Marie Claire's Editor-in-Chief Nikki Ogunnaike on Breaking Media Molds, Why She'll Never Have A Capsule Wardrobe, And The 2025 Met Gala

Summary

Podcast Summary: Let's Get Dressed Episode: Marie Claire's Editor-in-Chief Nikki Ogunnaike on Breaking Media Molds, Why She'll Never Have A Capsule Wardrobe, And The 2025 Met Gala
Host: Liv Perez
Release Date: May 5, 2025

---

Introduction

In this engaging episode of Let's Get Dressed, host Liv Perez welcomes Nikki Ogunnaike, the dynamic Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire magazine. Nikki shares her extensive experience across various prestigious publications, including Vanity Fair, InStyle, GQ, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar. The conversation delves into Nikki's perspectives on fashion, media, and personal style, providing listeners with invaluable insights from a leading industry figure.

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Navigating Fashion in New York City

Nikki and Liv kick off the discussion by exploring the challenges and nuances of maintaining a functional wardrobe in the bustling environment of New York City.

• Function Over Form: Nikki emphasizes the importance of dressing for functionality, especially in a city where time is precious and activities are varied.

  "I'm dressing for whatever the day may throw at me and knowing that I may be out for six, seven hours without the possibility of changing. The look has to last all day." ([05:00])

• Adaptable Wardrobe: She explains her strategy of carrying essential items, such as a tote bag with her computer and makeup, and keeping a change of clothes in her trainers for seamless transitions throughout the day.

  "I actually have a change of clothes that I keep at my trainers. So if I need a heel or something, I have shoes that can go with a little bit of everything at the desk." ([05:12])

The Philosophy Behind Wardrobe Choices

The conversation shifts to Nikki's disdain for capsule wardrobes and her belief in a more fluid approach to fashion.

• Rejecting Prescriptive Fashion: Nikki argues against the rigidity of capsule wardrobes, advocating instead for a personalized collection of key pieces that reflect one's unique style.

  "I hate sitting in cars in New York City... If I can take the train anywhere, I'm in the train. So if I can take the train anywhere, ribbons to be in the train." ([04:43])

• Embracing Variety: She believes in continuously evolving one's wardrobe, allowing for spontaneity and self-expression rather than limiting oneself to a set number of pieces.

  "I need to dress for me. And I need to dress for what my actual life is like. I can like, lick a sneaker or cute sneakers, like never a flip flop or a sandal outside." ([06:28])

Embracing Color and Personal Style

Nikki shares her approach to incorporating color and patterns into her wardrobe, emphasizing ease and impact.

• Color as Impact: She advocates for integrating color into everyday wear as a means to elevate simple outfits.

  "Color is the easiest way to make an impact. Instead of wearing a white button down, wear a purple one or a blue one." ([08:30])

• Stripes and Prints: Nikki highlights her preference for stripes over florals, viewing them as a versatile and polished choice.

  "I'm a big striped girl. I think it's a really great way to look very polished." ([09:39])

The Role of Accessories, Especially Watches

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on Nikki's love for watches, detailing her collection and the role accessories play in completing her look.

• Watches as Finishing Touches: Nikki sees watches as essential elements that add sophistication to her outfits.

  "I've always liked watches. I've always felt like they're sort of like an exclamation point or a finishing touch, a period on the end of your look." ([32:52])

• Favorite Brands and Wishlist: She mentions her admiration for brands like Cartier and TAG Heuer, sharing her current watch aspirations.

  "I'm just coming off of Watches and Wonders, which is the trade fair in Geneva... I want the TAG Heuer F1 and the Cartier Santos Dumas." ([35:06])

Nikki Ogunnaike's Journey in Fashion Media

Liv and Nikki delve into Nikki's illustrious career path, offering insights into what it takes to rise to the top in the competitive world of fashion journalism.

• Career Progression: Nikki recounts her start as an intern at Vanity Fair and her ascent through various magazines to her current role at Marie Claire.

  "I moved to New York without a job. My parents fronted me six months of rent. I worked at Vanity Fair as my first job out of school in the fashion closet." ([21:37])

• Stamina and Resilience: She attributes her success to her stamina and ability to tackle challenges head-on, likening her approach to her running habits.

  "If you can push yourself there, then you can probably push yourself in this job. You just have to stick to it." ([23:22])

The State of Print Media and Digital Integration

Nikki discusses her views on the evolving media landscape, particularly the relationship between traditional print media and new digital platforms like Substack.

• Support for Traditional Media: She underscores the importance of supporting journalism by subscribing to reputable publications.

  "It's important to support and believe in media, especially in our current Democratic state. Please pay for the magazine." ([26:53])

• Embracing Digital Platforms: While acknowledging the rise of Substack, Nikki emphasizes collaboration rather than competition, inviting talented writers to contribute to Marie Claire.

  "She had a very clear idea of her value add to Marie Claire. You have to be cognizant of the place you are pitching to and the value add of the story." ([29:15])

Insights on the 2025 Met Gala

As the episode airs on Met Monday, Liv and Nikki dedicate a substantial portion of their conversation to the upcoming 2025 Met Gala, exploring theme expectations and the intersection of men's and women's fashion.

• Theme and Expectations: The 2025 Met Gala centers around tailoring and black dandyism, inspired by Monica L. Miller's book Slaves to Fashion. Nikki anticipates a prevalence of suiting and the incorporation of black designers.

  "We will see a lot of suiting, but also a lot of black designers... something from Sergio Hudson would be great." ([39:34])

• Menswear's Growing Influence: Nikki observes the increasing influence of menswear in mainstream fashion, pointing to figures like Lewis Hamilton and the evolving perception of men's fashion.

  "You're seeing guys in different types of men getting into fashion right now, which gives license to the average guy to care a little bit more about the sweater he's wearing." ([38:43])

• Self-Expression and Accessories: She highlights how black dandyism allows for significant self-expression through tailored pieces and accessories like brooches and pocket watches.

