Nymphet Alumni

Full episode available  here <3In this week's episode, we ascend the great champagne tower of history and proclaim the existence of Continental Luxury, an evocative aspirational aesthetic that has bewitched the palates of tastemakers across generations. We discuss the history of luxury hotels, the evolution of the boutique hospitality industry, Old World cuisine and interiors as status symbols, and we summon a cast of characters including Anthony Bourdain, Nancy Drew, and Keith McNally to unpack the oyster-laden, gold-trimmed, cherry-garnished lifestyle of our collective dreams. Links: Image boardRitz and Escoffier: The Hotelier, the Chef, and the Rise of the Leisure Class by Luke Barr"Towards a Political Geography of Hotels" by Ruth Craggs"A Legend as Big as the Ritz" – Vanity FairCésar Ritz: Life and Work by Chastonay, AdalbertThe History of Tourism: Structures on the Path to Modernity – Institute of European HistoryThe Tourist: A New Theory of the Leisure Class by Dean MacCannell “The Social and Material Life of Colonial Hotels" by Maurizio Peleggio Hotel: An American History by A. K. Sandoval-StrauszHome on the Rails: Women, the Railroad, and the Rise of Public Domesticity by Amy G. RichterThe romantic journey; the story of Thomas Cook and Victorian travelTravel influencer rice farm controversy in The Daily Mail"The World's Revolt Against 'Bad Tourists'" – BBC

In this episode, we investigate the cultural landscape of the 1990s with the help of a most legendary guest: NYT pop music critic and Popcast host Jon Caramanica. We discuss slackerism and authenticity discourse, the rise of alternative and independent media, the intricacies of subcultural style, the twin flames of rock and hip-hop, the surprising parallels between Gen X and Gen Z, white rappers, child rappers, Tommy Hilfiger grails, and much more. Links: Listen to PopcastJon on InstagramLady Gaga on the Doritos #BoldStage at SXSW, 2014How SoundScan Changed Music Charts – BillboardPop Music's Middle Class by Shaad D'Souza – New York TimesIce Spice vs. Cleopatra Drama Explained – Rolling Stone 

In this edition of Study Break, we discuss the most pressing topics facing fashion and culture, featuring analysis of Sabrina Carpenter’s grindhouse pinup comeback, Addison Rae's arthouse cult single "Diet Pepsi," reflection on Simon Porte Jacquemus's legacy (and speculation on his rise to the Chanel throne), Hollister nostalgia-baiting, global fashion updates from the UK and Mexico, and more.Links:Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet – Video Playlist"Diet Pepsi" by Addison Rae (dir. Sean Price Williams)"Breakaway" by Bruce ConnorThe Birthday Party by Harold PinterChanel's New Kaiser – Lauren Sherman for Puck NewsHollister long-sleeve babydoll tops on TikTok"Archive" Hollister tops from 2022 on TikTokHalley Kate v. Sophia La Corte drama summaryTribal trend in Mexico (some TikTok examples)Intentalo by 3ballMTY

Full episode available on Patreon <3In this episode, we put on our gamer girl headsets and dive into the world of Dress To Impress, the viral fashion game taking the internet by storm. We discuss the emerging fashion sensibilities and favorite references of Generation Alpha, the surreal beauty standards of the Roblox universe, DTI as an election year sociological indicator, the history of FlopTok, the deregulation of child labor, and more.  Links:Play Dress to Impress on RobloxRoblox Audience InsightsPlot Economics by Venkatesh Rao – RibbonfarmOver Half of US Kids Are On Roblox – The VergeI'm Heartbroken No One Likes My Outfits in DTI – PolygonOpen Worlds by Alexi Alario (lol) – Real Lifeeflsur on Tik Tok CaseOh DTI highlights on YouTubeMadison Beer's DTI Livestream

