“I love accessories,” says designer Kendall Conrad. “I like to dress like a blank canvas. I don’t change my clothing style that often. I don’t like prints. I like simplicity, but I like to change my accessories.” That’s apparent at our lunch — she’s wearing a black cashmere sweater and jeans, but my eyes are immediately drawn to the stunning gold rings and leather cuffs wrapped around her wrists.
With her husband, David Cameron, Kendall founded Kendall Conrad, the accessories brand whose bags, shoes, jewelry, and belts now enjoy a devout following among celebrities, magazine editors, and trendsetters. But this wasn’t her first fashion company.
In 2000, while pregnant with her second child, Kendall started Tauro. “At the time I couldn’t find a bag I needed,” she says, “and so I designed it.” She hired a saddlemaker, rented a studio in the Alhambra building, and soon stores such as Maxfield’s and Barney’s were placing orders. Tauro ballooned from there.