21 Questions with… Designer Trina Turk

What better time than now, as the cold weather brews and we dream of jetting away, to ask quintessential California designer Trina Turk our quickfire questions. A favorite of stars like Taylor Swift and Leighton Meester, Turk has expanded her brand of casual chic apparel into a full-on lifestyle brand that now includes menswear, shoes, handbags, swimwear, activewear, accessories and home decor. Here, we find out what she does when she gets stressed along with other fun tidbits.

  1. When I wake up in the morning I… usually head to a Pilates class near my house and then before I leave for work, I have a cup of decaf coffee and spend 30 minutes reading.
  2. I would never leave my home without my… iPhone. I am addicted to Instagram (@trinaturk) and always bring my iPhone with me to capture moments, places, events and inspiration.
  3. When I’m stressed I… take a few deep breaths — makes such a huge difference when I am stressed or nervous.
  4. The item of clothing I’m currently wearing most is… a one-piece, either a romper or jumpsuit.
  5. When it comes to next season, the things I’m most excited about are the prints and colors!
  6. Every woman should own… a great dress in a strong, solid color or graphic print.
  7. On a typical Saturday night, I… entertain by the pool at our house in Palm Springs or Los Feliz.
  8.  If you looked at my desktop you’d find… books — specifically, California Design, 1930-1965: Living in a Modern Way — vintage Japanese fabric shears my mom gave me, 2014 Trina Turk gold leather agenda/notebook, Trina Turk Fall 3 lookbook, inspiration boards and an Envy apple.
  9. My beauty essentials include… Neutrogena sunscreen, NARS lipsticks, Smith’s Rosebud Salve, Aquaphor and Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer.
  10. The last thing I googled was… research for my trip to Paris with my husband, Jonathan.
  11. If my days had one extra hour I’d… get more sleep.
  12. When I’m looking to get inspired I… travel!
  13. My favorite pastimes include… I’m a bit of a design junkie, a voracious reader and an architectural hobbyist. I love to see films, visit museums, shop LA’s numerous vintage clothing boutiques and go on architectural, home or garden tours.
  14. The best place I’ve ever traveled… Italy or somewhere I haven’t been before.
  15. My favorite place to shop is… The Palm Springs or LA Modernism shows, or the vintage clothing shows that happen a few times a year around LA. My favorite is A Current Affair.
  16.  My biggest fashion pet peeve is… wearing exercise clothing as a look for the day. I like the idea of mixing active influences in with fashion pieces, but am not a fan of stretchy yoga wear from head-to-toe instead of something that yes, requires a bit more effort.
  17. My guilty pleasure is… bittersweet chocolate.
  18. One luxury item I’m dying for is… a shaggy textured Celine tote bag.
  19. When it comes to staying healthy, I… eat an apple a day and drink lots of water.
  20. If I had one style regret it would be… when I permed my hair. Never again.
  21.  The best advice I ever got was… don’t take yourself too seriously.

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