A Glimpse of Meredith Melling, Co-Founder of La Ligne

Interview

Apr 25

Meredith Melling is one of the most influential women in the fashion industry and will always be the one of the most well-respected women at Vogue Magazine. Her personal style is a favorite of ours at Glimpse, and her impeccable fashion sense is now reflected through her own fashion line, La Ligne, which is constantly on rotation in our closets.

When you meet Meredith you will stop dead in your tracks. Not by the clothes she is wearing, or that she is even more beautiful in person than in her pictures, but by her genuine and kind demeanor. One of Meredith’s words of advice below is to “always take the meeting,” which is a reflection of how she lives her life - with kindness and love. When I first met Meredith she was a single, hands-on mom to sweet little Eloise while also juggling a demanding job as Market Editor for Vogue Magazine. On her time off Meredith and I would spend many summers in Nantucket together, along with our mutual friend who was the godmother to her daughter. We would pile the kids in the car, head out to Jetty’s Beach with “Moves like Jagger” blaring and the top off the Jeep, and Meredith, with her sun-kissed skin and blonde sandy hair would have her hands out the window dancing without a care in the world. And that is one of the qualities I love most about her, that you can put her in any situation and she will always make the best of it without taking life too seriously. That is why Meredith’s wedding to Zach Iscol was nothing short of perfection. In my interview below we learn all about her big day and why she chose Blackberry Farm for the destination. The Burning Man theme shows the side of Meredith we love, that you can be the most beautiful and the most successful, but if you aren't having fun while doing it, what is the point? I also ask Meredith about her amazing clothing brand La Ligne, all of her favorite vacation spots and more, below…

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the Boston area.

What was your career path after college?

My first job out of college was a freelance position with Mademoiselle magazine where I cast, styled and mc'd fashion shows on college campuses across the US. Once my "tour" was finished, I was hired at Vogue as a Merchandising Editor on the publishing side. After a year, I knew I was more interested in the editorial work so I made the unexpected switch over to Vogue edit and began my 15 year run as an editor at the magazine.

What is your fondest memory working at Vogue?

I have so many fond memories at Vogue. We worked hard but we also played hard. I made friends for life and we continue to support each other in our "life after Vogue" ventures.

How did you decide to start La Ligne and how did you bring it to fruition?

The idea for La Ligne was born when I was still at Vogue. Valerie Macaulay, my then fellow editor and now fellow co-founder, and I would dream up what La Ligne would be creatively at long dinner sessions. But it's important to know your strengths and recognize your weaknesses, and Valerie and I knew that being two creative types, we could not launch La Ligne without a killer business partner. So it wasn't until we met Molly Howard that we were able to turn the La Ligne dream into a reality.

How do you juggle a successful clothing line and your 4 children, husband and doggies?

Juggling four children, three rescue dogs, and a thriving but young and demanding business is hard work. I have had to accept that things are never going to be perfect and not to beat myself up for that. I work hard and I love hard and my business partners and family know and feel that.

We love a good love story. How did you meet your husband Zach?

I met my husband Zach through a mutual friend, Ariel Ashe, but it wasn't until we volunteered together in the Rockaways after Hurricane Sandy about two months later that we had our first date. About 8 months later I was pregnant with our son Wolf.

What kind of advice can you tell women who want to find true love?

When I met Zach, I was very sure of what I did and did not want for myself in a relationship and was much better equipped to communicate that. I think that was something that came with age and experience. And dating when you are a single mother also puts a lot of things in perspective. I wanted to be a good role model to Eloise.

Where did you get married and why did you choose that location?

Well, we were planning a wedding at Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN and it was all getting very stressful. So, we talked it over with our families and decided to do away with all the ceremony and formality and instead invited a bunch of friends down to the Farm for a weekend of revelry and celebration of love. The only family members there were my brother and Zach's sister and of course Eloise. Zach and I later made it official at City Hall in the summer of 2019 (when I was pregnant with Wylder). I wore La Ligne!

Walk us through your wedding. What was important and was it the celebration of your dreams?

My fondest memories from Blackberry Farm? Again, too many to choose from. Friday night, the welcoming night, we hosted a Blackberry Farm meets Burning Man themed dinner and dancing. And some of the team at Blackberry Farm told me they were still finding traces of people's costumes and glitter in the woods for weeks afterwards. A sure sign that a good time was had by all.

The most important detail for our wedding not wedding weekend was that everyone have fun. I feel that at so many weddings, the hosts especially get totally stressed out with the details and formality of it all. At the Farm I knew we were in excellent hands and I just trusted in the process and was able to truly enjoy myself.

What kind of advice can you give couples who are planning their weddings now?

To couples planning their wedding now, remember what is most important. It's not seating charts, menu selections, or what the wedding party is wearing. It's your love for each other above all else. Sounds cheesy but it's true. It's easy to give these other things a greater importance than they deserve. And for most guests, if you are having a great time, they are having a great time right along with you, and I can promise they won't remember or care what the placecards looked like.

What inspires you?

What inspires me? My family. Every day.

FAVORITE PLACES

Hotel? The Carlyle

Resort? Blackberry Farm

Destination with children? Martha's Vineyard

Destination with Zach? Staycation at the Bowery Hotel for a parents' night off

Restaurant with kids? B Bar and Grill

Restaurant for date night? Minetta Tavern (where our first date was)

City or country? Both for different reasons

Favorite designer? La Ligne

Favorite place to shop? La Ligne or any flea market or vintage store anywhere in the world. I am a vintage queen.

Jewelry store? Irene Neuwrith/Capitol store in Brentwood Country Mart - a slice of heaven

Skincare store? Knockout Beauty

TRAVEL STYLE

Uniform? La Ligne Marin Sweater

Accessories? Paravel backpack, Lingua Franca travel blanket

Skincare on board? True Botanicals mist, WATER

Travel carry-on? A vintage Louis Vuitton bag painted with striped animals by Bergen Bags

Luggage? Away and Globe-Trotter are my two favorites

EN ROUTE

Favorite airline? Jet Blue (though I flew Emirates once and THAT was an experience)

Must-have for your carryon? Snacks

Favorite travel gadget? A hard cover book

Must have for children? iPad and snacks

General travel tips? Leave the children at home (just kidding!); I'm a stickler for arriving early

LOOKING BACK AND AHEAD

Best travel memory? Euro-railing with my best friends after college

Most memorable meal? My first date with Zach at Minetta Tavern

On your bucket list? African safari with my family; running the Paris marathon (my father - who passed away almost 6 years ago - ran it. I’ve run NYC before and and I would love to try Paris because I feel close to my father when I’m running)

EVERYDAY…

Date night uniform? These days? I'm embarrassed to say. Let's go with La Ligne

Morning routine? Tracy Anderson, shower/dress, Starbucks run, take the subway to work.

Favorite breakfast/lunch/dinner? Avocado toast, by Chloe salad, Mexican food

Skincare routine: Rolling and an arsenal of products from Knockout Beauty

Beauty tip: Water and sleep (I'm rubbish at the latter)

Favorite perfume? Coco - have been wearing it since high school

Favorite room in your house? The kitchen nook

Favorite piece of furniture? My blue velvet couch

Favorite piece of art? My Patrick Demarchelier images of Eloise in Vogue

On your playlist? Kacey Musgraves

Stationery? Dear Anabelle

Bedding? Kassatex

On your nightstand? Books and a John Derian tray for jewelry, hair elastics, water

Reading list? Currently reading Kitchen Confidential which I had never read before