Second Life

For our second annual Who What Wear 100 Beauty Awards, Beauty Director Erin Jahns is joined by beauty editors Jamie Schneider, Kaitlyn McLintock, and Maya Thomas for a roundtable discussion about all of their favorite products. After spending months testing items from the buzziest new brands and the industry giants, the team has narrowed their top picks down to 100 items across haircare, skincare, makeup, bodycare, tools, nails, and fragrance. Warning: You may want to listen to this episode with your beauty retailer of choice’s website open for easy, add-to-cart access. The Who What Wear Beauty 100 story is live, so check out the full list here! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Katie Sturino is the founder of Megababe, the innovative beauty brand known for nontoxic, cult-favorite products like Thigh Rescue and Bust Dust. She's also a body-acceptance advocate with a highly engaged community of close to one million supporters across platforms. Sturino joined Hillary Kerr on Second Life back in 2020 to talk about her winding career path from PR to social media to beauty (listen to her first episode here), but we had to have her back on to discuss her most recent pivot to fiction writing. In this episode, Sturino shares why she decided to write her debut novel, Sunny Side Up, and gets refreshingly candid about the challenges of continuing to transform your career when everyone has feedback. She opens up about what it's like to work with a ghostwriter and where she hopes to take this creative endeavor moving forward. Of course, she also catches us up on the last five years of bootstrapped growth for Megababe and shares what's on the horizon for the business. Buy Sturino's new book, Sunny Side Up, here! (It's Hillary Kerr approved.) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ann Foley is the costume designer behind the grounded and detailed wardrobes of the hit show The Last of Us. In this episode, Foley (whose extensive career also includes work on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and She Hulk) sits down with Who What Wear Senior Fashion and Social Media Editor Tara Gonzalez to discuss the costume design process for The Last of Us season 2. Foley shares the journey of developing character-driven styles, the inspiration behind the apocalyptic fashion and how it reflected the different environments, and the subtle styling changes that marked character growth after a five-year time jump. She reveals the challenges of costuming an apocalyptic world, why The Last of Us is technically a period piece, the significance of specific items like Joel's jacket and Ellie's Converse, and the collaborative process with actors and showrunners that brought the characters to life. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action, a prominent grassroots organization fighting gun violence in the United States. She initially aspired to be an investigative journalist, and she earned a journalism degree but transitioned into a career in public relations, spending nearly two decades in corporate communications at companies like Anthem and GE Healthcare. After taking a step back from her career to become a stay-at-home mom, the Sandy Hook tragedy in 2012 spurred her into action, and she founded Moms Demand Action with a simple Facebook group. Leveraging her communications and branding expertise, she transformed the group into a powerful nationwide movement, now part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country, with nearly 11 million supporters. She has since been recognized as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People and a Forbes 50 Over 50 Changemaker. She’s also authored books including Fight Like a Mother and Fired Up. Buy Shannon’s new book here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Emilia Wickstead is a New Zealand–born, London-based fashion designer known for her refined yet playful approach to feminine dressing. Since launching in 2008, she’s evolved her namesake brand from a made-to-measure model to producing seasonal ready-to-wear collections, shown at London Fashion Week for the past 13 years, and expanded into bridalwear. In this episode, Wickstead joins Senior Fashion Editor Anna LaPlaca to discuss her early design influences, the trademarks of an Emilia Wickstead piece, and how she selects artistic muses for her cinematic collections. Wickstead also shares which pieces to shop from her pre-fall collection and details on her upcoming collaborations with the Palm Heights Hotel and Paperless Post. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jessica Malaty Rivera is an infectious disease epidemiologist and science communicator renowned for making complex public health information accessible, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. While initially premed at USC, she pivoted to studying health promotion and disease prevention, and worked in the nonprofit sector after college. She was later recruited to research emerging biological threats at Georgetown University and simultaneously decided to pursue a master’s degree there in biohazardous threat agents and emerging infectious diseases. While she’s always loved science, she began to realize that where she truly excelled was in “speaking science.” And the deeper Rivera got into infectious disease epidemiology—whether through work or academia—the more she realized how critical the communications aspect of science was to public health. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she joined The Atlantic to lend her expertise to the COVID Tracking Project to provide publicly available, comprehensive data on COVID-19 cases in real time. She then began using Instagram to explain and interpret global health news, unexpectedly gaining a large following for her easy-to-understand information. Over the past five years, she has grown her platform, launched a Substack, and is currently completing a Doctorate in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, all while remaining dedicated to science facts and public health literacy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kathleen Felix-Hager is the Emmy Award–winning costume designer behind the vibrant and evolving wardrobes of the hit show Hacks. Felix-Hager, whose extensive career also includes work on Veep and Dexter, sits down with Who What Wear Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen to delve into the sartorial world of Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels. In this episode, Felix-Hager shares the journey of developing distinct styles for each character, the inspiration behind Deborah's maximalist looks drawn from her own grandmother, and the thoughtful elevation of Ava's wardrobe through four seasons. She reveals the challenges of costuming a comedy, the evolution of Ava's infamous cropped pants, and the collaborative process with actors and showrunners that brings these characters to life. Shop our editor's eBay picks here! