Rebecca Minkoff Is One and Done With Housewives

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Rebecca Minkoff Is One and Done With Housewives"

Podcast: Let's Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari
Host: Dear Media
Episode Title: Rebecca Minkoff Is One and Done With Housewives
Release Date: February 18, 2025

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1. Introduction and Welcome

Kristin Cavallari opens the episode by welcoming Rebecca Minkoff, a renowned fashion designer, author of the book Fearless, and the latest addition to the Real Housewives of New York City.

Kristin Cavallari (00:01): "Rebecca Minkoff, welcome. Thank you. So excited to see you after all of these years."

2. Rebecca Minkoff's Fashion Career

Rebecca delves into the early days of launching her fashion brand in the early 2000s, highlighting the unique challenges of that era compared to today's influencer-driven landscape.

Rebecca Minkoff (01:36): "Things really hit with the bag. It was called the Morning After Bag... we had fun supporting this young designer organically."

3. Staying Relevant in the Fashion Industry

Drawing parallels to Madonna's ability to reinvent herself, Rebecca discusses the strategies that have kept her brand relevant over two decades, emphasizing the importance of aligning with contemporary projects and diverse brand ambassadors.

Rebecca Minkoff (04:46): "I think if you can get those things right, you can remain relevant, but you can't just do the same thing over and over."

4. Balancing Personal Life and Business

Kristin admires Rebecca's ability to juggle her thriving business with her family life, especially with four children. Rebecca attributes her success to a strong support system and delegating tasks that she couldn't personally manage.

Rebecca Minkoff (06:36): "My son goes to daycare from 9 to 5. That is my workday... I have a team handling every aspect of my business."

5. Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

After the advertisement break, Rebecca offers invaluable advice to women looking to start their own businesses. She emphasizes commitment, resilience through hardships, and maintaining passion despite frequent setbacks.

Rebecca Minkoff (28:25): "Know that it's ugly. There's failures, there's hardships, there's more no's than yeses. And if you still can say I'm good with all that, then do it."

6. Fashion Tips and Personal Style

Rebecca shares her best fashion tips, advocating for comfort without sacrificing style. She advises against wearing uncomfortable shoes that can't be worn all night and encourages embracing one's unique style rather than blindly following trends.

Rebecca Minkoff (29:43): "I would say that for the most part, my castmates are like, you're only wearing black all the time. So I wear a lot of black."

7. Experience on 'Real Housewives'

Rebecca discusses her stint on Real Housewives of New York City, detailing the difficult decision to join the show. She expresses disappointment with how her true persona was edited out, leading her to conclude that the reality TV environment wasn't a fit for her authentic self.

Rebecca Minkoff (31:28): "There are a lot of things I weighed. Am I going to show my family? Am I going to show my personal life? How will this impact my career or not?"

8. Future Plans for the Rebecca Minkoff Brand

Looking ahead, Rebecca reveals exciting collaborations and plans to celebrate her brand's 20-year milestone. She highlights a partnership with sports personalities to blend fashion with athletic enthusiasm.

Rebecca Minkoff (38:20): "We launched an exciting collab with Erin Andrews for the Super Bowl... we're just gonna have a really fun year with lots of activation."

9. Fun Fashion Game: Hot or Not

In a light-hearted segment, Kristin and Rebecca play "Hot or Not - Fashion Version," discussing current fashion trends and personal preferences.

Kristin Cavallari (39:25): "Overalls? Rebecca Minkoff (39:28): "If you're wearing them with, like, a bikini top, it's hot."

10. Conclusion and Where to Find Rebecca

Kristin wraps up the episode by thanking Rebecca for her candid insights and providing listeners with information on where to follow her work, including her brand, podcast, and book.

Rebecca Minkoff (41:01): "You can find me at Rebecca Minkoff. For a look into my personal life, you can listen to my podcast, Superwoman with Rebecca Minkoff."

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Key Takeaways:

• Organic Growth: Rebecca attributes her brand's early success to organic support from celebrities and genuine admiration from consumers, contrasting sharply with today's influencer-focused marketing.

• Resilience: Launching a business without traditional funding required immense perseverance, underscoring the importance of financial dedication and strategic partnerships.

• Authenticity Over Drama: Rebecca emphasizes maintaining authenticity and kindness in professional relationships, even when participating in high-drama environments like reality TV.

• Future-Oriented: The Rebecca Minkoff brand is poised for continued innovation and collaborations, reflecting a commitment to evolving with the fashion industry.

This episode offers a deep dive into Rebecca Minkoff's journey as a fashion mogul, her experiences in reality TV, and her unwavering commitment to authenticity and resilience in business.

