The Who What Wear Podcast

Mara Hoffman began her eponymous brand in 2000 by designing and selling one-of-a-kind, handmade garments out of her New York apartment. Twenty-three years later, she's still known for making gorgeous statement pieces with bold colors and prints, but she continues to evolve her approach toward sustainable design and manufacturing. Hoffman recently partnered with textile-to-textile recycling company Circ to release a groundbreaking dress made from 50% recycled textile waste, and she is this year's CFDA Environmental Sustainability Award honoree. This week, Editor in Chief Kat Collings sat down with Hoffman to discuss designing from a place of honesty, the "change or die" mentality, and where they hope fashion is headed.

Stacey Battat is a costume designer and longtime collaborator of director Sofia Coppola, known for her work on films like The Bling Ring and The Beguiled. But most recently, Battat took on the huge undertaking of crafting the looks for A24’s newly released biographical drama, Priscilla. Based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me, Coppola’s Priscilla, which stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi, depicts the couple's epic yet tumultuous relationship, this time from Priscilla’s perspective. From the late ’50s to the early ’70s, Battat had a ton of ground—and fashion eras—to cover when it came to costume design. She’s here to talk about how wardrobe choices impact character development, what type of research is involved in telling true stories, and why having a solid team is of the utmost importance.

This week, Hillary hands the mic to Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings for a special episode welcoming Nikki Ogunnaike to her new position as editor in chief at Marie Claire, Who What Wear’s sister brand! Nikki has big plans for the iconic publication, which she hopes to make feel like "a group chat of your most ambitious friends." The two EICs discuss growing up with Marie Claire, high-impact, low-lift personal style, and the accuracy of the Miranda Priestly depiction of an editor in chief.

Ziwe is a comedian and writer perhaps best known for her provocative Instagram Live and Youtube interview series, Baited, or her Showtime variety sketch show, Ziwe. Both shows highlighted her talent for getting to the heart of the most divisive American issues, while still managing to produce hilarity. Today, she’s here to discuss her most personal project yet: Black Friend: Essays. Ziwe talks about how her comedy background helped lay the foundation for the book’s content and structure, the reason the essays are heavily footnoted, and why becoming a good artist means being very bad at your craft for a long time. SPANX TERMS & CONDITIONS Offer valid only toward SPANX brand styles on http://www.spanx.com . Promotion code must be applied at checkout to redeem discount. Offer expires December 31st, 2023 at 11:59PM ET. Offer not valid at other retail outlets. No adjustments on previous purchases. Offer is void where taxed, restricted or prohibited by law. Offer is non-transferable, not redeemable for cash and subject to change without notice. Offer cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Purchase limits per household may apply. This offer is made by Spanx, Inc.

Mario Dedivanovic is a beauty tastemaker of the highest order. His makeup career began over 20 years ago when he first stepped foot into a Sephora. Since then, he’s created viral looks for celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and shared his knowledge and methods with thousands of makeup artists in live MasterClasses. Finally, in 2020, he created his namesake brand, Makeup by Mario. This week, he’s talking through entering his soft era, developing products with intention, and how you should actually be applying your concealer.

Marisa Meltzer has been a journalistic staple in fashion and beauty for over a decade, writing for publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. She’s also written four books—This Is Big, How Sassy Changed My Life, Girl Power, and Glossy, which is the latest to hit newsstands. Glossy is an intimate profile of Emily Weiss and the beauty company she founded that seemed to define an entire era, Glossier. Meltzer is here to give us the inside story on the inside story. Buy the book here: https://www.marisameltzer.com/books

Jenna Lyons has been a household name in fashion since her 27-year tenure at J.Crew, and while she’s still as busy as ever, she’s found new freedom since stepping out on her own. She’s here to talk about what’s new with LoveSeen, how she’s expanded her interior design offerings with The Expert, and, of course, all things RHONY reboot. Lyons gets candid about how and why she really said yes to Bravo and which Real Housewife she’d love to style most.

This week, Hillary passes the mic to Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings and fashion editor Eliza Huber for a special New York Fashion Week recap. They’re breaking down everything they witnessed, from what’s happening in street style to the buzziest runway trends of the season—including one controversial pant style you thought was gone forever: capris.

This week, Who What Wear Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen is taking us behind the scenes of how she styled our September cover shoot with Kaia Gerber. She’s walking us through the months-long process of putting together a shoot and sharing details on everything from how she and the team landed on the cheeky back-to-school theme to the last-minute outfit adjustments that took a look to the next level.

