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- [00:01]
Podcast Sponsor/Announcer
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Host 1
Girl.
- [00:31]
Host 2
Winter is so last season and now spring's got you looking at pictures of tank tops with hungry eyes. Your algorithm is feeding you cutoffs. You're thirsty for the sun on your shoulders that perfect hang on the patio Sundress those sandals you can wear all day and all night. And you've had enough of shopping from your couch. Done. Hoping it looks anything like the picture when you tear open that envelope. It's time for a little in person spring treat. It's time for a trip to Ross. Work your magic.
- [01:00]
Carson Kressley
Hello, everyone.
- [01:01]
Host 1
Welcome to Dear Alice. We have a really fun episode today. We've got Carson Kressley on Can you believe.
- [01:08]
Host 3
No.
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Host 4
Yeah. Can you believe I've seen him? I've been seeing Carson on everything for the last 20 years. I feel like. I feel like I know you personally. So super excited to have you on.
- [01:18]
Host 5
I know. Is everyone else nervous about what am I gonna wear in front of Carson Kressley this morning when he woke up?
- [01:24]
Host 4
Yeah, seriously, we knew you'd be the best dressed one.
- [01:28]
Host 1
Yeah.
- [01:28]
Carson Kressley
Oh, stop. No, literally. I was outside pruning hydrangeas with my jeans on and my knees in the mud. And then I was like, I had my alarm set on my phone. I said, I've got to go in and do the Dear Alice podcast. So I hopped on a cashmere sweater, which fixes everything.
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Host 5
Yes.
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Carson Kressley
And a little dash of color. And here I am.
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Host 1
And here he is.
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Host 5
Cute spring chick.
- [01:48]
Host 1
Well, if you guys have been living under a rock like Corey said, Carson has been on TV since I first saw him, since 2002. He's an award winning television personality. He's a published interior designer and a world champion equestrian. Best known for his roles on Queer Eye for the straight guy in the 2002 version and his longtime role as a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race and his Food Network hit Barbecue Brawl. Welcome, Carson, to Dear Alice.
- [02:15]
Carson Kressley
Oh, my, you forgot my Nobel Peace Prize for getting rid of the mullets. Thank you for that glowing introduction right here that I'm like, oh, my God, please stop talking. It's getting embarrassing.
- [02:27]
Host 1
But here I am.
- [02:29]
Carson Kressley
And yes, I. I try to be ubiquitous and I try to be on TV as much as possible. But my real passion is interiors. I love interior design and decorating and entertaining and all of that stuff. So I'm thrilled to be here. I listen to you guys all the time on my road trips and on the gram. And I just really enjoy your work.
- [02:51]
Host 4
Well, thank you. Yeah. We're super excited to have you on Carson. We know you're, like, you know, all over the place in the world. Where are you at today, recording with us today?
- [03:00]
Carson Kressley
I am at my horse farm in Pennsylvania, and I am sitting in my. You can see it if you're watching, if you're not listening, but if you're. If you're watching on YouTube or wherever you watch the Dear Alice podcast, you can see I'm sitting in my living room at the farm. And it's. It's one of those places, like, growing up, we had a living room where no one was allowed to sit in, and it had, like, tufted velvet furniture and a mural on the wall. And they say you turn into your parents. And apparently I, because basically have the same room where I have, like, pretty tufted furniture that was actually. This was my grandmother's.
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Host 5
No way.
- [03:35]
Carson Kressley
And I almost never sit in here, and I have a piano. And sometimes we'll do, like, little music nights when I have people out to the farm from the city, but I'm very rarely in here, but in the afternoon, it's so pretty. So thanks for giving me a reason to use a room in my house.
- [03:49]
Host 4
Yeah, of course.
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Host 1
I love it.
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Host 5
And it's always fun to say that I'm at my horse farm, so. So high five to you. That's really lovely. With my horse farm.
- [03:58]
Carson Kressley
I can't believe it myself sometimes.
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Host 1
You grew up, didn't you, on a horse farm or you have an equestrian upbringing. Tell the audience about that.
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Carson Kressley
Yeah, I grew up outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and people always think of that Billy Joel video with, like, the smokestacks and the steel workers showering. That was my favorite scene. And I was like, I was. The first time I think I saw butt cheeks on a man, I was like, what are those?
- [04:22]
Host 5
Sign me up. Rewind.
- [04:24]
Carson Kressley
We'll keep it pg. People always think when I say Allentown, Pennsylvania, it is like a steel town, which it is. But like many great American towns, it has beautiful neighborhoods and gorgeous countryside. And we lived out in the country about 20 minutes away towards Amish country. So I always say I was Amish adjacent. I could hear butter churning in the distance. And my grandparents had a pony farm, and they had my grandmother always wanted a pony and she grew up on a working farm in the 20s and they only had horses for work and a pony would have been an extravagance was, you know, just completely impractical. So when she was older and married my grandfather and they had a nice business going, she's like, I'm going to get a pony for my son, which was my dad. And he was like, I don't know, like 25 years old and had no interest. But she got one and one turned into two and two into four. And pretty soon they were over 100, I think around 200. And they would produce them and sell them all over the country. And the painting behind me is one of their famous ones that they had in the, in the 50s and 60s. This was in, in their living room. And I always thought it was beautiful. Coolest thing. Wow. I was lucky, lucky to get it. So that's where I, that's how I grew up around horses and animals. I just thought that was normal that you would go outside in your backyard and there'd be hundreds of ponies and you would just jump on and, and ride. And then when you're about 13, you're like, I don't want a pony anymore. I need a horse. We started out with American saddlebred horses and I've been showing them my entire life. Wow.
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Host 1
Do you still show horses?
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Carson Kressley
I do, yeah. I have two. I have a horse that I ride and this sounds incredibly precious and dainty and like I am a hundred year old lady from England. But I also have a hackney pony that I drive.
