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Hosted by Who What Wear co-founder Hillary Kerr, Second Life spotlights successful women who have made major career changes. Guests share lessons they've learned through fearlessly daring to pivot, and how they've used skills from their "first lives" to navigate their winding career journeys.
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Paul Tazewell is the award-winning costume designer behind the magical world of Wicked and Wicked: For Good. In this episode, Who What Wear Senior Fashion and Social Editor Tara Gonzalez sits down with Tazewell to celebrate the release of the highly anticipated finale of Elphaba and Glinda’s story. He discusses all of the thoughtfully detailed costume choices and Easter eggs you might miss during your first viewing and shares his design process for some of the standout pieces from the movie, including Glinda’s glamorous wedding dress and Dorothy’s iconic crystal shoes. Plus, he tells us how it felt to make history as the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design for his work in Wicked Part 1.
Listen to Paul’s episode on Wicked Part 1 here!
Erica Malbon is the co-founder of Malbon Golf—the game-changing, fashionable golfwear and lifestyle brand that seeks to break tradition by inviting anyone and everyone to enjoy what she calls the “greatest game on Earth.” Malbon Golf began as an Instagram mood board created by her husband, a longtime golf enthusiast. When the couple decided to make Malbon into a full-fledged brand, Erica didn’t have any experience in the sports or retail industry. That said, she had developed an entrepreneurial spirit from her time as co-founder of her first venture, The Now, an L.A.-based massage business that offers luxury spa treatments at an affordable price point. Having learned firsthand what it takes to run both the operational and creative sides of a company, Erica was more than prepared to reimagine golfwear for a new generation and create a brand with a mission to make the sport more accessible. Since launching in 2017, Malbon has amassed a community of golf lovers that includes veteran fans of the sport, professional athletes, and celebrities like Justin Bieber. And they’ve expanded their brand around the world with locations in China, South Korea, and the Philippines.
Mona May is the costume designer of the ’90s cult classic film Clueless. In this episode, Who What Wear Senior Fashion and Social Editor Tara Gonzalez sits down with May to mark 30 years after the film’s release and to look back on the movie’s instantly recognizable fashion. May tells us about how she turned herself into a fashion “detective” when sourcing pieces for Clueless and how she mixed high and low fashion to tell a story and stay within her modest budget. She dishes on what it was like fitting Alicia Silverstone for Cher’s iconic yellow plaid suit and the story behind the giant hat Stacey Dash wears for Dionne’s matching look. Plus, May gives us a peek into her new book, The Fashion of Clueless, which features pages from her sketchbook for the movie and exclusive interviews with the cast.
Melanie Bender is the founder and CEO of Lore, a new fragrance brand that creates entire worlds in every bottle. Before becoming a leader in the beauty industry, Bender initially thought she’d enter the world of STEM. In college, she studied aerospace engineering and environmental science before becoming an environmental planner in her home state of Hawai’i. But her love for fashion and beauty led her to New York. It was there that she started a career that would make her an expert in every part of the process of brand-building—from PR to product development to marketing. Her natural talent and reputation led her to help grow beauty brands Versed and Merit before she was tapped to serve as the CEO of Hailey Bieber’s Rhode. But she never abandoned what she learned when she studied STEM. She often credits the scientific method as the formula to entrepreneurial success that’s gotten her to where she is today. Now, after more than a decade of building businesses across the beauty industry and leading them to new heights, Melanie’s launched her own with Lore—her fragrance line that debuted at Sephora this year.
This week, Who What Wear Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer Hillary Kerr, Editor in Chief Kat Collings, Shopping Director Bobby Schuessler, and Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen are back with another holiday gift guide. They’ve got recommendations that are sure to be a hit with anyone you’re shopping for—from designer card cases stuffed with thoughtful gift cards to comfy, affordable, and chic loungewear. They talk through their go-to destinations for beauty, home goods, and bath products that will make you stand out at any gathering. Plus, they test their gift-giving skills by swapping thoughtful, pre-loved gifts with each other on air. Watch the episode on YouTube here!
Celia Muñoz is the founder of La Coqueta, a childrenswear brand that infuses traditional Spanish craftsmanship and culture into beautiful designs for kids. Before Muñoz dreamed up the idea for her brand, she studied psychology and then moved from her native Spain to London post-grad, working several jobs across industries—from luxury retail to headhunting. She went back to school to get her master’s in mental health while growing her family, but her dream for a kids' fashion brand quickly took over. With no experience in design or business, she launched the brand in 2013. La Coqueta (meaning “well-groomed”) was greeted warmly by families who fell in love with the brand for its high-quality garments, and things only continued to take off after Prince Louis of the Royal Family (son of Prince William and Princess Kate) was spotted wearing a La Coqueta original. Today, the brand continues to grow and expand its reach with new locations in the U.S.
Enrique Melendez is a celebrated fashion stylist known for his daring collaborations with Wednesday star Jenna Ortega. He’s been on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of the Top 25 Celebrity Stylists two years in a row and recently received an InStyle Imagemaker Award. This week, Melendez joins Who What Wear co-founder Hillary Kerr to dig into the Wednesday season 2 press looks and discuss Ortega’s dramatic style evolution from Disney kid to gothic-glam fashion darling. There’s no doubt you’ve seen Ortega’s most adventurous looks on your feed in recent months—from the latex snakeskin Ashi Studios gown that kicked off the press tour to the bejeweled Givenchy top at the Emmys. Today, Melendez shares how those looks—and many more—came to be.
Watch this episode on Youtube here!
Listen to Enrique’s episode from 2023 here!
Toni Chapman aka The Moody Foody is a culinary content creator, recipe developer, and new cookbook author. She grew up cooking and hosting frequent gatherings with her family, but Chapman didn't realize her love for food could be a job until after a brief stint as a bank teller. While working at the bank, she began making elaborate lunches for her then boyfriend to take to work. After getting fired from her job, Chapman decided to turn her lunch-making hobby into a full-fledged meal-delivery service in NYC called ToniCooks. After running and growing the business for five years, she took her culinary expertise to TikTok, teaching people how to cook her favorite comfort meals. As her platform grew, Chapman leveled up her recipe-development skills and joined Buzzfeed's Tasty program as on-camera talent. Most recently, she released her debut cookbook, Everything's Good: Cozy Classics You'll Cook Always and Forever.
Buy Chapman's new cookbook, Everything's Good, here!
Kate Hawley is the costume designer for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. In this episode, Who What Wear Senior Fashion and Social Editor Tara Gonzalez sits down with Hawley to discuss how she worked with longtime collaborator del Toro on his retelling of the classic tale. Hawley walks us through her extensive research process, shares why her team used such a saturated color palette, and highlights standout accessories from the film—like the Frankenstein family crest and Elizabeth’s scarab beetle necklace—that were custom-made by Tiffany & Co. Plus, Gonzalez predicts which item worn by Mia Goth’s character she thinks fashion people will embrace after seeing the film.
Elyse Myers is a content creator and comedian best known for her viral storytime videos. Before becoming a creator, she ran her own web design business. Myers’s life changed when she started making videos during the pandemic as a creative outlet. When a video she made about a horrible first date went viral on TikTok, she earned millions of views and thousands of followers overnight. Her audience continued to grow as she shared more hilarious true stories from her life, posting videos and skits about everything from embarrassing childhood memories to her struggles with ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and depression. Today, she has more than 12 million followers across platforms who have dubbed her “the internet’s best friend” for her willingness to be vulnerable with her massive audience about her personal life. Now, she's going even deeper in her debut book, That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You, an open and honest collection of stories about growing up and finding love while navigating neurodivergence.
