Kimora: House of Fab

Kimora: House of Fab

Australian Premiere Monday, March 4 at 8:30pm only on Style

Style pulls back the curtain on the sleek offices of JustFab, the fashion industry's dot-com gem, with its new docu-series 'Kimora: House of Fab", premiering on Monday, March 4th at 8:30pm AEDT. The hour-long series gives viewers a glimpse into the high-tech world of a fashion dot-com and the fiercely chic employees who make it all come together, advised by President and Creative Director Kimora Lee Simmons, to see just what it takes for a thriving young company to succeed.

Kimora is set on taking the company to the next level of fabulosity, but she'll need the support of the colourful JustFab staff who rival her over-the-top personality. The series follows these style savvy professionals as they work to bring affordable fashion to the digital forefront at one of the go-to online platforms for high fashion looks. With more than nine million members and growing, JustFab is quickly changing the world of fast fashion and solidifying its title as the dot-com leader in the fashion subscription space.

Meet the cast:

Kimora Lee Simmons
Kimora is a model, mogul, mum, author, philanthropist and media personality, who's become one of the most dynamic and influential businesswomen in fashion and entertainment for the past 20 years. By age 13, the St. Louis native and young model was discovered and whisked away to Paris where she signed an exclusive contract with Chanel. Karl Lagerfeld declared her his muse and deemed her the "Face of the 21st Century." In addition to modelling for the French fashion house, Kimora has also walked the runways of Christian Dior, Roberto Cavalli and Yves Saint Laurent. She's been photographed by the world's most celebrated photographers, including Steven Meisel, Annie Liebovitz, Mario Testino and Peter Lindbergh, for the covers of such magazines as Vogue, Elle and Harper's Bazaar. Building on her dynamic fashion experience, Kimora has spent the past 16 years cultivating an international staple of iconic, successful brands including fashion, accessories, fragrance and beauty.

Don Ressler
Don is the Co-Chief Executive Officer of JustFab. Ressler started his early Internet career consulting with companies looking to take advantage of the burgeoning online space. He has generated over $1 billion in sales and has raised over $100 million in capital, earning a reputation as a business and brand-building guru. One of his early companies, FitnessHeaven.com, was acquired by Intermix Media in 2001, where he took on the new role of spearheading online brand building for the fast growing company. In 2005, Intermix Media, was acquired by News Corp for more than $650 million. Ressler teamed up with Co-CEO Adam Goldenberg in 2006, and has since launched three very successful online businesses together in beauty, health and fashion. Ressler is no stranger to fashion, he has always had an eye for style, which is apparent in every sharp suit he wears.

Adam Goldenberg
Adam is the Co-Chief Executive Officer of JustFab. Goldenberg's entrepreneurial spirit and aptitude for Internet advertising were evident from an early age. At only 16, he created Gamer's Alliance Inc., an advertising network of gaming sites, which was purchased two years later by Intermix Media, parent company of MySpace. At Intermix Media, he was the COO at 20 years old, making him the youngest COO of a publicly traded company at the time. After the News Corp acquisition in 2005, he partnered with Ressler to launch three major businesses, the most recent being JustFab, which posts revenue of over $100 million in 2012.

Kimberly Tobman
Kimberly is the Vice President of Public Relations for JustFab. Tobman brings more than 10 years of experience in strategic public relations and entertainment marketing to her role as Vice President. In her position, she oversees media and influencer outreach, events and corporate communications. A fashion enthusiast, Tobman refuses to suffer for fashion – 'I think I find the right balance of fashionable and comfort – if you look uncomfortable, you won't look great," she says.

Sandra Diaz
Sandra is the Senior Vice President of Marketing and the first team member of JustFab. Diaz was initially recruited to develop the brand's launch strategy and manage the website's development. Now with a ream of employees that report to her, Diaz oversees the entire marketing initiative, which includes the brand site, photo and video shoots, print and television advertising and social media.

Alyson Wilson
Alyson is new to the JustFab team. As Art Director, Wilson establishes the overall aesthetic of the Just Fab brand through both its websites and its advertising campaigns. She's a diehard fashionista and still owns her first ever September Vogue issue from 1987. Wilson's advice for the style conscious – 'invest in signature pieces and wear them to death."

Lesley Holmes
Lesley is the Director of Merchandise for JustFab and is responsible for buying handbags, sunglasses, jewellery, denim and flash sales for the growing start up. In addition to buying, Holmes spearheads trend forecasting for the company. A militant fashionista, she is always dressed impeccably and loves a fashion risk.

