Sugar Sequin’s Katerina Kladis Might Be the World’s Biggest Juicy Couture Collector
Talking to stylist — and one of the world’s most prolific Juicy Couture collectors — Katerina Kladis makes luxury fashion feel wildly fun. Like Fran Drescher (more on that connection later) pouring coffee wearing a Todd Oldham stars-and-stripes skirt set, Katerina’s style expresses all the ebullient accoutrements of what makes a designer logo so alluring. That Barbie cursive on a country-club sweater, the explosion of pink Ds that feel like drinking five Godiva frappés and making a million dollars, the double highland terrier “Made in the Glamorous U.S.A.” of it all.
Katerina runs Sugar Sequin Vintage, a clothing rental and styling service, in Fort Lauderdale, and she also makes jewelry from vintage designer materials. She talked with Very Famous about her collection, Jessica Simpson, designing restaurant interiors for her family, and of course, Juicy Couture. After all, she does own more than 350 Juicy pieces.
Today, we enter the Very Famous World of Katerina Kladis. Calling 1-900-Sugar-Sequin…
Hi! Is this Katerina?
It is!
Hi! Very excited to be talking to you! Where did your interest in fashion come from?
Since I can remember, it’s what I loved. I look back in pictures, and I’m always fully accessorized. I even went to school for it. I graduated, and it was like, what else do I do? That’s the only thing I’m interested in. I went for fashion merchandising. Even when I was in high school, and I saw the fashion correspondents on TV, I was like, “Oh my god, I want to do that!” It’s what I was meant to do; that’s how I would describe it.
Are you a born-and-raised Florida girl?
Actually, I’m from Chicago, but we moved to Florida five years ago. My parents were always in the restaurant business, so I’m a restaurant baby. I grew up in that industry. They moved to Florida for the restaurant business, so I came down with them. I was always lucky because I got to design their restaurants.
Did you bring a little of your style into the restaurant design?
All the time! Customers were like, “We came to see what you wear. You’re a fashion queen!” I worked in the front as a hostess. It was fun for me! Anywhere I could get my name out, I would. I had my cards out there, I’d tell customers if they knew anyone to tell them.
I graduated college in Chicago, so I was building up my business. It got stronger here in Florida.
I’d love to know how you started Sugar Sequin and how you got your start collecting.
I’ve been collecting since high school days. I love it! It makes me happy to have a collection, and since I’m in fashion it makes sense. I wear my items – every piece that I buy, I truly love it. I dress for my moods and how I’m feeling, you know?
That totally comes through! It’s clear you have genuine love for the pieces you have. What’s business been like? Who are some of your clients and types of people who contact you about renting?
They are fashion stylists, most of them. Also some people in fashion school that do projects. There are certain people that just want to rent it to take pictures in or for an event. Every day I get some sort of message asking about renting a piece. The other day I had someone from Florida asking me about certain pieces, and she and her client will be doing a photoshoot with my two-piece pink Moschino set from the Barbie collection. It gets so much interest!
I read that you have a connection with Fran Drescher from The Nanny. I’d love to know more about that influence!
I watched The Nanny in middle school and high school, and I was like, “Oh my gosh, she actually resembles me!” I didn’t feel like a lot of people where I went to school resembled me, so I felt left out, like they were in their own group or something. She looks like a part of my family basically. That’s why I really loved her because she just reminded me of myself — even the way I act, I jump up and down for real. The other day I rewatched the “Jeopardy” episode where she was jumping up and down.
You have a fair amount of pieces seen in the show. How were you able to track them down?
How it started is my one Moschino jacket — I didn’t even know it was on The Nanny. The picture just happened to be in the listing. It’s this multicolored jacket with buttons separating each part. You could remove the sleeves, have it short-sleeved, long-sleeved, you could take the bottom part of the blazer off and turn it into a cropped blazer.
Ugh, that is so cool! Is there a piece you’ve been dreaming of buying?
I don’t, to tell you the truth, because I don’t have a wish list right now. The last thing on my list were my Gucci boots with the flowers on them, and I got them.
That’s a good situation to be in! Getting the stuff from your wish list.
I’m winning! Before that, I got a Dior pink trotter hat. Those are, like, so far to find. I have everything right now I could want [laughs]
Now I’m sure you have your secrets you don’t want to reveal, but do you have some places in Florida where you love to search for things? Estate sales or anything like that?
