[Editor's Note: Emmie's interview is the first in a series celebrating Southern Proper this week. Check back all week long to learn what it's like to work for the Southern fashion powerhouse.] Emilie Howard and her sorority sister shared two common passions among college-aged women: Southern men and fashion. Their uncommon pursuit of that passion?…
Leading Ladies
Crystal Cooper
A late-night conversation between father and daughter cemented a deep desire within Crystal Cooper to build a career around her lifestyle, rather than the other way around. And for Crystal, that meant surfing. Beginning her competitive career as a teenager, Crystal found that as much as she loved being in the water, she was inspired…
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Leading Ladies
Erica Hession
After studying entrepreneurship in both her undergraduate and graduate classes, Erica Hession decided to put what she learned in the classroom to test with Reincarnation Outfitters, a costume and clothing boutique specializing in nature-inspired women’s wear. It quickly became her main focus as Erica found herself selling her product through booths at outdoor fairs, art…
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Leading Ladies
Elise Loehnen
After picking up her first magazine, Elise Loehnen knew exactly what she wanted to do for a living. She often passed the days in her small Montana town by cutting out the pages of her favorite magazines and creating collages — especially with the well-known Neiman Marcus ads. But after graduating from Yale and realizing it…
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Leading Ladies
Tiffany Breckenridge
Tiffany Breckenridge knows what it means to be busy. As both a new business owner and a new mother she admits that it's a big struggle sometimes to make everything fit together smoothly. "There are some days," she divulges, "I'm literally changing diapers while on a conference call." And while things can get more than…
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Leading Ladies
Harriet Greenberg
Harriet Greenberg will be one of the first to tell you that fashion and finance go hand-in-hand. As a partner in Friedman LLP's Fashion Services Group, Harriet uses her more than 30 years of CPA experience to oversee a host of clients representing all aspects of the fashion industry. While being an accountant is a numbers…
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Leading Ladies
Kristin Marquet
As a marketing manager and public relations director at a large law firm, Kristin Marquet found herself doing what she wanted, just not where she wanted. With an undeniable eye for style, Kristin knew her passion burned bright for fashion, not insurance litigation. A few freelance clients and a lot of hard work later, Marquet Media, a…
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Leading Ladies
Erin Murphy
Erin Murphy was a fashion designer before she even knew such a thing existed. Wielding a needle and thread by the age of four, she was already seasoned when a friend's mother suggested a career in fashion when she was twelve. Years later, and almost totally by accident, Erin turned her passion into a vibrant…
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Leading Ladies
Emily Harrison + Jennie Engelhardt
After years of friendship through their alma mater, Jennie Engelhardt and Emily Harrison created fashion line Hare+Hart in the fall of 2009. Today, Hare+Hart has grown into a collection of ethically conscious leather accessories and jackets and has received attention from names like Vogue.com and Who What Wear. Jennie, a native of St. Paul, majored in American…
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Leading Ladies
Connie Majoros
Many girls grow up dreaming of a career in fashion, but to blaze a path into the Ready to Wear industry along with your sister? That's the route Connie Majoros, who is co-owner and co-founder of femme d'armes (meaning "women in arms") along with her sister, Fannie Chan, took. The two women grew up soaking…