Jill Martin at QVC.
Jill Martin
Jill Martin is that friendly face you see on the “Ambush Makeover” and “Steals and Deals” segments of The Today Show. The ten-time Emmy winner is also one of the hardest-working women in the industry. In addition to her Today Show duties, she broadcasts for the New York Knicks, is a New York Times best selling author, and has a thriving line of apparel, accessories and home décor for QVC, called G.I.L.I. by Jill Martin.
Keeping It Real
It’s very easy, especially in 2019 for a celebrity, influencer or public figure to attach themselves to a product line. But, Martin is highly involved with her brand. While there is a team of people who work on G.I.L.I., she personally approves every item. Furthermore, she believes in authenticity above all else. “Viewers can see right through someone who is putting their name on something, if it’s not from their heart. I would wear, use, or gift everything [in my line]. I think that’s the reason the line has been so successful because it’s been so authentic,” she shares.
While many of her products fall into the affordable luxury category, Martin makes sure every item has value for her customer. “If something has value, it’s worth every penny,” she says. “Everything is very deliberate. It’s not just about having great taste. Great taste is a matter of opinion. Quality isn’t subjective.”
Martin has plenty of devotees on QVC, but she also has a list of celebrity fans including Katie Holmes, who tagged her on Instagram, Gloria Estefan and her mentor, Kathie Lee Gifford, who she interned for early on in her career. “These are people who have access to anything, but everyone likes a good deal and beautiful things.”
The Inspiration
Martin felt inspired to create her decor line after buying her first home.“I saved up every penny I had and when I turned 40, I bought my dream house. I closed on my birthday, toasting with red Solo cups with my parents. It was a big purchase and I said I wouldn’t decorate for the first year,” says Martin. “But of course, you move into a house and you automatically want it finished. I couldn’t find anything I could afford at the time that was my aesthetic, so I decided to create it.”
The house was white, so she wanted to take a simple aesthetic and create items that she calls instamakeovers. “Makeovers are my thing. I’ve never met a before and after I haven’t liked. I wanted to be able to make small investments that make a big difference. I think all of my items really speak for themselves. They have something to them—an interesting print, an interesting story, or a dual function.”
A little item. A big impact.
Jill Martin
She also believes that redecorating your home doesn’t need to be a major project. Refreshing the space can be a step by step process that can be completed over time. “Even the smallest of investments can make a big change, it’s all about starting room by room,” she says. “I’m a big fan of Mari Kondo. I read her book and although I’m a fan of her method, I don’t believe everything needs to be done at once. It doesn’t need to be overwhelming,” she says.
While Martin is mostly known for fashion styling, her skills truly translate to décor. “It was a natural progression. Everything should feel like you.” She launched the first capsule of her home line in May 2019. There are currently 35 highly curated products, several of which have different color and style options.
Rugs
Some of the most notable items in the line are rugs, which run from $42 for a tropical print or striped outdoor accent rug to $438 for a chic animal print area rug. The perfectly nuanced prints look more Design District than mass market. Martin reveals that there are interior designers in the Hamptons who use her rugs in their top homes.
Towels
Martin believes that towels are a great way to instantly makeover a bathroom, especially brightly printed ones. But a good textile is more than just aesthetics. She collaborated with manufacturer weaveRIGHT so the towels wouldn’t just look pretty, but they would also dry quickly.
Sheets
Martin’s sheets are made of a cotton and Tencel blend, which have a thread count of 400. “It’s not just about thread count anymore. I choose a blend of cotton and Tencel because I wanted the best of both fibers,” Martin says. “You can find cotton sheets and you can find Tencel sheets, but the combination isn’t readily available. Cotton makes sheets breathable and Tencel comes from the eucalyptus plant. It’s often used in spas. So, it makes a fabric that’s cool to the touch, light, and airy. That’s what I like in a sheet.”
Collaborations
There are several collaborations in the G.I.L.I. line, including one of Martin’s favorite brands, Venus et Fleur, which makes preserved roses. Martin loves this brand because she doesn’t exactly have a green thumb. “I could kill a Chia Pet. I’m not good at preserving live plants. So the idea that you can wake up to fresh flowers every day because these are real roses—the value of that is incredible to me. I’ve had my original box for over two years.”
Martin is especially proud of the lipstick-sized box of baby roses. She suggests putting them on a nightstand, or even to elevate the inside of a medicine cabinet. “Everything in your life that you can control should be pretty and organized. Opening your medicine cabinet is a mundane act we do every day. So I would like to make it a little prettier and happier.”
She also collaborated with FUNBOY to create palm print pool floats, which made Oprah’s famed O-List for summer. “Lips floating in a pool in a palm print say Welcome To The Fun House.”