What We Wore

For this special episode of What We Wore, you will hear from writer, horticulturist, collector, philanthropist and true visionary, Umberto Pasti.  Umberto spoke at Charlotte’s beloved Wing Haven garden to share his experience of creating Rohuna, his renowned garden in Morocco, and Laura Vinroot Poole highlights her favorite stories from the evening.  There is so much to learn from Umberto about ho...

At 8-years-old, Stephan Janson declared his intention to become a couturier to his mother, and by 14, Stephan Janson had been to his Yves Saint Laurent show.  From there Stephan went on to work with many of the greats including Diane Von Furstenberg and Pucci, but ultimately decided he wanted to design his own collection despite what the industry dictated his path should be.  Stephan's self-posses...

Booth Moore recalls that her first fashion memory was always having a purse as a child. Fast forward, Booth Moore has dedicated herself to a career on the editorial side of the fashion industry working with some of the most revered media brands including WWD, The LA Times, and The Hollywood Reporter.  Laura Vinroot Poole gets the unique opportunity to interview this legendary fashion critic who is...

Marie-Hélène de Taillac is a jewelry designer whose greatest love is the gemstone.  She treasures their imperfections and seeks to educate us on the way they connect us back to nature and spirituality.    In this conversation, Marie-Hélène shares more about her passion for the gemstones and her craft, her creative upbringing through her family and the fashion industry, and why she recently release...

Lela Rose is a Texas native who is known for her gorgeous ready-to-wear, bridal designs, and her most recent collection, Pearl.  This episode is both enlightening and light-hearted -- Lela describes how she manages to make business fun in a very tough industry and how she navigated being a first-time mother and entrepreneur in a time before being a working mother was so widely talked about. Find L...

Jane Scott Hodges is the founder of Leontine Linens based in New Orleans, Louisiana.  She creates the most gorgeous napkins, linens, and towels that often become family heirlooms. In this episode, Jane Scott Hodges shares more about the journey of her business from rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina to the acquisition of Eleanor Beard Studio, a Kentucky-based embroidery business, that makes her bu...

Adam Lippes' journey is unexpected – he began as a psychology major on a path to become an investment banker and instead became one of the industry's youngest creative directors at Oscar de la Renta.  Now, Adam is designing his beautiful namesake collection that reimagines American sportswear and stays true to his vision that clothing should always make a woman smile. In this episode, we learn mor...

Alejandra Alonso Rojas is originally from Madrid, Spain from a long line of interesting and independent women.  When Alejandra decided to launch her collection, she turned inward to herself and her family instead of looking for outside references.  The result is a gorgeous and rich collection that has landed her a spot in the 2019 CFDA class and in many of our clients' hearts. Find Alejandra (and...

Brooks Reitz is a Charleston restaurateur who owns Leon's, Melfi's, Little Jack's Tavern and founded Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.   Brooks has collaborated with us on several of our biggest occasions such as our 20th Anniversary Celebration and TABOR's Annual Bungalow Social.     Laura sat down with Brooks at the Garden & Gun offices in Charleston for this episode, which offers powerful insight from two...

Roksanda Ilinicic is a London-based, Serbian born designer who Capitol has carried for over 15 years. Roksanda is known for her color and modest designs worn by a range of personalities from Michele Obama to Lady Gaga -- the thread is her ability to make women feel powerful and sheltered in her clothing. Roksanda honestly shares on vulnerable topics from motherhood and being a business owner to he...

Scott Newkirk, our visual director and buyer of TABOR, turns the tables and interviews Laura Vinroot Poole for this special episode.  Laura and Scott discuss the highlights from market in Milan and Paris, the buying process, and some of Laura’s favorite stops along the way. Find Laura and Scott (and us!) on Instagram:  @whatweworepodcast @shopcapitol  @lauravinroot @burlap88 @newkirk_interiors Or...

Jane Pendry has lived a fashion fairytale starting her career in publishing at WWD and British Vogue, then onto major houses in Europe such as Yves Saint Laurent and Givenchy, and eventually creating her own coveted brand that is a favorite of our clients for its tailored shapes and beautiful fabrics.  Jane's story teaches us all the value of creating your own path and the beauty of many different...