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anushka Salinas is the CEO of the parenting tech company Nanit. Salinas began her career as an assistant buyer at Lord & Taylor, discovering her love for fashion and business data. She then pursued her MBA and serendipitously met the founders of the groundbreaking clothing rental company Rent the Runway when it was still just an idea. She began working for the company as an unpaid intern during business school, and then, upon graduation, left a secure job offer behind to continue growing the business, eventually becoming Rent the Runway’s VP of merchandising. She went on to apply her e-commerce expertise to Hudson’s Bay and a start-up called Resonance before returning to Rent the Runway to run its subscription business, and then ultimately become its president. Then, in 2024, Salinas pivoted again to lead yet another groundbreaking company, this time in the parenting space. Salinas joined Nanit, a technology company revolutionizing baby monitors with AI insights, offering a data-driven approach to modern parenting. Under her leadership, Nanit continues to innovate and expand, becoming an essential tool for families navigating the joys and challenges of raising children. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christos Garkinos, the self-proclaimed "Robin Hood of fashion," joins Who What Wear Market Director Bobby Schuessler to unpack his winding career, from growing up working in his family's Greek restaurant to becoming a reality TV personality and pioneering the world of luxury resale. Garkinos grew up infatuated with the Home Shopping Network, and after stints at big corporations like Clorox and Disney, he began to forge his own path in the resale market. He opened a store, starred in Bravo's Dukes of Melrose, joined HSN as a host, and then ultimately found his niche selling his curated goods on Instagram Live during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, Garkinos discusses how he turned his pandemic project into Covet by Christos, an Instagram shopping network that now airs seven days a week. Plus, he shares which vintage items are trending and what brands are the most valuable to collect right now. Buy Christos’ book here! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Courtney Claghorn is the co-founder of Sugared + Bronzed, the nation’s largest sugaring and sunless tanning destination. Claghorn's journey began in 2010, out of her Santa Monica apartment, while juggling a full-time job in the fintech industry. After becoming dissatisfied with the high prices and underwhelming experiences of local spray tanning, she saw a gap in the market, and with just $1000 and encouragement from her then-boyfriend (now-husband and co-founder), she started offering her own services. Over the past 15 years, Sugared + Bronzed has grown exponentially, now boasting over 35 locations nationwide—with 10 more in the pipeline—as well as a thriving e-commerce business. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tom Broecker is the costume designer of the legendary NBC sketch show Saturday Night Live. Broecker, who has been with the show for over three decades, is responsible for the design and creation of all of the costumes for the show—sometimes creating up to 200 for just one episode. Today on the podcast, he joins Who What Wear Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer Hillary Kerr to discuss the intricate process of creating iconic character costumes under tight weekly deadlines. He shares behind-the-scenes stories about the show's 50th anniversary, the massive costume archive, and the blend of psychology and resourcefulness needed to dress characters from Bill Hader as Stefon to Bowen Yang as the iceberg that sank the Titanic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Angela Vranich is the co-founder and chief product officer of the baby-and-kids food brand Little Spoon. Angela jump-started her career while still in college by founding a nationwide organic food marketing company. After graduation, she got a job in television, producing culinary competition reality shows out of Philadelphia. But she quickly realized it wasn’t for her. After a cross-country move to be with her then-boyfriend (now husband and co-founder), who ran an organic foods distribution company, she began to think about what food categories on the market were due for a shake-up. She realized that the baby-food space had been dominated by the same single player for nearly 90 years—and set out to change that. The result is Little Spoon, launched in 2017, which offers fresh-cooked baby food made with organic ingredients. Little Spoon sold a million meals in its first year, and in the years since, it has expanded to include all types of meals for children up to 10 years old. Today, they’re the #1 online destination for kids' food and have delivered more than 35 million meals to families nationwide. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Prabal Gurung is a world-renowned Nepalese American fashion designer who established his eponymous label in 2009. In this episode, Gurung joins Senior Fashion and Social Media Editor Tara Gonzalez to discuss the origins of his brand—from his childhood in Nepal and India to becoming a prominent New York–based designer—and his newly published memoir, Walk Like a Girl (order a copy here!). He also shares insights into his design philosophy of “West meets East” rather than “East meets West,” his experience dressing notable figures like Michelle Obama and Sarah Jessica Parker, and the role that joy, resilience, and authenticity play in his work. Shop our editor's eBay picks here! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rosie Johnston is the founder of the clean fragrance line By Rosie Jane. Johnston originally trained as a makeup artist and began working in London, then moved to Los Angeles, where she continued to build her skills and clientele. In 2003, she founded Rosie Jane Cosmetics, which offered an ahead-of-its-time multipurpose lip and cheek pot. While the venture didn’t last, she realized she had a love and knack for making her own products. She then created her signature scent, wearing it to shoots, hoping that it would make her memorable to clients and help her to book more jobs. But when clients and friends began asking to purchase the scent, something clicked. She began producing larger quantities, and soon after, By Rosie Jane was born. Since launching in 2010, By Rosie Jane has expanded from one scent to seven. It's also formulated perfumes, perfume oils, and a suite of bodycare products. The brand is consistently one of Sephora’s top-selling fragrance brands, and last year reached $10 million in revenue, making it one of the most recognizable clean fragrance brands on the market today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Monday evening, just after the 2025 Met Gala arrivals wrapped up, Who What Wear Shopping Director Bobby Schuessler sat down with Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen and senior fashion and social media editor Tara Gonzalez to debrief on the most successful and creative interpretations of this year's theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. After a night full of touching homages and nuanced references, our editors are breaking down the impeccable storytelling told through fashion at the Met Gala this year. Plus, they discuss Diana Ross's triumphant return to the Met, Doechii's logo face stamp, and Colman Domingo's numerous flawless looks. Shop our editor's eBay picks here! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Styling duo Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald are some of the most exciting voices working in red carpet fashion today. They’re known for bold, experimental, and thoughtful looks that have repeatedly landed them on The Hollywood Reporter’s Power Stylists List. The pair, who originally met in Harlem and bonded over their love of fashion, have been working together for over a decade and have curated an incredible roster of clients—from Tessa Thompson to Jodie Turner-Smith to Regina King. In this special bonus episode, Who What Wear Vice President of Social MacKenzie Green sits down with them a week before this year’s Met Gala to discuss their personal connections to this year’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, and the impact of putting Black designers and style in the spotlight. Plus, we’ll get a sneak peek into their styling process with some of their nine clients who attended the Gala, including, of course, the Met Gala’s 2025 Co-Chair Colman Domingo. Shop our editor's picks here! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kristen Kish is a chef, restaurateur, author, and host of the hit Bravo cooking competition show Top Chef. She briefly studied international business in college before dropping out to pursue culinary school. After finishing her training, she worked several jobs in the restaurant industry in Chicago and Boston. In 2012, Kish was cast in—and won—the 10th season of the legendary culinary competition show Top Chef. Since then, she has opened the Austin-based restaurant Arlo Grey, released a cookbook, and founded a line of aperitifs. She also returned to the world of TV, becoming the host of several food shows, including 36 Hours and Restaurants at the End of the World. In 2024, Kish rejoined Top Chef for its 21st season as the new permanent host of the program. The newest season, Top Chef: Destination Canada, premiered in March 2025. This April, she released a memoir, Accidentally on Purpose, a frank, insightful look at her life and career thus far. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does it take to make it as an independent designer today? Is New York Fashion Week dead? This week, Who What Wear Associate Features Editor Ana Escalante breaks down her recent piece for our Spring Issue about the state of the fashion industry—and what it feels like to be an American fashion designer in 2025. She and Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen discuss why Ana wanted to explore this topic given the current sociopolitical climate, and what she learned from meeting with a half dozen American designers. Plus, Ana shares snippets from her interviews with Business of Fashion senior correspondent Sheena Butler-Young, as well the designers themselves, including Sergio Hudson, Jackson Wiederhoeft, and Allina Liu. They dive into their hopes and fears for the industry, the challenges they’re facing right now, and more. Shop our editor's picks here! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ariana Ferwerda and Kiley McKinnon are the co-founders of the women’s ski and activewear brand Halfdays. McKinnon is a former freestyle aerial skier who competed at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, and Ariana holds degrees in marketing and marketing research from Michigan State University. Despite their different professional backgrounds, when the two met in Denver in 2019, they commiserated over the lack of stylish, mid-range ski apparel options for women. They felt they could do better, and less than a year later, they launched Halfdays, a line of sleek women's skiwear made from nearly 100% recycled materials. Though it was originally a direct-to-consumer company, today, its products are sold in retailers like Nordstrom and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The brand has also expanded into hiking gear, athleisure, and more. Last year, it saw 86% year-on-year growth and triple-digit wholesale growth. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grace Na is the founder of Pistola, a Los Angeles–based womenswear and denim brand. Since its creation in 2013, Pistola has become a go-to destination for reasonably priced, trendy, high-quality denim styles—including a few viral hits, like the pink denim jumpsuit Greta Gerwig wore while directing the Barbie movie. This week, Grace joins Who What Wear Shopping Director Bobby Schuessler to discuss how she uses data to guide her design process, her best styling tips for different denim silhouettes, and her thoughts on modern skinny jeans. Shop our editor's picks here! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.