Ashley Tisdale on 'High School Musical' Reunion & Her Signorelli Fashion Line

Hey guys, it's Tracy and the Young Hollywood studio and I am sitting. I don't even know how to like introduce you 'cause you don't need an introduction. Oh my gosh. Ashley Tisdale. The one and only. Ashley. We were just talking about that. You were here a long time ago and you're like, I can't believe you guys this is like a permanent situation.

Yeah, like I didn't know you guys were like staying here. It's pretty crazy.

We moved in like 5 years ago to the hotel. That's awesome. I first of all there's so much going on in your life. I mean we have to first talk about the fact that it's been 10 years since High School Musical.

I know. I can't believe that. It's I mean I can and I can't. It's like a weird feeling. It's like it doesn't feel that long ago, but it is that long ago. So.

It's like when in real life in high school and it's like your 10 year reunion and you're like, I cannot believe it's been 10 years.

I know and I didn't go to my 10 year reunion in high school, but I did go to reunion for High School Musical. So that makes up for it, right?

Yes, yeah. I mean you just did a whole reunion with the cast and you're doing a special. You know how was that?

It's it's really crazy 'cause like we're always together, we're all still really close and we'll like, you know, have Halloween parties and like I got married, so they're at my wedding. And so it's like we see each other all the time and everybody every single time they see a picture of us, they're like it's an HSM reunion. So it's so crazy we've had apparently multiple reunions. But. Every day is a reunion pretty much. But it was different being on that set the other day just because it it really, I don't know, the like we realized it's been a long time. But then we realized like we were a part of something that was just like so huge and significant and like it's completely a phenomenon. And so it was just really kind of crazy being with each other. It was definitely emotional.

Right. When you think back to it, like was there something that like you're just like, I can't believe that actually happened.

Yeah. When I think back to it, I feel like that, you know, all of us have, you know, been working since and done different movies and different TV shows and um, as much as we're close with all the casts that we, you know, um work with, there's something very different about that experience. Like it was a very unique experience where it just felt special and it just felt like all of us were so close. I think it was just really genuine and innocent. And we had no idea it was going to be like, we weren't like booking a movie where we're like, this is this big franchise. It was like, we're doing a movie that we're all like super excited about and it was just the fans that made it so exciting and like, I mean, we literally owe the fans for changing our lives.

Yeah. And what's like, would you say that's the number one thing that's changed about you and then about what you think about everybody else in the cast?

Um, I think the number one change about me is, um, I'm married now. So that's a big change.

Yes. And you and your husband are like the cutest things ever.

Oh my gosh. You're so funny. Uh, and then I think the one thing, I think we just all have grown up, you know, for everybody else. It's just like, we've grown up and we're all doing like, you know, different things and, um, but the one thing that remains the same is the connection between all of us.

Yeah. And you and you actually knew Vanessa before you guys even auditioned for that, right?

Exactly.

A lot of people probably don't know that, I would think. Uh, I don't know. Like I mean you really have been besties year forever.

We have. We knew Vanessa, we did a Sears commercial prior. We were super stoked about the Sears commercial. We went from Sears to High School Musical. That's all I'm saying. You know. And it's how it all starts. Yes. And Zac, I knew from my best friend, Shelley. She had done that TV show Summerland with him. So me and him were like really close like a year before. And Monique actually did a guest appearance on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody before. So I knew everyone except for really Lucas and Corbin. And it's just kind of crazy how we all came together.

That's amazing. And then you have been doing. I mean, first of all, you are like the definition of girl boss. And you've called yourself that, which you really are. 'Cause you do everything.

Thank you. I'm like all for girl boss.

Yeah. I mean you've I I mean acting, singing, you have your own production company. Now you know, you do Young & Hungry. You now are partners with Signareli. You just launched your t-shirt line.

Yeah, I'm creative director. So crazy. I know. And I feel like you, first of all, fashion. You are like the queen of fashion.

Yeah, I am someone

So this was gonna happen, right? I mean, I've always wanted to do a clothing line. I just obviously wanted it to be the right timing and, um, it was perfect timing and it was really awesome just because I'm always someone who loves a good t-shirt. I'm a t-shirt and jeans type of gal. So, um,

I am too.

It's just like so much fun. And I love like verbiage on t-shirts. It's just fun to like kind of be like putting out something that you feel that day. And, uh, Signareli had already been doing it for so long. And so it was cool because I was a fan of theirs and and I met with Meredith and she was really excited about teaming up with me as creative director and she really has let me be like 100% in control. Like I changed their logo. Um, you know, just being creative director, if you don't know what that means is really, I'm there from like beginning to end. I'm like coming up with the phrases. Um, the size, I'm I'm you know, the fit is so important, the material to like when it's actually produced. So it could be like the tiniest thing could be like off and I'm like, oh no, that's we can't do it. It's like I'm really like all about detail.

