← Let's Get Dressed
Let's Get Dressed
From The Archives: Morgan Riddle On Tennis Courtside Fashion, Planning Outfits On Tour, And Her Favorite Stores Around The World
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- [00:00]
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- [00:30]
Liv Perez
Go to Wix.com hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of let's Get Dressed. It's your host, Lib Perez. I am currently on a much deserved summer holiday, but don't worry, I'm not leaving you guys hanging. Some of the best fashion lives in the archives and the same goes for podcasts. So over the next few weeks I'll be re airing some of my favorite past episodes and I hope you guys enjoy. Hi guys, welcome back to another episode of let's Get Dressed. It's your host, Liv Perez. For all of my tennis fans, challengers, obsessives, or maybe like Wimbledon with Kirsten Dunn's deep Cut fans, today's episode is definitely for you because we are joined by the one and only Morgan Riddle. In just a few short years, Morgan has become a household name in tennis and a courtside style icon. Since joining her boyfriend, tennis star Taylor Fritz, on tour, she's built a platform sharing their unique journey through the tennis world. From behind the scenes of the US Open, where she wore Thom Browne by the way, to spectator style at Wimbledon, Morgan has been giving us an inside look with a very fresh perspective on both tennis and fashion. In today's episode, I got to sit down with the recently crowned most famous woman in men's tennis to discuss her passion for the sport, her vision for fashion's evolving role in tennis, and some of her favorite shopping destinations around the globe. Since she's literally on the road 30 weeks out of the year, I loved getting to chat with Morgan. I know you guys will love this conversation too. In case you want to watch the episode, it's available now on YouTube. You can head to YouTube.com IVPerez with two Vs per usual. Now let's go get dressed with Morgan Riddle. Thanks for coming on the show. So excited to have you here.
- [02:11]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, me too.
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Liv Perez
I always really appreciate when people get dressed up for the pod.
- [02:15]
Morgan Riddle
Well, yeah, I was like, okay, it's a fashion show. I should probably, I should probably not dress up as a scrub today.
- [02:20]
Liv Perez
You'd be surprised Some people don't really catch that memo. Walk me through this outfit. This is fab.
- [02:25]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, it's a little, like, school girl esque. I don't know. I was trying to find something fall related, but it's still so. It's like 80 degrees in LA today and I'm like, I want to dress for fall, but I can't quite, you know, put on the jackets, put on the big sweaters yet. So this is my LA fall version.
- [02:41]
Liv Perez
It's so cute. I love the. The socks over the tights.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah, I started doing that last year. I feel like I saw it all over Pinterest. And so I've got a little monochrome foot look and little cardigan. I think this is from Aritzia, but it's very cozy bag.
- [02:56]
Liv Perez
Aritzia fan. I know, I'm obsessed.
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Morgan Riddle
This is so good. It really is. I can't even let myself go to the store in the mall anymore because I will just walk out with bags and bags.
- [03:05]
Liv Perez
I will not step foot there.
- [03:06]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, their ball stuff is really cute right now, too.
- [03:08]
Liv Perez
I wish you didn't tell me that. It's really cut nails match your shoes perfectly.
- [03:12]
Morgan Riddle
Like, what's going on here in the bag? I'm very coordinating today. Yeah, I was trying to find a fall nail color. I have this sort of maroon, reddish maroon, which I haven't done before.
- [03:21]
Liv Perez
Are those gels?
- [03:22]
Morgan Riddle
These are hard gels. This is my natural nail, actually. There's no extension or anything. I started doing Russian manicures maybe a year ago and it changed my life.
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Liv Perez
Okay. So there's a lot of controversy around Russian manicure. I do them too. I'm obsessed with them.
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Morgan Riddle
They're so good.
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Liv Perez
My nails grow so long. I actually had to ask her to, like, do that. Like, this is so nubby for me. Usually they're like yours.
- [03:42]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
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Liv Perez
What do you think?
- [03:44]
Morgan Riddle
I think they're great. My one issue with it is that it takes so long. Like, it really is a two to three hour appointment. I have to go in with my. My Netflix loaded up or something to just pass the time. But they're so diligent with the cuticle and everything. And then I think the. The set that I had before this because I was traveling and I refused to go get my nails done anywhere else. I go to Minx in Beverly Hills and they're great. I won't go anywhere else because I'm scared about them, you know? You know when they're, like, drilling it and they, like, nip your nail? I'm so Sensitive.
- [04:12]
Liv Perez
All that. I hate.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah, but they're so gentle. And so I was like, I'm not gonna go. Whatever. I think I pushed it to, like, six weeks. So when I was at Paris Fashion Week, my nails were so grown out, and I was like, no close up shots of the hands.
- [04:23]
Liv Perez
It feels heavy when they're grown out. I will say that, like, when they're at, like, six weeks, which usually I try to do it every four weeks.
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Morgan Riddle
I was pushing it.
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Liv Perez
It hurts kind of like if anyone touches my nails, I'm like, ugh, you.
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Morgan Riddle
Can'T type if you like nothing. Slam your fingers into something. It's so painful. Nothing. I could not go anywhere else.
- [04:39]
Liv Perez
I think that actually, like, the drilling of the cuticle is what makes it controversial. People are like, it's not good for your nails. You're not supposed to, like, drill the cuticle that back.
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Morgan Riddle
Oh, interesting.
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Liv Perez
I'm.
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Morgan Riddle
I think it's been great.
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Liv Perez
I think it's been fun.
- [04:52]
Morgan Riddle
I was doing the Japanese gel X before, but, you know, those are extensions on your nails. And I felt like my nails were getting really thin from it, even though they market it as being really healthy. So. So I was like, okay, I'll try the. The Russian manicure. And it's been so great.
- [05:05]
Liv Perez
So much better.
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Morgan Riddle
I'm like. I listened to people post about it for years, and I never bit the bullet on it, and now I'm so glad that I did.
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Liv Perez
Well, I like that they last a month, and you and I, like, are always on the go. Like, you're traveling all the time.
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Morgan Riddle
Goes on every two weeks. Because in, like, different countries, like, they won't. You know, it's. Yeah, it's difficult.
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Liv Perez
Absolutely not. Also, what is this red bag?
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Morgan Riddle
This is coach.
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Liv Perez
Everyone is obsessed with these coach bags right now. I'm seeing them everywhere.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah, they're so good. Well, I just was obsessed with the Runway that they did for fall last year with all the bag charms. They would double up. Like, the huge bag with the mini bag on top of it. I thought they just styled it so well and, like, really made a comeback. And they make great bags. And, you know, they're sort of at that mid price point where it's not. You're not dropping $4,000 on a bag, but you can have a really, like, great tote or work tote. This has been kind of my go to fall bag, like, little maroon color. And then I wore them at U.S. open this year, and they have these little New York specific charms. So I got a big taxi cab Charm and put it on my navy bag. And it was kind of a little ode to the city for the tournament.
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Liv Perez
I've been seeing the, like, bag layering everywhere and I feel like. I don't know who started it, maybe they did, but I was at the Hermes show in Paris and. So extreme. But I saw girls, like, with a big Birkin layered with like a smaller one and a smaller keychain on top. I just feel like we're in the era of like the Russian dolling of bags. Yeah.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah. No, it's so cute. I think I. Yeah, it was either like, either Miu Miu or Coach, I think were probably the og at least that's what really sort of blew up that bag layering. You know, Miu Miu has that little teeny tiny ones that you can like, hook on tears. And I'm a big fan of it.
- [06:46]
Liv Perez
I don't know, I'm kind of. I can't do the small bags anymore. Like the shape that you have, which is like a perfect kind of like hobo over the shoulder bag. I just have too much to do in a day. And like, I like to have a bag where, like, I have an external charger. I have all the makeup I could need for a touch up. Like, I want something that can carry for my day. I have one mini bag. It's like a Fendi from forever ago. And it fits around my wrist and it fits. Maybe a lip gloss.
- [07:08]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, I can't do that if it doesn't fit my phone. That's an absolute no. But now, Well, I do YouTube too, so I always have my. My vlog camera with me and I have. It's called a Sony EV10 and it's a. It's a decent sized camera and I always have a big lens on it. So now I only allow myself to buy what I call my Mary Poppins bags where I can fit everything in it.
- [07:28]
Liv Perez
Yeah, I'm kind of glad that era is over.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
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Liv Perez
I just need more things. It's cute as a charm now. We can use it as that. I am always curious, especially, like, seeing what you're wearing now, how you got dressed this morning. Like, did you walk into your closet and you were like, I want to start with that red bag?
- [07:43]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
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Liv Perez
Or was it like a feeling? Like, how do you start?
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Morgan Riddle
Well, this morning specifically, I am a big Pinterest girly. So I have a board on Pinterest called like fall outfits or something. And I'll just scroll through that and try to find inspo of like, layering and stuff. So I saw one that was a little sort of pleated skirt and a cardigan. I was like, oh, that's cute. And then I kind of just replicate it in a different way. So that's. Usually. I get a lot of Inspo from Pinterest, and I. I'm at the point where, unfortunately, I have so many clothes, and I'm sure you can understand this, that I get really severe sort of decision fatigue about what I'm gonna wear. Cause there's just, like, an overwhelm of options. So usually I'll find some inspo on Pinterest and then be like, okay, I definitely have something similar to that, and that's how I kind of put together my looks.
- [08:31]
Liv Perez
So Pinterest is a very rare breed. I've had so many episodes and asked so many different women how they get dressed every day, and there's only a few who still say that they're really using Pinterest. And I want to know, because I love Pinterest, I have not been able to, like, have it be my center point. I think I'm still looking on Instagram, but what I really like about Pinterest is it's not so current. Whereas, like, I feel like if you're on Instagram and you're looking for inspiration, you're looking through, like, a lot of, like, current trends and what people are wearing right now. Whereas with Pinterest, I feel like there's a bit of, like, vintage inspiration. Pool's a bit bigger, in my opinion.
- [09:06]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, a lot of my boards have, like, like Ralph Lauren, 90s ads, that sort of thing. So you can. Yeah, there's so much. I mean, Instagram is very current. So that's where, you know, if you want a super trendy outfit, of course, go on your Explore page there. But, yeah, Pinterest, you can find, like, archival looks, Runway old ads from, like, the 80s and 90s are one of my favorite places to kind of look for inspo.
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Liv Perez
So how do you start? Do you just go in there and say, like, preppy outfit, or, like, what are the keywords that you're searching to be able to expand on your Pinterest board?
- [09:35]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, I think. Well, for this board specifically, I just type in, like, fall outfit, or if I have a certain piece that I want to wear. Like, for example, I just bought these, like, kind of sheer baby blue tights. Cute and. Yeah, super cute. And I'm like, I don't know how to put an outfit with this. So then I just type in, like, baby blue. Tight outfit and then it'll give me a bunch of options or like colored tight outfits. And then I'll find one that has like pink tights and see how this girl styled that and kind of pull inspo from that. So it's really helpful if you have a piece that you're super excited and you're like, I don't really know how to style this in the right way. You just type it in and so many options will come up.
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Liv Perez
Okay. That's a really brave style of dressing because usually you have people who are like, I will see an, like an image and I'll get inspiration from it and be like, okay, I want a red bag. I'm going to go get that red bag. But you are buying the blue type before you even see the inspiration. So you're like, oh, I can do that. I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I'll figure it out.