Now known for her identifiable aesthetic—a colorful blend of French and L.A. influence—Clare Vivier began her handbag and accessories brand, Clare V., by hand-sewing laptop bags out of her home in 2008. Today, we’re reflecting on 15 years of the beloved brand and celebrating Clare’s upcoming book, La Vie de Clare V.: Paris Chic/L.A. Cool, which launches on September 12. Preorder now: https://www.clarev.com/pages/la-vie-de-clare-v

She’s back! Earlier this year, wardrobe stylist Allison Bornstein joined us to chat through her internet-famous styling and closet organization tips. Now she’s here to share how she transformed those viral hacks (and much more) into her thoughtful, optimistic, confidence-boosting guide to personal style, Wear It Well: Reclaim Your Closet and Rediscover the Joy of Getting Dressed. Preorder now: https://www.allisonbornstein.com/wear-it-well

If you're a fan of Net-a-Porter's carefully curated collections, you can thank the trend research, buying expertise, and great taste of Market Director Libby Page. In this episode, Libby joins Hillary to talk about all things denim. She's sharing the season's biggest denim trends as well as her take on the timeless denim staples that will never go out of style. Plus, she's dropping her shopping tips and favorite denim brands to buy.

Jake Arnold is a celebrated AD100 interior designer known for his work with clients such as John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Katy Perry, and Zendaya. His design philosophy—centering livability and comfort rather than striving for a specific aesthetic—is the throughline in all of his work, from running his Los Angeles studio to authoring his upcoming book, Redefining Comfort. In this episode, he dishes on how he got here without any formal training, plus the cost-friendly ways to make a space feel luxurious.

This week, Who What Wear Beauty Director Erin Jahns is teaching us how to protect and nourish ourselves during the sun-filled summer months. Should you switch out your moisturizer for the season? Is it safe to keep using retinol? What if chlorine has already damaged your hair? Erin's here to guide us through the expert-approved practices, products, and treatments that our future selves will thank us for using.

This week, Barbie's lead hair and makeup artist, Ivana Primorac, is taking us through her process for developing the many looks in Greta Gerwig's film. She's speaking about everything from landing on the perfect shades of blonde for Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling to how she was able to draw on Mattel's archive for inspiration. Plus, she shares what went into the creation of Weird Barbie.

Daphne Guinness is many things—a fashion icon, a model, a muse, an heiress, a designer—but today, she’s here to discuss a lifelong passion that she began to seriously pursue a decade ago after an already remarkable career: music. Over the past 10 years, Guinness has written and recorded four albums, the latest of which will be released this November. She’s walking us through how she stumbled into writing music almost accidentally, why she’s always chosen to create art independently, and how the joy of learning new things has shaped her life.

This week, Associate Director of Special Projects Kristen Nichols and editor Eliza Huber are walking us through the ultimate wedding mood board: Who What Wear Weddings. They've spoken to experts across the wedding, travel, food, and fashion spaces to find out how brides, bridesmaids, and wedding guests alike are putting unique spins on wedding style. No matter your taste—city hall elopement or destination wedding—there's something here for you.

Candice Swanepoel has worked in the fashion world for 20 years, but she recently made the leap from supermodel to business owner with the launch of her sustainable swim brand, Tropic of C. She’s here to give us the details about her brand launch, how modeling taught her about creative direction, and the swim staples everyone should have in their closet.

Gabrielle Union has been a beloved actress since the '90s, but she's also a social justice activist, a co-founder, a best-selling author, and now an executive producer on projects such as her new BET docuseries My Journey to 50 and her recently released film The Perfect Find. In this episode, editor Jasmine Fox-Suliaman sits down with our July cover star to get the scoop on her recent productions. Gabrielle's also talking about redefining success for herself after years in the spotlight and the joy of building community within a tough industry.

This week, fashion editor Anna LaPlaca is bringing us inside Who What Wear's summer travel guide to the Aeolian Islands. She's tapped a variety of experts to find the best hotels, the can't-miss restaurants, and the beaches with the most jaw-dropping views. Plus, she dishes on all the must-pack trends for the summer.

