Designer Stacey Lapidus' headbands on Gossip Girl

Image: Pacific Coast News

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview designer Stacey Lapidus, whose hair accessories have been featured on Gossip Girl numerous times.

Lapidus recently launched a Holiday line of hair accessories, as well as bracelets, belts and scarves.

Lapidus’ designs have been featured in dozens of magazines and worn by celebrities including Mischa Barton, Sarah Michelle Geller, Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Kelly Ripa, Eva Langoria, Hilary Duff, Heidi Klum, Joss Stone, Stacey Kiebler, Paula Abdul, Charlotte Ronson.

She also collaborated with The O.C.’s Mischa Barton for a limited edition hair accessories line called Mischa Barton for Stacey Lapidus.

The Interview:

One of my favorite shows is Gossip Girl. Tell me about your experience providing hair accessories, especially for Leighton Meester who plays Blair Waldorf.

I have been a huge fan since episode one…way before I saw my first piece appear on the show. It’s quite a funny story how this relationship happened. I saw my first piece appear on the show and had no clue how it got there! I figured it was bought in a store as wardrobe often is, and I was just so excited to see it, as well as flattered!

I then watched every episode like a hawk, making sure I saw every headband and noticed about two more in the next few episodes…after that, as I said I watched that screen from start to finish. I saw the opening credits and noticed the writer/exec producer was none other than my best friend since childhood, who is a writer out in LA, and the last time we spoke she was being assigned as a staff writer for a new show. I immediately called her and screamed at her for not telling me this was her project, and that they were using my headbands!!! She is very far removed from wardrobe and said she would put me in touch with the costume designer about sending more, as they were currently shooting in NYC.

Once we connected and I asked how they got the headbands, they said one was bought in LA and then they went on a search for them as they were sold out it was the end of the season and they ended up finding about 10 styles at Loehmanns! They were in the middle of fittings and I sent over about 100 pieces for them to keep and wear.

Since then, my headbands have appeared on about 10 episodes – sometimes 2 or 3 pieces in each episode. At one point, there was a fight between Blair and Jenny at a party, and during the fight they were both wearing one of my pieces. That was amazing to me!

I still get the chills every time I see one appear on TV and immediately call my mother to tell her – almost as if its the first time. I can and will never get enough joy out of famous people, as well as everyday people, who wear my stuff. It is the most flattering part of the job that people actually want to buy and wear what I design.

Can you tell me about the new Stacey Lapidus holiday line? Do you have a favorite design? What were your inspirations?

For Holiday, I went very dressy that combined with my classic pieces, which are versatile and can be worn both dressy and casual. I feel the holidays are a time when girls want to get dressed up and most importantly stand out. I played with metallics and sequins, and added pieces that can be thrown on to dress up that “little black dress” as well as jeans and a great top or blazer – including silk scarves embellished with sequins and crystal belts that came from my braided headbands that have been my “signature” piece!

I also added some more barrettes, as I know an up-do is a popular hairstyle for dress up, or hair when dressed up and these barrettes make a great statement as well as timelessly feminine and chic. I’d have to say my favorite piece is the silk/sequin scarf…I tend to always throw one in my bag and put it on throughout the day when I have to look dressed up, but still want to look casual in jeans and a blazer. As far as my inspiration, I would say it’s the same as always…I just design what I want to wear!

Can you give me a little background about your business — how you got started, etc.

I got started as an accessories editor at Vanity Fair where I developed a passion for accessories and realized that’s what makes a style statement and transforms any outfit…no need to have a closet filled with clothing each season; a simple wardrobe with a wide range of accessories is all it takes to constantly change and evolve your own personal style. I have always been a collector of vintage “pieces” and found that accessories lend so much character, and can so easily transform your wardrobe from season to season. After 5 years I left to help my brother and family launch an accessories website Bagborroworsteal.com. After about 6 months, it grew and moved out to Seattle and unless I wanted to move, I had to find a new job…my brother then told me to launch my own handbag line, as this was his first fashion venture and saw the money to be made in accessories. So about three months later I launched a handbag collection, which has evolved into all types of accessories in the past 4 years.

What do you love about being able to design hair accessories?

They are fun, they have personality, they are functional, there is so much material and trim and fabric out there that one would never think of to use in the hair. When I look at things, I just envision turning them inside out or upside down and they are something that is not taken so seriously and can be simple and classic or wild and fun…people are not as concerned with “status” when it comes to their hair accessories and are much more open to having fun and creating different looks with their hair…and the most fun part is EVERYONE can wear them without worrying or being body conscious as they are with clothing. Hair accessories are not a new “trend” – if you watch old movies and look at photographs, hairpieces have been worn for decades and I believe women will continue to wear them.

How do you feel when you see an accessory featured in a magazine layout or cover?

I still get excited like a child and scan and send to my parents first thing! Since I know how many pieces are called in and sent on shoots from being an editor, I know what an honor it is to have yours used, and I email the editor, when it’s someone I know or don’t. I am still overwhelmed that my stuff is pretty enough to get past a run thru and on an actual shoot, let alone getting shot and featured. It’s an incredible form of flattery and helps business, which makes the “suits” very happy! I just get excited that people are featuring hair accessories more and more and not seeing them as a trend but as an accessory that is just as important as a piece of jewelry, shoes or a bag!

In general, what fashion forecasts can you give us? Are headwraps and headband the “it” thing for the new year? What are your thoughts on fashion accessories for 2009?

They are here to stay, and with fashion icons like Mischa Barton now designing them, they will just get bigger and bigger in the world of accessories, and become just as important as the right shoe or bag.

Is there anything else you would like me to know?

As far as the Stacey Lapidus collection, I am currently working on a diffusion line to make my designs affordable for everyone as they are sold at upscale boutiques and department stores at a high price point…I can’t even afford them! I want everyone to wear them. I have been very eager to do a bridge collection and it is in development so stay tuned for that as well!

Thank you Stacey for the nice interview! We hope to see more of your headbands on Gossip Girl soon!

EVEN MORE: Designer Stacey Lapidus discusses the Stacey Lapidus for Mischa Barton line