Up Close and Personal with Kaitie Manani

Hello there, Honey

Friday, 24 Aug 2012

Ever been inside a fashion designer’s home?

We dropped by Kaitie Manani’s, the super stylin’ creative designer and founder behind Vamastyle- and were overwhelmed.

Everything from her personal (and extensive) collection of clothes and accessories to her massive collection of books is just picture perfect. The icing on the cake? Even her two boys, aged 1 and 4, are total darlings.

Yes, the same lady whose fans include Vanessa Hudgens and top fashion bloggers from around the world also pulls fulltime mum duty.

Click through to see Kaitie’s fab life, or better yet, meet Kaitie and check out her designs in person!

Vamastyle’s having a pop-up shop on Friday, 7 Sep 2012 and Sat, 8 Sep 2012, from 930am-630pm. Check out the latest arrivals of and get up to 75% off last season’s collection!

Vamastyle pop-up @ Kennel., Block 8D, Unit #03-03, Demspsey Hill, Singapore 249672

Why don’t you tell us a little about your style and your home?

My home is definitely influenced by my style! It’s big, bold, and bright – just like how every Vamastyle collection is. I love print; I think it comes from my graphic design background, and I always try to incorporate print in my home. You can see it in the Florence Broadhurst prints all over.

There’s an undeniable energy and playfulness in everything I do, but I always try to keep things effortlessly fun and feminine.

How about outside of your home? What are some of your favourite haunts around town?

Well, Jones the Grocer is definitely on my list for my daily coffee. Over weekends, I like to go to Kith Cafeon Robertson Quay for coffee and Paradise Dynasty for great dim sum. For shoppingFlea & Trees is my latest favourite.

Gotcha, Kaitie – we found your makeup stash. Tips please!

I love makeup but my absolute favourite brands are Bobbi Brown, MAC, and NARS. Again, I’m drawn to these brands because of my graphic design background – I just really like the packaging and the colours. And I must have the NARS blush-bronzer duo in Laguna and Orgasm.

We love your jewellery collection! Where do you get these gems from?

Everywhere! My collection’s a mix of vintage finds, online purchases, high street buys, and anniversary keepsakes.

All right, work routine! What’s a typical day like for you?

I start the day with my kids – first a school dropoff for the older one, then a coffee run at Jones the Grocer with the little one. By 930am I’m back working at home, then I usually schedule a business lunch, followed by more work till it’s time for school pick-up.

I spend the rest of the afternoon with the kids at playdates before cooking their dinner and putting them to bed after. At night I work on liaising with my production manager in Hong Kong as well as contacting the designers and shops I work with.

So what do you love about your job?

So many things! It’s a constant cycle of inspiration. I love that I have the creative freedom of designing my own range; I’m actively involved in every step of the process, so I handpick fabrics and colours, design my own custom prints, and oversee photoshoots and the art direction of Vamastyle.

I’m also endlessly inspired by the people who wear Vamastyle – I love seeing how everyone styles it in their own way. It’s the end product that really gives me a buzz.

And is there anything you don’t like about your job?

I definitely don’t hate any part of my job, but I do sometimes find it challenging to juggle everything at the same time. I love that my job allows me to travel frequently, but being a mum to 2 young kids and a fulltime business woman can be pretty tough.

You recently started an accessories collection for Vamastyle? Tell us about that.

I just started pulling accessories that work with the collection together and made them available for purchase. I personally source all the accessories from Hong Kong and curate the selection to make sure I’m happy with the quality.