Sophisticated with a dash of swagger—these North Shore trendsetters prove that style is indeed a state of mind.
It’s no wonder Katie Brickman became an artist: From attending high school at Eliel Saarinen’s masterfully designed Cranbrook Kingswood to studying art history at Hollins University in Virginia, living on Charleston’s Rainbow Row and landing in NYC to work for a young Kate and Andy Spade, Brickman has been surrounded by rich sources of creative inspiration from the start. Now, having raised two children in Lake Forest and continuing to work as a creative director for various brands, the North Shore native is expressing herself through her colorful acrylic paintings, which have drawn the attention of celebrated designer Alessandra Branca (another former employer) and gained her a growing following. Here, Brickman paints a picture of her everyday style inspirations.
NS Women Of Style 2022: Katie Brickman, Liz Prior, Melissa Carter, Emily Hikade
WAKE-UP TIME: EARLY. BUT I GET RIGHT BACK UNDER THE COVERS WITH COFFEE UNTIL OUR KIDS GET UP—THEY'RE TEENAGERS.
DOPPELGÄNGER: AT WAKE-UP TIME: DO YOU KNOW ANIMAL, FROM THE MUPPETS?
NEMESIS: WHOEVER DECIDED TO PUT REELS OF THE KARDASHIANS AND THE ROYAL FAMILY ON MY INSTAGRAM FEED. I CAN’T STOP.
MY AESTHETIC: IF I WERE A HOUSE, I’D BE DESIGNED BY BEATA HEUMAN. IF I WERE A PARTY DRESS, I’D BE MOLLY GODDARD. IF I WERE A PAINT COLOR, I’D BE BABOUCHE. IF I WERE A POWDER ROOM SINK, I’D BE SKIRTED. IF I WERE A DOUGHNUT, I’D BE STRAWBERRY FROSTED WITH SPRINKLES. IF I WERE A HOTEL IN PARIS, I’D BE DESIGNED BY LUKE EDWARD HALL. IF I WERE A SWEATER, I’D BE PATCHWORK AND FROM THE 1980S. IF I WERE A LAMPSHADE, I’D BE PAINTED WITH PINK AND RED STRIPES.
UNIFORM: ANYTHING FROM LA DOUBLEJ. CURRENT FAVE: SWING DRESS IN COTTON JERSEY.
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: MARC JACOBS NAVY RAINCOAT WITH GIANT BUTTONS, A PETER PAN COLLAR AND PUFF SLEEVES FROM BARNEYS 17 YEARS AGO
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: EMERSON FRYE LONG DRESSES FOR THE BEACH OR THE BED, TIME ON THE SOFA WITH MY KIDS, LAKE FOREST HIGH SCHOOL SWEATSHIRTS
WORKOUT: SORE SUBJECT. WEEK TWO OF MARATHON TRAINING. ASK ME AGAIN WHEN THIS COMES OUT IN SEPTEMBER. ALSO, BIRD BARRE & CYCLE IN LAKE FOREST FOR STRETCH—AND MERCH!
LAST MEAL: SMILEY FACE COOKIES FROM GERHARD’S BAKERY IN LAKE FOREST
MOVIE: CONTEMPT WITH BRIGITTE BARDOT. I SAW IT BY MYSELF ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN NYC IN THE ’90S. I REMEMBER THE PRIMARY COLORS: BRIGHT YELLOW, KELLY GREEN AND RED.
STYLE ICON: KATE BERRY: EDITOR AND CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER AT DOMINO MAGAZINE. LONG DRESSES, STRIPED T-SHIRTS, MEN’S OXFORD SHIRTS, FLATS
SHOES: FLOWER BALLET SHOES IN EVERY COLOR FROM TORY BURCH. THEY REMIND ME OF THE PAPPAGALLO SHOES MY OLD NEIGHBOR MRS. PALMER WORE IN THE 1980S.
LIPSTICK: L’OREAL NO. 808, ZINC PINK VIBES
PHILANTHROPY: METROSQUASH: ACADEMIC SUPPORT, ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND TOP-NOTCH SQUASH COACHING FOR KIDS FIFTH GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS PLACE!
MANTRA: EVERYTHING’S AN EXPERIMENT. (CREDIT: JASON KAROLAK, @JASONKAROLAK)
CURRENT OBSESSION: THE COLORS LILAC AND YELLOW TOGETHER. THE KULE CATALOG. THE KITCHEN SECTION AT NICKEY KEHOE. PRE-SLICED WATERMELON AND CANTALOUPE ON A PAPER PLATE FROM AMIDEI MARKET IN LAKE FOREST.
APP: HINOTE
COCKTAIL: ANYTHING WITH APEROL FOR THE COLOR, OR SEEDLIP GARDEN FLAVOR—IT TASTES LIKE MY BACKYARD IN THE SUMMER—BOTH WITH THE JUICE OF AN ENTIRE LEMON
SOULMATE: JOE, LOUISE AND POWELL
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: F. MILLER
ZODIAC: TAURUS
BEDTIME READING: THE OPTIMIST BY DAVID COGGINS: I’M DETERMINED TO CATCH THE ELUSIVE BROWN TROUT ON A FLY LINE THIS SUMMER. BUT SINCE I FALL ASLEEP AT 8:30PM, I HAVEN’T MADE MUCH PROGRESS.
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “IT MIGHT AS WELL BE SPRING” BY ASTRUD GILBERTO
SIGNATURE SCENT: A DASH OF DIVA DETERGENT IN EVERY LOAD OF LAUNDRY, A FEW DROPS OF F. MILLER EYE OIL AND SLIGHT UNDERTONES OF THE SURFRIDER MALIBU CALIFORNIA CANDLE THAT IS ALWAYS BURNING IN MY KITCHEN
Photography by: PHOTO BY KIRSTEN MICCOLI/MAKEUP BY CATHLEEN HEALY/WARDROBE BY LA DOUBLEJ
