Reese Witherspoon has been keeping super-busy with the success of Big Little Lies, her new movie Home Again, and her production company turned multimedia brand aimed at promoting women in Hollywood. But she's found time for her latest venture because it's close to her heart.
Today, Witherspoon launched a partnership with Crate & Barrel, bringing her lifelong love of entertaining and her own lifestyle brand Draper James into the company's mix. The two brands will release co-designed collections for spring and summer 2018, and beyond. As C&B's latest ambassador, she also stars in the brand's holiday ad campaign, called "Perfect Party" (spoiler: not quite everything is perfect — she ends up wielding a fire extinguisher), which you can watch ahead.
Witherspoon founded Draper James to honour her Southern heritage and her grandparents Dorothea Draper and William James Witherspoon.
We recently had the chance to sit down with the actress and entrepreneur. Ahead, she tells us about her new partnership, the importance of identifying your strengths, and her love of Christmas caroling. (P.S. Reese, will you invite us to your Christmas party this year?)
You've built quite a reputation as a lifestyle guru — on top of an impressive Hollywood career — what inspires you to pursue so many different avenues?
"It's an interesting time in my life where I'm getting to explore different ideas of what it means to be a modern woman, and I think that encompasses a lot of things. For my entire career, I've been an actress, but I've also been working on other things, and I've always loved hostessing, whether I'm entertaining for my family or having parties. It was always a natural extension of my Southern upbringing."
Draper James Dog Appetizer Plate, Set of 4, £52.27, available at Crate & Barrel.
Photo: Courtesy of Crate & Barrel.
How do you marry your brand's aesthetic with Crate & Barrel's?
"A lot about Southern culture is hostessing — we love plates and dishes and glassware and barware — so I'm bringing some of that Southern charm and sensibility and humor to the Crate & Barrel brand, which is timeless and modern. It's really just the melding of two classic styles."
Draper James Dog Drink Coasters, Set of 4, £28.15, available at Crate & Barrel.
Photo: Courtesy of Crate & Barrel.
What advice do you have for other women who want to be successful entrepreneurs in different fields?
"I think it’s important to know what you're good at, identify your strengths, and work hard at developing those. But also, pair yourself with people who have abilities that are different than yours. So if you're very creative, it's great to work with someone who has a business sense. I always find that women can work together collaboratively, so it's nice to find a partnership that works for you."
Draper James Dog Mugs, Set of 2, £36.19, available at Crate & Barrel.
Photo: Courtesy of Crate & Barrel.
"I've always benefitted from partnerships with women, like Nicole Kidman, my television staff, and my staff at Draper James. [In business,] I always benefit from the intelligence and experience of another person, particularly a woman."
Crate & Barrel Couture Copper 5-Piece Flatware Place Setting, £48.21, available at Crate & Barrel.
Photo: Courtesy of Crate & Barrel.
What do you like to do for the holidays with your kids?
"I usually travel home to Tennessee, 'cause I like to have some of the weather, I love watching the leaves turn, and my kids love playing outside. And they actually get to wear coats when we’re in Tennessee! We love making gingerbread houses; that’s one family tradition that we do every single Christmas."
That sounds amazing. Do you make them from scratch?
"I’ve done it from scratch, and it always turns out to be a little bit lopsided! Now I tend to buy the kits and just make the icing myself... I always have a holiday party, every Christmas. I like to sing Christmas carols. I’ll make every person sing Christmas carols! People tell me they wait for my Christmas party every year."
Crate & Barrel Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker with Copper Finish, £12.83, available at Crate & Barrel.
Photo: Courtesy of Crate & Barrel.
Do you have any tips for broke twentysomethings who want to decorate on the cheap?
"You can get a classic piece of barware that spruces up your whole environment, like a decanter. You can use it [for many purposes] — as a vase or just something sophisticated in your apartment."
Crate & Barrel Mingle Decanter, £40.17, available at Crate & Barrel.
Photo: Courtesy of Crate & Barrel.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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