Transcript

[Kristen Cavallari]

The following podcast is a Dear Media production. This is let's Be Honest with Kristen Cavallari, a podcast all about getting real and open on everything from sex, relationships, reality tv, wellness, family, and so much more. And just a fair warning, there will probably be some oversharing. Welcome in to let's Be Honest. I hope everyone is doing amazing on this fine Tuesday. Tuesday. I am so excited for today's episode. I am with Powerhouse fashion designers. She's an author, she's a new book out called Fearless. And now she can add reality star to her resume because she is the latest member of the Real Housewives of New York City. Rebecca Minkoff, welcome. Thank you. So excited to see you after all of these years. And I appreciate you being in Nashville.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I came for you, baby.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I. I love that. Have you had any fun or is this strictly business trip?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

No, we had fun last night. We went out to dinner. Did you? Where'd you go? Yeah.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Oh, oh, love. That's one of my favorites.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah, it was delicious.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Did you hit Up Broadway?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

No. We thought about it and then we're like, wait, we have to be up at 7am There is no, we're not hitting up Broadway.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Not too bad.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

We will come back on a non work trip. And there you go.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I'll take you out. I'll take you guys on Broadway.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Done.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay, so you'll come back. Okay. I love this. Okay, so we're gonna get to the Housewives of It all because I know my listeners are gonna be so excited to hear about that. But I wanna talk about your fashion career because that's like you said, that's how I know you. It's been a little over 20 years. And so I want to go back to the very beginning and I want to know what it was like launching a business in the early 2000s because it's very different. Launching a business back then as it.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Is today, it was wildly different. So I would say that things really hit with the bag. It was called the Morning after Bag. The Zeitgeist was Sex and the City. All of us wanted to have our morning after walk of shame and be proud. Right? Of like, yeah, last night was awesome. I was 26 years old, looking for love in New York City. And I think it hit a nerve with women in a way that they identify and experience with bags. You know, I got my first bag when either it was a walk of shame or a career promotion or divorce or a new guy, like whatever it is women have that. Like, this was the bag that was here. And it was so simple back then. I simply just had to find someone that knew you and for you to wear it. And then it would be in all of the magazines, and the bags would sell. You know, it's a wildly different landscape today, as we know, with influencers and paid people. Like, this was an organic. Like, I love this product. I want to support this young designer. Let me wear it. And it was kind of beautiful at the time.

[Kristen Cavallari]

It really is. Yeah. And so different than it is today. So in the. In the beginning, that was what it took. It was leaning on the celebrities, and you were lucky enough to get a few seen with your bags. And then from there, your name, I mean, because you became a household name. So that was what it took.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah. There was also this website called Daily Candy. I don't know if you remember. Oh, my gosh. Yeah, it was like, one. One email when you were like, yay, I got an email today.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Oh, my gosh.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And it was the hottest, newest, latest. And so they wrote the email. Women like yourself, Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Alba, Hayden Panettiere, Lindsay Lohan were all wearing the bags. And it was through six degrees of separation. Like, I remember clearly getting an email from an agent at caa. I think her name was Leah. And she's like, hey, I'd like to order a bag. And I was like, I'll give you a bag if you get me to all of your girls. And that's how I got Lauren. So. And you. And so no, you were through, Tamara. But it was still, like, friends helping friends. And there was, like, this fun excitement around the brand.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Oh, that's so cool. I love hearing stories like that. So what were the biggest challenges that you faced back in the day?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Back in the day, the challenges were money. Like, this was all being funded on, literally, my brother's Amex. He mortgaged his house. We couldn't get a traditional bank loan. We couldn't get, you know, funding wasn't something people did back then. No one was raising money for their companies like they are today.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Interesting.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And so it was just like rubbing nickels together every day, like, are we gonna make payroll? Can I pay my rent? You know, my initial salary was $23,000 a year, which was in New York City. Very unlivable.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And so it was just like, let's put everything we got into this. This is a rocket ride, and we're just gonna cross our fingers that we can make ends meet literally every day.

[Kristen Cavallari]

That is amazing. So when did you start to feel like, okay, I Can come up for air. I can breathe a little bit. And it's not penny to penny, ever. I know.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Never.

[Kristen Cavallari]

That never goes away.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I'll tell you this. Just when we thought we were, like, in the clear, there was a president who made some very expensive tariffs, which, you know, forced us to lose a lot of money. And then Covid hit, and then it was like, cool, I guess. This is going to be our lives.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I know it. I know. Well, okay, so. But for over 20 years, you've managed to stay relevant. That is so hard to do. What do you credit that to?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I just think about Madonna. She is the queen of reinvention, and she has stayed true to who she is and her music, but she has constantly been in the zeitgeist with whatever's happening. And I think for us as a brand, it's what projects are we aligning with, what artists, what musicians, what, you know, brand ambassadors, and how are we storytelling? I think if you can get those things right, you can remain relevant, but you can't just do the same thing over and over. There's no cookie cutter recipe, and there's also no other brand you can follow. It's almost like you have to create your own path, which is sometimes scary and risky.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Absolutely.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah.

[Kristen Cavallari]

But I completely agree with you. What about. So you leaned on celebrity in the beginning, and now the landscape is influencers. Do you guys lean on influencers today? Do you play that whole game?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

We do, but we don't play it in the way that a lot of brands do, where they're spending millions of dollars a year. I think we're very thoughtful about who we use and why. And then for us, it's really all about these experiential activations, whether it's a lunch or a dinner or a weekend experience at, you know, a great venue or partnering with someone out of the blue, like a Morgan Stanley, to reinvent what a banker bag means to women in finance. Like, we're just constantly trying to make sure that it's not. Not just we're hitting these influencers who are known for their style. Like, we're hitting many other types of women. Because our customer base is that diverse.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Exactly. Well, and, you know, the whole goal with a brand is marketing. Right. It's hitting as many people as you can. So you have to get creative.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Very creative.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah, very creative. And you have four kids, which, I mean, you look incredible. How old is your youngest?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Young.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Right.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

He's two. He's gonna turn two on Sunday.

