Kathryn Wilson’s name is synonymous with footwear in New Zealand.
We chat to the shoe designer about her career, her beauty regime and how she manages to juggle a growing business with motherhood:
Can you tell us a little bit about what you do?
I design and produce beautiful shoes for women, men and children all around the world. We make them in eight different countries and I’ve been doing this job since I was 23, so I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
What made you turn a passion for shoes into a career?
Well, I was a little girl who loved shoes, the youngest of three in my family. I was obsessed with customising my own shoes, so when it came to choosing a career path, I don’t think my mother was surprised. I was just determined to study fashion and footwear and become New Zealand’s go-to name for shoes.
What’s a typical day for you?
Since having a toddler in the house, there isn’t necessarily a typical day! Being a mother, and with both myself and my husband running our own businesses, it’s a busy time with lots of balls in the air. While there might not be a typical day, we’re obviously designing two seasons a year, so we’re either on deadline, distributing new season shoes into stores, visiting stockists (we have 110 stockists around the country) or travelling for research or to visit our manufacturers around the globe.
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What is the most important thing to you when it comes to looking after your skin?
The most important things for me when it comes to skincare is probably that it’s something easy to use, something I can travel with and that I trust. I want to be able to use it and know my skin is going to be great every day so I don’t have to think about it. With a lot of travel and a lot of time away from home, I need something convenient.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
My inspiration for my designs especially is selfish! I definitely start with what I want to be wearing next season. But inspiration also comes from travel, friends, music, music videos, film… everywhere really. Every day you’re picking up things that you’d like to use at some point.
What is one skincare habit you wish you’d started earlier in life?
I wish I had been told I could do with drinking a lot more water! If I had been told that in my teenage years and 20s… Water is key for good skin later on in life.
What’s the best piece of skincare advice you’ve ever received?
To wear a daily SPF. In New Zealand it’s absolutely key. I’m in my mid-thirties and the pigmentation and things you can’t necessarily reverse, but a SPF 30 or 50 every day is vital to prevent further skin issues.
Three things you can’t go a day without?
I would to say 1) a phone call to or from my mother – it’s very sweet, but true. 2) Spending some time with Lola Belle, my daughter. It’s really important for me to have our home as a base and to have a structure or routine. So whether it’s breakfast or bath time at the end of the day, just spending time together. And 3) a great product like the Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer which has built-in SPF30. That’s something I use every day without doubt.
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Guilty pleasure?
Champagne; it’s every girl’s best friend. And long lunches with your girlfriends is definitely something I couldn’t do without!
Top Instagram accounts to follow?
I have a few that I like to follow: One of a cat, Higgins the Cat (@higginsthecat). I haven’t met the cat, but he’s a really cute New Zealand British Blue that photographs really well! Also, Jill Kellett (@jillkellett) has some really neat vintage images that I always love, really kooky and funny. And Geronimo Balloons (@geronimoballoons) is a neat one out of New York where they do a lot of balloon installations on different architectural structures. It’s beautiful.
Dream person to wear a pair of Kathryn Wilson shoes?
Definitely Beyoncé. Beyoncé came to New Zealand a couple of years ago and I was lucky enough to meet her stylist at an after party one night. After a few photos, a cuddle and a conversation, he requested some samples to be sent to Sony the next morning which was just so exciting for us. She got a couple of pairs for herself and her daughter Blue, which she posted on Instagram the next day to 78 million followers, it was incredible!
And one piece of fashion advice for Kiwi women?
I just think to feel good. Confidence shows on your face and your posture and if you’re wearing shoes or an outfit that you feel good in, you’re going to look great as well.
Kathryn doesn’t have time for complicated skincare regimes, so turned to Dermalogica for help. They took a closer look at Kathryn’s skin by performing a Face Map and were able to recommend products suitable for her skin and her lifestyle. Read on to learn about her results.
WHAT IS FACE MAPPING?
Face Mapping®, Dermalogica’s unique skin analysis, provides insight into your skin’s past and present, and allows the subsequent prescription of a targeted home care regime for a healthy skin future. A Dermalogica Professional Skin Therapist uses Face Mapping® to divide the facial landscape into fourteen zones. Each zone is examined to determine where conditions such as congestion, breakouts, dehydration, and/or hyperpigmentation are present.
KATHRYN’S DIAGNOSIS
Some pigmentation and sensitivity through central area of face.
KATHRYN’S FACE MAP PRESCRIPTION
1. Dermalogica Cleansing Oil
2. Special Cleansing Gel
3. Antioxidant HydraMist
4. Pure Night Nourishing overnight treatment
5. UltraSensitive Tint soothing SPF moisturiser
6. SkinPerfect Primer Illuminating makeup prep
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FACE MAPPING® SKIN ANALYSIS
Visit dermalogica.co.nz .
TRY FOR YOURSELF
Click here to grab yourself a free sample pack including 4 trial size Dermalogica Products.
*This article is brought to you by Dermalogica.
