The Bossticks - Rebecca Minkoff - How To Build Your Brand, Advice For Aspiring Business Owners, RHONY, & How To Build Foundational Skills

Episode Date: November 20, 2024

#778: Join us as we sit down with Rebecca Minkoff – an industry leader behind a global brand known for its wide range of luxury handbags, apparel, footwear, jewelry & accessories. From her humble beginnings to becoming a fashion industry leader, Rebecca shares her journey as a young visionary with an entrepreneurial spirit. In this episode, Rebecca opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, the value of building strong foundational skills, overcoming rejection with resilience, crafting realistic business models, & her personal path to becoming a renowned name in fashion!   To connect with Rebecca Minkoff click HERE and HERE   To connect with Lauryn Bosstick click HERE   To connect with Michael Bosstick click HERE   Read More on The Skinny Confidential HERE   To Watch the Show click HERE   For Detailed Show Notes visit TSCPODCAST.COM   To Call the Him & Her Hotline call: 1-833-SKINNYS (754-6697)   This episode is brought to you by The Skinny Confidential   Head to the HIM & HER Show ShopMy page HERE to find all of Michael and Lauryn's favorite products mentioned on their latest episodes.   Visit rebeccaminkoff.com to learn more & use code SKINNY15 for 15% off your purchase.   Visit istandwithmypack.org to support I Stand With My Pack's (ISWMP) mission by donating or adopting. Every contribution helps!   This episode is sponsored by Sono Bello   Schedule your free consultation now at sonobello.com/skinny.   This episode is sponsored by Good Ranchers    Subscribe to any box at goodranchers.com & use code SKINNY to get a free Thanksgiving ham with your first order plus free express shipping.   This episode is sponsored by    This episode is sponsored by Cotton - The Fabric of our Lives   Cotton is The Fabric of Now. Learn more at TheFabricOfOurLives.com.   This episode is sponsored by Farmacy Beauty   Visit farmacybeauty.com & use code SKINNY for 20% off your order.   This episode is sponsored by Cymbiotika    Head over to Cymbiotika.com right now for 25% off + Free Shipping sitewide during their Black Friday Sale.   Produced by Dear Media

The following podcast is a dear media production. This episode is brought to you by I Stand with My Pack. This is a charity that I am so passionate about, so much so that I reached out and asked them if I could feature a dog of the month on the show, a dog that is in need that's looking to get rescued by someone who's hopefully listening. Share this with your friends, your family. So meet Marlowe. Marlo is a stunning, energetic four-year-old Australian Shepherd who thrives in an active home

with or without dogs. He is a loyal adventure-ready companion. So if you're an active individual or a couple ready to give him the love he deserves, you have to fill out an adoption application. It's so amazing what I stand with my pack does. They're a female-run nonprofit dedicated to saving animals and preventing cruelty locally and globally. I fell in love with them through a friend, probably about four years ago, and I became really passionate about featuring these dogs that need a home on my Instagram or on the podcast. We had the founders on the show, and we talked all about the need for people to adopt or rescue these dogs. So if you're into Marlow or looking for another dog, you have to check out, I Stand With My Pack.org. Or if you guys want to donate, it's the easiest thing ever.

You can just do it through Venmo. It takes one second. So you could donate, you could foster or adopt. Go to Istandwithmypack.org. Every contribution helps. That's Istandwithmypack.org. She's a lifestyle blogger extraordinaire. Fantastic. And he's a serial entrepreneur.

A very smart cookie. And now Lauren Everts and Michael Bostic are bringing you alone for the ride. Get ready for some major realness. Welcome to the skinny confidential, him and her. Uh-huh. Mentorship is the person who was like, this bag isn't good enough. come back to me in two weeks and change X, Y, and Z, and maybe I'll take you on. And again, that moment that she was so cutthroat and picked apart my prototype was what I needed.

It didn't feel good. But I was like, cool, I got to fix this. And this is my only chance. And so it's a woman like her or, again, the CEO who took a look at me and was like, ugh, another one of you. You know, but she put me through the ringer and was like, you need to know all the aspects of what it takes to run a business because you can't just be siloed in one area that seems like your dream area.

Today we're sitting down with Rebecca Minkoff. Many of you guys may be familiar with Rebecca Minkoff. She is an industry leader behind a global brand known for its wide range of luxury handbags, apparel, footwear, jewelry, and accessories. What does she not do? From her humble beginnings to becoming fashion industry leader, Rebecca shares her journey as a young visionary. She gives advice on how to build a business, advice for young entrepreneurs, what every founder

needs to know, how to live an incredible life. And of course, we also talk about her appearing on the Real Houseways of New York, which is a new endeavor for her. We had an incredible time with Rebecca. I'm surprised it took this long to sit down with her. We could have gone on and on. With that, Rebecca Minkoff, welcome to the skinny confidential, him and her show. This is the skinny confidential, him and her. I cannot believe you have four children and you are running your company and you're on television. Hold on. I'm not running my company. Okay? And we're going to get into that. Yes. But you still have four children and you're doing what you're doing, which is a lot. It's a lot. I mean, a lot.

Let's go back. Let's get your story. When you were a little girl, was there sort of an epiphany or eureka moment where you knew that you were into business, fashion, styling? So my mom used to sell cast covers. Go with me here. It's the 80s. People wanted to cover their cast with like neon spandex looking stuff. Don't know why. And she would sell it at the flea market in San Diego. And I was like, mom. I want to sell at the flea market too. So I would spend the week making like puffy paint sweatshirts, jewelry. And my mom had a rule like she wouldn't buy me stuff, but she'd buy me the materials to make things growing up. And so I would set up my little card table next to her. I sold nothing, by the way, because no one wanted like a little girl's like dumb stuff.

But I just had this like, I want to sell too. I want to be in business too. And my mom also sold Amway products. And so I watched her do that. And I think for me, I was like, I, I, I, I just had. I want to do that someday. I didn't know it was going to be fashion, but that was something that I was just, I liked that path. I mean, I think that's so good for a kid, even if you weren't selling anything, to see the process of making the shirt or making the thing and then setting it up and then being at the event. I think that's important if they want to be a business owner. It's good practice.

It's great practice and it's great to get rejection in front of you early on. Yeah. Talk about that. As we know, you're rejected like your whole life as an entrepreneur. Yeah. And I think the people that don't know that and experience it late in life, especially if they were raised by parents where everyone got an award, I think it's hard. I mean, I think even like, this is like kind of a stranger, but even doing this show for as long as we have, we still get so many knows when we reach out to people.

I'm shocked. No, but it's, I mean, over time it's gotten, we've gotten more. And I think there's more people that are willing to come on these properties. but still to this day, like, it's not always a yes. It's a lot of noes, and we still deal with that. What are some rejections that you experienced really early on when you just were getting started? Maybe even before your brand. So before the brand, good rejections, I was a dancer in high school.

