Recreational Habits: The New American Preppy
Jackie Skye Muller
Founder Recreational Habits, Wife, Equestrian and Celery Juice enthusiast.
What is your GOAT?
My husband and best friend, Marlon Muller.
What is a book that changed your life?
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhig.
What would you say to your OLDER self?
I want to be just like you when I grow up.
Best thing that happened to you in the 90s?
Without a doubt, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
The good life, for all.
I grew up in Dallas, Texas (go Cowboys!). At the time, I was one of the very few Asian girls in the area and I was scouted as a child model for big department stores based in Texas, like JCPenney and Neiman Marcus. Since the majority of my youth was spent on set, I grew up wanting to be a fashion photographer.
I was able to get a dream internship with famed photographer Annie Liebovitz, but I learned that I wasn’t really cut out to be a fashion photographer. I found myself much more interested in the wardrobe Vogue had sent over to the set. Eventually, I became the Associate Fashion Director of Barneys New York (R.I.P.) and then moved on to work as the Women’s Director at Kith. Beyond the fancy titles, I was able at both places to manage amazing teams and build strong brands with a clear point of view.
Everything, from my teen years to my last job at Kith, has prepared me for founding and running Recreational Habits, a lifestyle brand that aims to bring the exclusive world of the preppy elite and their hobbies to the historically excluded. As the founder of a new company, I do everything from photo production, to merchandising, to packing up samples. Each day takes flexibility and grit, but most importantly it takes commitment to seeing the mission through. We hope to “recreate the preppy American spirit” through beautiful products, storytelling and experiences surrounding recreational sport and living. Essentially, we want to normalize people of color in country club-type sports like sailing, cricket, equestrian pursuits and golf, to name a few. As a result, I believe that the next generation will be exposed to a lifestyle that is not completely entrenched in climbing the corporate ladder, making money and living in a big city. Although this is a great dream for some, it's not the only dream, and I feel exposure and great images can inspire a young person to hope for a beautiful, happy life outdoors (with more recreation thrown in).
To me, the preppy American spirit draws on the types of images I was exposed to as a young person—weathered red barns, Ivy league style, crisp sails on open water, rolling hills, Jack Russells and show horses. By showing people of color in these circles, it allows a much more diverse audience to aspire to and engage in these types of activities. Exposure is key; we want a young person to see a RH image and say, “Hey, that person looks like me, and is looking awesome jumping that horse! Maybe I can try that?”
We’ve been working on continuing to create more RH products for our audience! Our summer collection is tennis-inspired and promises to be perfect for those beginner players, seasoned pros and even those who have never held a racquet. Additionally, we’re excited to push forward our RH Experiences initiative which will bring together more diverse groups into historically exclusive events.
My own recreational habits are riding horses and hosting dinners. Everyone should make time for recreation because it helps us to enjoy life. It’s the perfect time to pause your brain and be thankful for everything you have, to push yourself physically and just enjoy the moment.
You can find RH at www.recreationalhabits.com and in stores like Salamander Resort, Matriark in Sag Harbor and TriCountyFeeds.
