J. Crew’s Olympia Gayot Is Style’s Favourite Influencer

In case you’re one among Olympia Gayot’s 186,000 Instagram followers, you realize her workplace nicely. It is the backdrop of most, if not all, of the J.Crew designer’s mirror selfies, a light-weight field with floor-to-ceiling glass home windows overlooking the Hudson River in Manhattan’s Monetary District.

Moving into her workplace on an overcast March afternoon, I instantly clock The Mirror and really feel like I am on the set of a well-known TV present. Adjoining to The Mirror is The Wall—her temper board, at the moment curated with a cool spring palette of navy and olive inexperienced, as pristine as it’s on Instagram.

Gayot made her Instagram public in 2020, shortly after returning to J.Crew—the place she had labored from 2010 to 2017 as a design director below the creative direction of Jenna Lyons—following a quick stint at Victoria’s Secret. She’s now developing on 5 years as inventive director and government vice chairman of ladies’s and youngsters design, and, together with menswear designer Brendon Babenzien and CEO Libby Wadle, is credited with serving to the model “shake off a mid-life disaster,” a minimum of in response to the The New York Times.

After getting into the highlight following years of extra behind-the-scenes roles, Gayot has cultivated an enthusiastic and engaged neighborhood of fashion-loving followers, together with the Hollywood stylist Karla Welch, It Woman-favorite designer Maryam Nassir Zadeh and numerous style editors, none of whom cannot get sufficient of the Gayot’s quirky-cool model or the temper boards she shares on Instagram—a few of which get extra likes than her outfit photographs.

Although she hails from Toronto and has now lived in New York for practically 20 years, there’s one thing nearly Parisian about her model, an aspirational high-low effortlessness. Her purse is likely to be Celine, her footwear Loro Piana, however her garments are at all times J.Crew.

At this level, Gayot’s selfies, that are talked about in each one among her press clips, they’re that highly effective, are simply a part of the job. “I’m doing it not only for myself, but additionally to point out our buyer how one can put on issues,” she explains. It is a super association: She’s each the designer and the mannequin, however has the fandom of an influencer.

Is there a secret to at all times wanting so put-together and stylish on the web? “Whenever you take an image of your self, you possibly can model your self in a manner, or transfer your physique in a manner the place it’d look excellent,” she says. “I do not at all times really feel polished, however in that mirror I appear like I do.”

I ask, “So it is a magic mirror?” She agrees: “It truly is.”

For Glamour’s Doing the Work collection, we spoke to Olympia Gayot about her must-have fundamentals for spring, the most recent J.Crew catalog, and the way she balances motherhood, profession, and conserving her Instagram followers fed.

Glamour: You have simply launched the spring 2025 catalog. Inform me about your relationship with the archives, and about modernizing the J.Crew catalog after resurrecting it in 2024.

Our 41-year heritage is a fairly wonderful factor. There are moments to faucet into heritage and there are moments to be extra trendy, however I believe proper now everybody is actually craving the thought of the ‘80s and the ‘90s, and a less complicated life and possibly easier shapes and proportions.

You have a look at a [catalog] web page of footwear from the ‘90s and see each form that is related proper now’s there. And actually, while you have a look at all of those eras collectively, you possibly can see how J.Crew tapped into preppy-dom, after which they tapped into the grunge period, after which it form of went extra fairly within the 2000s. It actually exhibits that style is a mirrored image of tradition.

What stands out to you concerning the spring 2025 catalog?

The tales are all nice, however I like the story of Liya Kebede and her daughter. She’s a mannequin that we labored with beginning within the 2000s for a lot of, a few years. She’s a implausible girl in each manner, simply good and delightful and the whole lot. And he or she has this nice, lovely, beautiful daughter who goes to Columbia, the place she’s learning movie. [This is a] generational challenge, and we wished the catalog to replicate that we’re a multi-generational model.

That is what’s fascinating too, about designing the garments, and understanding who our buyer is—she’s the grandmother and the granddaughter and everybody in between. The catalog was actually centered across the concept of generations of pals and households and all ages of individuals. [Liya and her daughter] had been so cute and wonderful and made me envy that…I’ve sons, who I like, however the mother-daughter relationship, they simply actually vibed off one another so superbly.

