With a friend like Marlien Rentmeester, who needs a stylist? The former West Coast editor at Lucky, Rentmeester had previously logged time at publishing powerhouses like Vogue, Elle, and People and was well respected for her exceptional fashion expertise and personal style. But it was her bi-coastal friends—who’d long been enamored with Rentmeester’s sartorial skill at mashing up designers like Zara and Marni and Topshop and vintage Dries van Noten in a single ensemble—who inspired her to begin blogging. “They were always asking me for shopping and styling advice … and I mean always. So, I started Le Catch as a way to offer my daily picks and styling advice to all of my friends at one time.” Since launching the blogosphere behemoth that is Le Catch, in 2011, it has become one of the Web’s most influential sources for style and has garnered a devoted following that includes top magazine editors and Hollywood’s fashion-forward A-list—Reese, Gwyneth, and Jessica, oh my—who seek out Rentmeester’s guidance on what to put in their closets. And the former New Yorker, who now calls L.A.’s Pacific Palisades home with her husband and two sons, is perfectly delighted with her success. “Simply put, I love what I do.” —Jennifer Henderson
Name: Marlien Rentmeester
Occupation: Founder of powerhouse fashion blog Le Catch. “I think Le Catch stands out because of my experience in the publishing world. I’ve spent years working on photo shoots and honing my style eye … publishing stories and cultivating my voice. We now live in the Golden Age of shopping, when we have so much at our fingertips, and Le Catch functions as a curator of sorts—an instant gratifier.”
Her leap of faith: “I had thought about launching my own blog for years, but feared doing it. I worried about judgment and failure and not being able to execute what I had envisioned. Then one day, my husband said to me, ‘It’s now or never.’ He offered to help me get it off the ground and nudged me off the precipice and into production. Within six months of its launch, Le Catch became one of the most successful blogs online.”
Her secret to success: “Loving what you do. My fashion habit has always been 24/7, so I would be scouring the Internet everyday anyway for my own personal consumption. Now I just get to do it for Le Catch.”
Her work ethic: “Consistent, slightly obsessive, and passion driven.”
Her personal style: “A mix of high and low fashion, with some vintage pieces thrown in. I’d also say my style is firmly rooted in classic pieces that I like to embellish with a modern and oftentimes unexpected twist.”
Her must-haves: “Jeans and statement tops, shoes, bags, and jackets. Traveling, even if it’s just for a night, although I love indulging in weekend getaways to Napa, Aspen, Mexico, and Deer Valley. And I need to work out every morning, even if it’s just for 30 minutes. I love crunching through Body by Simone classes, running, hiking with friends, and sweating through Burn 60. It’s the only time in the day that feels like it belongs entirely to me.”
Favorite “fast” fashion: “Zara is consistently good, but there are so many other compelling retailers that have one-offs from time to time. It’s all about nabbing the one thing that sells out. You have to be on your toes to get it before everyone else. Hence Le Catch!”
Beauty is: “Looking natural and feeling fit. And happiness, of course.”
Inspired by: “My friends and how they pull together outfits. The people I meet and work with everyday. The random stylish girls walking down the street in New York. And , which is my guilty pleasure. Most of all, my twin sister, who is a globetrotting fashion photographer and is a constant source of inspiration; she always comes back from shoots with the next, big things.”
Currently obsessed with: “Cooking. For the last year or so, I’ve been taking cooking classes with friends and learning how to prepare simple, standout meals. I make a mean kale salad with a miso crumble. Everyone always go nuts over it. And I always have a good bottle of Chardonnay in the fridge.”
Her happy place: “The beach with my family. I love those days when everyone is in the water, surfing and paddle boarding, followed by a picnic and a little rosé wine at sunset. There’s nothing better for helping me to press the ‘restart’ button than that.”