Lauren Conrad on the Laguna Beach Reunion, Millennial Nostalgia, and Her Favorite 2000s Fashion Trends

0:10Welcome to the Who What Wear podcast. I'm Hilary Kerr and today I'm passing the mic to our executive editorial and style director Lauren Eggertsen for a conversation with the one and only Lauren Conrad, but her friends call her Elsie. Lauren was the breakout star of MTV's Laguna Beach, who later went on to pursue her fashion career on the hills. In honor of the 20th anniversary of Laguna Beach, we're time traveling to the early 2000s to talk about the cultural impact of the show, how Lauren knew it was time to leave reality TV, and of course, the return of Y2K fashion. The reunion Laguna Beach streams on the Roku channel on April 10th, so make sure to tune in.

0:57It's all coming up on Who What Wear.

1:06Lauren Conrad, welcome to the Who What Wear podcast. Thank you. We are so excited to have you. Laguna Beach is such a memorable, important part of just like nostalgia for the early 2000s. And I can speak for myself. I'm from Orange County. So it was a huge part of me growing up. And our audience is so excited. Our whole team is so excited. We just have such a soft spot for you specifically. So thank you for talking with us. So Laguna Beach was only for three seasons. And you and the original cast were only in it for two. But the show had such a lasting cultural impact. I think a lot of that had to do with the way it captured a very specific moment in time.

1:43Including the fashion, of course, which we're going to get to. But I'd love to hear your perspective. Why do you think the show has held our attention for 20 years? I think it's exactly what you said. I think it's that moment in life where everything's about to change. You're about to leave your hometown. And it's exciting and it's scary. And I think that so many people could relate to that. Yeah, definitely. If Laguna Beach existed today as a show, in what ways do you think it would be the most different, especially kind of considering the inevitable involvement of social media, influencer marketing, stylists, all of that jazz.

2:17I don't think you could create the same show today. I don't know what it would look like. I think part of the appeal of this show is like we didn't know what we didn't know. We didn't know to not be ourselves or to filter ourselves. Like there were obviously no stylists or makeup artists there. Like we were just like throwing on tank tops and like showing up to film. And I think that's what makes it feel so authentic. We weren't doing it necessarily to like launch a brand or do anything that a lot of people do today, which is smart and I get, but we didn't even know that was an option. A lot of us were just like stoked to not have summer jobs.

2:50And also we talk about this all the time. Didn't think it was ever going to air. Like this was just kind of like a cool experience that we did. And we thought it would just be like a fun little project. After it aired the first season, like the timing of behind the scenes, I know it's not exactly like airing in real time. How did your experience at school change? Okay. So I left for college. I went to school in San Francisco and Academy of Art university out there. And the first weekend I was at college, I had to fly to the VMAs where they showed our trailer for the first time. Everyone had already left.

3:21It was pretty life-changing immediately. And it was also odd to like started a new school with that happening at the same time. Yeah. And I actually, I didn't stay there for very long because I was flying home every weekend to do voiceovers. They were editing these episodes weekly and I would fly home every Thursday and come back on Sunday night for school. That is wild. Yeah. Definitely not the typical start to a college journey. No. Looking back, obviously, I'm sure you've done so much reminiscing now with the 20-year reunion, but what do you think people misunderstood the most about you back then?

3:54Or was there a plot line that you felt was misconstrued or dramatized at the time that in reality really wasn't actually a big deal? They were very committed to a love triangle story, and so a lot of that was exaggerated. But they had to make a storyline. Like one of the things that was really cool about this reunion is I got to be part of production and it was very interesting to see how the show is put together. And this obviously wasn't a typical show, but just like how decisions are made and how you form, you know, scenes and storylines. And I'm like, I think they did a great job. I totally understand why they did it.

4:26I think at the time I was like, that's not how it went down. But I was like 18 and I was like. I mean, it's hard, especially in those formative years, you feel like your identity is probably so tied to that and being able to look back now when you're fully formed and have a full life, you're just like... Mostly formed. Stop figuring it out. Yeah. I would assume that being a part of production, now that I know that, actually will help this answer. But I'm curious if there was a moment or a part of the reunion that really surprised you or changed your perspective on something. We were heavily involved in production leading up to the filming of this, and we filmed this reunion over three days.

