Atelier Doré

How would you describe your style in three words?

Courtney: How about five? Laid-back with a good shoe.
Grace: Classic with some vintage. 4 words!

As founder and creative director of Storq, does your style need to change when you’re pregnant? How do you help women approach dressing when pregnant?

Courtney: We are firm believers that your style does not have to change when you become pregnant. High waisted jeans aside, you should be able to maintain continuity with your personal style throughout pregnancy and postpartum (ps postpartum is also a tough time to dress oneself). Our entire business is predicated on the concept of essential, timeless styles that are super comfortable but still cute enough mix seamlessly with your pre-pregnancy wardrobe. If you have the perfect super soft basics that are guaranteed to fit a growing bod from one day to the next, then you can always leave the house looking and feeling like yourself. The power of a great outfit to lift up your spirits is even more potent with pregnancy, when you almost certainly feel less than your physical best much of the time. Building some genuine excitement around your wardrobe, and helping women to feel their best during this crazy time, those values are really important to who we are as a brand.

Grace: The first thing you need to do is go into your overflowing closet and pull out anything *without* a fitted waist and anything that buttons, wraps or otherwise doesn’t have to close. Set aside shoes (preferably sensible-ish) and jewelry that you love. Keep these things on hand for the next few months when you’re pulling together outfits. Next, get yourself a few key maternity staples that are soft and comfy. These are the foundation pieces you can wear over and over at any stage, to create looks that help you feel like your regular old self using your favorite go-to layering pieces and accessories.

Who inspires your style on a daily basis?

Courtney: Tonne Goodman, Phoebe Philo, Jane Birkin, Meg Ryan in French Kiss, and my biz partner and bf Grace Kapin!

Grace: Elsa Peretti, Gloria Vanderbilt, young Jodie Foster and Sissy Spacek, Helen Frankenthaler, Angelica Huston. Did I say my style was classic? I actually meant to say it’s totally incoherent.

What inspires you creatively and sartorially about working with the other?

Courtney: Grace is a walking encyclopedia of fashion. And she’s brilliant at forecasting — she bought me a vintage Japanese birdcage bag from Etsy years before Cult Gaia hit the scene with their version. It’s inspiring and motivating to collaborate everyday with someone who is so expert at what they do and whom I trust completely.

Grace: I think we push each other. It’s nice to have someone whose taste you trust to confirm things you’d been thinking about trying or to quickly dismiss others that won’t work, someone who brings new ideas and sources of inspiration to the table. It also probably helps me make fewer regrettable fashion choices like the great corduroy cut-off mini skirt paired with extra tall Ugg boots debacle of 2002 (in Los Angeles, no less). Just one of many fashion moments I am happy to put behind me.