5 Questions With: Kristen Noel Crawley

By Chiara Milioulis / Q & As / January 25, 2018

The beauty guru and fashion It Girl stars in a new Nike campaign

It’s official: The future really is female. To celebrate the movement, Nike launched a Force Is Female campaign this month, tapping ambassadors across the nation to rock its all-new Air Force 1s.

Kristen Noel Crawley — founder of Insta-famous beauty brand KNC Beauty and co-owner of Wicker Park boutique RSVP Gallery (1753 N. Damen) — was chosen for the campaign locally, alongside photographer Elizabeth De La Piedra, R&B singer/songwriter Ravyn Lenae and Chicago Red Stars’ Casey Short.

Here, the sartorial star talks beauty, branding and what she wears to brave the cold in Chicago.

How do you feel connected to Nike as a brand? I have some incredible memories that revolve around Nike. The first gift my husband [designer Don C] ever gave me was a pair of Air Max’s — they were brown, pink and yellow and he bought them in Tokyo. I grew up with Nike, so I’ve had a relationship with them before they even had one with me. Now that’s wild.

What does being a fierce female mean to you? It means owning yourself and your life. I have so much to juggle, but I make it happen. From being a businesswoman to being a mother, it’s how I’m able to transition these roles that makes me feel fierce.

You now live in LA, but you’re a native Chicagoan, so you know how freezing it gets here. What’s your go-to cold-weather outfit? I’d always wear Wolford tights under everything, because they give jeans or sweatpants a layer of insulation. Then I’d put on a turtleneck, matching sweatsuit, bubble coat, vintage ski boots, gloves and an Azeeza skull cap.

What does your beauty routine consist of? I double cleanse, first with Dr. Barbara Sturm’s cleanser ($70, Neiman Marcus, 737 N. Michigan; Neimanmarcus.com) and then African Botanics’ Baobab Clay Oxygenating cleanser ($60; Africanbotanics.com). I use hyaluronic acid from The Ordinary ($6.80, Sephora locations citywide; Sephora.com) and La Prairie’s Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal eye cream ($250; Neimanmarcus.com). I like the lip balm from Farmacy ($9.50; Farmacybeauty.com) and the Dior Addict lacquer stick in Poisonous ($37; Sephora.com).

What’s on your must-do list when you’re in town? I love the food in Chicago, from Giordano’s (730 N. Rush) to Original Soul Vegetarian (203 E. 75th) on the South Side. I shop at ikram (15 E. Huron) and Blake (212 W. Chicago) and take my kids to the Chicago Children’s Museum (700 E. Grand).