Shoe designer Chloe Gosselin at work
In this bi-weekly series, we interview female executives, founders, CEOs - basically boss ladies - about the "power suits" - the effortless outfits they wear every day to conquer any job.
Chloe Gosselin is as chic as one would imagine, given that her shoe line is a fusion of Italian luxury and craftsmanship with "French cool." (Open in new tab) After studying the art of shoemaking and manufacturing at Ars Sutoria in Milan and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, she launched her eponymous brand in 2014. Prior to that, she spent a decade traveling the world as a model, where she discovered a great sense (and talent) for design.
The brand focuses on one thing: women. Yes, women and style. Her collections offer a variety of heels for board meetings, sandals for a casual day out, boots for a day on the town, and fun mules to dress up or down, so that women can be wherever they are. Although her collection advocates high fashion, comfort is common to all of her designs. I live in these shoes, so I know how they feel and how they make me feel," Gosselin says. My team and I always design with women in mind. What I love most about my job is having customers and being a part of their everyday lives. Seeing a woman walk down the street in my shoes is the most humbling and rewarding experience." Below, we spoke with Gosselin about her quarantine routine, her style, and how starting her day with a horseback trot keeps her sane.
"My daughter Sky is homeschooled now, so we are on a time limit. I usually get up at 7:45 and look over the first email with one eye open. Then I drop my daughter off at school and take care of the dogs, Orson and Rosie. Then I head to the barn where my horse Allie is. A great ride is the best way to start my day! Dressage training is five days a week. After that, work really starts in earnest."
"I like to feel comfortable yet neat. I spend most of the year in Las Vegas, so we have really nice weather. So my favorite outfit is always a fluffy dress with nice flats or a pair of well-tailored pants with striking high heels and a nice top."
"I am very much a coat person and love smooth tailoring. A nice coat or trench with a great pair of heels will elevate any look, even if it's a casual jeans and t-shirt look. My favorite is the plisse trench by Huishan Zhang, which I pair with my fabulous pumps like the Lucile (opens in new tab)."
"Colorful dresses like this dreamy one by Christopher John Rogers (opens in new tab) paired with my amazing sandals with chunky heels like my Angela (opens in new tab) sandals in black."
"Comfortable, timeless, and colorful."
"Whatever voice you have been given, use it for good. I believe we can all make small changes to create a better world. I know it all feels overwhelming, especially right now, but if we show up, we can work for the collective good."
"Honestly, I don't feel like I have a definite style, but I have a very emotional relationship with clothes. I fall in love with clothes and I have to have them. I also love supporting my fellow designers and their talents and discovering smaller designers. It's all about the story, what goes on behind the scenes of fashion."
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