- [06:10]
Host 1
Oh my gosh.
- [06:11]
Carson Kressley
In competitions and you get to dress up and it's very old fashioned and it's super fun. And he's the cutest. His name is Blake. He knows his name and he knows my voice. When I get to the horse show, I can hear him calling for me because he knows I have peppermints, which is favorite treat.
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Host 1
Peppermint patties. Like the little red and white stripe in the plastic wrapper?
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Carson Kressley
Yeah, the little like starlight mints I think they call peppermints. Horses love those.
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Host 5
So delightful.
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Host 1
That is so cute.
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Host 5
Oh, there's nothing more. I love it.
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Carson Kressley
It's like the updated sugar cube. They, they, they live for a peppermint.
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Host 1
I just love that visual of you doing that. So you have a home, you have a farm and then do you have a home in the city as well or do you live here full time?
- [06:55]
Carson Kressley
I do, yeah. No, I have an apartment in New York. So you' but there was a show called Green Acres with Ava Gabor. And that's what I model my life after. I have a Park Avenue apartment with a terrace and I fling my doors open and I say, New York, I love you darling, I love you, but give me Fifth Avenue. And then I also have the great balance and the great privilege and luxury of having a second home out in the country where I can, you know, channel my Martha Stewart and do gardening and ride horses and, and do all the fun things that I did growing up.
- [07:29]
Host 1
I love it.
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Host 5
You figured it out.
- [07:31]
Host 1
That's so great. Okay, so first question for you at Alice Lane, we believe your home to reflect who you are. So we couldn't think of anyone better to feature than one of the world's top style experts. So I want to know what would your 8 year old self, would he be surprised at everything you've accomplished and what, and about what you're doing right now?
- [07:53]
Carson Kressley
Yeah, I think he would be surprised and delighted and be like, oh, you go girl. I hope that's what my 8 year old self would say back to me. And I didn't, I mean, I didn't ever know what I was going to do. You know, I was not one of those, I was always so envious of, of, you know, people I went to school with who were like, I'm going to be a dentist, I'm going to, you know, get really good grades in high school and then I'm going to go to college, then I'm going to go to dental school and then I'm going to be an intern and then I'm going to be a resident and then I'm going to hang my shingle. I was just always very probably add and just thought there's a million things that I'm interested in. And I loved horses and agriculture. I loved New York, I loved art, I loved art history. I was an eight year old who was drawing pictures of houses on diner placemats. You know, when we go to Perkins or someplace, my mom always had a pen or colored pencils and I would flip it over and I'd be drawing houses and landscaping and I watched the Brady Bunch and I was just like, I'm going to be an architect like Mike Brady.
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Host 5
Yeah, of course.
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Carson Kressley
And then someone told me there was math involved and I was like, oh no, that is not happening. I just am just a math phobe. That didn't happen. So I think my 8 year old self will be very thrilled that I kind of found a way into the design world because that's really always been the thing that I have loved the most.
- [09:17]
Host 1
Yeah.
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Host 4
Yeah.
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Host 5
Well, you're so much more fun than a dentist. I'm glad.
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Host 1
Yeah.
- [09:21]
Carson Kressley
I try. I try.
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Host 4
You left room for magic, too.
- [09:25]
Host 5
Too.
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Host 4
That's what I would say. When you have everything too planned out, you know, magic can't, like, interject itself and destiny can't take. Take its hold and kind of direct you. You know what I mean?
- [09:33]
Carson Kressley
Oh, my. I'm such a believer in, you know, the divine path and saying yes to opportunities. And, you know, I've been given the opportunity to give some, like, commencement speeches in my career at SCAD and Philadelphia University. And I was like, God, you have picked the wrong person, because I had zero plan. I just, you know, found things that I liked. Like when I knew I wanted to live in New York City, I didn't know what I was going to do. I didn't really. I had a, you know, a fabulous but somewhat, you know, wide liberal arts degree from Gettysburg College. I just said, oh, I should probably get a job at Ralph Lauren. Like, that's horsey. And it's fashion. It's all the things I love. And I totally understand the culture. I somehow made that happen. I got a job at Ralph Lauren and. And then that, you know, everything led to something else. And the key was that I was always saying yes to opportunity, even when the Queer Eye opportunity arose. I had a great job at Ralph Lauren by that point. I had been there for about eight years, and I was the person who would go on location to all the photo shoots, and I was literally like the fashion police. Like, if we were working with Neiman's or Filene's or Robinson's, May, whatever the store was back when there were all those millions of stores, I would go on set and make sure our Ralph Lauren part of the catalog looked like Ralph Lauren. So I had a great job. But then Queer Eye popped in and said, oh, you should try out for this. And I was like, okay. I've never done tv. I have no idea what I'm doing. But I said yes and tried out. And that led me to something totally different and wonderful. So a lot of magic, a lot of yeses. Also a lot of just, you know, kind of like, you know, taking a leap and hoping you land somewhere great.
- [11:15]
Host 4
Yeah. Yeah. Well, I think you did that. So, I mean. And honestly, just talking to you for the last, like, couple of minutes, I can see how you have taken your different passions in life and kind of just like, brought them together into your own personal style, whether that's your interiors or your wardrobe. So what would be your best advice to our listeners? How to do that? How to, like, cultivate their passions in life or actually collect their passions in life to cultivate their own personal style?