That's amazing. And how do you like get inspired for the 'cause they're graphic tees, they have really cute sayings on them.

And let me tell you, it's like we go through a lot because a lot of stuff can be trademarked. So it's like you have to constantly come up with something else. Um, the stuff I get inspired by is really kind of being with my friends. We'll be having like a, you know, dinner party or something at my house and I'll just like, I'm, you know, a huge fan of rosé and, uh, I had like a rosé colored hair at one point. So we're sitting there and I was like rosé all day. And I was like, oh my gosh, this is a t-shirt. So I'll write that stuff down on my phone.

So you're gonna have a line. You could have a collection just on your hair color. Hair game, by the way, is like. It's like nonstop. I was asking about your because your color now, like how do you describe it?

Apparently they call it like tortoise shell. There's like names for my hair. Yes, like. Oh my gosh. Drag it into the hammer. You know, it's it's pretty crazy. Yeah. I get a lot of hits on Instagram about my hair color. It's really funny.

Is there a color you wouldn't ever dye it?

Um, I actually dyed it what I actually no. I was like, I've been through every color. I thought for sure I'd never dye it red. I've totally been red.

You've been like all shades.

I've been all shades, but I haven't done black and I don't think I'll ever do black 'cause it's very hard to get back from black. Oh, okay. It's like a really dark color. So. I just don't know if it's like for me.

You're too, I feel like you're too like, yeah, you have to have a certain.

It's funny because like if I get too dark, I you know, I'm obviously originally brunette. But if I go too dark, I don't feel like my personality, it's like almost as if people think of me as like being like super like dark and mysterious. Right. And like I love I I'm definitely have edge to my style, but I like to have like the fun part of like being a little bit blonde. So I've just been kind of experimenting with highlights.

I love it. Well, let's look at some of the because we have to go through some of the sayings on your shirts. Um, this is one of my favorite t-shirts. I love the pop of color, especially like underneath like a leopard jacket. It's super cute. So how would you pair like that just be sort of like, 'cause you can kind of make it a casual

You could yeah.

Day or you can dress it up, right?

Or you can totally dress it up. If for casual, I would just usually throw it with jeans and a cool jacket. Um, or even shorts. Uh, and like cool boots. But, uh, for dressing it up, I usually do like a leather pant and then like a cool like either leopard or like, you know,

Yeah.

A cool shag jacket and then, um, heels. It's really fun. I mean, t-shirts are so great. 'Cause we wouldn't think. People probably wouldn't be so like, do I wear heels with a t-shirt? Yeah, I totally am into that. Especially for I'm no joke, like first dates.

Oh, with my husband, my first date. I was like, you don't want to try too hard. You're like dressed up. And so it's like, I've always been that type of person that I'm like, I like to be a little bit more casual, but like still cool. And so I'll throw jeans on with heels and a t-shirt. And it's just like, It's like the cool girl. You're like. Yeah. And you're like, this is who I am. Yes. So, um, there's Surf Paris. This one's obviously inspired by my friends.

Let's brunch. Who do you brunch with? I mean, I think we know obviously Vanessa must be included in that.

Oh my gosh. Yes. All the time. And workout with her because she's really, really good in shape and stuff. But, um, I mean I have like a really amazing core, um, you know, couple of friends that I just like love to hang out with. My girlfriend, Shelley, my girlfriend, Sam, Kim, Vanessa, we all will, you know, live next to each other. So it's really easy.

I think we all just want to be part of your squad pretty much.

Oh my gosh. Girl squad.

Squad goals right there. Um, I had to ask also with Vanessa 'cause you both are like, I mean, you are the epitome of like fashion trendsetters.

Oh, thank you.

Everybody wants to dress like you, everyone wants to look like you guys. When you guys do you guys do you go shopping together a lot? Or do you.

It's funny we used to go shopping together all the time and we're it's very like, very us to pick out the same exact thing, but we style it completely two completely different ways.

I was gonna ask are you guys. So you're totally different.

Completely different style, but we are drawn to the same things. However, I love shopping online. So that's changed up my shopping game. I don't really like shop as much.

That's changed up my shopping game too. I only just started getting into that.

Oh my gosh. I've been into it for like years. It's something that's so amazing. It's like Christmas. You get a box. It's like pretty awesome.