  "There will be a lot of great accessories like watches, brooches, top hats... a lot of the finishing touches on menswear style." ([40:25])

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with reflections on the excitement surrounding current developments in the fashion space and an affirmation of Nikki's passion for her role at Marie Claire.

• Future Excitement: Nikki expresses enthusiasm for the settling of creative directors in fashion houses and the upcoming seasons of design innovation.

  "There's so much to be excited about. September will be fun for sure." ([42:06])

• Closing Remarks: Liv thanks Nikki for her insightful contributions, highlighting the valuable perspectives she brought to the discussion.

  "Thank you so much for coming on. I'm so happy I got to have you on the show." ([42:32])

---

Notable Quotes:

• "I'm dressing for whatever the day may throw at me..." — Nikki Ogunnaike ([05:00])
• "Color is the easiest way to make an impact." — Nikki Ogunnaike ([08:30])
• "I hate sitting in cars in New York City..." — Nikki Ogunnaike ([04:43])
• "If you can push yourself there, then you can probably push yourself in this job." — Nikki Ogunnaike ([23:22])
• "It's important to support and believe in media..." — Nikki Ogunnaike ([26:53])
• "We will see a lot of suiting, but also a lot of black designers..." — Nikki Ogunnaike ([39:34])

---

This episode offers a comprehensive look into Nikki Ogunnaike's approach to fashion, her influential role in media, and her anticipation for the 2025 Met Gala, making it a must-listen for fashion enthusiasts seeking expert insights and inspiration.

Transcript

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[Nikki Ogunake]

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[Unknown]

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of let's get Dressed. It's your host, Liv Perez. Happy Mat Monday. To all those who celebrate to today is Fashion Super Bowl. For those of you who don't know, the Met Gala is tonight. It is always the first Monday in May and it's actually just a fundraiser that raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. And of course with an epic red carpet, tonight will be hosted by Anna Wintour alongside some incredible names like Colman, Domingo, Pharrell Williams and an equally as epic host committee like IO Adebiri, Jeremy O. Harris, Andre 3000 and so many more. So I cannot wait to see what everybody wears.

[Liv Perez]

Make sure you stick around to the.

[Unknown]

End of the episode because our guest today and I get into so much more towards the end of the episode. Today I am joined by the one and only Nikki Ogunake. She is the Editor in Chief of Marie Claire magazine whose career has spanned truly all the incredible magazines out there today, InStyle, GQ, Elle and Harper's Bazaar. She actually got her start at Vanity Fair as an intern and has risen through the ranks to now be an Editor in chief. So we of course talk about what it takes to navigate the magazine world. We Also chat the current media landscape, how it's dramatically changing, and how she's putting her stamp on her Marie Claire. We also chat all things wardrobe, from her deep love of watches to a really compelling case against capsule wardrobes. I hope you guys love this episode. Now let's go get dressed with Nikki Okanake.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Haven't seen you in New York in so long.

[Liv Perez]

I'm just happy anytime I get to see you, no matter what side of the world it's on.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I know.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, it's thrilling. Also, you are, for those of you watching on YouTube, you are, like, perfectly matched to this room today. I'm really happy for the thumbnail that you're gonna get.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Thank you. It's so funny. I had originally planned on wearing a yellow button down, but I switched purple last minute, and I feel like this vibes with it, so I'm excited.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah. Also, I just watched you come in, you came off the subway, you walked here, and I loved watching you completely assemble yourself post subway. The shoes were changed, a watch was put on, the gloss was put on.

[Nikki Ogunake]

So this is the thing, and I think it dovetails nicely with, like, your question that you often ask, like, how do you get dressed? Or, like, what do you dress for?

[Liv Perez]

Oh, she knows the show. She's here, she's ready.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I'm a watcher. I'm a viewer. I'm a listener. I dress for function. Like, I actually hate sitting in cars in New York City. I find it to be like, I get a little car sick. I get boring. It's a waste of time. So if I can take the train anywhere, if it's like less than an hour, I'm in the train. But I live, like, almost half a mile from the train. So it's usually a sneaker on the way to the train, if not a sneaker all day. I don't tend to wear a ton of my jewelry on the train. It's just, like, a comfort level thing for me. And so it's usually in my bag. I'm generally carrying some sort of tote bag. And like, you've told me in the past, like, it really is for function. Like, I'm dressing for whatever the day may throw at me and knowing that I may be out for, you know, six, seven hours without the possibility of changing. Like, the look has to last all day.

[Liv Perez]

You know, that I ride for New York. Like, I wish I still lived here, but I don't. But I will say the one thing I do not miss is leaving my door at, like, 8 or 9am and arriving back at 8 or 9pm Right.

[Nikki Ogunake]

It's like.

[Liv Perez]

And having to dress for the whole day.

[Nikki Ogunake]

No, the whole nine yards. It's wonderful when it's a Saturday and you don't know where your day is going to take you. Yeah, that's.

[Liv Perez]

We romanticize life in New York on Saturdays.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Exactly. It's completely different. But during the week, it definitely is. Like, okay, how is this look gonna get me from, like, when I most likely leave my house, if I have, like, a training session in the morning, you know, I'm leaving my house at, like 7am and then if I have a dinner at night, I'm not getting home until, like, 10pm wow. Isn't that crazy?

[Liv Perez]

Do you have a bag of clothes? What's going on?

[Nikki Ogunake]

The. I have like a. It's sort of like, I have a little bit everywhere, really. So, like, I generally have my computer with me. Like, in my tote bag. I have my computer with me, a small makeup bag. I have a change of clothes that I keep at my Trainers.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Office shoes. So if I need a heel or something, like a shoe that can go with a little bit of everything at the desk. And then I have, like, obviously my closet and stuff at home.

[Liv Perez]

The New York way of life, baby.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Everyone knows it. If you're a New Yorker, like, you get to know it.

[Liv Perez]

I love it.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I know.

