An intimate look inside the life, wardrobe, and world of Madison Headrick Nahmad.
At Lost Labels, we've always believed that the most interesting wardrobes belong to women with stories worth telling.
For first edition of Lost Labels Closets, we're introducing Madison Headrick Nahmad: model, mother of two, founder of Care.ē.on, and a woman whose love for fashion goes far beyond what hangs in her closet.
From being discovered at 14 to walking the world's biggest runways, building her own beauty brand, and navigating motherhood, Madison has embraced many different chapters of life, each shaping the woman she is today.
With an eye for timeless pieces and a passion for vintage, Madison believes in the beauty of clothing that carries a little history. A philosophy that couldn't feel more at home at Lost Labels.
We sat down with Madison to talk about life beyond the runway, building a business, motherhood, and the memories behind some of her favorite pieces.
1. Your life has evolved so much over the years, from modeling to becoming a mom of two and building Careeon. How has each chapter shaped the woman you are today?
I started modeling as a teenager and it catapulted me into adulthood very quickly. I was sitting at a desk in high school on a Wednesday and walking the Prada runway in Milan on a Friday. There was definitely some serious character building in that chapter!
Then came getting married, building a company, becoming pregnant, and learning to run a business while also running a household with two very young children. That chapter has made me stronger, more patient, and more devoted. It has shown me that every bump in the road, every win, and every test was preparing me for this part of my life.
I am an entirely different person from the girl who was scouted in Walmart at 14, but I feel like I am becoming the woman I was always meant to be.
2. Where did the idea for Careeon first come from?
I have spent more than half my life on airplanes and in airports. As a model, I was constantly traveling for work, sometimes to a different city every other day. I only traveled with a carry-on because I couldn’t risk losing my luggage. With my schedule, a delayed bag might never catch up with me!
I struggled to look and feel my best on the road because I was so limited in what I could bring. I hated packing, transferring my skincare into tiny containers, unpacking, and spending money on travel-sized products that weren’t effective. I started to dread traveling and developed travel anxiety.
What helped was being more prepared. I started keeping a kit of essentials in my bag that never left it. Eventually I had one in my backpack, my purse, my carry-on, and later, my diaper bag. It was one less thing to think about and no matter what went wrong, I knew I had what I needed to feel a little more like myself.
That was where Care.ē.on began. I took the beauty tips and tricks I had learned throughout my career, found an incredible chemist, and decided to share my travel hack with the world.
3. What has been the most rewarding part of building Careeon from the ground up, and what has surprised you most along the way?
Seeing customers come back time and time again is the most rewarding part. Someone choosing to buy another kit after using the first one means so much to me.
In modeling, I was used to being judged on my appearance. That might sound terrifying to some people but being judged on something I created feels much more vulnerable. Launching a company has pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me things I otherwise might never have learned.
What surprised me most was how tough business can be. I have learned that a good personal relationship doesn’t always mean your business interests are aligned. That has been a difficult but valuable lesson, and it has taught me to be thoughtful about whom I trust and how I make decisions.
4. With two little ones, a business, modeling, and a busy schedule, what is one thing you always make time for, no matter how hectic life gets?
Myself. Now listen, with two babies under two, an elderly dog, a startup, modeling, a social life, and a household to run, sometimes self-care looks like hiding in the bathroom for five minutes to take a few deep breaths! Other times, it is a quiet sunrise coffee and a face mask while everyone is still asleep.
Whatever it looks like that day, taking a moment for myself helps me be a better mother and a better CEO. I always think about the safety announcement on airplanes: put your own oxygen mask on before helping others.
5. For other women who dream of starting a business but worry about how they’ll balance it with motherhood or family life, what advice would you give them?
There was a point in motherhood when I had been running on an empty tank for far too long. I was doing everything I physically and mentally could, and it still never felt like enough.
One day, I overheard two moms talking in the park. One was sharing her worries and her friend said, “You don’t have to be a martyr to be a good mother. Ask for help when you need it.” That stayed with me.
Once I was able to swallow my pride and started asking my support system for help and accepting that things could get done without being done exactly my way, I felt so much freer. I will admit, I can be a micromanager. The thought of my son’s hair being brushed the opposite way of his part, his sandwich being cut differently, or missing one of his music classes could quite literally keep me up at night. That wasn’t healthy for either of us.
My advice is to be present as much as you can especially while they are little, but don’t give up on your dreams. When you are with your children, make that time count. The dishes, the social media post, and the phone call you owe your friend can wait until after bedtime.
And have your nonnegotiables. For my husband and me, those are bath time and bedtime books. Dinner plans? We will meet you after the kids are asleep. A call at 6:30? It will have to be before or after bath time. Our phones are put away and our children have our undivided attention during those times, always.
6. What is something motherhood has taught you that you’ve carried with you into your career or the way you run your business?
Motherhood has softened me a lot. Looking at how pure and innocent my babies are makes me want to protect that for as long as possible.
It also reminds me that everyone is someone’s baby. Even when I don’t see eye to eye with someone, I have more patience and compassion now. Becoming a mother has changed my heart and that carries into the way I treat people, including in business.
7. Tell us about the charity you’ve chosen to support through Lost Labels Closets. Why is this cause particularly meaningful to you?
I have chosen to support RiverFund New York because they do such important work for our community. My team at Care.ē.on and I have donated and volunteered with them and we have seen firsthand the impact they have on New Yorkers. Having that personal connection makes supporting them through Lost Labels Closets especially meaningful to me.
8. How would you describe your personal style today? Has becoming a mother changed the way you dress or the pieces you choose to invest in?
I would describe my style as timeless but still cool and chic. I have been building my vintage collection for about eight years and it is a hobby I truly love. I enjoy sourcing pieces, attending auctions, and doing the research. It feels like owning a little piece of history which makes wearing something beautiful even more special.
The biggest change motherhood has brought to my closet is an excuse to buy more. One day, it will all be my daughter’s!
9. Of the pieces you’re selling through Lost Labels Closets, is there one that holds a particularly special story or memory for you?
The red Jacquemus dress always takes me back to a whirlwind day during fashion week. I went straight from a flight to the Balmain show and needed something chic but comfortable that packed easily and wouldn’t wrinkle. I wore it with combat boots and whenever I see it, I remember the energy and chaos of that day.
10. When your children are older and look back at everything you’ve built, what do you hope they take away from watching their mom pursue her dreams?
I hope they are proud of me and know that everything I do, I do for them and with them in mind. I hope watching me pursue my dreams gives them the confidence to pursue their own while always knowing that being their mom is the most important part of my life.
A closet with a story
From runway memories to vintage treasures, Madison's wardrobe is a reflection of the many chapters of her life. Each piece has been part of her story, and now she's giving it the opportunity to become part of yours.
Through Lost Labels Closets, you can shop a curated selection of Madison's personal wardrobe alongside her travel beauty brand, Care.ē.on.
And because we believe fashion can do more than simply look good, 10% of sales from Madison's personal pieces will be donated to RiverFund New York, a cause close to her heart.
Every piece has a past. You decide its future.
Buy less. Buy used. Buy with purpose.