I went to a performing arts high school. Did you grow up in San Diego? I grew up half in San Diego. Then we moved to Florida when I was nine. Okay. And there was a multi-division. Division Department of Arts. And so I got into dance, but I secretly liked other, other different departments that I didn't get into. And from day one, they're like, you're too tall, you ruin the

symmetry, your breasts are too big. Like, you can never be in the front with the boys because they haven't hit puberty, so they can't get their arms, you know, over your head to like spin you and do pirouettes. And in the back, you just ruin the symmetry. So I was like, cool, where do I go from here? And I went to the costume department and that's where the costume teacher was like, oh, finally someone that gives a shit about this and really took me under wing and taught me the craft of draping, pattern making, design. And as hard as that was to experience, especially in your teenage years, it was a blessing in disguise because that was the path I had taken and loving. So sort of like the foundation, it sounds like has a lot to do with costume making.

costume making and rejection, yes. It sounds like too, when you're doing costume making, you know sort of what flatters a body, I would think. Yes. Yes. And what also brings out a character's essence, right? I mean, I don't need to apply that to that degree today. You know, we're making contemporary clothing and bags and shoes. But it definitely gives you a deeper framework for how to make a person look, what makes them feel good. It was a lot of work, but it was fun. I mean, in four hours a day, I was in that. department, just making costumes, designing things. And I feel like getting what you would get as a first or second year student in college I got during those four years in school. So what was sort of the next step in the journey towards your brand? So my brother knew that I wanted to move to New York for Hanukkah every year. We would be given a subscription to one magazine of our choice. And it was either W or Vogue and he would steal the magazines and I would wait for him to give them to me.

And I just was like, I have to get to New York. That is where fashion has happened. It's where everything is going on. My brother came home one night from a party with just like a strip of paper with a designer's number, said, hey, this guy said maybe you can intern for him, give him a call. So I called that number. The guy was a very informal process. He's like, cool, when can you be here? Like, we pay three bucks an hour for interns.

Was he just a random guy or do you know who the designer was? I didn't know of him because he was making high-end men shirts for women, which was definitely not what I was into. High-end men's shirt for women. Yeah, it was before the boy. boyfriend shirt. Okay. And so what was that like working for him? Did he sort of throw you into it? So I showed up on day one expecting to like be like whisked away to the design atelier and instead the CEO looked at me and she's still to this day a great friend and mentor. But at first,

she's like she looked at me. She's like, ugh, another one of you. And she put me in the shipping department and I was pissed. I was like, I just moved here. I'm sleeping on my cousins, kids. like playroom floor and I moved here for this. This is not my dream. And then she put me like in every department cutting swatches, making sales calls, assembling sales packets, like every area of the company.

Sometimes I had to pick up her kid, which I was really pissed about. But she just put me to task. And then she saw that I could work hard and nothing was beneath me. Nothing was beneath me. And then was like, all right, I see you.

Like, let's go from here. And where do you, what, where do you want to end up? And I told her. I said, I want to be a designer.

So at what point do you start to realize that you can do this on your own? So pre-internet, I would get my work done with probably two or three hours to spare. And she said to me, if you go around and you ask everybody else what they need and they don't need anything, then you can work on your own line on the side. And so I figured out that model real quick. So I had two or three hours. And it was beginning of, I would say, 2001 that I was just like, if I'm going to be. going to work this hard. Like, I want it to be my name. I want it to be me calling the shots. And so that's

when I started a line on the side. And what's the first design? The first design, although I'm known for the Isle of New York shirt, was this like suit. Like if you took this suit and twisted it and had this part be over the shoulder and kind of be that way, it was like this tuxedo kind of, but on its side. So that was the first design. Would you ever bring that back? Yeah. I mean, people have brought it back since and it's not like I was so original. But I still have I feel like what did you say the other day, Michael? Everything old is new? No, I was saying What did you say? We were talking about like the way people consume it was funny. A lot of people now, you know like when videos went from horizontal to vertical now it's like they're going

back to horizontal and people are actually using their televisions again to watch the stuff that's produced something. It's just like I was just basically saying like everything new is all circular. Yeah, it's all exactly. We should bring it back. Well, I'll go dig in storage and get it out for you. Maybe I'll do a try out. The archives, that's like cute, the Rebecca archives. Yeah, hang it out. But when people share this show sometimes now, they'll share that they're like watching it on their television and that's always trippy to me. Right.

Because they're just, you know, they're straying from your eyes though, right? It is better for your eyes. Yeah. So what point does you start to feel momentum like a tumbleweed? Is it really slow? Is this been something that there has been no aha moment? When do you feel that, that traction? I think there's like small moments of traction that you feel like is wind, but it's nothing compared to like later on with social media, with certain TV shows.

So I would say first bit of traction was an actress wearing my shirt on Jay Leno. She said my name on national TV. Who's the actress? Jenna Elfman. So cool. Yeah. So that had its moment because it was September 11th, 2001. I sent her the T-shirt on the night.

she wore it on the show. So like it was an I Love New York shirt. Like that had momentum because of its own, what symbolized. I would say what that did was it opened the door that I could call a store and they didn't hang up on me, right? Or I could go walk into a store and say my name. They're like, I think I've heard of you. I'm not sure why.

At the time that felt like a lot of momentum. When I launched the bag and Daily Candy, do you remember Daily Candy? Yes, of course. Yeah. You're like, not so much. Well, I was jokes. Some of these topics that come up. on the show. I know. It would be alarming if I was like, I loved daily camera.

We would be alarmed. Yeah, if I just like lost my shit, you know, you're like, oh, this is a little, it's a little bit of a red flag. Um, so that was huge when they wrote up, I mean, that put me on the map. It's like Oprah Daily Candy. Did you create the I love New York shirt because of 9-11, or did you just create it and then that happened? I created it. I was already starting to sell it. And then obviously 9-11 happened. And then that shirt was perfect. And I, I was donating the proceeds, you know, to rescue efforts, Red Cross. So, like, it had its own, like, nine-month life of just, that's all I did. Were you in the city when that happened?

I was. Yeah, I was in Soho. Well, when it happened, I was at a cotton seminar, believe it or not, learning all about cotton. And, you know, a woman came in and she had this thick Southern accent. She's like, a plane has hit a building. And I was like, what do you talk? like obviously no one knew what she was talking about. And then like the world stopped.

What did you do when that happened? What I did was I went to a pay phone to call my parents because they had just visited me. I had my first fashion show the night before. And I knew they were on their way to the airport. So I was like, I hope that they're okay. And they were in a cab rerouted. They were like, we're going to drive home. You need to get in the car with us. We'll come pick you up. Like, we're leaving. Like, let's. go and I was like, I'm sticking around. Like, I'm not leaving the city. And so I ended up staying around. And for the first week, I would say, with the recovery efforts, anyone who said they were

a volunteer, they would kind of let through. And so I was able to help. And then after that, it got more strict. But that's what I did. I just went down and I was like, what do you need? You need trash shoveled. You need, like, water. Where can I be most useful? What was that like? It felt like the world had ended. I mean, I mean, it was gray and dark, and you couldn't see more than a couple feet past you in the daytime. And it was intense. And you were just with all these people that were digging bodies out and trying to find people. It was like the world had ended.

I remember what we were, I think, freshmen in high school when that happened. And obviously, we were on the other side of the country. That was like, if you weren't alive at that time or if that was like the whole, everything came to a stand. So we're staying down in that area now, like then we stay down there a lot in downtown when we come here. And obviously we weren't there, but I can't even fathom thinking about what it would be like in this city with that going. I don't think people can even imagine like what, like you walk around and you see these massive buildings. Like, it's insane. It's insane.

There's not a New Yorker that would not want that shirt to at that time. No, everyone wanted it. And this is online sales were happening. One website called Ravenstiles. You remember that? So she would say, like, I need, you know, 20 more, 30 more. I'm like, all right, I need to come down. Give me some cash up front.

I'll bike to Green Street. I'll go to the vendor, get it. Then I'll cut them, bedazzled them, and then I'll ship them back to you. But like, it was a very lo-fi operation. And so, but when that happened, I bet it was like more than 20. I mean, you could. No, no, it was like nine months of my life. That's all I did.

