Expat Aussie fashion insider, Laura Brown, now editor-in-chief of US InStyle mag collabs with local label

EXPAT Australian fashion insider, Laura Brown, has collaborated with local label Mon Purse.

Laura Brown, pictured left, with one of her Mone Purse designs. Picture: Supplied

EXPAT Australian fashion insider, Laura Brown, has collaborated with local label Mon Purse.

Brown, editor-in-chief of US InStyle magazine, is based in New York. She was formerly the executive director of US Harper’s Bazaar and boasts over 100,000 followers on Instagram.

Her collection of three styles — The Boss Lady tote bag, The Girl On The Go bucket bag and The Minx evening sack — were timed to coincide with ​the brand’s launch in the US.

Laura Brown, pictured left, with one of her Mone Purse designs. Picture: Supplied

Brown was introduced to Mon Purse founder Lana Hopkins through a mutual friend when she came back to Australia for a holiday earlier this year, they clicked and a collaboration was born.

“That was that! I didn’t consider other brands, this collaboration came about the old-fashioned way,” Brown says.

Her capsule collection, which will become permanent, customisable Mon Purse styles, was inspired by her hectic, New York lifestyle.

“I’m always running around NYC, jumping in and out of cars, carrying multiple things, so I needed bags to make things as easy as possible,” she says.

“I really need to be able to throw a bag over my shoulder, or for it to be hands free in some way.

“Then the idea came about of the three different sizes, basically everything a girl needs to get her through her day.”

The range’s aesthetic mirrors Brown’s, simple but with a twist.

“The design is quite minimal, the leather is gorgeous and we’ve supplemented the great, classic colours with some kicks leopard print because, as my friend Jenna Lyons (J. Crew designer) says, ‘leopard is a neutral.’”

Laura Brown has created three designs for the brand. Picture: Supplied

While Brown is used to producing beautiful editorial photographic spreads, it was the first time she’d created a collection and she relished the hands-on experience.

“It was a matter of trusting my instincts and really trying out the samples,” she says.

“I made videos with my feedback that were pinged between NY, Paris and Sydney. It was so new for me, but so gratifying when things worked out even better than I wanted.

“Honestly, my favourite part was how well they turned out, casual, but super refined. I couldn’t have hoped for better.”

She may be one of the most i

​nfluential women in fashion, but the ‘casual’ part was particularly important for Brown.

“My personal style is pretty easygoing, I’d wear jeans and a sweatshirt every day, if I could. It’s mostly jeans, shirt, T-shirt and some sort of platform heel,” she says.

“On grown-up days, I wear trousers with that same sort of combo. On super grown-up days, I go the full Valentino dress. Each of the bags could be worn with anything I pop on daily. Although I would likely reserve The Minx for the Valentino.”

Her pick of the range is the Girl on the Go bucket bag in leopard print.

“It was my first idea. And you always love your first,” she laughs.

Originally published as Expat Aussie fashion insider, Laura Brown, now editor-in-chief of US InStyle mag collabs with local label