They usually’re two cool New York ladies.

Precisely. They knew what they had been doing. We even have a shoot at Cafe Gitane, which is somewhat cafe in Nolita [run by] a father and his sons and their canine. And the ladies that work there are simply pretty and funky, so we simply dressed up the employees and the entire household.

I believe Gitane was the primary place that I visited once I got here to New York, I believe my mother and father introduced me to New York once I was 15. It should’ve been within the mid-’90s—I simply bear in mind everybody appeared so cool. Coming from Toronto…not that individuals aren’t cool there, they’re. However New York—there is a model inside New York. You’d go to New York and also you’d see stuff you would not see wherever else. I simply bear in mind the fellows had been so good-looking and the ladies had been so beautiful. I saved as much as go to Marc by Marc Jacobs and purchase myself somewhat pencil skirt and I wore it to Cafe Gitane.

Inform me concerning the spring assortment. What are your must-have fundamentals?

For spring there are numerous actually nice, straightforward silhouettes. Linen’s additionally a extremely large enterprise for us. It’s extremely heritage and it continues to be so robust for us and for our buyer.

We have launched a number of new linen shapes: One in every of them is a pull-on pant that simply has somewhat tiny drawstring on the waist. We’ve one other pant that has a light-weight elastic again and a flat entrance, so it might be a pull-on, however it additionally has a zipper fly, so it is extra of a trouser. We’ve an exquisite linen pleated skirt that is form of low waisted with belt loops, so you possibly can toughen it up somewhat bit with a belt.

We even have wonderful T-shirts in a brand new featherweight high quality. And our cashmere assortment actually continues to be robust even in spring and summer time. I believe transitionally, too, with the climate altering, cashmere nonetheless continues to be one thing that works.

After I consider J.Crew, I consider the classics. How would you describe your strategy to tackling these basic shapes in a manner that feels very you, or new?

Some shapes are supposed to be very basic, and a few are somewhat bit extra pushed. For me it is about layering and private model. That is the place you possibly can carry the sting.

For example, we now have the barn jacket, which is a proprietary merchandise to us we have had because the ‘80s. We’re simply enjoying on that, enjoying with texture. We have been doing this laminated linen with our core barn jacket, however we have added some pockets, and the gold buttons—[it looks] edgy while you put it on, however it’s a really basic silhouette. And it is also water-proof.

For our cashmere shapes, we now have basic proportions, however we even have a pushed proportions, like our lovely outsized deep V-neck.

We’ve our outsized crew, which relies off of the lads’s sweater. So you possibly can play that form of boyfriend side as nicely. Inside knits we now have shrunken child tees, however then we’ll even have a basic tee, and an outsized tee. So once more, as a result of we’re multi-generational, we now have shapes for everyone, that is at all times what we have completed. It is actually about having all of these shapes accessible after which having sure items which can be extra “pushed” for the woman who needs that.

I like calling it “pushed.” Like these things push the boundaries of a basic.

Yeah, I believe a match is the whole lot in clothes, it is greater than folks understand. So you possibly can put on a V-neck and it will possibly look dated or you possibly can put on a V-neck and it will possibly look luxurious and horny.

I believe typically folks suppose folks get caught of their sizes, however in case you truly put on one thing that is actually large, it appears costlier. It is nearly enjoying with proportion too. A trouser being outsized—even shopping for a trouser a dimension too large and belting it—could make issues look very luxurious. You’ll be able to put on it with a decent little T-shirt to play with that proportion.

I grew up in 2000s weight-reduction plan tradition, and I used to be very hung up on sizes for a very long time. The thought of sizing up used to scare me, however it looks like a extremely cool strategy to replace the match of a garment, so as to add one thing by yourself.

It’s extremely heritage for us too. Although we had been at all times a twin gender model, at first we had been designing males’s garments for ladies.

I put on the lads’s Kenmare blazer, and it is large on me, however I like the way in which that appears as a result of it is undoubtedly very “pushed.” And if I put on that with form of a fitted jean, it appears actually nice. Or simply steal it out of your husband or boyfriend when you’ve got one.

I really feel like belts are having a second.

Big, large second. Everywhere in the runways, the whole lot is belts, belts, belts, belts, belts.

What’s a brand new strategy to put on a belt?

