Favorite Founders: Pamela Munson
The creator of the chicest straw bags tells us all her beauty secrets
I am addicted to Pamela Munson’s supremely chic straw bags and accessories. I have many, and am always so excited to see what’s new. Besides being one of my favorite accessory designers of all time, Pamela has mastered the balance of easy glamour: She’s always fully together without ever looking fussy or overly styled—which, to me, is the ultimate aspiration.
Hope you love learning about her beauty secrets as much as I did!
Q: What’s your skincare routine?
I’m pretty minimalist when it comes to skincare. I wash my face in the morning with water and apply my makeup—Clé de Peau undereye concealer, Dior foundation and mascara, Nars Orgasm blush, and something sheer on my lips. In the evenings, I wash my face with Cetaphil cleanser and use GoopGlow Microderm Exfoliator three times a week and Glycolic Acid Overnight Glow Peel one or two times a week. I also use Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair around my eyes before bed and try to get a facial every few months.
Q: Who is your beauty inspiration?
My grandmother turned 100 this year and she still looks like she’s in her 80s. Exercise, eating well, moisturizer and sunscreen, being part of a community, and loving and being loved have all helped shape her life and longevity.
Q: What’s in your bag and what are you currently carrying?
I’m carrying our new Munson tote that will debut later this month. It’s a beautiful embossed croc tote with a handwoven rattan handle. I normally never carry a black bag, but I’m loving it for Fall. In my bag is my Louis Vuitton wallet, my iPhone, Aquaphor, Nars blush and brush, hand sanitizer, and my son’s Hot Wheels cars.
Q: Desert island must-haves?
Q: Favorite drug store buy?
Cetaphil facial cleanser and Aquaphor.
Q: Do you have a beauty secret?
At a minimum, I always have on my Clé de Peau undereye concealer and Nars blush so I look awake!
Q: What’s your favorite beauty look?
Sun-kissed and glowing.
Q: What inspires you?
Hard work and loyalty.
Q: Love language?
Sant Ambroeus iced cappuccino with an extra shot and a foot massage.
Q: Do you have a hidden talent?
I’m a good tennis player and played competitively as a child/teen.
Q: Moment you felt your most powerful?
Giving birth to my three children.
Q: What’s your design process like?
It’s a collaborative process and inspiration strikes at all times and when you least expect it. I often start with a singular idea and build off of that—the collection evolves as we move through. Each season is different.
Q: Favorite career moment?
Launching my straw handbag brand six years ago. It took a lot of courage to leave my corporate job at Oscar de la Renta and I never considered myself a risk-taker. I was very ambitious and had a clear vision of my corporate trajectory, yet was not fulfilled. It was the birth of my first daughter Beatrix that pushed me to look for deeper meaning in my work.
FROM THE KIT
The products and trends worth knowing about now
Loving this newbie from Lilfox. I was lucky enough to get my hands on it early for a test run, and the short version is that I’m really into it and it may have saved me this Fashion Week. It’s packed with flower (high-elevation rose and crocus) stem cells, biometric polypeptides, and brightening living ferments, so I felt my very glowiest despite my lack of sleep. Pair it with Haute C for the ultimate morning routine!