Interview: Stéphanie Caulier, I Love Mr Mittens

I first discovered Belgian born, Perth based Stéphanie Caulier's gorgeous line of beanies I Love Mr. Mittens via the ever-stylish Jessie of We The People. Made from Peruvian pima cotton and wool, they are the perfect essential for the cold, winter months and add much needed pizazz to any outfit! From the classic pom pom beanie to the urban turban, Stéphanie's designs are both playful and practical. Enjoy! 
 
Hi Stéphanie. Where are you and what are you doing right now?

I`m at home in Australia, trying to stay cool in front of the air conditioning. It`s very hot in Perth at the moment.

How did you get into design?

I learnt how to knit when I was about 7 years old. My mother and grandmother are both very creative and that must have rubbed off on me. They are so good at sewing, crochet, knitting… I picked up my needles again in 2007 while I was visiting a knitting cafe in New York . After that I started selling scarfs to friends and family and never stopped.

How would you describe the I Love Mr Mittens aesthetic in three words?

handmade-timeless-fashionable

Tell us about the designs you create.

I design handmade knitwear using 100% Pima cotton yarn. Every piece is available in six different colours. The new collection will have different beanies, turbans, scarfs and snoods and in the future I would like to add more colours and slowly add more designs.

Who and what influences your designs?

A lot of things influence me. Movies, books, street style photography,  I read a lot of fashion and interior blogs.

Talk us through the design process.

I have big mood boards that are full of street style photography, colours, squares of stitches I've tested,  patterns and other things that inspire me.

The entire collection is hand knitted with Peruvian Pima cotton. I first start knitting with a basic pattern and check how I have to adjust the pattern to the cotton thread I use.

After that I just keep knitting the pattern over and over, adjust the pattern, experiment with different stitches until it turns into a design that I`m 100% happy with.

I`m not very technical, so when it involves more complicated patterns I get advise from my knitters and we work it out together. At the moment I have about six knitters that help me knitting, each with their own specialty. Every piece is carefully inspected on possible mistakes and irregularities. The quality is very important!

I used to knit for about 14 hours a day, which resulted in a constant pain in my wrists and didn`t leave me much time to take care of paperwork and other work involved with I love Mr Mittens, so it`s good to have knitters helping me out.

They are all very passionate about their knitting and it`s nice to share that interest.

Who is the I Love Mr Mittens girl?

A girl that is fashion conscious and likes to add some knitted staples to her wardrobe. Someone that is looking for quality and a unique timeless piece.

How would you describe your personal style and how does that manifest itself in your designs?

My personal style is very simple and comfort is key.

I love good basics like denim, white t-shirts, timeless designer pieces mixed with Zara or H&M. There is not much difference between my day and night time wardrobe.

Since living in Australia I rarely wear heels and live in Havaianas and sneakers.

The I love Mr Mittens pieces all have a simple, fashionable design that will stand the test of time just like the pieces you will find in my wardrobe and my home interior.

What are your 5 wardrobe essentials?

Isabel Marant sneakers, skinny jeans , T by Alexander Wang t-shirts , I love Mr Mittens scarf/beanie , a black blazer my mother made for me

Any beauty rituals?

Bumble & Bumble shampoo, Aveda smoothing fluid, Aesop Skincare products, Bare minerals powder, black mascara.

What’s coming up next for you?

I`m waiting for my next yarn delivery from Peru. Once that arrives, my knitters and I will be flat out knitting up new stock. I`m also shooting a look book for the first time, the E-shop will be online by March-April and I`m working on a collection in wool.

Describe your perfect day

A day at Margaret River, a wine area south of Perth, with my partner Adam. Just driving from one winery to another, visit all the gorgeous beaches and finish the day with a delicious meal at one of the wineries. 

See more of Stéphanie's work on her website.

