# Nicole Gibbons

> Nicole Gibbons is an American entrepreneur, interior designer and brand adviser who founded Clare, the online paint brand launched in 2018. Previously a public relations executive at Victoria’s Secret, she built the So Haute design blog, a design practice and a television career before leading Clare through its 2024 acquisition. She now undertakes selected advisory and creative work and is building a new venture.

- **Role:** Independent entrepreneur and adviser; founder and former CEO at Clare
- **Organizations:** Clare (founder and former CEO), Nicole Gibbons Studio, So Haute, Victoria’s Secret (former employer), OWN: Home Made Simple (former design expert)
- **From:** Detroit, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies, Northwestern University
- **Known for:** Built Clare from concept to a 2024 acquisition., Raised more than $11 million in venture capital, according to her current official biography., Clare served hundreds of thousands of customers under her leadership, according to her account.

## Career timeline

- **2003** — Graduated from Northwestern University and began her career in public relations at Victoria’s Secret.
- **2008** — Launched the interior design blog So Haute while working in fashion PR and began taking on small design projects.
- **2013** — Left her PR career to pursue her design business and media work full time; joined Home Made Simple on OWN.
- **2017** — Developed Clare’s supply chain and financial model; closed an initial $2 million funding round in December.
- **2018** — Launched Clare on July 31 with 55 paint colors.
- **2022** — Clare raised an $8 million Series A led by Pendulum.
- **2024** — Sold and fully exited Clare at the end of the year.
- **2025–2026** — Took an 18-month sabbatical across East and Southeast Asia, then returned to the United States and selected advisory work.

## Achievements

- Built Clare from concept to a 2024 acquisition.
- Raised more than $11 million in venture capital, according to her current official biography.
- Clare served hundreds of thousands of customers under her leadership, according to her account.
- Inc. Female Founder 100 honoree (2019).
- Entrepreneur 100 Powerful Women honoree (2020).
- Forbes Next 1000 honoree.
- Appeared for three seasons as a design expert on OWN’s Home Made Simple.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — In a public LinkedIn update, Gibbons confirmed her late-2024 Clare exit, an 18-month Asian sabbatical, a return to the United States, a fall stay in New York, selected advisory work and a new project in development.
- **2024-12** — Sold and exited Clare; her current FAQ states that she has had no involvement in its ownership, operations or brand direction since 2024.

## Links

- Website: https://www.nicolegibbons.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gibbonsnicole/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/nicolegibbons
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/nicolegibbonsstyle
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolegibbonsstyle/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolegibbonshome

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/nicole-gibbons
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-24