If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what famous people add to their carts. Not the JAR brooch and Louis XV chair, but the hand sanitizer and the electric toothbrush. We asked stylist Karla Welch about the jeans, sunscreen, and planner she can’t live without.
I get great satisfaction from making my daily lists and checking them off with a pen (I’ve really been advocating pen to paper; I remember things better than if I just enter them on my phone). I have this planner in pink leather; it’s super cute. And I have another one with blank pages that I just write ideas in — getting them out of my brain and onto the paper helps them stay in my brain. It’s a convoluted process, but it works.
I’ve been wearing Levi’s since I was 12 years old, when I stole a pair from my brother, which I still have. [Editor’s note: Welch and Levi’s have previously collaborated on capsule collections.] When I was a teenager, I definitely sat in the bathtub to get them to fit. There’s definitely aging you can do, which I do a bit of; I’ve throw them into saltwater. But for me it’s mostly about wearing them. Wearing them, and wearing them, and wearing them, and wearing them, until I’m like, “Ah, these are perfect!”
Every once in a while I’ll buy designer sunglasses, but I’m such a classics person. I wear these all the time: They’re cool, never going out of style, and they look good on my face. I have multiple pairs in tortoise and in black, and I just go between them all. I love them. It’s just … instant vibes.
I’m such a Birkenstock wearer. I’m wearing them right now in the airport with white socks — I don’t care; I just love them. They’re like my go-to as soon as the weather gets warm. I’ve been wearing them since high school … I had the classic brown Arizonas, I think. I’ve always just worn the two straps. [The Valentino Arizonas] just came out. I wore them with a ball gown from the Row to a birthday party in Mexico, and that was kind of great (it’s on my Instagram). I love wearing dresses, but then I like wearing them with these or sneakers. I don’t wanna wear heels. [Editor’s note: Here’s a less expensive pair of Birkenstock Arizonas that’s a convincing dupe for the Valentino collaboration.]
I always travel with Joanna’s masks; she just has a magic touch, and is so legendary. I put them on on the plane, and feel like I come off with a super-refreshed feeling that really lasts. I like the Dawn face mask; I usually use one an hour before I land — unless I’m on a red-eye, then I’ll fall asleep with one on and it’ll go everywhere. But I don’t really care.
I have a pretty pared-down beauty routine. I wash my face with iS Clinical, and then I use one of its many serums, and follow with its lotion. The brand is just so intense and good. I like the GeneXC, and then there’s Hydracool. I jump around — I have pretty consistent skin, so it’s just part of my routine. I wish I was putting more thought into it, but I’m not. I’m like, “Okay, here’s that bottle. I’m going to put it on my face.” I’m very much that person.
I maybe do this once a week … I like that it’s an over-the-counter dose of vitamin C and retinol, and a little scrub — it all feels great. I’m just having very good results from it. I actually watched one of Gwyneth’s little testimonials — they’re so amazing — before I bought it, and was like, I’ve got to try that.
I’ve just always liked Meyer’s pieces. She really changed the game in jewelry, in terms of like little tiny pieces. She’s the one who did it all. I have a C for Clem, my kid. It’s just a perfect little special piece that I love to wear.
I started with making plain white T-shirts, but my whole life I’ve always worn French striped shirts. For these shirts, I wanted to keep the fit of my classic white tees, but put stripes on them, so that’s what I did. And I love them. I wear them all the time — with jeans, khakis, baggy pants. I would say the look is kind of like a real ’70s, French crewneck. There’s a vintage feel to them, soft and great.
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