[Kristen Cavallari]

And then how old is the oldest?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

He's 13.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay, amazing. So you've got four kids, you have a new book out, which I wanna talk about. Obviously you're running, you're on tv. I'm sure you get this question a lot, but how do you balance it out? How do you do it all?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Sometimes I'm like, I need to break it down for everybody. My kids are in school from 9 to 5.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

My son goes to daycare from 9 to 5. That is my work day. I have an incredible team with every aspect of my business, whether it's my PR team, my social team, the team that continues to design and innovate while I'm gone. And so I'm the forward facing person, you see. But man, there are a lot of women, maybe two men that are supporting me. So I think. And also in my home life, right, I have a woman that is incredible and does the dishes in the laundry because that's something I'm never gonna get to. I just had to be like, all right, what can I take off my plate that isn't important? Yeah, laundry and dishes.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I make my kids do their own laundry now. Right, sailor? My daughter's homesick today from school.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I've tried and they throw the darks and the lights all together. They overstuff the machine, it breaks. And I was like, you know what, I'd rather have you like mow the lawn.

[Kristen Cavallari]

That will be nice. Yeah, I'm gonna make my boys start mowing the lawn. No, I know, it's a lot. It's a lot. Hey guys, let's take a second to talk really quickly about O Positive. O Positive is a women's health company. They offer a range of symptom targeting supplements that support women at every stage of life from their first period to well beyond their last. They're proud to have the best selling women's health products at Target and Amazon. Eurovaginal Probiotics is one of the top five supplements on Amazon and they have multiple number one products in Target for intimate care, PMS and menopause categories. So what's so special about O Positive's products? Well, they create real tangible results with ingredients that are backed by clinical studies and shaped by board certified doctors. Euro is a probiotic blend specifically formulated to support vaginal health. So it helps balance healthy vaginal ph, it supports healthy vaginal smell and a healthy flora. Many factors like sex, tight clothing, sweat from working out, hormones, periods, etc can disrupt vaginal health and lead to an imbalance in vaginal flora and ph, causing unhealthy vaginal odor and taste, abnormal discharge and discomfort. When taken daily, which is two capsules a day, Euro delivers noticeable benefits within eight weeks. Many see results sooner. Many customers talk about how the improvement in vaginal health led to greater confidence as well as better sex and intimacy. We love that. So guys, take proactive care of your health and head to oh positive.com honest or you can enter code honest at checkout for 25% off your first purchase. That's O-P O S I T I V.com honest for 25% off. Quince is another brand you guys know that I love and for good reason. Who doesn't love the good things in life? Even though I enjoy a little luxury from time to time, it doesn't mean I always want to pay for it. Quince is my go to for luxury essentials at affordable prices. Quint offers a range of high quality items at prices within reach, like 100% Mongolian cashmere sweaters from just $50, washable silk tops and dresses and organic cotton sweaters. And the best part, all Quince Items are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. By partnering directly with top factories, Quince cuts out the middleman and passes the savings on to us. And Quince only works with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices and premium fabrics and finishes. I love that I've gotten a ton of stuff from Quince over the years, but lately I've been living in cashmere socks. Yes, thank you very much. When I'm home, I'm always in sweats and cozy socks. They have great sweaters. Like I mentioned before, I'm 100% in my cozy phase and so Quince has been my go to place for that. Guys, give yourself the luxury you deserve with quints. Go to quince.comhonest for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q U I N C E dot com honest to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quints.com honest here's a brand that may be new to you guys and that is fatty. 15. Aging is a real thing. You know, I'm in my late 30s now, so there's definitely little things I'm starting to notice, like the fact that no matter what, I cannot sleep in to save the life of me. I want to stay as youthful as I possibly can for as long as I can. Which means I would absolutely love if there was a product out there that could help me, my loved ones. You know, my mom, as she's definitely getting older as well. If it could keep us staying healthier, living longer and slow the aging process, well, you better believe I would be all in. So that's why I'm so excited to share with you guys. C15 from Fatty 15, the first essential fatty acid to be discovered in more than 90 years. It's an incredible scientific breakthrough to support our long term health and wellness and yep, you guessed it, aging and longevity. Based on over 100 studies, we know now that C15 strengthens our cells and is a key longevity enhancing nutrient which, which helps to slow biological aging at the cellular level. I also love that the fatty 15 comes in a really awesome reusable glass slash bamboo jar and refills are shipped right to your door. I love when brands do this because it's just one less thing you have to worry about. Also, I am so excited to start taking this because hey, who doesn't want all of these incredible benefits? Fatty15 is on a mission to optimize your C15 levels to help you live healthier longer. You can get an additional 15% off their 90 day subscription starter kit by going to fatty15.comhonest and using code honest at checkout. Well, okay, let's talk about your personal style. I love your personal style.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Thank you.

