KH + CH, an ongoing collaboration between Kate Hudson and her longtime best pal Laurie Stark of Chrome Hearts, is rooted in friendship. What started out as an excuse for the pair to spend more time together has resulted in last season’s jewelry collection and now a sunglasses range that pays homage to their strong female role models, like Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, and Hudson’s mother, Goldie Hawn.
“I wanted it to be classic and have an element of glamour,” Hudson told Style.com via phone while driving along L.A.’s Pacific Coast Highway. No doubt, that setting would provide the perfect backdrop for the retro-inspired cat-eye and oval frames she’s created, named Eye So Shady and Eye So Sassy, respectively. The actress took a hands-on approach for this project, overseeing every aspect, from the fit to the six colorways chosen to work for blonds, redheads, and brunettes. In between gearing up for her next film, Rock the Kasbah; promoting her athleticwear company, Fabletics; and working with Chrome Hearts, Hudson found the time to chat with Style.com about the origin of her influential boho style, having her mother as a role model, and the Chrome Hearts sunglasses collection, due out this summer.
We heard that the sunglasses collection is inspired by strong women. Can you talk more about that?
I think the whole collection, for both Laurie and me, is about really strong, clean lines. It’s not overly complicated. The glasses are statement pieces without being too flamboyant. Laurie is someone I look up to in terms of being a strong woman. She’s got a great business sense. She’s talented visually. She’s a great photographer. Great with her kids. Great girlfriend. Women like her inspire me.
How much overlap is there between your and Laurie’s styles?
We have very different aesthetics. At the same time, our interests lay in similar places. When we go into a store, we’re attracted to the same vibe but we’ll pick out completely different things. One of the reasons we like collaborating is because we get to bring two different points of view to the project. I really enjoy that process.
Do you have any aspirations to design a full line?
It’s so funny you ask that. I do and I don’t because I love my day job. Right now I have a wonderful company called Fabletics that’s athleticwear. It’s so much fun for me. I have a big hand in designing conceptually. But I know that if I decide to really go there with design, it would be a full-time job. As much as I’d love it, it’s a hard thing to do when you’re making movies, and that’s my passion. Eventually I would like to create my own line, but I enjoy film so much that it wouldn’t happen anytime soon.
When you’re working on set, do you collaborate with the costume designer when creating your character’s look?
Yeah, I think that’s a big part of creating characters—it’s probably why a lot of young actresses love to get involved in fashion. When you’re creating a character’s world, you’re creating who she is, what she wears, what she likes, and it’s always different. I’ve had experiences with some brilliant costume designers, and their ability to create these characters’ world through wardrobe is really inspiring. I have influence over the process, but I’ve been lucky to work with incredible costume designers who don’t really need much help.
How would you say that your style has evolved over the years?
I don’t know if it has that much. I’m a fan of fashion and that means as the times evolve, you sort of evolve with them. At 16 years old, I went into a vintage store. I bought a bunch of flowy dresses, bell-bottoms, polyester shirts, peasant tops, and beanies, all for $100. I think that was the moment when I realized what I felt most comfortable in: something that doesn’t feel too constricting. I could be wearing a tight spandex dress, but if it feels comfortable, I love it. I think that what every woman feels comfortable in is different and your style evolves daily. It really depends on how you wake up in the morning. The one thing that stays consistent for me is comfort. I think style lives with you. It’s not just about the red carpet. For me, there’s red-carpet style and then real-life style.
Do you have an all-time favorite look you’ve worn?
When I think back to moments, a dress is a part of the memory. They’re almost like these snapshots of time. The gold Versace dress at the Golden Globes in 2001 was a memory. I was so nervous to wear sequins to the Golden Globes because no one wore sequins. But I loved the dress so much, I was just like, “Fuck it, I’m just going to wear it.” I remember the SAG Awards and the white Pucci dress I wore. I remember this Chanel dress that I wore when I was pregnant with Ryder. My belly was sticking out, but I loved the dress so much and the woman who fit it took so much care. I wore it to the Venice Film Festival and I remember the night.
There are certain people who just aren’t into it, but I have so much fun at fittings. I feel like a little girl when these racks of clothing come in and everything on them is beautiful. I really care about what I put on, the designers, and all of the people who spend hours beading these beautiful gowns. I see the work that goes into them. They’re real creations.
What was your understanding of Hollywood style as a kid and how has it changed over the years?
Obviously, that’s a question that can be asked because my mom is this incredibly beautiful, iconic woman in Hollywood. I had an amazing role model, especially as a child because of the development tools she gave me. In terms of her style, what I love about my mom is that it was always her own. My mom knows what she likes and sticks with it. She always looks beautiful and wears the things she feels good in—that’s where I get that from. Growing up, I remember my mom’s uniform was these incredibly tight stonewash jeans, a tank top, suspenders, and cowboy boots. She always looked so clean and great. When she’d go out, she was a fan of [Azzedine] Alaïa. Azzedine was her friend and he makes clothes for women who have bodies like my mom. But it’s probably more of a personality thing than an aesthetic. I think everyone’s fashion sense really comes from who they are.
Did she give you any style tips when you were growing up?
This was not a woman who cared about what anyone thought of her look. She cared about who she was as a person and how she taught and guided her children. I never saw my mother fuss in front of a mirror or over her wardrobe too much. If anything, I learned that fashion is fun and girly and we like it but it’s only a sixth of what my mom thinks is being a woman. There’s no outfit in the world that will be more head-turning than a woman who walks into a room with great energy. That’s what really makes people magnetic. When someone feels good about herself, is comfortable in her skin, and has inner strength, it doesn’t matter what she’s wearing. They become the most interesting person in the room. What I’m trying to say is that’s my mom. That was always her focus: Are you happy? She doesn’t mean happy like “I’m smiling” but happy like, “Where is your joy centered? And is it grounded? And do you feel good?” That’s what I grew up with.
