the new york life

Spencer Finding Inspiration At Every Turn LaraBY ALEXANDRA ANASTASIO

s one of TV’s most recognizable faces, family, pet adoption—these are the buckets I on-air personality is gravitate toward,” she says. jugging multiple professional roles both on- and off-screen. Between Her love of antiques and flea markets is no her duties as a contributor for secret; it’s been a passion of hers since before she “” and could walk. “My mom would take me ‘thrifting’ the creator, host, and producer on weekends in a stroller,” says the of the Emmy-winning “Flea native. “It’s in my DNA.” Little did she know AMarket Flip,” Spencer is hard at work building then that those weekend flea marketing trips her lifestyle brand and working on new projects would one day serve as the catalyst for multiple for her production company, DuffKat Media, shows and two New York Times best-sellers. named after her teenage son and daughter. BELLA caught up with Spencer to talk about A firm believer in building a brand that is both her career in TV, along with her passion for flea authentic and identifiable, Spencer is focused on markets, her love for design, and the lessons she the things that are very much a part of who she hopes to pass on to her children. We even scored is. “Home, design, fashion, parenting, marriage, some tips on how to master the art of antiquing. Photography CourtesyPhotography of HGTV the new york life Your career on-screen is now a combination of your love of journalism as What my well as design. When did you know this was the path you wanted to follow? I have wanted to be a television news anchor and reporter since I was 10 mom always said years old. In the fifth grade, I was teased by bullies about my raspy voice, is true—you don’t and my wonderful teacher, Mrs. Foster, consoled me by saying it was “ great to have a distinctive sound and it would be need a lot perfect for broadcasting. That was it; the seed was LARA’S FLEA planted. She had turned something that I saw as of money to have MARKET ADVICE a deficit into a unique and beautiful asset, and for FOR THE NEWBIES that I will forever be grateful to her. She made me great style.” GO WITH A PLAN— feel special and opened my eyes to the perfect INCLUDING PHOTOS AND career path for me. From that day on, I never MEASUREMENTS. looked back.

CREATE A WISH LIST ON YOUR PHONE. THAT WAY, As you were getting started in your career you YOU WON’T FORGET WHAT were a part of the NBC Page program. Was that IT WAS YOU WENT THERE FOR what led you on your path? IN THE FIRST PLACE. The NBC Page program is legendary and a total privilege to be a part of. It requires a lengthy HAVE AN OPEN MIND—BE application, references, and interviews with FLEXIBLE. several members of the NBC management TAKE A RISK. IF YOU SEE team—quite a lot for a 21 year old to juggle, but SOMETHING UNEXPECTED so worth the anxiety and hard work. During AND FABULOUS, BUY IT the program, which lasted about 18 months, we worked four- to six-week periods in various departments at NBC, from advertising and sales to sports to news to “.” It was a terrific way to get a glimpse of the many possibilities in the business, and for me the perfect way to confirm that my dream of a career in news was the perfect choice for me.

Most viewers know you from “GMA” and “Flea Market Flip,” but what they may not know is you also run your own production company. How was DuffKat Media born? I started DuffKat Media four years ago. I had just sold another show to HGTV and was looking for a production company to partner with on it. It became clear that rather than giving my ideas away, I should get the infrastructure in place for my own production company and make these shows happen on my own. It’s been great to have more creative control from conception to final product. I still partner with other producers to help run the shows I work on, but it’s different now, in the best way possible.

Your production company focuses on design-based programs. Do you have plans to expand your reach into other areas? I am always open to great ideas and constantly looking for inspiration, but I am also a firm believer in building a brand that is authentic and identifiable. Right now, on top of my mornings at GMA, I have three projects with HGTV, my second collection of sunglasses and eyewear for Tura, an amazing brand that’s been in business for 80 plus years, and four new pilots in development. It’s a handful, but all very rewarding because I am genuinely interested as a consumer as well as a producer in these specific things.

Photography Courtesy of HGTV Photography by Yu Tsai byPhotography Yu the new york life

Where do you find inspiration for the eyewear you design, and what can we expect from the new collection that debuts in July? My eyewear is inspired by vintage frames I have found in my There is nothing better travels to flea markets and vintage shops around the world. This than getting up early on a Sunday second collection for Tura Eyewear has a little more color and lots “ of fabulous embellishments on the temples. I treat glasses like a morning and strolling through a flea fabulous accessory that can set the tone for your look or mood. market with my mom or In addition to your eyewear collection, you also have a new show sisters looking for treasures, reminiscing coming to HGTV. Tell us about it. The show is based on the website, “Everything But the House,” over pieces that remind us of which is an online auction site where everything starts at $1. It’s our and having a fresh amazing and totally addicting! childhood, egg sandwich from one of the food As someone who loves flea markets and thrift store finds, what is it about the experience you enjoy most? trucks. It’s the best girls’ days ever!” I love the energy of a flea market. I love all the color and texture and inspiration and weird stuff that you can’t believe people are selling. It’s really fun and sometimes really funny too. The dealers are characters and often have wonderful stories about their finds. I always stop and talk with the folks selling things I am interested in; I love learning about the history, where they found it, what it was used for—anything that adds to the story.

Let’s talk about your charity work. You have some really fun and creative ways in which you help raise awareness for organizations like Housing Works and North Shore Animal League America.

I recently produced a segment where I shopped for my Oscars dress at Housing Works annual Fashion for Action charity sale. Designers donate fabulous samples or pieces from past seasons and there are always amazing vintage pieces as well. All of the money goes to a great cause so I bought four dresses and let our GMA audience vote on which one I should wear. Fifty thousand viewers voted! It was a really fun way to shine a light on the great work Housing Works does and engage viewers. I am quite certain I was the only person at the 2019 Oscars in a dress purchased at a charity sale for $100, and I felt like a million bucks.

My other passion project is the North Shore Animal League America. It’s a no- kill shelter on Long Island where I grew up, and we I hope anyone reading this have partnered [with them] will consider to find homes for hundreds “ of rescue dogs in segments adopting Photography Courtesy of HGTV I do on GMA. In fact, I just found out they are rather than buying.” honoring me with their TOP TIPS FOR THE CHARITY SITES Crystal Collar Award for all FLEA MARKET NOVICE of my work. I can’t tell you HousingWorks.org AnimalLeague.org Start early. what it means to me personally. I have rescue dogs I love madly and Negotiate—to a point—with a smile. would have five more if I could. Bring cash for the best negotiating power. As a mother of two, what life lessons do you hope your children take Bring a big tote bag to carry your finds. away from watching you in your career? Lara.Spencer Pack sunblock and a hat. Dress in layers. Don’t be afraid to fail; it’s much more painful not to try, so just go @LaraSpencer Go for it! If you love something, buy it. for it. You never know where the road may lead you. Be brave, be Flea market finds help make your home so open minded, take chances. And don’t be your own roadblock. Lara Spencer much more personal and fun.