[Kristen Cavallari]

And you know, you just touched on this too. But would you say that your brand, you know, Rebecca Minkoff, the brand is a representation of your style or is it more of an extension so it is slightly different?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I would say that for sure the brand is a representation of my style. But if you look at like, you know, those food pyramids.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I think that we have to extend and widen the representation at Rebecca Minkoff to be inclusive of women who are not in urban cities whose most, you know, whose biggest experience might be the purchase of my tote or my fragrance. And so you sort of widen what that looks like, but it all kind of levels back to. To close your eyes. What do you think of when you think of the brand? And can I still see that fitting in so it's wider? But I think, let's just say that as a representative of the brand, hopefully I'm like the most concentrated version, if that makes sense.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Absolutely.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

But I love a messy sweatshirt and sweatpants. I'd be in them if I wasn't on your podcast.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Well, we could have gone that route today. But you look good. How do you describe your personal style?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I would say that for the most part my castmates are like, you're only wearing black all the time. So I wear a lot of black.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Love that.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I think that, you know, when, when I'm home in downtime, it is the casual, just easy. And then when I get to dress up, it's fun. Like today, our dichotomy is amazing with the snow, but this is perfect because.

[Kristen Cavallari]

When you walked in, I was like, I want to talk about how good you look. So this is perfect. So on that note, let's talk about it. So I think you're one of the most beautiful women and naturally beautiful. So can we talk about your beauty secrets, your tips, your tricks? What are you doing to look this incredible?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Well, thank you. I had been carrying around some extra baby weight and I thought running was the solution. And a year ago, actually I was doom scrolling my own photo stream. Like, when did I look and feel my best?

[Kristen Cavallari]

So relatable, right?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I was just like, I looked better than this. I swear I did. And I was like, okay, 2014. I wasn't just running, I was lifting weights and working out at the gym with a trainer. So I said, you know what? This is my year. I knew I was gonna be on tv. I knew that that can add some lbs to the situation. And I said, I'm gonna commit to getting into the best shape of my life in a healthy and long term sustainable way. So I re upped with a trainer. I told him and he was like, if you want this to happen, you're actually gonna have to like, watch what you eat. Like, it's great, you eat healthy, but a cup of cashews is 700 calories.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Oh, okay, so he has you counting calories?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

He had me counting calories. I don't have to count them anymore.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

But for the first, I'd say six months, I counted my calories and I ate. I didn't starve myself. I ate very healthy. But I was just much more cognizant of what I was putting in my body. And I've become obsessed with hormones. I don't want to get old lady on you, but perimenopause is real. So I had to balance my hormones out and gut health. I take a supplement. It's called Biome. It's the new fiber that we need to have a great gut. And I just think that I was just committed to, like, let me see how good I can feel.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And I've never felt better. I've never felt more confident. And I'm like, man, why didn't I doom scroll this, you know, six years ago? Right?

[Kristen Cavallari]

Imagine if you started that in your 20s.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah.

[Kristen Cavallari]

But it's never Too late. I'm all into gut health right now. And testing your hormones and your food sensitivities and testing everything. I do it every, like, six months to a year and same thing. I feel the best I ever have.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay, what about, like, skin secrets and beauty treatments? What are all the things you're doing there?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

So I had filler once here. I did not like that experience, so I refused to ever do filler. I definitely do a healthy dose of Botox here. Otherwise, I look like Keith Richards, not pretty. And on my skin, I found I'm very much into clean, but not just when a brand says that clean, it's clean. I really do a deep dive. So there is a product called in your face cream. It is the best, most moisturizing product I've ever found. And the shelf life is probably like two months, which I love. That's good. You need to use it. And it's real and it's alive. And then I try and use really just clean products on my face, whether it's, say, for makeup or, you know, Victoria Beckham has some nice products, but I'm pretty. Like, if I don't have to put on makeup, I'm not putting it on.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I'm actually the exact same way. Okay. These are great. Are you doing lasers? Are you doing red light therapy or just. You seem pretty low maintenance?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Like, I'm like, when? When will I do this?

[Kristen Cavallari]

Well, right, exactly. You don't have time.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

No time. I have not done any lasers, but I want to, and I'm scared. So I need someone to tell me, what are the lasers we're going to do?

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay. So I go to Joanna, check in New York. When I'm in New York. She actually says, don't do lasers because they're bad for your skin barrier.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

What?

[Kristen Cavallari]

And I will tell you, I've done every freaking laser on the planet. I've never noticed a difference ever. I think they're a waste of time and money. So don't do. I don't think you should be doing them.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Okay. Because I really felt like I could do a laser here. I could do a laser here.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Well, maybe your chest could handle a little bit more. I don't know.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And my tummy, like, the skin is.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Like, after babies, it, like, it's like, a little creepy. So I wanted to know.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

A friend of mine recommended Morpheus for that, but I've heard that too. Scarring. And I'm just like, I don't want to make this look any scarier than it already. Looks.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah, I know. I know. It's that creepy. I know. Go to Joanna, Chuck. She's so good. She's so good. And she's right there in New York. Okay, let's talk about your book. Tell me about your book, Fearless.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yes. So I wrote this book during the pandemic. I released it during the pandemic in hardcover. So this is coming out in paperback.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay, got it.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

There is an added chapter with a lot of hindsight from COVID We almost lost the business during COVID like, staring at the barrel of we're going to go out of business. And so I wanted to add more content to it, being distant from COVID and what I've learned and how we rebuilt the company. And so the. Actually, the last chapter is all about money and how we don't talk about money enough. We'll talk about sex and relationships and family and our kids. That's the first thing most women go to when they're with their friends. They're not like, how much did you make on that deal? Are you investing in anything good?

