The Guest Editor: Mignonne Gavigan

Maggie preps a cheese plate for a dinner party in her TriBeCa home.

" The most difficult part of owning your own business is the fact that you are ALWAYS working…it’s almost impossible to turn it off because you eat, sleep, breathe every aspect of it. My husband and I have to make sure to make time for our family and turning work off everyday. "

" I designed the original scarf necklace, the Le Charlot, back in 2007. I was making them in a small way for friends and family until I launched the Mignonne Gavigan collection in 2014 with my business partner, Layne Logigian. The Le Charlot continues to be one of our top sellers. "

" I’ve always been creative whether it was painting or drawing and I knew I loved fashion and wanted to have a company of my own one day. While at Parsons, our teachers used to tell us, if we wanted to have our own company / brand one day, we needed to find an original idea. I found that original idea when I invented the “scarf necklace.” This product is what our brand DNA is built from. MG was able to bring a soft element to an industry that typically uses hard elements. I love the challenge of taking a pattern or a design and turning into a work of art using threadwork. "

" I feel that traveling opens up one’s mind to new cultures and new ways of thinking about life. I grew up in Charlotte, NC and after hearing stories of my mother’s travels all over the world as a Pan Am stewardess, I new I wanted to experience as many new people and places as possible. I was lucky enough to work as several design positions that took me all over the world. I was also lucky enough to marry my husband who also loves to travel. My two favorite places I’ve visited are Istanbul and South Africa. I also lived in Paris for a year after college. "

WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU APPRECIATE THE MOST IN YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS?

I appreciate my friends and family to be genuine and honest. Life is too short not to be a straight shooter.

WHAT IS YOUR MAIN FAULT?

I get distracted very easily…my attention span is quite short. Being a  creative, I have to really work at staying on task and not deviating. 

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH?

My work ethic. I’ll go to any length to get the task at hand done. I've always had to have jobs and pay for myself.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS?

Doing something you love and being surrounded by people you love. 

FAVORITE FLOWER?

Snapdragon, cherry blossoms, peonies. 

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE HEROIN IN FICTION?

Jane Eyre.

FAVORITE ARTIST/DESIGNER?

Artists:  Kandinsky, Matisse, Sargent;  Designers: Peter Pilotto, Givenchy, Proenza Schouler, Delpozo.

FAVORITE MUSEUM?

Musee D'Orsay.

DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN?  IF SO, HOW MANY AND WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES?

Yes, Mr. Fields! (Fielding Thomas Smith). He just turned one last week. ;) 

WHAT’S ON YOUR READING LIST RIGHT NOW?

A Gentleman in Moscow, The Boys in the Boat, All the Light We Cannot See.

DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE IN 3 WORDS:

Colorful, expressive, mix of high and low.

WHO ARE YOUR STYLE ICONS?

Taylor Tomasi Hill, Mira Slava Duma, Pernille Teisbaek.

WHAT’S ON YOUR SPRING SHOPPING LIST RIGHT NOW?

Florals, kitten heels, Wide-legged striped highwaisted trousers (I actually just snagged some from Tuckenuck and I’m SO EXCITED).