Lianca Lyons
Lianca is the Senior Marketing Manager at JustFab and is responsible for overseeing everything Kimora as it relates to JustFab. From producing her photo shoots, to retouching and coordinating publicity appearances, Lyons is responsible for vetting and approving anything with Kimora's brand or likeness. Her nickname – the 'Kimora Whisperer."

Johnny Anastacio
Johnny is the Senior Graphic Designer at JustFab. Always dressed to impress, he lives by one style mantra – 'Put classy next to playful, sexy next to fun, and wear serious with irreverence."

Go behind the scenes of JustFab when 'Kimora: House of Fab" premieres on Monday, March 4 at 8:30pm AEDT only on Style.
(Style Network is available on Foxtel on Channel 122)

Interview with Kimora Lee Simmons

Question: Are you enjoying your time in Sydney?

Kimora Lee Simmons: Yes, I am. I didn't think I'd be jetlagged, but I am! When I landed I was wide awake and I told the whole team 'stay awake, don't go to sleep, I'm an international traveller" and they were out seeing Sydney and I was napping at 5pm, I woke up at 10pm did some work and then I went back to sleep again (laughs)! I am going to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I'm so excited to be in Sydney because my show has been here for such a long time.


Question: What should we expect from Kimora: House of Fab?

Kimora Lee Simmons: We are really excited to be bringing the show Kimora: House of Fab to Australia. Kimora: House of Fab premieres on Monday, March 4th at 8:30pm on Style.

Kimora: House of Fab is my third or fourth show with Style; this is the first show after Life In The Fab Lane and I love it because it's about our company JustFab but it's a group setting; you get to see the different people in the office. The show is similar to Life In The Fab Lane in that it's an office setting and you are learning about the business but it's different because it's not as much about me and my personal life so you don't see the children, at all.

People may be expecting one thing and they get another which is why I'm open to talking to people on Twitter and hearing their comments at@OfficialKimora. If viewers would like to see a different format or would like to see my kids back then they should let me or Style know and we can work on that!

When I go around the world I hear fans say that the show is refreshing because they can watch with their family. When I was coming into the Sydney airport the men were saying their daughters and wives loved the show and that's impressive to me because as an executive producer I want to create TV that is worthy to share with the family, if you will. Kimora: House of Fab is entertaining, it's cutting-edge and it's to a higher note. I want to show people particularly young women that they can do a great job, be successful and be a star, if that's what they want. I think my life is very exciting and the path that I have chosen is of a higher note and I don't want people watching to think they have to compromise their values for their vision and a lot of times we have that now, especially with reality television (because everyone is fighting, kicking and scratching). Kimora: House of Fab is the opposite of that and I'm very proud of that.


Question: Tell us about JustFab.

Kimora Lee Simmons: It's really great because JustFab is the future of fashion it's a tech-business that centres on fashion and I think it's very interesting the way we go about things. Everything is self-contained including the brand, the market-self and we manufacture our own product – we work with different manufactures but everything is JustFab.

I think it's really exciting for people to see behind-the-scenes whether we are developing ads, shooting a commercial or creating jeans or one of the many different product launches we're doing along with celebrity initiatives. You'll see our meetings and all the different going ons and there is a little bit of drama between the members of the team but they're all passionate about fashion and that resonates with my followers and viewers because they love fashion and we know that. I've been doing fashion at Style for a slow seven years; I say slow because I'm not one of the girls who put out ten shows a year (laughs) I have been with Style for many, many years and people like fashion and the business of fashion and Kimora: House of Fab shows that.


Question: Are you enjoying the focus on business rather than your personal life?

Kimora Lee Simmons: My life is an open book. I miss having the kids on the show, a little bit and I think it could be a little more interesting if we added more aspects of me and my home life but I do want to know what the audience thinks and I'd love their feedback on Kimora: House of Fab via Twitter at @OfficialKimora or @StyleNetwork.

I like having the kids sometimes but also too my children need their private life and they can't be on TV all the time! My kids enjoy it and they miss it and I think the audience may miss it, a little bit, too. We have fun characters in the office and they go through interesting things that I think a lot of people go through in their offices. Kimora: House of Fab has a great cast of young professional people that love what they do and they're very passionate about fashion and the business of fashion.


