When Tara Connaughton first stepped on to the fast-paced track of fashion public relations, no one was more surprised than she was. She’d lived her formative years under the assumption she would follow in the cinematic footsteps of her father, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter Shane Connaughton. However, after a brief turn at a film-production company, it became apparent that her teenage penchant for pouring over the latest collections in fashion magazines had won out—and the Cambridge-educated Connaughton soon began to carve out a successful career at brands such as Billy Reid (where she got her start: “loved it”), BCBG Max Azria, David Yurman, Salvatore Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, and for the last three years, as the Vice President of Communications at J. Mendel. “In P.R., and fashion P.R. especially, one is always looking several seasons ahead. There’s little time to reflect on past accomplishments—you’re only ever as good as your next undertaking.” —Jennifer Henderson
Name: Tara Connaughton
Occupation: V.P. of Global Communications at J. Mendel, “a very rare bird in the fashion industry [because] it’s one of the only New York–headquartered houses that can be described as a true luxury brand in the traditional sense, and certainly the only one with a Franco-Russian heritage spanning almost 150 years. Consequently, it’s a very inspiring place to work. And of course, the collections themselves are just exquisite. Definitely the stuff that my childhood dreams were made of.”
Fashion first: “I think my interest in fashion and beauty took root early, when I’d watch my mother get ready to go out to an event. I’d sit on her bed and watch her choose her outfit, put rollers in her hair, do her makeup, the whole deal. She looked so beautiful and glamorous. She still does, actually. I can still remember every product and bottle of perfume that was on her vanity table, every outfit she wore. Now my own daughters do the same thing when I get ready, which I love.”
Her personal style: “Understated elegance. I tend to be fairly dressy, but (hopefully) never stuffy, and never inappropriate. I always think of Grace Kelly’s line in Rear Window: ‘Well, if there’s one thing I know, it’s how to wear the proper clothes.’ [At the office], I like the single-step approach to feeling elegant and polished [like] a J. Mendel dress. If I want a more casual look, I’ll wear jeans or masculine tailored pants with a tank top and my leather-and-lace J. Mendel biker jacket. I’m tall, so I will wear flats whenever possible. Life is too short for painful high heels.”
Her turning point: “I think an important turning point for me was taking a step away from the industry after the birth of my second child. When I returned to work after a two-year hiatus, I realized my career had been a chosen path all along. Up until that point, I had always felt on some level that it had all happened by chance, like a happy diversion from my intended plan. It made me finally realize why I’d ‘fallen’ into P.R. in the first place, and how it was actually a perfect fit.”
The secret to success: “Grace under pressure. Along with a combination of passion, enthusiasm, optimism, and collaboration.”
Her must-haves: “My only true must-haves are my family and friends. Far less important but nonetheless highly appreciated add-ons include: The theatre. Netflix and TiVO. Independent bookstores. Long, blustery beach walks. My husband’s music playlists. Vigorous daily exercise; classes at Body By Simone are my current favorite. Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 (I’ve been using it since I was a teen and have never strayed). Under-eye concealer, but only after applying Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream, which stops it caking. Mascara. A good fragrance, especially scents by Jo Malone London (English Pear and Freesia is my current go-to). Ted Meuhling jewelry. Fashion wise, J. Mendel, Chloé, Narciso Rodriguez, and Duro Olowu are my favorite designers, but on the weekends I live in Inez + Vinoodh for Frame denim jeans, Adidas sneakers, and my husband’s Ivory Row cashmere sweaters. I have a love-hate relationship with technology in general, but am ashamed to admit I’m enslaved to my iPhone, Shazam everything, and have a filthy Uber habit.”
Her definition of beauty: “Happiness. It’s the greatest beauty secret there is, and it doesn’t fade with age.”
Balancing act: “[I have] no life hacks—aside from having a husband who does most of the cooking, which is huge. As a working mother [of three], it’s all just a matter of juggling and winging it. I do make a point of scheduling time for the things that keep me happy and healthy, like exercise, and I try to keep after-work socializing to a minimum. Otherwise I just try to hide my phone when I’m at home so it isn’t too much of a distraction, and try to be as present and engaged as possible whether at home or in the office.’”
Her reading list: “I’m never reading just one book. I usually have at least three on the go at any one time, and have a terrible habit of jumping ahead to see what happens in the end. Currently, I’m finishing up Watch Me, the second book of Angelica Huston’s memoirs, because I love her (she was actually one of Gilles Mendel’s inspirations for his Fall 2015 runway collection); The Hollywood Trilogy, by Don Carpenter (an under-sung hero of American fiction); and Can I Go Now?: The Life of Sue Mengers, Hollywood’s First Superagent, by Brian Kellow.”
Words of wisdom: “The best advice I’ve ever been given came from my dad. Growing up, he always told us, “Don’t turn yourself down.” He meant don’t talk yourself out of going for something you really want, or expect that something won’t work out. You’ll never succeed if you don’t even try.”