#172 From Famous Family to Fashion Pioneer (Liz Lange)

Liz Lange was fresh out of college when she landed her dream job as an assistant at Vogue. With a degree in comparative literature from Brown, Lange never expected her career path to lead her into fashion design. Nevertheless, after watching her pregnant friends struggling to fit into regular clothes, she couldn’t let the need for fashionable maternity wear go by. In 1997 she reinvented herself as a designer, launching Liz Lange Maternity. Ten years later, the brand became the biggest-selling maternity line in the US. Now the Creative director and CEO of the Figue fashion brand, Lange is also the co-host of the Just-Enough Family podcast, a series in which she chronicles the rise and fall of her once-untouchable Stienberg family in 1970s New York City high society. In this conversation with Covey Club founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Lange discusses what it was like to work with Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, how she navigated her many career reinventions, and what advice she would give to aspiring entrepreneurs FREE GIFT! Don’t start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub’s starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!”   Bio: Liz Lange is a retail and fashion pioneer. In 1997, out of a one-room office, she created Liz Lange Maternity, changing forever the face of maternity fashions. A decade later in 2007, after dressing every major pregnant celebrity, forging license deals with Nike and Target, and opening three flagship Liz Lange boutiques, Lange sold her business. She is the author of “Liz Lange’s Maternity Style: How to Look Fabulous During the Most Fashion-Challenged Time” (Random House, 2003). Lange is actively involved in many charities and is spokesperson for cervical cancer awareness. She lives in Manhattan with her 12-year old son, Gus and her 10-year old daughter, Alice.   Key Links: Instagram LinkedIn The Just-Enough Family on Spotify The Just-Enough Family on Apple   Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations.  Time Stamps 02:30 - Vogue, working in fashion and pioneering maternity wear 09:45 - Acquiring FIG, a French fashion line of travel wear 11:10 - Developing her "memoir" as the Just-Enough Podcast 15:00 - Exploring the history of her famous family 20:00 - Navigating indecision in career reinvention 25:00 - Liz's advice for pursing an idea even when you don't feel supported 32:46 - Where to find Liz online   Social & Website CoveyClub website Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn