A (0:02)

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to another episode of let's Get Dressed. It's your host, Liv Perez. I hope you're all having a great start to your new year. I feel like we're way past the point of me saying Happy New Year to you guys, but I wanted to touch base because I feel like it's been a while. Well, the year has changed, so it has kind of been a while. But since our first episode of the year was with a guest, I figured this week I would do a one on one with you guys and catch up on all the things I'm excited about for the year. I was away for the holidays with really close friends. We went on a trip to Mexico. It was so fun, so needed. I feel like all of us just really decompressed and like logged off. I feel like the holidays from Christmas to New Year's are the only time that like most people can truly log off. The rest of the time I feel like I'm getting emails all times of the year. I work with a lot of clients that are in Europe, so there's never really like one time where I feel like everybody is quiet. So I try to take advantage of it and really just log off. So that was really nice. I enjoyed it a lot. I have mixed emotions about resolutions. I feel like I always set them. Some I stick to, some I don't. And I think what's really hard about that is it kind of induces this feeling of like new Year, new you, you're going to do all these things you wish you did and it's really hard to sustain. And then I kind of get into this bad habit of like feeling really guilty and like bad about myself. It's like, oh, I started off the year like clean slate and then I wasn't really able to stick to these things that I said I was going to do. So instead of resolutions, I actually goal set. And this is something that I love doing. I kind of romanticize it and make it really fun. And it's something that I've done for a few years now and has genuinely changed my year and my outlook on starting a new year. So I will do it with my team. We usually go out for dinner or I set a three hour meeting with snacks and good vibes and music. And we actually go through the entire year before and run through almost every campaign and project that we worked on and talk through like the highs and lows, the moments that we were really proud of, the moments we thought we could have done better on some key learnings like team interactions, things that just we can all improve on. And I love doing this because one, it allows me to be really introspective but also really detailed. Like, why was this thing great? Why did this thing not work? And how do we avoid or lean into that more this year? I find this to be 10 times more successful than setting resolutions like going to the gym more or eating cleaner. Okay, sure, those are great resolutions, but I actually think that the change happens in the goals. Instead of saying, I want to work out more this year, it's like, okay, can I commit to three times a week for the month of January? That's a really great attainable goal. So for me, getting as specific as possible and making it as fun as possible kind of tricks my mind into really actually getting it done. I like to goal set by month. So I write out the entire year and I will write out my goals based on when I think I'm actually going to be able to achieve them. Some things take three months, some months take six. But I find it to be a lot more approachable and something that actually feels encouraging when you humanely block it out versus just saying, oh, I'm going to be healthier this year, so try to get as detailed as possible. That's really helped me. It's helped me personally and professionally, and I do goals for both. And it's going to be a practice that I think I take into every year. Moving forward the beginning of the year, I also find myself journaling a lot more. Especially after I've taken a break. I find myself more creative or more excited about things. And so I've been writing a lot of notes recently, a lot of thoughts about what I want to do this year, career things. But there's also just so much going on in fashion right now. I find myself taking so many screenshots and like just jotting down ideas because I think we're at this very interesting time in fashion where the last year has been a lot of change. New designers, new brands, designer mix ups, so much going on that it actually feels like a very fun moment in fashion where I feel like I'm seeing the fruits of almost like stability, like the ideas are truly coming to fruition. There's been time for people to sit with it and really sink their teeth into it. And I think from that is when like the seed really starts to grow. So there's a lot that's been catching my eye. And as I was taking notes the other day, I was like, wait, why don't I share this back with you guys. So consider today's episode kind of like a journal entry. Journal entry number one for 2026. And it's some ideas that I've been having around fashion lately that I'm really excited to share with you guys and also get your feedback on. As you guys know, I love a DM slide into my DMs any day, every day, please. I want to hear what's been catching your eyes as well so you can DM me. Leave a comment on the episode. I love to hear it and chat about it more. I'm also excited about this because I think it will be really cool maybe a few months down the line to look back on this episode and see how many episodes actually covered some subjects that we're talking about today. Maybe there are things that become bigger trends and things that become bigger parts of the industry that we might want to deep dive further into later. So with that said, let's dive into some of the themes, ideas, consumer behaviors, brands that I have been journaling about recently. For starters, I want to talk about single focus brands. And when I mean single focus, I mean brands that are absolutely killing it, doing one thing really well. I think about the way that I have been shopping recently and I notice that I go back to