That's all you did. It was like nine to five was making no shirts. How many roughly do you think were actually bought and sold at that? Oh my gosh. I don't know, tens of thousands. Wow. Did that sort of give you also ability to sort of move how you wanted to move within the business moving forward? Not at all. Why?

Because again, it was a blip that like stores recognized your name, but they didn't know or care if you did anything else. I'd be like, I have this really cool blazer jacket that's turned on its side or whatever. It was still rough in terms of getting. I was like, I have more that I do. I'm not just the I Love New York shirt girl. Well, it sounds like that would be obviously a strange moment too to like capitalize on from like a... She didn't though. She gave,

I know that's what I gave all the money away. I'm the person that it would just be like a weird way to kind of promote. It's almost like well you gave the proceeds away but it's like... But what I'm saying is you can't be like I'm the person that did this and now I need a career off of something that was kind of, you know, it's more of like a mission. Especially because you're so multifaceted with your design. So how do you how do you pivot out of that into your next design? What was the next moment after that moment?

I basically said, what else could I do in the T-shirt space? That would mirror that. So I came up with this off the shoulder with this overly bedazzled, like, patch that I would put on. And it had beating and embellishment. I actually got it right around the corner at Daytona Trimmings. And what I also did is I had a friend who was a publicist and he would call me and he'd say, Teen Vogue just called. They're looking for Terry Cloth Jumpers, Go.

And I literally would go home, make a Terry Cloth jumper that day. We would submit it to the magazine. Or he'd be like, belts, brown, fringe. And I was like, great, got it. So he would, every day he would call me with a new potential story. So we ended up getting a lot of press and sales because he would just tell me what they were looking for. And I knew how to make it. At this time, who are the it girls that are wearing your clothes so we can really understand the like the era?

Okay. So I need to give you more of the. Bag-ish era, because I don't know if my memory can go far back to the clothing era, but like Heidi Kloom wore the clothes, I styled the first season of Project Runway and the commercial so that she was where Padma Lakshmi. But then as we get into the bag era, it's Lindsay Lohan, it's Kristen Cavalry, it's Jessica Alba, Reese Witherspoon, Hayden Panettiere, like all those OG 2005 girlies. And some of them are having a great resurgence. They are. How does that make you feel when you see these huge celebrities wearing your bag.

Like, were you freaking out? These are the S Weekly days, I'm assuming. Oh, S weekly, in touch. Okay. All of them. So what is that like when you start to see that? And there's no social media, right? No.

Okay. Just to go in reverse, my daughter who's 10, she likes the magazine. She's like, mom, it's like Instagram, but in a magazine form. And I was like, this is so funny to me that she, you know, likes to turn the page. So, yeah, no social media.

I told you, it's all going back. She's like, no, scrolling. She's not scrolling. She's just reading. Last night at the airport, she's like, Dad got me an in touch. I'm so excited. I don't even know if she knows who's in them, but it's very exciting for her. So, no, no social media. So if you were on the pages of any of these magazines or the instiles, you know, it meant sales and it meant eyeballs. And so getting in those magazines when that celebrity would wear it. I mean, the Lindsay Lohan experience was like a drug deal. Like I was at this booth. It was like a celebrity. Like you show up. The celebrity is like, we'll come through. It's like a gifting suite. It was kind of the beginning of gifting suites.

And I went to the bathroom. My friend, Elaria, who's a really big stylist in Hollywood now, was helping me. And she was like, oh, my God, Lindsay was just here. I had the bag. She didn't stop by our booth. So I ran out as she was leaving the pierre hotel and put it in her hands. And that's all the paparazzi shots. And so like that shot and that bag.

ran over and over again and then the sales just come and it's it's beautiful it's beautiful thing lindsay lohan michael at this point in time wearing this bag without social media like i was in high school i think i remember flipping through those pages and you would see i'm outside kit kitsen does that kind of response happen anymore like in terms of that swell yeah does that i think it probably happens with certain celebrities but you can't get like someone as famous as Lindsay then wouldn't necessarily do that now. I think you have to get even bigger. Like if Kim's wearing something or Chloe or, you know, like those huge megawatts, I think do that. I also think there's a bit of a difference where when like I post a purse that I'm wearing and I tag the brand.

It's different than being caught out in the wild by the paparazzi in an effortless moment when it looks like it's not staged. There's something different. And they weren't being paid then. Right. And so it's a very organic thing. Does that make sense? It doesn't feel so contrived or curated. Yeah.

Or as social media does sometimes. Well, maybe you didn't have as many visuals of as many options. Well, you, yeah. And you also had less, it was more precious, I think. Now it's like people know they're being paid. They know they're probably like wearing it once, throwing it away. And if this woman was out with the bag, it's because she liked it. When you were sort of growing, the celebrities, were they nice behind the scenes?

Did you have horror stories? Was everyone lovely? Like, what was your experience as you were growing? The brand. I only had one horror story, and I will not say who it is. What does it rhyme with? No, she doesn't have to say who it is. Give us some attributes. She's very famous.

Tell us some things she's done. She's a multi-hyphenate. She can dance, sing, and act. That's a good clue. Is it Lauren? I can't. I can't sing. Don't mean to brag.

I had a friend who called me in a pinch and was like, hey, we need you to be an assistant stylist for this celeb. And I was like, cool. I've never been an assistant stylist. I'm only the stylist. I'll do it if you get her to wear the bags. She's like, done. And so I send her the bag.

I arrived to be the luggage carrier and luggage unpacker and the bag I see is smushed at the bottom of like a plexiglass, you know, box. And I was like, yeah, she's never wearing this. And I'm going to be her like, I'm going to wipe her ass all week. This is going to be great. And this is what I will say. The woman never looked me in the eye, never thanked me, never acknowledged my presence. And I unpacked her shit and packed it up. And did the like lowest tier of stylist work for a week in the hopes that she would just wear the bag once. And so that sucked. But it's okay. But as, as, you know, as. you've grown in your career, I feel like that moment probably made something resonate for you.

I would think now you as who you are, I bet you always acknowledge everyone now. For the most part, unless something really terrible has just happened and I go completely like, you black out. I really am conscious of it. You've seen all the different jobs. I think that's what's so cool about your story so far is like it sounds like you've really worked your way up. And so you've seen every different tier. And I think that's important because some people now are going viral and getting this sort of like astronaut syndrome where they get so famous overnight and there's no sort of bricks or building blocks to get them there. So it's almost like an entitlement. Yeah. We have had so many celebrities and influencers come on this show and open up about LIPO. And I'm so

happy that people have opened up because it's been sort of like a hush, hush secret. There's a lot of people that don't actually tell the truth about it. And there's this new lipo. It's laser-assisted lipo and it's by Sono Bello. Basically, it's at the forefront. So they use an L-A-L technology. And they showed me the outcomes like I got to see the before and afters. And it was actually wild. I think that I want to interview someone on this. Lipo used to be such a bad word. It was so taboo. And people were doing it secretly and now people are being really open about it, which I think is great. It's gone in one comfortable visit, and I have to say, like I said, the results look very good. I'm looking at these before and afters. Save big during Sonobelo's friends and family, fall savings event.

