Jamie not only runs a successful fashion tech company and has amazing style, she is a devoted and dedicated mom to her daughter Emerson, son Max, and stepson Spender. Jamie and her husband have an amazing tradition of taking their kids to NYC around the holidays to do ALL THE THINGS, and they even dubbed it “Chandlee Wish Week” many years back because of the special experiences they each get to partake in.
Since Jamie is an expert on New York over the holidays with kids, I asked her to fill us in on all of her top picks. There are SO many good ideas here! It’s making me itch for a last-minute trip this holiday season! But first, let’s learn a little bit more about Jamie. Happy reading!
1. Tell me a bit more about yourself - where did you grow up and what did you want to be when you were older?
I was born and raised in Beaumont, TX and attended the University of Texas at Austin (hook’em)! I always wanted to be a lawyer, which makes me laugh a bit looking back on that now, however, I’m happy with how my path turned out.
2. How did you land in your role now as CEO of Rank and Style?
I left an intense job at Facebook in 2013 when I was pregnant with my daughter, Emerson. I really struggled with my identity and was in a total rut. Being a mom is very fulfilling, but I quickly realized that I needed another outlet. I started working on the Rank & Style acquisition a few months after my son was born, and I haven’t looked back since.
3. Where does your sense of style come from, and how would you describe your style?
If I had to describe my style in two words, it would be easy and versatile. Given I am always on the go– whether traveling, tending to work needs, or running my kids around– I like to choose outfits that feel effortless. Sometimes that means splurging on staple pieces, too. I am always inspired by new collections from my favorite designers (which I always have my eye on), but the easiest place for me to get inspo is on the streets of NYC. I’m always scanning my surroundings and taking notes!
4. What is one thing that never goes out of style?
Hands down, an investment-worthy handbag! It will last you more than the test of time.
5. What are your top 5 places to travel?
- NYC, of course!
- Paris
- St. Barths
- Cabo
- Vail
6. What is your connection to New York City?
My husband was living there when we met and we knew we wanted our kids to experience the magic and hustle of NYC. We have always tried to split our time there which is more challenging as the kids get older. We still jump at every opportunity to travel there and spend as much time as possible.
7. What is one thing you ALWAYS pack when you go to NYC?
I’m going to break the rules and give you three: A chic and comfortable sneaker, a great blazer (Blaze Milano is my favorite so I justify the splurge), and my newly discovered La Mer Soft Fluid Foundation. I tend to be make-up free for most of my time in the Big Apple!
8. Okay, so if you only had 48 hours in New York with the kids around the holidays, what would you do?
The holidays in NYC truly are the most magical so we try to pack as much in as we can while there. Our family has a tradition of Chandlee Wish Week that we have been doing since 2013 and at this point, I would say we have it down and have certainly tried it all.
We live downtown so our first day is always spent hitting all of our spots uptown. We definitely have a stop at Bergdorf Goodman & Saks to peruse the displays and have lunch at L’Avenue (at Saks and fancy for the kids!). We then head across the street to American Girl, LEGO, and FAO Schwarz, which is always a blast for the kids. We fuel up with some hot chocolate and coffee at the Ralph’s coffee trailer (Ralph Lauren) in Rockefeller Center then head to watch the Rockettes!
If we still have energy, we stop at Bryant Park to check out the holiday markets and go for a quick ice skate.
We then top off the night back downtown at Carbone. A little cliche but it’s still one of our favorite stops for Italian.
For day 2, We spend the day downtown shopping on Bleecker Street, making stops at all of our favorite stores (Stoney Clover, Love Shack Fancy, Lingua Franca, The Last Line, to name a few). Banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery would 100% be included in the lineup. We’d then close out the evening with more pasta from Bar Pitti and jump in a car for a trip to Dyker Heights to look at the amazing Christmas light displays! It’s next level!
Thank you, Jamie!