[Liv Perez]

I love that you dress for function because I think if you're a New Yorker, you're usually dressing for function. And I also think it's a good, like, rule of thumb to get dressed in the morning. Like, I think a lot of the times I can overthink it. Overdress. Who am I seeing?

[Unknown]

What am I wearing?

[Liv Perez]

And it's just like, hey, like, put on something that's going to get you through the day stylishly, but also comfortably.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Totally. I also think you hit a point sort of in your time here in your life, where you're just sort of like, I need to dress for me. And I need to dress for, like, what my actual life is like. You know, the old adage is like, dress for the job you want. And it's like, no, I actually need to dress for the job I have, which is like living in New York City and running around all over the place. And so. So that means, like, loafers or cute sneakers. Like, never a flip flop or a sandal outside. Because I think that's kind of gross. In New York City is kind of gross. So, you know, it's a sneaker.

[Liv Perez]

Wow. So what are like, what's the take on flip flops being never, never, never.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Beach only.

[Liv Perez]

Beach only.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Okay, I'll do a Birkenstock.

[Liv Perez]

Yep. Yeah. There's like a little platform, maybe a little. A little bit there. Yeah.

[Nikki Ogunake]

But, like, I. I'm actually very amazed by women who wear flip flops in New York City. You probably are not spending that much time outside.

[Liv Perez]

No. So I just wrote on my sub stack about how I think flip flops are coming back. Or they've already been back.

[Nikki Ogunake]

But, like, I see them especially expensive flip flops. I'm like, you live in New York and you, like, listen, I love the row. I get it.

[Liv Perez]

No, no, no, no, no. But that.

[Nikki Ogunake]

The $700 flip flop, the rubber flip.

[Liv Perez]

Flop with the cotton strap for 700.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Couldn't be me.

[Liv Perez]

The people that I see wearing those, I'm like, it's a different lifestyle.

[Ray Porter]

It's a different lifestyle.

[Nikki Ogunake]

It's not what I have.

[Liv Perez]

I'm like, happy for you.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Love that.

[Liv Perez]

Couldn't be me. No.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Never.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, I have just been talking about that. I actually, I styled a look. I haven't posted it yet on my Instagram, but, like, I wore, like, linen shorts with, like, a linen blazer and Havianas.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Cute.

[Liv Perez]

It was cute.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

And I'm a serial curser. Absolutely. Maybe this was the main point I need to get across.

[Unknown]

Guys.

[Liv Perez]

It's like, it's just not for the New Yorkers. It's just not for the New Yorkers.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Like, I mean, listen, more power to you if you are, like, fine having your feet out. You're not feeling like crap. Like, whatever. Like, the New York City life that I'm living, it does not. A flip flop does not fit in.

[Liv Perez]

No.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Watch you see me in a flip flop tomorrow and be like, what?

[Unknown]

Fine.

[Liv Perez]

Just tell me that you washed your feet before you walked in your house. That's all. It's fine. It's okay. So funny. I'm loving what you're wearing today. Thank you. Again, I said you match this backdrop perfectly. But you and I were talking last week about how one of the things I love most about your style is, like, how much color and print you really bring to the table.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

And you do it so effortlessly, and it just always looks so cool. Tell me a little bit about how you do that for people who might be. I always like to say, like, there's definitely that community of people who are color shy. Like, they don't. Like, they have all black in their closet. They don't want to incorporate anything.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah. You Know, I think color is the. The easiest way to make an impact. The. The print for me is generally a stripe. Like, I'm not a floral. A ditzy, floral kind of girl. But I find that if I'm wearing stripes or if I am wearing color, that is, like, a low effort, high impact way of dressing. And so my philosophy sort of is like, okay, instead of wearing a white button down, wear a purple one like the one I'm wearing today, or wear a blue one or wear a striped red one. Like, it's a very similar way of dressing. You just sort of kick it up a notch and, like, don't rely on the Old Faithfuls. You rely on sort of the elevated or the unexpected take of that Old Faithful.

[Liv Perez]

I always say with color, it's like, take that item that you wear all the time. That's, like, really easy, and you don't even think about it. And maybe get it in a color 100%. Like, don't overthink it. We're not talking, like, a red pair of pants here. Like, if you.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Or if we are. Right. It's like, okay, so say you wear jeans every day.

[Liv Perez]

Right.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Get a red pair of jeans and figure out how you can. And then wear that with a white shirt. Like, there are ways to incorporate color, I think, into your wardrobe where you really don't have to overthink it. Instead of wearing a white T shirt, wear a red one.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, I love that. I do see you in stripes a lot.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I'm a big striped girl. I think it's a really great way to look very polished. Yeah, right. But you're at the end of the day, just sort of wearing, like, a T shirt or a button down.

[Liv Perez]

Do you believe in the no horizontal stripe rule?

[Nikki Ogunake]

Oh, no, I don't believe in any rules. And I really, like, have a lot of problems or I struggle with prescriptive fashion. So do I. I think it's kind of lame. Honestly. I don't think it's like, you know, when you think about people who are getting dressed, like, I don't know your life. I don't know what you're going through. If you like to wear horizontal stripes, like, who am I to tell you you can't?

[Liv Perez]

Yeah. We just had this conversation about, like, seasonal colors.

[Nikki Ogunake]

What?

[Liv Perez]

And I saw a friend for lunch the other day, and she was wearing that amazing new Ferragamo bag.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

In, like, a beautiful brown suede. And she was like, ugh, I don't want to get rid of this for summer.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Get rid of it for summer or.

[Liv Perez]

Like, put it away for summer. And I was like, well, you don't have to, like, you're wearing a. She was wearing, like, a red and white striped button down with, like, light blue jeans and loafers. And I was like, I would be wearing what you're wearing right now through the whole summer.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. My entire wardrobe, for the most part, unless it's like, literal functionality of clothing, like, can last all seasons. It should. I think that's the smartest way of shopping and of. Of dressing.

[Liv Perez]

But that's a mentality shift. That's like, I still get people dming me being like, can I wear white after Labor Day?

[Nikki Ogunake]

Stop.