I’ve all totally different widths—I’ve a extremely skinny belt, which I put on frequently with high-waisted denims. After which once I put on extra of a low-waisted trouser, I’m going for a wider belt.

Lots of the skirts we have been promoting have belt loops as a way to add that element. Private model is all about texture, and so for me, including texture by way of an adjunct, like a leather-based belt or gold jewellery, helps make your outfits really feel much less plain. You’ll be able to take these basic items and add onto them.

I am very excited to bust out a few of my older belts.

You would possibly solely want one. Generally I will put on one belt for the entire season and it is similar to, that is it. One actually distinctive belt, or one actually distinctive shoe can take items which can be in any other case basic and push the proportion.

J.Crew has a preppy DNA. I used to be rereading some previous interviews you probably did, and it appeared such as you form of shied away from the phrase prep. Was that me studying into it? How do you’re feeling concerning the time period “preppy?”

I believe it had its dangerous connotations and its good. Prep proper now works in a manner that is subversive as a result of everyone can take part. I believe it was extra singular, however proper now it is one thing that everybody can play in and everyone will be part of.

There’s sure items like rugby’s and polos and sports activities centric issues that I affiliate with prep, however we do it in a manner that feels prefer it’s style versus prep college. I believe numerous manufacturers are enjoying in prep proper now. It is simply develop into this actually cool manner of dressing. It form of goes out and in, however it’s having a revival.

I like that it is so inclusive. Individuals are having enjoyable with it and messing with it. Even somebody like Simone Rocha—at her final present she had all of the rugby shirts with ruffles. When you possibly can break the norm and make one thing new and thrilling…that is why I am in style.

Every time I see your mirror selfies, and also you’re carrying these preppier staples, I am like, how does she look so polished? As a result of once I put on a buttoned-down shirt, I sit on it and it crinkles humorous, after which my collars by no means lay proper. Do you have got a trick for making issues look the way in which they’re form of purported to look?

I suppose primary, I’d say these are pictures, and it is a selfie. Whenever you take an image of your self, you possibly can model your self in a manner, or transfer your physique in a manner the place it’d look excellent. However I believe finally I attempt to put items collectively that I can truly work and stroll in and be comfy in. I may need a heel within the workplace, however I will most likely swap right into a sneaker once I stroll house.

Do you press your clothes although?

Generally. I’ve a steamer and an iron at house, and it is normally a really final minute morning factor the place I am like, “Rattling, I want I had my shirts pressed” and I do not, after which I will press one once I’m about to put on it.

I have to know your hair care routine. Simply inform me the whole lot.

I wash my hair at night time as a result of my hair is actually curly and fairly frizzy, so if I’m going out with moist hair within the day, it simply turns into monumental and uncontrolled. I take advantage of a leave-in conditioner within the bathe from Oribe. After which I take advantage of this cream referred to as the Tremendous Shine Cream, and I brush that by way of my hair when it is moist after which I pull my hair [over my shoulders in front of me] like I’m about to do two braids, however I twist the 2 sides after which I scrunch it.

Whenever you twist your hair first earlier than scrunching, it creates extra managed curls. Generally in case you’re simply scrunching your hair, it will be loopy.

So that you sleep with moist hair?

I sleep with moist hair. I’ve at all times completed that. After which once I get up, I will use somewhat bit extra of the Tremendous Shine cream. There’s an Oribe hair oil that I actually love as a result of my hair is actually dry, and since it is curly, so it simply eats up the whole lot. So I put numerous oil on the ends to get it to be delicate.

Any magnificence merchandise you employ daily?

I put on numerous Gucci Westman make-up. It’s actually moisturizing and nourishing. I do not wish to appear like I am carrying make-up, and I really feel like her make-up simply actually simply goes into your pores and skin superbly and makes you look glowy and it retains you moisturized. I like the All-Over Illuminator Drops. I like her mascara, which comes on this pink scorching tube. It is so horny and beautiful. She has this product referred to as the Tremendous Loaded Tinted Highlighter, it is a compact powder. I do not usually like powder, however it’s so gentle that it simply form of offers you bronzing and highlighting. It is like I will simply put the glow drops and that on, and that is it.

