Nymphet Alumni

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

This week, we address the critical levels of silliness we've detected in today's culture, from the debut of Drake's adorable alter ego Anita Max Wynn to the rise of cute-forward hypewear. We theorize as to why silly ass white boys are suddenly doing dances in crews, rediscover the influence of mid-2000s ringtone rap, and canonize a new generation of digital Merry Pranksters, including Joeyy, the Laundry Day boys, Sexyy Red, and others. Links: Image boardThe birth of Anita Max WynnEvanDaGreat, Maxevasi0n, Laundry DayJerseyyJoe, Hugo Hilaire, That's My DawgZack Bia and Yeat getting sillyWhite guys dancing to afrobeatsChief Keef style on TikTok: one, two, three, four, five, six"Narcofashion" Polo trend in MexicoPlayboi Carti Is in His Hello Kitty Era on “EvilJ0rdan” – HypebeastAnonymous Club by Shayne Oliver Resort 2024 – Vogue RunwayCreature WorldBustaMove StoreKerwin Frost x McDonalds MerchTisaKorean silly merch also McDonalds Sprite song and Soulja Boy tribute? Dirty Decade: Rap Music and the U.S. South 1997–2007 – Matt Miller in Southern Spaces'Laffy Taffy': So Light, So Sugary, So Downloadable – New York Times, 2006Rondell Conway snap rap cover story for Vibe magazine, June 2006Hurrikane on TikTok, Y2K Dallas style in Brazil, Dallas boogie style (2009)  9 ways Soulja Boy revolutionized today's hip hop culture – RevoltNettspend on Know Your MemeTimothee Chalamet's digital footprintGlorb – The Bottom 2 (Official Music Video) (SpongeBob AI rap?) 

Full Episode Available on Patreon <3In search of the zeitgeist, we make our way out west to discover the spirit of Los Angeles and its enigmatic hold on our collective imagination. We analyze its patchwork urbanism, its thrilling eroticism, and its enduring associations with novelty, maximalism, and existential dread. From midcentury novelists to Y2K socialites to nouveau riche influencers of the 2010s, we draw upon a wealth of references to make sense of the city's cultural milieu and distinctive sartorial character. BONUS: Ky Newman of Emergency Intercom joins us as an expert witness to discuss the reality of the LA content creator lifestyle, the future of influencing, and the city's fashion landscape.  Links: [Subscribe on Patreon for full LA Bibliography Masterlist!!!]  Image boardEmergency Intercom Ky Newman on YouTubeKy Newman on Instagram

In this episode, we open up the yellow Kanken of history and unpack one of the most influential archetypes of the 2010s: the art hoe. We rediscover the work of the Art Hoe Collective, revisit the Tumblr art historical canon from Matisse's cutouts to Van Gogh's sunflowers, and trace the aesthetic's propagation through musicians like Mac Demarco and Tyler the Creator. We also discuss the forms in which art hoeism lives on today, from TikTok's indie teens to zillennial art world professionals.  Links:Image board Art Hoe Collective in the Dazed 100#Arthoe: the teens who kickstarted a feminist art movement – The GuardianAmandla Stenberg: Don't Cash Crop on my CornrowsRex Orange County - Loving is Easy [Official Video]Claud - Wish You Were Gay [Official Video]

This week, we investigate the recent destigmatization of theater kid energy and its resurgence in mass culture, from musical-movie adaptations to the irresistible charms of improv-trained comedians. We discuss the peak of the NBC fandom, the timelessness of "difficult" leading ladies, star factories such as SNL and NYU Tisch, the ineffability of theatrical sexuality, the rise of craft and tryhardism, and more.  Links:Image board Renee Rapp on Call Her DaddySNL 1975 (upcoming SNL movie)Ariana Grande - yes, and? (Official Music Video) Audio-Visual Cocktail Party by Steven Phillips-Horst for Spike Magazine (on late night shows) Paloma Diamond is Winning Awards Season – VulturePower Bottoms: The NYU classmates behind the year’s most delightfully dumb comedy – VultureNYU brainstorming sesh for BottomsTina Fey clip that came out after we recorded this episode?! Find exclusive episodes here <3

