What is Quince and why is it everywhere? Who is running Albion Fit? Who buys clothes at Altar’d State? Why is Madewell so sad? This is an explainer episode, but it’s also a brands-feelings processing episode, because any time millennials try and talk about how J.Crew or Madewell has changed, they’re also talking about how their own feelings about fashion have changed. And no one understands the rhythms of brands quite like Caroline Moss, the host and curator of the Gee Thanks Just Bought It extended universe. Listen as we attempt to answer all of your WTF-is-going-on-with-this-brand questions and hold space, as it were, for all of you big brand feelings… and tell us what brand still mystifies you!

• Again plugging Caroline’s Instagram (the primary way I access Gee Thanks content) and her eternally useful newsletter. And then there are the thousands who swear by the FB Group!

• The latest episode of the Gee Thanks podcast is an interview with the founder of Miry’s Place (which we’re raising money for over at the Culture Study newsletter!) about the dynamics of Giving Tuesday and weird discourses around charity/giving — it’s excellent

• The Instagram account that catalogs classic J.Crew catalogs

• As promised, the Carhartt overalls I’ve had forever (not pictured: the Carhartt pants I’ve had since I was 20)

• WTF is going on with kids toys right now (you can take this in any direction)

• The rise of therapy speak, how therapy manifests on social media, etc

• The future of (downhill) skiing and livability of ski towns just generally

• The new Gladiator + Paul Mescal JUST GENERALLY

• Anything you need advice or want musings on for the AAA segment

• You can submit them (and ideas for future eps) here (this is the subscriber-only form!)