Our beloved visual director, Scott Newkirk, began his prolific career in New York over thirty years ago working with some of the most iconic brands of the era.  Tune in as Scott shares his beginnings in the fashion industry in the 1980s and his path to self discovery along the way. Find Scott (and us!) on Instagram:  @whatweworepodcast @shopcapitol  @burlap88 @newkrik_interiors Or on the web:  www...

Ann Howell Bullard is an emerging designer carried in Capitol Brentwood and Poole Shop.  She creates gorgeous and playful hand-painted leather bags right here in North Carolina. In this episode, Ann Howell and Laura connect on shared experiences as native North Carolinians and the trials that come with growing a new business . This is a great conversation for entrepreneurs in the design field inte...

Nick Fouquet is the founder and designer behind his namesake hat collection known for unique style and craftsmanship.   Nick chats with Laura about his younger years as the son of a fashion model and and the winding journey of his adulthood that led him to this very moment in his career.  What sounds like a fortuitous path to the whimsical Nick Fouquet world we know, was actually luck met with pre...

Tonne Goodman is a legend in the fashion industry producing some of the most iconic fashion images of our time.  Her meteoric rise through the fashion industry is a lively tale full of the best and the brightest in the field; Tonne was discovered by Diana Vreeland who she later worked for at the Met, she produced an iconic shoot with Helmut Newton on her first day at the New York Times, and most r...

Cult favorite fashion designer, Tracy Feith, grew up in Sherman, Texas as the son of an Air Force major. On this episode, Laura and Tracy discuss his unexpected launch from small-town Texas into a fortuitous career in the fashion industry that has been filled with many moments of kismet, but also devastating lows. In the end, Tracy's journey ultimately circles around his fundamental love of design...

Laura's longtime friend Hamlin O'Kelley turns the tables and asks Laura about her fashion history, their friendship from boarding school into adulthood, and her best, and worst, style journeys. Find Hamlin (and us!) on Instagram:  @whatweworepodcast @shopcapitol  @lauravinroot @hamlinokelley Or on the web:  www.shop-capitol.com

Lisa Dargan is an iconic member of the Capitol family – everyone is always delighted to see her walk into a room and takes note of what she is wearing.  This episode explores her sartorial beginnings and offers great style anecdotes along the way. Find Lisa (and us!) on Instagram: @whatweworepodcast @shopcapitol Or on the web: www.shop-capitol.com

Sarah Wrenn is the woman behind our coveted Capitol dinner parties.  In this episode, Laura interviews Sarah to find out more about her culinary journey and what she wore along the way. Find Sarah (and us!) on Instagram:  @whatweworepodcast @shopcapitol  @swdonelan Or on the web:  www.shop-capitol.com

Pam Stowe is one of the most creative individuals in the Capitol family.  Pam is known for showing up to a dinner party in character and has always had a flair for the dramatic.  We learn in this episode that this started early for her – in fact, Lumberton, North Carolina may never forget her debut as homecoming queen. Find Pam (and us!) on Instagram:  @whatweworepodcast @shopcapitol  @pam_stowe O...

Hamlin O’Kelley has been one of Laura Vinroot Poole’s best friends for over 30 years.  Join us for an episode that serves as a crash course on quintessential Southern men’s style with many great laughs along the way. Find Hamlin (and us!) on Instagram:  @whatweworepodcast @shopcapitol @hamlinokelley Or on the web:  www.shop-capitol.com

In March, 2019 we opened a new Capitol location in the storied Brentwood Country Mart on the west side of Los Angeles. One of the most exciting parts of this journey is our new partnership with one of Laura’s best friends - and biggest inspirations - Irene Neuwirth. In this episode we learn about the beginnings of Irene’s business, a tough time that produced one of her best collections, and what s...

In this episode, Haskell shares the stories of her childhood and the women who influenced her -- stay tuned for lively tales of her glamorous grandmother who was known to fire off a shotgun wearing a dress and her sartorial-minded mother who opened a retail store on the first floor of their home in Martinsville, Virginia.  In this line of unexpected women, Haskell is equally unique in her perspect...

Mira Mikati is known for her collection of colorful pieces with cartoon-like embroidery and positive affirmations.  Mira Mikati's life began with leaving Lebanon in the midst of the civil war at six-years-old, but she has always chosen to focus on creating a beautiful world for herself and others through the bright designs of her namesake brand and her internationally-renowned specialty store, Plu...