the same brands over and over again, which is great, right? I found the brands that I love, I trust them, they're reliable and they give me amazing product. But as I was looking through my closet recently, I realized that a lot of the brands that I absolutely love and turn to are these brands that have immense focus and they've built a lot of trust and clarity among their audiences. Brands like Norhamor that are experts in amazing outerwear, leather jackets, faux fur, or brands like d' Hanche and Orium that are amazing belts and leatherwear. Those brands are the brands that I not only am shopping a lot, but I also notice that I'm sharing with my friends. Like friends will come up to me and say, hey, like where can I get a great leather jacket? And I will always every single time say noor ha more. And it's interesting, right? Because I could sit here and say like, oh, Bottega Veneta makes an amazing leather jacket, right? Obviously that is a very aspirational jacket. And I think the reason I go back to Norha more is of course, yes, the price is a bit more approachable and I actually think is pretty fair for how high quality the jackets are. But I actually think it's something way deeper than that. It to Me, it signals this really interesting trend in actually the way that we're shopping. I get so overwhelmed when I am scrolling through e commerce sites now. Like, when I go on a website and there are 20 pages for me to scroll through, sometimes I get so overwhelmed that I actually go all the way to the end, because I just want to know how the book ends. Like, I just want to know what's at the end of the tunnel, and then we can work backwards from there. But it is so overwhelming, and I feel like sometimes I don't really know how to make the right choice from that. Right. Like, I'll usually open a million tabs and, like, break it down from there, but I also think that we just don't have time for that. Like, do you have time to go through 20 pages of options and to sort through it and find the right fit? I certainly don't. So I have really noticed myself leaning on these brands that have this expert focus and give me exactly what I need in one to two pages. It's like, if I know exactly what I need and I know exactly what to buy from this place, I'm more likely to buy it. I also think that that focus subconsciously in my mind, like, makes me think that that brand is the best. Right. Like, that focus kind of breeds confidence. And so I'm more likely to go to these brands because I'm like, these are the guys who are absolute experts in it. I think this year is going to be the year of hero products, and I think we're gonna see less and less of a lot of these brands that have a really wide product range. And I think you're going to see a lot more brands come out with one really great product. And maybe they'll expand from there, but they're going to focus in on what they're really good at. Because in a world where almost every market is unbelievably oversaturated, the only way to stand out is by doing what you're an expert at. And I don't know if you guys saw recently, but oryem Collective, which is one of my favorite brands for belts, all of my belts are from them. I actually cannot stop buying them. I have so many belts now in so many great colors, and they really up my wardrobe. Like, I don't know what I was doing before my belt obsession. I rarely leave the house without a belt now. I feel like it's just like the period on the end of a sentence of my outfit. It makes everything look so much tailored. I love the way a belt shapes my body. I love that you can have fun with different colors and different shapes and accessorize it. But the brand Orium, that was actually founded by Cast Amicchio, she is an influencer who has been on this podcast before. Loved her episode. I highly recommend you guys listen to it. She actually went on Instagram recently to say that the hero product that they started with, which was beautiful jewelry, is something that they're actually beginning to phase out because it's no longer their hero product. They started with jewelry, then went into belts, then went into eyewear, and now have also handbags as well. And she realized that her bestseller and her biggest focus and the thing that's moving the most is expert leatherwear. They work with incredible factories in Italy. It's something she's really proud of. And I actually saw a lot of mixed reviews on that announcement. People were like, wait, why would you phase out jewelry? We love their jewelry. Everybody wears their jewelry. But I took it as a really strong show of strength. There's a saying that I learned when I was in college that has stuck with me, and it's something I think about a lot as an entrepreneur myself, and it's that you have to sometimes kill your darlings. You learn it in journalism school because sometimes you can write a paragraph and have so many great moments in it, but sometimes you only need two of those great moments to make the story make sense. And you have to cut out things that you really love and you think are working for the sake of the story being better overall. And this was one of those moments where I felt that Oriam Collective was like, this is what we're strong at. This is what we're selling. This is what our audience wants, and we're going to shed a little bit to grow a little bit. So definitely expect to see more expert hero product brands come out this year. One hero product that I actually think is really gonna shine this year is the pajama category. I, towards the end of last year, actually got quite a few DMs of people asking me, what PJs do you wear? And it's not something I talk about and share often, probably because I think the category is still kind of ripe for innovation. And you've seen a lot of people come out with great PJ lines recently. Like, I think Daphne by Paige desorbo is really great. Madeline White has a pajama brand called See youe Tomorrow. And I feel like there's a lot of it popping up. And so