These stylish insiders know how to keep their careers and love lives in check. Learn how they met and see what tips and tricks they do to keep the relationship alive.
Jonathan Adler, designer & Simon Doonan, creative ambassador, Barneys
Image: Courtesy of Jonathan Adler
So how did the two of you meet?
Jonathan Adler: Blind date!
Was it love at first sight?
Jonathan Adler: We knew who each other were. Simon was a man about town and I was a vendor at Barneys. But I would say it was love at first meeting.
How long have you been together?
Jonathan Adler: 16 years.
How do you balance successful careers and your relationship? What's your secret?
Jonathan Adler: People always say that you need to work at relationships. I have no idea what that even means. Our relationship has never been work--it's just fun and pleasure.
What advice would you give to other couples?
Jonathan Adler: Play lots of ping pong, embrace your juvenile side, invent a fake voice for your pet and use that voice to make fun of your other half, and be silly.
What was the best relationship advice given to you?
Jonathan Adler: Keep your expectations low and your joie de vivre high.
How would you define your style? And how would you define your partner's style?
Jonathan Adler: I'm a little more Italian preppy and he's a little more Swinging 60s Carnaby Street.
Most memorable moment?
Jonathan Adler: When we got our Norwich Terrier, Liberace, 13 years ago. He's our third wheel.
Do you admire any other power couples?
Jonathan Adler: New York is full of Power Couples--my favorites are the ones who are unpretentious and don't act like they're Powerful. To me a Power Couple is any couple that is happy.
Any fun or loving anecdotes that you would like to share?
Jonathan Adler: Simon and I always have a good laugh when we're on vacation, from glamorous Capri to glamorous Wildwood New Jersey. But our fave vacation was when we got married in San Francisco in 2008. Very much looking forward to the day when the federal government recognizes our marriage.
Nicole & Michael Colovos, creative directors, Helmut Lang
Image: Courtesy of Dusan Reljin
So how did the two of you meet?
On a showroom appointment. I was an editor and I came to see Michael's collection.
Was it love at first sight?
Let's just say there was a mutual attraction.
How long have you been together?
10 years.
How do you balance successful careers and your relationship? What's your secret?
We are not sure that it is a secret...but leave work at the office and make sure you laugh together a lot.
What advice would you give to other couples?
Communicate!
What was the best relationship advice given to you?
Don't go to bed mad with each other.
How would you define your style? And how would you define your partner's style?
Michael Colovos: She is modern,edgy and chic.
Nicole Colovos: A mix of Goth,skater,biker redneck.
Most memorable moment with partner?
The births of our three sons.
Do you admire any other power couples?
Keith Richards and Patti Hansen, June Carter and Johnny Cash, Sid and Nancy and PJ and Nick Cave.
Jeff Halmos, designer, Shipley & Halmos and Lisa Mayock, designer, Vena Cava
Image: Courtesy of Jeff Halmos and Lisa Mayock
So how did the two of you meet?
Jeff Halmos: I think we met at a CFDA function. Or at least that's the time I first remember meeting Lisa.
Was it love at first sight?
Lisa Mayock: I remember meeting Jeff and thinking that he was tall, silver-haired, extremely friendly, and very easy on the eyes. The four of us (me, Jeff and our business partners Sophie and Sam) became buddies, and would hang, talk shop and get drinks every so often before we ever started dating.
How long have you been together?
Jeff Halmos: Two years.
How do you balance successful careers and your relationship? What's your secret?
Lisa Mayock: No real secret here- just a lot of talking about everything that's going on- personal things and business things. The thing about owning your own business is that while it has many amazing positive aspects, you don't really ever get to "turn it off", you're always thinking about it. Because our career paths are so similar, Jeff has great perspective and intelligent ideas and feedback about my job. I feel incredibly lucky to have found someone that I can talk to about all aspects of my life- that's such a unique connection.
What advice would you give to other couples?