- [10:27]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah. It's also really helpful. A lot of times if, if I buy a piece like that, like a baby blue tights or I just bought this, like, cow. Cow print jacket, and when I purchase it, I take a screenshot of the model in like, the image where I bought it from. Because I feel like a lot of times I buy pieces and then I have it and I'm like, oh, I'm not like, why did I buy this? I'm not sure how I even would style this. But if I have that image saved from when I purchased it and how the model styled it on the website, then I sort of remind myself like, oh, yeah, that's why I bought it.
- [10:56]
Liv Perez
That's smart.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
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Liv Perez
That's a good way of like indexing.
- [10:59]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
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Liv Perez
What's in your closet? You were just saying that, like, your closet. You have so much going on in there. Like, yes. How are you? I mean, how is it organized?
- [11:09]
Morgan Riddle
I'm very type A. Everything's color coded. You know, the jeans are hung up in the TikTok jean hack with the baby hangers. So I keep it. You know, it's organized chaos for sure. It's just, you know, when we work in this sort of position, you get so much PR and you get so much gifting and, you know, you're buying clothes for certain events and that sort of thing. So I need to do a deep, cheap closet clean out.
- [11:29]
Liv Perez
Best thing in the world. I'm overly passionate about a closet clean out.
- [11:33]
Morgan Riddle
I need to do it so desperately. It's just because I travel so much. When I'm home, I'm like, oh, you.
- [11:38]
Liv Perez
Don'T want to touch it.
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Morgan Riddle
Last thing that I want to do.
- [11:40]
Liv Perez
Right now, I'm sure. Because when you get home from a trip after you've unpacked, you're like, I don't want to touch anything. Like, don't touch it.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
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Liv Perez
So what's your ethos, then, when you're getting dressed for a tennis match?
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Morgan Riddle
Oh, so I've always been someone who likes to dress up. I was the girl in high school who wore, like, heels and booties to, you know, my little suburban high school in Minnes. So when I started traveling on the tour, it wasn't really, like, common for partners to dress up in the way that I think a lot do now for matches. But it was just after Covid, I hadn't really had a reason to. No one had really had a reason to dress up in anything besides loungewear, sweats and stuff. Except I was going to these matches, and I was like, oh, finally I get to dress up for something. Because we'd been in lockdown for so long. And so, yeah, I just started, you know, wearing my usual. I like dresses and skirts. And it's really fun because we travel to so many different places that have so many different styles. So the way that I dress for a tournament in Australia is really different than the way I'll dress for a match in Japan or in Paris or something. And it's really fun to kind of, you know, look at the places that I'm going to and kind of base my outfits around, you know, what the vibe of the city is or what the vibe of the tournament is.
- [12:54]
Liv Perez
I mean, shout out to the girls who overdressed when they were younger, because that was me.
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Morgan Riddle
Character.
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Liv Perez
It really does build character, because you would think people would be like, oh, you look so great. But people would always be like, why are you dressed like that?
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah, it was terrible. Why aren't you?
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Liv Perez
Yeah, no, it's literally like, why aren't you? I would always get like, oh, those earrings are a little crazy. Or, like, you're wearing those shoes. Like. And I now, to this day, anytime someone says to me, like, oh, I feel a little overdressed, I'm like, that's.
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Morgan Riddle
A social construct created by people who want you to fail and want to.
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Liv Perez
Wear just PJs and don't want to look good themselves.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah, yeah.
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Liv Perez
I always want to be. I'd rather be overdressed than underdressed.
- [13:31]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, for sure. Well, it's an extension of your personality, too. And I think, you know, dressing up Just makes the experience of anything a little bit more fun, you know, look good, feel good.
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Liv Perez
You're obviously in these, like, really big moments where you're on screen in front of so many people. Are all of these outfits planned by you or using a stylist?
- [13:49]
Morgan Riddle
Oh, a mix. So I did start working with a stylist last year, actually. Like, funny story how it kind of came about. So she is. Her name's Emily Essen. She actually now works under Jared Elner on his team.
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Liv Perez
We love Jared here. He's the best.
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Morgan Riddle
She's learning from the best. And her and I grew up together in Minnesota, so I've known her for. Since we were, like, preteens.
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Liv Perez
Oh, my God.
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Morgan Riddle
Small world. Yeah, I know, right? So last summer, we. I was in New York for U.S. open, and. And we were catching up at dinner one night, and she had run a clothing brand for a while, like, out of her apartment in New York. She's like, yeah, I just wanted to do something different. So I actually just got this, like, styling assistant job under Jared Elner, and she was telling me all about that and how, you know, he styles Emma Chamberlain, all these amazing people. And I'm like, oh, my gosh. That's so exciting. It was a new thing for her. And she was like, yeah, what's up with you? And I was like, oh, I have this. This. And then I have a cover shoot for the New York Times style section on Friday. And she was like, oh, my gosh. What? Like, what are you wearing? And I was like, I don't know. And she was like, you're. You're doing a cover for the style section. You don't know what you're wearing? And I'm like, no, I got a little going on. She was like, okay, we'll take care of it. So her very first solo styling job was for the style section of the New York Times. And since then, I. You know, that was, like, a year ago. She's been working with him ever since, and her and I have been working together ever since. And so it's been really cool to. To grow and learn together. And, you know, she's done all sorts of amazing things. She's handmade the lingerie set on Sabrina Carpenter's new album.
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Liv Perez
Oh, my God.
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Morgan Riddle
She likes. So she knows how to sew. She knows how to design. She's so talented. And I think because we grew up together, like, she knows me so well, my style. She knows my body. So it's a really amazing partnership for both of us.
