Duffield Lane is one of my most loved brands. I have several dresses and tops in which all of them are timeless and classic. Duffield Lane has a special place in my heart because Jared proposed as I wearing a Duffield Lane seersucker dress it and inspired us to have a seersucker themed wedding.
Jamie Duffield is the founder, CEO and total girl boss of Duffield Lane. I had the pleasure of learning more about her and her company, which is totally inspiring. I also had the pleasure of styling the Fulton Fringe Sweater and Butter Blanket Scarf from their Fall 2017 collection. (I’m also doing a giveaway of both of these pieces on my Instagram, enter here.)
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Jamie: I am the founder of Duffield Lane and most recently a new mom to the cutest (not that I am biased) 4-month-old baby girl. I grew up in Rye, NY, went to school in Washington DC where I sailed on the Georgetown sailing team, worked as an attorney in Miami, and finally settled with my husband Ryan and founded Duffield Lane in Grand Rapids, MI. Every place I have lived I have always found myself drawn to the water, whether it be sailing on the Potomac or most recently walking on the Lake Michigan beaches. I think all my time spent on and around the water has influenced and shaped the look of Duffield Lane, giving it a very classic vibe with a nautical twist.
Q: What does a normal workday look like for you?
Jamie: One of my favorite things about working with Duffield Lane is that every day is different. We spend a ton of time traveling to trade shows where I get to meet with all of our awesome wholesale partners. When I am home, I may be in the office working on designs, doing a photoshoot with my husband (who does all our photography), checking on our first Duffield Lane boutique, or working on our financials (not the most fun part of the job but definitely an important one!). Regardless of where I am, or what the day holds, I always start it with a giant Starbucks dark roast coffee!
Q: Who is your biggest fashion inspiration?
Jamie: Jackie Kennedy and Tory Burch.
Q: What has been your biggest accomplishment for Duffield Lane?
Jamie: I believe in celebrating the small victories, it forces you to recognize more regularly how far you have come, and I just really love celebrating! A few of those victories have included: having Duffield Lane carried in over 300 great boutiques, assembling a great team, and most recently opening our first DL brand boutique.
Q: How do you manage your work-life balance?
Jamie: By being flexible and by having an amazing support system both at home and at work. Sometimes I need to put in long hours with Duffield Lane and I have the best husband, who will happily watch our daughter and support me even if I am late to dinner. And other times when I can’t be at work because oh I don’t know, I’m having a baby(!), our team at Duffield Lane really steps up, supports me, and makes it so I can spend extra time with family knowing that things will still get done. Either way, I have found it helps to be flexible and spend the extra time where you need it when you need it, whether that happens to be home or at work. Oh and it helps to live 3 blocks from the store!
Q: What’s your must-haves in your beach bag?
Sunscreen, a floppy hat, a giant water, fashion magazines and a trashy novel.
Q: Being a former attorney, at what point did you know that switching to the fashion industry was the right move for you?
Jamie: When I had my dream job at a large Miami law firm, working for great people, and I still couldn’t see myself doing it long term. It makes sense to fantasize about a different career when things aren’t going to plan, but when you get the job you wanted and have a great boss, and still feel like there is something missing, it makes it a little easier to make a move. I never really thought about it as switching to the fashion industry, it was more like, here’s an idea, let’s go for it!
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Jamie: Go for it! It can be hard to take the leap to do something different, but at a certain point, you just have to stop talking about it and actually jump.
Q: What is your favorite piece from the Fall collection?
Jamie: I can’t stop wearing our Ashley Tassel Sweater. (See how I styled the Ashley Tassel Sweater here)
Q: What’s your go-to song of the moment?
Jamie: You could definitely catch me belting out Kesha’s “Praying,” but more often I’m listening to something country (my bulldog is named Toby Keith after all…)
Q: What’s your guilty pleasure tv show?
Jamie: Oh I have a few of those! Scandal, Greys… basically anything from Shonda Rhimes
Q: What’s your motto in life?
Jamie: Keep it Classic!
Quick Fire:
- Fall or Spring? Spring
- Instagram or Snapchat? Instagram
- Online Shopping or In-Person? In-Person
- Black or Navy? Navy!!
- Beach or Lake? Beach at the Lake!
- Champagne or Martinis? Champagne if I’m celebrating, but my go to is a Manhattan.
- Pony Tail or Blowout? Blowout (except most days it’s all about a quick top knot 😉
I love this blog post!!! ?
Yes! Love “keep it classic.” Such beautiful clothes. I love hearing about women entrepreneurs and their courage. I wish I was that brave to try something new! Wonderful interview. IG: happymomma182
I’d never heard of Duffield Lane before, but now I’m excited to check it out!
I enjoyed reading this blog post! I think it is so cool that too chose a Seersucker themed wedding! Duffield Lane sounds like an awesome brand! The sweater and scarf you’re giving away looks so soft and pretty! Thank you for your generous giveaway!
WOW I found a new favorite! Just the perfect Sunday inspiration I needed 🙂
I loved reading this post so much! It was great inspiration. I love that her motto is Keep it classic. It’s so applicable to life and I think that is very important. Thank you for this!!
I relate to the two fashion inspirations, which makes me more excited to look into Duffield Lane! Hoping to win the pieces in the fabulous giveaway!! 🙂
Love this look! Lawyer turned fashionista | inspiring!