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

How much do you have saved just in case? And so the goal is to get more women to just get comfortable with that.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I love that.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah, that's smart. How did you guys rebound from COVID Oh, my God.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Well, we got. We, like, survived barely. It was the end of 2021. Then all the factories where we make our product in Indonesia were shutting down and or only allowing part of their workforce in. So we had 3,000 of 300,000 units that we were able to receive for our biggest season of the year, which is our fall and holiday. Wow. So if you can imagine, cash flow comes to a complete halt. You can't ship anyone. No one can pay you. And you're sitting there. Your bank has already been generous and extended their loan to you. And you're like, this is when I need the big guns. This is when I need a strategic partner that can come in, that has an office in Hong Kong that has multiple factories that can get us goods. And so we sold the company to a strategic that had that muscle. So they acquired it in February of 22. It was the most exciting and scary experience, but they've been amazing partners. And I still have my day job.

[Kristen Cavallari]

There you go.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And. Yeah. And I get to focus on the things that I love versus the holes in the boat.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay. That makes sense to me. So that's interesting because I'm actually. We're about to take Uncommon James out to investors, and that's the scariest Thing I've ever done.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yes.

[Kristen Cavallari]

So the process has been okay for you. You seem happy.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I've been through it many times, so offline or on. I'll tell you everything to avoid. Because we sold the company in different pieces throughout the years, and sometimes we had bad marriages. But the contract you sign is worse than any marriage contract you're trying to get out of. So you just have to be careful and, like, really make sure that you're not, like, oh, in seven years, you have the right to sell the whole company if we can't find a buyer. Like, in the. In the beginning, you're just like, seven years. It's so far away. But when it comes up fast, you know, it can be. It can be scary. So there's things to know and avoid.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And I think if you have a great lawyer, someone advising you, then. Then it's good. But don't. Don't give up control.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Oh, I. I know it. I actually have a friend who unfortunately did that, and it really. It messed with him. It bit him in the ass. And so, yeah, I've learned, I think, what to do and not to do, but I still am like, okay, it's happening, but it's exciting. It's exciting. Okay. I want to know what the highlight of your career has been or if there's been one era that you just absolutely loved.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

The era. I mean, I still go back to the early days when I would see you wearing my bag or, you know, literally, like, doing drug deals on the street with bags. Like, there was a supermodel who. She rode up on her bike. I give her, literally, a trash bag because I don't know why. A field of bags that she had selected, and she, like, strapped it on her bike and rode off and then wore the bag, like, all over the place.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I love that.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I don't know. There was just an innocence and a naivety, and, like, there wasn't this transactional quality that there is today where it's, if you want me, how much you gonna pay me?

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And I don't know how to get that back, because these big brands have huge, huge budgets, and they will pay people so well that everyone now thinks, oh, this is what I cost. And I know. I just want to get back to this, like, love and excitement and support in a way that could feel more organic. And I don't know how we get there.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I agree. It's totally changed. And there it was so beautiful back in the day because it was. It was like, you'd get a bag and you'd just be excited about it. So you would just wear it, you know where. Yeah, it, it has, it's changed. I will say I do think if I'm gifted something and I just love the designer or the brand or whatever, I will post on social media. Have you seen that? People saying like thank you so much for the bag or for sure. Does that help?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

It makes a difference. It creates brand awareness. But the like virality of like again, what you or a Hayden or a Lindsay created with sales, it's really hard to get that pop these days. Which is why I think so many brands have to like hire so many different people. It's not just one, one size fits all.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I think people also like the whole putting celebrity on a pedest has kind of come down too. And I think especially with this influencer world, people realize now people are getting paid to wear a bag or talk about a brand. It's lost that. I don't know if luster is the right word, but that sort of like the aspirational piece, you know, that's, that's kind of gone, which is so sad.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I know, I know now, now what I'm seeing is about how are you embracing and bringing your community along. Are you inviting them to come watch the podcast? Are you inviting them to a dinner? Like, are you inviting the community on a trip?