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Liv Perez
I think it's crucial to have people around you that just, like, make you feel like home, especially in those, like, high pressure settings.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah. It's been so, so great to work together. And I, like, naively, before her and I started working together, people would ask me once I kind of started posting fashion content, like, oh, like, do you have a stylist? Are you going to get a stylist? And I was like, stylist? Like, I have a great style. Why would I need a stylist? I didn't really understand the value in working with one. And now, Now I'm like, oh, my God, I could not live without one. It's so helpful in the connections they have. And just, like, she's always. It's hard to stay on the pulse of, like, what's in and what designers you should work with and, like, what's a really good brand fit for you? And so I've learned so much from her, and I've just, like, she's elevated me and my business and my personal style so much. It's been amazing.
- [16:16]
Liv Perez
I think there's a huge value in working with a stylist, no matter where you fall in line. I've been in fashion for 10 years, and I got married this summer, and I used a stylist for the wedding.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
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Liv Perez
And I had so many friends and peers be like, you have such great style. Why did you bring someone else in? And I was like, I had such a deep desire to have another brain in the room that was, like, challenging me and keeping me curious and, like, not keeping me in my same regimen of what I was wearing every day. And it was. I keep making the joke. It was like the second marriage besides the marriage to my husband. It was like, the greatest experience ever. Ever. Like, I wore everything I ever wanted, and I felt so good. And I was. I feel like since then, my style has changed so much. I learned so much from him.
- [17:00]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
- [17:01]
Liv Perez
And I think, like, no matter what you're doing or, like, what your expertise is, like, there's always room to grow. And that was, like, the best experience. So I totally relate to what you're saying.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
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Liv Perez
I get it. And you do have great style on your own, but, like, it's probably so nice to just have that extra push.
- [17:16]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah. And they have such a different eye. Like, sometimes she's put me in things where I'm like, I would never choose this for myself. And then I put it on. I'm like, wait, that's.
- [17:24]
Liv Perez
That's the best. Like, there's actually nothing better than that feeling of being like that is so not for me. I'm not doing that. And they're like, just, just put it on, let's style it. And then you're like, oh, I look really good.
- [17:37]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, yeah, that's really good.
- [17:39]
Liv Perez
The best. I feel like as someone in fashion, I've gotten so much inspiration from spectators in tennis. Like, there are so many, like, iconic moments that I can think of of, like Kate Middleton at Wimbledon. Like, I think about all those incredible moments that are kind of ingrained into like my fashion encyclopedia. Are there any icons for you that you think about often? Or like, as you're getting ready to get dressed, you're like, ooh, I want to feel that.
- [18:05]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, like you said, it kind of depends where I am. Obviously for Wimbledon, like Kate and Diana, you know, I think Diana went to like 15 Wimbledon's or something. So there's a archive of all of her. Her looks from there. Yeah. Kind of like staying in the more sort of, you know, classy old money sort of for that tournament specifically, at least. But yeah, it really depends because there's so many other tournaments too that are not necessarily big fashion moments the way that Wimbledon is. But I do want to dress for like the ethos of the tournament. So Australian Open, you know, dressings like super summery, sort of beachy because it's the start of summer in Australia in January and, you know, working with Australian brands and really trying to find the right vibe of where I'm at. Other style inspirations, I don't know, those would probably be my top two. I don't know if there's necessarily like one person that I look to because I feel like my style varies so much throughout the year depending on where I am.
- [19:01]
Liv Perez
I love seeing the videos of you being like, here's what everyone wore at X tournament.
- [19:05]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah. And they're so fun to make too.
- [19:07]
Liv Perez
The fashion there is so any tournament. I feel like I've been to the Open, I haven't been to Wimbledon. I love to go, but I'm always like so tuned in to what people are wearing. It's really become its own kind of like Runway in and of itself.
- [19:19]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, 100%. It's grown. So, I mean, even a couple years ago when I first started going to tournaments, it was not like that. Like, it was not, you know, people. And still there's so many people that show up in a T shirt and shorts because they are just going to watch the tennis, which is.
- [19:32]
Liv Perez
They're there for their own thing.
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Morgan Riddle
Yeah, of course. But yeah, the way that, like, you know, girls around our age show up for events. And it's so great because, like I mentioned earlier, I think that dressing up for something just makes the experience so much more fun. And, you know, you go and it's. It's like a fun day with your girls, and you go and you have champagne and you get to dress up and you take cute photos, and it's just exploded over the last couple years. Even the difference between, like, the first US Open that I went to versus this year, the way that the fans dress up, has been so cool to see. Cause obviously, that's, like, what I'm all about. And, yeah, I just love it. I'm glad that people are really sort of embracing the tennis fashion.
- [20:13]
Liv Perez
As a fashion lover, I very much appreciate your work and love what you do for the sport of tennis.
- [20:17]
Morgan Riddle
Thank you.
- [20:18]
Liv Perez
But I'm curious what you think that is. Like, that's such a stark difference. And I think when I first started, like, hearing more about you and, like, seeing your content, it was all really about this idea of, like, making tennis cool again. And I lived in New York for 10 years, so the U.S. open was always a big moment for New Yorkers. Everyone was so excited about it. And obviously now there are so many, like, brand partnerships that happen. The honey deuce is a big thing. It really is a cultural moment now.
- [20:42]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
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Liv Perez
What do you think that big shift has been in? Just this, like, major surge of people loving tennis and really showing up for it in a new way.
