Lea Michele on Being

Lea Michele has been through whirlwind of changes in the past decade or so. We had the chance to chat on a rainy day in New York, and she reflected on one of the biggest campaigns of her early career for Kohl’s and how much has changed since then. “It was such a different time,” she muses, filling me in on being in her mid-20s while living and working in L.A. Now, life looks a little different, as she describes herself as “a million months pregnant” when we chat.

Raising two kids while living in New York creates a stark contrast to her previous Kohl’s campaign, and she’s currently working on another project with the iconic brand. Michele has curated a shopping list for us, but first, we’re taking a walk down memory lane and catching up on what she’s doing now.

An image from Lea Michele’s first Kohl’s campaign called Candies shot in 2012.

(Image credit: Courtesy)

Can you tell us a bit about the life you were living during your first Kohl’s campaign. How has it changed since then?

It was such a different time. I believe it was 2012. I was in my mid-20s, living and working in Los Angeles. I remember getting the call to be asked to be part of this campaign, and I was so excited to be a part of what was and still is such an iconic brand and campaign. I remember the photo shoot. I remember, you know, getting all glammed up and feeling so pretty and wearing these shoes and all the different colors and heights and sizes.

Things are very different now. Many years later, I’m living in New York, working back on Broadway last year. I’m married, and I have a son and a soon-to-be new baby. I’m just excited to be part of the Kohl’s family again and just show how much Kohl’s can be there for you during all the different stages of your life. To have this moment in time for me and my family encapsulated and getting to take these great photos at a million months pregnant but have that cemented in time … is really exciting for me.

What was your experience like curating your favorite shopping items from Kohl’s?

It’s like a dream come true. I am such a fan and could shop there all the time, but everything felt really natural. It was just so easy because Kohl’s is everything that … I need right now. Whether it’s buying stuff to prepare for this new baby or clothes for my 4-year-old or beauty products for me, it was so wonderful to be able to pick things that feel so authentic to what I love and what I genuinely need in my life right now.