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Which is exciting. And I think it's like time to sort of balance it out a little bit.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah, that's a good point. Okay, you guys know I also love Nutrafol. I've been taking Nutrafol for, I guess it's going on a year now. And you guys, my hair, it's finally back to where it used to be, the health of my hair. And I have Nutrafol to thank for that. Nutrafol is the number one dermatologist recommended hair growth supplement brand trusted by over one and a half million people. See thicker, stronger, faster growing hair with less shedding in just three to six months with Nutrafol. It is physician formulated with 100 drug free ingredients. You guys know I care about this stuff. Nutrafols supplements support visibly thicker, stronger hair from within by targeting root causes of thinning, including stress hormones, aging, nutrition, lifestyle and metabolism as they evolve throughout a woman's life. Or if you were like me and used some really heavy protein products on your hair and had a lot of breakage, it also helps with that too. It's truly been a journey for me in the last couple of years to get my hair back to the healthy place that it once was and I'm finally there. So thank you Nutrafol. So guys, you also should start your hair growth journey with Nutrafol. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering my listeners $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping. When you go to Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code Honest, find out why over 4,500 healthcare professionals and stylists recommend Nutrafol for healthier hair. Nutrafol.com spelled n u t r a f o l.com promo code Honest Again, that's Nutrafol.com promo code Honest okay guys, here's a brand that you know I absolutely love and that is Symbiotica. You guys know I pay such close attention to everything that I'm putting in my body, especially when it comes to supplements. And being healthy doesn't necessarily mean you just hit the gym constantly or you're on a diet. Being healthy is all about taking care of your whole body in a way that makes sense for you and your lifestyle. If you listen regularly, then you've definitely heard me rave about Symbiotica's Magnesium L threonate. It's a daily must have for supporting focus, memory and mood. Their liquid magnesium packets utilize cutting edge liposomal technology to deliver better absorption for better results. When I take this, I feel calm and collected. Plus the vanilla flavor is really good. I'm always kind of weird about those liquid supplements, but Symbiotica really nails it with all of their flavors. I also love so much because they do come in these little easy travel pouches essentially, so they're great to just throw in your purse. Symbiotica is one of the most trustworthy brands out there. They never compromise on quality and sourcing. All of their products are free from seed oils, preservatives, toxins and artificial additives. It's something that you can truly taste and feel in every packet. That's why I love partnering with them so much and I've worked out a special deal for you guys. My listeners go to symbiotica.com honestly for 20% off plus free shipping. Again, that is symbiotica.com honest to claim 20% off plus free shipping today. I love to eat healthy and that's why I'm so excited to talk to you guys about cookunity. They really focus on fresh flavors but they have keto, gluten free and GLP1 balanced meals. They're nutrient dense, but that does not equal boring. Each portion is crafted with local in season Ingredients and high in protein, fiber and unsaturated fats. They are sent fresh, never frozen, and delivered right to your door. All at a fraction of the cost and time that it takes to meal prep. Not only do I love cookunity for of course the convenience of it, having meals just show up at your doorstep is huge and such a time saver, but I also love having peace of mind that they're made with local in season ingredients, high in protein and they're good for you. I got a wellness grilled chicken with Farro, which I have to say, guys, was really good. Again, I love shouting from the rooftops that healthy does not equal boring. And Cook Unity is here to co sign that statement. And I'm on a huge protein kick right now. So I love so much that they also focus on high protein meals because I do find when you eat more protein, not as hungry throughout the day. I definitely snack less when I'm getting all of my protein in. Crush your health goals with nourishing, convenient, chef crafted meals delivered straight to your door. Okay, so go to cookunity.com honest or enter code honest before checkout for 50% off your first week. That's 50% off your first week by using code honest or go to cookunity.com honest for women listening who want to start a business, what would your advice be today for them today?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I would say you need to know that you are committed to this, that you are in it for all the hard, ugly stuff, which is most of the time.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And that this is your North Star and that you will get up every day after you've been hit in the face, you know, smacked around. You're like, yep, still love what I do. So I'm gonna go do it because it's hard. And I think obviously there's a lot of glossy magazines and Instagrams and social media. Looks like my trip here is gonna look so fantastic. But there's a lot of hard work to get here. And so I think it's just like, know that it's ugly. There's failures, there's hardships, there's more no's than yeses. And if you still can say I'm good with all that, then do it.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Great advice.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yes.

[Kristen Cavallari]

It is not for the faint of heart. That is for sure.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Even when I start thinking about launching other categories that are adjacent to the brand, I'm like, oh God, I know the work this is going to take. Am I up for even the book?

[Kristen Cavallari]

I know.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Am I up for this?

[Kristen Cavallari]

I know.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

It's so much work.

[Kristen Cavallari]

It's a lot of work. It is. Yeah. No. And that's why a lot of people don't end up doing it. And that's why, again, your career is so incredible for over 20 years that you're still sitting here and having this resurgence and you're still a household name. I just think it's incredible.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Thank you.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay. And you're a style icon. You're a fashionista. What are your best fashion tips for the girlies?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Okay. It drives me crazy when a girly is going to put on a shoe that she cannot wear the whole night. I don't want to see you limping.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I know.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I don't want to see you, like, holding onto a friend. There's no phone a friend. If the shoe is uncomfortable, by all means, just don't wear it.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay, Yeah, I can take that advice now. I can't walk in heels like I used to.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I mean, these went on and they're going right off and you're sitting the whole time.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I love that.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I think the other thing is, is, like, obviously with Gen Z, there's a lot of trends coming back from our OG era. And I think for our. I'm older than you, but for our age group, like, we don't need to revisit, like, you know, some of these things.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I agree.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Leave it to Gen Z. They can wear the vintage. But, like, you don't have to participate in every trend. Like, honestly, if you look great for you and your body type, I always say, like, go on Pinterest. Find someone that looks like you, who you admire, and, like, build your vision board because you can look great as you. And that's. That's when you feel most confident. Not like, oh, I gotta do this trend. And baggy jeans and crop tops and low rise and yes, baby tees. Like, I'm never wearing a baby tee again.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I think, well, after kids, I know it all changes. I think you would still look good in a baby tee. But I know what you're saying. That's great advice. I completely agree with that. And because not every trend looks good on every body type either.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Not at all.

