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How Molly & Gidget Dresses Nashville's Elite
81 Plays5 months ago
Join us on this exciting episode of the Kick Your Boots Up Podcast as we sit down with the talented TK Trask, the creative mind behind Molly & Gidget. Known for her bold and unapologetic Western-inspired designs that light up red carpets and center stages, TK has made waves in the fashion world with her work featured on runways, at the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville stages, Miss Rodeo America, Whiskey Jam, CMA Fest, worn by Universal Music Group Nashville’s Catie Offerman on tour with George Strait, Miss North Dakota USA, and more! For a full episode transcript, visit our website at: https://www.justinboots.com/en/kick-your-boots-up/podcast.html
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Transcript
Introduction and Special Guest
00:00:00
Speaker
Hey everybody. And thanks for listening to another episode of the Kick Your Boots Up podcast. This episode this week is extra special because we get to go down memory lane and talk about all of the things rodeo cleaning, but also the future summer's coming up and where it's, it's festival season and concert season. And we're going to talk about styling a concert outfit. So stay tuned. You won't want to miss out. This is going to be absolutely epic.
TK Trask's Journey to Nashville
00:00:24
Speaker
And to get right into it TK Trask from Nashville originally South Dakota has a really cool story to tell. Is the owner and founder and lead designer at Molly and Gidget and Molly and Gidget is unique because it's in Nashville right in the heart of country music I mean there's lots happening all the time I know this girl is hard to peg down herself she's got it all going on but she's she's one of the incredible women that you want to get to know because her story is.
00:00:48
Speaker
Truly incredible she doesn't she has the kind of attitude that has no back down and doesn't take no for an answer And she's at the ultimate definition of boss babe And so that's why I'm so excited to have her on the podcast to talk about her story But I do need to talk about Just like this is the specifics of the outfits and the stuff that she gets to do so she Molly and Gidget was created exclusively for
00:01:10
Speaker
red carpet center stage and for the unapologetically bold, as she says. So people that are willing to push the envelope a little bit with their fashion style and just go and take on all the sorts of stages across the world. I mean, she's been everywhere. You've seen her not only on the Miss Rodeo America stage, on Miss Rodeo America, the girl who just recently won. We love Emma Cameron.
00:01:31
Speaker
But also she's been on Fashion Show Runways, the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville Stages, on tour with George Strait. Thanks to Katie Opperman. I personally have taken a recent interest, actually not recent, it's been a few years, but Runaway June is one of the bands that I like because they toured with Carrie Underwood. She gets to help style for Natalie Stovall. Truly, it's just so fun to have Tara here and to learn some of her wisdom. Tara, after all of that, thank you so much for being on the podcast.
00:01:59
Speaker
Thank you. Oh my gosh. I feel like I need you to like remind me of all the things I've done every day. So we need to do this like daily now. Oh, I couldn't agree more. I know this is like the best opportunity ever. Whatever you need. I will be there. I'm there to cheer you on. Love it. Love it.
00:02:17
Speaker
I wanted to get started with, um, I kind of follow this, the same, uh, trend on each episode. We get to know about the person before we really talk about everything that they do. So I guess for us to get started, tell us about your background, how you grew up, and then eventually we'll connect the dots of how fashion became
Design Influences and Style
00:02:33
Speaker
a part of you. So how did you grow up?
00:02:35
Speaker
Well, I grew up in Wahl, South Dakota. And if you are familiar with Wahl drug, the free ice water store, you will know where I grew up. So, I mean, there's billboards all over the, the United States. You know, you can't really miss it, especially if you're driving on I-90. But that's where I grew up. That was my hometown. I was lucky enough to be a ranch kid and a town kid. So during the school year, we would live in town. My mom was a teacher. So that's.
00:03:03
Speaker
you know, was really easy but then during the summer months we would go out and live about 30 miles from Wahl in a town called Creighton and we would live on a ranch in the middle of nowhere so riding horses, gathering cattle, branding, all of those things that is the usual for a ranch kid I was able to be a part of for
00:03:27
Speaker
so many years, which I'm so blessed to. My dad was a quarter horse rancher and had charlie cattle and things like that. So as we grew up though, they wanted to really downsize. So my dad moved his operation closer to walls. So I was able to then, we live in town and still enjoy all of the things that ranch kids get to do. So I really grew up a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll. And that's how my mom always
00:03:56
Speaker
you know, described it. And, you know, I did 4-H, I was active in FFA, very active in National High School Rodeo Association. So many things that agriculture represents and I'm so grateful because it has definitely kept me humble throughout my life and has, you know, that Western influence has always been a part of my designs as well, so.
00:04:22
Speaker
And TK, I love that because you said you're a little bit of country, a little bit of rock and roll. And I feel like that's your style. It shines through, even if your client or customer isn't exactly the most country or doesn't want to be or whatever, I still feel like you always get to have some fringe. You get to throw that little extra flair. And that really, that speaks to me too, because rodeo-queening, that goes hand in hand, a little bit of country, a little bit of rock and roll. You kind of have to be involved in all of it. And so, yeah, there's just so many things that I could ask you there, but I can't tell everyone out there listening.
