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Wake up shabby heads! To mark the return of flowering blooms and the internet’s reckoning with Magnolia Pearl, we’re drawing back the aged lace curtains on your mom’s favorite aesthetic: shabby chic! We investigate shabby chic’s Old World origins, its popularization by Portobello Road elite Rachel Ashwell, and its various contemporary forms — from TJ Maxx faux-distressed decor to New Orleans crust-twees. Plus, we reflect on Galliano’s homeless-inspired collection, stealth wealth and recessioncore, and Grimes sailing down the Mississippi in a DIY houseboat. Wishing you all a shabby chic summer!

Pinterest boardMagnolia Pearl Official WebsiteMagnolia Pearl Mom TikTok
Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic (1996)Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic TV episode on Roses (2000)
Liberties; Haute Homeless via The New York Times

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In this exclusive episode, we finally come forward about the events that took place on the evening of May 1st, 2023. This includes, but is not limited to, discussions of Kristen Stewart's tomboy excellence, Dua Lipa's beachy waves, Nicole Kidman's grunge sophistication, the menswear uprising, and our renouncement of theatre-kid antics. We also perform a wellness check on our beloved muse, Barry Keoghan, who has once again been sabotaged by his stylist.
See the looks here! 

For part one of our Met Gala special, we paint a psychosexual portrait of Karl Lagerfeld through an assemblage of fascinating anecdotes. We theorize on his self-emojification, the influence of his German heritage, his paraphilic idiosyncrasies, and his infamous rivalry with Yves Saint Laurent. We also present “fashioncore” as a framework for understanding Karl and Chanel and offer our pre-Gala predictions. 

Links:
Baroque and Bildung in the Creative Practice and Personal Style of Karl Lagerfeld by Michael A. Langkjær
Karl Lagerfeld didn’t have a signature design — but he invented a new kind of designer – The Washington Post
Karl Lagerfeld, a man possessed — by possessions | Financial Times
Anna Wintour Breaks Down 13 Karl Lagerfeld Chanel Looks – Vogue
Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent's Rivalry Changed Fashion Forever – W Mag
The Private Provocations of Karl Lagerfeld – W Mag
Supermodel Amber Valletta Breaks Down 15 Looks From 1993 to Now – Vogue
The Chiffon Trenches by André Leon Talley
The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris by Alicia Drake
The Cut: Who Even Was Karl Lagerfeld? on Apple Podcasts

This week, we dive head first into America’s most beloved national tradition: PROM!! We discuss the discreet charm of the bedazzled Sherri Hill prom dress, the tomfoolery of mid century teens, the history of Drake as prom chaperone, Chik Fil A themed promposals, and more! 

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Links:

Kate Upton, Will You Go To Prom With Me?
Good on Kate Upton for Not Going to Prom With a Nerd via The Cut 
NPR piece on prom send-offs
Coming of age at the High School dance via Fashion Institute of Technology
The History of Prom via Bustle

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In this episode, we narrow in on the latest trends in Latina fashion and collective nostalgia for Latinized aesthetics of the 2000s. We discuss Sofia Vergara's casual bombshell stylings, Alexa Demie's retro Chicana glam, the telenovela-esque narrative of Shakira's recent comeback, the dark temptation of buchonas, and much more.
Pinterest boardLinks: Televonola hair trend - 1, 2Rubí makeup trend - 1, 2, 3Cork wedges trend - 1, 2'Sofía Vergara, Hollywood’s Hysterical, Business-Savvy, Unapologetic Sex Symbol' Vanity Fair cover storyShakira's expose-rapBuchona - Emma Coronel, Jenny 69, Sandra Beltran
ALEXA DEMIE’S “YO VOY” LIP GLOSS VIDEO!!!!

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This week, we consider the lasting impact of Takashi Murakami's Superflat art movement on the chaotic visual landscape of the 21st century. The youthful funkiness of "Frutiger Metro," the punk orientalism of Tokidoki, and the dystopian cheekiness of Gorillaz all epitomize the hybridization of cultural symbols between East and West and the flattening of art and consumer culture. We reflect on the Y2K revival of Atompunk, nostalgia for the utopian promise of Microsoft Windows, and the importance of lime green in a girl’s bid for independence.

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Links:
Tokidoki: Cute and Sexy Fantasies between East and West 
Tragedy and the Superflat by Daniel Moldoveanu for Spike
What is Frutiger Aero? by Laura Holliday for Dazed
Superflat Pop via CARI InstituteFrank Ocean's Homer vs Kareem Rashid's DigipopHappy99NEW YORK - night n day album artTokidoki Character Guide
Tokidoki Healthy Besties Blindbox