The coolest thing I found in Florida was a Chanel sweater set, but it’s a thin sweater so it can work in Florida. It was in a consignment shop by my house. It came with matching sweater leggings, and I had to get it because I know how much it’s worth. It’d be worth a lot more than I paid for it, but I got it because I loved it and want to wear it.
What or who has shaped your sense of style and how you put it out into the world?
I just like following celebrity pages and looking at their pictures and seeing what they wear. I used to love Jessica Simpson’s style — you know when she was on Newlyweds? That was my favorite show when I was in high school, and if I had to pick a celebrity, she has my favorite celebrity style. I have a lot of her pieces, too, that she had from the Newlyweds days. Her style is like mine; she likes tube tops — I’m obsessed with tube tops!
Me too! Tube tops and crop tops all the way.
That’s what she would wear — and Juicy Couture! If you asked me what celebrity I associated with Juicy Couture, I would tell you Jessica Simpson. She had more pieces than just track suits.
I would love to know about your love affair with Juicy! Was it Newlyweds?
Definitely. I’d see her wearing it on the show, and I was like “Oh my god! Juicy Couture, that’s so cool!” As soon as I knew what Juicy was, I’ve loved them since then. Everything they made in all categories, not just tracksuits. Home stuff, swimsuits, shoes, I just love everything. Their slogans like Viva La Juicy and Eat Sugar and all those – I love their little sayings. I love vintage Juicy Couture style.
What do you love about it?
They were fun! They make you happy — they’re a happy brand. Some of my best memories even now are going to the Juicy Couture store in Chicago because that’s where I lived when they still existed.
What was it like going to the store there?
Just the best time ever, they knew me by name! They were just like, “That’s the Juicy girl!”
That’s so cool! Do you have some favorite memories of going there?
My favorite time was my 22nd birthday, and I went with my mom. They gave us Juicy water, and I bought a shirt and birthday presents. All the Juicy stuff I have, I still love it and cherish it. Then we went to Nordstrom, and I was holding my Juicy bag and I got my makeup done holding my Juicy water — I was so happy!
That sounds like a beautiful birthday! I read in your Vogue interview that there are only five people you know of that collect Juicy. Have you talked with them?
I don’t really know them, but I know they exist. I can tell from their comments on different websites who they are and from past sold items. But I also know that they like specific categories — one will be obsessed with charms, one will be a guy who collects luggage and home items but doesn’t collect anything else.
I know Juicy isn’t around in the same way today. Do you like their new collaborations?
I like that they have a name and they’re trying, but it’s definitely different. I remember going to the store right before it closed down, after they did the switch, and the clothes were totally different. That’s why I’m happy I have the pieces I have because I know I love them, and they’ll never be around again in that way.
I was gonna ask, I love your jewelry with the repurposed Chanel logos and buttons. How did you start designing jewelry?
It’s something I’ve always done, and it was my number-one hobby growing up. In middle school, the only presents I asked for were jewelry gift sets to make jewelry for birthdays and stuff. Little by little, I made my pieces to sell at art shows or, for example, if there’s a Greek festival or some type of festival I could be a vendor at. I put out collections a few pieces at a time because it’s all pieces that I truly love and would wear. I only put up a few on Instagram — I have a bangles set with evil eyes. I’m making a new collection too! I’m working on getting my jewelry in boutiques.
Definitely! You mentioned it being sustainable, too, reusing parts from old designer pieces.
We are sustainable because all the materials I use are vintage. The buttons are real, authentic buttons from clothes. The clothes are ruined so you salvage the buttons.
What inspired your designs?
I saw a Chanel button, and I’m like “That’s so beautiful” What am I going to do with it, keep it as a button? I’m going to turn it into a bracelet, make use out of it.
I love your chokers too!
Thanks!!!! I love chokers! That’s why I’ve been making chokers if it’s a necklace! We have the same aesthetic.
I think so!
You can come visit Florida anytime! We can go to the Dior Café!
Girl yes, that sounds great! What are three things that make you feel famous?
My clothes, my jewelry, and my shoes! Does that count? [Laughs]
Totally! Those are the most famous, they’re great answers!
All images courtesy of @sugarsequinvintage and @katerinakofficial.
~*The Very Famous Quiz*~
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