[Liv Perez]

I'm like, guys, I'm literally always in white.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Of course you can.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Nikki Ogunake]

And like. And then, like, who's, like, the fashion police are going to come and get you? Like, who's going to stop you from wearing it?

[Liv Perez]

No. I know. It's crazy.

[Nikki Ogunake]

That's so funny.

[Liv Perez]

We had a great conversation last week about capsule wardrobes.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Hate them.

[Liv Perez]

And I know you hate them. Yeah. I, like, love reading the articles about you being like, yeah, it's a no. And it's interesting. It's another thing I still get asked. I actually. I do an AMA every weekend, and I just got asked this Sunday, hey, Liv, how do I use Pinterest to help make my capsule wardrobe? And I was like, don't.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah. The thing I think is interesting about capsule wardrobes, and I've written about this, like, I've been in fashion media for, like, 15 years now, and the thing that I write about or the thing that sort of, like, irks me about capsule wardrobes and what I've written about often is, again, this sort of taking a prescriptive way of looking at things when it comes to your clothing. I don't think that there should be one capsule wardrobe for each person. Right. Or maybe we, like, ban the word capsule wardrobe. No.

[Liv Perez]

I've been thinking about new words for it. I'm like, is it our core wardrobe?

[Unknown]

Is it our key pieces?

[Liv Perez]

Because if I think about when I travel, like, the things I pull out first that I'm bringing on a trip, you could technically think of that as, like, your capsule wardrobe, like, your favorite pieces that you take everywhere you go.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Right.

[Liv Perez]

But that's not something I think you prescribe to every day.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Right. I think there maybe it's like your workhorses or, like, wardrobe workhorses or whatever it may be.

[Liv Perez]

Sounds like a Marie Claire column coming right up.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I do this. Yeah. But I Think there is something to be said. Like, yes, everyone should have the key pieces that they feel like they can rely on. But, like, what your key pieces are versus mine are going to be different. And that's the exciting part of it. Right. So if I were to write a story, and I think I did, like, 12 years ago, I guess, at this point, and we're talking about capsule wardrobes, I'm saying, like, a jacket, an outfit that you feel a million bucks in every time you wear it. A pair, a bottom of some sort, whether that's like, jeans or trousers or a skirt that you can pull out of your closet if you need to leave the house in five minutes and you need to be polished. Like, those sorts of things that are based more so on feeling rather than you have to have a striped shirt.

[Liv Perez]

I completely agree. I think it's. For me, like, I remember when that was a really big thing right out of COVID I felt really pressured. I was like, oh, I want to have this, like, aesthetic wardrobe where I open up the doors. It's just like my Polly Pocket wardrobe. But I think that is the complete antithetical way to consume fashion.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

For me, I wake up and I dress for feeling. And sometimes I wear that thing that I haven't pulled out in, like, eight months that suddenly, like, has a new life for me that I can't wait to wear. And I think you have to constantly be shopping your own closet and, like, evolving and trying new things. I don't ever want to be wearing, like, the six tops, six shirts, six bottoms that I'm just kind of always mixing and matching.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Right. That's not how I want to do fashion either. Right. Like, and I feel very sort of resolute in my. In my feelings about that. I think that, like, to say you hate a capsule wardrobe can sort of be blasphemous when it comes to.

[Liv Perez]

No shade to the people who. Like, by the way, there are people who want zero decision fatigue in their life and want lives and want the same thing. No shade. I just think if you're someone who wants to enjoy and explore and experience fashion, stop trying to do it.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah, yeah. And also, like, disclaimer, no shade. Like, for anything that we're saying, like, I am talking about me. You could. You don't have to dress the way I dress at all. And that's great. And that's fine as long as you feel good in your clothing. Like, what's that got to do with me? Like, totally. We're good.

[Liv Perez]

So what is the workhorse in your closet. Like what's the thing that you use probably the most?

[Nikki Ogunake]

It's as of right now, it's probably a button down shirt.

[Liv Perez]

My always in a crisp button down shirt. And it looks so good on you.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Thank you. Yeah, I appreciate you saying that.

[Liv Perez]

The dry cleaning secrets to keep those calls.

[Nikki Ogunake]

There are none, actually. There are none. Or for me at least because I literally this morning to my boyfriend was like, how do you iron? How do people get things super crisp?

[Liv Perez]

I disclaimer. I don't know how to iron. I steam.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I'm not steam.

[Liv Perez]

I don't know how to. No. But I don't steam my button downs.

[Nikki Ogunake]

What do you do?

[Liv Perez]

I send them to the dry cleaner.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I know I am. I have half a mind to like once a week just send all the button downs to the dry cleaner and get them pressed.

[Liv Perez]

Yes.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Right. Because then they come back super clean or like super sort of like crispy. But yeah, it's usually a button down shirt, jeans, a loafer of some sort. I wouldn't say my style is pretty, is like preppy, but it does have a bit of a preppy tinge to it. I grew up in Virginia, I went to school in Virginia. So that southern sort of style will always get to me. Polo Ralph Lauren is one of my favorite brands. It always has been, it always will be. And so there's a bit of that to my style and then there's a bit of an athletic tinge to it as well. So that's where like the sneakers come in. Ringer tees, that sort of vibe.

[Liv Perez]

You're also a big runner.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I am a big runner. Yeah. So it's like, like my knees gotta stay.

[Liv Perez]

Totally.

[Nikki Ogunake]

So that's where the sneakers come in as well.

[Liv Perez]

I see you and Joe running and I'm like, couldn't be me but like, wish we could just hang out.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I know. Shout out to Joe Holder. Yeah, I love running has always been a big or. I mean the last 10 years I started running and it's always something that I return to. And so a lot of my fashion I think is influenced by like a sports athletic sort of vibe as well.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, I get this question a lot and I'm actually really and truly the wrong person to answer it. I work out a lot but like I haven't updated my athletic wardrobe in a while. What are some of your go tos?