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So we're teaming up with cotton, the fabric of our lives. I am really trying to be so intentional and mindful about what I'm wearing when I'm home, relaxing with my kids, being present. So when Cotton reached out, I was so excited. I'm sure all you guys know that going natural with Cotton is the move. Cotton comes from the earth, unlike synthetic and man-made fibers. I am trying to be more mindful and present in every area of my life. I want to stay grounded, especially when I'm home. You guys all know cotton. Who doesn't like cotton? It's breathable,

natural, long-lasting cotton. It's amazing. And cotton is natural. Cotton comes from the earth. So there's a lot of synthetic and man-made fibers out there in our clothes. I actually just learned, and I had no idea about this, that polyester is made from crude oil. That is the same oil that's used to make fuel for cars, which is wild. I also didn't know that every time we wash synthetic fabrics like polyester clothing, we're contributing to microplastics in our waterways. Cotton has really taught me a lot about synthetic fabrics, and I'm trying to learn more and more. I'm trying to even carry like cotton toots to the farmer's market. I don't want to use a lot of plastic bags. I'm just doing anything that I can do and basically my part. So remember to check.

Check the label for Cotton and take a deep breath and focus on the present. Cotton is the fabric of now. Learn more at the fabric of our lives.com. I don't wish like virality or instant success for anyone because I think the fall from that is brutal. Yeah. Right. And I, you know, I think people that are looking for that viral moment or that quick cash or that quick success, if you can't sustain it then, it's really hard on the way down. Yeah.

You know, and so I think people that are listening and looking for that. it's maybe people say easy for you to say but it's like i think the slow build with gratitude over a long period of time one you can sustain it longer and two like a few bumps don't take you out as hard as you know the drastic drop from when you you know you know a lot of people that go viral and then the next thing you know it's like what happened to them like that's very difficult it's like winning the lottery you see them like when the most money that someone could ever have and then it's gone who have been the people that have helped shape your career along the way do you have mentors that you've looked up to, people that you've talked to in New York.

Are there anyone that you can think of that has given you really great advice? Yes. My view of mentorship is a little different because I think nowadays people are like, hey, can you mentor me? Can I have coffee with you? And you tell me how you did it? And you're like, no, I don't have time for that. Just time to listen to the podcast. Right?

Yeah. Now you've. Well, you mean, I'm like, here, you can you can listen to all the things I've talked about this with. But I think it's like, that's not mentorship. Mentorship is the person, like my first sales showroom who was like, Cynthia O'Connor, who was like, this bag isn't good enough. Come back to me in two weeks and change X, Y, and Z, and maybe I'll take you on. And again, there was no direct-to-consumer sales.

So she was the gateway to selling to the department stores and specialty stores. And so that moment that she was so cutthroat and picked apart my prototype was what I needed. It didn't feel good. But I was like, cool, I got to fix this. and this is my only chance. And so it's a woman like her. Or again, the CEO who took a look at me and was like, ugh, another one of you.

You know, but she put me through the ringer and was like, you need to know all the aspects of what it takes to run a business because you can't just be siloed in one area that seems like your dream area. So I think there's been a lot of those women. And then today now it's like other female founders. It doesn't necessarily matter if it's the industry that I'm in. It's just like I had a friend going through like, having the biggest most sexy company to then bankruptcy to then it being

re-bought and revived and then her moving on like all the lessons she learned in that have you know are like what kind of stimulates me and helps me besides the picking the brain for coffee which I personally don't think anyone should do no because a lot of these people they shouldn't do the coffee they shouldn't there shouldn't be a pick your brain for coffee if you I think if you if they have access to their Instagram account or their podcast, I think there's ways to consume the content without having to pick the brain for coffee. And I do believe the pick the brain for coffee kind of people are not executing because they're scared. And so they're using all these things that they have to do before they actually execute.

Well, there's just a lack of self-awareness because it's like the value exchange is mismatched, meaning like what's in it for the other person that has to do that. I don't mind that as much as it's, I feel like it's forever student-y. It's like you're trying to be a forever student because you're not actually executing. You have to go and do. You have to go do. And the coffee, thing is like listen to a podcaster and Audible. I read some dumb tweet the other day, I guess it's called X now, where it was like, would you take half a million dollars in cash or a dinner

with Jay-Z? And everyone's like, dinner with Jay-Z because you would learn and get all this access and network. I'm like, take the fucking half a million dollars to cash. He'd buy you the steak dinner and then you'd never hear from him again because he's a busy guy. I'm like, you dummy's like take the half a million dollars go do something else. Exactly. That lunch is not, you know, dinner, whatever,

it's not worth it. No. No. What do you think young entrepreneurs are doing wrong in moment that you see? A couple things. And again, this is a very wide generalization. I think everyone expecting virality. They're not looking at building a long-term successful business that takes 10, 15, 20 fucking years to build. Like, come the fuck on. You think in a year you're going to be a millionaire? Like, no. They haven't figured out how to handle rejection and no. And they give up too early. you know, I say in my book, sometimes I'm still here just because I got back up the next day and I showed up.

Like I had every reason to go home and every reason to be like, let's close up shop. But I was like, well, let's try it again. And so it's that getting back up. And I think that we're in this, we're in this like, you know, Amazon Prime. Like let's prime our success. And you just don't get that. And not everyone has to raise money and be like a big billion dollar brand. Like that's a sickness that's going around that a lot of people, their businesses aren't meant for that. They might not even be meant for private equity. What happened to the idea of like Main Street USA where you had a successful, profitable business that funds your lifestyle? And I think this sexiness of like, I raised a billion dollars is short-sighted. I was on that. I was in that mindset.

It's a delusional too sometimes in certain areas. It's like there's a delusion happening. It's just so easy to just go, you know what I mean? There's a lot of that goes into that. A lot of those, not to go on a super like, you know, economy and capital conversation, but a lot of those people that did that and raised those huge dollars and then couldn't sustain those valuations or those sales, their companies are gone. And the invests, and the people don't realize, like, some of these investors are quick to discard things that are on the downward trend. They're not coming back in for more money. It's like, hey, this one didn't pop. I got to go focus on the one that is. And they just kind of throw you out. Yep.

There's a lot of, there's a lot of dark side about raising capital and from who and with tomb and all of that. And there's a, and I think there's a tradeoff, right? Like, you might get capital, but now you are owned by other people. You have no say in the trajectory of your business. And the sickness of like, we don't need to make money. We'll figure that out later. Like, we, we did that. And then when it was like, investors were like, no, you need to make money. We're like, oh, okay, that's going to take a while to figure out. And like, people don't have that time these days for that. What kind of pivots have you made when it comes to your brands? It sounds like you sort of bootstrapped it.

Would you call it that to begin with? We bootstrapped it for the first seven years. My co-founder, my brother and I, Ori Minkoff, and he worked his house. He maxed at his Amex. That was how we were funding the business and its growth. Finally, we got to a size where we could afford a factor, which is a purchase order financing company that fashion industry people will often use.

And then we waited till 2012 to take in some private equity. a very small part of the company. And that's how that's how we grew it. At this moment right now with where you are, what are some really important lessons you've learned about operating? Because I think, and I get into this too, is like, I'm so creative and I want to do all these creative things. But to run a really successful business, there has to be logistics and operation. And Michael's a little bit better than me at that. How do you think about that? So for the longest time, My brother was the CEO and operator. And I was like, I'm the designer and that is all I do.

And many a time he would have conversation with me, like, you need to learn the language of business. You will be a different and better designer if you understand that. And I really resented that, but he was right. He also was like, you need to be in front of the camera when that age started dawning. And I was like, no, that's for influencers. That's not for designers. And he was like, you're wrong. And embracing that first like selfie, I wanted to puke.

