kate is delightful! And so are you! How cute that you painted your broom, you are adorable! 🙂

    I love reading these inspiring interviews, they get me so geared up to get creative and productive!!

    I get such a positive creative vibe here, my lovely! You are really my role model 🙂

    Have a fabulous weekend, pretty lady, I hope you're getting warm sunshine like we are here.

    Meera xx

  4. April 8, 2011 / 6:55 pm

    Hi gorgeous girlie-wirlie,

    Love this interview!! Your writing just brings everything alive, you know. I just popped over to your other blog. Very sad that I can't leave comments!!!

    I loved your review of the autism-related book.
    It looks really thought-provoking.

    Have a fab weekend,
    Sarahx

  5. April 8, 2011 / 10:43 pm

    Hi, lovely post, really looking forward to checking out the other blogs you mention here!
    Have a lovely weekend
    Laura xx

  6. April 10, 2011 / 4:15 pm

    Fabulously inspiring my darlin – I love your interview style, it's very personal and you come away feeling like you know this amazingly creative and inspirational person that much better… x

  7. April 10, 2011 / 10:42 pm

    Hi my friend,

    I meant to visit on Friday – but I got distracted. This will be my only blog comment this weekend!

    What a great post, Michele!

    And Kate – ueber talented is right! I want to live in her head, if just for a few hours. She is so inspirational.

    I wonder what her wedding will be like, Unique, chic, fun and relaxed is my guess.

    Happy Sunday to you.

    ox, Mon

  8. April 11, 2011 / 12:23 am

    i'm your newest follower & am already in LOVE – this post is great, just soo inspirational.

    as for my dream job… even though i have a pretty cool job in fashion right now, my actual dream job is as a college chaplain (i'm kind of all over the place, i know!). i just want to live life a little first before helping others out on their own journeys 🙂

    ~kait

  9. April 11, 2011 / 12:53 am

    thanks for all this encouragement, you gorgeous peeps you!

    i didn't know interviews would be so much fun! anybody remember when HOUSE BEAUTIFUL switched to an interview format with designers? such a smooth move.

    oooh i can't wait to hear/see what kate has up her sleeve for their nuptials, Mon! (i don't like this word nuptials. yuck.)

    michele

  10. April 11, 2011 / 11:34 am

    This was such a nice interview to read.She seems so grounded and genuinely talented.I loved how she quoted LeCorbusier because I totally agree.You have such a nice blog and I would love it if you liked to follow each other.Let me know:)
    Dora

    http://adropofindigo.blogspot.com/

  11. April 13, 2011 / 5:31 am

    Love your blog.
    x Marnie {3pickles}

  12. April 13, 2011 / 9:01 pm

    Hi,
    Just popping over from Sarah's Good Life Wednesday. It is lovely to meet you.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

    Gg – Notes on the Journey
    Good Life Wednesday #46

  13. April 14, 2011 / 3:29 am

    thanks for sharing
    great interview with thoughtful questions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s SHOP!

White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
White Matelasse Quilt on MY BED
SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
Black or Bronze Accent Table
French Stripe Basket Set
White Cotton Crochet Bed Skirt
French Country Rattan Basket Set
Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
French Carved Wood Chandelier
Terracotta Pots & Basket
French Country Wood Chandelier
French Linen Dining Chair
Gustavian Cabinet
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
Rattan Armchair
Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
Designer Favorite Wall Mirror
Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing