Second Life

Bo Shepherd is a designer, author, and co-founder of Woodward Throwbacks, a Detroit-based reclamation and design brand. She got her start as an interior designer for GM’s Chevy product line, working on door design for cars like the Chevy Bolt. During her time at GM, she also got to know the city of Detroit and began exploring the world of salvaged materials and furniture with her partner Kyle Dubay. After several years at GM, Bo took the plunge and left her job to work on this new project, dubbed Woodward Throwbacks, after one of the main streets in Detroit. She and Kyle began producing home décor and furnishings from reclaimed materials found around Detroit and developed an interior design business. She’s also written a book, renovated several properties, and expanded Woodward’s product offerings, all highlighting her own creativity and Detroit’s creative spirit.

Alexis Novak is the founder of the celebrity-adored vintage studio Tab Vintage. Novak founded Tab in 2019, and since her first foray into sourcing an impossible-to-get Jean Paul Gaultier piece, she's built the brand into one of the most sought-after destinations for luxury vintage and archival pieces. Today, Novak works closely with some of the top stylists and celebrities in the world. She recently sourced pieces for Emily Ratajkowski's Met Gala looks and Alex Cooper's wedding! Novak's passion for sourcing, restoring, and sharing the history of every one of her unique finds is palpable. This week, Novak joins us to discuss her FBI-level techniques for sourcing rare pieces, her new appointment-only showroom in L.A., and why glamour is back.

Seema Bansal Chadha is the co-founder of the luxury floral brand Venus et Fleur. Born and raised in Vancouver, Bansal Chadha spent her formative years learning the business at her father’s lighting and plumbing fixtures store. In 2015, after a fateful meeting with her now husband, she used her experience in sales, marketing, and customer development to create Venus et Fleur. Initially, the couple aimed to start a reliable luxury floral business that could prevent what had happened to them on their first Valentine’s Day: a botched flower delivery. The two innovated even further by developing a unique and instantly popular way to preserve roses for up to a year. Since then, Venus et Fleur has exploded in popularity and has become a favorite of celebrities like Khloé and Kourtney Kardashian. Bansal Chadha has guided the brand through massive growth and expansion into new flowers and product categories, positioning Venus et Fleur as the most innovative and buzzy floral brand on the market.

You can rest assured that Lauren Sherman is always going to get the full story. The journalist and author of the popular Puck Media fashion newsletter, Line Sheet, has spent years crafting detailed, thoughtful stories about the business of fashion. The result? She is now one of the most trusted, respected voices in fashion journalism. From following the movements of designers to their next fashion house to familiarizing the public with the players of the biggest luxury goods conglomerates in the world, Lauren demystifies and investigates the fashion world in a fun and engaging way. She is also the co-author of an upcoming book about Victoria’s Secret titled, Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon, and hosts a podcast called Fashion People. This week, Lauren joins us to discuss her reporting process and whether the time is still right for there to be a Victoria’s Secret fashion show.

Zanna Roberts Rassi is a fashion journalist, a television host and producer, and the co-founder of Milk Makeup. She cut her teeth in the beauty industry in London, working at magazines such as Glamour and Marie Claire UK before becoming a fashion editor at Marie Claire US. In 2013, Roberts Rassi took a leap, bringing the skills she learned in fashion media to the red carpet. As a style correspondent for E!, she infused red carpet journalism with her telltale fashion know-how, adding a level of gravitas that viewers loved. In 2016, she again branched into something new, co-founding the effortlessly cool makeup brand Milk Makeup. In 2024, she was named Today’s style correspondent, and this summer, she will be taking Today to the Paris Olympics, using her stellar fashion journalism skills to tell stories about France’s storied fashion houses.

We have a special bonus episode for you today! In honor of Lilly Pulitzer's 65th anniversary, Who What Wear joined the Lilly team for a live podcast event. Senior editor Anna LaPlaca and editor Jasmine Fox-Suliaman host this live conversation, tracing the origins of the brand back to its unlikely beginnings as a juice stand. Lilly Pulitzer—both the free-spirited founder and the iconic heritage brand—share an enthralling history you won't want to miss. Of course, our editors also discuss how they'd style their favorite pieces from the current collection. 

Henrietta Rix is the co-founder of the womenswear brand Rixo. Founded in 2015, it has quickly become a favorite for its gorgeous prints, timeless silhouettes, high-quality silk, and non-designer price tags. But beyond the brand’s stunning dresses, Rix and Co-Founder Orlagh McCloskey have worked to develop Rixo as a company with a unique perspective on fashion and vintage. To that end, they’ve opened up a flagship store on King’s Road in London that contains a coffee shop, bar, bridal boutique, tailoring bar, and rental collection. To align with the brand’s aim to produce “future vintage” pieces, it also tracks several sustainability goals to lower its impact on the environment. Henrietta is here to discuss the origins of Rixo’s signature prints and what it takes to grow a brand without outside investment. Plus, hear what her favorite pieces for summer are.

Gaby Dalkin is widely known as one of the original food bloggers, but before she was running What’s Gaby Cooking, she began her career in fashion PR. But when the economy crashed in 2008, she lost her job and decided to enroll in culinary school. From that moment, her food career snowballed: On the same day she started classes, she also began cataloging her journey on her now-famous blog called What’s Gaby Cooking, and only a few weeks into school, she booked a job as a personal chef. She spent the next few years honing her culinary and pastry skills, working as a private chef for celebs like Jessica Simpson, mastering food styling, and building her growing blog. Then, in 2013, she received her first book deal and leaped into working on What’s Gaby Cooking full-time. Today, her blog remains wildly popular. She also has her own spice-blend company, Dalkin & Co, and has written five books, the newest of which, What’s Gaby Cooking: Grilling All the Things, just came out on May 21.

Link to Order: https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/whats-gaby-cooking-grilling-all-the-things

The Who What Wear editors have been hard at work for months, testing hundreds of beauty products and tools so that you don't have to! This week, Beauty Director Erin Jahns is back on the pod to share the team's findings across the hair, skin, makeup, body, tool, nail, and fragrance categories. From trusty standbys you can find at the drugstore to trendy newcomers that actually live up to the hype, there's something on this list for everyone. The Who What Wear Beauty 100 edit is now live, so make sure you also check out the full list of our 100 favorite products at the link below.

https://www.whowhatwear.com/beauty/who-what-wear-100-beauty-awards-2024

After spending over 10 years working together at Lululemon, Laura Low Ah Kee and Shannon Savage embarked on their own entrepreneurial journey when they launched their premium athletic swimwear line, Left on Friday. During their tenure at Lululemon, Laura and Shannon bonded over their love of the beach and frustration regarding the lack of high-performance, stylish swimsuits. They realized that with Laura’s merchandising knowledge and Shannon’s design eye, they were uniquely poised to disrupt the swimwear space, and in 2018, they did just that. Today, Left on Friday boasts a wide array of swimwear styles and the opportunity to provide the uniforms for the Canadian National Women’s Beach Volleyball team for the 2024 Summer Olympics.