A Glimpse of Julia Amory, Founder of India Amory
I have always loved a beautiful table, especially one that is tastefully done from Julia of India Amory.
Growing up, every night I would plan a different theme. If it was a garden theme then every place setting would have a pack of flower seeds tucked into the napkin, with pots and soil spread out over the middle of the table (sorry, Mom). I was even featured in the Chicago Tribune front page on Mother’s Day for my themed tables, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to get to know Julia Amory of India Amory who has brought the beauty of tables to the forefront. A beautiful table sets the stage to create the atmosphere, experiences, and memories that we all crave to have with our family and friends. Now more than ever, we have never appreciated a beautiful table surrounded by loved ones and friends more. We are thrilled to feature Julia Amory of India Amory, a native New Yorker. Learn about her incredible linen line, collaborations, what inspires her, and, of course, all of her favorite things below!
Can we just start Julia, with your most lovely step grandmother, Alexandra Stoddard, as you are the epitome of her catchphrase “gracious living is a choice.” This is such a theme in your lifestyle brand, India Amory. What was it like visiting her growing up and what other aspects of her do we see in your brand?
Alexandra (my step grandmother) has always served as a huge source of inspiration. My grandparents lived a block from where I went to school so I spent a tremendous amount of time with them growing up. Simply put they walked the walk - and lived an extremely gracious life. From a deep love of Porthault, Roger Muhl and Shanghai Tang to coordinating your lacquered chopsticks (used to eat every meal) to your outfit, they were a lot of fun. My love of color and my inability to “cope with taupe” definitely stems from a lifetime appreciation for art and beauty which they instilled in us from a very young age. I also picked up a dangerous Pucci habit from them that I fear is a lifelong vice!
Your love for linens started at an early age through your family. Alexandra’s (your step grandmothers) linen closet sounds heavenly and I loved reading that she taught you the “zen” of ironing your linens and your belongings! Is it possible to still slip away and do this with precious Honey (your daughter), a new baby boy on the way, and lifestyle brand craved by everyone?
Not as much as I’d like but ironing is weirdly still a very calming exercise for me much to the detriment of my family who thinks i’m nuts.
Speaking of darling Honor, the collaboration you did with Smockingbird Clothing was perfection! Honey was the perfect little model in the gorgeous little girl dresses! Do you have other collaboration ideas launching?
We do have two collaborations this coming Spring / Summer that i’m so excited about. We are rolling out a new collection with Smockingbird including new prints and a few new cuts as well as a partnership with an accessories brand that is very much beloved and congruent with our vibe. Excited to share more in the coming months!
Starting your brand, I read you couldn’t find the linens you wanted for your sublime wedding in Southhampton, so you designed and made them yourself using the age old practice of India Block Printing! It was such a brilliant choice to use this design! What inspired you to do an Indian Block Print?
I have always loved block print and for years shopped at Roberta Freymann’s various stores in New York before Roller Rabbit evolved into the brand it is now. When looking for fabric to use for the tablecloths at my own wedding I was struck by how difficult it was to find 120” round tablecloths pre made given that so many people use 60” round tables for events - weddings as well as dinner parties. I loved the idea of using something artisanal in feel to counteract the more traditional feel of the wedding venue and the solution was to work with a block printer (with whom we still have a partnership almost five years later) on an original design. The idea to expand the concept into a business came while we were on our honeymoon in France and I thought, why not give it a try. A few months later we launched the website with the first seven prints and the rest is history.
You and your husband Minot have both grown up being surrounded with fabulous color. Minot’s great aunt is Lilly Pulitzer, icon of color! Does he ever jump in with ideas with your fabrics and how does this history come to play into your linens?
It’s a fun connection and of course I completely revere Lilly who was married to Minot’s great uncle and built such a tremendous and iconic business. Growing up in Palm Beach rendered Minot “color blind” in the sense that no wacky idea I come up with shocks him in any way. I could tell him I wanted to paint the walls chartreuse and he wouldn’t blink so it that sense we’re a great match. He isn’t an active participant in the daily design function of the business but he has zero problem telling me if he thinks something doesn’t work!
