Interview with Blair Eadie

Within fashion circles, Blair Eadie is someone who needs no introduction and you likely know her as the founder of popular fashion and personal style site Atlantic-Pacific. Blair is a fashion industry veteran who worked in a merchandising capacity before paving her own way with her blog, eye-catching style and swoon-worthy imagery that has evolved into so much more including exclusive brand collaborations and her very own collection at Nordstrom.  Behind the scenes, she is one of the smartest, savviest, and most hard-working women we know and now boasts more than 1.6M Instagram followers. She is also our go-to source for discovering unknown brands and putting them on the map.  Known for her boldly chic style, Blair perfectly pairs her Pamela Munson handbags back to iconic looks that are sure to make a lasting impression. As a tastemaker with impeccable style, a fearless business women and for years of support as a true friend of the brand, we couldn't be more thriled to launch the The Basket Weave series with Blair.  

Tell us about your brand/business and career trajectory. 

I started my career in fashion in the merchandising function. Way back in 2007, I went through the Retail Management Program at Gap Inc. in San Francisco and spent five years with Gap Inc. in various merchandising roles. During that time, I saw first-hand the design and concept inspiration pivot from magazines and editorials to street style and personal style. I wanted to be a part of that conversation, so I started documenting my own looks and my own blog began in 2010!

For the next six years I was continuing to build my career in the industry while simultaneously building my career as a blogger and influencer. In 2012, I moved from San Francisco to New York and took on a new role as Director of Merchandising at Tory Burch. I was helping run the exploding Tory Burch accessories business by day, while also trying to navigate my expanding Atlantic-Pacific platform by night. By 2017, I made the difficult, but necessary decision to leave “corporate America” and solely focus on Atlantic-Pacific.

I am forever grateful for the experience I gained at Gap Inc. and Tory Burch and miss merchandising and my colleagues so dearly, but running my own business and taking on new opportunities and challenges (such as creating a line with Nordstrom) has been life changing and so incredibly rewarding. 

What inspires you? Many of Pam’s designs are inspired by childhood travel memories and time with her family, do you have a go-to source of inspiration?

I am very much inspired by color, specifically as it relates to travel and destinations. From the bright, primary colors of Cartagena, to the beautiful pastel hues in Paris, to the vibrant neons at night in Tokyo — I feel so fortunate to have seen some incredible places. I love witnessing color in nature as well as architecture, and I use that as inspiration in creating color palettes. For me, this is nearly often my first step, whether I am creating a look to post on my site or helping to design a collection. 

What are your treasured travel destinations? Where did you go and what was your favorite memory?

I did not start traveling internationally until well into my twenties. I have seen so many wonderful parts of the United States but going abroad was when I first felt like a real traveler, seeing so many beautiful, interesting, and historic places. I'll never forget my first international trip; I went to Hong Kong, London, and Paris across three weeks. It was a whirlwind trip! Over the years, I have been lucky to travel to so many places, and Tokyo has been my favorite. I am so inspired by their approach to design and it is so apparent how much it drives daily life in Japan.  

We have to ask: what’s in your bag?  Tell us about your essentials in your Pamela Munson bag.

The short answer is probably too much stuff! I typically carry my wallet, lotion, lip gloss, lots of hair pins, hand sanitizer, gum, a pen, and keys - if I remember them. A new addition to my bag these days is a face mask (that hopefully matches my outfit)!

You have impeccable taste and we love your style. What are your favorite styles from our Resort 2021 Collection?

Why, thank you! There are so many beautiful designs within the Resort collection. What I love most about the Pamela Munson brand is that there is a very clear and edited point of view, but it is never boring or predictable. That is incredibly difficult to pull off and a testament to Pam's talent. While there are timeless classics with a twist that are brought back each season, there are always new designs that feel refined, feminine, and fun. It is so hard to choose, but from the Resort Collection, I would say the new bow bag made my heart flutter!  (Editor's Note: Blair is pictured wearing our Isla Bahia Basket) 

I am also a lover of all things striped, so the Isla Bahia bag that has been updated with a stripe grosgrain handle is also a top pick of mine! 

Straw isn’t solely reserved for summer or beach getaways. Can you tell us how you style your Pamela Munson handbag for every day?

My philosophy is that the best way to wear something is to wear it in an unexpected way. The obvious way to wear straw or rattan is back to a caftan or sundress, but straw in the fall and winter is such a fun way to mix it up. I love a straw bag back to a navy tailored look in the cooler months or back to a printed dress, bright coat, and platform oxfords!