I like Farah Homidi’s lipstick [which comes] with a lip balm. The colour known as Nude One, and it is my go-to on a regular basis lipstick. I really feel like I am unable to dwell with out lipstick. I would like some form of shade, shade on my lip. In any other case I simply really feel like I look drained. It is like my factor.

I additionally love the Mary Veronique merchandise, she has this refined and fortifying important equipment. It says it is for [ages] 30 plus. So I am like, that is cool for me. I like Clé de Peau, they’ve an excellent sunblock.

Do you have got something that you’d contemplate a uniform? Perhaps a system.

Positively. I at all times love an excellent pair of denims. I put on a inflexible denim personally, however I like an excellent, both a high-waisted or a low-waisted form of free form of boyish jean. I put on numerous white denim. I really feel like there’s one thing about that that is simply very clear and straightforward. I like a trouser.

Often with denims, I will put on an exquisite cashmere sweater with a T-shirt below it, or I will put on a button-down. After which I like a 3rd piece. Proper now I am carrying a shearling girl jacket. However I like the thought of a woman jacket or an enormous outsized blazer. I am actually all about layering, and having that third piece offers you somewhat little bit of a shoulder.

I additionally like to model myself in additional dramatic methods, however since I’ve had children, my model has undoubtedly develop into extra uniform. It takes time to essentially give you fascinating mixtures. Generally once I take selfies, I will block off a few hours to strive on totally different appears for myself, as a result of I’m doing it not only for myself, but additionally to point out our buyer how one can put on issues. However in relation to my precise life and preparing and getting up within the morning, there is a very small period of time for me to prepare. So it finally ends up being one thing that is form of uniform, like a jean, a blazer, a T-shirt.

Have you ever discovered that being a mother modifications something about what goes into one among your designs?:

Oh, yeah. Positively. In each trade, all of us venture ourselves onto what we do. I’ve had sure issues which were by way of traces with my model all through my life, however there’s undoubtedly issues which have modified. I dressed very otherwise in my twenties to my thirties, and now in my forties. Proper now I am far more sensible as a result of I’ve much less time and I’ve my job and I’ve the children. In my twenties, I used to be working round in Victorian attire and fight boots. I do not know, I used to be simply so free. And now I am extra structured in how I costume, however I attempt to add freedom with a designer shoe or an exquisite bag or a particular piece of knickknack.

Being a mother undoubtedly impacts how I design as a result of I believe I am fascinated about the J.Crew girl on a regular basis. It is a stability of artwork and commerce. You need that factor to be thrilling and delightful to [the customer], however you additionally need it to be sensible. We must be comfy. We want to have the ability to stroll, we want to have the ability to run, we want to have the ability to get on the subway, drive our automobiles, no matter it’s. It additionally needs to be multi-dimensional—to go on a date, go to dinner, go dancing, all of these issues.

Do you have got a go-to pair of sneakers proper now?

I like Spalwart. They’re Swedish. And I like Nike. There’s a J.Crew pair referred to as the Rec sneaker that simply got here out—they’re actually, actually delicate, like a leather-based mesh combo. I have been carrying them in vibrant pink.

I really feel like I’ve observed numerous pop of pink moments and particularly the final couple collections. Is {that a} shade you have at all times liked?

Purple’s a impartial to me. A pink lipstick is a staple or a pink nail polish is a staple, similar to a pink shoe or a pink purse or a pink sweater. It is form of like that with leopard or a polka dot too. These prints are simply very, very impartial in a manner.

It is also horny. It’s extremely a lot a part of a girl to have that aspect, to have that aspect of femininity. And I believe that even when we costume preppy or we costume this or we costume that, having that sensuality is at all times so good and pink actually is a shade that I really feel like brings that out. It is juicy. It is lovely. It is like while you placed on a pink lipstick, you are like, “Oh, okay, I am going someplace.” The identical with a pink sweater, or a pink coat.

What was the final nice e-book you learn?

I am studying On Magnificence by Zadie Smith proper now. I am additionally studying the Ready Sport: The Untold Tales of Ladies Who Served the Tudor Queens by Nicola Clark.

What did you suppose you wished to be while you grew up while you had been a child?