- [11:43]
Carson Kressley
Oh, gosh, that's a great question and a big question. And the overarching answer, I say, whether it's building a wardrobe or designing your home, is you're going to naturally gravitate to things that you love. And those are the things that you should gravitate to. You know, there's, there's some Instagram or TikTok reel where it's like a British woman saying, I just decided to follow my heart and decorate my home with things that I love. And that's what I do. I just, I'm in stores, I'm in antique places, I'm in flea markets. And if somebody, something calls to me, I buy it. Because if it's beautiful and you like it and you respond to it, you're going to enjoy living with it. And the same thing with fashion, like, buy the things that you love, disregard the trends. I am not a trend person. I like to sprinkle them in and have fun with them. And it makes you feel kind of current and young and up to date. But the essentials, I keep pretty classic and invest in quality. And that translates too, from the home to the wardrobe. Like, you know, you're going to have your workhorses like your little black dress or your, or your tailored suit or a great watch or an amazing bag or leather goods. And in your home, you're going to have a great sofa in your living room and a great dining table in your dining room and a high quality bed and mattress in your bedroom. Those are the workhorses. And then you can have fun with color and accessories and jewelry to kind of, you know, keep it current and change it up a little bit. Because I also like to keep it fresh too.
- [13:13]
Host 1
Definitely. You can definitely feel that in you. Let's talk about fashion some more. We all know you for fashion because of Queer Eye. Where did this come from? Is this, were you watching TV as a kid? Was it your family? You talk about being Amish adjacent and so.
- [13:27]
Carson Kressley
Right.
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Host 1
I don't picture this really fashionable town. I also grew up rural. And so it's always so curious to me, like, where, who was your role model? What, what made you think I want to be like that?
- [13:40]
Carson Kressley
I had two kind of portals. One was definitely television. And I have an older brother and an older sister and they're six and eight years older than me. So when you're 10 years old, your 16 year old or 18 year old sibling wants absolutely nothing to do with you. So I was like an only child, basically. And both of my parents worked, they had a business. I would be home all afternoon after school watching the Brady Bunch and watching Hart to Heart and the Love Boat and Fantasy island and, you know, 70s tell was full of fashion and style. I distinctly remember people like Stephanie Powers and Hart to Hart and, you know, even the house, you know, like if you watch the I've been Binging the Golden Girls. Amazing. Show me tv and I'm just like, who were these women? They had like a giant ginger jar in their foyer and Rattan Furniture C.W. stockwell Palm Leaf wallpaper in the bedroom. Like that was a design bonanza. Just watching the Girls or Different Strokes. And they had a penthouse apartment on Park Avenue.
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Host 1
Like you now you're just like them.
- [14:50]
Carson Kressley
Yes, manifestation, that's me. I'm the new Mr. Drummond. I have the same forehead. So television was a huge, huge, huge influence. And then just the 70s in general and watching my mom getting ready and, you know, designers like Tory Burch say the same thing. Like, it was the 70s, and even though we lived in Allen, outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania, I remember my mom had like, you know, cocktail dresses with long hostess skirts and sparkly tops. And I would be like, where are you going? And they would be like, we're going to a party. Like actually in this house where I am right now in the 70s, they were. There were some real bangers here, let me tell you.
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Host 1
Oh, my gosh.
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Carson Kressley
So people dressed up and there was an attention to detail and things were much more special. It wasn't just, you know, everything looked the same and everyone was in yoga pants. It was not like that. For the young people who are listening, there was real individuality and style. And my mom is a very stylish person. She's turning 88 this week and she still wears her Chanel earrings and her, you know, St. John turns it out. I just learned that, you know, you dress a certain way for church, and you dress a certain way to go to work, and you dress a certain way for school. And I just learned how to create a wardrobe and what was appropriate for different venues. And I think that's also a great tip. Like, know what to wear where that's so important because you could look amazing, but if you're, you know, going to clean out your basement, you're wasting the look or you could be in your best, you know, like, Athleisure. But if you're going to, you know, like, a nice restaurant, you're also probably not wearing the right thing. So. So I think wearing the right outfit to the right occasion is the key to everything.
- [16:34]
Host 1
I think that is lost on some of the younger generations. And I think maybe you should be the bridge for that. And you should probably write a book about. Or maybe you should start a new series on your Instagram handle or TikTok or something, because I don't think people know how to. I think COVID ruined everybody's sense of fashion.
- [16:53]
Carson Kressley
Yeah, I think you're right.
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Host 1
It's just sort of this murky pond right now, and somebody's got to teach people where to. When to wear what, you know? Yeah, that's a whole. That's a whole thing. I know that you're. I know you're loving interior design more than fashion, but I'm saying in your fashion space, like, there's. There's a need for that.
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Carson Kressley
Yeah, totally. What to wear when. Who, what, when, where, why, how. Something like that.
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Host 3
Yes.
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Host 1
Teach. Teach the people. Yes.
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Carson Kressley
A new series coming to your Instagram right now.
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Host 5
I love it.
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Host 1
Yes, I love it. Did your mom let you choose what to wear when you were younger? Or did she help put that together? Or how did that work?
- [17:30]
Carson Kressley
I think probably by the time I was, like, in fourth grade and I was being influenced by, like, movies like Xanadu and all those great movies that were out, I was wanting to, like, go shopping and even, like, again, tv, I would watch Different Strokes and I'd be like, what is that shirt with the little polo rider on it? Oh, my gosh, what is that?
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Host 1
Even then.
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Carson Kressley
And Ralph Lauren was just, you know, it was founded in 1967, but by about 1977, it was really popping. And it was in my local Bambergers department store. And I was like, I gotta get that. So the Calvin Klein jeans and the polo stuff, late 70s, early 80s. I was. I was starting to get into clothes, so I was about 10 years old.
- [18:15]
Host 1
Oh, my gosh, I love it.
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Carson Kressley
And I was allowed to pick out what I wanted.
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Host 1
Yeah, you were allowed to. Yeah.
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Carson Kressley
Yeah.
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Host 1
That's so cool.
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Host 5
What advice would you give to our listeners? We talked about this.
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Host 2
This earlier.
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Host 5
First of all, do you think people have an innate sense of style?