Full Episode Available on Patreon <3In this emergency roundtable, we drop everything to take a walk through the streets of Paris with John Galliano, discussing the viral Margiela show that brought on a fashioncore love surge the likes of which the world has seldom seen before. We talk about the broken down babydoll effect, the emerging field of cosmetic forensics, our love for steampunk, the body shop, fashion hunchbacks, merkinis, early career Adele, despair, theatricality, and more. We celebrate the termination of the "Year of the Girl," and herald the arrival of the "Year of the Lady" ... and the Tramp.  Links:Maison Margiela Spring 2024 Couture – Vogue RunwayMaison Margiela Artisanal Collection 2024 – Full Show on YouTubeMaison Margiela’s Couture Collection Will Go Down in Fashion History – Cathy Horyn for The CutOsman Ahmed's Instagram CaptionInterview with Luc Bruyère

To mog, or not to mog ... This week, we take a trip to the Mogwarts School of Profound Self-Improvement to check in on the next generation of looksmaxxers and their charismatic leader, Kareem Shami. We discuss key figures of the male beauty pantheon—male models Jordan Barrett, Chico Lachowski, and Sean O'Pry— and discover what they represent to young men today. We also dive into the dark history of looksmaxxing, from the Legend of Zyzz to the alleged crimes of orthotropic madman Dr. Mike Mew. Links:Image boardYoung Men Seek Answers to an Age-Old Question: How to Be Hot – New York Times Mogwarts Official WebsiteKareem Shami aka @syrianpsycho on TikTokInside Jordan Barrett And Fernando Casablancas’s Celebration Of Love In Ibiza – VogueDr. Mike Mew Tribunal – The GuardianMore Dr. Mew evidence – BBCMikhaila Peterson interview with Dr. Mike MewWeston A. Price research overview (see "Our Children" section) The Legend of Zyzz video essay"full looksmaxxing playist" on YouTubeFind exclusive episodes here <3

In our first episode of the new year, we discuss the infiltration of Mormon culture into the online mainstream, from the highly engaging TikToks of Nara Smith to the reign of the Stanley Cup and the alchemical innovations that fill them. Why are there so many Mormon influencers? Since when do Mormons have kind of cool style? How is Lucky Blue Smith eating so much every day? We dive into snarky subreddits, genealogical archives, and obscure theological sources to bring you the answers; Sam also introduces her Class to Crass spectrum to make sense of Mormon content.  Links: Image boardNara Smith on TikTokTaylor Frankie Paul on TikTokWhy So Many of Your Favorite Beauty Personalities Are Mormon – AllureInfluencer culture and LDS theology – The Christian CenturyPolygamy Chic TumblrFLDS Hair TutorialPolygamist Hair – Huffington PostEx-Mormon SubredditIdentify pioneer principles, apply them in modern times – LDS Church NewsPioneer Principles: Your Heritage – Latter-Day SopranoMormon history in the pioneer age: the mob assassination of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Wars, Brigham Young's wagon trainMormonism and the color white – LDSLivingThe Granite Mountain Records Vault in Salt Lake CityBuilding Mormonism: History and Controversy in the Architecture of the Latter-day Saints – Art in AmericaMormonism, Empathy, and Aesthetics – Beholding the BodyToward a Mormon Aesthetic – Brigham Young UniversityRational Faiths: Keeping Mormonism Weird

Full Episode Available on Patreon <3Welcome to the Nymphies! In this inaugural ceremony, we honor 2023's greatest achievements in fashion and culture with awards from us at the Nymphet Alumni Academy of Arts and Sciences, including categories such as Biggest Fashion Faux Pas, Most Camp, and Best "Core," and culminating in the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. We offer exclusive access to our careful deliberation process, which features extended discussions of Chris Pine's street style, tooth gems, eco-terrorism, Keith Lee, and more.