In this episode, we embark upon a swashbuckling anthropological journey into one of the most mysterious aesthetics of the menswear universe: Male Pirate Dressing, a style beloved by prestige actors and aging rockstars alike. Along with our two expert witnesses, James Harris and Lawrence Schlossman of the Throwing Fits Podcast, we ask some of life’s most difficult questions: Why is midlife crisis boho such a prevalent phenomenon? Are indie sleaze icons destined (or doomed) to succumb to over-accesorized fashion piracy in the years to come? Do men know about John Galliano? Tune in to find out!Links:Image Board Alexander McQueen Spring 2003 Ready-to-WearHeidi Slimane Wearable Pirate UniformThe Trouble with Johnny Depp – Rolling StoneWere Pirates Foes of the Modern Order, or Its Secret Sharers? – The New YorkerThrowing Fits on SubstackThrowing Fits on Instagram 

In the third installment of our Study Break series, we turn our attention to the world of sport, analyzing the Broquette SKIMS campaign and all things Olympics, including Ralph Lauren boater costumes, the radical European uncoolness of the Opening Ceremony, and our own creative styling concepts for Olympic athletes. We also discuss Mark Zuckerberg's rebrand, "Brat hangovers," and Kamala Harris's Loewe tomato girl potential. (Disclaimer: this episode was recorded July 28!)Special thanks to our sponsor Croissant! Download the Croissant App here to easily add the Safari extension to your mobile browser: shop with a guaranteed resale price and unlock an effortless resale experience.Learn more about Croissant on their website!LINKS: SKIMS Summer Uniform CampaignNicola Coughlan for SKIMS Soft Lounge Campaign2024 Paris Olympics Opening CeremonyHow Team USA's 2024 Olympic Outfits Were Made By Ralph LaurenMark Zuckerberg personally fuels the rumors of his Supreme takeoverJ. W. Anderson Gucci rumorsAlexi's Kamala-core Pinterest board Adam Lambert, ‘Moana’ Star Auli’i Cravalho Taking Over Lead Roles in Broadway’s ‘Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club’Fragrances by Sabrina Carpenter

FULL EPISODE AVAILABLE ON PATREON <3In this week's episode, we're joined by Sophie Kihm, renowned baby name expert and editor-in-chief of Nameberry, the world's largest website about names. We discuss historical name influences from politics to Hollywood to influencers, the rise of the baby name snark forum, 21st-century name considerations like personal branding and SEO, and the overlap between trending aesthetics and name intelligence. Links:Nameberry on TikTokNameberry Newsletter on SubstackSophie Kihm on Instagram "How Gen Z is Your Name?" by Sophie Kihm for Nameberry"10 Baby Name Trends of 2024" by Sophie Kihm for NameberryMcKinli Hatch, the Internet's first viral baby name momentThat Name is a Tragedeigh SubredditName Nerd Circlejerk Subreddit"Why R U Mad at the Name Kayleigh?" by Kathryn Jezer-Morton for The CutNames + nicknames in a 1960s yearbook "Luxury" name hate on RedditFind exclusive episodes here <3

In this week's episode, we revisit the '90s does '60s phenomenon and discuss the parallels between the two decades—swinging youth culture and nightlife, technological optimism, design innovation—while also finding surprising similarities to our contemporary moment. We highlight the Austin Powers trilogy as this sensation's most brilliant high-camp cultural artifact, unpacking its satire of free love, modern masculinity, and British cheekiness. We explore Space Age fashion, the British Invasion(s), pop environmentalism, Volkswagen Beetles, iMac G3s, the Powerpuff Girls, and much more.Special thanks to our sponsor Croissant! Download the Croissant App here to easily add the Safari extension to your mobile browser: shop with a guaranteed resale price and unlock an effortless resale experience. Learn more about Croissant on their website!Links:Image board Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute's "Groovival" Are.na Board"Austin Powers-core" musical subgenre TweetAustin Powers: International Man of Mystery – fashion photography montageObituary of Pierre Cardin – The New York TimesIndustrial designer Karim Rashid "BBC" by Ming Tea – Official Music Video Dressed to Regress: Interview with Austin Powers costume designer Deena Appel (1999) – LA TimesDeena Appel interview – From Tailors With LoveThe Peacock Revolution: 1960s Menswear – Victoria & Albert MuseumPeter Bogdanovich on the lasting influence of Austin Powers in Goldmember – The New Yorker‘A real stroke of genius.’ How Apple’s iMac G3 became an object of desire – CNN AWOLTrends on BlobjectsPrada's spacesuits for NASA's 2025 Moon mission – ForbesThe Low Earth Orbit Economy – NASA "Bye Bye Sixties" – Nancy Sinatra, Goldie Hawn, and Ruth Buzzi (1969)Find exclusive episodes here <3