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Carson Kressley
Not everybody. I think everybody has their thing. Like, some people are great at math. Some people can, like, tinker and fix, like, everything. Like, oh, that lamp is broken. Let me adjust the cord. And the Fin. I was like, I have no mechanical finesse or knowledge or aptitude, but I have a lot of, like, style aptitude that just comes naturally. So I think we all have our affinities, and then certainly if you don't have an affinity for it, you can learn it, and it just doesn't come as easily. So I think everybody has the ability to figure out their style, whether it's for their home or their wardrobe. But some people, it just comes easier for.
- [19:02]
Host 1
Yeah.
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Host 4
How has your style evolved? I mean, you know, going from being influenced by TV and then obviously getting a job at Ralph Lauren and then being on Queer Eye. Yeah. From there.
- [19:11]
Carson Kressley
Yeah. I would say, I think as we get older, we become more ourselves. And I think I read a. That's not. That's Carl Jung or somebody. It's not me.
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Host 4
But no, we're putting it in class.
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Host 5
I know.
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Carson Kressley
I'm like, I think, you know, you live so much life that you really kind of distill down to the things that you really enjoy. So for me, my wardrobe has probably gotten a little more classic. I mean, I still love color. I just bought an all, like, mauve suit from Suitsupply, which is, like, insane, but it looks so good when it's on. So I do depart from, like, the classics a little bit, but it's still like a tailored suit. It's not, you know, something more avant garde. And then in my home, I'm also refining that too. I think as you get older, you're just like, I'm trying to. I'm a maximalist, but I'm trying to really curate and have less but better. And I think in my wardrobe, the same, like, I'm trying to develop more of a uniform. It makes it easier, maybe have more beautiful pieces, higher quality accessories. I'm just trying to not have so much because that can get very mentally confusing for me. And I like to keep it. You know, my mind is all over the place, so I need my atmosphere to be organized.
- [20:26]
Host 3
That's great advice.
- [20:27]
Host 1
Yeah.
- [20:28]
Host 4
Last week I was listening to a podcast that you're on, Bobby Flay's podcast. Huge fan of Bobby. I think your guys's personalities together are awesome, like in Barbecue Brawl. And I've seen you on Beat Bobby Flay a bunch of times. So it was super entertaining, fun to listen to. You mentioned something on there that was striking to me. You were like, I love interiors more than fashion.
- [20:47]
Carson Kressley
Yes.
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Host 4
We kind of want to touch on that a little bit and do a little bit deeper dive. Tell us a little bit More about that?
- [20:52]
Carson Kressley
Sure. Well, I love that you love my little Robert William Flay, as I call him.
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Host 5
So cute.
- [20:59]
Carson Kressley
I love to just, you know, go up and, like, give him a little squeeze. And he's so adorable. He seems a little gruff and, you know, like a tough New Yorker, but he is really one of the greatest people I get to with. He's phenomenal and so sweet and so thoughtful and generous. But I love interiors, I think, because interiors creates a space where you can, like, take care of people and entertain them and make them comfortable and bring them joy. So I think that is really what I love so much about it. It's the same as, like, cooking. I'm not a very good cook, and I've learned a lot from Bobby and different cooking shows I've done. But when I have people over in a beautiful setting and you're giving them beautiful food that you've made lovingly, that, to me is like the biggest accomplishment in life is like creating a beautiful space and entertaining people in your home and caring for them.
- [21:53]
Host 1
Yeah. It's such a gift to be able to do that.
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Host 5
I have a question. Are you taking projects or like, what. Oh, in the interior space. What are you doing to kind of just like, get that?
- [22:05]
Carson Kressley
I like to say that I am a stay at home interior designer.
- [22:09]
Host 5
Love it.
- [22:10]
Carson Kressley
I. I'm sure I. I could maybe get clients. What's so daunting to me, and I have such respect for interior designers.
- [22:17]
Host 3
As soon as I get home from
- [22:19]
Host 1
work, I do this thing that I
- [22:20]
Host 3
heard an expert say. They have to go in and you have to change your clothes so that it signals to your brain I'm no longer working. I put my phone down, I charge it, and I go in my closet and I slip on my brushed bamboo jogger set from Cozy Earth.
- [22:33]
Host 5
It's a costume change.
- [22:34]
Host 1
It is, and it changes something in my brain.
- [22:37]
Host 3
They're soft enough to sleep in, but they're put together enough that if I have to answer the door, I'm not going to be embarrassed that I'm, like, in actual pajamas.
- [22:45]
Host 5
Yeah.
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Host 1
You know?
- [22:45]
Host 5
Yeah.
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Host 3
They are so soft. They're made from viscose, from bamboo. They have this tapered fit with a relaxed waistband and just enough structure to feel intentional. I'm a huge fan. I just got them in the charcoal.
- [22:57]
Host 5
I can't wait to see those. I do a little thing where I don't necessarily have time to change my whole outfit, but, boy, do I take off my heels or my boots or whatever I'm wearing. And the first Thing I reach for is the lakehouse clogs. I love these things because they're slip on, which is an absolute must when you're running in and out of the house, grabbing boys, getting the mail. I can wear these anywhere. I can wear them around the house. And they're so soft. It has a cushioned footbed, a soft interior, and again, they're easy to slip on, which is everything. I forget that I'm wearing them when I'm in the house, but when the doorbell rings, I can quickly go grab it or go to the grocery store. And I still always look put together and uncomfortable. I love the lake house clog.
- [23:35]
Host 3
I do too. I think they're really good looking and
- [23:37]
Host 1
I think they look really cute under
- [23:39]
Host 3
a pair of jeans.
- [23:40]
Host 1
Nobody's going to think that you're wearing
- [23:41]
Host 3
a slipper out because it's a clog.
- [23:43]
Host 5
Exactly. Exactly. But they don't know that I'm actually wearing slippers because they feel so comfortable.
- [23:49]
Host 1
Agreed. I feel like I need them in
- [23:50]
Host 3
every color now that I have them.
- [23:52]
Host 5
Me too.
- [23:52]
Host 1
They're so good.
