The Kardashian-Jenner clan is always at the forefront of trends. Whether it’s Kylie’s lip kits, Kim’s live-in loungewear, or Kourtney’s punk romance, whatever this family does, the rest of the world watches, wanting in on the action. And who could blame us? Everything they do turns to gold. Or, in this case, pink.
As of today, you can get in on the latest and greatest from Khloé’s clothing brand, Good American, by shopping the Pop Off Pink collection. The capsule line re-imagines many of the label’s beloved inclusive styles in a hot pink hue. While it seems at first like an opportune decision timed perfectly with the meteoric (read: inescapable) rise of #Barbiecore, the youngest Kardashian sister may have actually trend forecasted this long before shades of rose and salmon hit your FYP….
We chatted with Khloé to catch up on family, fashion—and why she was way ahead of the pink trend.
I’d ask you about fall fashion trends, but it’s obviously all about pink, as evidenced by the new collection. What are your thoughts on the Barbiecore boom?
I’m super, super excited that Barbiecore is a thing and that pink is everywhere. I’m a fan of the color. It adds vibrancy and life to the normally all-black wardrobe people gravitate to in the fall. Don’t get me wrong, I love black as a core staple, but having a pop of pink here and there is fun. It’s such an Elle Woods thing to say, but it really does make you happy! I’d say it speaks to my soul.
Do you have any tips for pulling off the trend tastefully?
I love the all-pink look, but it can get overwhelming if you’re not comfortable going full Barbie girl, so you can do a pop of pink if you want to be a little trendy but aren’t comfortable going head-to-toe. You can mix and match, or you could be all monochromatic. There are no rules in fashion—and that’s the great part about fashion—but there are no rules with pink.
When most people hear “fall collection,” they don’t think hot pink. What was the inspiration behind the Pop Off Pink line and the decision to go full fuchsia with it? Were you motivated by Barbiecore?
I think people think, like, we thought about it two months ago, and now it’s in. We thought of this about a year ago. Then when we started seeing everything else coming into play, I was like, “Yes! Okay, we’re on the right page.” It just happened; it was very serendipitous, but I’ve always been a big fan of pink. We offer the staples in black, as well, but I just wanted a little pink out there. We have such great silhouettes that we know are home runs, so I just wanted a pop. I wanted to see a pop in retail stores as well as in my own closet. I think it’s eye-catching, it’s fun, and why not?
I like that it’s a departure from the ocean of plaid, maroon, and cable knits that typically dominate fall fashion campaigns.
I think everyone’s excited to have some variety for fall. I know it’s still hot everywhere. No matter where you are, it’s just boiling, so I think it’s a fun transitional color. With pink, it’s still hot, but we’re trying to transition. I think it’s great for everyone.
Pivoting to fall fashion in general, what are you loving outside of Good American for the season ahead?
I’m a boot girl. I love boots. I love thigh-highs. I feel…just sexy. I could wear boots all day long, and I’m really comfortable. So, I’m excited for fall to throw on my thigh-high boots together with whatever it is—leggings, a dress, a mini. I’m looking forward to that.
It’s so hot in California that in the next couple of months, I won’t “feel” fall, and I won’t be dressing for fall, but I’m praying for it to just be a little bit cooler. Right now, I’m not really in that headspace, but I’m praying. I’m waiting to wear my jackets; I’m waiting to wear my thigh-high boots, so hopefully, fall is coming soon. I’m so excited to add layers.
Okay, now back to Good American. The brand has been mission-driven from the jump. Why is it important for inclusivity to be at the heart of everything the company does?
People ask me a lot [if I] get irritated that other brands are jumping on—I want to say a bandwagon—but for us, it’s not a bandwagon. For us, it’s who we are. This is the ethos of our brand, but no, I don’t feel irritated. I feel proud and excited. I love that [more] women are being seen, heard, and validated. Before, I think there were two mainstream clothing stores that people could shop at if they were considered plus-sized, and that was it. It wasn’t cool, trendy stuff. It felt so limited, and now all these huge brands are venturing into doing wider size ranges, and that’s real life. These are real women, and I think we all should be included in the conversation.
For Good American, that’s who we’ve always been, and it’s not a fad for us. We don’t sell to retail stores unless they’re going to carry the full size range. That does financially hinder us a lot because not every department store has the budget to do that; I get having a buying budget, and I respect that, but we want everyone who buys Good American to feel included, respected, and seen. Even on our website—which takes a lot more time and money—but on our website, we showcase every item on three different body types. That means three different models that we’re paying for the day, and we have to do longer shoot times…there’s a lot more work and more editing, but it’s about the consumer. There’s not a cookie cutter-shaped woman out there, so there shouldn’t be cookie cutter-shaped models, in my opinion. I think everyone needs to feel represented. Now that I’m a mom and have a daughter, I want her to see every version of herself, her friends, and her cousins—I want everyone to feel validated, I guess.
Does True love pink? Is she all over it?
She’s a pink girl, through and through. Everything’s pink for her. Pink or lavender.
She’s very on trend, then. Great sense of style already.
Very on trend!
Speaking of motherhood, how is being a mom of two?
I know it’s cliché, but I love everything, even the hard parts. I [my kids] challenge me as a person, and being able to shape little people into really incredible big people is an honor and a gift. We have to take those roles seriously, especially in today’s day and age, with how much accessibility children have and the information they’re exposed to so young. It’s super scary, but I take my job very seriously. I love it so much.
Along the lines of family, the KarJen crew is famous for its entrepreneurial spirit. Do you rely on your mom or sisters for business advice?
I’m super lucky that we have each other because we ask each other for advice or information. We’re not girls that are haters or are envious of one another. We get inspired and motivated by each other’s success. Just watching my sisters and all of their hustle—and my mom, my brother, everyone— it’s definitely inspiring. I think you learn either from someone’s mistakes or how they succeeded so well.
And what about you? Do you have any wisdom to share?
We’re all going to make mistakes. If you don’t make mistakes, I think that’s weird. You’re supposed to fail. You’re supposed to crash and burn. You have to experience things for yourself. It’s like when you have a teenage daughter, and you know they’re going to mess up and do crazy things, but you have to let them do it themselves, so they learn. It’s the same thing in business. It’s great when people know to ask for help because you don’t know everything, but a lot of people are too embarrassed to admit that. It’s okay to ask questions regardless of how silly you think they are because if you don’t know, you’re never going to know unless you ask someone more seasoned than you to explain it and walk you through it.
It’s okay to look like you don’t know everything. Sometimes that takes more confidence than it does to be the one who knows it all and is super arrogant.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
Meg Donohue is the Associate Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Her passions include spicy foods, sustainability, and the Y2K remake of Charlie’s Angels. She will never stop hoping for a One Direction reunion tour.
