Table Talk with Jessie Randall
The founder and creative director behind beloved NYC-based brand Loeffler Randall, Jessie Randall, is the embodiment of the line’s aesthetic – lovely, charming and whimsical.
A friend of Rondel founder Lindsey Boyd, Jessie was always someone Lindsey admired. She loved Jessie’s authentic sense of style and lusted over all Loeffler Randall products, buying her first pair of LR shoes – boots – at Bloomingdale's while working in fashion right out of college. The two later met through a mutual friend and immediately bonded over a shared love for beautiful textiles, thoughtful design and things made by hand. The rest is history… As Lindsey says, “It’s impossible not to love her and her brand.”
Read on for a little Table Talk with our Rond Table Guest, Jessie Randall.
My first design experience was...
I can’t necessarily remember my very first design experience, but I grew up in a household where we didn’t have a ton of toys, but we did have beautiful art supplies and special toys that encouraged creative play. I actually sat on Santa’s lap when I was three and begged for my very own jar of paste! He thought I was insane. But having my own tub of paste was a dream for me. I was always making things. And we were bored a lot, too! And I think that was the secret ingredient to becoming a creative person. We had to make our own fun. And I always was obsessed with shoes! I did ballet just for the ballet slippers and the flowers after the recital. Every year they would spray paint our pink ballet slippers with metallic silver spray paint and that fascinated me - I loved how the shoes would be customized to match our recital costumes. And I thought the metallic shoes were so pretty. Also, it meant a new pair of slippers for the next semester!
The people seated at my rond table are…
My husband and business partner Brian (we’ve been married for 17 years, together for 21 years!), my 13-year-old twins Casper and Clementine, my baby Harry (who is 10 now!) and our puppy Peanut.
I am inspired by…
So many things! Everything around me and all my wonderful, creative friends.
The LR piece I can’t wait to wear this winter is…
I love our puff sleeve sweaters. I have them in every color and can’t wait for all the new colors about to launch. The best part is that we raise money for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) with each sale. I always used to think the joy of designing was making people happy (and it is that, of course) but in the past two years I’ve been so proud of the money we have raised for the causes that mean so much to me: LGBTQIA+ rights, women’s rights, racial justice, voting rights and more.
If I weren’t a designer, I’d be…
I’d probably be a children’s book author.
When there’s down time, you’ll find me…
Doing something creative: sewing, knitting, looking for inspiration.
One way I’ve had to pivot my business in current times is…
We just launched our first slipper! I actually sewed the prototype myself out of old LR gingham fabric, cardboard and some quilting batting. We are thinking about the products we want to wear in this unusual time and that inevitably means things that are more casual. But interestingly our pleated Penny and Camellia “wow” shoes have still been our best sellers all throughout quarantine.
Also, working remotely. I actually really enjoy it. I’m sort of a homebody. I love being with my family most of all. It’s been a really creative time, spending a lot of my days at my sewing machine. I’m working on all kinds of creative projects like knitting and doing a mini kitchen reno on my own. I work in the office about once a week with my team. This time has been difficult but also there are a lot of silver linings: more time with my kids, better balance, more creative ways of working.
A holiday look isn’t complete without…
I like to invest in really special pieces that I will wear over and over again. I’m really drawn to small, independent designers and like to support them with my purchases.
Our holidays will be spent…
We usually spend Christmas in Jamaica. It’s something we looking forward to all year long. It’s our special family tradition. But it probably won’t happen this year. This year we will most likely be at home, baking, zooming with our extended family and taking lots of walks with our dog.
A fun quarantine activity we’ve been doing is…
Making potholders in pretty colors with loops from Purl, taking obedience and agility classes outside with our puppy, long walks on the beach and watching every episode of Bob’s Burgers together. I love Linda so much - the best, most upbeat mom, always looking at the bright side.
Something about me you may not know is…
I’m in a writing group and have been for many years. Most of the other writers are a lot older than I am (which is an unusual experience for me since I’m definitely one of the oldest at my company). I love my writing group - the people and the act of working on my writing are very important to me.
My mantra is…
I guess just being comfortable in my own skin. I always want to be learning and growing and trying new things. But also, I’m learning to appreciate the parts of me that aren’t necessarily the most aspirational. All those things make me, me.
A family pass-down I cherish the most is…
I love how creative my family is on both sides. I grew up with the people around me always making things – beautiful, simple, useful things. My mom is an amazing knitter; my dad makes furniture. My Swedish grandmother baked and my Norwegian grandfather had a little toy company making wooden toys for his grandchildren called Torgy Toys (his last name was Torgersen). I really cherish being exposed to craft my whole life. I love to make things with my own two hands.
My story, my style in a word…
Handmade
The Rondel piece that speaks to me…
I love the concept of a piece of jewelry that tells a story. Because jewelry has always been very personal for me. I have charms from all throughout my life. My favorite one is the “La Biondina” charm my husband had made for me. That’s the nickname our first Italian shoe factory had for me “the little blonde girl.” Also, my grandmother used to wear a charm bracelet with all her grandchildren’s profiles and our birthdates etched on the back. It made me feel very loved. I also LOVE the Rondel shapes – in stone or metal; it’s so chic to me.
Jessie's Yard Sale Look
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