This week, we investigate the emergence of TikTok Shop, exploring its bizarre interface and offerings as representative of a new era of e-commerce and consumer psychology. We discuss the redefinition of the “small business,” the vulgarity of commerce as content, and strategies of pathological guerilla marketing. We also take a stroll through the Shop ourselves to observe the “gyatt pajamas,” chamoy pickle kits, and pheromone oils that are sweeping the nation. TikTok’s official Shop press releaseTikTok Shop in the New York TimesChamoy pickle kit explainerDr. Candice Lin on Zheng XiangxiangFV Makeup foundation videosChina Too Cool: Vernacular Innovations and Aesthetic Discontinuity of China – Yijing ZhouUX in China: More Is More, Super Apps, and Community - Yuan Qing Lim (Config 2022)Livestream Shopping Is Not Going to Take Over E-Commerce – ForbesTwitter as a Payment Processor – Financial TimesIndonesia’s TikTok Shop Ban – Financial TimesTeens Selling on TikTok Shop – NBC, Financial TimesTikTok Shop’s Snail Mucin Dupe Problem – Wired 

Ho ho ho!! We Three Queens arrive to you with our hearts full of cheer and our sleigh stocked with the greatest gift of all … knowledge!! In our very first Christmas special, we discuss the visual language of the holiday season, from the scourge of minimalist Christmas decor to the history of department store spectacles. Joined by ghosts of Christmas Past, including the original Coca-Cola-sanctioned Santa Claus, Thomas Kinkade, and Jack Skellington, we also make our predictions for theoretical Christmas aesthetics to come. Image boardKim Kardashian’s Minimalist Christmas DecorMinimalist Nativity SetsThomas Kinkade’s Christmas ArtJoan Didion on Thomas KinkadeA History of the Department Store – BBCHistory of Christmas CatalogsSanta’s New York Roots – NYPLChristmas Drawings for the Human Race (1890) – Thomas NastHaddon Sundblom and the Coca-Cola SantasWhy Hollywood films, Christmas music and jazz are so intertwined – Jazz FMBrenda Lee’s Comeback – New York TimesVogue’s Christmas Archive

Subscribe to our Patreon for the full episode <3This week, we snap into our intellectual spring-lock suits and analyze the phenomenon of creepycore internet media, discussing digital horrors that have us shaking in our boots. Tune in to hear how FNAF falls into the tradition of Victorian storytelling, what creepypastas tell us about the participation gap, how iceberg-style consumption has changed the media landscape, and more!  Links:“The Troubles of the Automaton” by Clementine BlackThe Participation GapCreepypasta Wiki The Laws of Lorecore by Shumar BasarKid’s Stuff in Contemporary HorrorThe Uncanny Valley by Marisho MoriPerpetual Mismatch TheoryConfigural Processing TheoryUncanny Valley Makeup TrendSerbian Dancing Lady TrendOpposite Features Makeup TikTok

In this episode, we expand on the edgy, high-octane aesthetic of the Harley Davidson Harlot. From the checkerboard-and-flames motif of the 2010s to the 2020 revival of Diesel under Glenn Martens to Kylie Jenner's new clothing venture Khy, we chronicle fashion's obsession with all things moto-inspired ... and evaluate the dystopian implications of this petrochemical path. On this journey, we encounter Che Guevera and Julia Fox, uniform fetishism, the BP oil spill, Global South cyberpunk, and much more. Links:Image boardKhy by Kylie JennerBetsy Johnson's Khy callout postsMotorbike culture in the Global South: Vietnam, Brazil, KenyaThe Importance of the African Motorcycle in ArtKim Kardashian in Chrome Hearts How Glenn Martens Saved Diesel from its Midlife CrisisDiesel's Daily African print campaign (2001)An Incomplete History of the Akira Bike SlideApple's Mother Nature report starring Octavia SpencerAzealia Banks' Yeezy Modular Survival KitPrix WorkshopFind exclusive episodes here <3