I grew up in style—my mom was a designer, so I used to be undoubtedly actually intrigued by that world, seeing it round me and seeing all of her inventive pals. And my mother and father had been undoubtedly very on the market creatively, so I at all times knew I used to be going to be inventive, I had that bug, and I used to be good at drawing and portray and all these issues.

After I look again on my childhood sketches and all that, there have been numerous ladies in attire and ladies happening holidays and falling in love, carrying this and that. It was at all times about what they had been carrying.

It sounds such as you had been making little J.Crew catalogs.

One thing like that. A part of my job is creating the storyline and creating the idea, but additionally how can we articulate our imaginative and prescient by way of the photograph shoots and the way can we interact the purchasers visually? So I believe that is at all times been, for me, it has been greater than simply the designing of the garments, however truly type of articulating a narrative.

I went to artwork college for portray as a result of I used to be actually into portray and I nonetheless am, however then I ended up designing on the aspect for pals and dwelling in New York, and the style trade simply beckoned. It was simply so thrilling. I used to be styling, I used to be doing this, I used to be doing that and dealing at a modeling company and doing 100 various things, and I simply ended up swinging in that route simply because the tempo for me, it felt very invigorating on the time.

Do you continue to really feel invigorated by the tempo?

Yeah. I imply, typically it is tiring, however it’s actually enjoyable. I like change. Whenever you’re a designer, you need to a minimum of be open to evolution as a result of it is at all times altering. All the time, at all times, at all times. So I do just like the tempo of that.

What’s your go-to thanks reward?

Flowers for certain. I like receiving flowers and I really feel like folks do too.

In case you get house and there is flowers there ready for you, it is wonderful. When folks ship me them, I am at all times shocked and excited.

Do you have got a low-stakes deal with on the finish of the day?

Chocolate and meditation.

I’ve chocolate each night time earlier than mattress, and I meditate each night time, or I attempt to. Yoga and meditation are supreme treats for me, as a result of the whole lot is so quick in my life that they gradual me down. It is that second to relish your thoughts and your physique and really take time to consider the reward of your physique and your thoughts and all of these issues.

Do you have got a morning routine?

My morning routine is quick and livid. I believe my nighttime routine is extra organized. As soon as I get my children to mattress, I put all my face merchandise on and I will meditate, and like I mentioned, have some chocolate, make a tea for myself. Generally I will take a shower. And the morning is like, I like to sleep. I believe it is actually necessary for me to get a minimum of eight hours of sleep

I misplaced numerous sleep having children for the previous few years. So now that they are each sleeping usually, if I can sleep until seven, I’ll. I ought to most likely be waking up at six. However I get up at seven, after which we’re out of the door by 8:15.

I stand up, I make the children’ meals, I make myself and my husband espresso. He helps get the children dressed and we swap turns dropping them off.

What are the very best and worst qualities in a boss?

I believe the very best qualities in a boss is when someone can acknowledge your abilities and your abilities. I believe for bosses that I’ve had, and for me as I attempt to be a boss, simply actually leaning into folks and what they’re good at and championing that and giving them the area and the liberty to let their concepts be alive. Simply let folks have autonomy in what they do and never micromanage.

Worst qualities?

Whenever you work for a legacy model, I might simply say, “No, we do not do this.” Or, “No, we do not do issues like that.” And I really feel like I attempt to see myself as a change maker, and I need to have the ability to have youthful designers come into the group and say, “I like this concept.” After which I am like, “Okay, let’s strive it.” I will not ever say we won’t strive one thing. If someone actually needs to strive it, we strive it after which we see if it really works or it does not work. So I believe simply with the ability to give folks freedom. Creatives’ whole being is getting excited by the chance to create new issues, so stifling them, it does not ever work in your favor.

Has your social media philosophy modified because you went public on Instagram? Have you ever set any clear boundaries or give you any mantras for your self about it?

I’ve at all times been a really personal individual, and so I believe I simply attempt to hold it tremendous work-focused and actually creative-focused. I suppose I’ve some unwritten guidelines for myself of what I’m exhibiting, and if I’ve new concepts, I will add them into the combination. It is simply largely about attempting to point out folks what I am impressed by, whether or not it is what I am carrying or what I am placing on the wall or the books that I am or the gallery exhibits that I will or no matter. It’s extremely a lot about creative-based, not about emotions or something.