Lauren Conrad on Launching a Swimwear Line: ‘I Can't Believe This Is My Job!’

Former reality TV star Lauren Conrad is a fashion designer, entrepreneur, and mother-to-be who just returned from her babymoon, and she’s by no means slowing down. In fact, she’s now debuting her first swimwear and beach collection through her longstanding partnership with Kohl’s.

In the LC Lauren Conrad Beach Collection, you can expect to find Laguna Beach styles like tropical-print bikini sets, striped one-pieces and maxi dresses, and sherbet colored caftans. Items in the affordable collection, available Wednesday exclusively on Kohls.com, start at just $34, with the highest-priced item retailing at $68.

Yahoo Style spoke to Conrad to discuss the new collection, how pregnancy has affected her style and beauty regimen, and how she balances it all.

Yahoo Style: Can you tell us about your new swim collection?

Lauren Conrad: I’m really excited to launch swim. It’s a category I’ve been really excited to do a for a long time. It is bikinis, one-pieces, and then a bunch of coverups and separates that are very resort-esque. The overall vibe is tropical. We did some very fun colors, like hunter green and paprika, and then some really pretty peaches-and-cream.

I noticed a lot of off-the-shoulder dresses in your collection. Do you think that’s a trend that will fade out quickly or will it be around year to year?

I think it’s going to hang out for a minute. I think different versions will happen, like straps will be incorporated, ruffles, and we’ll kind of reimagine it. I don’t think it’s going anywhere right now. It’s a nice way to show a little bit of skin, but you can still feel a little conservative about it.

How are you balancing this latest venture with others, such as your newly launched bridesmaid collection, with being pregnant and having time to spend with your husband?

Very carefully [laughs]. With both Kohl’s and Paper Crown I have an amazing team I work with, so it’s taken years to build up that trust and to get to a great place. It really is fun to do all of this, so as much work as it is, it’s the type of work I enjoy, so I never feel so overwhelmed. We were working with fine jewelry yesterday, literally picking out gemstones. I was like, “I can’t believe this is my job”!

You’ve said that you see no reason for your style to change just because you’re pregnant. What’s been your favorite piece to wear both before pregnancy and during?

It’s mostly maxi dresses that I’ve still been able to wear. I’m just at the point right now where everything is just starting to swell, so nobody needs to look at my ankles. I’ve usually gone for a natural waist silhouette, but a lot of things I have are actually pretty flowy and they have ties, so I’ve been able to tie them slightly higher and still wear them. They’re definitely snugger than they used to be, but I have some of my favorites in the rotation.

Do you have any swimwear advice for women who are pregnant and wondering what to wear at the beach?

You know, it’s so different. It’s really a personal preference. For me, I just had to size up. So I still wear bikinis. I still wear the same styles as I did before, I just go for a bikini bottom and a bandeau. It is the easiest for me. … But some people want to wear a one-piece, they want to be a bit more modest. I think it just depends how comfortable you are showing off a different shape.

Has being pregnant affected your hair or beauty regimen?

A little bit. I did complain because I was expecting to get this mermaid mane. I was like, “This was part of the deal!” [laughs] I was supposed to get awesome hair. My hair routine [now] is pretty similar. If I’m going somewhere, I’ve had to bump up my makeup routine a bit because I’ve always had a little bit of melasma and I can’t use harsh products to treat it. I definitely have to wear heavier coverup from time to time.

What is your favorite piece from the collection?

I’m so excited to see what people respond to, because I really like everything in there, but I’m really excited to get into some of the bikinis at this point, because they haven’t officially come out yet. We’ve only been working with samples. I really love just a simple bandeau and bikini bottom, but I love to mix and match.

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