Co-founder/owner of Bobbles & Lace Lindsay Rose Rando is making the ski slopes a more fashionable place to be. Rando officially launched her newest line, WNTR, which features affordable, high-fashion ski attire, spanning from her core jumpsuit to reversible vests and boot covers.
In the Q&A below, Rando tells Spotlight everything you need to know about this hot new line!
As a co-founder/owner of Bobbles & Lace, what was the process of designing WNTR independently like?
This was a completely new experience for me—I’ve done nothing like it. Let me tell you, the creative freedom that came along with it was so exciting. But, I think I really needed the last 18 years in business to give myself the confidence to have that creative freedom; I’m not sure I would’ve had the confidence to do it just starting out. Understanding clothing and the way clothes fit women and understanding what women want was a really important piece of it.
You mentioned that you love to ski with your family but never feel confident in typical ski attire. Why was creating a line that is both functional and fashionable so important to you?
I have two sons and I realized that skiing is the one thing we can do as a family that we all enjoy equally. But, as someone who really cares about fashion, I was struggling to find clothes to wear on the mountain. I wanted to be warm and fashionable.
Usually, someone has one ski outfit or one winter jacket. I thought to myself “What if one day I want to wear something different?” I wanted to design a line that is affordable, fashion-forward, versatile, and functional. I couldn’t find it anywhere, so, selfishly, I had to design it. I figured there were others out there who had the same problem.
WNTR features three key colors: chestnut, onyx, and polar. Why did you choose a neutral color palette for the line?
Mostly because that’s what’s in my closet! I think most people love neutrals and I wanted to play on that. I want people to be able to layer it and change it year after year. So, for my first year’s collection, I wanted to make it staple colors, where you can mix in a pop of color or two, but you really need the underpiece to be designed first.
How is creating activewear different from creating garments for everyday use? Did you enjoy the process?
First, I designed the line with fashion in mind but it needs to have that functionality to it. Working to find those functional pieces was a little more challenging than I initially thought; finding tech fabrics and making sure they’d be warm on the ski slopes. Being someone who skis, I knew it needed to have a zipper to put your pass, a bag to put your lenses in, and maybe a flask—if you will. Being someone who struggled to find fashionable, functional pieces in pre-existing ski lines.
Ski-wear usually contains animal fibers such as wool for insulation, why was making WNTR completely vegan important to you?
The fashion industry has come such a long way. If we can send people to the moon, we can make faux fur without having to kill an animal for it. If you look at all the major fashion houses, they’re all going vegan. These days, there’s no reason you need to kill a goose or skin a cow to stay warm—there’s very little purpose for it. As a designer, I think everyone should be putting sustainability at the forefront of their designs.
Many celebrities such as Kendall Jenner and Nicky Hilton have gone viral for their chic ski looks. Where did you turn to for inspiration for this high-fashion ski line?
There are some super high-end ski-wear lines, but it costs $1000 for a ski suit, and that’s just not feasible for most people. Going along with the core values of Bobbles & Lace, high fashion really shouldn’t have to come at such a high price. I think WNTR is really an extension of that. Winter sports and skiing are becoming more and more popular, they’re a way to pass the time in the winter—so I thought this line was really relevant.
How do you see WNTR evolving in the future?
I hope to expand the line in the future. However, versatility is so important—I never want to buy a dress that I’ll only ever wear once. I have this thought process with every new piece of clothing I add to my closet. I think a capsule collection is really at the forefront of fashion right now.
I like the idea that customers can start with the core jumpsuit and then add on the reversible vest, boot covers, and helmet cover. You don’t have to buy an entire new ski look every year, you can just add on new elements to change the design. You don’t buy a new couch every year, but you may get new pillows! I look at WNTR as a collection that you can build upon year after year.
WNTR is now available for purchase in all three colorways on www.wntrski.com. If you plan on slaying the slopes this year, you’ll want to pick up some of these pieces.
** All images courtesy of The LA Look.