5:01I felt a lot of pressure as an executive producer to like give them what they needed. And so that was a little bit of a shift for me because in previous years, I'm just showed up and I was myself. There was, you know, it felt like more pressure. Yeah. It was like, I hope we're giving them what they need in this scene. Yeah. And that everyone's enjoying it. We're talking about some pretty random stuff. Like, no, I hope this works. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Well, I watched the screener and it was all amazing. Yeah. Thank you. Loved it. Thank you. People are going to freak out. I hope so. So everyone's been like foaming at the mouth, I feel like, for this reunion for so long.

5:34So it'll be perfect. Everyone's going to play that. Yeah, of course. I feel like the world during that time was and still is so obsessed with you as an individual, the famous Elsie. But it must be hard having this moment from your high school days be such a defining plot line in your story. So I'm curious how you balance honoring your past but not being defined by it. I fortunately went on for years and continue to film. So a lot more of me was shown later on. So I don't feel really defined by like two seasons of this show because I went on to shoot, I can't remember, maybe five more seasons of another show.

6:06And I feel like I was becoming more confident myself. I was growing up. And so I think that over that full span, there was a better representation of me as someone in their young 20s. So I don't feel defined by it. I very much appreciate it as my roots. I love this group of people. I'm so excited that we came together. This was like the most fun, organic thing. And I hope that comes across in this reunion. And from day one, we always said, we're like, this is not a table flipping thing. Like this is a group of people who like actually really love each other and shared a really unique experience and have never all come together in one room and had an honest conversation about it.

6:45And that's what we wanted to capture. We wanted this to feel nostalgic. And honestly, like we wanted people to feel good. It was much more emotional than I thought watching it. Oh yeah. I was tearing up. Oh, were you? Yeah. Was it the family thing? The family thing was definitely tough, but sweet. And even just like learning more about the depths of certain relationships that have lasted over time. I have two sons right now, six and eight. And I'm like, I knew some of these people when I was that small. And it's very cool to see them like forming these relationships. And I'm like, these could be lifelong relationships because I have those.

7:18Well, I know we're here talking about Laguna Beach, but I have to ask, when I think about a defining Lauren Conrad moment in media. Dear. Yeah. I think about you'll always be known as the girl who didn't go to Paris. Yes. And I just have to ask you because I think people would love to know, like, how do you feel about that moment now? Do you hear about it a lot? Do you forget about it? What's your relationship to that famous line? So I don't want to tell this story incorrectly, but my understanding was that that was a very real line that actually came from Anna. And because she didn't know my name.

7:49They must have mentioned the show at some point. And she said, oh, the girl who didn't go to Paris. And they were like, yeah, we're going to use that. And so they repeated it in the show, you'll always be known as the girl who didn't go to Paris. Which is funny. It's very funny. It's very funny. And it's so funny because the next season, we did go to Paris. Yeah. It's not— Very quickly, very shortly after, we did go, but no one cared. It's fine. I think it's funny. Okay. I'm glad you think it's funny. I do. I think it's funny for a lot of millennials specifically because I think we have such a specific relationship to career.

8:20and like the notion of that comment is like you made one choice that is now defining you is absurd and just not true and I think that like stuck with us of like oh I'm gonna be known as the girl who like never did this thing or yeah it will stick with you I still get it um I don't feel defined by it it was funny though because the producer on that show had set it all up just so sure I would go like he for sure was like oh she's it's Paris like she's gonna go and I had been filming non-stop for so long that I just needed a break. Like I was so burnt out and he was like, okay, so we're going to go to Paris.

8:55And I was like, I can't do it. Like, I just need a break. And he would call me every day and be like, you're really not going to go to Paris. And I was like, I'm really not going to go. He was so mad at me. And it's funny because it turned into such a big thing, but it was so not what they wanted. They wanted me to go to Paris. They were like ready for it. But I was like, I just need a break. I just need a couple of weeks off. Yeah. I mean, you deserve it. You've had a, you had quite a light. Well, I didn't get a full two weeks off because I, my boyfriend and I at the time broke up immediately and then they had to rush cameras back and then they said no more breaks.