- [20:51]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, I, I, There's a lot of things that have contributed to that one. Around Covid, there was kind of this. This moment where when you opened Instagram, there was always, like, girls on a tennis court. Do you remember that? It was like, 2021. Like, taking, like, the Instagram photos on a tennis court was, like, the big thing. And then. And then every athleisure brand, alo and beyond, yoga, and Athleta, they all released tennis lines that hadn't existed before.
- [21:21]
Liv Perez
I picked up tennis during COVID Yeah, you're making such a good correlation because.
- [21:26]
Morgan Riddle
It was a social distancing way to hang out with people. And you're outdoors, you're not touching each other, and you're on opposite sides of the net. So I think it really sort of, like, blossomed in Covid. And then pickleball grew. So just like, the. The aura of racket sports was growing, and I think all of these brands releasing, like, tennis apparel that, you know, you can go and play on a court, but you also can Dress really cute to go to the grocery store, go on errands, in. Grew it a lot. And the luxury brands started getting into it. Miu Miu and Gucci and Lacoste, Ralph Lauren. I mean, those two have always sort of been in the tennis space, but they all sort of, you know, started leaning into this tennis core, old money, sort of preppy vibe. And then now there's a few girls who post about, you know, tennis and life on the tennis tour and fashion and. Yeah, it's just. It's made it kind of. Kind of a moment and a lot more friendly for girls to get involved in and have fun at.
- [22:20]
Liv Perez
I feel like it's gotten more accessible.
- [22:22]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
- [22:23]
Liv Perez
I feel like before, I mean, it's always been like a very, like, elite, kind of exclusive sport.
- [22:27]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
- [22:28]
Liv Perez
But I feel like I've seen it way more than I ever have.
- [22:31]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah. And there's also kind of this new surgence of young players as well that are really great. You know, Sinner Alcaraz, my boyfriend Taylor, you know, Coco Gauff on the women's side. Like, just a lot of American players, too, that are rising in the rankings, which I think gets the country a little more excited about, you know, rooting for their people, because there hasn't really been top American tennis players in a long time.
- [22:55]
Liv Perez
I love it. I also saw you were at Sunset.
- [22:57]
Morgan Riddle
Tennis Club the other day. I was, yeah. I take lessons with Casper.
- [23:01]
Liv Perez
I take lessons with Casper, too.
- [23:02]
Morgan Riddle
He's great.
- [23:03]
Liv Perez
It's been a while. I haven't done it in a long time.
- [23:04]
Morgan Riddle
Did you do a lesson together?
- [23:05]
Liv Perez
I'm so bad. And I'm sure you're really good.
- [23:07]
Morgan Riddle
I'm not. Nope. I would not say that I'm good. I've gotten better. Like, I can get the ball over the net now. I think the only thing that I really have to work on is my serve. I can't serve. Okay. But it's fun.
- [23:15]
Liv Perez
I feel like we could do it.
- [23:16]
Morgan Riddle
It's a fun hangout.
- [23:17]
Liv Perez
It is a fun. I need an outdoor sport. Like, I need an activity.
- [23:21]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah. I go to the gym, too.
- [23:23]
Liv Perez
Yeah. I like. I like the idea of being outside, so I'm going to take you up on that.
- [23:27]
Morgan Riddle
Okay. Yeah.
- [23:27]
Liv Perez
But a lot of people ask me about it in L. A, and I love it. It's like, again, people are very interested in tennis. And, like, I always. I'm very. I'm always recommending it. I'm like, it's a great thing, but.
- [23:36]
Morgan Riddle
There'S so many courts here, too.
- [23:37]
Liv Perez
I can't tell you how many people ask me about it, but I also think it's because people in LA want to find new ways to meet new people.
- [23:44]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah. And it's a. It's not drinks. It's not really nice. Like, it's really nice to, you know, reach out to girlfriends and, like, go get coffee. And then you play tennis together. And you don't really play tennis. You kind of just chat at the net, but you're, like, playing on your.
- [23:57]
Liv Perez
Play and you're outside, and it's like, a nice vibe.
- [23:59]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
- [23:59]
Liv Perez
I think people in LA are really looking for, like, hobbies. Hobbies and community moments that don't just revolve around, like, let's go grab a drink.
- [24:06]
Morgan Riddle
Yes, I agree. Hobbies are good. I've been trying to find more hobbies, but I think that's a really good starting point.
- [24:13]
Liv Perez
What else do you do?
- [24:13]
Morgan Riddle
Like, going on a hike together?
- [24:14]
Liv Perez
I can't hike, but, yes.
- [24:16]
Morgan Riddle
My grandma just sent me. She taught herself how to do watercolor a couple years ago, and now she's, like, an incredibly talented watercolor painter. And I had gotten kind of like a watercolor starting kit, and I would just. When I'm home, I just drive down to the beach and, like, do my little, like, watercolor coloring book. But she sent me all of her, like, watercolor tools that she uses and sent me, like, all these instructions of, like, okay, you have to use this or the little kneading erasers and stuff. So I'm trying to teach myself watercolor right now. That's maybe a new hobby. Also cooking. I don't know if you can count that as a hobby or a human necessity, but I never cook.
- [24:54]
Liv Perez
Yeah.
- [24:55]
Morgan Riddle
So I'm trying to learn cooking when I'm traveling. I love. I've done a few cooking classes. Like, I did one in Rome where we.
- [25:01]
Liv Perez
Oh, I'm sure that's the best part of cooking.
- [25:03]
Morgan Riddle
It's really cool. It's really cool airbnb experiences. And then there's a website called get your guide that has so many different. Like, they have free walking tours, they have cooking classes, painting classes. You can find anything on them. So.
- [25:16]
Liv Perez
Wow.
- [25:16]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, it's a really. It's a fun way to also do something different while you're traveling, too. Like, you kind of do these little hobbies while you're traveling. Besides just sightseeing and shopping.