In this episode, we dive into the history of pin-up and rockabilly fashion to analyze this aesthetic's continuous deployment in the 21st century pop landscape. We discuss the exaggerated gender dimorphism of the 1950s, the striking similarities between pin-up girls of the '40s and Instagram starlets of today, rockabilly's morbid legacy and the Overton window of obscenity, the decadence of Americana foodstuffs, and the raunchy, feminine stylings of Amy Winehouse, Katy Perry, and, most recently, Sabrina Carpenter. Links:Image boardWelcome to the Club: The Women of Rockabilly (2001)Rockin': The Rockabilly Scene by Andrew ShaylorRockabilly: The Twang Heard 'Round the World by Michael Dregni Dave Hickey on Rockabilly in Air Guitar: Essays on Art & Democracy  Sabrina Carpenter "Nonsense" Outros Compilation"What Happens When a Pop Star Isn't That Popular?" by Shaad D'Souza – New York TimesSabrina's custom "Espresso" swimsuit vs. Marilyn Monroe's in How to Marry a MillionaireKaty Perry performing "One of the Boys" in 2008Rolling Stone on the backstory behind Katy's Teenage Dream coverRolling Stone review of Teenage Dream upon release in 2010TASCHEN's The Art of Pin-up by Dian HansonAlexander Thompson's photographs of Mexican-American RockabilliesProperty from the Life and Career of Amy Winehouse – Auction Catalog"A Sly Wink to Pinups of the Past" by Ruth La Ferla – New York Times (2012)Caroline Gnagy's Work**Full interview with Caroline Gnagy also available on Patreon! Find exclusive episodes here <3

In this episode, we link up in Hell's Kitchen and transform into experimental theater critics in order to provide an unbridled review and aesthetic analysis following our patronage of the new Broadway revival of Cabaret, a musical with a captivating history and a surprising relevance to many of our favorite themes and subjects. We talk about the century-long meme of Berlin debauchery, Sally Bowles as a feminine archetype in her many iterations, Eddie Redmayne's viral Emcee performance (and its chilling implications), and the wildly imaginative costume design work of Tom Scutt, from sleazy boudoir ensembles to fascistic menswear. LinksGo see Cabaret on Broadway!Cabaret – "Wilkommen" performance at the 77th Annual Tony AwardsCabaret (1972) starring Liza Minelli Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher IsherwoodMarch Vogue profile on the 2024 revival, feat. interviews with Eddie Redmayne and Gayle RankinHow a Broadway Theater was Remade Into a Queer Cabaret (interactive NYT article)Playbill interview with set and costume designer Tom Scutt, featuring costume sketches! Cabaret (2024) review in the LA TimesCabaret (2024) review in the New York TimesPrevious iconic Sally Bowles moments: Liza Minelli's "Mein Herr" and Jane Horrocks' "Cabaret"Biz's essay "2016, 2017"Find exclusive episodes here <3

In this week's episode, we don our polarized hippie glasses and go back in time to investigate the cultural legacy of the Grateful Dead and all that they represent: psychedelia, Pied Piper figures and their cult-like followings, cross-country motor travel, bootleg merchandising, musical improvisation, and more. We analyze the parallels between the infamous Summer of Love and the summer now upon us, with a special focus on the darksided undercurrents lurking through both. Links: Finding Authenticity in a T-Shirt – The New Yorker (on Online Ceramics) Owsley Stanley's website — The Bear StoryOwsley Stanley: The King of LSD – Rolling StoneThe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe, 1968 (full PDF!) Grateful Dead 2015 Chacos collabThe End of Merch – GQ Will the Grateful Dead Live Forever ... Through Merch? – BillboardA Guide to Grateful Dead IconographyHow Fashion Became Obsessed with the Grateful Dead – WSJ Why, in 2018, is Fashion Obsessed with the Grateful Dead Aesthetic? – FashionistaThe Disembodied Body of Marilyn Monroe – Wendy LesserFind exclusive episodes here <3