9:28So I was like, I did all this to get a break. I got like a few days off and then they were like, bring them back. I feel like I should have been the girl who went to Paris. I should have just gone to Paris. Oh my God. That's amazing. We have to dive into your style both on and off the camera. Oh yeah. I feel like you influenced a whole generation with your personal style, especially during that time and afterwards leading into the hills. I genuinely don't think we would have been layering our tank tops as confidently as we were without seeing you and your friends and what you were wearing on Laguna Beach in the early 2000s.

9:56But I'm curious, at that time, where were you getting fashion inspiration? What was your relationship to it? My friends. We were all kind of just dressing alike. There was like a couple local boutiques that we would all shop at. We would just wear like a pair of Miss 60 jeans, maybe a studded belt, Layer a couple tanks. Yeah. Rocket dogs. Obviously. Done. Yep. I remember the Black Flamingo. Black Flamingo. This little store in Laguna. I don't remember that. I feel like one time someone on the show went to it and all my friends were just like, oh, we have to buy everything from here. We did. There was a show.

10:29There was a store called Merrily's, which is still there. And it was like everyone got their bathing suits there. And they had like this like spaghetti that everybody wore. And there was a Veronica M boutique. There was a couple. Yeah. Oh my gosh. But yeah, we just had like a handful of boutiques we go to. And then who did the tanks? Do you know what I'm talking about? Yes. C &C. C &C. C &C. California. Yes. That was like the tank. Yeah, it was very simple. And I don't think we were even thoughtful about the way we were dressing. Like we weren't like, this is going to be on TV. We should like take some time to get ready.

10:57Like half the time we've just rolled out of bed. That's what I was going to ask you. Was like, was there a point ever where you started thinking about it or were you just In the hills I did. Okay. Because I had a better understanding. I was like, oh, this is going to show up. And I still, like, you know, season one, like, I didn't have a lot of money. Like, most of my clothes are forever 21. Like, I was just kind of trying to make it work. And I would try not to repeat outfits at that point because I was like, I don't know how this is going to be cut. I don't want it side by side. Yeah. Interesting.

11:23Yeah. It's a lot to manage without, like, a team. Yeah. There was no team. There was no clothing budget. It was all on us. Yeah. I think that's why it's so nostalgic because it's really like a time capsule of how teenagers actually were existing at the time. In prepping for this interview, I spoke to our team of editors and almost every single person had an anecdote about you We were like we're gonna talk to lauren conrad like what should we ask her and everyone just flooded the comments So I won't bore you with them But most of them were about your style and how you inspired them growing up Whether it was mimicking the way that you styled your hair your outfits or buying clothes from your kohl's line that was launched in 2009, which we still love So when did you kind of realize the impact you were having on other people versus like oh?

12:04I need to start caring about my style a little I think I was aware of the impact when I started doing like appearances and sort of meeting with people who would see the show. And a lot of questions were directed at clothing. And that, you know, that was obviously a passion of mine. I really wanted to get into design. And when I was able to do the Kohl's line, that was amazing. Because I was like, I just want to replicate like what I want to wear. That makes so much sense. I always dressed for myself. I always just wanted, like I had certain things that I loved wearing. I definitely dressed girlier back then.

12:39I dress like a tomboy now. Not today, but most days. No, I love that. I feel like that is honestly the recipe for a true style icon or someone that's memorable for their style. I feel like we're talking a lot about that with Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy right now. People trying to recreate her style, but you can't do it because it was true to who she was. She wore things that suited her, and I feel like you were very similar. Like, yes, you would wear things that suited you, but then because everyone was obsessed with you, they wanted to just copy it. But you weren't chasing ever trends or anything.

13:10Like, it never felt like that, I think, to anyone. I know. I'm, like, in the middle of that right now. It's so good. The way she wears a cardigan, like a scarf, it's crazy. I was like, why have I never thought to do that? It's so chic. Everything she does. Like, she could have, like, dirty hair. And I'm like, yes. I need dirty hair. The styling on that show is everything. I was watching the behind the scenes, and they were talking about all the extensions they put in her. And I was like, I feel better. Yeah. Because her hair is incredible. And I was just like, that is it. And I'm like, oh, it makes me feel better that someone's like, no, she is insane.