[Nikki Ogunake]

I wear a lot of Nike.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I think Nike is Nike for a reason. Stuff is really good. I also don't like to spend a ton of like I work out. Like, I really work out.

[Liv Perez]

Right.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Like, I'm running, you know, miles and miles. Just started incorporating pilates into the mix. But for a long time, I've just been a runner and I've been, like, lifting weights. So I really need, like, functional clothing. So it's a lot of Nike, Adidas, New Balance, fabletics, which is like, my hidden secret. I know everyone's like, what?

[Liv Perez]

No, I'm down. I'm telling you, I need a new. I need someone to, like, inject me with some new.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I wear a lot of fabletics, like, for. So for the listeners I have, I'm like, curvy, I guess, a little on the bottom. I probably wear, like, an eight bottom. And so I wear bike shorts, and those bike shorts do not budge. Like, I've run multiple half marathons and fabletics bike shorts, and they are perfect.

[Liv Perez]

That is a great co sign. Yeah, that stuff's important.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

And you can, like, mix and match the sets, right?

[Nikki Ogunake]

Totally. Yeah. You can buy that. Like, they have a program where you can get, like. I don't actually don't know exactly what the program is anymore, but I buy the pieces individually. They make great sports bras, great bike shorts, cutie little tennis skirts. All of the things.

[Liv Perez]

Love.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

What's been your most recent purchase?

[Nikki Ogunake]

Oh, I was in Paris, so I went a little.

[Liv Perez]

It's impossible not to. I'm sorry. What are you supposed to do?

[Nikki Ogunake]

It's tough. And it really is like this. If you are an avid shopper. Yeah, right. You know that if you are in Paris or if you're in Europe and you like luxury items, you should buy them there 100%.

[Liv Perez]

We all go with a list.

[Nikki Ogunake]

We go with the list. They are, in fact, cheaper there. You get your VAT back. That, like, that's the strategy. So I got some Chanel shoes. I got, like, a Chanel little.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, we went to Chanel Oxford.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah, we went to Chanel. We got some shoes. What else did I get? That might have been the most recent, but I have the shoppies. They're coming on. Like, I can feel them. It's a new season. As soon as it gets sunny outside, I'm like, let's go.

[Liv Perez]

Did you just say, I have the shoppies? Oh, no. You just titled a feeling that. I. I'm now gonna say once a week to my husband Alex. I have the shoppies.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I have the shoppies.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, I have the shoppies, too. That usually happens around when, like, a new season's happening, and I can't. There's always like a two week span between seasons where I don't know what to wear.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Right.

[Liv Perez]

Like, I'm just like, yeah, me now I'm still in. Like even yesterday when it was warm out, I wore a leather jacket.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Right.

[Liv Perez]

I get seasonally confused.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yes.

[Liv Perez]

And that's when my shoppies really kicked off.

[Nikki Ogunake]

That's when you're like, I know how to solve this problem.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Nikki Ogunake]

So I'm like, I'm just gonna go.

[Liv Perez]

Buy new things and I'm just gonna like figure it out.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah. Oh, I also went to Bali because I did. I was in Milan and Paris. So Bali is incredible right now.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah. There was the current CEO of the RealReal was just on the cutting room floor and she actually said that Bali is flying at the RealReal right now.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah, it's really, really good. So Simone Belotti, I think is his last name was the, the creative director. He's now leaving and going to Jill Saunders. So we'll still have him in the mix, which is really great. But I think the stuff that he was doing for Bally was like right up my alley in terms of dressing. A little bit preppy but super functional. So I got some jackets, some blazers there.

[Liv Perez]

Wow. Good to know. Yeah, I love that a podcast comes on and like tells me the deep cuts.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Get it now. Like one more season. Thank you. One more season with Simone's Bally and then he's off to Jill Sonder.

[Liv Perez]

Good to know. Can't wait.

[Unknown]

While we're talking about shoppies, we have to talk about my current go to for the shoppies and that is Jenny Kane. If you don't have anything from the brand, now is such a good time to try something because for a limited time our listeners are getting 15% off your first order with the code live. If you see me on any given day, I am usually wearing one great thing from Jenny Kane because that's just how good their pieces are. I have pants from them. I have so many sweaters and right now they have so many good ones for spring and summer. There's one that I post so often and it's the Flynn cashmere sweater because I'm wearing it 80% of my life. It's a V neck sweater that you can wear tucked or untucked. I literally wear it with jeans, skirts, sweatpants. It's kind of my go to in my closet and I have it in every color for every occasion.

[Liv Perez]

So.

[Unknown]

So if you haven't tried anything, I highly recommend that being your first try. And of course they have so Many other great lightweight sweaters for spring and summer, too. And of course, tis the season. A lot of you have been asking me about where to find good raffia bags. And Jenny Kane has such a good one. It's great for, like, the farmer's market, the beach. It holds so much and it's so well made that you'll have it for so many summers to come. So with spring around the corner, go find your new summer uniform at Jenny Kane again, our listeners will get 15% off your first order when you use the code live at checkout. That's 15% off your first order at J-E N N I K-A-Y-N-E.com promo code. Liv. That's me. Let getting dressed be one less thing to worry about.

[Liv Perez]

How did you get your start in fashion?

[Nikki Ogunake]

Oh, that's a good question. So I always loved fashion. I grew up. My mom was a shopper. I remember, like, boxes of Delmen shoes, like, all over the house. And so I think I've always. And she wore, like, trench coats and was really into scarves. So it's. No, I think when they saw me first go into the fashion, they were like, what? Like, what's happening right now? But it's no wonder. I was surrounded by clothing for my whole life. And my dad would make us watch like, 60 Minutes every weekend with him. So of course, I'm a journalist who writes about fashion primarily. So it sort of started when I was a kid, and then when I graduated, you know, did like, all this schooling and all of this stuff. And when I graduated from college, I went to University of Virginia. I studied media studies and sociology. There wasn't, like, a real sort of journalism program there just yet. And so I moved to New York. And I had interned in the past, but I moved to New York without a job. My parents said that they would front me six months of rent, thankfully. So, you know, I was able to sort of like, share an apartment on the Upper east side with a roommate. And I worked at Vanity Fair. That was my first job out of school in the fashion closet. And I just sort of climbed. Climbed the ranks from there.

