Humbert and Lo

A.J. Woodruff is the creative force behind Humbert and Lo. Inspired by memory and the persistence of time, her debut collection presents itself with a seductive sense of intimacy, history, and recollection. Named after two infamous literary characters, Humbert and Lo references the intricacy of sentiment and longing.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, A.J.’s early experiences with fashion were confined to a Catholic school uniform, which initially sparked her desire to create. She spent summers studying at the Atlanta College of Art and Design, and upon her high-school graduation, she immediately moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California. Majoring in Fine Arts with an emphasis in design, photography, and digital imaging, A.J. honed her skills by interning for various companies including Look-Look Magazine, Blue Cult Denim, and other independent L.A. fashion designers. After graduating early, A.J. desired to study fashion more intently by attending New York’s renowned Parsons the New School for Design.

New York City became a world of opportunity where A.J. worked both in graphic and fashion design for boutique companies as well as larger corporations such as J. Crew and Anne Klein New York where designers like Donna Karan, Narciso Rodriguez and Isobel Toledo were once employed. Inherently inspired by her bi-coastal experiences and southern upbringing, A.J. takes stylistic cues from the mystique of the southern lady, old Hollywood glamour, and the vibrant energy of Brooklyn. She combines vintage details with modern tastes while employing the ideals of local sourcing and American construction. A.J. celebrates the art of hand-making as items were once made in the past.

“My goal is to present the past and its influence on the present. I want the wearer to experience time—its technique and color, it’s texture, its feel. There will always be a sense of romance in my work…always a sense of nostalgia. I am always nostalgic for something, although, I don’t always know what it is.”