And it's, you know, now we're a media company in a little bit. And I'm a designer. But it's like, that's another pillar that you had to add. So I think him pushing me was really, you know, turned out for me. But I would say, find the people that are what you are the worst at. Like, don't trust me with a financial spreadsheet ever, you know, like higher for your weakness, I think is the best advice I could say. What does your team look like today? So we have about 30. 35 people today. COVID, it was 60, just to give you like the scale of size wise that we shrunk. We have PR. We have marketing. We have e-com. We have design. We have an in-house photo team. But it's still a very tiny team for the size of our company. What's the process of creation?

Like if I say, I want to create a coin purse tomorrow. How quickly does this actually happen for you? Well, it depends on who you ask. If you ask my CEO, she'll be like, we need a year for it to hit shelves. And then sometimes I'm like, we don't have a year. This is a big deal. She wants a coin purse. Let's make it happen quicker. So sometimes we can compress the timelines depending on what it is.

Like I have a collaboration coming out in February of next year where my CEO was like not doing it. And I was like, okay, I will. I'm doing it. And so I'm running that project outside of what she's doing. It sounds like the COO keeps you in line. She does. But I also think that sometimes you have to break things. And we're still a small enough company.

break things. We're not so corporate and big that we always have to follow the rules. When did you decide to bring on a, is it a C-O-O or CEO? CEO, excuse me. We sold the business two years ago, almost three. My brother was the CEO. We had a president. And so when that transaction happened, we said to the new owners, she needs to be the CEO. Was she functioning as like a C-O before? I would say president, which is more forward-facing sales, merchandising. And my brother was kind of CEO, C-O-O-C-O-O. Okay.

So she took on CEO. Her name's Danielle Bo Cresci and shout-out. And she's still the CEO. What is your day-to-day look like now? So different. There is no set routine. Some days I'm filming content all day. Other days I have the podcast that I try and batch.

I would say that twice a month I'm meeting with my studio director who's been with me for 18 years. So she runs the design team now. And so I just kind of download and dump to her all my ideas, inspiration. And so then she can take it and run. And then sometimes we're reviewing the designs. Other days, it's a touch base with Danielle, my CEO. It's like every day is different. And that's what I love about it.

How does one decide to do real housewives? Tell me the real process behind the scenes. Like, does Aaron throw something out? And were you like right away, let's do it? Or are you like, eh, I don't want to do this? And then how did you get convinced? Tell me way before you even started filming what that looks like. I watched the first season and I was like, okay, I like that no one is a housewife.

And I like that it's showcasing for the most part, except for maybe two, like entrepreneurs, self-started women with businesses. Yeah. And I liked that the drama was pretty tame because there was no way you'd ever get me on like a Miami or a Salt Lake. Some of it is like, the jersey is like, they're just going for, they're hurting people's reputation. Yeah. This is different. I'm not here for that. It's fresh.

Yeah. Just like, like, I'm a girl's girl and I'm very supportive of women. So it was a risk to like even do, even to do the little light drama that we have. But actually a friend was like, hey, check your DMs. Someone's trying to reach you from Bravo. And I was like, oh, I didn't know that. So I checked the DM. I had many interviews.

And I just, I was very upfront and I said, I'm going to be me. I'm not going to throw these people under the bus. I'm not going to stir up drama that like just because, like, that's just not who I am. So I might, I might not be what you want, but I can't be something else. And I guess they felt like they needed it or wanted that to the mix. I had gotten to know Aaron actually a year ago today. And I thought she was great. She's cool.

Yeah. I've never met her, but she seems cool. Yeah, she's very cool. And I knew Jenna. from the fashion industry and I knew SI. So I felt like, okay, I know three out of the seven. Like, let's just, I said to Danielle, I was like, I'll go on the journey of the interviews and the meeting and all the thing and we'll just see how far I get.

It'll be like Survivor. And then I got to the end and I was like, oh, shit, I have an offer to be to join. And when you got the offer were you like, fuck yeah, or were you like, let me think about it? I was trepidacious about it because it's one thing to be known as a designer. and to have dealt with what I've dealt with for 20 years with that perspective and awareness, it's another to put yourself on national television and now be up for, you know, people to just be like,

oh, you're, what is it? Like a, you're just a person that I can hate. Yeah. And Housewives, though, this particular season, it's, I feel there's, it's elegant, it's fresh. It's different. I feel like they rebranded. But it is like, I get, we've had,

different people that come on reality TV on this platform. And it's like, you know, Lauren and I will catch flack or shit on the internet, whatever. But the type of commenting that goes on when people enter the world during now is, it's a whole different ballgame. It is wild. It's like they feel, they have kind of like ownership. Yes. Don't read the comments ever. Oh, no, I don't. Don't worry. My friend said, don't touch the stove. Why would you touch the stove if it's hot? Not that I'm not, I'm sure you don't have to worry, but like I just wouldn't read the comments. No, that was the first thing. Si I actually told me. She's like, what you? you're going to do is you're going to not read the comments. And I was like, great, Taylor's reading

the comments now. Yeah. Yeah, because the problem is there's 500 nice ones and then you get one mean one and that's all you stick. We stick on that one. Yeah. So it's just like, just don't even touch the stove. That's my advice. Do you have to go on the girls' sleepovers? Because this intrigues me. That's the deal breaker for your mom. No, I can't. I can't. I just am not a, I'm a girl's girl's love it, but I'm not a girl's sleepover kind of gal. Oh, yes. I was on all the sleepovers. Did you want to do that? And if so, or if no, is it fun? Was it surprising? Did you like it? Was it a nightmare? It was just exhausting is what it was. That's what I'm like, I'm good. I was told like, get ready. Like cameras are up at seven and they don't go down until midnight. And

when you're when you're filming and you got a mic on you and there's cameras, like there is no relaxing. Like at one point I remember I was on my computer at a moment where something was happening. I didn't need to like be a part of that conversation. And a camera swoops in. I was like, can you give me a minute? I'm answering emails. And they won't. Well, they did.

And they're very respectful. But it just was like I hadn't been used to four days of being like, oh my God, anything I say, anything I do. Do you forget at all? Like, do you forget that you're being filmed at any point of time? I did not. It was always always. You probably will by your third season. I was like highly like, right.

The only safe zone is the bathroom and then your bedroom. What if you stay in the bathroom for a couple hours? When I get miced up, I forget and I go to the bathroom. I'm just like in there and she's not great. That's disgusting. I just forget what's going on. I'm like, oh, like, you know, you got to go. Oh my God.

No, I would always be like, can you turn my mic off? I got to go to the bathroom. I feel like I would just go in the bathroom and lay with the barefoot dreams for a little bit. Do a sheet mask. Relax in there. Do a habit stack. Yeah, I'd be like, oh, sorry, I'm so constipated. I've got to be in here for a couple hours.

Yeah. I would need the the girls trips intrigued me to no other. I'm like, this is a, it's a lot of work. Yeah. You are performing. You're probably worried about your posture. I was very worried about my posture. Yeah, because I tend to slouch anyways.

I know. Geez. I feel like I would. Yeah. And on camera you can like see every detail. Yes. I think in half the episodes, I'm like this because I was just like I forget. I didn't notice that.

