Minnie Mortimer
Minnie Mortimer was raised in Manhattan, Palm Beach, and Southampton. After attending Brearley, Sacred Heart and Saint Marks (a boarding prep school outside of Boston) Minnie landed in Paris. She studied there for a year before returning to New York to attend ICP, one of the nation’s best photography schools. She dropped out to travel the world, shooting with Italian photographer Oberto Gili. Along her travels she met and fell in love with her Oscar-winning filmmaker husband Stephen Gaghan. He taught her to surf and took her to live in Malibu where she began her line with only a few pieces in the spring of 2009. That fall she released her first complete collection. “I grew up going to all girl private schools in Manhattan and we always had these very cute uniforms but you’d only have so much sway over how to “customize” them. I would line my blazers, dart my skirts, I’d change all of the buttons, I would do anything I could to make them unique. And when I started designing I found myself referencing those roots.”
Pieces from her line have landed in boutiques across America and Japan. As their popularity continues to grow Minnie does her best to keep up with demand. “I design every piece my self. I make clothes to fill a gap in my own wardrobe. It’s very simple; if I want to wear it I make it. That is how the collection evolves.
Questions for Minnie:
Q: What will be in your handbag this weekend during the Oscars and parties?
A: Aquaphor – I always have a travel size with me. mixing it with my lip gloss saves my lips
• Mini – Altoids
• My iphone so I can Tweet!
• Chanel mascara
Q: What are you going to wear?
A: My line! I made a dress especially for the Vanity Fair party - Actually I am still finishing it. I hate it when I leave things to the last minute.
Q: You must see all kinds of bad behavior at the after parties from well
known people who may have over indulged on the champagne. What stands
out as the funniest? (can be blind item)
A: no comment 
Q: Who are your top 5 favorite film directors, living or dead?
A: Stephen Gaghan (I swear I am not biased)
• Wes Anderson
• Quentin Tarantino
• Federico Fellini
• Paulo Sorrentino
Q: Heels or flats?
A: Heels
Q: We’ve heard you’ve come up with a few terms and phrases since becoming
a mom a year ago, mind sharing?
A: I refer to Tuesday’s crib as her office – Even at 13 months she is all business
Q: Has being a mom changed the way you dress? Or impacted the look of
your collection?
A: Yes, definitely. I have mixed in a few more sophisticated pieces along with the fun ones. I am at that stage where I want to be taken seriously but sometimes I still feel like a party girl. I enjoy having the option.
Q: Are you going to teach Tuesday how to surf?
A: Absolutely. It appears to be the next logical step after learning how to walk.
Q: You’re in fantastic shape, how did you lose the baby weight and what
do you do to maintain such a svelte figure?
A: I love to surf. I also do a lot of yoga and hiking. Tennis too. I love sports – I never work out in the gym.
Q: Do you have anything from your collection made for Tuesday? Like a
mini Minnie Mortimer “Rachel Dress”?
A: I resisted making her clothes until she could walk, she was just so comfy in her onsies. Now I have been making her a little version of the T-shirt dress. Like the Zoe. When she gets a little older I will make her a Rachel and many others. That part is very fun for me.
Q: Now that you’re in LA, what do you miss about New York?
A: I go back enough I to make sure I don’t have a chance to miss it. My family is there so I can’t bare to be away for too long.
Q: What’s the key to your chic laid back style that seems to work in any geographical location?
A: I wear what I feel like wearing and try not to focus on how it will be received. My moods often dictate my style.
Q: What current fashion trend do you wish would just go away?
A: I am seeing an overwhelming amount of black. I wish people would take more risks.