00:04:51
Speaker
How you and I got connected and that Honestly, I was just actually talking off-camera to the one of the producers for the podcast and it was just saying like You came in for it my life at such an opportune moment such a needed time Oh
00:05:06
Speaker
I was in the stages of like, Oh, I just lost Miss Rodeo America first runner up, you know, say what you want about it. But in my mind, I was the first loser. And you, you and I can relate to that sense of like, we're very competitive, very, again, not taking no for an answer.
Growth from Miss Rodeo America Experience
00:05:21
Speaker
Right. And, um,
00:05:22
Speaker
And so that was like a, I don't want to say like rock bottom for me, but you definitely came in at the most opportune time and you were just like, listen sis, you're not alone. Welcome to the first runner up club. There's a bunch of us out there. We're still doing things. And I think you are, um, there's several out there, but you were one of the women that are a perfect example of
00:05:40
Speaker
to win everything and you don't have to, you know, what you thought was your goal isn't, retire than your goal. Cause that was just like a stepping stone to get there. So I guess I want to say thank you officially for everyone for that. But then also I want to talk about like your rodeo cleaning career too, because we're not going to talk about age here. Cause even I feel old now, but you were one of the greats that
00:06:05
Speaker
I grew up looking up too. I heard your name, I saw you on the stage. There were so many women, I say so many, very few that I truly wanted to be like and act like and replicate. I think for you, it shined through that you didn't matter. You were going to make your own clothes if you had to. You were not going to make up an excuse as to why you couldn't do something. Do you remember anything in particular from your rodeo queen days? Oh my gosh. I remember so many things.
00:06:32
Speaker
It's kind of one of those things that still haunt me in my dreams at night. And I don't know if that happens with you too. You still have these pageant experiences in your dreams. But I look back on
00:06:47
Speaker
What really helped me get into my rodeo queen career was Lonnie Johnston Eakins. She was Miss National High School rodeo queen back in 1995 and she was the first truly rodeo queen that took the time to just say hello. I was nine years old at the time. I had just did my first rodeo queen contest and
00:07:12
Speaker
She signed my, you know, signed an autograph and she just got crowned and just made me feel like a million dollars. And so when I started then to really get into rodeo-queening, then the South Dakota High School Rodeo Queen title was the one that I just, I wanted to have for sure on my resume. And lucky enough for me, I'm the first girl, in fact, still, I believe the only girl in South Dakota High School Rodeo history that held the title three years in a row.
00:07:42
Speaker
So I really, yeah, I really overcame and I really, you know, did a lot with that. And ironically enough, Lonnie was the sponsorship announcer all three years when I competed. So I got to know her again on a personal level. Of course, I'm older, you know, and so we got to really talk about a lot of things. But the fact that she
00:08:07
Speaker
you know initially just signed an autograph asked me about myself just made me feel like I could do anything after that and then seeing her years later and just having her give me advice about my career you know helped me prepare for being Miss Rodeo South Dakota and going on to Miss Rodeo America those are the ladies that you will never forget and
00:08:31
Speaker
To this day, I will be forever grateful for her words of wisdom and, you know, all the things that she helped me do that then in return, she always said, make sure you pass those moments and those, you know,
00:08:47
Speaker
and you know words of wisdom and all of that make sure you pass it on to the next generations and she goes you never owe me anything but to pay it forward and so that's what I really tried to do during you know my queen career and even after so I really feel like that's how we got connected and just when it you know
00:09:08
Speaker
We all put our hearts and souls into being a rodeo queen. It's not an easy thing to do. And it has a definite end. And what I wanted every girl leaving the rodeo America pageant that didn't wear the crown, because we all go there. We all want to be that. There's a plan A, obviously. But always make sure you have a plan B, because
00:09:36
Speaker
Your life doesn't end at the end of Miss Rodeo America.
Fashion Design Beginnings and Passion
00:09:39
Speaker
It just begins. And there's so many things that you can go on and do. And you are one of those people that are showing that and showing the girls that, you know, finished first, second, top 10, you know, maybe didn't even place that you're how you finish at any pageant.
00:09:58
Speaker
doesn't mean that's the end of your career, however you want to see it, or your life. You can go on and do bigger things and live out different dreams. I think that's the most exciting thing about life. Well, thank you for your kind words. Again, I need you around every day hyping me up. That's so nice.
00:10:17
Speaker
But I learned from you and I learned from a lot of rodeo queens that you were Queening with as well because that's part of it And I will say it was really hard at the beginning to want to give it back and to want to pay it forward because you're it's really confusing but there's growth with that and you learn and
00:10:34
Speaker
I mean, truly, you can probably attest to your own personal story. You would not be where you are today had you have won, but same for me, I would not be where I'm at today had I have won because of the different opportunities that came along that year that I would have been too busy being Miss Rodeo America. Same for you. Exactly.