- [23:53]
Host 3
Why the Cozy Earth stands out to me is it's the details, the fit, the fabric, the way these pieces are made to last. This isn't fast fashion for the house. It's something you'll actually be reaching for years from now. This spring, give yourself the kind of comfort that lives with you all day, not just the moment you get home. Head to cozyearth.com use our code Dear Alice for an exclusive 20% off. That's code Dear Alice for an exclusive 20 percent off. And if you get a post purchase survey mention that you heard about Cozy
- [24:24]
Carson Kressley
Earth right here and you know, I've known many of them and you know, I worked closely with Tom Felicia, not only on Queer Eye, but we did a really fun, probably the most fun show I've ever done called Get a Room. I love that it was on Bravo. You can find it in the dusty archives of YouTube now. And Tom would work like crazy. And then I would just come in at like the last hour and put a white orchid on the coffee table and be like, okay, I think we're done. But designers work so hard and there's so much that goes into a project. You know when I see like elevations and this is where the light switch goes and this is where the outlets go, and we've ordered 65 light switch covers. And I was just like, oh, my God, my mind's going to explode. I like to buy pretty things and put them in a room and Say, put that mural over there and hang this wallpaper here. But I don't think I have the training or the skill to actually be a working interior designer. So I work on my own homes. It's a little dangerous because I'm just like, well, I'm itching for a project. I was like, I should, you know, buy something at the beach or whatever, but I have horses, so I don't have any leftover money. Buy something at the beach. But I do love a project. I would like to maybe dabble in doing some. I've done some show houses. I have this collection, this collaboration with Ballard Designs. So that's been really gratifying. But professionally, I'm not really a professional interior designer. Don't tell anybody. I just decorate my own spaces.
- [26:00]
Host 5
You could be a creative director. That's what you should do. You'll direct others to do that. Yep.
- [26:04]
Host 1
I love that.
- [26:05]
Carson Kressley
Yes. Shopping and pointing is my. My strong.
- [26:08]
Host 5
Shopping and pointing.
- [26:09]
Host 1
I love that.
- [26:10]
Host 5
Yep.
- [26:10]
Host 4
What would be your advice to someone to take their wardrobe and have that reflected in their home?
- [26:16]
Carson Kressley
Oh, that's a great way to kind of figure out, like, what your style is in general is if you swing open your close and you're just, you know, if you see a lot of Ralph Lauren, you know, you're probably like a traditionalist. And if you see a lot of Donna Karan or something that's a little bit more modern, maybe you're like urban Zen. She has a brand called that. So you can kind of get your vibe. And then you can also see, like, do you love a lot of animal print? Do you love a lot of leather? Do you prefer to live in denim? Do you love cashmere? Those are all things. Or is there. Is your closet mostly blue? Is it mostly, you know, red? Is it mostly orange? Is it. It's really going to inform you as to the colors that you respond to and the overall vibe of, like, what your style is. Are you a bohemian? Are you classic? Are you English? Are you French? There's a lot of information there. You can kind of be a real detective. And that's going to be a great starting point. But I don't think that you have to kind of live like you dress, you know, I know a lot of people, you know, executives at Ralph Lauren who we all wore the uniform, like the cable knit cashmere over the shoulder and very traditional and very preppy and very based in, like, you know, English. And they lived in, you know, white, beautiful, modern Richard Meyer buildings on the Hudson River. So it doesn't necessarily have to like, jibe, but it's a great starting point, for sure.
- [27:42]
Host 1
I love that. I actually love that whole scene that you just painted about working for Ralph Lauren in the 80s, I imagine. No, 90s, wasn't it?
- [27:49]
Carson Kressley
It was. Yeah, it was the 90s. Yes.
- [27:51]
Host 1
Oh my gosh. I'm sure that you've been watching Love Story with her working at Calvin Klein and I'm like picturing you doing the same thing in this building that she was doing.
- [28:03]
Carson Kressley
It was a parallel universe.
- [28:04]
Host 3
Oh my gosh.
- [28:05]
Carson Kressley
And there's a great line in that show, which I was obsessed with and still am, where she like, John F. Kennedy Jr. Is sending her flowers every day and she's like, calvin only allows white orchids. We had the same thing. But like, you know, it was just, you know, Ralph Lauren likes this and we were just living in parallel worlds and they were around when I was, you know, she had mutual friends that worked at Ralph Lauren. And I of course, never met her and was not in those circles where I would have been like, you know, interacting with like the head of PR at Ralph Lauren or the head of PR at Calvin Klein. I was, I was packing samples and folding sweaters at that point. But it was a very romantic time and New York was so. It had such a great energy then in the 90s.
- [28:48]
Host 1
Oh, so cool. What a beat. I just love all of that so much.
- [28:52]
Host 5
Yeah. Honestly, I'm like, I can't think of a more fun spot to be in, like, regarding fashion interiors. Like all the supermodels, like just that whole. The 90s in general, like, oh, amazing decades. There's so much to like, look toward, to be inspired by, to cultivate style fashion wise and interiors.
- [29:09]
Carson Kressley
Yeah, we were out every night. There was a different club. We went like on Mondays I went to this club. On Tuesdays I went to this club. I remember and I remember calling in like late to work from the street in front of the Palladium. Like they had a party on a Sunday night and I had to be at work on a Monday. I was like, I don't feel good on a payphone. There's like cars honking. And then I'm just like. And then I would run back into the Palladium and dance until like, you know, 9:00am, go home, shower and then get to work around 10 maybe. Obsessed.
- [29:43]
Host 5
I love that for you. That's amazing.
- [29:45]
Carson Kressley
And there were no cell phones and, you know, nobody had a computer, you know, that we worked from home with. It was, it was like, it was, it's like Mad Men. Like, looking back at it, I think you need.
- [29:56]
Host 1
You need a book deal. You need to tell this story, or yours needs to be like the next love story where they can reenact it. Because we all want to watch this scene play out. It's so fun.