Negar Ali Kline is the costume designer for Netflix’s hit rom-com series Nobody Wants This, starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. In honor of the show’s highly anticipated season 2 release, Negar sits down with Who What Wear Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer Hillary Kerr to deep dive on the show’s masterful approach to L.A. style. In this episode, Negar shares how she got her start in the ’90s assisting the legendary Ruth Carter and recounts some of the iconic wardrobe pieces she sourced for the first season of the show, including Joanne’s vintage chinchilla fur coat. Plus, she tells us about how she transformed the cast’s styles for season 2 and worked with local designers in Los Angeles to honor the city’s status as a fashion capital.
Brynn Putnam is the founder of innovative tech companies Mirror and Board. Before entering the tech space, she spent her first life as a professional ballerina. In between performing with big productions and studying at Harvard University, she taught fitness classes on the side to make ends meet. Her side hustle became her full-time one after college when she started her own fitness boutique in New York. Putnam’s pivot into the fitness space would then lead her to tech with her invention of Mirror, a high-tech piece of equipment that could seamlessly bring personalized fitness classes directly into your home. When she launched Mirror in 2019, it was a huge hit—especially during the pandemic when folks were confined to their homes during lockdown. Her company saw so much success that she soon sold it to Lululemon in a deal valued at $500 million. Now, after establishing herself as a tech pioneer, Putnam is onto her next venture in the space—this time with Board, an innovative, first-of-its-kind product that blends the magic of video games with the feel of board games. It also just launched at TechCrunch Disrupt today.
Who What Wear just dropped its inaugural Parents Issue—a brand-new hub for stylish parents to find fashionable, personal, and trustworthy shopping recs. In this episode, we interview our first cover star: actress and new mom Justine Lupe. Lupe sits down in-studio with Who What Wear Editor in Chief and fellow new mom Kat Collings to talk about all things motherhood—including filming season 1 of Nobody Wants This while pregnant with her daughter, Ellis. Lupe opens up about her newfound primal instincts, the challenges of postpartum life, and how she consulted an astrologer for advice on how to balance motherhood with her career. Plus, she shares the story of the "naked" dress she wore to the Emmys and behind-the-scenes details from Nobody Wants This season 2 (out tomorrow!).
WATCH the episode on Youtube HERE!
Shop our editor's eBay picks here!
Melissa Morris is the founder of Métier, an innovative luxury handbag brand well-revered for its commitment to combining fashion and function. Before starting her own luxury brand, Morris had worked in merchandising and design for some of the biggest names in luxury, including Helmut Lang, Armani, Belstaff, and LVMH. But in all her years working for brands, she noticed a lack of bags that actually served the wearer. Métier was born from Morris’s vision for accessories that were both elegant and practical. She dreamed of a line that offered customers the perfect bag for any occasion with a seasonless and timeless aesthetic. Despite having never designed a handbag in her life, she used her degree in sculpture and her career in merchandising to engineer the bags of her dreams with her customers in mind. Métier took off after its founding in 2017, garnering a cult following, and the bags have even been spotted in award-winning Hollywood productions like Succession and The White Lotus. It’s also secured major celebrity endorsements, earning praise from stars like Nicole Kidman, who has been seen wearing them both on and off screen. Morris continues to prove her commitment to her customers today as Métier develops new bespoke options for its loyal devotees.
This week, Who What Wear Beauty Director Erin Jahns is reporting from the Sulwhasoo Skin Longevity Symposium in New York. Sulwhasoo is a global luxury beauty brand rooted in Korean heritage and powered by ginseng-based innovation. In partnership with scientists from the Department of Dermatology at Johns Hopkins Medical School, the symposium celebrated 60 years of ginseng science and unveiled the latest research results for Sulwhasoo’s exclusively developed ingredients. Moments after the symposium, Erin sat down with Ron Robinson, cosmetic chemist and founder of BeautyStat, known for his expertise in ingredient innovation, and Michelle Lee, an award-winning editor, former EIC of Allure and longtime beauty authority recognized for her forward-thinking perspective on the industry. Today, the trio is sharing everything they learned about the power of ginseng as a key driver in supporting skin longevity and the benefits of adding this ingredient to your skincare regimen.
