The gorgeous and oh-so-stylish Lindsay (of Lindsay Loves it All) is the first participant of my new series Iconic Inspirations. Read on to see what inspires this Nashville beauty.

{A piece from the Kittie Kyle Collection. Image via Mephis City Magazine.}

1. Who are some of your favorite icons and why?

As I’ve said before on my blog, my mom and aunt are both fashion icons for me. Growing up, my mom was one of three girls. My grandparents lived in a very small town, and my grandmother was a home economics major. Those two things meant my grandmother pretty much made all of their clothes. She designed most of their wardrobe with input from fashion magazines and the girls themselves. The three of them (actually, four including my grandmother) had amazing shoe and jewelry collections because there was money left over to spend on that because the clothes were designed and made by my grandmother. Because of that influence, my mom and her two sisters started their own clothing line after college. In the late 70s, they started making wedding and cocktail dresses from vintage and antique lace from Europe. They spent a lot of time in Switzerland learning about the lace and how to handle it without diminishing it’s value. The line got started quickly due to the high demand for their wedding dresses in Memphis, TN. The basis of the line was a formal dress that was in two pieces – a top and bottom. After the wedding or event, the antique lace separates could be incorporated into the woman’s wardrobe. Soon, the Kittie Kyle Kollection was born, naming the line after their stylish aunt. The line was sold in Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel in NY, and stores in Dallas, NC, and TN. The brides would always ask them to do personal shopping for them afterwards, so Kittie Kyle morphed into a high-end women’s retail store in Memphis, TN. Because they had such an innate fashion sense and entrepreneurial spirit, I definitely consider them my favorite icons – both fashion and otherwise!

2. What do you think makes something or someone iconic?

What makes someone or something iconic is a deeply personal choice. I reserve that status for something or someone that I am fascinated or intrigued by – whether it’s my admiration for their style or what they do, or how I have been influenced by them. Each person or thing I view as “iconic” has taught me something and given me something to take away and make my own.

3. Out of all the places you have traveled, which location have you found the most inspiring and why?

(Haha, You are going to get a taste of the real Lindsay here)! Since I was little, I have wanted to be on stage. I love the arts and feel alive when the spotlight is on me. My first trip to New York City was when I was in the 5th grade. I had traveled a lot before then but never to a huge city. I was bursting with excitement from the moment I was told we were going, until the end of our trip. It was HEAVEN for me! Even as a 10 year old, I recognized and loved the energy the city had. I would constantly dream of getting lost and having to stay there in the city. We saw 3 Broadway plays, ate at amazing restaurants, and stayed at a hotel where I could see half of Manhattan. I was in love, totally and hopelessly. At the end of our trip, I sat in the airport and cried. (A total brat!) I did not want to leave this city. I did not want to leave the thousands of yellow dots that made up the streets, or the many stages that held so many dreams on their cold black surfaces. I left, obviously, but ended up living there in college…and plan to go back. Very, very soon. It inspires me because in that city, I feel as if anything goes…and anything can happen.

4. What is your idea of iconic style?

To me, iconic style is simple. The people who have iconic style are people who are confident in every sense of the word. They wear what they love, regardless of trends or society’s opinions. If that is in place, those types of people are the ones who become iconic and inspire people to not only emulate them – but be confident in themselves.

5. If you had to make a meal that best represents you, what would you serve?

This is a hard one because I LOVE food! I enjoy it because there is always a memory attached to a meal or certain dish. Even though I love New York so much…even though I love big cities and could never live somewhere without a Starbucks, I am a small-town girl at heart. I grew up in a city with about 3,500 people. There was rarely a night where my sweet mother did not make the four of us dinner, where we all sat around the table. Because of that, the meal that best represents me is one I had so many times growing up: Chicken and broccoli casserole (the way my mom makes it with extra curry), sweet corn on the cob, fresh tomatoes, and sweet and sour green beans. Oh yeah – and definitely a glass of amazing red wine and some homemade ice cream, which was another staple at my house growing up and even now!

Related posts:

1. Iconic Inspirations – Design Darling
2. Iconic Inspirations – A Cup of Te
3. Iconic Inspirations – Bright.Bazaar
4. San Francisco
5. Our Wedding – The Iconic Rehearsal Dinner