Liat Baruch is a celebrity stylist and personal shopper. Widely known for her work with the Richie family, Baruch was one of the genius minds behind the viral looks for Sofia Richie's recent France wedding that set the internet ablaze. She's here to talk about creating those next-level looks and give us her best advice on honing our personal style, the pieces worth investing in, and how to shop like a professional.

Charlotte Palermino is the CEO and co-founder of the skincare company Dieux Skin. If you’ve been on Instagram in the past few years, chances are you’ve seen Dieux Skin’s Forever Eye Masks or best-selling Deliverance serum grace your timeline. With an emphasis on sustainable packaging, result-driven formulas, and ingredients backed by clinical studies, Dieux Skin has gone absolutely viral. Today, Palermino talks about everything from just how to apply her maximalist product routine to the only things you actually need, plus the research behind cannabinoids in skincare.

In this episode, we bring you behind the scenes of our June cover with Who What Wear’s vice president of social media, MacKenzie Green, and actress and singer Halle Bailey. You may know Bailey as one half of the Grammy-nominated R&B duo, Chloe x Halle, or from her role in the Freeform series, Grown-ish. Now, she’s making a splash as the newest Disney princess in the live-action movie, The Little Mermaid. She’s here to talk about everything that went into making the incredible film, including bringing us inside the re-creation of iconic moments from the original animation.

Senior fashion editor Allyson Payer brings us inside her brand-new story "Red Carpet Recap: The It Celebs, Trends, and Designers Everyone Is Talking About." For this story, Allyson tapped experts—including celebrity stylist Tara Swennen; Catherine Kallon, the founder and editor of Red Carpet Fashion Awards; and even the social media management platform Dash Hudson—for the scoop on what went the most viral and why. Tune in to hear who she deemed the It celebs of the season, the designers making the biggest buzz, and so much more.

In today’s episode, associate fashion editor Yusra Siddiqui sits down with Who What Wear May cover stars the Jonas Brothers. Four years after the release of Happiness Begins, Nick, Kevin, and Joe are back with The Album, and they’re here to break down everything from key influences to their creative process to how their dynamic as brothers and as musicians has evolved over the years. Plus, they’re diving into the style direction that they’re each excited to showcase on tour.

This week, Hillary is joined by shopping editor Indya Brown and Associate Director of Special Projects Kristen Nichols, who are here to tell us everything we need to know to be the best dressed wedding guests at any and all summer nuptials. They’re breaking down what exactly constitutes the various levels of formality you may see on an invite, the trends that your most stylish friend will definitely be adorned in, and the practical factors to take into consideration to make sure you have a fun time. Plus, we answer a ton of your wedding guest questions, including recommendations for just what to wear—where.

Today, fashion editor Anna LaPlaca is back on the show to discuss her brand-new story State of Style. In this deep-dive piece, Anna brings us inside what’s hot in the style zeitgeist right now. She’s tapped industry experts to explain the multitude of factors that influence what we’re seeing take center stage at the moment, including fashion psychology and history. You’re going to want to stick around for it all, from the rise of puddle pants to the origins of quiet luxury. Read State of Style here: https://www.whowhatwear.com/state-of-style/ Shop Vince Camuto here: https://www.vincecamuto.com/?cm_mmc=display-abg%7Cabg_spring23_whowhatwear_display%7Cpodcast_roundup

Thought leader, founder, designer, activist, and author Aurora James may be best known as the founder of the accessories and footwear brand Brother Vellies, which has supported artisan communities across Africa and beyond. In 2020, she launched the Fifteen Percent Pledge, a call to action for major corporations to create sustainable and supportive ecosystems for Black-owned business which has signed on companies like Sephora and Nordstrom. On this episode however, she’s here to discuss her highly personal, emotional, and absolutely brilliant memoir, Wildflower. In the book, Aurora shares both beautiful and heartbreaking stories from her childhood to the present day. Preorder now: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wildflower-aurora-james/1141987008;jsessionid=BF345FD71EF295895AC6677E4DE5B64D.prodny_store01-atgap13?ean=9780593239452&st=AFF&2sid=Random%20House%20Inc_8373827_NA&sourceId=AFFRandom%20House%20Inc

Independent fashion label With Jéan’s viral designs (such as its cult-favorite Andy dress, signature corsets, and best-selling ribbon-trimmed silhouettes) have been spotted on everyone from Rosalía to Bella Hadid. On this episode, founders Sami Lorking-Tanner and Evangeline Titilas join Hillary to discuss bringing their vision to life, what to expect from their upcoming drops, and the items on repeat in their own wardrobes.

Allison Bornstein is a stylist, wardrobe specialist, and content creator popular for her signature systems outlining how to optimize your style and closet. On this episode, she walks Hillary through her signature closet editing system, the three-word method for defining your style, the seven questions you should ask when buying a new item, and so much more.

Hillary talks to Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen about our brand-new seasonal series, Who What Wear 100. For this story, Lauren created the ultimate spring shopping guide featuring 100 editor-approved products across every major category, including season-defining It buys and must-have wardrobe staples. Essentially, it’s your shopping bible. Shop the story here: https://www.whowhatwear.com/who-what-wear-100-spring

Allison McNamara is the founder of Mara skincare. Previously an on-camera host for outlets like PopSugar and E!, today, Allison is known as a force within the skincare space, launching Mara with a single innovative SKU: the Universal Face Oil. The brand is beloved by everyone from Chrissy Teigan to Hailey Bieber and has now expanded to include a tight yet robust product assortment. She’s here to discuss what it’s been like building her brand from the ground up, including formulations, active ingredients, and what’s next on the horizon.

Since 2013, accessory designer and founder Janessa Leoné’s eponymous line of hats and accessories has been coveted by fashion editors and celebrities alike. Now entering her 10th year of business, Leoné is shifting her brand focus to something somewhat unexpected: regenerative agriculture. She’s here to talk about it all, plus how to wear her favorites from the spring collection and the packing essentials that stay in her carry-on bag.

Denise Wingate is the costume designer behind the new Amazon show Daisy Jones & the Six. The series is an adaptation of the beloved book of the same title about a ’70s Laurel Canyon band whose catchy tunes and behind-the-scenes drama seemed to compete for the spotlight. Wingate is here to talk about her process in costuming actors such as Riley Keough and Suki Waterhouse, her own experiences that proved hugely influential, and how to source vintage like a pro. Plus, she shares her favorite project thus far in her epic filmography—which spans Cruel Intentions to Wedding Crashers—and what she hopes to land next.

Whether you realize it or not, chances are celebrity stylist Enrique Melendez’s work has been on your radar for years. After getting his start with none other than The Black Eyed Peas, he went on to become Will.I.Am’s personal stylist before working with other massive musicians like Bruno Mars. He’s here to talk about his entire come up within the industry and break down the evolution of his work with his client of six years: actress Jenna Ortega. Tune in to hear about everything that went into Jenna’s award-season run and Wednesday press tour, plus his best style advice of all time.

In this episode, we bring you behind the scenes of our March beauty cover with Who What Wear beauty editor Katie Berohn and actress Rachel Zegler. Zegler is best known for her part in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, but her career is just getting started. She’s here to talk about upcoming projects like Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and the new live-action adaptation of Disney’s Snow White. Plus, Zegler shares her real thoughts about social media and her favorite beauty looks of all time.

Journalist Maggie Bullock began her career in the beauty department of Vogue before spending 13 years at Elle, where she oversaw the fashion and beauty pages and wrote her fair share of celebrity profiles. In her new book, The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew, Bullock shares the definitive history of J.Crew, including all of its juicy internal politics and the backstories of larger-than-life characters Mickey Drexler and Jenna Lyons, plus the history of the subculture of prep and its place in the American psyche.

For Who What Wear’s February cover interview, editor Jasmine Fox-Suliaman sits down with the incredible actress Storm Reid. Best known for her standout performances in projects like 12 Years a Slave, A Wrinkle in Time, and Euphoria, at just 19 years old, Storm is already a force within Hollywood. In this episode, the pair discuss the significance of the roles within Reid’s catalogue thus far; her intentionality within a notoriously challenging industry; and her newest project, HBO’s series adaptation of the video game The Last of Us.

Hillary passes the show over to Who What Wear fashion editors Anna LaPlaca and Eliza Huber, who are coming to us straight off the heels of New York Fashion Week. After seeing what this season’s showing designers have in store for us for their fall/winter 2023 collections, the ladies are here to break down the trends they’re spotting and the moments that have already broken the internet.

Celebrity stylist Thomas Christos Kikis is responsible for the incredible looks worn by women like Amelie Zilber, Zaya Wade, and the one and only Gabrielle Union. On this episode, Thomas talks about finding his way to the top of the styling industry, the incredible body of work he’s done with Union, and his tips and tricks for owning your own style—including the importance of tailoring and a good pair of loafers.

