What sparked your interest in fashion?
I’ve always been really DIY. My interest in fashion was kind of born out of frustration. I’d stand in my closet (like a lot of you) and just didn’t feel like I had anything to wear. The issue was that I didn’t have anything I wanted to wear. I’d put on a top and it didn’t fit like I wanted it to. Or I’d grab something and wish I could wear it another way or with another outfit. My interest in fashion started with me tweaking things I already owned and that grew into creating things I love to wear!
Our photographer, Sheri on a shoot in Vail
How did you fashion become your career?
I’ve always called Grace and Lace my ‘accidental company’ because I never even dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, it just kind of fell into my lap. If you know our story, Grace and Lace was born out of tragedy. My love for knitting came while I was pregnant with our first child. I was on bed rest and just needed something… anything to do. So I created. I knit socks, hats, blankets, and anything else to pass the time. When we lost the baby, part of what helped me work through my emotions was continuing to create. One day I had the idea to sew a lace strip inside one of my favorite pairs of boot socks so the
lace would peek out the top. It took forever. I was so frustrated by the end of it, I swore I’d never make another pair again. But, every time I wore them people would ask me where I got them. When I told them I made them, they’d write their info on a scrap of paper or hand me their card and tell me they’d buy a pair if I made another. Rick (my husband) suggested that I set up a little online shop and just see if people were actually willing to buy them. In a few hours, we had dozens and dozens of orders and an accidental business was born. Now I’m a full time mom and full time lead designer at Grace & Lace and I’m loving every minute!
Sheri again! Seriously, she's so talented!
Where did you learn fashion design?
A LOTTT of trial and error. I have a strong idea of what I like and don’t like and that drives my design process. Fashion, for me, is a gut feeling. I don’t create anything I wouldn’t wear. I think there are a lot of great things about traditional education and I have design school trained girls on my design team, but instinct is what I rely on the most to create our new releases.
Can't work all the time! Sometimes you have to sneak away to the rodeo!
How has your work evolved over the years?
We started with one boot sock. Then another kind. Then designed boot cuffs. Then scarves, and it’s just grown every year since. We have a full line up of gorgeous women’s fashion for every season. Every year we’re stretching and growing and pushing ourselves to create items that we know fashion forward women will love.
This is a pic from way back when! I was sewing a quilt before Grace & Lace became our accidental company.
What was your inspiration for the fall launch?
We my design team and I sat down to sketch out what I wanted fall to look like, my mind kept going to textures. Looking good is important, but what does it feel like? How do we capture and create that fall feeling in an outfit. We focused on soft and cozy and in another area we focused on luxurious as well. We launched the first few items of our
Luxe Line. For months, my team and I touch, tested, and wore dozens of fabrics to find the softest, most luxurious fabrics that we could style for you. We also wanted to create uniquely gorgeous tops that would layer well in the cooler weather. We created our first ever 100% unique plaid pattern for our
Classic Ultra-Soft Plaid which was a big milestone for our team. I believe if you look amazing, you’ll feel amazing and that’s the question I ask with every launch. What is going to help you look and feel amazing?