- [25:24]
Liv Perez
You're gone, like, 30 weeks a year. How do you pack?
- [25:29]
Morgan Riddle
Not minimally. So, like, when people ask me for packing advice, I'm like, listen, I'm like a 270 pound, overweight, checked bag kind of gal. Yeah. Not a minimalist packer, but it's hard too. A lot of times when I'm traveling, I have to shoot different clothes for brands or I have, I have to pack like all the skincare for a brand deal I have to do or shoes or something and I just can't like minimally pack. And a lot of times I'm on the road for the next trip I'm going on is a month in Europe. Wow. So I'm like, I got to bring the jacket. I have to bring all the jackets and the sweaters and the boots. And so much of my content is about my outfit. So like the, the capsule wardrobe thing.
- [26:04]
Liv Perez
Is not the thing.
- [26:06]
Morgan Riddle
It's not for me.
- [26:07]
Liv Perez
Yeah. I just went to Paris for Paris Fashion Week and I took a carry on and just a carry on. It was great.
- [26:13]
Morgan Riddle
In theory, I guess you're getting dressed by the brands.
- [26:16]
Liv Perez
I did get dressed and I did a lot of my brand deals. Like I had them send them to my hotel in Paris.
- [26:20]
Morgan Riddle
Nice. Yeah.
- [26:20]
Liv Perez
But it definitely was, I feel like in theory it's great if you're going on like a chill trip and like you just need like bathing suits or whatever.
- [26:29]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
- [26:29]
Liv Perez
But it added this whole other layer of stress because I was like, I need my stuff and I don't have my stuff. And like, if I bought anything there, I like couldn't fit it in the suitcase to you.
- [26:37]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah. That was another learning curve for me is when I first started traveling, I would try to pack a little more minimally. And then I always found myself, you know, I'm, I'm there for weeks or a month at a time and I'd be like, oh, I really missed this one skincare product. Or I wish I would have packed that. And then I end up going to Sephora and buying it. And so now I bring everything. I bring the full size of everything so I don't have to like, I don't run out of anything and have to go buy it. So that's been my solution. But in terms of like outfits for it, I will. I plan all my outfits ahead of time so I make sure that I don't bring one item that's not going to be utilized in some sort of way. I like try on all the outfits, take a photo in them. I have a TikTok on my page that's pinned that has like my very ridiculous six hour packing routine.
- [27:22]
Liv Perez
But the Polly Pocket thing.
- [27:23]
Morgan Riddle
Yes.
- [27:23]
Liv Perez
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Yep.
- [27:25]
Morgan Riddle
Love.
- [27:25]
Liv Perez
I Feel like you've literally been all over the world. Is there a store or like a shopping destination that you've hit that like will never leave your brain?
- [27:33]
Morgan Riddle
Oh, my absolute favorite places to shop are Australia. Australia. Because when you, when you go to a MALL in the U.S. you've got Zara, you've got Aritzia, you've got the Nordstrom and what's, what are the other ones that you'll see? H and M. Bloomingdale's. Yeah. You know, like you've got like your standard places no matter where you go in the US like those are the spots of the mall. When you go to a mall in Australia, the in person shopping there is next level because they have all the, I mean the Australian brands, like for summer especially they have all these little like boutiques and labels and Beckonbridge and Victoria woods and like so many brands that have standalone stores. So you can go into a mall and just find so many different options, so many different brands. Like all the little labels there and the clothes are absolutely amazing. So when I go to Australia, I go with an empty suitcase because I know I will shop. And I love, I love everything that they have especially for summer. So I think Australia is really great. And then Tokyo is my second favorite place one because the vintage designer there, they have some stores like Amore Vintage. I'm sure you've seen just like really cool vintage bags or you know, secondhand designer. There's lots of sort of smaller vintage shops there too where you can find really cool stuff. I just got this watch there when I was there a couple weeks ago.
- [28:51]
Liv Perez
Stunning.
- [28:51]
Morgan Riddle
Thank you.
- [28:52]
Liv Perez
Is that two tone?
- [28:52]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, it is. So it's very. I was wanting to watch her a while.
- [28:55]
Liv Perez
I was like, okay, that's a really good.
- [28:57]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, yeah, get a little vintage watch. There's one store there called Shelter that I always have a lot of luck at for clothes and they, they also the way that they layer and I feel like they're just ahead of the times. Like I, I love, I love the shopping in, in Asia.
- [29:12]
Liv Perez
Oh, that's amazing. Yeah, I need to add that to my list. I'm supposed to go to Tokyo next year. I hope that I make it.
- [29:16]
Morgan Riddle
Have you been before?
- [29:17]
Liv Perez
No.
- [29:17]
Morgan Riddle
I'll send you. I have a whole list recommendations.
- [29:20]
Liv Perez
I'm sure you do.
- [29:20]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, I've been there, I think like three or four times now and it's, it's the coolest place ever.
- [29:25]
Liv Perez
I can't wait. Also you said an Australian brand that I'm obsessed with and I feel like, doesn't get the love back in Bridge.
- [29:30]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah. So cute.
- [29:31]
Liv Perez
Like, it needs. It's just every time I feel like when it first came out, I was like, okay, this is fine. And then in the past year, I've gone on there, on there, and the dresses, like, if you have a wedding coming up or anything like that, it's really cute.
- [29:42]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah. I honestly don't think anyone should shop for summer clothes anywhere besides Australian brands.
- [29:47]
Liv Perez
Like, so good.
- [29:48]
Morgan Riddle
Beckonbridge, Victoria Woods, Venroy, Dish, Kookai. Like, they just do summer clothes right. Right there.