[Liv Perez]

I mean, you've quite literally worked at every magazine.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I have. I've worked, yeah. Vanity Fair, InStyle, Glamour, Elle, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, and I'm at Marie Claire.

[Liv Perez]

You're truly like the archetype story of someone who has risen in the ranks at incredible publications to finally land the editor in chief spot. In your mind, what do you think that takes? Like, what is it to people right now, listening that want to be in this field, to rise to the top.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I mean, you have to have stamina. Honestly, I remember. So I was talking to Hilary Kerr, my boss, and she was like, one of the reasons that I knew that you could do this job is because you're a runner. And that sort of, like, you see the world through a runner's eyes and you do things that don't scare you, really. And if you can push yourself there, then you can probably push yourself in this job. And I do think a lot of that. What I took from that is that I have stamina, that I do things that, like, aren't. I can sort of talk myself into doing things that, like, may look hard on paper or may seem hard, but really, if you come up with a plan, you can sort of. You can really just do it, and you just have to stick to it.

[Liv Perez]

Honestly, what is that day to day like? Like, I always wonder, you know, obviously you're not in the weeds. I know that you still write, but what is kind of by the hour is every day different.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Every day is different when you're an editor in chief. And I think that that is the fun part. You know, I could wake up this morning. I was working on my newsletter. Self Checkout comes out every Saturday. Thank you. So I was working on Self Checkout last week. You know, halfway through the week, we were recording Nice Talk, my podcast. We are finishing the closing touches on our May motherhood issues. So I'm working with the writers and with the internal editors to get that into a good place. Lunches. I have a gala this evening. Like, it's. It's literally all over the place. Yeah, it's nonstop. But I think that's the fun part. Like, if you like that, no two days are going to be the same. This is a job for you. If you want a job where you're just going to sit behind a desk all day, I promise you this is not it. And it's work. Like, that's the thing that I think a lot of people may not understand about working in fashion or being a content creator. Like, this is actual work. And like, these. These are some of the hardest working people that I know.

[Liv Perez]

It's been really fun to see you kind of expand on these preexisting ideas that Marie Claire has had. When you started your editor in chief role, was there, like, a very specific, you know, memo that you were like, these are the things I want to change, and this is the voice and tone that, like, I want to bring to my Marie Claire.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah, it's. I was actually just looking back at my edit memo that I did for the job a couple months ago and it's. I sort of go back to it every once in a while to make sure that like I'm still on track and like checking off the things I wanted to do and we're there. Like, I think of this job sort of in three year chunks. So I'm a year and a half in right now. A year? A little over a year and a half. And like there's a lot to be done, but we've been able to accomplish a lot in the, in the time that I've been here. And so we're just sort of cooking. I'm excited.

[Liv Perez]

That's super exciting. Yeah, I, I know. I love to see it. I feel like you have such a good grasp on the brand itself, but you've also brought in a really modern touch to it.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah, you know, it's, it's, it's easy in this sort of situation. Like, I think that I look, I look at editor in Chiefs and I think about the role and I think about the women who have had this role before me. They left me a really good blueprint.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Like, I did not have to change much. Like, Marie Claire has been around in the US for 30 years. Incredible women have been at the helm of it. And so for me it was just sort of like bringing my own, as you said, my own touch, my own sort of like sauce to it and really just bringing it into this new era.

[Liv Perez]

I'm curious how you feel about the current state of print media. I know you guys have two times a year, right?

[Nikki Ogunake]

Twice.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, twice a year. But also, like, I love seeing you have your monthly column. There's like substack out there. Like, what do you think about where it's at right now, especially as somebody at the helm of it all.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Listen, I think it is easy to be pessimistic about media. I think it's easy to be pessimistic about a lot of things. And so I think a lot of people default to that. But I work really hard and I wake up every day and work really hard about to find the joy in what I do, the joy in media. And I can get down and I understand that, like, it's not easy, but I think that the ability to come in to tell important stories, to feature women who I love and admire and appreciate, like, I, you know, I can't be too mad about that every day. And I think that when we think about the state of media, it's important a to support journalism. So please pay for the magazine. Right. So I can keep doing the thing that we're doing. But I also think it's important to support and believe in media, especially in our current Democratic state. It's very important to support and believe in media and media literacy. I subscribe to the New York Times, I subscribe to New York Mag. I think the work that they're doing is really important and really incredible. And so. So I think it's important to put your money where your mouth is. And so I pay for those things.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, it's so interesting because I would love to just be a fly on the wall in your day to day work in the sense that you're working really hard to honor this legacy brand that, as you were saying, has been around for 30 years. But there are so many other things popping up that are new forms of medium. Like I mentioned substack before. Where are you finding the intersection and feeling excited about these new things, but also honoring this, you know, legacy, heritage New York brand?

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah. You know, I always say, and I think Joe Holder says this as well, like, everybody can eat. There is room at this table if you are good at your job. Right?

[Liv Perez]

Like, totally.

[Nikki Ogunake]

You will, you will have a room. You will have a space at the table. Like, you can eat.

[Liv Perez]

Yep.

[Nikki Ogunake]

There is a reason why these substackers are so good at their job. And who am I to turn my nose up at them?

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Nikki Ogunake]

In fact, I'm like, hey, do you want to come write for me?

[Liv Perez]

There you go. Like, there you go.

[Nikki Ogunake]

You're super successful at what you're doing over there. You're doing a really great job. Jess Graves, she came to me and she was like, I want to do a monthly column for Marie Claire. I said, bet, let's go. What do you want to do?

[Liv Perez]

Ooh, that's interesting. What in your mind is the way to nail pitch?