13:37She's so beautiful. So pretty. So in the first season of the show, there was so much teen angst about the cast needing to like lead the bubble. Get out of here. Get out of here. And as I mentioned, I'm from Orange County too. So I definitely relate. And I like moved back now as well from after like living in New York and LA. So it's so addicting. I understand. But looking back, what do you feel like the show got wrong about growing up in Laguna Beach? and what do you think it got right? What I like about this town is, and I think they represented this, it does have like a very small town feel and things are very laid back there.

14:09And I think at one point, I think, I don't know if they were trying to like, I don't know, they were glamorizing it, but I think that things are much more casual there and I think they tried to make it feel like more elevated and fancier. But I don't know, I feel like people are pretty chill. Yeah. Yeah. It's a very chill place. Yeah, I like it. Thanks to the Hills, we all got to follow you out of the Laguna Bubble and watch you start your career. But when you left Laguna to go to San Francisco and later LA, how did you feel like your sense of style changed just personally outside of media stuff?

14:39I think living in a city changes you, just like the way you dress. And I think your lifestyle, I was, I definitely grew up a lot in those years and I was working a lot. I was taking a lot of meetings. So I felt like I needed to step up the way I dressed. I'm a more casual person. Like I love to be in a tank top and jeans still to this day. Like that's my daily wardrobe. so I was dressing up more at that point in my life just because it's what it required I was also going out a lot like the nightlife during that period was insane we were talking about it last night like it just can never be that again and it was so good oh yeah it's not a thing anymore I know it's not and I just oh god we had so much fun it looked like it at least from what we so fun and we would get dressed up at night and like have fun I mean I don't do that much anymore we had a nice dinners but yeah it's a different thing oh yeah it's a totally different thing i know we think about my friends and i talk about like going out style and i'm like what cute top and jeans yeah but like back then it was like the joke of the business casual you know like my gosh yes you're like little pencil skirt or your boy like oh my god a really tight top nut or what's that remember that donut people would put in donut the little palms you're like keto palms the whole of things.

15:51Oh, I love debate. Crazy. Speaking of, there were countless early aughts trends back then that are now resurfacing again, which I heard you talk about. What's one trend from back then that you feel like you still wear today or would wear today and enjoy? I've always worn Ugg boots. Does that count? Uggs were huge. There's like low-rise jeans, big sunglasses, flip-flops. I actually always love big sunglasses. The ones I wear right now, I'm funny, I commit to a style because I have to get special lenses put in them for migraines. So I'll buy, I'll like find a style I like and I'll buy it in several colors and I get all the lenses and then like every few years I update it.

16:32So right now I'm smaller and it's mostly because I play a lot of tennis and I want to be able to play in them. But I've always loved like a, like the bigger, the better. I love a giant sunglasses. They're so fun. Like those Dior ones that those like buggy ones. I still have them in my closet. I'm waiting. You should bring them out. I feel like I'm waiting. Definitely. Thanks. The bug eye look is definitely coming back. Like there's a pair from Kate and all of her people's that you can collab and I'm like a smaller sunglass girl too. And I'm like, oh, I need to spend so much money on those. Yes.

17:04I love them. Is there anything you wore during the show that genuinely horrifies you looking back or do you stand by all the early aughts moments? yes let me try and think of one there was this one outfit i wore that and i've re-watched it for this reunion that i was like oh god it was for like an open mic night that some of the kids did and it's like this plunging it was just inappropriate okay i didn't need to be wearing it was like a plunging black i'm sure it was forever 21 and like like backless halter situation with like a low rise jean and like a very skinny heel. It was just like that.

17:42If I was going to the club, yes. But this was like a coffee shop that I showed up to. And I was like, why did I put that on? Why was I doing the most? I don't know. I heard on the show that you left TV, I think around 24. So I'm curious what the reason for the pivot was to become slightly less online or in the media. I had done it for years. And I was ready to have my own life and live it just for me. Yeah, I did it as long as I could. And I was starting to like, I was like, I don't think this is for me anymore. The show was doing so well that I knew if I left, I could continue it without me. And I was talking to Kristen about this.