[Kristen Cavallari]

No. I also think investing in a tailor can really go a long way.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I didn't believe you until I was on Roni and Jessel gave me the name of a Taylor. And I went in and I had everything just tweaked. And I was like, what have I been doing my whole life?

[Kristen Cavallari]

Right? Game changer.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Game changer.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah. It really does make a difference. Okay, well, we have to talk about housewives, obviously.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Let's go there.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Let's go there. Okay. I want to know how difficult the decision was to go on the show, or was it like, no, this is great. I'm excited. And how did it come about?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

It was an incredibly difficult decision. There were so many things that I weighed. You know, am I going to show my family? Am I going to show my personal life? How will this impact my career or not? Like, what is going to potentially be exposed? Like, someone's like, all the skeletons in your closet are going to come out. And I was like, what are my skeletons? And am I okay with that? So I wrestled with it for months, but I also committed to going on the journey where you're interviewing and talking to, you know, producers, and they're deciding if, you know, you're a fit. And the day came, and I also talked to a lot of people within the industry and fans and just like, what do you think? And it dawned on me after talking to so many people that there are a lot of people that I respect and admire that are big fans of the brand that also like the show. Yeah. And so to me, if I could be at that Nexus, it was good for me. It was good for the brand.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Absolutely.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

You know, Bryn in the reunion is like, if you. You should have just done an advertisement for your brand instead of coming on the show. And I'm like, why are you on the show? Like, everyone here is doing an advertisement.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Well, right.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I mean, like, what are we here for? Like, the betterment of humanity.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Exactly. I mean, that's what it's about. Now, of course you're going to come from a selfish angle. Everybody is.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I mean, everyone's promoting something on almost all their shows.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Well, and again, you came in with an established name. People know you for your brand, so that just makes sense. Of course you're going to talk about your brand. Okay, so I want to know.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I didn't even talk about it. I was just wearing it. And that was considered too far. And, like, God forbid I wear my brand on tv.

[Kristen Cavallari]

That's ridiculous. Okay, well. Okay, so I have a friend who described you as a sleeper sniper. She said that. I know, I love this, that you were just getting the lay of the land, taking it all in, but that you're super smart and you're just getting your game plan together. Do you think that's an accurate description of your first season?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

My first and last season.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I was going to ask you. That was my next question. Wait, so you're one and done.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I am one and done. I think that. And I genuinely think this. But when I was going through the process, what was told to me about the style and the direction of the show was something that is not what it became. I was told, this is a revamp. We want to showcase powerful, like, successful women. It's going to be fun, funny, with a little bit of drama. And I was like, I can get on board with that. And I said in my. In my interviews, I said, I am not here to take other women down. I will not be gossiping behind their backs. I will not be coming up with petty stuff to attack them for. That is not who I am. And if that is not right for the show, great.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And they were like, no, we don't need that from you. We have that. And I was like, perfect. And then it became something different. And that's not who I am. It's not what I stand for. And so I just. I. I can't do it.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah. No. And I. I mean, I respect that. It's. Of course they're going to tell you what you want to hear, too.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I think they genuinely believed it.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Maybe they did.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Maybe. Maybe they did. That's what I'm hoping for.

[Kristen Cavallari]

And then the cameras start rolling and everyone. It's like, oh, my God, I don't even know what just happened. It brings out the worst in people. I really do.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

You know, I remember sitting there so many times being like, wow, everyone is being so extra, like. And. And then I sat there, and then when I rewatched it, I was like, I look so quiet. I mean, I was obviously edited and they only showed the quiet parts, but I was like, I never was. To, like, get my moment. Because I was like, I don't need that.

[Kristen Cavallari]

So what do you say to the other cast members and. Or audience who. Yeah, called you boring?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

This is what I would say. Somehow being nice, being respectful is boring, which is sad that women are doing that to each other.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah, I agree.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And I would say there was so much. I was vocal, I was participatory. I had things to say. We showed other aspects of my life. We shot other aspects of my life, whether it was me and my daughter at a photo shoot or a female founder collective event where we United, like, 20 industry icons for this incredible event. And all that was cut out. And I was distilled into the times. I wasn't saying anything. And I have no control over that. And that, you know, it's a waste, to be honest, because I really gave A lot. And that side wasn't shown.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah, that's a bummer. That's a huge bummer. And what about forming connections with the other ladies? Did you find that really difficult or were you able to have some allies?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I think during filming, I think we all know who wasn't my ally. But I appreciate that, you know, Bryn showed who she was from day one. And at least you know what's coming, you know, at least, you know, like, all right, I'm gonna stay away from you. But towards the end, you know, really, I love uba. She and I got close. I love Jessel. She's like a truly great person. And I just think that real people and how they act all the way through into the end, you know, either come through or they don't.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah, exactly. So do you think you'll stay in touch with them?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Okay, well, good. Yeah, I'm in touch with most everybody.

[Kristen Cavallari]

It's just, you know, so not a complete waste.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Not a complete. I never look at it as a waste, you know, as a brand. The only reason why we're still here is we took risks.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

In so many ways. A lot of it was social based or technology based. This was a risk. I have zero regrets. It was great for my business. It was great for being able to have a platform to celebrate 20 years. But I got to learn something and I've learned my lesson.