Your pareos are so darling and stunning! The perfect addition to tie around your bathing suit making such a chic statement! The dresses and blouses have made their glorious debut. Your table linen line is so inclusive! What is next? We are thinking bed linens…
We are in fact currently working on a bedding line that has taken so much longer than I’d like it to simply because I want it to be perfect...we have grown so organically and without outside investment and that’s something i’m incredibly proud of so while i’m thrilled to continue to build the business I’m also cognisant of being very pragmatic without product launches.
Who are your style icons and why?
Carolyn Bessette, Lee Radziwill, Grace Kelly. I have two personas - i’m a native New Yorker who when living my city life wears lots of black but I also fully embrace a bohemian and somewhat eclectic approach to dressing. First and foremost I dress to flatter my shape and am pretty trend averse.
What is the art to setting a lovely table and what are some key elements one should think of when setting the table?
I genuinely believe that a beautiful tablecloth is the foundation to any tablesetting - it’s where I always start and build from there. While I love to mix patterns I often will stick to one color palette and use varying shades within that family so things don’t get too wild.
Color has always been important to you. I loved reading that you and your grandmother painted the inside of her kitchen cabinets chartreuse! And that taupe wasn’t ok. What do you recommend to readers who want to bring in color but not sure how?
Start small...if you wear an all white outfit, adding one element of color can be a non threatening and impactful way to jazz things up. The same is true of decor. You don’t have to go nuts….and working within shades of one color story can create texture and depth.
Your love of 18th century France and gardens by Andre Le Norte is so romantic! Is France at the top of your travel wishlist when covid is over?
French architecture and garden design are endlessly fascinating to me - it’s been said that people have never lived more sumptuously than in 18th century France which is a wild notion. I very much look forward to being able to travel again and especially with our kids...
FAVORITE PLACES
City? Paris
Country? France
Hotel? Colombe D’or
Resort? Coral Beach Club
Destination with kids? Bermuda
Destination with husband? Bermuda
Solo destination? New York
Restaurant with husband? Le Charlot or Sushi Seki
Restaurant with kids? Our kitchen
Do you prefer the city or country? I need both
The mountains or beach? Beach
Bakery? Tates
Spa? Wherever I’m staying
Bar or nightlife spot? Does The Club Room at Majorelle count?
Boutique for yourself? India Amory
Boutique for your kids? Ditto!
Home decor store? Scully and Scully
Jewelry store? Tiffany & Co.
Skincare store? Skin Ceuticals
Coral Beach Club
Tates Bakeshop in Southampton
The Club Room
TRAVEL STYLE
Smockingbird Clothing x India Amory
Uniform? I generally wear something that is going to work for where I'm traveling. If it's someplace warm, white jeans...
Accessories? My laptop, a travel wrap, and an eye mask
Skincare on board? If it's a long flight I'll remove my makeup on board and put on moisturizer
Travel carry-on? Hermes Garden Party Tote with a zip insert
Luggage? T Anthony
Travel bag for kids? T Anthony Town & Country tote - zips which is huge and has lots of compartments both inside and out
Handbag for sightseeing? See above - or Chanel Cerf (with zippered insert)
Packing tips? Put together actual outfits down to accessories and undergarments to avoid overpacking
EN ROUTE
Favorite airline? Jet Blue
Airplane activity for kids? Frozen on a loop
Must-haves for your child’s carry-on? Headphones and coloring books
Must-haves for your carry-on? Hand Sanitizer
Favorite travel gadget? A mask
Wellness tips? I used to travel a tremendous amount for work and was always told to put aquaphor in my nostrils to prevent getting sick
On your playlist? Mozart
Recommended reading? Grace Coddington’s memoir
Tips for combating jet lag? Vitamin C, water, running
LOOKING BACK AND AHEAD
Best travel memory? Bermuda for my husband’s 25th birthday which was the first trip we took together
Most memorable meal? The old La Goulue when I was little or the original Bilboquet when I was a teenager
On your bucket list? Writing a coffee table book
Travel mantra? Pragmatic packing
When this is all over, where will travel to first? Somewhere very calm...not sure yet!