What’s Childish?
Childish is a maternity and kids line. We’ve been around since March of 2003. I started it shortly after I gave birth to my son Jack, who’s now 4. The maternity line is definitely more fashion-forward than most lines, yet very wearable. We use really comfortable fabrics. We don’t do panels, none of your traditional maternity lines. Everything we do is under the belly, really form-flattering, fitted stuff. Basically, wardrobe that looks exactly like your normal wardrobe. And then our kids line is a bit punk, a little preppy, a little bit rock ‘n roll. Great stuff to wear at the park, and it definitely has attude. I like to use lots of bright colors. Kind of off-the-cuff, off-the-wall. More personality.
Who thought of the name?
I did. I just thought that “childish” really said what we were, and what we were all about.
How was it like starting out?
At the time, there weren’t that many maternity lines that are more fashion-driven. With kids, there has always been a lot of competion. I think what separates us from others is that [Childish] basically is what me or my husband would wear, but for little dudes and little chicks. And with maternity, yes, a lot of lines have been popping up in the past couple of years, but I think that with our designs, fabrics and our quality, it continues to separate us from the pack.
Who are your biggest celebrity clients?
I’ve worked with Gwyneth Paltrow, whom I loved. I’m starting to work with Heidi Klum, Brooke Shields, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Garner, Britney Spears. And we hear a lot of celebrities buying our stuff. It’s good because we get them when they’re pregnant and they become so attached and involved with the line that when they have their kids, it’s like a natural progression.
How do you get celebrities to know about your line?
Some of them, like today, call us up, hearing about us from someone else. Some of them go to our stores and buy it off the rack. I worked at MTV for 8 years, so I had a lot of relations that I put into good use when I started my line. I knew that it was important to get the name out there, and I thought that having those connections and having that direct contact would be the best way.
How was it like to quit MTV to become a mom and a designer?
Well, I loved MTV. Viacom is such a great company, and [the people] are all my dearest, best friends. I loved traveling, I loved the music, I loved all the challenges. I was fortunate that I met my husband working there. Shortly after he and I were engaged, when we lived down in San Diego, I continued to work. We actually commuted to LA from San Diego everyday—he would drive with me so we could go in the carpool lane. What a good husband. (Smiles)
When did you decide to quit?
It came to a point in my life that after working for almost ten years for someone else that I wanted to start a family and do something for myself and not be so committed to a job—as wonderful as it was. My husband traveled a lot and I didn’t want to be stuck in one space. During my pregnancy, I was out on tour. It was the middle of summer, and I was just miserable. I felt like crap, I gained 50 lbs, and it was just like nothing made me look or feel good. I just came up with this idea that it would be great to have a maternity line that mirrored what you would wear outside of those 9 months.
What were your biggest splurges while you were pregnant?
I shopped at NOM [Naissance on Melrose] because I think Jennifer [Noonan] has a great sense of style. So when I was 3 months pregnant, I went there–Mark went with me–and I probably spent $1200 on maternity clothes! (Laughs) I loved buying handbags and shoes to kinda balance out the rest of my body.
About your adorable 4-year old, Jack—how do you spoil him?
He’s beyond spoiled! (Laughs) The best thing you can do for your kid is to give him a lot of love and attention. Jack had a passport when he was 6 months old. He’s traveled everywhere. We really pride ourselves that we are a family unit. When Mark was on tour, we’d pick up and go, and it was a whole family experience. I didn’t travel outside the country until I was 20! We’re also lucky that [Mark and I] have family that live 2 hours away, so he gets more than enough attention.
Going on tour must’ve been fun!
The great thing about the last couple of Blink tours was that the guitar player [Tom DeLonge] and his wife had a daughter 3 weeks before we had our son. And then with the Green Day tour, Adrienne and Billie Joe [of the band Green Day] brought their 2 sons Jakob and Joey, and it was so inspiring. I just loved what they do. I loved how they brought their family out and it was a whole experience for the family. I think it’s hard enough being in a marriage, and then in a family. And thank God that I have such a good marriage, and I don’t know how it would be if I didn’t. It’s good for your kids to have an understanding of what you do and have an appreciation for it. I think that experience alone you can’t fit in any school room.
What are your favorite memories with your family?
We’re big Disneyland people, so all the Disneyland memories are great. When we were in London, and Blink was touring in Europe last Thanksgiving and Mark and I just came back from an MTV trip with Cameron Diaz and Eva Mendes, my Mom flew over with Jack and met us in London and we spent Thanksgiving there. It was so much fun. We stayed literally a rock’s throw from Buckingham Palace. Jack loved seeing Big Ben. He thinks it’s Peter Pan’s clock because in the Disney movie, Peter Pan flies past it with Wendy, John, Michael and Tinkerbell.
What are your goals for Childish?
