Style

Weekend reading list: 2.20.26

02.20

1. INDUSTRY

This article about AI influencers was incredibly unsettling to read — not because brands are embracing them (most actually aren’t), but because they’re showing up anyway and there’s little platforms and brands can do to stop it! People are creating hyper-realistic versions of real creators and using them to push affiliate links, and in many cases the original person doesn’t even know it’s happening until a follower flags it. It made me think about how much trust the entire creator economy places in social media platforms, and how quickly that gets murky once content can exist without a human behind it! Coupled with the recent discovery that Instagram is stealing creators’ content to sell cheap knockoffs, I’m really questioning how I structure my business and what AI means for me.

2. BEAUTY

I was glad to see that after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Pat McGrath Labs has figured out a way to move forward! The company secured new funding and Pat is staying on as chief creative officer, so it’s really more of a financial reset than a disappearance. Bankruptcy has increasingly become a strategic tool for beauty brands to get a handle on finances and fulfill debts. Revlon, Avon, and r.e.m.’s parent company have all filed for Chapter 11 in the past few years and come out the other side! Proof that a brand can still be culturally influential, even while reorganizing behind the scenes.

3. CELEBRITY

This Rachel Zoe profile made me nostalgic for that era when stylists first became personalities in their own right…and she was really the blueprint! In the years since her show on Bravo, she’s been intentional about staying slightly behind the curtain, even while continuing to build a very public brand. Her return to reality TV as a cast member of Real Housewives actually feels like a full circle moment! It’s funny how someone whose job is quite literally to be behind-the-scenes ends up becoming “accidentally famous” (as she says). Her story is less a comeback story and more a reminder of how much the modern influencer/fashion ecosystem traces back to her approach of monetizing her taste!

4. FASHION

Did you notice the subtle ‘90s influence in some of last week’s NYFW shows? It’s a very specific minimalist style — think Carolyn Bessette Kennedy tailoring, square necklines, simple slip dresses — that sits between grunge and the early-2000s millennial vibe. It’s not necessarily nostalgic, but almost feels like a bit of a fashion reset? Honestly I’m into it. I appreciate clothes that look polished but not try-hard, and pieces that actually translate to real life! I have a feeling this is one of those trends we’ll see make its way into everyday wardrobes rather than staying exclusively on the runway!

5. FRIENDSHIP

This piece made me rethink the way we talk about honesty in friendships and relationships! We tend to treat “just being honest” as inherently virtuous, but the point here is that not every single thought actually needs to be shared! The argument isn’t to lie or avoid hard conversations, but to recognize that blurting out what you really think at all times just ends up transferring your feelings onto someone else. I liked the distinction between honesty and care: say what actually helps the relationship move forward rather than whatever happens to be true in the moment!

6. MOVIES

This was a fun read if you enjoy movie costume design! The new Wuthering Heights adaptation is apparently taking plenty of liberties with the story (I haven’t seen it yet but have heard lots of feedback), but also with the historical accuracy of the costumes. Instead of treating that as a mistake, the piece argues it’s a bold creative choice — using clothing to communicate mood and character more than strict historical accuracy of the time period. Sometimes the feeling matters more than the timeline! (And from what I’ve seen, the costumes really are works of art.)

+ What I’m Eyeing

NEW ARRIVALS FROM ANINE BING: TRENCH // IVORY SWEATER // LIGHT JEANS // BALLET FLATS // LEATHER SHORTS // BOOTS // SNEAKERS // DRAPED TOP // SUNGLASSES // OFF WHITE SWEATER // EARRINGS // BELT // BLAZER // DARK JEANS

TURQUOISE BEACH LOOK: BIKINI // COVER-UP // SUNGLASSES // NECKLACE // BAG // SANDALS

+ End of Week Extras

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