00:10:50
Speaker
I can't help but think though through all of the bobby pins and the hairspray and all the sparkles and the rhinestone that which is that part we still love that at some point in time you fell in love with designing your own wardrobe and getting say in what you got to wear and I can't help but think maybe that's how you ended up where you are today is that kind of the same
00:11:09
Speaker
Absolutely, absolutely. I always, I think a lot of people have heard me say this, but I used my study halls in high school to not necessarily do my homework, but to either write my speeches or write speeches in general or design, whether it was my rodeo queen clothing or just designing, just drawing in general. That was always my favorite parts
00:11:36
Speaker
of being a rodeo queen was I designed all of my outfits. I never, not once didn't ever have a hand in any of them, which I'm pretty proud of, I guess, to say the least. So I knew that that was always something that I wanted to continue because it was, you know, it made it mine. It made it my style. I was, you know, not trying to,
00:12:02
Speaker
necessarily copy anybody else. I was just, I was my own designer, which was great. And I could, you know, experiment with different things. And, and I will say that when I gave up being Miss Rodeo, South Dakota, I was like, Oh man, I'm not gonna be able to design anymore. And I think that is what honestly, it was honestly that led me to
00:12:25
Speaker
what Molly and Gidget is today. And it was, you know, I went from college, I always knew in college, I wanted to at least open a clothing store. Boutiques were not as big back then as they were today.
Evolution of Molly and Gidget
00:12:38
Speaker
So I would, you know, I went to these two boutiques in South Dakota that were, you couldn't find any of the clothes anywhere else. And so I loved that because it was such my style and I would show up to different places and people would always be like,
00:12:51
Speaker
Oh, where'd you get that? And I'm just like, oh, you know, Shangri-La or, um, the other boutique in Mitchell. And it was, it was always so fun. And I knew that that's what I wanted to do. I wanted to be able to give that same experience to other girls. So I did, I launched Molly and Gidget in 2011 as a boutique and then, um,
00:13:15
Speaker
I went with that for a while, I guess, until I went to grad school. I was also an intern at Country Music Television and they also called me fancy, which is funny. People are like, oh, is it like fancy as in Revo or is it fancy like you're a fancy dresser?
00:13:35
Speaker
I always laughed at that because it was one of those things that I was like, well, I took it as the positive, not the negative, but you know, but they always, you know, made me like, just always complimented on my style. I was very, you know, cowgirl, I always wore boots. And it stood out from the rest. And so they always told me that I needed to have a
00:13:57
Speaker
a boutique or my own fashion line. So that really like 100% after that, that was 2010. I was like, I'm going to do this. And so I launched through an online boutique is what Molly and Gidget started out as. So I did that, but as I started my career and worked with different types of brands and things like that, it was harder to maintain Molly and Gidget as a
00:14:27
Speaker
boutique just because inventory going to market it just it was too much it was too much and i so i kind of started to take a little bit of a step back i kept it going as much as i could but it wasn't until i was at the national cowgirl museum and hall of fame that i was 100 sure i was going to launch it as a brand and as a fashion design um you know label because i i
00:14:51
Speaker
went to Vegas every year and this was before Vegas was what it is now but I created two pieces and one was a bronze fringe skirt that I wore actually on stage you know to present the I think it was the photogenic
00:15:08
Speaker
award that the National Cowgirl Museum gave to Maestro de America every year. I can't remember. Okay. But anyways, I wore it on stage. And then the second piece was the infamous gold fringe jacket. So this was 2016 when I did that. And everybody like, where did you get this? Where are you doing? You know, and I'm just like, I, you know, I designed it. These are my own designs. It was so exciting. And I knew that
00:15:34
Speaker
moving forward that's what maulingidget was going to be it was going to be the things that you can't find everywhere else um just the unique looks and that are all up in my head and so two years later i launched mauling digit as a full-fledged fashion label and and over the years it became now what it is today a center stage and red carpet and
00:15:57
Speaker
I love the fact that I can evolve throughout the years. It's been well over 10 years since Molly and Gidget came to be. So yeah, it's just kind of a crazy story on how it all came about, but I attribute it all back to sitting in study hall designing.
00:16:19
Speaker
designing my rodeo queen outfit. Isn't that crazy? I remember a memory I have of one of my best friends and I, we're sitting down studying same concept and she was like, Taylor, if you would just spend half the time that you spent on rodeo queen stuff studying for school, you might actually be a straight A student. That's so relatable. I can't believe I had never heard that story before because yes, I totally get that. I think it's cool too to have the name Molly and Gidget. It's your dog. Was it your dog's?
00:16:46
Speaker
Yes, it was our two toy poodles, Molly, who came first, and she was very much a diva is what we always called her. And then Gidget came along later and she was just this free spirit. So when I came up with the concept of Molly and Gidget, I really wanted it to be
00:17:05
Speaker
And this was the tagline back then was where a rockin' or where a old Hollywood diva meets a rock and roll cowgirl. So I wanted to combine, yeah, kind of those two different personalities and those two, you know, different styles. And it's funny because I look back at it now and it's still kind of the same, you know, that's still seen through in my designs for sure.
00:17:28
Speaker
Oh yeah. And it's, it's like once a queen, always a queen, you've got the fringe, you've got the rock and roll spirit. So yeah, definitely. And I think what's cool for you is, is you've over time obviously evolved it from the boutique, but now it's on to bigger, bigger and better stages. Let's say you've done some pretty cool things, but I think it's still cool that you still take the time to design for like your specific friends, South Dakota girls for like NFL and things like that. So.
