Born Uniqorn Clothing, Hollywood

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Bettiemag.com article: Recently, actress/singer Taryn Manning and her childhood best friend, actress Tara Jane launched the clothing line Born Uniqorn, the core of which is comfy, yet stylish, feminine pieces. We caught up with the pair while Manning was on set in Detroit filming the upcoming drama The Job with Hellboy’s Ron Perlman. What, you actually expected her to sit still? We hate to be anything else than comfy, but we hate wearing muumuus. How does Born Uniqorn fit our needs? Tara Jane: We’ve mastered how to make a structured jacket out of French terry. That’s definitely what we’re known for. We have a cropped sweatshirt that feels like a sweatshirt but looks like a jacket. Taryn Manning: And the collar is insane. It looks like a queen. That was our theme, to look like royalty. That is the hottest little jacket. I wore that out the other night and guys particularly, they think it’s sexy. The line features a lot of ruffles. You two have been friends since seventh grade. Were you into the ruffles then? Jane: No, back then, Taryn and I followed every trend. Even the bad ones. We were heshers and we went all the way. Dark hair, blackberry lipstick, shredded jeans, converse, concert t-shirts. Then, the sixties retro thing came in and, over the weekend we went to the thrift stores and on Monday were wearing bellbottom jeans, wedges, eyelashes, and sparkles on our face. We were very fashion forward. And you were totally popular too, right? Jane: Certain guys understood us, but most people didn’t really get it. We always felt comfortable in our hometown and had pretty open-minded parents, but we never felt we were one with everyone. Since you followed the trends, when you started your own line, was there a certain look you wanted? Jane: We wanted fun and flirty. Fun bold colors, a lot of leotard tops made out of Lyrca, low-tech, and a lot of fun things we wanted in our closet that we never had. Like finding those seminal pieces. Why the funky spelling of unicorn? Jane: It’s a twist on born unique, but we also love unicorns and what they stand for. Manning: Also, if you just take away all of it, the initials are BU. Which is a good expression. It really came from the love of unicorns and trying to put a little funky twist on it. How hands on are you? Jane: That’s what separates us from the rest of those brands. Taryn and I are in the trenches on a daily basis. Whenever she’s not shooting a movie she’s down there. We sketch and we have an intern who sketches really well. Our manufacturers, when we talk through something our manufacturers work with us and we have pattern makers and sample makers on site, so we all sit down and we tell them our vision and what we want. Manning: If I’m not working on a movie or music, I am involved as often as I can. We’re trying to set up iChat so she can start working on spring 09. I’m very hands on. You’re best friends. How do you manage not to bicker when working? Manning: When we’re in work mode, we can sometimes become a little bitchy. We both have very strong fashion sense and it’s very different, so there’s a lot of compromising that goes on. What fashion trends should be over? How would each of you describe your fashion sense? Manning: Mine is a little more of a street edge, like hip-hop meets an eighties flair. More of an indie style. Jane: I like whimsical stuff. I never really wear black, I have really long hair. I’m like a contemporary hippie, kind of. But, not like a dirty hippie. I wear long vintage dresses and Grecian sandals. Are there any fashion trends you guys are done with? Manning: I’m over that everybody dresses, indie style. The dudes are wearing the super tight jeans. I’m guilty of dressing that way as well because I like it, but I wish not everyone dressed like that. Guys are wearing their boots over their jeans and that’s a girl thing. I don’t know if I’m into it yet. Jane: There’s a whole trend that’s in with people wearing little headbands across their forehead, which is darling but I’m just sick of seeing girls in Los Angeles particular town wearing clothes are definitely wearing them. Trends are trends and I get it, but if it doesn’t work for you, don’t do it. I know that sounds mean, but there’s nothing worse than seeing someone uncomfortable in their outfit. Taryn, because you have celebrity status, is there anywhere you feel you don’t have to dress up? Manning: Yeah, like today at work, I want to look good because there are newscasters here, but it’s also 6 a.m. So that’s where Born Uniqorn comes in. it’s comfy but fashionable. Honestly, I can be guilty of being a bit of a slob. Like, I shower every day but I don’t like makeup all the time. I have thinner hair so if we go out, it takes a minute to get my hair looking good, and I have to just accept that I can’t look like that all the time. Wait, you’re suggesting celebrities are real people. We’ve got to move .. our brain explodes. The fall clothing line and your upcoming Boomkat album both have a celestial theme. Why? Manning: I’m really into seeing the stars and when I see a falling star I wish so hard. When we go out to the desert, I’m always like, “ahh, there’s the stars.” The [album title] Million Trillion Stars has a lot of meanings for me. I feel sometimes so insignificant in such a big world and I know if I was a star in the sky I’d feel like I’m doing my part but I’m just amongst a lot of other twinkling lights. It’s kind of a sad title for me, but still hopeful. It’s a very competitive industry, there’s that. There’s a million trillion stars, literally, with celebrities. As far as our line goes, we always wanted to do rockets and planets and we love that. For as long as I can remember. If you had the option would you two be space tourists? Jane: Definitely. if there was an option to move to mars, I’d be down.