that I think is really gonna fall into the, you know, hero product brands. But I think specifically in PJs, we're going to see a lot more of it. There's a brand that I absolutely love and actually love so much that I threw away all of my old pajamas and only exclusively bought this brand. And I have also been seeing it everywhere lately. I just went on holiday with a bunch of friends and I woke up one morning and realized that they were all wearing it too. And that brand is Negative. I love Negative, actually. I've known the founder for a really long time. I highly recommend their Whipped sets. It is literally, I promise you, the softest thing you will put on your body. I can't sleep in anything else now. Like, everything else just feels too uncomfortable. They have briefs, they have pants, they have tank tops, spaghetti strap underwear, bras. Such a wide variety in this category. But I just have to tell you guys that it is so soft. Get it for yourself. Great Valentine's Day gift psa that's coming up. And it was one of my most gifted things for the holidays as well. They're so, so, so good. So I think we're going to see a lot more of that this year. I'm trying to think of what I wore before I wore Negative, and I have two really cute, like, Pointelle sets from Lisette, which is a brand that I love, and another founder that's been on this podcast. But before that, I actually don't know. Like, I think maybe I would wear, like, sweatpants and a big tee or I would just wear, like, boxer briefs to bed. But I'm a big fan of a pajama set. Like, put me in a cute pajama set and put me to bed. You know, I think that that is, like, as much as I love to look, like, put together during the day, I also kind of need to feel put together at night. So I'm a PJ set galaxy, But I don't like wearing one that feels, like, really thick and overwhelming. And that's why I think the Negative whipped set is amazing, because it just feels like second skin. I'm curious what pajamas you guys wear. If you guys have brands that you love, as always, please slide in my DMs. Okay, next. I think we're going to see a lot more celebrities this year who are styling themselves. Did you guys see Marty Supreme? I saw it actually, a really long time ago. One of my best friends won a lottery ticket to see Marty supreme in, like, September at an A24 screening. And he loves Me enough that he took me. And I absolutely loved it. I thought it was so much fun. But the star of that movie, to me, was Odessa Asian. I love her so much. She also was in I Love la, which is Rachel Sennett's show on hbo, if you guys saw that as well. And not only did I love her in the movie, but I also love her personal style. I think she has such cool style. And something that I noticed she was doing while she was on the press tour for both I Love LA and Marty supreme was she was showing up on the carpet styling herself, which I thought was so cool. A dress that she actually wore to the Marty supreme premiere, I think in LA was a dress that she said that she found on Santee Alley here in LA and took to her tailors and completely reimagined. And I was shook to my core when I saw that, because I love that as an emerging actress, she was like, I love my style and I love what I wear enough that I'm going to bring that to the table as people are getting to know me as an actress in these, like, really big moments to lift, like, a little bit of a veil on the celebrity styling industry. It is a business, and a lot of the times celebrities will get set up with really amazing Hollywood stylists, and they will kind of broker new relationships with new designers, and then you're kind of beholden to that designer, and you end up wearing that designer, and maybe there's a deal there for you, and there really is a business in styling and what you're wearing. Like, a lot of the celebrities that, you know, you see for the Golden Globes and for the Oscars are wearing things that they're either being paid to wear or they're on contract with. So there's a lot that goes on in the background. So I'm obsessed with the idea that Odessa was like, nope, I'm gonna wear what I want, and I wanna show people my taste without any of the strings attached on the background. I thought that that was so, so, so cool. There was actually also another moment that I really loved where she wore a black dress to the Governor's Awards. And Nikki Campbell, who is a fash, if you guys don't follow him, you must. He's so funny on Instagram and TikTok, and he does those really quick, kind of like, lazy red carpet reviews where he gives, like, one line or one word for everyone's outfit. And he's gone viral many times. But Odessa was at the Governor's Award, and Nikki's commentary for her look was like, eh, didn't really do much for me. And she actually commented on that post and was like, nikki, oh my God. Like, I got that top an hour before the event. Like, I agree, it didn't really do much for me either. I loved that moment for so many reasons. One, like, I loved her engaging with it and being like, yeah, it wasn't my best. But also, like, there's so much that happens on a red carpet and I really appreciated the humanness of that. As someone who's been at these big events and been on these red carpets, it is so overwhelming. And there are so many things that need to go right for a look to be perfect on the red carpet. Which is why sometimes I, like, take a step back when I'm looking at red carpets and I'm making my opinions on whether I like something or not. I know how much goes into those moments and how much really has to go right for someone. You have to have the right stylist. The stylist has to have the right relationships to find the right dresses and then the right moments. Then it has to fit you right. And you kind of have to have that synergy with your stylist to have the look really come together in a way that feels authentic to that person. Then the hair and makeup has to be right. You have to feel good that day. The lighting, the