I watched it. Didn't notice it once. Well, I was erect for the first one. You were a wrecked. That was like my big reveal. She was erect. I'm like, I can't remember your posture. or not being erect. It was erect. I'm not going to say that. What has the experience been like

upon reflection? Meaning, is it more drama, less drama? Is it surprising you? Like, what are the things that you've pulled out of it in retrospect? I'll say this. We've always taken big risks company-wise, business-wise. Yeah, smart. Whether it was using influencers, going on social media, talking to our customers, all things that are very normal today, no one was doing. You know, the store of the future that my brother conceived with the touchscreens that now like every store has it. So I think for us, I like to take risks and I like to do scary things. It's now how I might get my adrenaline. So this was a big risk and very scary. I think the thing that I've learned is that it's a, you know, Jenna Lyons summed it up. She's like, it's the best and the worst thing.

And I was like, huh, I don't understand what she's saying. And now that we're done filming, I'm like, it was the best and the worst thing. Because it's an emotional roller coaster, right? You have these friendships, you have this fun interactions, you have pranks you're playing, and then there's a big fight. And I'm, you know, and I'm not like that. So, like, that was a lot to, like, be around sometimes. I can imagine.

It's, that's what I mean, it's, I see what she's saying. It's the best and the worst. I bet it's also amazing for business. Yes, it's amazing for business. It's a great tool. And anyone pretending that it's not is lying. Like people are pretending it's not like some people don't go out and say like yeah partially why I wanted to do this is it's good for business and apparently people don't like that like oh that's not real like well why else would you expose your entire life you know like just for fun just because you felt like you needed to give yourself to humanity I don't know. Who are we talking to?

There's like you know someone that went on and I always ask like why they I think it's very honest for you to say that but sometimes you'll talk to people that have done what you're doing it's like well I don't know like maybe thought I could be like I'm like, do you, maybe did you want to just get famous or do you want your business of love? Just say it like, it's cool. Either one, right? Either one. What are the other two things that you thought would happen? Four children. Yes.

How old? 13, 10, 7, and almost two. Wow. Yeah. How the hell? You're in it. Are you doing what you do? You're back in diapers now.

You need to give me some tips. Like we just had to leave our kids at the hotel room to come do these interviews. Same. They're dragging on the law. leg, you know how, yeah. It's, and they want to be held. They want to be, and you feel guilty. How do you do that? How do you manage all that? Well, I definitely feel guilty. Like when I left this morning, for whatever reason, the last 48 hours, my, I have a cling on, like stage four clinger and my two-year-old. So last night, I couldn't even change into my pajamas without him freaking out. Yeah. So I feel you and that guilt does not go

away. What I will say is, you can't do this without a great team inside the home and outside the home. Right. My husband is a team player, nothing, you know, these women that I meet, that their husband doesn't share in the duties, close my mind. Like, he 100% shares the duties. Divorce. Sorry, for me. Yes.

For me, divorce. Same. If you didn't help me, that would, I would not like that. Yes. Right? Like, it's not,

there is no line that that's a woman's job and it's a man's job in the household for us. Agreed. But by the way, that sometimes works for other people. Yes. Works very well.

It doesn't work for me. It does not work for me either. So, like, we got our helper. We got our empathetic men. Yeah. I like to help. Yeah, you do. You do. I think that this is what I've realized about Michael and maybe this is how your husband is. My Michael doesn't look at helping as even he's helping me. He looks at it. He's like he's helping his kids. Of course. And that's how it should be looked at.

If you had a guy come on here and I like the guy a lot and he was like when I have a boy like I will never change a diaper that is like my wife shop. And I was like, dude, you're going to when you have a kid, you're just not going to. Hopefully you're not going to think that way. But some men do. Yeah. I mean, maybe it's like a it's just the way maybe some of them were raised. Right. But yeah, I can't imagine like if my kid needs something. I'm going to, I don't even look at it as like I'm doing it for Lauren. Right. I mean, that's a byproduct. But I look at it as like I'm just helping my kid. I'm just like, I'm just helping my dad, you know? Yeah. I mean, it's kind of like on the airplane. I'm sure like when he's holding a kid, walking up and down the aisle. They're like, oh, that's doing flowers at me. Right. And we do it. They're just like, yeah, that's your job, right? And they're like, yeah, that's like, yeah. I'm not an octopus. Like what do you? Yes, they have nannies. It's, and you know what? I have two right now. Nannies are amazing.

They are amazing. And they allow you to be able to do work, be independent. They allow you to do so many things. I think they should be celebrated in the forefront a little bit more. Oh, 100%. It doesn't need to be like this hush, hush, taboo thing. We shouldn't be ashamed about it. I call my nanny that's been with us for 12 years.

I'm like, your mommy and I'm mama. Yeah. Because she's my teammate. She's there with my two-year-old right now. Yeah. that the other nanny can take the other ones who are not in school today, like, around the city. And it was just easier to divide and conquer. And that's not normal. We don't have two nannies all the time. We actually don't have, we have like a babysitter that picks them up from school and that's

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Quick break to talk about symbiotica. We are are in the era of health, or at least we should be, guys. We have been talking about symbiotica on this show for years now. We have had the founders of symbiotica on this show, I think four or five times, a bunch of times because they have such a wide array of topics when it comes to health and wellness that we can cover with them, and we love the topic. We also love their brand so much.

They have so many incredible products, so many supplements that we take regularly. I think they have one of the best vitamin D3K2s on the market. That combo is critical. They also have one of the best methylated B vitamin combo. What I love most about symbiotica is most of their supplements are liposomal. So you actually eat them like food and they absorb much faster and much more efficiently into your system. And right now is the best time for you to try them out because they're having their biggest sale of the year.

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I would get on subscription because we're probably going to sell out. We do sell out a lot. Go shop our brow peptide at shop skinny confidential.com. I know people will say like having a nanny or help is a position of privilege, which it is. But I look at it as like if you're going to be building a company or doing any kind of work and you have it at some point. It's just like. You can't do it without it. Yeah, it's like Lauren and I could not be sitting here with you doing this right now.

It's not even the, like, do we want it? It's like, it's impossible to not have it in our position. We need in order to be able to do what we're doing professionally, which then enables us to make a living and, you know, provide for the family and all that. So I don't know. I think people that, I think in that context, it's different than just saying like, hey, we're just gallivanting around and someone's watching our kid. Right.

You're not going out all day and, like, shopping and getting manicure pedicures. Right. I mean, like, there's times where obviously we like enjoy ourselves. Obviously. But the primary function of the, the name. that we have is that she helps us and enables us to be able to do what we do professionally. Yeah. So what are your sort of, I don't know, pillars of motherhood, your tips to get it all done? Do you have a schedule? Like, is it on your calendar with your kids? Do you wake up? Do you go to

bed with them? Do you have anything that you sort of live by when it comes to your home life? Yeah. We kind of chat every Sunday and we're like, what do you have this week? And we each sort of tell each other what's going on. And then we know who's going to be. staying late, being up early. Actually, my husband is the only one that wakes up early because this kid wakes up at six and I'm still breastfeeding him. So he's in the bed with me because I co-sleep with all my children and they're little. And so I'm like, if I'm up a lot in the night, he's like, I'm cool to take the morning shift. So he's usually up because he's up.

I wake up around 7.45. And then we divide and conquer on the school lunches. He's usually making breakfast. And then we also alternate drop off. depending on who has what. So it's really that Sunday meeting that sets us up. And then I knew where to fill in the holes. So like when it comes to filling in the holes,

like I'm the one that schedules the babysitter or their school activities. But then I don't know. We just sort of have this dance. Like I know he's going to handle this one's birthday and I'm going to handle the next ones. We have a flow and a rhythm to it that it's kind of like we each know the areas that each other are in. Like he'll plan the vacations. What does he do for a living?

