CANDID Interview: Valerie Macaulay
Valerie Macaulay launched La Ligne with co-founders, Molly Howard, and Meredith Melling, a little over three years ago. Her career built on experiences at Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, followed by a few years co-running a creative consultancy, with Melling, the two came together with Howard to launch a direct-to-consumer brand worthy of all closets. Taking a stand behind the universal appeal of the stripe - always classic, forever chic - they ensure that their line remains grounded in a democratic, versatile design. If you can't eat, dance, sleep and drink in it, they won't make it! Around the same time Macaulay and Melling brought La Ligne to Saint Louis for SALON x LKS in May 2019 they opened a new brick-and-mortar store on Madison Avenue, NYC.
Valerie is Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of La Ligne, based in New York City.
Photo by Nico Guilis for La Ligne
“Nothing about this has been easy but it has been one of the most fulfilling chapters in my life to witness ideas become realities.”
My personal style is tailored tomboy. I prefer classic, timeless pieces, a little borrowed from the boys but always feminine.
The best piece(s) of fashion armor in my closet is my La Ligne Marin Sweater. It is like a giant hug. It’s oversized and comfortable but never sloppy and goes with absolutely everything.
I’m making my mark by co-founding a business with two other women I admire, Meredith Melling and Molly Howard, to make clothes for women and hopefully inspire other women. I was lucky enough to work at a company like Vogue and have the mentors I had and learn from the best women (and men) in the industry and I hope to pay that forward.
A professional/personal challenge that keeps me up at night is how to keep growing the business and what the right next steps are. You don’t want to grow too fast but you have to keep up the momentum and that is a delicate balance. Making sure we are taking risks but maintaining our core values as a company.
In moments of self-doubt I build myself back up (by telling myself) that even if I fail, I tried to do something and I am proud of that. And if I fail, I will try something else.
Words of wisdom that resonate with me are, “Always take the meeting,” and “Always look ahead.” It exemplifies an attitude of always keeping an open mind and allowing yourself to entertain different ideas even if you have a set course in mind. Thanks are constantly evolving so you should be willing to change and adapt.
I stay true to my passions by living a balanced life. I am also a wife, mother, daughter and friend and all of those aspects of my life get their own time which makes me a better business partner and creative director.
I’m most proud of building a business with two amazing women. That we were courageous enough to try and formidable enough to keep at it. Nothing about this has been easy but it has been one of the most fulfilling chapters in my life to witness ideas become realities.
The one thing I would like to say to every woman in the world is embrace failure. Failure is the only way you learn about where you want to go and what you need to do to get there.
Shop Valerie’s power pieces!
ARE YOU INSPIRED BY VALERIE? KNOW SOMEONE THAT WOULD BE, TOO? SHARE HER CANDID MOMENT.