[Kristen Cavallari]

And you're done, and that's that. Well, as far as the brand goes. Cause I know firsthand, being on a TV show and being able to expose a brand is you can't buy that kind of marketing. So did you guys see an uptick in sales and traffic to the site?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah, the traffic to the site was quite unreal. Like every Tuesday, Wednesday, you just see these spikes. And no one sitting on the marketing team is like, that's because I did an ad on Google. You're like, no, no, no. I'm pretty sure it was a TV show. Thanks.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Well, that's great.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah.

[Kristen Cavallari]

So, I mean, you know, that's good. It's good.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

No, business has been incredible from it. It's also, though I really sat there, I said, business has done well. Awesome. Awareness is up. But this took me out of being able to think about my priorities in life, you know, like my four kids. I don't know about you, but, like, having had a baby later in life, I was able to be present in a way that I wasn't with the first three when I was like building my company and all in it And I don't want that being taken away from me because I'm thinking about some petty drama.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I know.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

You know, I was like, petty drama or bath time? Like, I'm choosing bath time. Yeah.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Any day of the week. Yeah, I know. That's the thing. It's like, you know, when I did reality TV, I was, well, high school and then early 20s. I can't imagine imagine being thrown back into that situation.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

You'd never do it again? Hell no. Nashville is not coming soon.

[Kristen Cavallari]

No. And people are always like, you should do it. I'm like, you couldn't pay me enough money. There's no dollar amount that would make me go back.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah.

[Kristen Cavallari]

No, because peace is way more important.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Right. And being here and not distracted, like, it's. That is what is valuable.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Exactly. What about the brand? What are the goals for the next 5, 10 years for the brand? Where do you see yourselves going with it?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

So we launched an exciting collabor with Erin Andrews.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Oh, I saw that. For the Super Bowl.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah, for the Super Bowl. So that's exciting. We have more in the works to come for September.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Amazing.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And we're just gonna have like, a really fun year with lots of activation, sort of celebrating all throughout the year. Just that were. That were old. That were 20 years old.

[Kristen Cavallari]

God, don't say that. That's a great partnership, by the way. That makes so much sense to me. For the girls with the football tie in and everything. And Aaron, I think that's so, so good.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Yeah. And I also think that fashion and sports is having this moment, and it's like, you want to look cute and support your team, but you don't want to look like you were, like, vomited on by, like, the fan store.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yeah, exactly.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

So you want to look, like, chic. And I think you're seeing that with all the wags wear wives and girlfriends. Yesterday was like, what is a wag? I'm sure your audience knows a wag.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I would have. I think they do, but I don't know.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

It's good you cleared it up.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Just in case. I love that. Well, good. That's exciting. I'm excited for you.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Thank you.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay. I want to last thing, play a game with you.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I love games.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay. It's hot or not Fashion version. So I'm just going to give you something happening in the fashion world, and I want you to tell me if you think it's hot or not.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Okay.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay. Overalls.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

If you're wearing them with, like, a bikini top, it's hot. Okay.

[Kristen Cavallari]

That's Cute Uggs.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

The platform ankle ones. Hot.

[Kristen Cavallari]

That's what I have. Thank God. Sweats in public, hot.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Okay, but they have to be like a sweatsuit. It has to be chic. Not like.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Not like stains all over it from cooking and. Yeah, okay. White year round.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I'm going to go with not. Because I cannot wear white. The minute I put it on, something has attracted itself to.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I feel like white would be good on you, though.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I wish. It's a dream. I know.

[Kristen Cavallari]

You just can't dream. Yeah, it's a dream. Monochromatic. As I'm literally monochromatic.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I think it's hot.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay, good. Mixing brown and black.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I hate brown.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I'm sorry, do you.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I mean, it doesn't look good on me. I become a Kardashian, which I love them, but, you know, I'm not part of the family, so I'm just not a brownie girl.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay, interesting. That was a big color for the fall, I think, wasn't it?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

It was huge. We had a lot of brown in the line and I was like, I love it, guys, but I'm not gonna wear it anymore.

[Kristen Cavallari]

You can't do it. I feel like it would be good on you.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

It's just too monochromatic. It's like brown eyebrows, brown hair, brown hair.

[Kristen Cavallari]

It's. Yeah, I get it. I get it. Adding a pop of color.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I like that. If it's the right pop of color.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Okay, what's your go to pop of color? What colors do you like?

[Rebecca Minkoff]

I think when Bryn was making fun of my wardrobe the most, I was like, but Bryn, I pepper in hot pink all the time. I do wear color, Bryn.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I swear, I love a pop of. Okay. Amazing. That's all.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Oh, my gosh.

[Kristen Cavallari]

You're the best.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Oh, my God. Thank you for having me.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Thank you so much for being here and for doing this. And then tell everyone, remind everyone where they can find you.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Oh, my gosh. You can find me at Rebecca Minkoff. Becky Minkoff. For a look into my personal life, you can listen to my podcast, Superwoman with Rebecca Minkoff. Maybe you'll come on.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yes, I would love to. I'll let you know when I come to New York.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Okay, good.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Yes.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

And then you can buy this book wherever books are sold, but support a women owned bookstore if you can.

[Kristen Cavallari]

I love that. You're the best. Thank you so much.

[Rebecca Minkoff]

Thank you.

[Kristen Cavallari]

Thank you guys. We'll see you soon.