The Edit: Winter Skincare

There’s no such thing as an all-purpose approach to beauty so when the seasons change, just like your wardrobe, so should your beauty regime.  Here's a brief outline of my hero products this particularly chilly winter season...  

In the long winter months skin can often become dull and lifeless thanks to freezing temperatures and the dehydrating effects of central heating. I like to combat the inevitable dryness by adding an oil to my skincare regime underneath my regular nighttime moisturiser.  Aesop's Fabulous Facial Oil is my current standby. A couple of drops massaged in under my favourite moisturisers from Embryolisse and La Roche Posay are highly moisturising without feeling too heavy. I've been alternating the Aesop with de Mamiel's Winter Oil which is specifically designed to work in harmony with the natural cycles of the environment. The Winter Oil restores moisture to dry and dehydrated skin and protects it during the winter months through its unique combination of flower essences, essential oils, plant extracts and base oils. On top of all this, it smells divine! As well as using oils, twice a week I'll be aiming to incorporate a face mask into my regime. Caudalie's Moisturizing Mask when stored in the fridge simultaneously de-puffs, soothes and locks in much needed moisture. Klorane's soothing and relaxing eye patches for tired eyes have a similarly decongesting and brightening effect thanks to extracts of cornflower (soothes and softens), arnica (drains and decongests) and chamomile (relaxes and calms). Great for curing the effects of festive reveling! My lipbalm addiction reaches dangerous levels in the winter, so I always have either Caudalie's lip conditioner or Lucas' Pawpaw ointment to hand. It goes without saying really but make sure you also hydrate from within. Don't forget to drink plenty of water and incorporate oily fish into your diet to improve the appearance of your skin.  

With the prospect of 4 months hidden under wooly tights, attending to the rest of your body can often fall by the wayside. Don't let this happen!! Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! Kiehl's Soy Milk and Honey body polish is a personal favourite of mine which I follow up with a generous helping of body moisturiser. Aesop's refreshing and hydrating Geranium Leaf Body Balm would be my desert island choice. It sinks in almost immediately, great for when you don't have time to marinate! If the dryness is a little more stubborn, Bliss's High Intensity 24–‘heaven’™ Healing Body Balm does exactly what it says on the tin, as does the cult classic Kiehl's Crème de Corps. As with your face, adding an oil to your bathtime regime is a great way to rehydrate dry skin. Aromatherapy Associates is my go-to, especially their multi award winning Relax Deep bath and shower oil which promotes deep, comforting sleep. Body-oil wise, Ligne St Barths do a lovely Avocado oil which is excellent for combatting dry skin and hair. Apply to slightly damp skin for added suppleness and to lock in moisture. For any other problem areas (elbows anyone?!) Weleda's Skin Food does the job.

When it comes to makeup, my routine hardly ever wavers whatever the season. That said, as my summer tan fades, I have switched my summer standby (Chanel's Rouge Coco Lipstick in Sari Doré) for a more reddish hue. Poppy King's Lipstick Queen lipstick in Medieval is a sheer, flattering red which can be layered up accordingly. Great for those who (like me) are afraid of too much pigment! 

(Image: Kate Moss by Sante D’Orazio.)
Products available to buy here.

Winter Lady

Saturday marked a momentous occasion for me - my first autumn/winter purchase. I've always preferred winter's sartorial offerings and have even been known to rip endless pages out of my precious magazine collection for my annual winter coat countdown! My most recent purchase, however, was a camel coloured cable knit sweater - perfect teamed with my Acne high waisted jeans and brogues in the city or over a tea dress with thick socks and my wellies for long walks at the seaside (see The Edge of Love for inspiration!) My winter wishlist includes some new suede ankle boots (I'm still dreaming of those suede Isabel Marant boots from a gazillion seasons ago), a camel coloured coat (Celine would be nice but Zara will do!) a navy blue blazer, a blue oxford shirt and some cropped wool trousers. All topped off with some samples of the new Burberry makeup collection. What's on your winter wishlist?