00:17:53
Speaker
What do you think has been the hardest part about building the character and keeping the same relationships, but also trying to grow your business and become more of an elite brand? Talk about that part of it.
Brand Identity and Industry Relationships
00:18:04
Speaker
Oh my gosh. There's been a lot of times where I've had to
00:18:13
Speaker
set some boundaries of what I can and cannot do and you know as much as I want to be everything to everybody I mean that's kind of the rodeo queen is still in me a little bit it's it's it doesn't serve me or the brand well to just to be that way so I've had to really
00:18:35
Speaker
hone in on, okay, this is what maulingage it is. This is what we stand for. This is the type of styles I do. This is, you know, the extracurricular activities that, you know, we participate in, specifically women's empowerment movement and sustainable fashion movements.
00:18:54
Speaker
as well as like some mental health movements as well. So I always want to make sure that whether you're a friend or, you know, or celebrity client or, you know, whoever you are, I always want to make sure that
00:19:10
Speaker
you fit well with the brand because Christian Siriano said it best that the people who wear your brand are a direct reflection of who your brand is. And so it's vital for me to make sure that the girls understand what maulingage it stands for, what our style is, and then make sure that the designs they wear
00:19:37
Speaker
are reflective of not only my brand, but their personality. And it's a perfect collaboration, essentially. Oh, yeah. And I think the perfect representation of this was Emma Cameron's... Well, actually, all the outfits that you did, I think you did three or four of them. Yeah, I think it did. Yeah, I think so. Maybe even more than that, maybe more than I'm even counting, but I can't help but keep going back to the vest because I remember you posting the day that she wore it, which by the way, you finally got to post it. You've been waiting on her for this whole time. I know.
00:20:05
Speaker
I mean, first of all, explain it to everyone what you did. I'm going to say, spoiler alert, she said, why not wear a vest backwards? And some people would have thought it was so crazy, but Emma, it was a perfect example because you even wrote, and this is what I thought was so cool. And this represents you and your brand of like,
00:20:22
Speaker
You're not going to work with just anyone. You're going to work with the winners, the ones that are really pushing the limits and all that. And you wrote Miss Rodeo America 2024 on her appearance bag. And yes, some people probably thought that was bold, but I was like, that is bold in the best way. Like that's when you know, you know. And so talk about the whole experience designing the vest. That was just so cool. Oh yes. Oh yes. So, you know, I will say Molly and Gidget.
00:20:48
Speaker
you know what we are is edgy, bold, iconic and stylish with just hints of western and sparkle and feathers and you know
00:20:59
Speaker
elements that really make the outfit unique and stand out. So when I talked with Emma, how Emma and I actually got associated is I judged her the year she won the National High School Rodeo Queen contest, which you know very well. And so I followed her throughout her entire year
00:21:20
Speaker
as the National High School rodeo queen and you know just was so proud of everything she had done and was just thoroughly impressed with you know who she was and and when she won Miss rodeo in New Mexico I was like oh gosh
00:21:35
Speaker
If you need anything, you let me know. Because at that point, I was already in Nashville. I had done another gals fashion show and wrangler outfit for Miss Rodeo America. So I was a little unsure if I ever wanted to do it again. I'll put it that way. But Emma was just that person that I was like 100%. She embodies everything Molly Engage is. And she actually reached out to me after she
00:22:05
Speaker
while she was in Vegas watching that year and she goes, okay, I have some ideas, but I want you to do my fashion show. And as we went throughout the year, she kind of added a few more things. Oh, I want you to do my horsemanship interview. Oh, I want you to do this. And it was the last one that we had talked about was the Wrangler outfit with the vest.
00:22:28
Speaker
And she calls me and I'll never forget it. She's like, I don't, it's, you know, this year we get a vest. I don't know what to do with it. That's pretty hard. I remember telling her on the phone, I said, don't worry. I got this. And so she sent me a picture of the vest and I was like, oh, this is going to be, this is going to be difficult. You know, this is going to be tricky because it is, it's a very much, it was a boxy, you know, vest.
00:22:54
Speaker
Exactly. Just very boxy. How did she put it? She was like, oh, it's one of the timers or like the flaggers vest that you see in the arenas. And I was like, oh my gosh, okay. So I kind of started to really think about like, okay, what could we possibly do?
00:23:12
Speaker
And I'm always one to, as I said, just kind of alter things as I wear them. So I have different jackets that I will flip backwards. And I'll wear it backwards and have the back open on it just for something a little different and edgy. And so that's when I was like, I bet that vest would look incredible backwards.