Danielle Sherman is the founder of the fine jewelry line Sherman Field, known for dreamy hand-linked chains, textured-gold photo lockets, and one-of-a-kind stone earrings and rings. But in addition to her reputation as one of the premier fine jewelers within the fashion industry, Sherman has a wild fashion résumé, which includes co-founding The Row with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, working as the head designer at Alexander Wang, and serving as the creative director for Edun. She’s here to talk about it all, from how she got her start in the industry at just 16 to what to look for when investing in your own fine jewelry.

Tina Leung, stylist, street style icon, and new star of Bling Empire New York, has been a mainstay of the global fashion scene for years. She’s worked with major brands like Valentino and Loewe, and during the pandemic (alongside other fashion heavy hitters Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Laura Kim, and Ezra William) started the digital series and comic House of Slay, in which superheroes take on "racism, hatred, bullying and fear of the 'other.'" Tina’s here to bring us inside her world—from the designers she has her eye on to the places her crew eats in each fashion capital around the world.

Actress and entrepreneur Ashley Benson has gone on to do a number of interesting things since rising to fame in the hit TV series Pretty Little Liars. Last year alone, she starred in Private Property, Loneliest Boy in the World, and the indie slasher film Alone at Night, where she also snagged her first credits as producer and co-writer. Also an entrepreneur, Benson is a co-founder of sunglasses brand Privé Revaux and Thomas Ashbourne Craft Spirits. Most recently, she’s founded her very own personal fragrance line, Ash by Ashley Benson. She’s here to discuss it all, plus the items that make her personal style just so enviable.

Alejandra Hernandez is both the head designer behind the women’s activewear brand Year of Ours and a prolific Hollywood stylist having worked with artists like Iggy Azalea, Eve, and most recently, the one and only Sza. Alejandra is here to discuss their collaboration ushering in Sza’s new style era, including breaking down the music videos and album artwork for the highly anticipated and record-breaking album, SOS.

Associate fashion editor Yusra Siddiqui sits down with our January cover star, Madelyn Cline. Widely known for her breakout role in the Netflix series Outer Banks and the star-studded film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Madelyn tells Yusra about navigating early success within Hollywood, how she combats imposter syndrome, and what she’s taken from each project thus far. Plus, get a peek behind the scenes of the incredible looks she’s been putting together with stylist Mimi Cutrell.

Who What Wear editor Anna LaPlaca sits down with our December cover star, Lily Collins, to talk about the star’s massive past few years. They discuss her hit show Emily in Paris, her Netflix feature and first producer credit in Windfall, and her personal life, including her marriage to director Charlie McDowell. Collins explains how she’s managed to find her equilibrium among it all, everything we can expect from the highly anticipated season three of Emily in Paris, and what’s next in her career.

Hillary Kerr is joined by three members of the WWW team—Editor in Chief Kat Collings, VP of Influencer Marketing Rachel Zeilic, and fashion editor Eliza Huber—who are here to give us their expert tips on how to snag the most stylish finds from eBay. Whether it’s new or vintage, the ladies are breaking down how they sleuthed out their favorite purchases of the past, which luxury items they’re scoping out for the future, and the insider strategy for how to source like a pro.

Sarmela Sunder, MD, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained plastic surgeon who specializes in all things face and neck. On this episode, she’s breaking down the results, recovery processes, and risks of surgical and nonsurgical procedures, including face-lifts, neck-lifts, nose jobs, and even eye procedures. If you take one peek at her Instagram, which features many recognizable faces, you’ll realize why Sunder is who we’re leaning on as the ultimate authority.

Nell Diamond is the founder and CEO of Hill House, a digital-first lifestyle brand offering fashion, home goods, and accessories that bring beauty and joy to everyday rituals. Or as you likely know the brand, the creators of the Nap Dress. Nell is here to talk about designing the cult-favorite item, pivoting her business accordingly, and what’s next for the beloved brand. Plus, she’s sharing her favorite ways she’s seen the collection styled.

Academy Award–winning costume designer Ruth Carter has spent over three decades in film, television, and theater, where she’s collaborated with prolific directors such as Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, and Ava DuVernay and run costume departments for films such as Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, Selma, Amistad, and, of course, Black Panther. On this episode, Carter breaks down how she fuses rich cultural histories with futuristic technology in her designs in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.