And is he, like, do you guys have like a date night schedule? How do you guys water your relationship? We talked about watering our relationship the other day. He's a director of commercials for the most part. Yeah. Does he direct anything for your brand? No, he fired me as a client. He said I treat him rudely when he works with me. But he gets the best out of me. That's the irony is I'm like, ugh, he's making me do this again. He's like, you're so mean to me. Like, I don't want to work with you. He fired you. He fired me. Maybe he'll rehire you after housewives because you can. could do like another commercial with all the girls. Just start a podcast with them. Yeah. You see how that goes. Oh my God.

Oh my God. That'd be fun. So how do you guys prioritize? I don't think we do the best job of watering our relationship. Like date nights are probably once a month because the guilt that I feel because I am traveling a lot or sometimes I do work late. I'm just like I can't do another night out where it's just you and me. I get it. And to really just, you know, make us seem so boring.

Our date night that we had last week, we're actually going. over our housing insurance policy for this hurricane to see because I was like, honey, I know we have insurance. That sounds like a date night to me. But I didn't read the fine print, so I actually don't know what's covered. What's fine print? That's what I have you for. Right. Fine print is not my area. I was saying if I was like a bigger scumbag, I could all of our money could be siphon God. By print is so boring. Get a husband to read the fine print. Well, he was like, I thought you read the fine print because you handled the insurance. And I was like, I just signed it. It looked good. I got.

hurricane but not flood insurance, but I don't know if wind is covered. He's like, let's do that. She leaves the house with no credit card, no ID, no gas on the car. You are freeballing. Runs out of gas on the freeway. It takes away from my capacity to put other places. So runs out of the freeway has no way to identify herself, has no way to pay for anyone to help.

I do like running out of gas. Did I get arrested? We're not having a license? No, I have a couple tricks that I do when I get pulled over. But you know what? Yeah, I have actual real tricks. She's like, oh, they always. She's like, oh, they always let me go.

And I'm like, listen, they pull me over. They never let me go. No, it's not about my boobs or anything like that. I was just going to go there. I have some tricks. Yeah, I'm sure that the guy looks at you. He's like, oh, he lets you go. For me, he's like, we're throwing the book at you, buddy.

I like running out of gas, though, because I can pull over on the side of the road. And then I almost feel a little helpless, like someone's coming to get me, and I can just work on my phone. Let me tell you something. There is not a man listening to this or in this room that would ever venture out into the world with no credit card ID and think it's going to work out for them. I have wallet on. I have wallet on my phone, but it's on 3%. It's insane to me that this happens. And there's no pay phones now, so you really can't call for help.

If you're a man, you're like, listen, sir, I don't have any ID or any money. I like the adrenaline rush, like you said maybe a little bit. Someone's going to smack you away. Everyone in this studio raised your hand if you read the fine print. I read the fine print. No, okay, he reads the fine print. What's your name? The two Michaels read the fine print.

No one else reads it. There's a lot of people in here. I just was like, wind, sure. Or at least how does somebody help you read the fine print? I do. You? You know? That's the point.

Yeah. No. Same in my marriage. I'm like, you got to read the fine print, babe. What does your husband think of you joining Roney? His exact words were, this is your decision. I'll do whatever, which way you want. And I was like, went to say to him.

I was like, okay, today's the day. I got to like, yay. or nay and I think I'm going to do it. He's like, you're fucking crazy. But here we go. Does he have to participate? No, he did not. Does he want to be on it? I'm a friend of. You're a friend of. Yeah, but I bet next season you'll be. I was going to say, because the husbands, I think the biggest liability for that show with the franchise, and again, like, I've viewed. It's the husbands. By the way, the husbands get taken out. Big housewife watcher. Yeah, I'll watch her. So do you like, Havitt or Abe? Who do you like Mel?

Yeah, who's your favorite? No, I don't, I don't have a favorite, but I just watch what happens to some of these guys and they just doesn't end well for a lot of them. I think that's fine that your husband's not on it. He, he will not go on. After seeing the husbands, he's like, nope, not going to do it. Smart. Also, I feel like there's something with the husbands where they do want to stay out of it, but they get dragged into it and then they regret getting dragged into it. Yeah, he just doesn't want to be on it. Yeah. He's just not interested. So who knows? That might be a deal breaker. What do you do with your children? How do you think about putting them on TV? I'm conflicted. My daughter is in episode if it if it gets edited in but I am I am I'm really not sure about how I feel about it

at the moment I can I would relate to that if I was on reality television I would feel the same it's it's almost there is a confliction there it's like many layers which I hadn't anticipated like ooh I don't want weird people knowing who like what she looks like or right but then there's The flip side, Raquel, who's a full cast member, her daughter and son are on the show and they're in high school. So everyone has a phone. So anything that happens on the show, these kids know and the bullying that can happen and that,

like that isn't something I had considered because I don't have teenage kids with phones. And what does she say about that? She just said it's really difficult because anything that happens on the show, like they could get made fun of or get flak for it. And I was like, I hadn't even thought about that. Like, who's been your most interesting connection

about with the whole show. Who have you been like, wow, I really like this person. Uba. She's cool, huh? Yeah. So I obviously didn't know her and only saw the first episode and the reunion. And I was like, this is a very angry woman that I'm going to stay away from. I do not want to get on her bad side.

And she's the exact opposite. She only gets angry if you poke her and you keep poking her and you do unfair things. And then rightfully so, she gets angry. What do you do with alcohol? What's your vibe with alcohol? Like, if you decided, like, do you have a rule or do you just do kind of what you want? On the show? On the show, yeah.

So I don't drink very much in general, again, because I have a child that wakes me up. We get it. Yes. So if I am going to drink, it has to be like, I'm away from the kids and it's a fucking celebration. Okay. But it was my first season. And so I really chose up until, like, the last few days. I just said, I'm not going to drink.

I don't know what I'm getting myself. into and I want to be in control. And are you glad with that decision looking back? Hell fucking yeah. What's your drink of choice? I love a groni, but I get a really bad hangover, so I'm like a skinny margarita girl. Okay. Nogonies are so good.

Aren't they delicious? I had too many skinny margaritas last night. The weird thing about New York, you guys, is that you don't really get too hung over here. Really? Yeah, there's something in the energy where you like wake up and you want to just keep hitting it. I think the city gives you a little bit of an adrenaline kick, especially maybe if you don't live here. Yeah, yeah, I could see that.

Yeah, when I get here, I'm not as like hungover as I would be. This is so weird in Austin. Like I'm like ready to go. Do you think that? No, that doesn't. I don't know. I was kind of hungover today. I ventured out and had an uncommon drink for me.

You, I don't know what was going on with you today. What did you guys do that you were like partying and where was I? Not partying. We need to get a drink. We'll have to get a drink. We went out to dinner last night with some. friends of ours, just two people. And they order, what is it? It's like a, it's a vodka martini with the dirty ingredients on the side. So like the juice and the stuff. I don't know if that's

your drink choice. I was going to break that too. I was like, okay, I'll venture out into these waters. I don't know that that's the one for you. I don't know. It was hiccuping all night. It was a whole mess. He's like, hiccuping. Just on one or more than one. Get away from me. I just put all my silk pajamas. She denied me. She's like, I was hiccuping all over the place. Normally I don't deny. I'm just like, okay. That's so nice. Like one for the team. I tried to deny the other night. And then he was, I was like, okay, okay. And he was like, what is up with you? Sometimes, listen, I, I, my stepmom told me the key to marriage is you rally.

