WIFE Interview: Alice Ryan

Alice Ryan is certainly a women who can do it all. Born and raised in London, her British charm is infectious, which is probably how she caught the eye of her dapper Husband, Kirk Miller (bespoke suit designer and owner of Miller’s Oath in Soho.) Together they live in New York raising their two darling children Grey and Elliott. Alice also runs her own boutique PR firm called A Company,  she represents the creme de la creme of luxury brands from Dior Beauty to Bonpoint and LVMH.  She believes every women should own a smile and a beautiful pair of shoes. Below she describes how she balances wifehood, motherhood and running the world… Continue reading to find out why her husband is always right, how she makes time for work outs at Soul Cycle and why date nights at The Crosby Street Hotel are a must. – Taryn Cox for THE WIFE.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR MARRIAGE SO FAR?

My husband, Kirk Miller is rarely wrong.  I learned very early on that his instincts were as good as mine if not better, his warmth and generosity of spirit equalled or surpassed mine. I am also constantly reminded that he never has a hidden agenda – and I often do! He is the smartest man I know, and had more style than anyone on the planet. He was born and bred in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has the integrity, grace, charm and the refined good looks that everyone imagines a British gentleman would possess.  I know better, English men like that are few and very far between!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY TRADITION:

Its early days in our own family life, our son Grey is 4 and our daughter Elliott is seven months, so our traditions are slowly making themselves known. So far, my favorite has been Grey’s birthday.  We always have a party in the garden out on the North Fork of Long Island, sometimes its a “farm stand to wicker basket” picnic, one year we had an inflatable “slip and slide” that was the length of of the house, but there is always a soccer match.  My husband played professionally before turning his talents to menswear www.millersoath.com – we have soccer goals in the garden year-round. I think children see family traditions in a much simpler way – if you were to ask our little boy he would say his favorite family tradition is making pancakes with his Daddy before school and on the weekends. We are always stocked up with Sears Pancakes from San Francisco, they are delicious.

FAVORITE PLACE TO TAKE YOUR KIDS:

I love taking Grey to Imagine Swimming in TriBeCa. He puts on the goggles and an air of determination and fearless focus takes over, I am brimming with pride as I watch him.  Taking them both to Soho House for kids club is always a little more spoiling for me that being in a city park, I get to have Earl Grey tea served in polished hotel silver and if there is a good movie playing for the children in the screening room, I might even manage to sit down to eat my breakfast – while its still hot! CitiBabes (where the children also go) run the activities at the club, and the girls are always so engaging with the children that it allows me to take a breath. We walk along the HighLine too, which is always a cinematic New York moment, which we all love.

FAVORITE DISCOVERY:

Last year it was SoulCycle, which became my only exercise and my favorite thing to do for myself, they have studios now in LA so when I need to be there for work, I have my fitness regime covered. I also discovered a brand called Hatch Collection when I was pregnant with my little girl and have continued to discover more about the brand, the gorgeous new tablet magazine that they have produced for the iPad and all of the incredible charity collaborations that they have been involved with. Christy Turlington’s “Every Mother Counts” organization benefits from their sales, which I really applaud.

WHAT’S ON YOUR DESK:

At this moment in time: An orchid that just arrived, with a note of thanks that made me feel very special, La Mer hand cream and lip balm, a small make-up trunk which has my Dior Beauty products inside, a bottle of Fracas, tear sheets of Aerin Lauder’s dressing room which I am obsessing over, a pile of “Bloomsbury” cards from The Tate Modern in London which my mother sent me, she knows how much I love to write thank you notes on exhibition postcards,  a Jo Malone candle with 3 wicks which smells divine even when not lit, my iPhone and 3 old BlackBerries that I still need to use for reference, I’m trying to get a little more hi-tech!

MOST FUN THING ABOUT MOTHERHOOD:

Spending time with your children and experiencing just the simple things in life through their eyes, the excitement of a balloon or an ice-cream, a reminder that enthusiasm and optimism are our best traits, and children possess them naturally – I love that!

WHAT CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT?

Lauren in my office, who manages everything with care and attention to detail, she makes my world go round!  

BEST GIFT EVER RECEIVED:

My grandparents set of cream parchment steamer trunks with “Ryan”on each one

FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD:

Of the places that I have been lucky enough to visit, when I close my eyes, I see myself on the same white sands of Saline Beach in St.Barths with my husband, off season,  drinking rose, without a care in the world

FAVORITE HOTEL:

Crosby Street Hotel because it feels like home away from home, we go there for date nights

 NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT:

Peels in the East Village 

FLOWERS TO FILL YOUR HOME:

Peonies, Hydrangeas, Cabbage Roses, Foxgloves and Poppies

STATIONARY:

Smythson

FAVORITE DESIGNER:

Lela Rose, Alice Temperley and Kirk Miller

FAVORITE GIFT TO GIVE:

A custom Millers Oath shirt for a man, Livia Cetti paper potted plants from John Derian for her and Bonpoint for children.

MASCARA:

Dior Show BlackOut

FASHION ICON:

Ralph Lauren (I worked for him for many years)