00:23:41
Speaker
And I started looking through different inspos. And I remember seeing a nudie's shirt that he actually wore, nudie Cohen. And it was very like, the front of the shirt was very boxy. It was very just like, it looked like it was a backwards vest. And so I was like, that's it. That's how we're gonna do it. We're gonna,
00:24:04
Speaker
Flip it backwards. I want her to put like another denim shirt underneath of it, make this really old cowgirl kind of vibe, put some like gaucho pants with it, kind of make her look like, you know, one of the old time cowgirls. Thank you National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame for that inspo working there. And, and
00:24:27
Speaker
That's how it all came to be. But as I was kind of placing things on it or thinking through it, she's like, well, it has to represent our state. And I'm like, oh my gosh, how perfect is it that turquoise is your state stone? Oh, perfect. So I got all of these turquoise squash blossoms and I started to just kind of mold it onto the vest.
00:24:53
Speaker
play with it. And I remember telling Emma, you know, I go, I think a backwards vest is ideal. And she, she, she trusted me throughout this whole entire process because she goes, I can't see it. You know, and I even drew up a design for her, but she's, and she's, you know, she's still like, I can't see it, but I trust you.
00:25:10
Speaker
And I finally got it all put together. That was the first one that actually I finished just because I was so excited to do it. It was gonna be just completely unique. And so that was the first one I sent off to her. And then once she got it, she was like, oh my gosh, I get it now. I totally get it. And it just was one of those pieces that...
00:25:35
Speaker
Creatively, she gave me enough time to really think through it. She gave me all the right elements. And the fact that I knew her so well at that point that I knew that she could pull this off and do well with it. Well, you just set me up perfectly for the next thing I was curious about in your business because you do. With your creative process, it comes and goes, I'm sure, just like anything that's creative.
00:25:59
Speaker
And you kind of almost have to study your clients. So what is your creative process? How do you like, let's say you're going to design something for some big A-lister and you need it ready for like a red carpet or whatever. Do you pull from their style of who they are? Do you try to do something different? Talk us through your process there of styling it out. The creative process is so funny because it does.
Creative Process and Client Collaboration
00:26:23
Speaker
It ebbs and flows. You can't
00:26:27
Speaker
Force anything, at least in my opinion, you can't force anything. You have to allow it to come as it will. And a lot of the different stars, you know, celebrities around here, you either work with them directly or you have to work with their stylist.
00:26:43
Speaker
So if you work with them directly, that's better because you can get to know them. They get to know you. They will tell you, oh, I like this, or this is what I'm thinking. And then I can put my own spin on it. And it's a great collaboration. But when you're working with.
00:27:00
Speaker
they're stylists it's it gets a little you know you get that middleman in there so it's a little bit more difficult and it takes a little bit longer the stylist will have you know a lot of like mood boards and things they'll send you um but
00:27:16
Speaker
when it comes to working directly with the artist, they like to, you know, tell you, okay, this is what I want. This is what I'm hoping for, different things like that. So it's, yeah, it's just, it's different no matter who you work with, but with Rodeo Queens, it's really easy because you get to work with them directly. And I love when the client like Emma, for example, or Natalie Stovall, she's also like this, Jen Wayne, she's another one, they'll just say,
00:27:46
Speaker
This is what I want. I trust you. You know, this is what we need. I want something. Yeah. Yeah. I want a dress or, you know, I get really hot and I don't want to wear sleeves. So what can you do? But that's, you know, kind of still edgy and flowy. So they kind of give me a direction and then I just run with it. So I will always have, you know, an arsenal of designs that I constantly either draw or I
00:28:14
Speaker
you know, have my own mood boards or inspiration. So when I am kind of struggling on a creative opportunity, that's when I will go back into there and see if there's anything that I can pull. Otherwise, I literally have to shut everything off and just focus on, okay, who is this person and what is something that's just gonna make them stand out because
00:28:43
Speaker
At the end of the day, Molly and Gidget, it's made for the girls who want to stand out. It's the girls who turn heads. It's the girls who don't look like everybody else and don't want to look like everybody else. So I don't study trends. I don't study who's wearing what. And in fact, if a girl comes to me and says, and this has happened more than once, I want to look like Carrie Underwood, or I love Carrie Underwood's outfit. Can you do this outfit?
00:29:11
Speaker
I, Carrie Underwood has great style. Her, her stylist is next to none. And she's one of those people that I'm like, yes, Carrie Underwood is fabulous.
00:29:23
Speaker
But let's just look at what's the body or what's the main thing that you like that she's wearing? Is it a top? Is it a t-shirt? Is it a jacket? Is it denim? Is it leather? From there, we can take that base. And then I always say, let's create it.
00:29:42
Speaker
for you and make you a fashion icon, not a Carrie Underwood replica because there's only one Carrie Underwood. Not everybody can be Carrie Underwood. So I really encourage all of my clients that just trust me on this and let's make you the next big Carrie Underwood or the next big fashion icon.
00:30:05
Speaker
It's a process and it's different with everybody. But I really try to make sure that it's still true to my brand and true to whoever's wearing it. I love that you brought Carrie Underwood up because I followed her for the longest time thinking I wanted her legs. And I went to her trainer one time and she was like, yeah, you can have everything in moderation. My husband, he gets donuts. You can have a bite of his donut. And that was when I was lost. I was like, how do you just have one bite of a donut? You can't eat the whole donut.