FULL EPISODE AVAILABLE ON PATREON***In the sophomore edition of our Study Break series, we check in on a few of our cultural prophesies: on the Silly Boy front, we analyze the rise of LEGO-man rap sensation Ian, and on the Alt-Print front, we assess the threat of Katy Perry's new Bushwickified era. We also announce Shiloh Jolie as our nepo baby top draft pick in light of her recent Afrobeat activities, discuss the Frutiger Aero undertones of J. Cole's "Grippy," mourn the disillusion of much-loved brands including Dion Lee, Mara Hoffman, and The Vampire's Wife. Links: Shiloh Jolie Pitt Dancing to AfrobeatNorth West for ERLThe Vampire's Wife Shuts DownMara Hoffman Shuts DownDion Lee Raises AlarmMarc Jacobs - Dear BulliesThe Curious Case of Underselling Arena ToursJ. Cole mixing "Grippy" by the sea

**FULL EPISODE AVAILABLE ON PATREON**In this very special episode of Nymphet Alumni, we discuss the media of manifesting, past and present. We talk digital dreams, grindset gurus, algorithmic wizardry, and so much more!Part of Lip Sync, a series programmed by Olivia Kan-Sperling that engages forms of speech and writing that invite us to merge seamlessly and intimately with language: where words are full of presence, and work just like magic.Originally Broadcasted on Montez Press Radio  on May 22, 2023Links:Hippie Teens on TikTokBaby Storme on TikTokInternet-related psychosis–a sign of the timesSymbols and Signs by Vladimir NabokovOprah’s Secret: New? Old? Good? Bad?Deception in Computer-Mediated CommunicationThe 12 Universal Laws and How to Practice ThemFAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT by Maya MannShannin Blake on TikTok

In this week's episode, we dive into the magical world of fragrance and its various online factions, from Fragrantica-posting girlbloggers to the designer cologne peddlers of the Manosphere. We discuss celebrity perfumes (including Bella Hadid's mystifying new alchemical elixir, Orebella), historical fragrance zeitgeists, the spectrum of accords from fantastical to hyperrealistic, the looming threat of edgelord aromatic stink bombs, perfume's associations with youth, sexuality, temporality, and language, and more.  Links: Orebella by Bella HadidGen Z Wants to Smell Rich. It's Driving Luxury Fragrance Sales – BloombergFantasy by Britney Spears CommercialAre We in a New Era of the Signature Scent? – Nylon@fragrantnerd on TikTokParadigm Issue 03, featuring Sweat by Paradigm (BTS on Instagram)The Granarchist Scent Revolution: Why "Old Lady" Fragrances are Booming – Suzy NightingaleFragrance Players Enjoy Double-Digit Growth, Driven By Demand For Premium Labels – ForbesBeauty & Wellness Briefing: Fragrance continues stunning growth across an increasingly bifurcated category – GlossySexy Fragrances That Drive Women Nuts – Kevin SamuelsJeremy Fragrance on YouTube@colognefortnite on Instagram, this reel specificallyTeen Boy Inexcusable Evil TikTok Reporting by Funmi MonetWhen Did Teen Boys Get a Nose for $300 Cologne? – New York Times (came out after we recorded lol) Post-Fragrantica Manifesto – Audrey Robinovitz for DirtEat Your Lipstick on SubstackFind exclusive episodes here <3

This week, we're excited to announce our new episode format, STUDY BREAK, in which we take a hiatus from our usual fact-finding and forecasting to discuss trending topics and events in our orbit (many requested by you, our listeners!). In the inaugural episode of this series, we discuss the miscellany of this year's Met Gala, The Hunger Games saga as perma-reference, the slay mama brainrot of Charli XCX's "360," the spectrum of psychosexuality from YZY Porn to Challengers, blokette Vogue employees, BBL Drizzy, and much, much more. Links:Met Gala Eat the Rich contentBlokette Vogue employeeCharli XCX – 360 (Official Video)Zendaya's Louboutin So KatesDoja Cat and Guram Gvasalia in NYC

