Wren's Melissa Coker Hearts Grandma, Wes Anderson & the '60s

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Meeting up for a juice is the LA equivalent of meeting up for coffee anywhere else. It's just what we do. To explore our city's many fresh-pressed, well-blended options (and as an excuse to get out of the office), we're juicing it up with some of our talented friends—and asking them delightfully random questions in the process. This is A Juice With.

Melissa Coker is the designer and founder of Wren. She launched the adorable LA label in 2007 after one of her friends introduced her to a pattern maker while she was working in trend forecasting. What was initially a side project to create a few items that were missing in her closet turned a cohesive collection of ten pieces. She then took her accidental line to a boutique and sold it on the spot. She suddenly had a business. "I think this was the best way to start my line because I had this naïve confidence that allowed me to really go for it. It all felt very organic."

Today, Wren is sold in a slew of esteemed stores across the globe, including LA's TenOverSix, where she debuted her fall fashion film starring Tavi Gevinson. So, what's next for Wren? "Stay tuned for our summer 2013 swimwear collab with The Lake & Stars, more Minnetonka mocassins for fall, and a capsule collection with a magazine editor," she reveals. "We have a lot in the works!"

What are you drinking today?
"The 'I Am Healthy' juice (kale, celery, cucumber, lemon) from Cafe Gratitude."

If you could live in one film for the rest of your life, which one would it be?
"Probably The Royal Tenenbaums. I could just gobble that movie up! I love Wes Anderson's aesthetic and casting."

What did you do for Labor Day weekend?
"I went to Illinois to see my grandparents. [Laughs] I'm sure anyone else would give you a much cooler answer!"

What is your favorite book of all time?
"When I was a little girl, it was Kay Thompson's Eloise. It takes me to a very a sentimental place. But my favorite book of all time is Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence."

What was your first fashion memory?
"Playing dress-up with my grandmother's clothing. She had all these silk scarves that I would just go wild with. Back then, there were so many fun accessories to play with, like big fur hats. It was so fun!"

We loved the celestial print tote Wren created with Clare Vivier. What is your favorite planet?
"Probably earth. [Laughs] I feel pretty confident about that! I'm very pro-earth."

What is your most prized possession in your closet?
"A bracelet my grandmother gave me that she would wear all the time. It has all these unique Victorian charms on it. I've never seen anything like it."

What is your favorite fashion era?
"The Sixties, definitely. That silhouette and look—like a Rosemary's Baby type of thing—really works for me."

Who is your hero?
"You could have probably guessed this, but it's my grandmother. She has led such a kind and beautiful life and I have such a loving relationship with her. It's just really special."

What three people would you invite to your dinner party?
"Countess Olenska from The Age of Innocence, Wes Anderson and Truman Capote. I feel like that would be a fun party!"
· Wren [Official Site]
· A Juice With... [Racked]
· Tavi Talks LA, Screens Wren Fashion Film at TenOverSix [Racked]