Question: Do you often forget your being filmed for a show because you're so busy, working?

Kimora Lee Simmons: No (laughs)! You always know that the cameras are there, in your way and I'd like for them to be a fly on the wall but I know it can't always be that way. Sometimes I need them out of the way to let me do my work (laughs). I'm used to it now and it's a lot of fun. I'm great friends with the crew and everybody so we manage to put together a chaotic but fun show.

Question: Do you have any advice for Australian women who are struggling to juggle a family, work and a personal life?

Kimora Lee Simmons: You don't have to compromise yourself, your values, your beliefs, your dreams or your desires when pursuing your goals. You should pursue your goals passionately and you should know it takes hard work and dedication – nothing happens overnight, it takes great effort. I love to see people chasing their dreams.

It's about building blocks, I've been in the business for over 20 years and I've been on the runway since I was 10 years old – I was on the runway in Paris for Chanel at 13 years old. I am a fashion girl and I'd say to people who want to do this -get in there, dive in and drench yourself in everything it is you want to know about' whether that is fashion, design, TV production, creating a cookie company or writing a book! Whatever it is you have to jump in wholeheartedly and educate yourself to know your landscape and know what you're bringing to try and fill a void or niche. Everything under the sun has been done but you need to try and put a new spin on it and bring something creative and innovative to the table while you're doing it.

Be passionate and don't let anyone tell you no. I was told no many times: nobody will buy a line from a women of colour, you're too tall, you're too loud, you're too pretty, you're too dumb or you're too ugly – I've heard it all! If you listen to all of the 'you're too" things then none of us would get to work, everyday! Believe in yourself and what you're doing; speak authentically to your passion and your product because I hate nothing more than a businesswomen or a celebrity who is involved in something and they don't know what they're doing and they're not passionate about it because they're there for a paycheque.

If you're passionate when you go to work, then it's a blessing and it makes it not so much work.


Question: What about fashion advice – what are the pieces we should be looking for to perfect our Summer closets?

Kimora Lee Simmons: For the Spring/Summer season it's all about colour, I love graphic prints including black and white graphic prints. An inexpensive accessory such as a nice scarf is a must because you can wear it with a t-shirt or a blazer or even over a dress, if you go out. A nice scarf, a great pair of stilettos or a great pair of sexy wedges and colourful jeans is perfect because it's about mixing and matching. A springtime blazer will take you very far; I always have one with me because it's perfect whether you wear it with jeans, a skirt or a little black or colourful dress at night.

You could be bold and daring and wear lots of colours such as turquoise and fuchsia which are both big colours this season. There is a deep plum colour that many celebrities are rocking right now which was seen on the Red Carpet at the Oscars for the day dresses and on the ties for the men. You can work colour across the board especially mixing bright colours with black and white. I am wearing a bright tangerine today!

Overall, I like to see people in colour, it's Summer already in Australia so don't be afraid to get out there and experiment with colour and do what's best for your body type!


Question: Who do you think was best dressed at the Oscars?

Kimora Lee Simmons: Wow! I loved Jessica Chastain. Armani Prive was really great overall, I have to give a designer because I think he really took over the carpet – I worked for him when I was a baby. Christian Dior took over the carpet, as well. Charlize Theron looked great and Anne Hathaway looked fantastic. A lot of people were safe this Oscars and although we did see some side cleavage it was still safe in regards to cut and colour. I like daring and colourful fashion and when I think Oscar outfits I want it overdone and over the top with beaded gowns. Jennifer Hudson had a lovely sweeping long Cavalli gown in blue beads and she changed a little later. I'm not a big fan of the big flowy dresses because they have fantastic bodies and they get lost in the gown.

There were women on the red carpet that are 70 years old who's bodies look better than mine like Jane Fonda - she looked amazing in bright yellow. Own it!


Question: What's next for you, you've tackled everything. Are you working on something in particular?

Kimora Lee Simmons: JustFab is now expanding throughout Europe and Asia and I am working on those expansions. I am also working on a new style guide that is a spinoff to Fabulosity and I have an anti-ageing skincare line in America called Shinto Clinical. I also have my three kids at home, Kenzo, Aoki and Ming (3, 10 and 13 years old). I co-host shows often on E! for events and for Fashion Police. I am also working on TV production and I hope to have a couple of new shows rolling out in the future that are not necessarily Kimora Lee Simmons shows even though I might be on them. It's tough but it's life!