Jen DeAngelis Shares the Story Behind Her Viral Loungewear Brand, 1987label
If anything good came out of the pandemic, we think it's the rise of stylish loungewear, such as the striking pieces from Jen DeAngelis's 1987label.
Dreamed up in 2020, Jen created the brand because she couldn't find loungewear pieces that were just as chic and stylish as they were uber-comfortable. She designed her own styles with tailored and cropped fits, selling hoodies out of her closet before finding virality on TikTok. Since then, the limited-edition brand has sold out every new season—sometimes in just minutes after a new collection drops. 1987label has been one-of-a-kind from the very beginning, and we got the chance to chat with Jen herself to learn more about her own style and what makes 1987label stand out from other brands in the interview below.
Name: Jennifer DeAngelis
IG handle: @jendeangelis
Hometown: Boulder, Colorado (But my dad and extended family are from Boston, where I moved during the pandemic. I fell in love with the city, which is why our line is inspired by Boston. I also met my husband in Boston—where he was born and raised. What can I say, Boston is just the best.)
1. Jen's obsession with style dates back to childhood.
"When I was little, I would go into my parent's walk-in closet and be absolutely mesmerized by the fabrics, colors and cuts of the clothing. I would select items like an oversized blazer or tee and pair it with kitten heels alongside a chunky belt to draw in the silhouette. I was always creating fun looks with both masculine and feminine pieces. I loved pattern clashing and finding creative ways to mix and match. My mindset has always been aimed towards, 'How can I make this outfit flatter my body?' As I was growing older, I began to crop tees and find unique ways to knot shirts, etc. I was buying clothes and then adapting them at home to be what I was envisioning. Though small and innocent enough, I think this was where my love of fashion began!"
-Jen DeAngelis
(via @jendeangelis)
2. Her personal style is all about finding flattering pieces she loves.
"I'm the type of person who will find the perfect tee and buy it in every color. This has inspired 1987label in terms of releasing top-selling pieces in limited edition hues (never the same color/style twice). If you find something that flatters you, why not have it in every single hue? I also prioritize being both comfortable and stylish. I love to integrate this into 1987label and our Back Bay set is a great example of this. It's made with buttery soft material yet cropped and cut to define the waist and elevate a feminine silhouette."
-Jen DeAngelis
(via 1987label)
3. Jen dreamt up 1987label in 2020.
"I found myself in the midst of a breakup and moving out of my NYC apartment into my dad's house. I felt totally lost. I had been heavily persuaded to pursue tech at Berkeley, where I received my MBA, as AI was a dominating industry there. However, my passion was solely in fashion.
I couldn't sleep one night, so I decided to draft up a pitch deck of 1987label. The font, logo and initial designs seemed to have poured out of me. It felt like a huge download—as if my subconscious had been building the idea for years. That morning, I sat down with my dad and pitched him 1987label: a brand of luxury, limited edition loungewear. When I finished the presentation, my dad looked at me and said, 'if you love it, go do it.' Simple yet powerful words, this gave me the permission I needed to go with my passion vs what was the 'practical' path (tech).
Ultimately, I'm lucky to be able to live out the saying, 'If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.' I work constantly on 1987label with my partner in the business, Sarah Licciardi, to bring our vision to life. Our model is different from our competitors as it is 100% limited-edition, meaning we never drop the same design or color combination twice. We drop every Friday at 10 a.m. ET and our designs sell out in minutes due to the scarcity of our drop model. Not to mention, the quality of our super soft materials is what keeps our customers coming back!"
-Jen DeAngelis
Also read about: How Comfort and Inclusivity Inspired Becky Anzaldo's Fashion Brand, Playa Yama
4. The brand is named after the year Jen was born.
"Everything about the brand is so personal to me, and I wanted the name to also reflect that."
-Jen DeAngelis
5. When she's in a rush, her go-to outfit is one of 1987label's matching sets.
"I'm currently obsessed with our Seaport Quarter Zip and Seaport Sweat Pant in Greystone. Outside of 1987label, I love to throw on the Levi's 501 jeans or any Re/Done denim! I always pair these with New Balance or Converse sneakers and a fresh, soft white tee. This outfit will always be timeless to me!"
-Jen DeAngelis
(via 1987label)
6. Jen believes that the most important piece of advice for entrepreneurs is understanding the concept of MVP, or minimal viable product.
"I was taught this at Berkeley during my MBA in our design thinking classes as well as the UC LAUNCH program. The idea is to start a business with the smallest possible element to see if it has traction. For example, an email list or a small run of a prototype product. This helps entrepreneurs in several ways! Firstly, it gets us out of the 'as soon as' trap. Secondly, it shows us whether our idea is validated in the marketplace, meaning, do people want what you're planning to launch/sell? Is there a need? Is there traction? This saves both time and money. If you find people aren't responding to your MVP, it's time to pivot! It's what all of the greatest entrepreneurs do."
-Jen DeAngelis
Also read about: Saskia Teje Jenkins and Paris Nicholson Dish on the Creation of Womenswear Brand Amelie Teje
7. Her current favorite piece in her closet is 1987label's Zodiac Hoodie in Harbor.
"If you're into angel numbers or Zodiac signs, you should check out 1987label's Angel Number Hoodie, too. My last name, DeAngelis, means 'of the angels' in Italian, which inspired our Of the Angels collection. Our Angel Number Hoodie is our top seller in this collection. 777 was the first angel number I ever noticed when thinking about starting 1987label. 777 means good luck and that you're on the right path, so I took that as a big nod from the universe to move forward with 1987label."
-Jen DeAngelis
(via 1987label)
8. She's a big fan of the new trend of boxer shorts as summer shorts and pajama bottoms.
"I love when traditional menswear is elevated with a feminine take!"
-Jen DeAngelis
9. Above everything else, Jen wants everyone to know that she's just a girl who had a dream.
"I found an amazing team and made my dream a reality. If I can do it, you can do it. Whatever your dream is, start with the MVP and you'll be amazed where you end up."
-Jen DeAngelis
For more stories with our favorite founders, click HERE to read about Launi King, creator or Creative Play.