00:30:35
Speaker
So I'm so glad you brought that up because I, I totally understand what you're meaning, especially like in a world that, and I mean, country music in general is such a niche at times. And when, when people get so stuck on trends and trying to fit in, you lose sight of who you are and what you represent. So that's so cool. That's what I love about you, obviously, but
00:30:51
Speaker
Thank you. No, no, of course. I can't help but remember, and this is going to go into my next question of how you handle things. CMA Fest last year, we were trying to meet up, but you had a, I don't want to say a mishap, a styling emergency, let's say. So sometimes that's going to happen and you learned that word between you and I both understand, sometimes those jeans just ain't fitting, sweetheart.
00:31:14
Speaker
And that's like story of my life. Like I cannot tell you how many times I've had to have like backup outfits and all that stuff. How do you handle the, I guess the stress of it? Is it even the stress? I don't even know what I'm asking. Like how do you handle that? When something, like when plan A doesn't work, how do you make plan B
Managing Fashion Emergencies
00:31:29
Speaker
work? Tell us, talk to us about the behind the scenes there, the stuff that we don't know.
00:31:33
Speaker
It's so funny because it goes back to, you know, being a rodeo queen again, because you do, you have to be ready for the unexpected. And that's one thing that, you know, just being in rodeo and in the Western industry and agriculture in general, you have to be ready for whatever life throws at you. And it can be highs and lows and you just kind of have to ebb and flow and just be able to adjust accordingly, pivot and pivot well.
00:32:01
Speaker
is what I always say. And it's just, you know, it takes practice a little bit, but as I said, I've fallen into it so easily because of, you know, my rodeo queen career and having a backup plan and just knowing, okay, if jeans split or a top zipper breaks or, you know, what is the next backup that we can do or what can I do to, you know, either sew somebody in or
00:32:32
Speaker
I'm always ready. I have actually like a little toolkit that I take everywhere with me that has everything in it that I could possibly use. The CMAs this year when I worked with Jordan Davis' wife, we did so many fittings and there were still little mishaps that were right up until the last minute that her stylist and I were sewing her in and making sure all of these,
00:32:58
Speaker
It's just, it comes with practice and it comes with just knowing that, you know, fashion happens and stuff happens all the time and you just, just be prepared for absolutely anything and make sure you have, you know,
00:33:11
Speaker
a little toolkit ready to go. And then it's kind of like, you know, you get stuck in a winter storm. And this is going to show my South Dakota roots right here. You can stuck in a winter storm on a highway, you know, having that preparedness kit is vital. And that's how I guess how I also look at it as being, you know, a fashion designer, you have to also have everything ready to go, you know, at any time for that. So.
00:33:35
Speaker
Well, you handle it all well, especially because of the finished product, you'd have no idea any time anything ever happens. And that's like what makes you so good at your job. Well, thank you. We're going to take a quick break. And when we come back, we're going to learn about how to style and what to look for in concert festival outfits. So everyone stay tuned and we'll be right back.
Sponsorship: Justin Jeans
00:33:56
Speaker
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00:34:23
Speaker
Hey everybody and welcome back. Thanks for listening to the Kick Your Boots Up podcast. If you like what you've heard so far, please feel free to like, subscribe, share it with your friends, tell everyone about TK, go follow her now. We have so much more in store for you and by the time this podcast episode will have come out, it's summertime.
00:34:38
Speaker
We're looking ahead to concerts. We're trying to find not only where we're going to spend all of our concert dollars, but what outfits we're going to spend it on. TK, talk us through how you recommend working with you as a designer in that level, getting the exclusive stuff, but then also maybe going into our local boot barn or calendars or wherever we can find any inspo, even Hot Topic if that's what you want for a top. Talk to us about all of that. How do we find the signature pieces? How do we build the outfits? All of it.
00:35:07
Speaker
Okay.
Festival Styling Advice
00:35:08
Speaker
Oh, this is such a loaded question. It's big. You know, it's, it's, no, it's great because this is where I get really jazzed up. So listeners are probably going to be like, Oh my gosh, this girl's like super jazzed up about festival, you know, season and summer season. And it's just because
00:35:25
Speaker
specifically festival fashion, you can just really let your personality shine and really kind of just go with loud and big outfits and things like that, which I absolutely love, obviously. But I always say that when it comes to festival fashion or stage concert looks, however you want to kind of embody it,
00:35:52
Speaker
You want to have one standout piece, one centerpiece, and you want to build your outfit around that. That's my first piece of advice is to just find that one piece, whether it's a fringe jacket or whether it's a denim jumpsuit or if you want to build it around a vintage t-shirt, whatever that is to you,
00:36:22
Speaker
put that first and then from there you can throw in basics or however you want it to look. I'm always one that I like the jackets or I like a really flashy top or you know and then from there I usually layer like a basic white tank or a black tank with some you know some
00:36:44
Speaker
shredded shorts or however I always you know um kind of make it more basic so then you're not so then you can spend more money on that signature that that centerpiece and then you know save the rest of your budget for something less um you know when it comes to like fashion designer like myself a custom piece you obviously are going to be spending a little bit more money because
00:37:08
Speaker
It's going to be one of a kind. It's going to be custom to you. It's going to just, you know, have your signature on it. And then, you know, or if you want to go down, let's just say like the boot bar and round or something to that effect, just find that one piece that's that standout piece. And then, as I said, build your build the rest with basics or, you know, kind of a more solid ground.