- [30:05]
Carson Kressley
I know. And there were so many interesting designers back then, and like Kathryn Hamnett and John Bartlett, and Marc Jacobs was just coming into his own, and the shows were in Bryant park in a giant tent. It was just this whole other podcast.
- [30:20]
Host 5
Oh, my God. Such a great whole scene is such a scene.
- [30:23]
Host 1
That is such a scene. We have a lightning round of questions we want to do with you now.
- [30:27]
Carson Kressley
Oh, gosh. Okay.
- [30:28]
Host 1
It's super fun. You're gonna love it. Number one, who is your style icon? Fashion or interiors?
- [30:33]
Host 3
You get to choose.
- [30:34]
Carson Kressley
Oh, gosh. I mean, I'm gonna say Ralph Lauren because he's done so much and covers so many ooves of, like, great American design, from the American west to prep school to the great Anglo traditions. And then I also adore Tom Ford, and I love wearing his clothes, and he has amazing taste in every movies, interiors, et cetera. So it's a tie.
- [30:58]
Host 1
Great answers. I loved the Ralph Lauren documentary that HBO did.
- [31:02]
Carson Kressley
So good.
- [31:03]
Host 5
Very Ralph.
- [31:04]
Carson Kressley
So good.
- [31:04]
Host 1
Yeah. Gosh, I swear, anytime I get in on an airplane, I have to watch it again. It's just so good.
- [31:09]
Carson Kressley
Yeah, I. I adore him.
- [31:11]
Host 1
So good. Okay, next question. Favorite fashion house. I guess you probably just said Tom Ford, but at the moment, I don't know if. If you have a new one. I know all the creative directors have changed places, and it's very exciting right now being off.
- [31:24]
Carson Kressley
I know, I know they all are changing, and I'm just. Sometimes I'll go into a place that I love. I'm like, what is this? Why is everything yellow? I can't wear yellow. So sometimes they do change it up. But I would say again, it's like those two, like, Ralph Lauren. Like, it's always in perfect taste. I always feel good in it. It works for me. But then I also love the glamour of Tom Ford. I was lucky enough to cover the Oscars fashion for Live with Kelly. And oh, my gosh, I think they were just. You know, I did a show, like, a couple weeks before, and they said, what are you gonna wear? Who's gonna, you know, design for you? I was like, I'm gonna wear what I find at the outlet mall because I am on cable. I have have great luck with the Tom Ford outlet. And I Have spies there. Call me. This is a fashion tip as well. If you have a favorite designer and you know all of our favorite designers, everything is so expensive now, and I'd rather, you know, I want to buy more stuff, so I'm always looking for a bargain. So make friends, you know, if you love Tom Ford or if you love Laura Piano or if you love Ralph Lauren or Gucci, whatever. Or make friends with an associate at the outlet mall. Give them your information. Have them text you pictures of things that come in that they think you would like. And that's how I buy almost all of my, like, Oscar clothes or drag race. Wardrobe is my two plants. Woodbury Commons, New York, outside of the city, and Palm Springs, California desert Premium outlets. They send me pictures, and I just. I know my size and I say, yep, send it on.
- [33:01]
Host 1
I love it. And it doesn't hurt that you're Carson Kressley, so that's a big component.
- [33:06]
Carson Kressley
But, you know, they will give you good service as well because they, you know, they. They want to move the merch also. So little fashion tip for you.
- [33:14]
Host 1
I love it. Okay. What is your favorite piece of clothing?
- [33:16]
Carson Kressley
My favorite piece of clothing. Oh, my gosh, I have. I have so many favorites. I mean, a go to is a cashmere cable knit sweater. I wear them year round. They are great on an airplane because even in July, sometimes the airplane is like 52 degrees. They make a good pillow, too, I think. Right now, my favorite thing that brings me so much joy, that Tom Ford suit that I wore for the Oscar show. It was like the brightest pink you've ever seen. Like, crazy. Like, hot pink.
- [33:48]
Host 1
Yeah, you're a star in that thing. I mean, you're a star anyway, but you really, really look fantastic in that.
- [33:55]
Carson Kressley
That just made me so happy. Like, it was like. It was like a turbocharging effect where it was just like, I love the color, I love the fit. I love the fabric. It looked good on me. It made me happy. I glowed. Like, when things are working, it does that. So that was. That's probably my favorite right now.
- [34:13]
Host 1
That's good. Favorite cast member from the OG Queer Eye.
- [34:16]
Carson Kressley
Oh, well, that's like picking your, like, favorite child. But I'll say Tom Felicia, because we have very similar interests and we, you know, like, we were talking about, I think before we were rolling, you know, we go to High Point Market together and, you know, hang out a lot. He also has a fabulous house in the Hamptons and also in Aspen now. So it's like, like, he's a Good person to be friends with.
- [34:38]
Host 4
Get yourself a Tom Felicia, too, I guess. That's awesome.
- [34:41]
Carson Kressley
Exactly.
- [34:41]
Host 1
We did a book signing at our store with Tom, like, a decade ago. So long ago in Salt Lake City. Yeah. It was so fun having him out. And I actually have two Tom Felicia chairs in my family room.
- [34:51]
Host 5
Yes, you do.
- [34:51]
Host 1
The really tall ones.
- [34:52]
Host 5
I think I have a vote for Tom pin in one of my jackets. Do you remember that market?
- [34:58]
Host 1
It was like.
- [34:58]
Host 5
Like the election year or something.
- [35:00]
Host 1
Like 2020 or 20 something. I can't remember.
- [35:03]
Host 5
2018 or something.
- [35:03]
Host 1
Yeah. Anyway, he's great.
- [35:05]
Carson Kressley
His collection with the bedding collection from that really nice place from Chicago. Oh, God, I can't remember the name, but it's just as you walk in the suites at Market Square. But I know exactly what you're talking about.