In the second installment of this two-part episode special, we set about the path of high cotton heaven, tracing the waves of country influence upon the modern. We discuss Bella Hadid’s rough-handed cow-beau, Gram Parsons' trustafarian tragedy, the poetics of agricultural science, Lucchesse’s Sufjan Stevens moment, and more! Plus: we expand our red-dirt horizons with the help of two world-renowned country music experts, Kevin Fontenot and Caroline Gnagy, wrapping up the episode with a special dispatch from the Texas Overture HQ. Listen to our playlist here <3Extended interview with Kevin and Caroline is available on our Patreon <3Image Board Links:Texas Overture Caroline Gnagy’s WebsiteGoin’ Hillbilly Nuts: Fashion Culture and Visual Style in Country Music by Caroline Gnagy (are.na link)Louisiana Women by Kevin FontenotAccordions, Fiddles, Two Step & Swing: A Cajun Music Reader by Kevin FontenotDon’t Get Above Your Raisin’ by Bill C. MaloneHow the West Was Worn by Holly George WarrenThe Mind of the South by WJ CashThe Battle for the Heart of the Great American Nudie Suit | GQFFA Tik TokPoor Little Rich Boy - Chicago ReaderJody Rosen on the Rise of Bro Country

Subscribe to our Patreon to hear the full episode <3Howdy, listeners! In the first installment of this two-part episode special, we three Southern belles brace ourselves for the incoming wave of country music revival. From Tyler Childers to Jelly Roll, and Lana Del Rey to Morgan Wallen, we track the aesthetic inclinations of Southern living in the post-bro country era. We talk Tik Tok cowboys, buttered biscuits, nudie suits, cosmic cowgirls, Nashville bridal showers, and more!Links:Image BoardLana Del Rey Waffle House ShenanigansCosmic Cowboy HistoryLinedance to S&MChreesh Cowboy DanceNudie Cohn

In this week's episode, we ring in the upcoming Thanksgiving season and its assorted fashion implications, from the domestic humiliation of living room glam to the mercantile hysteria of Black Friday shopping. Does the donning of brown leather subliminally evoke the turkey and/or football? How does Thanksgiving day become a social minefield of gendered and generational tensions? We also reflect on the visual monoculture of Thanksgiving Americana— Charlie Brown, Norman Rockwell, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade— and the genealogy of the boot known as the "Pilgrim Stepper." Links:Image boardThe Pilgrim Stepper memeIconic Macy's Thansgiving Parade momentsMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade wiki Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamationEli Roth's Thanksgiving trailer (2023)Eli Roth's fake Thanksgiving trailer (2017) Pilgrim style on the runway – VogueFind exclusive episodes here <3

This week, we’re joined by fitness expert and Flexin’ Texan Sarah Herse! We discuss the worlds of fitness influencing and bodybuilding, getting strong as a means of embodiment and developing agency, and the evolution of the fitness market from the yoga pants armageddon of the 2010s to today’s athleisure landscape and the extreme visual language of pre-workout and protein products. Plus, we discuss Jack Antonoff’s jock theory, the complexities of being a woman in fitness, and Sarah tells us about her own journey from NYU student/peak-indie sleaze American Apparel employee to pro-bodybuilder, powerlifter and crossfitter!Download the Sarah Herse app: https://my.playbookapp.io/sarah-herseFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahherse/?hl=en Links:“Against Ordinary Language: The Language of the Body” Kathy Acker"Against Exercise" by Mark Greif “Body Work” by Barbara Ehrenrich “The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding” by Arnold Schwarzenegger Jack Antonoff by Shaad D'Souza for The FaceListen to exclusive episodes here <3