Lisa Mayock: Spend time doing things that your partner loves to do, and have them spend time with you doing things you love, even if you don't share all the same interests.
What was the best relationship advice given to you?
Jeff Halmos: Don't hold grudges. Make sure to speak your feelings. That communication will help in all areas of a relationship.
How would you define your style? And how would you define your partner's style?
Jeff Halmos: My style is pretty boring. I tend to wear a variation of the same thing every day. Lisa's style is much more interesting. She has an incredible eye for vintage and is always scoring amazing pieces (clothing, shoes, jewelry, bags). She mixes it with Vena Cava and always looks so cool! Although she claims it takes her a while to get dressed every day, I seem to think it takes her only 5 minutes.
Most memorable moment with partner?
Lisa Mayock: The 4th of July was our first official "date" and its one of my favorite memories; wandering around in an empty-feeling Brooklyn, eating ice cream and burgers, and just talking for hours.
Do you admire any other power couples?
Lisa Mayock: How could I not say the Obamas? Of course they're both very well-spoken, intelligent, and successful, but at the same time they seem like people that would be really fun to have at your BBQ.
Any fun or loving anecdotes that you would like to share?
Jeff Halmos: Well, we just got engaged. That's pretty fun, right!
Robert and Cortney Novogratz, designers, Bravo's 9 by Design
Image: Courtesy of Robert and Cortney Novogratz
So how did the two of you meet?
Robert Novogratz: At a party in North Carolina.
Was it love at first sight?
Robert Novogratz: Yes, definitely. From across the room.
How long have you been together?
Robert Novogratz: 20 years!
How do you balance successful careers and your relationship? What's your secret? Robert Novogratz: We are lucky. Have our health, a great family and on the same page about most things in life. But the biggest plus is that we really and truly like hanging out with each other. We are still in the honeymoon phase in a way and think of each other in a boyfriend/girlfriend way!
What advice would you give to other couples?
Robert Novogratz: We try not to give advice to other couples! Everybody finds their own best path towards happiness. We are not experts, just lucky. (See above.)
What was the best relationship advice given to you?
Robert Novogratz: Who you marry is the most important decision you will ever make, and it has turned out to be very true.
How would you define your style? And how would you define your partner's style?
Robert Novogratz: She has a unique look, pulled together but not really trying. My style is relaxed and chill.
Cortney Novogratz: Robert always looks cool. I think my style is more bohemian chic.
Most memorable moment with partner?
Robert Novogratz: The birth of our kids, all seven of them. It was equally memorable and exciting.
Do you admire any other power couples?
Robert Novogratz: Bill Powers and Cynthia Rowley
Any fun or loving anecdotes that you would like to share?
Robert Novogratz: Every day is an adventure. Live life to the fullest. Enjoy every second of it and try to keep it fresh.
Daphne Javitch, stylist and designer and Timothee Verrecchia, editor-in-chief, L'Officiel Hommes
Image: Courtesy of Daphne Javitch and Timothee Verrecchia
So how did the two of you meet?
Daphne Javitch: We disagree on this...I believe we met on a soho sidewalk in May 2009 where Tim was standing with a mutual friend of ours. But Tim allegedly met me three months earlier at the same friend's Birthday party.
Was it love at first sight?
Timothee Verrecchia: Oui.
Daphne Javitch: It was like at second sight in a park in Brooklyn. Then the start of love. Then sorta-requited love. Now super love.
How long have you been together?
Daphne Javitch: I've been with Tim for 2 years and he's been with me for 7 months. It's a love story.
How do you balance successful careers and your relationship? What's your secret?
Timothee Verrecchia & Daphne Javitch: Our 'secret' is that we're quite different but we truly get each other and we're always trying to share and learn each other's strengths.
What advice would you give to other couples?
Timothee Verrecchia: Share as much as you can.
Daphne Javitch: Be honest, but try not to be cruel. You can't unsay things.