Full episode available on Patreon <3In this episode, inspired by the widespread panic surrounding the Death of the Club, we assess the contemporary state of nightlife and the sartorial, musical, and social considerations of the Going Out experience. Drawing from our own fieldwork as well as numerous studies, we discuss bottle girls, pickup artists, natural wine bars, section mindfulness, the infamous events of the TikTok Rizz Party, and much more. TikTok Rizz Party (original)TTRP Lana editTTRP Sylvia Plath editThe Man Who Has Everything: Mark Fisher on Drake’s Nothing Was The Same Venkatesh Rao — The Gervais Principle Millennials vs Gen Z in the club on Reels (lol) Sizing Up The Nightlife: A Study on Status DistinctionWhy Gen Z Gave Up on Clubbing — The TelegraphGen Z and Nightlife Safety — Hunger MagazineGen Z Tell Us What They Think of Millennials’ Party Habits — VICE Boiler Room and Charli XCX Presents: PARTYGIRL

In this episode, the hosts are joined by our favorite fashion theorist and Rick Owens collector, Rian Phin, to analyze the recent rise of post-apocalyptic desert drip, inspired by the release of Dune 2. We discuss the different factions of Rick Owens wearers, the influence of Middle Eastern fashion, climate absurdism, exoskeletons, and hero worship in uncertain times. With the insight of our honored guest, we speculate on the battle for fashion futurism and the legacy of the Rick Owens house. Links: Image boardInterview with Dune costume designer Jacqueline West — Vogue Luca Maxim worldbuilding wikiLuca Maxim on TikTokCoperni Futurism — VogueRian Phin on YoutubeRian Phin on TwitterRian Phin on InstagramRian Phin on TikTok 

In this episode, we reflect on what we call the Loner Girl aesthetic, an eccentric style epitomized by the vulnerable yet spunky YA protagonistas of decades past, best accessorized with a messenger bag, sneaker flats, and a starry-eyed disposition. We reinvigorate the teen traumacore literary canon, including the works of John Green and Ellen Hopkins, and discuss its associated social phenomena, mental health themes, and expression through personal style. We also take stock of Manic Pixie Dream Girl discourse and discuss early-career Marc Jacobs, "Banal Eccentricity" at Prada, the forgotten appeal of eggplant purple, and our own personal thirteenth reasons ...Links: Image board Thirteen Reasons Why book cover stylingRelated aesthetics on CARI: Hipness Purgatory, Corporate GrungeWhen Miuccia Prada Invented Ugly Chic – NSS Mag (Prada S/S 1996)Marc Jacobs Fall 2005 RTWYour Fave is Problematic: John GreenThe Teen Whisperer (John Green 2014 New Yorker profile)Why John Green Likes Writing for Teenagers (2019 NYT interview) John Green and his Manic Pixie Dream Girls – LA Review of Books Mori-kei – Japanese Fashion Wiki Find exclusive episodes here <3

Full Episode Available on Patreon <3In this exclusive episode, we discuss a litany of misguided rebrand attempts, interrogating the dogwhistles of Gen Z bizarro cash-grab styling. Inspired by the ignominy of Camila Cabello's new "era," we unpack the major influences behind alternative rebrands, from Myspace celebrities to the visual identity of PC music. We investigate the authenticity crisis, the definition of hyperpop, being niche gay famous, the digital camera and camcorder renaissance, and more! Links: Image boardCamila Cabello for PAPER Magazine (came out after we recorded LOL)Call Me Back by James CharlesCharlotte Rutherford PhotographyTrisha Paytas shot by Alyssa KazewAyesha Erotica Twitter RantThe Media's Succession ObsessionTara Yummy's 1 Million Subs Party

In this episode, we conduct a meeting of the minds with brilliant wordsmith and beauty industry critic Jessica Defino. Together with Jessica, we embark on an impossible journey of cosmetic ethical dilemmas, unpacking the undulating discourses of makeup and skincare. Tune in as we ask questions that keep us up at night: are Sephora Tweens canaries in the coal mine of disintegrating self-esteem? Can the age of the multi-hyphenate sustain the explosion of celebrity beauty brands? Is self-actualization possible in a minefield of appearance optimization? Why is there such a thing as baby skincare? Read Jessica’s Work:Jessica’s WebsiteThe Unpublishable – SubstackAsk Ugly – The GuardianLinks:Sephora TweensISAMAYA 2016 Makeup Nostalgia Tarte Brand Trip Controversy  A Guide to Every Celebrity Beauty Brand