- [29:54]
Liv Perez
They know what they're doing over there. Dish is so good.
- [29:56]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
- [29:57]
Liv Perez
People are always like, do I really buy Dish? Like, I see the ads for it. It can't just be $120.
- [30:01]
Morgan Riddle
And I'm like, a lot of stuff from Dish. Their jeans are really cute too.
- [30:04]
Liv Perez
I don't know what sorcery they're doing over there for, like, making everything so inexpensive. But the clothes are so good.
- [30:09]
Morgan Riddle
Oh, yeah. It's cheap there, too. Like, the conversion rate for the Australian dollar for us is awesome.
- [30:14]
Liv Perez
Noted. Thrilled. I was watching your YouTube channel the other day, and there was something you said that really stuck with me that I loved. And I think it's this kind of ethos that you bring to the table of a really just wonderful curiosity. Like, it's the way that you've, like, talked about tennis and the way that you've, like, been so open to learning about it. I know that when you first started dating Taylor, you didn't know a lot about tennis. And you also talked about the fact that you recently deleted Twitter, X, whatever we want to call it.
- [30:41]
Morgan Riddle
Yes.
- [30:41]
Liv Perez
Because it was, like, too overwhelming for you, but you did make a new account and only followed fashion accounts or things that were giving you fashion news.
- [30:48]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
- [30:49]
Liv Perez
And I know that the industry is still relatively new to you, and you're, like, starting to work with amazing brands, and it's really exciting, but it's really rare to kind of come across that genuine curiosity that doesn't. That isn't very, like, open and vulnerable.
- [31:01]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah.
- [31:02]
Liv Perez
So I'm curious what has been, especially with, like, the accounts you're following on X and, like, you know, even on Instagram, like, what has been most informative and interesting to you as you've begun to learn more about fashion?
- [31:13]
Morgan Riddle
Oh, my gosh. Just finding out, like, the. I think actually working with Emily, my stylist, has been so great because the things that you learn when you're, like, on the ground or, like, at the shows or the Things that I learned from her of like, okay, this brand works with this kind of people and like this brand only likes this. And like, you know, there's so many things that if you Google that you're not going to find a thing. You have to be in it to know that sort of thing. So it's, it's been really interesting and of course I found so much information through like podcasts and X, but I really think the best way to learn is to like put yourself in there. But yeah, there's I think like the fashion commentary on X and obviously any sort of social media you have, the algorithm will sort of curate. So I started following some fashion accounts and now when I scroll through my, my feed, my free what, what do you call it on X? Twitter, whatever. My feed? Yeah, my feed.
- [32:01]
Liv Perez
Yeah, I still call it Twitter.
- [32:02]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah. It's like I'll never call it X. I know. Yeah, I like it because it's so real time live of like people like commentating and like everyone's watching the live shows. And some of the accounts that I follow will just post like the, like the Vogue Runway images from it. So it's a kind of a good easy way for me to stay updated and like what's happening on a, a day to day. And there's lots of discourse about sustainability and like, oh, like we really like this brand or this brand has controversy or that sort of thing. So it's been really helpful to learn through that. And like where I grew up was not nobody owned designer where I grew up, like, you know, the, the girls were not coming to high school with their, their never, never full bags. We had like JanSport backpacks. Like Minnesota is not necessarily, you know, the kind of place where like I grew up around fashion and like designers and that sort of thing. So when I moved out to, I went to college in New York and I kind of got a taste of it. I did some like internships and fashion PR and then moving out to la. You know, you are around that a lot more. But it was really like a year ago I went to my first New York Fashion Week and I was like, whoa, I don't know about any of this. Like, this is all so new to me. I didn't know, I didn't know a lot of designer names. I didn't know what the brands were about. I didn't know the history of them. So it's kind of been a hobby in a way too to learn about those things. And I was like learning new stuff. So it's Been really fun to know more about it, and I'm still very not knowledgeable in a lot of ways, but it's cool to not know stuff too.
- [33:39]
Liv Perez
I have deep respect and admiration for the people who are like fashion historians and know everything about everything and can spot a dress and be like, that is referencing this collection from 1999, and that seam and that stitch is exactly this. Yeah, it's an unbelievable skill. And I'm. I'm always very, like, almost envious. I'm like, oh, my God, what a gift you have. But I think X is very underrated as a platform for fashion. I don't think a lot of people immediately go there, but there are so many accounts that I follow that are really great with context. Again, as you were saying, really good with creating great dialogue around fashion moments. I think Instagram can be very reactive. A lot of kind of debate and emotion, whereas I think X can be quite thoughtful in the discourse. There's so much on there to learn.
- [34:24]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, I think it's good too. And I also think, like, the difference with, like, TikTok fashion commentary, a lot of it is like, shock value or having really strong opinions about things. And a lot of the stuff on X is more informational or like, you know, this is not. Not to go viral. It's just like, hey, look at what this designer did, or look at this trend that's happening. And I, I appreciate the. The lack of drama on there.
- [34:51]
Liv Perez
You know, we just don't always need drama when it comes to fashion things. Do you feel like since being in more of a sports world that your style has gotten more athleisure based? How do you feel like tennis has influenced your style? Because it's amazing to hear you talk about two totally different worlds here. You're talking, like, in the high fash and then also in the tennis space. And I do think there's a world where they overlap. But, like, how is that impact?