WATCH this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ugsh8wEbUrw
Jenee Naylor is the personality behind the beloved luxury fashion blog HighLowLuxxe and the founder of 12PM Studios. Before she became a full-time content creator, she held leadership roles at Target. She stayed at the chain for eight years as a general manager and store director, building up her people management skills, with the goal of one day becoming CEO. But she also found joy in running HighLowLuxxe on the side, posting fashion content on her days off and interacting with her growing audience. After feeling like her growth had been stunted at her day job, Naylor left Target to run her blog full-time. Her continued authenticity and dedication to her platform have made her a fashion authority and a dream partner for brands. She even had a full-circle moment being invited back to Target—only this time, she was launching her own fashion line. Now, after years of establishing herself in the luxury fashion industry, Naylor decided to launch her own luxury eyewear brand, 12PM Studios.
In this episode, Who What Wear Shopping Director Bobby Schuessler is joined by Associate Director of Special Projects Kristen Nichols and Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen to recap fashion month. Kristen and Lauren just returned from London and Milan, respectively, and they’re here to fill you in on the designers to watch from each city. They get into all the trends they saw on the runways and on the streets and give their predictions about how this season’s shows will impact the way people get dressed next year. Plus, Editor in Chief Kat Collings chimes in live from Paris Fashion Week.
If you missed it, make sure to check out our NYFW recap from last month here!
Shop our editor's eBay picks here!
In 2013, Gregg Renfrew founded Beautycounter—the beauty brand that pioneered what we know today as the clean beauty movement. The brand gained a well-respected reputation for its commitment to using safe ingredients in its products and for refusing to include any formulas that contained questionable or harmful chemicals. Renfrew’s commitment to customer health and her advocacy for cosmetic regulation set her apart from her competitors at a time when clean beauty was just an idea, not an entire industry. She last joined us in 2019, before the company's sale to a private equity firm in a deal that valued the brand at $1 billion. Since then, she’s had to make several pivots—from being asked to step down as CEO to leaving her own company to watching it go into foreclosure. Her latest pivot has involved starting a new company with the same commitment to clean beauty called Counter, and she’s back to tell us all about the new venture.
We’re back with another installment of our seasonal series, Who What Wear 100. In this episode, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings is joined by editors Eliza Huber and Nikki Chwatt to dish on their top wardrobe essentials for fall. They share their favorite It pieces across every major category—including outerwear, shoes, and bags—and offer some outfit formulas you can use all season to keep your looks cozy and chic. Plus, they reveal where you can shop fall trends, whether you’re on a budget or ready to invest in your next hero piece.
Shop the story here.
Diarrha N'Diaye is the founder and CEO of Ami Colé—the beloved beauty brand known for its dedication to celebrating melanin-rich skin. N'Diaye first stepped into the beauty industry by working in social media marketing. She became a go-to expert in digital content management, lending her expertise to brands across fashion, beauty, and editorial sectors. She then transitioned into product development when she was recruited to work at Glossier during its heyday. By the time N'Diaye conceived the idea for her own brand, which would focus on darker skin, she knew exactly what it took to create a product and market it effectively. Her years of experience in every step of that process prepared her to launch Ami Colé in 2019. After growing a loyal community and winning over 80 awards for her products, she made the difficult decision to shut down her brand earlier this year. Her announcement prompted an outpouring of grief from the people who saw themselves in Ami Colé. But now, N'Diaye’s more than ready for whatever her new chapter holds after building a hugely successful company from scratch.
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Loved this interview!
she is not so impressive, she has money and education. the hard thing is to star a new beginning without money , contacts, education
Beautiful talk
Awesome episode!
love love love raissa and so happy to hear her amazing story. thanks for doing this interview.
Raissa is the inspiration for the the modern woman. thank you for interviewing her