Shopping online. That's get presents for us. So old school. And then what your website the Hot Mess the Hot Mess.

The Hot Mess.

If you haven't read it yet, it's it's like a girl's guide to life, basically.

Thank you.

Because it's everything. It's everything you need to know. It's it's so relatable also, which I think is great. What made you want to start that?

Really? It was just, you know, I really wanted a site to where my fans could, you know, kind of just it just something that where I could share actually because there's a lot of contributors who contribute content to it. Right. And I wanted to kind of share my audience with them. But what what we made about the voice of the hot mess is just because I feel like a hot mess pretty much all the time.

I think we all do, right? I mean, I feel like we do. Even when we're put together. We're really like. Like sometimes a hot mess.

Actually a hot mess. And I recall telling my husband, like when we first started dating, I was like, oh, I'm such a hot mess right now. If only you saw me at my best. And he was just like, what? This is you're great. And like, guys love that, right? Guys love it. And it's like, it's just embracing that and we can strive to be perfect, but it's really about embracing the hot mess within all of us and just, you know, figuring our, you know, stuff out. So I wanted a site that kind of represented that.

And you also have a makeup line that's coming out. I have to get to that because you you tweeted a picture or you on Instagram actually.

Yes. Illuminate Cosmetics.

Of the packaging. Packaging is everything, right? I mean, for me, I mean, it's not everything like the makeup has to be good too. But yes, the packaging is like what gets your eye, I think. So. So. And that comes out in the spring.

That comes out in the spring. Yeah. I'm really excited about it. The packaging was, it's like crazy. Like you don't know all these things of how like it takes so long, like for makeup. We've been working on it for the last year. It takes like a year to make a makeup like to make lipstick. Really? And it's yeah, it's so long. It's crazy.

That's crazy.

Whereas like Signareli, it has such a fast paced world in fashion. Like we're already doing the fall 2016 line. Like it should have been done yesterday, pretty much. So with Illuminate, yeah, it was just like the packaging was so important to me and so I went to the factory the day it was being made. Like the day they were printing the packaging and I had to like sign off on the rose gold color because rose gold could go copper or like brown. So it had to be like perfect rose gold. Oh my gosh. So I was there and I saw it like being made and it's just really awesome to see an idea of yours come to life.

That's awesome. Um, we have to get to some fan questions for you really quickly.

Oh yeah. I love fan questions.

So this is from @AshleyTColumbia. She wants to know what was the best thing about being part of High School Musical. Love you, Ashley.

Aw, that's so sweet. Uh, the best thing about being part of High School Musical. Uh, I guess like gaining that whole family. You know, just five of them. Uh, between Vanessa, Zac, Corbin, Monique, and it's just Lucas. We have been a family ever since. So I I think that was like the best, you know, part of that.

Um, and this is from @Dragon87. So I'm probably pronouncing this wrong. A T Y S. Uh, we miss you singing. Any chance you'll record a new album? It's so funny. I always get singing questions from the fans. Like I have to ask that. Of course.

Um, you know, right now there is no plans, but I am in the studio recording just trying to like, obviously I'm such a huge fan of music and my husband is a musician. We have a studio in our house. So it's like, I'm always like having fun recording.

Are you ever gonna like, do something together?

Um, probably not. He's like busy doing like other stuff. Like he's been composing a lot. So, um, we kind of just like do separate things. But if I'm ever like, you know, I want to record this. He's like super down to do it. Uh, but yeah, I've just kind of been like feeling out, you know, what I would want to do and what direction I want to go in. But there's no plans to come out with it yet.

Okay. Well, you heard it here. Um, and then lastly from what from what if Lucas, um, could you share anything about the movie Charming? Are you excited to work with Demi and Avril?

Uh, well, we I've already recorded Charming. Um, but because it's an animation, we're not in the same room at the same time. So I didn't see Avril or Demi, but, um, I did record a song for it, uh, with them. And it's pretty epic. It's so much fun. I think it's gonna be a really cute animation.

Awesome. Well, congratulations on everything. I mean, you are like, I don't know how you do it. It's insane. I mean,

Yeah. I have to have my coffee in the morning. That's it.

That's gotta be. That's probably one of the slogans, right?

Oh my gosh. Yeah, there's a need coffee t-shirt.

Coffee. We actually, we like post that on our Young Hollywood Instagram pretty much every morning 'cause we're like, everyone relates.

My favorite.

You all need coffee. You have to have a cup of coffee to start the morning. So good. We should get one now, actually. Awesome. Well, thank you. Thanks for coming here.

Thank you so much. Thank you.