Nanette Lepore And Her Daughter Violet Tell Us About Their New Teen Line
Ever wonder what it would be like to have a fashion designer for a mom? For Violet Lepore, it's meant getting roped into the family business. Violet's mom, designer Nanette Lepore, tapped her 14-year-old daughter to help out with a new teen line for JCPenney.
It's called L'Amour, and as per Nanette, is based on "what would be really fun to wear if you were 14". Nanette's namesake brand is well known for its bright colors and feminine shapes, but as Violet (a self-proclaimed T-shirt lover) notes, the designs are often too dressy for her to wear to school. Luckily, the first L'Amour collection is full of mix-and-match pieces — including cute moto jackets, sporty mesh skirts, and flirty neon dresses — that can go from day to night.
Even better, this is no one-time, limited-edition capsule collection. New pieces will be released online and in JCPenney stores every month. Read on to find out what the mother-daughter team has to say about L'Amour's debut!
What prompted you two to collaborate?
Nanette: I had definitely been wanting to do it for a long time. It's been really fun because since Violet's getting older, I don't see her as much! I really get to interact with Violet and work on the designs, and see her tastes and what she likes and appreciates.
What was it like working together?
Violet: I came in once to the studio and tried some things on with a friend, and we told the team how the clothes looked and our opinions on them. For a while, my mom was bringing home sketches and shapes and different prints and asking me what I thought about them, so I gave her my opinion on a lot of the stuff.
Do you guys think that you influence each other's styles?
Nanette: Here's what I will do, I'll put on something that I think is really cool and I'll stand around in the kitchen and wait until she reacts. I'll just strike different poses until she notices.
Violet: Yeah, she'll do that a lot when my friends are over!
Nanette: I won't immediately run inside and put on my sweatpants if she has a house full of friends. I'll sort of strut around in my outfit to see their opinions. And I have to say, I don't really ever get too many criticisms from them.
We wouldn't think you'd get any!
Nanette: No, there are times—
Violet: Well, those aren't from my friends!
Nanette: They're from you! She's really critical.
How would you describe Violet's personal style?
Violet: My style is more casual, but I still like to dress up. It's so fun to do that. I'm always attracted to dark colors, which is why I like having her as my mom, because she's always there to bring in the bright colors.
Nanette: Well, you like dark colors so much because you're a native New Yorker!
Do you ever borrow your mom's clothes?
Violet: Yeah, a lot! If I can't get into my room because we have family sleeping over, I'll just turn to her closet. It's like, "Oh, wow, there's all this stuff I didn't know about!" I'll borrow a lot of basics, but if we're going out at night and I just want to wear something new, I'll walk downstairs and go to her closet. My cousin is living with us now and she's 21, so I borrow her stuff a lot too.
Since you've grown up as the daughter of a fashion designer, do you remember a specific point when started to get interested in fashion, or has it always been a part of your life?
Violet: I remember not being that interested in it until I turned 10. I thought shopping was just awful, and I wouldn't want to wear anything but sweatpants to school. Then, in the 5th grade, my mom told me I had to go shopping for new clothing. I went, and all of a sudden something clicked and it was interesting. It was sort of a surprise for me, because I had never liked doing that. That's when I began experimenting with things I was wearing.
Do you see yourself getting involved in fashion as a career?
Violet: I hope that with whatever career happens, I'll do something that's still going to be surrounded by fashion. I'm not sure if designing will be what I want to do, but definitely something in that area, whether it's being a stylist or something like that. No matter what, fashion will be a part of my life, especially with my mom, but I'd still like to have it in my everyday work life. I wouldn't want to have to wear suits to work!
Nanette, how did you get your start in the industry?
Nanette: I was studying to be a buyer in college when a professor who'd studied in New York City told me about the Fashion Institute of Technology. Before that, I thought there was only Parsons, and I couldn't afford Parsons, I had to go to a state school. So, I did a portfolio, and got accepted. It was a big surprise to me, because I really didn't think coming out of Youngstown, Ohio, I would get into FIT. After FIT, I worked a couple of jobs, and after about three years of working for other people I started my own line.
Do you have any advice for aspiring designers?
Nanette: I think learning to sew gives you such an insight into clothing. Learn to spend a lot of time drawing and learn to sew because it doesn't hurt you, it will only help you. If you love fashion, take life-drawing classes. Take as many drawing classes as your school offers, or even painting. Any of the creative arts will eventually flow in and help you in your process.
Click through to see some of our favorite looks from L'Amour by Nanette Lepore
1/7For this dynamic duo, fashion is a family affair.
2/7L’Amour Nanette Lepore Heart tee, $17; Moto jacket, $50; Galaxy printed jeans, $25. Available at JCPenney.
7/7L’Amour Nanette Lepore Mid media tank, $17; Neon jeans with cuff, $25. Available at JCPenney.
