Lauren Conrad Covers 'Redbook' April 2013

Lauren Conrad is bright in blue on the cover of Redbook magazine’s April 2013 issue, on newsstands March 12.

Here’s what the 27-year-old fashion designer had to share with the mag:

On building a wardrobe: “Whenever someone comes up to me and says, ‘I’m having trouble shopping.’ I tell them to pull out their 10 favorite, most-worn pieces, then build a wardrobe around them. You need to figure out what you gravitate toward, what makes you feel good—and those staples are going to be different for everybody.”

On the inspiration behind her fashion line: “At first, I was just designing for myself. Then I started getting comments from women who didn’t have my body type, saying things like, ‘I have a larger chest and can’t wear this tent-shaped dress.’ So I’ve learned to make pieces that don’t necessarily flatter me but look great on someone else.”

On what sets her apart from other celebrity designers: “I spent years in school for this. It wasn’t just, ‘I like clothes! I’m going to make some!’”

Re: Lauren Conrad Covers 'Redbook' April 2013

Love both of those dresses!

Redbook has a new format, huh? It doesn't look like an old fart rag anymore. Nice!

Re: Lauren Conrad Covers 'Redbook' April 2013

I love her! So pretty and I really like her designs as well.

Lauren Conrad Covers 'Redbook' April 2013

She's such a classic beauty. And I like what she says about picking 10 pieces you normally gravitate to. So true. Then you can accessorize around it. I have been doing that for years. I think I learned that from Seventeen magazine when they show you the 10 pieces you can buy and get so many outfits out of them.

Re: Lauren Conrad Covers 'Redbook' April 2013

what if your 10 pieces are all sweatpants