[Nikki Ogunake]

Oh, that's a good question. She had a very clear idea of what she wanted it to be. She saw a white space that she was filling that we weren't covering on the site. She came like, she came in just like, with a very clear idea of her value add to Marie Claire. It wasn't like, I wanna write for Marie Claire. And you guys have done this story 15 times, but I wanna tell this story. And it wasn't. Here's a story idea that I have. I don't necessarily think it's a Marie Claire story, but it's A story I wanna write. So can I write it for you? Like you really have to be cognizant of the place that you are pitching to and the value add of the story that you were pitching.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

I think you have to know your worth and what you can bring to a platform that's not already there and how your unique voice could bring to the table. Yeah, I think that's amazing that she pitched you. I feel like we're going to be seeing so much more of that.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I hope so.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah. I'm obsessed with Substack.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I am too.

[Liv Perez]

Truly. Like I. I was on Twitter for a long time and I got my career, I got my start writing for Forbes and I've been missing a place where I feel like is more kind of lo fi thoughts versus Instagram. That feels really curated.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

And TikTok is more visually lo fi, but Substack is my place.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Substack is also great because there's not for better or for worse. Right. You're not dealing with advertisers in the same way. You're not dealing with those sorts of guardrails. In some regards that's not that great because you can see sort of media popping up that is unsavory, I guess you can say. But then there's also media and there are also people who are doing really great things. Like Delia's Hate Reads. Like she writes this newsletter called Deez Nuts, which I think is so funny.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, I've seen that.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah. It's actually hysterical. But she also just really, she launched this series called Hate Reads where everyone. Where a couple people will write essays on things they hate. And that's funny. And that's something that like you may not see in traditional media, but on Substack you can do that.

[Liv Perez]

And it works there.

[Nikki Ogunake]

It works.

[Liv Perez]

I mean, the other day I'm going to Tokyo with my husband next month and there's a substack I love called the Window Seat. And their chat is just people asking for recommendations from other people in the ch. And I put in there, I was like, hey guys, I'm going to Japan. Any recs? And I got like 15 replies with amazing recommendations.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah, I think people are really missing community. They're really missing the community that used to exist on, you know, Zenya or livejournal blog spot. Right, Exactly.

[Liv Perez]

Deep cut.

[Nikki Ogunake]

All of those places.

[Liv Perez]

I think what I really love about Step Stack is everyone that's on there is, if they're there for a specific topic, they're very passionate about that topic.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah. And so when I started at Marie Claire, I saw. I saw a bit of the substack sort of rise of substack happening. Becky Malinsky launched Substack. Laurel Panton launched a substack. Leandra launched one. And those are all people who were editors with me.

[Liv Perez]

Yes.

[Nikki Ogunake]

And I saw the success that they were having. I saw how this was just a lot of the stuff that we take for granted as fashion people that we know. And so I came to Marie Claire and I was like, oh, I'm starting a newsletter. And so we've done it for. I mean, I started it in November 2023, I wanna say. So, like, it's been. I've been at it for a really long time, and it's been fun. I miss the fact that we can't have, like, a dialogue necessarily. I'm just, like, talking to my readers, and I think that that's the good thing that substack provides. But, you know, I know that for me as a writer, it keeps my muscle, my writing muscle strong, and it provides a service to my readers that they're really excited about.

[Liv Perez]

I know you're also a big watch collector, which I love.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I am.

[Liv Perez]

How did that happen? Where did that come from?

[Nikki Ogunake]

I got into. I've always liked watches. I've always felt like they're sort of like an exclamation point or a finishing touch, a period on the end of your look. And so I've. Yeah, I've always been into them. During the pandemic 2020, I got super into them. We were all sitting at home. We didn't really have much to do.

[Liv Perez]

And she was just shopping watches.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I was just shopping watches. No, I was actually running Harper's Bazaar website and looking for new writers. And Bryn Walner had just launched Dime Piece. And so I asked her to join as a contributor and gave her some of her first bylines, which I'm, like, so excited to say. It's been, like, really incredible to watch her career flourish.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Nikki Ogunake]

It's also been incredibly detrimental to my wallet. Your watch? Cause she opened my eyes to a lot of things.

[Liv Perez]

Yep.

[Nikki Ogunake]

And, yeah, it was sort of off to the races from there. I got my first sort of big girl watch in 2020. I got the Cartier Pan Love.

[Liv Perez]

Beautiful.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Do you have it?

[Liv Perez]

No, mine's not on. I have a Cartier tank that was passed on from my mom. Okay. And it's actually. I didn't know this because she let me borrow it once, and then I. But it's a tank from. I think the 80s that they actually don't make anymore. Like, the font is really unique and I brought it in to repair it and they were like, this is a really specific era of tank. Like, keep this one forever.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah, that's interesting that you say that. So my first watch was the Panther, like from the Cartier store. But since then, I don't really buy watches in stores anymore. I'm much more of a, like, getting what I couldn't have when I was younger. So the watch I'm wearing today is the Cartier Roadster from the 2000s. Thank you. From the 2000s. It's a watch that I wanted when I was an assistant at Vanity Fair. I of course, was making like $4, so there's no way I could possibly buy it. So this was my second watch and I got this one on Rebag. I want to say, oh, wow, what's.

[Liv Perez]

On your wish list right now?

[Nikki Ogunake]

Oh, man.

[Unknown]

I know.

[Liv Perez]

It's interesting too, because I feel like we're in this era where like, watches kind of out of nowhere became the thing. Like the tank. It was interesting when my mom had passed down that tank to me. And then it became a huge thing last year. And I remember the Cartier crash that Sofia Richie was wearing on a podcast went viral. Like, it's really a moment for watches. So what's on your wish list?

[Nikki Ogunake]

There is. It is a moment for watches right now. So I'm just coming off of Watches and Wonders, which is the trade fair in Geneva where you get to see what every. What all the watches that are coming out for the next year. And there are two from there that I'm really coveting right now. I want the TAG Heuer F1. Heuer. TAG Heuer F1 watch, which is like a sporty little watch that sort of fills a white space in my watch wardrobe, if you will, right now. And then the Cartier Santos Dumas is coming out in a small. I have very tiny wrists, so I don't like big wrists on my personal wrist. And so that's coming out in a small. And I'm really excited about that. A two tone small.

