Nicky Hilton Rothschild on Beauty, Health, Family and Sustainable High Fashion

Cover Photo Credit: Fadil Berisha Photography

With Earth Day rapidly approaching, NEW YOU’s April cover star Nicky Hilton Rothschild is bringing sustainability to the forefront of the luxury footwear space. For her fourth collection in partnership with Manhattan-based brand French Sole, the 37-year-old businesswoman fulfilled a long-time goal of producing a 100% eco-friendly and cruelty-free shoe line. Rothschild collaborated with one of her closest childhood friends, Amanda Hearst Rønning, to create the collection, which launched exclusively on Rønning’s earth-conscious fashion platform, Maison De Mode. In honor of Earth Month, 10% of sales in April will be donated to Rønning’s animal welfare charity, Wellbeings.

Married since 2015 to European banking heir James Rothschild and the mother of two daughters, Lily and Teddy, Rothschild manages to balance her family life with building her fashion empire ­­– all in the midst of a global pandemic. In an interview with NEW YOU, the style icon discussed her new collection, her favorite spring trends and her beauty and fitness tips. She also gave readers a glimpse into her family’s experience during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and how she is helping her sister Paris plan her upcoming wedding to venture capitalist Carter Reum.

Q: You have put a lot of effort into making your new collection both eco-friendly and cruelty-free. What were some of the challenges in reaching that goal and how did you overcome them?

A:  It’s something that I have wanted to do for a long time. I feel like we all have to do our part. I consider myself a pretty eco-conscious person. I’m not perfect but I do try to lead a more sustainable life by taking shorter showers, turning the lights off when I leave the room and  bringing reusable bags to the market, so it was only a matter of time before I incorporated that into my business.

I wanted the collection to be 100% sustainable, not partly, so it was a big deal for me to have all animal-free materials and all certified recycled materials. We worked with a factory in Spain that specializes in sustainable materials. It was very new for me but it was really interesting too. One of my favorite parts of the process was going through the different soles of the shoes and seeing how they have advanced so much, even in just the past few years. They have all these amazing soles that are plant-based or made out of recycled water bottles.

Q: What are some fashion trends that you are seeing as we head into spring and summer and as more places open up?

A: I’m loving all of these beautiful sorbet pastels. And I’m still loving my COVID athleisure wear. Alice + Olivia has some really nice sweatsuits now with very fitted sweatpants and matching sweaters and hoodies. But now that people are getting the vaccine and places are starting to open up, I think people are really ready to dress up.

Q: What are some of your favorite beauty tips? Are there any new beauty trends that you are loving right now?

A: During quarantine, I really got into my beauty tools like Joanna Czech face rollers and dry brushes. I’m really into dry brushing in every morning. I feel like it gets the blood flowing and it’s a good way to start the day. I also have this TriPollar Stop X machine that helps build collagen on your face. I use the Lyma laser, which is the first at-home laser. It’s supposed to help with collagen production, fine lines and dark spots. I’ve also been loving using clean products. I love U Beauty. They do a really great moisturizer called The SUPER and all of their packaging is recycled and their factories are 100% green energy. And I love that they plant a tree for every order. 

Q: How do you stay in such great shape despite having a busy career and family life? Do you follow a particular diet and exercise plan and do you have any tips for NEW YOU’s readers?

A: I live in New York, so I’m a really big walker. I walk everywhere. I walk when I drop my kids off at school, pick them up, go to appointments and meetings. I’m not a big fan of the gym, especially wearing the mask in the gym. It’s really not fun. For me, just to be outdoors and walking all day and getting my steps in is my exercise at the moment. I like to hit 10,000 steps a day which is pretty easy to do in New York.

For the last few months, I was pescatarian so I would have no red meat or chicken but in doing so, I did find myself having a lot more carbs because I got hungrier. But I love everything. I always say, everything in moderation. Just don’t be excessive and I think that applies to all walks of life. Everything in life. When you start to excessive in something is when things can go wrong.

Q: You and your husband will be celebrating your sixth wedding anniversary this summer. Do you have any specific plans yet?

A: We don’t have plans. Usually, we are visiting my husband’s family in Europe. Sometimes we like to go to Italy, which is where we got engaged, but I’m not really sure what’s going to happen with travel restrictions. So, no plans. Maybe a nice home-cooked dinner.

Q: How do you keep your relationship so strong? How did the pandemic and quarantine affect your family life?

A: How do we do it? We laugh sometimes, like thank God we enjoy each other so much because this would be really tedious otherwise. Because we have literally not left each other’s side since last March. But I really cherished that family time. When you look back at the beginning of the pandemic, when we were really locked down, just to be having breakfast, lunch and dinner with your husband and children every single day for 100 consecutive days. When else in my life will I do that? We are very happy and grateful for our family and our family’s health.

Q: Do you two have plans to expand your family in the near future? If so, are you hoping for a boy since you have two daughters?

A: I don’t know but never say never. Who knows what’s in store for me? I love girls so I would be happy with another girl. I would be thrilled with a boy. Honestly, as long as they are healthy, I’m happy.

Q: Are you helping Paris plan her wedding and are there any details that you can reveal?

A: Paris is the opposite of a Bridezilla. Or maybe it’s because she’s been so busy with launching her podcast and her production company but she hasn’t really had time to even think about it. And I told her, “If you want to have a wedding anytime soon, you better get on it.” Venues get booked up. Some of these dresses take a few months to make. But she seems very focused on her business right now. I don’t think she’s doing it in the immediate future. She wants to do it when everyone is safe and there’s a bit more clarity but I’ll definitely be helping her, especially with the fun things like the bachelorette party.

Q: Do you have any ideas for the bachelorette party right now?

A: They want to do a joint bachelor/bachelorette party. I know they were talking possibly Las Vegas or Miami but we have to see when it’s safe to do it.

Q: Are you excited that Carter is joining the family?

A: Yes, he’s really nice and they are very happy together and that makes me happy. They are very similar. They are very focused and passionate about their work. They get along great.

Q: Paris said she is looking to start a family. How do you think she will be as a mom?

A: If how she is as a mother to her pets is any indication, she’s going to be a fantastic, doting mother.

Q: Do you have any parenting advice for her?

A: You have to be strict with them. Not too strict but you have to be ok with saying no and having rules. I can’t imagine Paris wanting to implement rules.

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