- [35:14]
Morgan Riddle
I think they're very intertwined now. And I have recently heard that, like, there's some more like, big fashion brands that are about to get heavily involved in tennis, which is super exciting, maybe in ways that, like, the influence of the places that I've gone to. For sure. You know, I just have, like, a broader view. I think that I definitely. Well, also a lot of it's been with aging. Like, I started traveling on tour when I was. Was 22. I'm 27 now. So, you know, obviously when I was 22, I'm like Princess Polly White Fox. You know, that a 22 how a 22 year old in LA would dress. Yeah, so that's definitely changed. I think I dress much more modest now. A lot of that is kind of the, the tennis influence, I think. But yeah, just being able to like shop around the world and, and discover these different UK brace brands or I'd never worn Australian brands until I was traveling to Australia for Australian Open. So in that sort of sense it has influenced a lot. But I've also very much stayed true to like my personal style and like, I love dressing super girly. I love dressing in long dresses and pink and fun patterns and colors. So I've kind of also like carried my own style into the world of it, I think.
- [36:25]
Liv Perez
Do you think tennis is more influential.
- [36:26]
Morgan Riddle
In fashion than it's ever been? I think it's always been really influential in fashion actually. I think, I mean like if you look back at the big encore moments that like Serena Williams had or Andre Agassi was like, you know, he had a look on the tennis court and Federer always would come out in these like sweater vests and Nike would make custom looks for him. So I think it's always been really prevalent in the sport for the players and now I think it's stretched more into spectator fashion in the last couple years is like really where it's grown. But I think like tennis and fashion on the court has always been, been a big thing. So it's just cool that it's kind of like expanded beyond the court a little bit more. It's so good for the personal brands of all of those 200%. I actually the Williams sisters really are the ones who kind of set a precedent for that and making that a thing in the sport. And yeah, there's a few players right now who focus on their encore and off court fashion, but I do hope more players sort of lean into that. And I think as the sport grows and more brands are interested in players like on court, off court fashion that, you know, that'll, that'll kind of like open the doors to, to more players to work with with brands as well. There's an account on Instagram called It's NBA Tunnel. I connected with the gal who runs it and she started posting the WNBA girls outfits and a lot of them work with big brands. And you know, WNBA had this insane growth this year. Just insane. Like every ESPN post was about wnba and so this girl started this account that was WNBA Tunnel where she posts all of the walk in tunnel outfits that the girls are wearing and the account just blew up. So it's so clear that people want more of that because those sort of accounts and those sort of moments, people are just fascinated by. And it's nice that more people are leaning into it. My hope is that more sports, like the sports establishments themselves and the teams and the sports media, caters a little bit more to that audience because obviously the interest is there. 50% of tennis fans, F1 fans, and football fans are all women. So there's, you know, there's so much in the market because, you know, women, of course we like the sport, we want to watch the sport, but we want to see everything else that we want to see. The travel, we want to see the fashion, we want to see everything that sort of comes along with the actual sport itself. And seeing more and more people and accounts and media lean into that has been awesome and I think is much needed.
- [38:58]
Liv Perez
I want to do a little lightning round with you before we close out the show. Explain tennis to a novice in one sentence.
- [39:04]
Morgan Riddle
Very stressful and confusing sports.
- [39:08]
Liv Perez
I actually don't know. It's 15, 30, 45, 40, 40. Love.
- [39:13]
Morgan Riddle
What's. Yeah, love is zero. Love means nothing.
- [39:17]
Liv Perez
Still lost.
- [39:18]
Morgan Riddle
Yeah, it's. It took me about six months on the tour, traveling full time on the tour to like, understand what the hell was happening.
- [39:26]
Liv Perez
So what is your biggest fashion, Nick?
- [39:28]
Morgan Riddle
I don't know if I have one love that I think fashion is so personal and subjective. Like, I. I'm not a fan of those videos that are like, these are the fashion trends that I hate are gonna be out because it's really. It's such an individual thing. And to each their own.
- [39:46]
Liv Perez
I heard you're a hotel rope aficionado. Who has the best hotel ropes?
- [39:50]
Morgan Riddle
The addition, they have the big. The big hood, and the inside is fuzzy and soft. Every time I stay there, I think about taking one and I'm like, ah, just charge me. But I'd never have suitcase space.
- [40:00]
Liv Perez
Favorite pair of white sneakers.
- [40:02]
Morgan Riddle
The new balance 530s. And I've been wearing those pretty consistently for working out. APL by far.
- [40:09]
Liv Perez
What's your favorite fashion trend right now?
- [40:10]
Morgan Riddle
I don't know if this is quite a trend yet, but the. At the Miu Miu show, did you see the little belt, arm garters? I love the way that Miu Miu prioritizes accessories outside of just like, bags and shoes. So, yeah, a lot of the models I noticed, and I was so annoyed because my stylist Emily, who's a genius and who has ahead of the time on everything, had sent me a photo of Kylie the day before with the belt as on her arm as like a little arm guarder. She was like, you should try to do this for the show. And I was like, I don't have a belt that small. They're so tiny. And then when I sat down for the show and I saw the models walk by with a belt on their arm, I was like, ah, I should have done that. But I did not. But I think that was really cool. I like the arm accessorizing fashion bucket list item. I really want to go to a Shanghai fashion week. I feel like those fashion weeks are glazed over in the world of fashion a lot. But actually, through X is how I discovered the incredible designers at that fashion week. And I. I just think Asia is, like, a little more ahead in a lot of ways, and some of the designers are absolutely incredible. So favorite tennis player, Taylor. Brits.
- [41:22]
Liv Perez
Yeah.
- [41:24]
Morgan Riddle
I can't say anything else.
- [41:26]
Liv Perez
Thank you for coming on the show. This was fun. I really, really appreciate hearing your perspective on fashion. It's very refreshing, and it's so exciting to see how excited you are about getting to know it better and also be able to honor the sport and then also the honor the industry. It's. It's very refreshing and very fun to hear.
- [41:42]
Morgan Riddle
Thank you. I appreciate it. This is so fun. Sam.