Kristen Is Relaunching James Mae After She “Spent a Lot of Money" in Unnecessary Ways
Kristen Doute celebrated the company's revival with an outdoor relaunch party that was giving boho chic vibes.
Kristen Doute’s vintage-inspired clothing line is getting a brand new update.
Kristen relaunched her clothing brand James Mae on the latest episode of The Valley with an outdoor party that was giving boho chic vibes. The festivities were meant to signal a revival of the T-shirt line and included free clothing samples, a tattoo artist, and an intention board for attendees to release their hopes into the world.
“The whole reason for doing this friends-and-family-only party for James Mae is just to get the word out about the relaunch,” Kristen shared in Episode 8 of The Valley. “So that’s why we’re gifting these new shirts before they go on the website. Take some cool photos and tell all your friends.”
Why did Kristen Doute name her T-shirt line James Mae?
Kristen first unveiled her own T-shirt line in 2015, shortly after she got fired from SUR on Vanderpump Rules, naming the company after her nephew and niece.
“It really is just very me,” she told SiriusXM Out Q host Larry Flick at the time. “My issue is any time I’m going shopping and I’m thinking ‘If only this shirt kinda looked more like this.’ Well, why don’t you create it?”
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Fans may remember she relaunched the brand on Vanderpump Rules in 2018 with all new designs playfully modeled by her castmates.
Why did Kristen relaunch her clothing brand?
Kristen shared that while the clothing company was initially a “huge success” she wanted to give the brand a fresh start in 2023 after learning some valuable lessons along the way.
“Over the course of time, I spent a lot of money in places that weren’t necessary because I didn’t know a lot about the business side of things,” she admitted.
Today, Kristen and her business partner are re-imagining the company with new designs with a “vintage rock” vibe — some of which even draw their inspiration from The Valley.
“She’s like, ‘I just want to start over and like, get back to the essence of it’ and that’s what this basically is,” Zack Wickham explained to Jax Taylor at the well-attended relaunch.
According to the James Mae website, the T-shirt brand is inspired by “the west coast, music, nostalgia and less is more kinda vibes.”
“You should feel great in these comfortable tees whether you’re rocking at a concert, hanging out or having a relaxing night in with yourself,” it states.
Who wasn’t invited to Kristen Doute’s relaunch party?
Kristen’s castmates on The Valley, including Zack, Jax, Brittany Cartwright, Jasmine Goode, Nia and Danny Booko, and her beau, Luke Broderick, all came out to support the designer — but there were some notable names left off the guest list.
Kristen confessed she didn’t send an invitation to Janet and Jason Caperna or the now-estranged Michelle and Jesse Lally after she was excluded from a group hibachi dinner at the Capernas' home.
The two couples have both said they planned to exclude Kristen from future events after she incorrectly claimed at a heated dinner party that Jesse planned to divorce his wife in two months. It turned out, she misinterpreted a conversation with Luke about the couple’s struggling marriage.
“If it would have been as simple as just texting the flier for James Mae party to both Michelle and Janet, I would have done it in a heartbeat, but I know that it would not have been that easy,” Kristen told producers of why she opted to leave them off the guest list. “It would have required a poem, a sonnet, my firstborn child.”
Despite the underlying tension, Kristen’s relaunch party was a resounding success.
“I’m so happy for you,” Janet’s friend Simon told her. “Congrats. It’s amazing.”
To catch up on all the latest drama, watch The Valley Tuesday nights on Bravo or available streaming the next day.