- [35:15]
Host 5
Eastern accent.
- [35:16]
Host 1
Oh, yeah. Eastern accent.
- [35:17]
Host 5
That's it.
- [35:17]
Carson Kressley
And they're lovely.
- [35:18]
Host 1
Yeah, we love her Tom, too. I love that. That's a good answer.
- [35:21]
Host 3
Okay.
- [35:21]
Host 1
Coastal grandmother or grand millennial?
- [35:24]
Carson Kressley
Oh, gosh. What is a grand millennial? Is that like a millennial who decorates in a grandmotherly style?
- [35:31]
Host 5
Yep. You know, when we were looking at the picture, I'm like, they're both, like, ridiculous and maximalist. So I'm just like. You probably will say both, but yeah, I'm probably.
- [35:39]
Carson Kressley
I'm gonna say grand millennial because I'm not that coastal. I want to be coastal at some point, but I don't live near any water other than the east river at this point.
- [35:50]
Host 5
I love that.
- [35:51]
Host 1
Good answer. Quiet luxury or maximalism?
- [35:54]
Carson Kressley
Oh, why be quiet when you can be loud? I like maximalism. I'm leaning more towards, like, I'll see your spaces, and they're, like, so serene and creamy and dreamy. And even when I bought this house I had envisioned. And this is terrible advice. Don't ever do this, listeners. But I thought I wanted to make it look like a Club Monaco store, like, when they had, like, brown floors and gray walls and white trim. I was like, horse farm in East Hampton. And then all of my stuff arrived, and I was like, Lisa Douglas list on Green Acres, where it's like a grand piano was rolling in and these, like, you know, Hollywood Regency tufted chartreuse chairs. Like, it's just. I can't do minimal. Like, every. All the stuff I have is just, like, bright and loud and layered. So it just. I can't do it. I would love to, and I'm going to. At some point. I'm gonna make myself do it, like, at the beach or Something and be.
- [36:51]
Host 1
Please, please don't. We don't want you to. Yeah, we love. We love what you're doing, and I think that's why you're so known for your style, is because you're just not afraid. You're not afraid of color or pattern or. Yeah, the tufts, the.
- [37:04]
Host 3
All of it.
- [37:05]
Host 1
It's just all so good. Yeah. So one item in your home that
- [37:09]
Host 3
you'd never get rid of. I hope you say that painting over.
- [37:12]
Host 1
Over the. Over your head. That's so great.
- [37:14]
Carson Kressley
Well, yeah, I can't ever get rid of that. That is a family heirloom. So, like, God forbid it's ever. You know, I ever have to run into a burning building, I would save that. And then I did get. This is a fun story, too. I have another room here that is all, like, walnut paneling, and it's very, very dark, so I couldn't really have any brown furniture. But I love a secretary desk. And we've always had them. Growing up, my mom had one. I just thought they were cool. And I saw an orange one, and it was at, like, an auction house in San Francisco, and I thought, oh, I'm never gonna be able to figure out this whole, like, bidding online and then, like, figuring out how to get it home. And it is so easy.
- [37:55]
Host 1
Did you win it? Did you get it?
- [37:57]
Carson Kressley
I did. I think it was, like, $800. It was not, you know, expensive. You know, I've seen them for, like, five, $10,000. Maybe it was like a thousand. And then it was like, maybe five or six hundred dollars to ship it, which, again, I was, like, happily surprised. It wasn't that bad. You know, I've shipped luggage, like, overnight to a hotel, and it's four or five hundred dollars, so in a pinch. So they shipped it, and it looks great. And the pop of orange, and it has all this chinoiserie painting on it. It's just in a very brown wood space. It's that pop of color that really makes the space sing. And I just. Sometimes I just walk by it, and I'm just like, I love this piece of furniture. I could just look at it.
- [38:39]
Host 1
I love it. You're so good with color. I'm not surprised that that's your answer. Okay, what's your favorite room in your house?
- [38:45]
Carson Kressley
Oh, the favorite room in my house, I guess. My sun room. I've never had a sun room growing up. And I love plants. I have them all around my pool in the summer. But I live in Pennsylvania, so it's cold. But I have A sago palm that I pull out that goes by the pool that I have in my sun room. And I have a giant philodendron and I have a lemon tree that has one giant lemon on it right now. So that's a really nice place, especially in the dead of winter, to go and feel like you're still, like, getting some greenery. And I have a nice settee in there and some leopard chairs, as one does.
- [39:21]
Host 1
You're basically a golden girl. It sounds amazing.
- [39:25]
Carson Kressley
Yeah, it is very. It is very golden girls.
- [39:27]
Host 1
I love it. I love that. Can you tease anything that you're working on next?
- [39:32]
Carson Kressley
Yes. We have a bunch of things going on. The season finale of RuPaul's Drag Race happens April 17th. We'll crown our winner. I think it's season 18, which is insane that we've been doing the show that long.
- [39:44]
Host 1
Congratulations.
- [39:46]
Carson Kressley
That's so cool. Thank you. And then May 11th barbecue brawl with Bobby Flay starts. And it's a real shake up this season because Brooke Williamson, who's amazing and is one of my judges, co judges, she is now dating Robert William Flay. That would be unfair for her to be a judge. So she is now a competitor. So she's a new team captain. So that's going to be really fun.
- [40:11]
Host 1
So fun.
- [40:12]
Carson Kressley
Because they do love to give each other a hard time. And then very excited. I had mentioned it before, collab with Ballard Signs, which is really inspired by my horse farm. They came here, saw some of my pieces. We've reimagined some antiques, we've done some upholstery, some case goods, some tabletops, some barware. I just love doing it. I love the creative process and I love sharing it with people. We had a big store opening in Atlanta and had a couple hundred people come out and it was really.
- [40:42]
Host 4
That's cool.