photographer, the pose, there are so many elements that go into a good look. So I love that she was just like, yeah, it didn't work, but here I am and it's all real. So I hope that I see more of that this year because I think there are so many celebrities and people out there that have incredible style, and I really just want to see that shine through. I. Odessa has a massive fan in me because I just love that she is styling herself and showing up on these really big moments. So more authenticity on the red carpet this year. Please, please, please. I love it. The dress. Being from Santee Alley was like, such a deep cut if you are someone from la. Because my mom used to go down there growing up when I loved, like, making things. I used to, like, love making bags and we would make Halloween costumes and she would find so many things downtown for us to make. And so I love that she did that and she shouted it out. I really just think at the end of the day, like, I'm going to be more inspired by a look that feels personal versus one that feels perfect. So I want to see more of that this year while we're talking about people I love on the red carpet. I do just have to say that one person that I like put down in my notes that I was like, this is my style star of the year. I can't wait to see her more is Lola Tongue. I was such a summer I turned pretty person. As a lot of, you know, if you listen to this pod, I have just like fallen in love with her and I think that she is ultimate cool girl and I love all the things that she wears. I think she's also her partnership with Coach has been like a really beautiful marriage. I love how Coach brought their bags into the summer I turned pretty. I love that she wore Coach on the press tour and continues to wear it. I love that she did a ton of content for Coach Bags during the show. I think as someone who's not Gen Z, when moments like that surpass a Gen Z audience and actually resonate with someone like me, a millennial, it means that it's really working. So I've loved seeing her do all that. I can't wait to see more of what she does this year. I want to see her at more shows. I want to see more of her on red carpets. She's another person who I think has amazing personal style and you can really see that shine through. So I love, I want to see her more. Her and Olivia Dean. Guys, my one of my dream guests for this year and we can manifest it here is Olivia Deen stylist Simone Bayen. I am such a big fan. She is someone who just knows the power of clothing in performance and that is so powerful. Knowing how you can use clothes to enhance performance by the way that the clothes move as you sing is I think a game changing moment for someone's career. And I just fall. I fell in love with Olivia Dean actually before that album came out and before she got kind of big. I was getting served her on my TikTok because of the fact that people were sharing what she was wearing so much on stage. She would dance and move and like before I even loved her music, it was just this person that I was like, my God, like this woman's style is like euphoric. It's literally euphoric. It's all just working so well. I really recommend following her stylist on Instagram because I love seeing, you know, clip moments from backstage and what she's wearing and it's just I think she's another one that I just can't wait to see more of this year. I would love to have either of them on the podcast. Let's manifest that, guys. Okay, next and final, I want to talk about sports and fashion. And I know this is like very out of left field. I'm not really a sports girl. I don't know much about sports. You can put a football game and I will literally have no idea what's going on. But I'll probably love the fashion and the commercials. But I really think that sports are going to have a major fashion Runway this year. I believe that we're kind of at this inflection point in the relationship between fashion and sports. As someone, again, who doesn't love sports a lot, the fact that I'm talking about it on the podcast, I think this year it's only going to get bigger. And that's because I actually think that there's kind of a perfect storm happening right now. For starters, I think obviously it goes without saying, sports have always had a really important relationship with fashion, especially tennis. Like, I feel like if there's any sport I'm paying attention to and going to, it's tennis. It's been a fashion stage for a really long time. I immediately think of Wimbledon and Ralph Lauren. Those two things kind of feel synonymous to me. They always have a box there and have the most like, chic, chicly dressed celebrities and that brand presence and celebrity attendance, the way people dress in the stands. It's always been a fashion moment when it comes to tennis. I love following Morgan Riddle. I love following Paige Lorenz. They bring a lot of personal style to it. And I also think that I've learned more about tennis from those two women who are actually teaching me the sport of tennis that I honestly did not know about a year ago. But they're bringing it to the stage in a way that feels modern. Right? Like, I love following what they're wearing to the events and also like how the players are dressing. But I think in that pursuit, they've also widened the audience into sport in general. Like, for someone like me, who may not be the biggest tennis fan in the past, I'm very much paying attention now. Like, I watched the US Open from home this year when I was living in New York. I used to go and love it, but the fact that I had it on my TV and I was paying attention to the fashion of it all and the culture of it all, I think speaks volumes. Tennis aside, I also, as I said earlier, think that so many other sports are getting a big fashion focus. I think I'd be remiss if I didn't bring up, obviously, Taylor Swift and the NFL. Think of how many women this year tuned in because her presence at games and the way it just completely dominated headlines, I