Shay Mitchell is reaching new heights this year — both literally and figuratively, as the jet-setting actress, mother and entrepreneur is celebrating her luggage brand Béis’ fifth anniversary.
“It is crazy to look back and see how many different shoots we’ve done, how many different products we’ve done, how much our team has grown in five years,” Mitchell, suited up in a Ronny Kobo vest and pants with clear wedges, exclusively shared with FN at the brand’s Showfields launch party. “Five years ago, I didn’t have kids. Now, we have diaper bags and luggage for my almost four-year-old to carry around — what is life? It’s wild! But it’s fun to be able to expand into new categories as I grow into them myself.”
One of those moments came in the form of Béis collaboration with the “Barbie” movie, which premiered in theaters on July 21. The Margot Robbie-led film teamed up with Mitchell on a line of bright “Barbie pink” luggage — which sold out six of its seven pieces in 23 minutes. The collection also went viral from Mitchell herself, who starred as Barbie in its all-pink campaign — complete with a blonde wig and numerous pink high heels.
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“I didn’t even get one,” Mitchell exclaimed of the line. “We got to do whatever we wanted, and that’s a great thing with Béis — I don’t have to ask anybody about what I can or can’t do on these photo shoots! So, we really get to play with it, and it just makes it so much fun when you let a bunch of creatives do what they do best — and that’s what that photo shoot was.”
As she begins her summer schedule with various stops across the country for Béis, Mitchell is also keeping packing top of mind — particularly when it comes to her footwear, which she advises to keep in shoe bags to avoid cross-contamination.
“Remember: [with] shoes, you’re walking in so many different places, I want to keep that separate from my clothes, from everything else in my bag — so always put your shoes into a shoe bag,” Mitchell advises. “I would [also] say planning them out with your outfits, but you don’t overpack too many shoes. Who am I to kid? I overpack all the time!”
Mitchell’s also looking towards the future as a working mother, as she currently has two young daughters. The “Pretty Little Liars” took a moment during the party to additionally share her go-to advice for parents, based on her own experience.
“Have a checklist,” Mitchell shares. “I have a little sheet that I check off with all the different items. I’ll go through that, and I have different ones for, like, diaper bag, airplane bag, stroller, just so I make sure that I don’t forget something — but at the end of the day, if you do forget something, it’s not the end of the world.”
About the Author:
Aaron Royce is the Assistant Digital Editor for Footwear News, where he writes stories on celebrity style, brand collaborations and in-depth profile interviews. As a day-to-night dresser, he favors boots, loafers and vintage-inspired denim that can be worn from the office to any number of after-hours soirées — particularly with a ‘90s grunge or punk rock-inspired twist. In his spare time, Royce enjoys reading, discovering New York’s secret gardens and hunting for the perfect pair of combat boots.