- [40:42]
Carson Kressley
I just. They're a great, great company and they make great things and they really allow you to kind of be your own designer, which I love.
- [40:49]
Host 1
That's so great. Gosh, you're busy. You're everywhere. Doing everything. Honestly, so great.
- [40:54]
Host 5
You know what?
- [40:55]
Carson Kressley
I was busy doing it all, like six months ago, and now I'm just, you know, now we're getting ready to start up again. So I've had a little lull, but it's good.
- [41:03]
Host 1
Little time with the horses. Yeah. Okay, Last question we ask everyone that comes on the podcast, that this. How do you define luxury?
- [41:10]
Carson Kressley
Oh, that's a great question. Luxury to me. Well, there's so many things I. I think it relates to Time and handcraftedness, if that's even a word. So, like, things that are made by hand, that take a long time, that to me, in our fast paced, disposable world, is so luxurious. So to get a handmade piece of furniture or piece of artwork or a loaf of bread that's made out of croissant dough, all those things are very luxurious to me because they are special and handcrafted and. And it's not about mass and it's not about rushing to market. It's not about it being the cheapest it can be. It's about it being the best it can be.
- [41:52]
Host 1
That's such a great answer. So good. I know, I know. Everybody's gonna love listening to this podcast. We're so glad that you came on. So much to catch you on coming up in April and May. So we'll make sure and tune into that.
- [42:05]
Carson Kressley
Thank you.
- [42:06]
Host 1
Yeah. And thank you. Anything else you guys wanted to ask Carson? Well, we've got him right here.
- [42:11]
Host 4
Thank you just so much for coming on. Like I said, I'm a huge fan. I'm jealous that you get to eat amazing barbecue all the time on Barbecue Brawl. That, that's like my favorite part of the show. Oh, it's so good. Yeah. Yeah, I bet. Thanks so much for coming on. We're so grateful to have you.
- [42:26]
Carson Kressley
I'm a big fan. Thank you.
- [42:28]
Host 5
I love you. Can feel it in your voice that you do put a lot of love and care. I love that when you're talking about interior, specifically from fashion to interior, that you do get to just take care of people and you can tell you do that in every facet of your life. So anyway, it's been such a treat, such a treat to talk to you.
- [42:43]
Carson Kressley
Well, likewise. I think we're simpatico in that way. And I, I, I love talking to people who enjoy it the same way I do.
- [42:50]
Host 1
So good.
- [42:50]
Host 5
Next time, let's eat. Yeah.
- [42:53]
Carson Kressley
You'll have to come to Austin, Texas, sometime.
- [42:56]
Host 5
Okay.
- [42:56]
Carson Kressley
We usually film there in the fall and it's amazing.
- [43:01]
Host 5
I love Austin.
- [43:02]
Carson Kressley
If you're going to be in that area, reach out to Penny and we'll. We'll have you come visit us on set.
- [43:06]
Host 1
Thank you so much for your time. That was such a treat.
- [43:09]
Carson Kressley
Thank you. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
- [43:11]
Host 1
Okay.
- [43:12]
Host 5
So lovely.
- [43:12]
Carson Kressley
Yeah, I'll be listening to all of your podcasts. Thank you so much.
- [43:16]
Host 4
Thanks, Carson. Great to meet you.
- [43:18]
Carson Kressley
Likewise. Bye.
- [43:19]
Host 4
How awesome was it to have Carson on? He's hilarious. I could talk to him for hours.
- [43:23]
Host 5
I know I wish I could just have him like as my like on the favorites part of my cell phone to just calm down, up all the
- [43:29]
Host 1
time and like cold facetime him and say yes is what I'm wearing. Okay.
- [43:33]
Host 4
Yeah.
- [43:34]
Host 5
Number one question. Number one question.
- [43:35]
Host 4
This morning we're invited to Austin. So we, we're going.
- [43:38]
Host 2
I know.
- [43:39]
Host 5
I'm gonna make that happen. I can't wait for the. Carson's gonna call you. Where should we meet him?
- [43:47]
Host 4
That's awesome. He was great. Yeah. So thanks again, Carson.
- [43:50]
Host 5
Yes. And yeah, just before, before we leave. Anybody that is a designer out there, design professional, you need to join our to the trade program. It's amazing. You get like access to all of our exclusive product. You get discounts, you get all the things. And we take care of you throughout the process. When you order furniture through us, we take care of the claims, we take care of you, the delivery, all those things. And we can't wait for you to join the team. You go to our website, alsanehome.com and you go to design services down to the trade. Fill that out and we'll get you hooked up. Can't wait to have you.
- [44:21]
Host 1
You.
- [44:22]
Host 5
It's the best kept secret. Honestly, if I didn't work here, I would 100 sign up for this because the deals are too good.
- [44:29]
Host 1
They're so great. Thanks, Sue. And if you're not following us yet on Instagram, we're at Alice Lane Home. That's where you can see all the really beautiful new product drops and the whole store side of things. And we also have at Alice Lane Interiors. That's our interior design side of things
- [44:43]
Host 3
where we're building and remodeling whole homes.
- [44:45]
Host 1
And you can check out just the progress on those stunning projects. It's a really fun follow. So make sure and check us out there, there. And if you guys have any questions, just send those to dear Alice alicelanehome.com and we'd love it if you'd leave us a review. You can do that by going to
- [45:02]
Host 4
our show page in Apple and then scrolling down to the little tag that says write a review and you'll be able to fill it out there.
- [45:09]
Host 1
Awesome.
- [45:10]
Host 5
And tell your friends we want to be the number one podcast design podcast in the world. So please help us get there.
- [45:16]
Host 1
Yeah, Share it with friends who loves interior design.
- [45:18]
Host 5
Yes. Yes.
- [45:19]
Host 1
Great idea. Yeah, Love it. You guys, thanks so much for tuning in. We'll catch you next time. Hey, thanks for listening. If you like our show, please leave a five star rating.