00:37:32
Speaker
I couldn't agree more with, and I, with you. And then I love hearing that too. And I remember, um, specifically, I don't remember if you wore this or if someone you styled wore this, but it was a guns and roses t-shirt, the vintage tee that you would have been. Yeah. But then it also had, maybe you added your custom, whether that was like these friend shoulder pads or, um, it's the, the diamonds of Dixie. Yep. Diamond Dixie girls. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Yeah.
00:37:57
Speaker
Oh, thank you. They had a song come out called Guns and Roses, I believe is what it was called. And so she came to me before that concert and was like, I want to wear a Guns and Roses t shirt. And I said, Okay, well, I don't want it because I also, once again, remember Carrie Underwood wearing a Guns and Roses t shirt. So I'm like, how can we make it yours and something really unique? So
00:38:27
Speaker
I took a vintage t-shirt that I found, let's just say on eBay. I believe it was eBay. And I got it in no time. And I started once again, started looking at it. Okay, how can I make this unique?
00:38:42
Speaker
to Gabriella. Gabriella is very, she likes the rhinestone, she likes fringe, she likes, you know, when she's like the, she doesn't have to play a guitar, she can just move. So her movement, I wanted the shirt to have some movement to it. So when I put it all together, I had, you know, some
00:39:04
Speaker
shoulder pads that I had some fringe and some rhinestones on it that I put on it. And then the rest of the shirt, I just distressed it. I put some leather long fringe pieces all over it and then rhinestones it with pearls. And it was very much her. So when I looked at it, I'm like,
00:39:26
Speaker
Yes, it's a Guns N' Roses t-shirt, but this is Gabriela's Guns N' Roses t-shirt. So, you know, having that spin on it, that, again, that personal style, so you're not copying or looking like somebody else, is so vital. And especially with festival fashion, again, just, you can have so much fun and you can really let your personality show and, you know, I think that's what's great about it, so.
00:39:54
Speaker
Oh, definitely. And I've got to say, you're exactly right. It's so cool to hear your perspective on that outfit because even the photos can, they capture the fringe flowing with the wind. And had you have not realized what kind of performer she was or taken the time to care, I don't think you would have, you would have missed something major and she would have just gone out in a normal t-shirt like everyone else. And so I commend you there. That's super cool.
00:40:14
Speaker
Thank you. Thank you. I think you're really good too about staying on top of your game. You're always a step ahead. That's what it just seems. Even if you feel like you're in the best spot, by the time whoever gets onto the red carpet gets onto the stage, they look like a million dollars. They looked finished, which is great for your brand. Incorporating that back into the festival as an attendee goer that's going to, let's say CMA Fest that's coming up,
00:40:38
Speaker
Or by the time this podcast will have come out, I don't know if it's already happened or not, but either way, let's just pretend that we're going to go there or something. What do you think is like the number one or top five things we should take with us? Go back to Rodeo Queen days of like, do you think, obviously Rodeo Queen, it was always like bobby pins and hairspray and all that. What do you think you should take with us to the festival? Well, having been to CMA Fest and also having been to Coachella, I can tell you that less is more.
00:41:06
Speaker
Okay. Just because it is, you know, with Coachella, you're out in the desert and you're, you know, it's, it can be a hundred degrees. And then by the end of the night, it's, you know, 50 degrees. So, yep. So you have to, you know, when thinking about your outfit too, you need to plan accordingly. Um, if you need to bring like a bunch of things, I know at Coachella, you could, you know, rent a locker and then shove a sweatshirt in there or whatever. Um, which is, you know, something to think about, but
00:41:36
Speaker
If you're just going and you don't want to take a lot, because to a lot of these places, you can't have your big bags, your backpacks, your big purses, things like that. So I always say, make sure you have some
00:41:53
Speaker
face mist because that helps you stay cool. It also keeps your, you know, your skin dewy and hydrated. And, and that will also help with, you know, you don't want to wear a bunch of makeup and things to, you know, to do, to, to these concerts and stuff, because by the end of the day, everybody's looking the same.
00:42:12
Speaker
Yeah, just keep your skin fresh and hydrated. I think that that's the number one, because that right there is your base to the rest of your outfit. So making sure you have that. Safety pins would be number two, having just a couple of safety pins. Smart. Because you never know when a button will fall off or something happens. Just wardrobe malfunctions.
00:42:41
Speaker
Um, so I always make sure I like I pin a safety pin to like my little purses or something like that and then have a couple of them just kind of hanging off. So it kind of looks like fringe style, but also functional. Exactly. So you have that in your, you know, in your arsenal. Um, number three, I would say have some of those, um, you know, those.
00:43:06
Speaker
I guess those, uh, inserts that you can put in your shoes because, and don't wear shoes. You can't walk in or can't stand in for more than an hour. Like that's so vital. Uh, cowboy boots shout out to Justin boots for this. I love wearing cowboy boots to festivals. They're comfortable. I can stand in them all day. Thank God. Walking up.
