INTERVIEW: KATIE WELLS OF GIDDYUP!

“I like to think I slid outta the womb creating…. “-Katie Wells designer behind Giddyup

Fashion is such a statement. Oftentimes, fashion can be taken too seriously.  You must look like a professional. You must dress to impress. There can be expectations and pressure to follow fashion trends. Well, thank goodness there’s Katie Wells of GIDDYUP! Katie knows how to keep fashion fun.

I met Katie over a decade ago. The first time I fell in love with Katie’s designs was when I was in a fashion show and I got to model her dress, covered in pompoms!

Brandi Shigley in Katie Wells, circa 2008
Me in Katie Wells pom pom dress, circa 2008!

I fell so head over heels in love with her fashions that I had her put together a look for me for my band performance at the Hi-Dive. She knew exactly to capture my whimsical playfulness.

Brandi Shigley in Katie Wells, Giddyup!
Me in my band outfit, designed by Katie!

Then, I became addicted to her headbands… headbands like you will NEVER find!

Giddyup Headband
This real bird, fell in love with the faux bird on my GIDDYUP headband! 🤣

And then, I was lucky enough to get to carry GIDDYUP in our boutique (when we had a boutique (2008-2011).

Giddyup Mustache wallets at Fashion Denver
Giddyup men’s Star Wars vintage shirts
Giddyup Fun whimsical dresses
Giddyup bleeding hearts shirts at Fashion Denver

Le sigh…. I can go on and on and on about how happy Katie’s designs make me. You can take a frown and turn it into perma-smile with her whimsical, unique and always fun designs! It is a true honor to catch up with Katie and see / read how she is making it through our crazy past year, what inspires, her and more!

And now, without further ado……

INTERVIEW WITH KATIE WELLS OF GIDDYUP!

Where did you grow up? 

Belton, Missouri, a small town outside of KCMO.   It was kind of ( looking back) an ideal place to grow up.  Lots of long summer days running around and making up games,  building forts- typical latch key kid stuff!  There was an air force base there during my childhood, so there was always an air show and a hot air balloon festival , I have pretty great memories growing up there.  

What was your first memory of creating? 

Ooof.   I like to think I slid outta the womb creating….

Katie Wells of GiddyUp

What were you like as a kid? 

 Weird.  Overly emotional, unguided… full of pent up energy, anxious, sad, goofy, fun. I don’t know that I’m any different today.  

When did you first start GiddyUp! ?

 When I arrived in Denver from Nola, in 2006.   

What are your inspirations in your designs and creations? 

Repurposing is my main inspiration,  there is so much STUFF out there in the world! 

I take great joy in making something new from a pile of other people’s junk.  Take me to my favorite store in Denver, Recreative, and I’m like a kid in a candy shop! 

I suppose my secondary inspiration would be colorful and bright and fun.  I want to bring GIDDINESS to all- Giddyup!  


When did your passion for Halloween begin?

 I have been Halloween obsessed since I was a kid.  I was really lucky, and I had a mom that LOVED helping us make costumes.  Everything was homemade, out of necessity- but I didn’t know that. I just thought we were more creative than the kids wearing their store-bought costumes.  But honestly, there were more handmade costumes back then, Halloween wasn’t this “industry” it is now.  I think that’s why I love making costumes, to bring people a touch of love and uniqueness that they ain’t gonna find at Party City.  

How has 2020 affected not only your business but you personally? 

Yes, in both positive and negative ways.  Mainly positive.  I am much poorer these days, I had been relying heavily on a hip brunch-joint job.   But with that job came exhaustion, frustration, and a real drain on the creative juices.  It’s hard to focus on your business when you’re focusing on someone else’s.  So the pandemic has been a real game-changer for me, creatively.  I am OVERFLOWING with grand ideas and projects, and I feel like this summer and this Halloween season is just gonna be… crazy.  I’m preparing to have a busy season.  

WHO inspires you in your life, both personally and professionally? 

My friends and my husband inspire me personally.  I have been very lucky to fall in with some true optimists and just nice people.  I’m a crusty cynic at heart, so I’ve surrounded myself with the opposite, and I think they’ve been a pretty good influence on me. 

Professionally, there are so many people locally that inspire me.  I LOVE Jess Rose, her work, and the thought that goes into it is truly inspiring, and her work ethic is FIRE!!!   The Handsome Little Devils, Secret Love Collective… Babe Walls babesLadies Fancywork Society… Denver is just overflowing with creativity right now.  

3 Things if stranded on a deserted island?

What a hard question!  I know I should say my dog and my husband…. but that would be two more mouths to feed!  Gosh.  I’m gonna go with a big tub of peanut butter, a sewing kit, and something to play tunes on.  Maybe a guitar?  Ooooo!  But I would need milk for the peanut butter!   Man.  I would need to take 4 things.  

Where can we find your designs and creations? 

My Denver home base is SEWN, a lovely local handmade shop on S.Broadway.  Kirsten (the owner) has been so incredibly encouraging of my work.  What started as a Halloween pop up, has turned into a delightful section of permanent weird in the shop.  I also have stuff in a great shop on Nola, and am hoping to be in Littleton soon!

Learn more about Katie and shop online at the following links! 

https://giddyupshop.com

http://www.instagram.com/giddyupcostumes