Yep. So I've lived by that. But when I have put on my 50 step skincare situation and my mouth tape is like literally on and I have my silk pajamas on and my head is about to hit the pillow and I have my Kindle in my hand, I can't. Normally I'd be more like, I'd be pursuing more, but I realize I'm like, okay, I've been. podcast all day. My eyes are bloodshot. I'm like, hiccuping and like, it's just gross. He doesn't drink vodka. He doesn't drink vodka. I'm like, I cut a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I was like, this is not good. You did catch a glimpse. I saw you look at your face. I was a shame. I was looking at yourself in the mirror. I was disgusting with myself. I was just like, uh, not today.

Kids are sleeping in the crib. Yeah, it's enough. It's hard with four kids. What do you do? Oh my God. You got to sneak it? Sneak it. Like sometimes in our house in the Hamptons, like we do. We do. It's not. Sometimes in our house in the Hamptons, like we go outside. Honestly. That's a good idea. It's actually great. Out into the bushes? No, we're not in the bushes, but we lay down a blanket. It's like your camp counselors again. You could do that. And you're under the stars. It's kind of romantic. Yeah, that's cute. Let's get in the bushes. I'm down for that. Put a little blanket out, do a little setup. It's cute. Sweet. I like it. There's no one around us. It's not like I'm worried on the neighbors.

Let's hope there's not producers behind the fucking bush. That would be bad. They'll catch it. Look what they did to Tamara and Eddie. They'll catch it. Gosh, keep careful. So your brand. Yes. What a transition. I know. On that note.

Well, that's the podcast is kind of like a bag of checks mix. Your brand, what is the one piece that if you were to sort of tell our audience, this is the piece. What is it? Well, I would say it starts like we're obviously known for our leather accessories. Yes. So a bag. Okay. Which bag?

I mean, I would never tell a woman what bag she should get. Oh. There's not like, for one. woman who is running around the city. It's very different. You know, she needs a tote or another woman who, you know, has a car, could have a crossbody. Or another woman who doesn't bring a credit card or a license needs maybe just a tiny one. Yeah, exactly. Our wallet on the chain. What the hell's even in your tiny wallet? Now that I think about it. Well, maybe we're going to do a collaboration, this coin purse that like is her ID and a credit card. But I just had my mind bloom because I thought like, okay, she actually

charges your phone. You don't carry cash. You don't carry an ID. You don't carry your credit card, but you have these little wallets. What the hell's in them? Women like to collect pouches. It's like a little flat lay, like a little picture. I carry her ID and credit card. Isn't that insane? It's in my wallet. It is. I can't get over it. I'm an enabler. I mean, so you really don't have a purse. Do you have a purse? Do you have a purse? What's in it? Lipstick. It's kind of Mary Poppensy. Yeah. I get it. Snacks. Sometimes a vibrator, sometimes some liver sticks. Sometimes. some mouth tape. He had my mouth tape stuck to his shoe today. I love that. It was stuck. Better than toilet paper. Better than toilet paper. You probably got it stuck to your shoe last night when you were hiccuping from the vodka martinis. It was a lot. Okay, so they should get the purse, a purse, whichever purse fits. But is there something in your collection that is also something that is really affordable that you just think everyone needs that everyone who's listening could go check out? Yeah. I mean, I think our anything in our

Darren Crossbody collection that's like a family of bags, but it has studs, but it like can be a purse. It can be a satchel. It can be a crossbody. I think that's good. Or a Megan tote. Again, totes are big. You need one always. You throw everything in it. Yes. What is going to happen with your brand and with Real Housewives in the future? Where are you headed? What's the big picture for you? I think the big picture is, it's wild to say we've been around for 20 years. It feels like we're just getting started. I think, you know, the opportunity. to be on the Real Housewives and the exposure is not only about business, but it's also about we've been in touch with our customers since day one, even though that was taboo. And this is just

another facet of who I am. So cool. That you get to see. And it allows me to have a bigger platform for my podcast, for my book. Like there's other things that I do and create. And it allows for that to have more life. So are we going to see obviously more from your collection, more from you on your podcast, I think you're going to be a main. This is my prediction. Okay. On the next season, I'm putting it out there in the ether. Well, truth be told, I was a main. Okay. But because some people didn't want to be on TV, we had to scale me back to a friend. Oh. Yeah. Well, I think it's fine. If I were going to do it, I dip my toe in it. Yeah. You dip your toe first. I got a taste. Yeah, you got a taste. But here's what's crazy. I mean, what these women, like, I think I filmed a lot as a friend of, but as a full cast,

I mean, they were giving their whole lives, like, you know, and it's just a lot. And it's an incredible commitment. A gnarly commitment. Yeah. Where can everyone find you, follow you? Skinny 15. What's the website? Where can we shop?

Get the bag, all the things. You can shop at Rebeccamancoff.com. You can follow me at Rebecca Minkoff. If you want to see more of my personal life and a lot of BTS at Becky Minkoff. You can listen to my podcast, Super Women with Rebecca Minkoff. I'd love to have you on. No offense. It's only women.

I would love to come on. We're talking about business and all the messed up shit and how women got there and found their success. And then I have a book, Fearless, The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. And it comes out in paperback next June. I am so excited for that. What is in Rebecca's bag? Should we just do it together? Everything.

Show us. Great. Regular sunglasses. Okay. My phone. And the bag, you've got to tell us what the kind is, everything. Well, this is a cute little bag that's coming soon for holiday, little hearts. So cute.

Right? reading glasses because I'm at that age Okay really upset about that My Methylene Blue tablets In case you don't want to take it Neuro But doesn't turn your tongue blue with those Well if you suck on it, it will

But you could if you wanted Rub it up and down your tongue To get that proximate blue that you're looking for And then swallow it. So do you take it daily? Yeah If you suck on it, huh? What happens if you suck on something else After you sucked on it? I don't know

I'm not trying to get a blue tongue Maybe I'll have a blue dick Oh my God, that could happen if you have a blue tongue and you rally. We'll report back. I use these because I've read too much about what these phones do to your heads. Agreed. I have gum because I feel like I need it. Who do I have in here?

I have nude sticks and violette FR just depending on the mood, gloss and a lipstick. I really fit a lot in here. I have vitamin B1. I love taking B1. Why? It's really, really, really good for your. nerves. And so anyone that feels like slightly anxious sometimes, just pop one of these. Also, when you drink alcohol, this is the first thing it burns in your brain. Oh. So I'll always,

if I am going to drink, I have a couple of these. Not saying you won't get a hangover, but less. I think I, what did I say to you the other day? So I think I'm having issues absorbing B vitamins. Oh, that's why I said to her. I don't need to hear every single. You might. I think I do. You could do it. I need to talk to Gary Brecker. He needs to come on and. You have your keys. I have my car keys. I have this little thing You know you pop it on the What's it called Octo Buddy?

This is from Flont So, but I'm sure it's whatever that And then I have my wallet That's it. Love it. So cute. I have a lot more than you carry, Miss. Yeah, that's right.

But you know what? Maybe I'll get a wild hair And do a purse And put my stuff in it. We just gave you one. So you better put nothing in it And walk out of here. That's, I mean, should I open it?

Let me open it. But if you don't like it, I want you to tell me I'll love it that you well now I'm like for her to like a purse that's a high bar no she likes the purses she just doesn't like carrying the wallet in the car in the wallet it's a good color and it's like puffy and squishy it could also double as a pillow when you take your nap on the side of the road waiting for your gas to get refilled Rebecca thank you for doing the show thank you for having me