think shifted how many people were really paying attention to football and how many people were paying attention to what she was wearing to the games. Same thing goes for Olivia Culpo. I love seeing her at the games with her husband. I love seeing what she's wearing. And suddenly I just kind of felt like all of that has been all over my social media feeds all the time. Then we also have the wnba, which has had a really big year. Brands like Coach are stepping in as major sponsors. So you see really big fashion brands also making big investments and saying, yes, this is a big cultural moment we should be paying attention to. The NBA tunnel has become basically a full blown Runway. I feel like it's a great chance for people who like me, again, who might not know some of these athletes and get to know them through their personal style. So again, these are just a few of the many reasons why fashion, I think, is becoming a very prominent topic in the sports world. One of the biggest reasons why I think we're at a turning point is because in late 2024, the NFL actually hired its first ever fashion reporter, a role that was created specifically to kind of bridge the gap between football and high fashion. His name is Kyle Smith. He trained under celebrity stylist Carla Welch, who styles the Biebers and so many more. He worked at Amiri and then he joined the NFL. I think what's cool about his specific role, but also his experience is that after he joined the NFL, he was styling a lot of the players and helping them translate sports to fashion. So he's perfect for the job. And I'm really excited to see how that comes more into fruition. Last year, we saw it a lot like during the super bowl in New Orleans. The fashion brand Bodhi actually staged a show in New Orleans right before the super bowl. And that created a lot of buzz and got a lot of fashion people to the Super Bowl. GQ also hosted. So I feels like it's the beginning of something much bigger for that relationship. Like, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw larger hosted sports that themed fashion shows coming down the line. People aren't just tuning in for the sport anymore. They're tuning in for the vibes, like all the brand endorsements and the community. And these moments are becoming cultural moments versus just sports moments from a consumer perspective. I think what's also really interesting about this is all of this is happening at a time where heritage Americana preppy fashion is almost at its biggest. Like, it's almost like sports and fashion have become more intertwined, and we're seeing that, like, desire to lean into that and be a part of that bigger than ever. Brands like Ralph Lauren, J. Crew feel really hot right now. I feel like everybody wants to be wearing those brands, and they're also doing really incredible collections. Both brands did collections for the Winter Olympics this year, and I've seen them all over my feedback. So again, that's another cosign that these brands are, like, willing to put the investment behind these really big sports moments. I also think I'd be remiss if I didn't bring up the success of Dairy Boy this year. Paige Lorenz's brand. Paige Lorenz is engaged to Tommy Paul, who's a tennis player. Her brand, Dairy Boy, has, like, just absolutely blown up. It sells out really fast. And that brand, I think, is really smart because it's the entryway into those, like, legacy heritage brands like Ralph Lauren, but maybe for a younger demographic that can't afford Ralph Lauren yet. So she's really becoming that entry point for that, like, preppy Americana, East Coast, New England fashion. And it's amazing to see that really come back center stage in the last year. And I do think that that is intrinsically tied to the boom of sports and fashion. By the way, Dairyboy to me, has completely renewed my sense of optimism for new brands and fashion. To an outsider's eye, it might not seem like something completely revolutionary. Right. However, something that I think of all the time is they've made a million supermans. And it's not just about the ip, it's about how you reinterpret it and build a new world for it that people are excited about. And she did such a good job with that. I feel like Dairyboy, like Ralph Lauren, like J. Crew. It feels like a world that you're stepping into, Whether that's via her Instagram and her home in Connecticut, and the way that she shares her brand, it really feels like a world you want to be a part of. So I think she's done an unbelievable job. If you have an idea and someone says to you it's been done, oh, my God, that already exists. Like, just say they've made a million supermans, and I'm going to do it different because there's definitely a world where it works. So I'm really curious to see how fashion continues to intersect with sports in this way. It feels like they're both simultaneously translating for each other. They're basically data sharing, they're audience sharing. And I love that I'm here for it. We will be doing a Super bowl episode, so stay tuned for that. I'm really excited to see what goes on there and how it's interesting for us fashion lovers. Overall, I'm really excited about the year ahead. I also think it feels more like optimistic and vibrant. I'm really glad that we're out of kind of this era of simplicity and quiet luxury and fashion feels fun and exciting. So those are just a few of my ins for the year. I always want to know yours, so if there are any things you guys are paying attention to, please shoot me a dm. Leave a comment on this podcast. I love to know what you guys are paying attention to. Let's chat about it. I'm excited about this year ahead. We have so many amazing guests. Please make sure that you are subscribed to the show so that you don't miss an episode. Make sure you follow us on Apple podcasts and Spotify, and follow me on Instagram as well. Or a little bit more behind the scenes. I'm liv Perez with two Bs. Can't wait to see you guys next week. Until then, bye.