We’ve only been around for three years and every season I’m just so surprised at how much we grow. We’re doing these amazing underwear sets for both boys and girls that we’ve packaged in reusable tins that look like miniature paint cans. For Spring ‘07, I custom designed and printed all our fabrics. Think chainlink and tire treads for boys and really cool mod designs for girls. We are also partnering up with Fleurville to do a co-branded diaper bag —which I’m real excited about. I’m constantly so inspired by what you see in the design magazines—coming from the UK, Japan.
What are your goals for yourself?
To be the best wife and parent I can be. I think there’s no more important job in the world. Childish is now nearing a point where it’s running itself a little bit. I was really lucky, I grew up with a mom and dad that were always around. They really put everything aside to raise my sister and I, and I think that’s the most important thing you can do for your kid.
Mark Hoppus
How does it feel to be nominated as one of Baby Couture’s top 50 Hautest Dads?
Very cool! Very cool to be a part of the top 50 Hautest dads. I’m stoked. That’s rad.
Were you surprised that you got nominated?
Well, no! Look at me! (Laughs) Actually, yeah. Because I’m just like a skateboard, punk-rock guy at heart, so that’s cool.
If you get picked, would you buy the editors lavish gifts and shower them with front row tickets to concerts? Or just the opposite?
(Laughing) I would definitely buy them lavish gifts, private jet flights to wherever they wanted to go, Hawaiian vacations, dinners at Matsuhisa—that type of thing.
Do you consider yourself stylish?
I don’t even really think about it. I just wear what I love and wear what I’ve worn since I was in high school. I’ve always come from the skateboard, punk rock culture, and I’ve always worn clothes from that culture.
What’s the toughest role you play, Husband, Dad, or Rock Star?
I think all of them are interesting and fun in their own different ways. I love being a dad. It’s probably the toughest role, but it’s also the most rewarding, and it’s also the best. You don’t get an instruction manual on how to be a parent, so you just do the best that you can and try and raise your kid. It’s the simplest, hardest and the best thing you can do in the world.
What’s the most expensive thing you ever bought Jack?
Well, he got a 42-inch plasma TV in his room when he was 2 years old. That’s probably the nicest thing that he’s ever gotten.
Are you strict, or are you a spoiler?
I try and do the best balance of strict and spoiling at the same time. I mean, you try and raise your kid with good values and you try and teach him right from wrong, give him the tools to choose when he needs to choose. Some things you gotta be strict on, and at the same time, the kid’s 4-years old, so you want him to have fun in life and enjoy himself.
We saw you practically naked in a music video before. How have things changed since you became a father?
It changed me for the better, but it hasn’t affected my band, it hasn’t affected my work. It’s actually more inspiring. It’s really cool because with the job that I have, I can take my family with me. Skye and Jack came on the road with Blink 182 for an 8-week tour, and they lived on a bus. And it was the best time we had. Jack loved watching the shows. It was really awesome because some nights when we were playing, I’d look over and my kid is on the side of the stage rocking out, jumping up and down having the time of his life, watching all the lights, listening to the music. And other nights, I’d look over, and he’d be completely passed out in my wife’s arms, dead asleep during our show. I’m like, “What? We’re not doing it for you tonight? What’s going on?” (Laughs)
How’s it like being married to Skye?
It’s great being married to Skye. She’s beautiful and she’s really smart. She’s very talented. She’s challenging. It’s fun to talk to her and we laugh a lot.
]How did you guys meet?
She used work on MTV and she booked Blink 182 on a show called “Making The Video.” And we were in a dance studio on 3rd St. trying to learn dance moves for this video where we were parodying Boy Bands. And she came upstairs, and I was dressed in spandex and a headband. (Laughs) And she fell in love with me! Actually, that’s not true. I asked her out and she said, “No, I don’t date artists.” So I had to do some convincing to get her to go out with me.
Like how?
I took her cellphone and programmed my phone number into it and I said, “You have to call me later tonight if you wanna go out.” And she called.
Share with us your favorite moment with your family.
We go out to breakfast every single morning before Jack goes to school, and before Skye goes to her job and before I go to the studio. It’s just a good time to hang out and spend some time together before we go. That, and swimming in our pool in the backyard. My favorite time with my family. And Disneyland!
Do you have any say in what Jack wears?
He’s kinda in this in-between stage where we pick out clothes for him and he picks out his own clothes. So sometimes we pick out his clothes for him and he wears shorts and a T-shirt and sometimes he wears clothes for himself and he wears a fireman’s cap, a cape, like 3 or 4 shirts, and a pair of underwear and tries to walk out the house like that.
What’s the biggest lesson you can teach Jack?
I think the biggest lesson you can teach your kids is to be respectful of themselves and be kind to others. I think that’s the key. That’s the best and hardest thing you can teach somebody.
Would you watch a fourth High School Musical movie?
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