Tamara Mellon is a fashion mogul. Not only is she the co-founder and former chief creative officer of Jimmy Choo, she’s also the current head of her eponymous Tamara Mellon brand, which creates a range of shoes, handbags, and accessories. When Tamara started Jimmy Choo, she launched an industry, as the high-end shoe market was practically non-existent. Then, Tamara grew the brand to its household-name status, achieving so much success that she was even appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to the fashion industry. Outside of work, Tamara is a mother, partner, art aficionado, and celebrated activist for women’s rights. Wondering how this trailblazer starts her day? Find out below.
7 A.M. I start by reading my favorite paper, the Financial Times and checking my work email. I’m always curious and motivated by what others are doing. I also read WWD every morning–that gets me into what’s happening in my industry. In the morning, I normally have two big coffees with two shots of espresso, hot coconut milk, and collagen powder. 
8:30 A.M. My trainer arrives. I do calisthenics for 45 minutes. I like this exercise in particular because it’s low impact and great for women’s bodies. I love to work out to old-school hip-hop, which most people find surprising about me.
9:15 A.M. I take a shower and get ready for the day. I use Santa Maria Novella Olive Oil Soap, Lancer Skincare Exfoliating Face Scrub, and Espa Body Oil. For my morning skincare regimen, I exfoliate, cleanse and moisturize. Before I moisturize, I spray water on my face and put the moisturizer on damp skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated. For makeup, I typically use Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer and bronzer. Then black eyeliner with a little bit of brown eyeshadow. I finish with black mascara and a cream blush.
10 A.M. Drive into the office. I live in Beverly Hills and luckily the office is only about 15 minutes away in the Fairfax District.
10:30 A.M. I meet with our design team to fit-test our samples from Italy. As a woman designing for women, I feel their pain literally on a daily basis. I think a lot of shoes are designed for shelf appeal, without actually knowing how women feel in them. This is why it’s important to me to do fit trials myself. I make technical tweaks to ensure our customers can wear them all day.