00:43:29
Speaker
And you guys have something that's great, like the J-Flex, because they have that nice little cushioning in them, and then you don't have to worry about padding. But if you are unfortunate and don't have any Justin boots, make sure you get one of those. If you decide to wear stilettos to the concert. Exactly. Make sure you have the inserts to that. And then number five, I would say, once again, I would do something with your outfit where you can have layers.
00:43:57
Speaker
So whether that's like having a base like a tank top as a base and then wrapping a longer sleeve shirt around your waist or like a Coachella I wore the one day I wore kind of a sequin top with feathers on it.
00:44:13
Speaker
And it was black. I was wearing all black that day, probably not the greatest, but I was actually quite cool because the top was more see-through and breathable. I think just constantly going around and, you know, to all these different stages, you know, wherever you are, you're going to want to be able, you're going to be walking, you're going to be sweating. So having things that are breathable, like me, unfortunately, this might be TMI, but I tend to sweat out in the summertime. So I like to have
00:44:42
Speaker
you know, things that don't show that and but yet breathable and I can still be cool and things like that. So those would be my top five recommendations for when attending festivals. Wow TK thank you for breaking it down for us. I'm like actually taking mental notes in my head too. I'm like okay that's actually really smart you know just making sure of everything because you're right.
Closing Thoughts and Positivity
00:45:03
Speaker
I mean most the time you have to have like a clear bag or you barely even have enough pockets for your phone so make something that you can like do and use and
00:45:10
Speaker
wow all of it thank you for being a wealth of knowledge and oh i mean you have we have to learn the hard way by going to these enough that you know i'm just like well here you go this is what i've learned so yeah please take it from me please yes i know i love that so much in the face mrs
00:45:28
Speaker
is so key. You're so right. I didn't even think about that. But even being in Nashville, working the events, not even trying to be cute or go for fun. I remember thinking like, wow, even though it's Nashville and you would think it's so humid, I wish I did have like this extra little, so I'm like, okay, adding the setting spray to my list. Yep. Do that. Do that.
00:45:45
Speaker
Anyways, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day. I know you have a lot going on. You just announced at the time of filming, obviously by the time the podcast is out, we're already well on our way, but you just announced that your books are closed for styling for CMA Fest. So that's exciting. I know you have a lot of big projects and your future is so bright and I am just so honored to get to breathe your air at this point in time through the Zoom, through the camera. So thank you for your time. Thank you for being awesome. And for, like you said in the very beginning,
00:46:12
Speaker
you know, pouring into others and continuing it for other generations, whatever that is, rodeo, Queenie, music, industry, fashion in general. Thank you for paving the way and not doing it unwaveringly, not settling for anything and posting your motivational quotes sometimes. Like we were just talking off camera, like trying to train for running things. Like sometimes I just read one of your quotes and I'm like, yes, let's go. I can do
00:46:34
Speaker
this so same same and it's so important to to surround yourself with positive people and that's one thing you know i'm so blessed with is that my inner circle and my core people like like yourself you guys just lift me up when i feel feel down and and being able to consume that on social media is so vital so i mean i hope everybody listening
00:46:57
Speaker
finds those people that lift them up and keep them positive and keep them moving forward because we need more of that. We need more love in this world. And thank you for being that one to me.
00:47:08
Speaker
Well, yes, I think we help each other out more than we need to know it. I mean, truly, yes, thank you. We do need that. We do need each other, lifting each other up. And speaking of that, she is really good about posting, like I said, motivational quotes or boss babe things, or even just some projects and sneak peeks. I love the sneak peeks. So if you give her a follow, go ahead over at Instagram, Molly and Gidget. Do you have a Facebook too? Facebook?
00:47:30
Speaker
Yes. Yep. Just Molly and Gidget. Yep. Okay. And then also her website is super cool. I know from time to time, she'll get to do some like sample cells, which you're going to want to get in on because that's like a rare find. So if you want her website is www.mollyandgidget.com.
00:47:47
Speaker
You can ask questions, follow her, follow along all through festival concert season, follow for the award shows. I'm here, I will say TK, for your social media. I'm here after every award show ready for your recaps of like your favorites or even not disliked in like the way of like tearing them down, but like, what would you change here? Things like that. I'm all for it. So we need more, we need more red carpet content, award shows, Grammys. We need all of that. So thank you. And if you guys would like to go follow along, do that as well.
00:48:17
Speaker
As always, we're so thankful that you are listening to the Kick Your Boots Up podcast. I've said it a million times and I'll say it a million more until you do it. Like, subscribe, tell your friends about this podcast, and also feel free to comment below and tell us who you want to see on the podcast. We're so excited that you're listening and we look forward to seeing you the next time you kick your boots up.
00:48:35
Speaker
Thanks for joining us on Kick Your Boots Up. I'm your host, Taylor McAdams, and we can't wait to share the next story of the West. Until then, feel free to like, subscribe, and leave us a review. Follow us on social media at Justin Boots to keep up with our next episode, and we'll see you the next time you kick your boots up.