Timothee Verrecchia: But you can try.
What was the best relationship advice given to you?
Timothee Verrecchia & Daphne Javitch: Be a river not a dam.
How would you define your style? And how would you define your partner's style?
Daphne Javitch: His: Un-vain, sexy man style. Mine: Chic muppet.
Timothee Verrecchia: Hers: Vintage classics meets Hannah Barbera characters. Mine: black & white.
Most memorable moment with partner?
Timothee Verrecchia: First trip to Etretat.
Daphne Javitch: Every time he wears his glasses.
Do you admire any other power couples?
Timothee Verrecchia & Daphne Javitch: Vassili Verrecchia and Lara Melchior.
Any fun or loving anecdotes that you would like to share?
Timothee Verrecchia: For Daphne's 30th birthday, my father wrote her an email referencing how he fell in love with my mom while they were driving from New York to Los Angeles. Daphne thought my father was a post-modernist poet.
Daphne Javitch: I need to clarify this! His father is French and I was very sleepy when I first read it. Tim and I weren't absolutely together at that time so I mistook it for an avant garde poem! I called Tim to read it to him (and to find out if his Dad smokes pot), but I stopped short half-way through when I realized it was the most romantic and encouraging birthday email I've ever received.
Sam Shipley, designer, Shipley & Halmos & Allison Sires, designer, Thomas Sires
Image Courtesy of Sam Shipley and Allison Sires
So how did the two of you meet?
Allison Sires: He was my boss, but we didn't date while working together.
Sam Shipley: We met on the job. I was actually Allison's boss.
Was it love at first sight?
Allison Sires: Like I mentioned, I worked for Sam, so I never really thought about him in that way. However, we started dating pretty soon after we both had left the company, so I guess there must have been something brewing on the subconscious level.
Sam Shipley: I know Allison will say it wasn't, but I was into her for a while. We kept it professional but once we left our jobs it was on.
How long have you been together?
Allison Sires: 4 1/2 years.
Sam Shipley: 4 1/2 years. Not long enough.
How do you balance successful careers and your relationship? What's your secret?
Allison Sires: We try to help one another out. If Sam's really busy with work, I take on more of our shared responsibilities and vice versa. Also keeping work talk to a minimum is key for us.
Sam Shipley: We just try to stay even keel. It's easy to get stressed in New York, but if one of us is going through something, the other has probably been there before and can really be supportive.
What advice would you give to other couples?
Sam Shipley: Try to keep work talk down to a minimum, it can quickly become central to your relationship and I think that's detrimental. Also running your own business can be rough, but it can also be amazing, so you need to take full advantage of the good times.
Allison Sires: See below.
What was the best relationship advice given to you?
Allison Sires: I was taught The Golden Rule in Brownies. Even though it's not specific to 'romantic' relationships, it totally works... One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself. Can't argue with that.
Sam Shipley: Don't save today's homework for tomorrow. Not really relationship advice, but I apply it to being honest and upfront with how you feel. Don't hold it in.
How would you define your style? And how would you define your partner's style?
Allison Sires: I love prints, color and interesting fabrics so I wear a lot of these. Sam always looks really natural in his clothes. I love his style.
Sam Shipley: I'm more of uniform kinda guy, I wear the same shit everyday. Ha. Ali's super into color and prints, there's a freshness in the way she dresses. Simple, elegant, and NEW!
Most memorable moment with partner?
Allison Sires: We've had a lot of great moments on our vacations to Anegada in the Caribbean.
Sam Shipley: There are too many to pick just one, but seeing her at the opening of her store Thomas Sires was amazing. She was so happy. It was a wonderful night.
Do you admire any other power couples?
Allison Sires: Coach Eric Taylor and his wife Tami.
Sam Shipley: Not sure if know any off hand.
Any fun or loving anecdotes that you would like to share?
Sam Shipley: Allison has the best laugh ever, no one can compete, no one. :)