18:17She was asking how I felt about her stepping in. And I was like, I was thrilled because I was ready to make my exit. And I knew that bringing you in was going to give it like some breath. And I was happy about it. I was just, I knew I was done. And everyone told me not to leave. Oh, really? Everybody told me not to leave. Interesting. I think my parents supported me. They were like, yeah, get out of there. It's crazy over there. No, everybody was like, no, you don't leave a show when it's doing well like this. And I was just like, I gave it everything I had. I need to go live my life for me. And I think at the time I had a serious boyfriend who wasn't on camera.

18:52And yeah, I was just, I was ready. And leave on a high. I feel like leave on a high on your terms. No, no, I agree. No, no, I 100 % would do it again exactly the same way. I feel really good about it. I think I was lucky that it worked out. It's a lot to live your life that way. And also to do it like during developmental years like that, like I was 18 to 24. So you're figuring it all out while being judged by people. So it was hard. So I was like, I'd like, I would really like to make some mistakes and not everyone know about it. Right. I think you deserve that. Thank you. You've obviously always loved fashion and you went on to have a very thriving fashion career.

19:29Do you feel like if the show never happened, do you think your career would have followed a similar trajectory or potentially look different? No, I absolutely would not have had the opportunities I had. Like I thank my lucky stars every day for my deal with Kohl's. They are amazing partners. We've going on 16 years now. Are you like one of the longest standing brand partnerships there? One of the longer. Yeah. But I just have such a great relationship with them. I love my team. Like they've always been so supportive of me and like really open to hearing my ideas. And I feel very lucky to have that partnership because they don't really give those out anymore.

20:03Like the partnerships now are very short. Yes. So the longevity that I've had in my career, I know is rare and I'm very lucky. So, and no, and I wouldn't have had the opportunity if I hadn't been on television. What does a typical day look like for you now? And you can include, you know, your involvement with Kohl's and how that shapes your day to day. My day is pretty flexible usually because a lot of my work is done over email. So I'm communicating with my teams that way a lot. So I'm kind of working throughout the day. but it allows me the flexibility to like be really present with my kids, which I love and is such a gift because also we're just in that window.

20:39Like they're so cute. And like, I want to soak it up because I know in a few years, they won't want to hang out with me anymore. So I'm like, I don't want to miss this part. So I am busy, but in like the best way. And I also like love my job. So it's really great, but I I'm not, I don't work like I did in my thirties, my thirties, I like was working constantly. And my goal was always, I want to work really hard right now so that I can enjoy my family life and it's, it's worked out. Yeah. Okay. Have you ever watched the show back as an adult? And would you ever let your kids watch it if they're interested when they get to an age?

21:14So I had to for this project. Okay. Um, I hadn't until recently. I watched a couple of them when Steven and Kristen did a podcast and invited me on. And then I, I think I watched them all before this reunion because we like cut up a lot of old footage. I was helping, you know, figure out like what we want to focus on, what questions. So it's hard to watch yourself. Yeah. It's always hard to watch yourself no matter what. It's hard to watch yourself 20 years ago when you're just like, like so lost, figuring it out. You're just like, it's pretty embarrassing to watch back. I'm okay with it now. And I think people are very forgiving because they understand that we were all 17, 18.

21:51I would let my kids watch it when they're old enough. Yeah. I don't think there's anything on there that I'm... No. No. Okay, so in the reunion, you say, I just want to give myself, my 18-year-old self, a hug because I can see that I'm so insecure. If you could talk to your 18-year-old self today when you were about to start filming the show, is there anything you would tell her? So much. We would talk about sun protection. And... Yeah, I think that 18-year-old... I think especially women are just really hard on themselves. You're just like questioning everything. or just, I was really insecure.

22:24It was hard to try and be myself in front of a camera. I would just give myself a hug. I don't even know what I would say, but I would just, I think everyone goes through it. It's hard to tell someone just be more confident, but it's just a hard time. With the Laguna Beach reunion, the Hannah Montana reunion, the Devil Wears Prada sequel, and all of the Hilary Duff resurgences that are happening this year, it feels like every millennial is feeling a lot of feelings. Who What Wear is also having its 20th anniversary this year. And I have to mention that back in the day, you were actually a guest editor for us in 2016.