Shopping With... "Bad Mommy" Laura Bennett

By Felicity Loughrey
May 10, 2010

Laura Bennett and her children; Cover of Didn't I Feed You Yesterday? by Laura Bennett

Forget "The Real Housewives." Laura Bennett is a Spanx-wearing, martini-drinking Real Mom of New York City. Bennett, 46, who came to national attention as the ever-stylish pregnant redhead on the third season of "Project Runway," is a fashion designer, trained architect, mother of six and now, published author.

“The kids are really excited about ‘our’ book coming out,” Bennett says of her debut, Didn’t I Feed You Yesterday?, an account of life with her husband, half dozen children, various goldfish, a cage of finches, a hamster, a turtle and a rabbit who all share a two-bedroom Manhattan loft. “My eight year old likes to come to signings with me in case anyone wants his autograph. [The kids] keep asking when the book is going to be made into a movie and who will play them.”

After appearing on the Heidi Klum-hosted hit reality show, Bennett was approached by Random House. “They asked me if I had ever thought of writing a book. I said no, but I had never thought of being a fashion designer, either. So I gave it a go, and they loved my proposal.” As she turned in chapters, her editor put her in touch with Tina Brown from the news and opinion website The Daily Beast and her Bad Mommy-themed column was born.

“I have to confess that I have been a bit focused on writing this year and let the fashion business fall by the wayside,” she says. Bennett is at work on a book of upscale DIY fashion projects. In fact, she uses eBay to source her materials. “I have a great pattern that can turn a mink stole into a really modern mink top (see photo at left). I always search for the kind of straight mink stole I use for that pattern.”

Bennett also scours eBay for luxury vintage fashion. She has picked up a 1950s alligator Hermes Kelly bag, a vintage Louis Vuitton train case and a pink Chanel jacket from the `80s. And she uses eBay to find traditional clothing from all over the world, including kilts from Scotland and trachten from Austria. “The shape, colors and construction are always inspirational.”

In her best eBay story, however, she doesn’t actually make a bid. “I had a white glass poodle as a night light in my room as a child. I started searching for it on eBay and after about three months, there it was! This is why eBay is so amazing,” she exclaims. “I sent this picture (at left) of the puppy-dog light (that’s what I called it) to my mom and dad, who recognized it immediately. As the auction was coming to the end, the price was getting really high. I didn’t try to win it. I didn’t really need to own it. It was so much fun seeing it again.”

As for her eBay strategy, she says, “I’m one of those evil snipers that come in out of nowhere and place my bid in the last few seconds. I lurk, then strike.”

Bennett lets us in on what every Bad Mommy desires:

1. Antique Silver Sewing Kit (winnning bid, $100) “I love these tiny antique intricate sewing kits. They’re perfectly sized for a New York City collection. They are called etui, so use that word to search for them.”

2. Gold Chanel Chain Belt (sold for $450) “I love vintage Chanel accessories. When I get compliments I can say, ‘this old thing?’ and really mean it!”

3. Hermes Scarf (buy it now price, $349) “This is a much more affordable way to get my Hermes fix. I love the classic equestrian styles, and the vintage scarves are made of heavier, more luxurious twill than the modern scarves."

4. Louis Vuitton Vintage Trunk (buy it now price, $2999.99) “This is not very practical for travel, but it would make a great coffee table.”

5. Mink Fur Stole (buy it now price, $125) “This is just the kind of stole I make into a mink top.”

6. Mink Fur Coat (buy it now price, $295) “This coat would be great for a remake. This seller has super buy it now prices, and their furs are always in great condition.”

**Images of Bennett and family, her book, mink top and poodle light provided by Bennett.**

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