[Liv Perez]

They're just killing it with watches. Every watch that I see is a Cartier watch.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Cartier is really incredible. They've just done such a great job of just capturing. I don't know what everyone wants right now.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah, I don't know what my next watch will be. I don't think I'm a big watch girl.

[Nikki Ogunake]

What do you have? What's in the tag?

[Liv Perez]

I just have the tank.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Okay.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Well.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, no. I have a Tag Heuer one that they so graciously gifted me again few years ago. And it's just a classic platinum, black face, diamonds around it. It's so beautiful. I wear it all the time. I don't know. I feel like I would love, like, a. I think that the small Rolex has a. It's called a lady Rolex.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah, the lady date dress.

[Liv Perez]

Lady day dress. Like that. I love the two tones. They're so beautiful. I feel like maybe that's on my wish list for the future.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

But I need to really, like, be obsessed with it before I obviously take the plunge. I also love the Cartier one that looks like a bangle.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Oh, yes, the Benoit.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah. It has, like, a little. It's a banoir because the face looks like a bathtub.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, that's cute.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah. So, I mean, that's a good one. That's a definitely. That's a really good one. I think the fun thing about watches right now and the way that I buy watches is I don't really buy according to trend. I just buy again. To feeling like, yeah, to what you love. Yeah, to what I love. And things will come in and out of style and, you know, and you'll.

[Liv Perez]

Just magically have them.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Just magically have them. Like the Piaget Polo, That's a good watch that everyone is coveting right now. And Piaget just reissued it, but they reissued it in a bigger form, and everyone wants the small one.

[Liv Perez]

I love that this episode is coming out on the morning of Met Monday, so I'd be remiss if I feel like we don't touch on it a little bit.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah, let's. Totally.

[Liv Perez]

What are you excited to see tonight?

[Nikki Ogunake]

Met Gala Monday is, like, one of my favorite days. Honestly. It's so fun.

[Liv Perez]

So fun. I was here last year, and I've never been to the Met, but just being in the city, it's electric. It's electric.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah. Yeah. The red, like, red carpet is so fun to watch. We cover it as a team. I don't necessarily have to, like, be on covering anymore, but I'm generally in the mix just because I'm curious about what the team likes, what they don't like. Like, what are we talking about?

[Unknown]

Yep.

[Nikki Ogunake]

I love that carpet. I think people are always down to take a risk. So this season, this year's theme is a nod to tailoring and black dandyism as well. And so I think we're gonna see a lot of suits. We'll See a lot of suiting one way or another. I'm excited to see Zendaya. She's been to the Met Gala seven times. I'm always excited to see what she turns out. I'm excited to see Rihanna. Now Rocky has to get there on time because he's a co host, right? So he has to be there early. And I'm wondering, I'm like, she'll be last. Will she be last? Will she show up on her own? Are they gonna show up together? I love the way that they dress together. They clearly just have such a blast together. So I'm excited to see that Colman Domingo is such a star, and he's an incredible actor, but also an incredible just lover of fashion. Excited to see what he wears. Janelle Monae. Janelle Monae is an incredible example of what, like, a female black dandy looks like. And she always fun with suiting, so I'm sure she's going to kill it as well.

[Liv Perez]

This is the first year that the Met has done all menswear since 2003. What do you think that says about just the state of menswear in general?

[Nikki Ogunake]

You know, having worked at gq, it's been funny to. To watch this sort of menswear go from, like, a niche, sort of enthusiast category to really taking over and really infiltrating everyday life. Like, you see tunnel fits really becoming a thing. Whether it's NBA, college, like, tunnel fit becoming a thing. You see somebody like Lewis Hamilton, who is also co host for the Met gala, like, his F1 looks incredible. I just think you're seeing lots of guys in different types of men getting into fashion right now, which gives license to the average guy to, like, care a little bit more about the sweater he's wearing or where his jeans are coming from. Really push it a little bit.

[Liv Perez]

Since this is obviously the theme is about tailoring, but specifically men's tailoring. What do you think we're gonna see on the ladies?

[Nikki Ogunake]

Well, it's interesting because the theme is, like, technically a nod to Black dandyism. This is actually something we should get into because people don't know, or most people don't know that there is a theme for the exhibit. There's a dress code, and then the exhibit is usually inspired by something. So there are, like, a bunch of words always thrown around around the Met Gala. So the exhibit is basically about black dandyism, and that's inspired by Monica L. Miller's book, Slaves to Fashion. And so I think on the women, we will see a Lot of suiting. But we'll also see people, a lot of black designers, which is gonna be really exciting. I hope that we see a lot of Grace Wells Bonner and we see a lot of Fear of God by Jerry Lorenzo. Maybe some Dapper Dan in the mix. I hope somebody digs into the archives and gets something from him.

[Liv Perez]

Oh, that would be incredible.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Something from Sergio Hudson would be great. He's been dressing Keke Palmer recently, so that's gonna be incredible. So I think on the women, we'll probably see a lot of suiting, but the dress code is also, you know, tailored for you. So that is a nod to sort of personal style as well. So there's a bit of a question mark, a bit of a. A mystery there. A lot of people don't know that, like, the Met Gala is not just a red carpet. The Met Gala is a fundraiser. Fundraiser for a huge.

[Liv Perez]

It funds the entire museum for the whole year.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Right. So like they're doing it for purpose. Like there is a reason that it's, you know, the exhibit is themed in that way and at the end of the day, it's to like have fun on a red carpet and also make a lot of money.

[Liv Perez]

I think we'll see that too. Cause dandyism was also about a lot of self expression after a time of oppression.

[Nikki Ogunake]

100%.

[Liv Perez]

So between that and the tailoring for you, I think we'll see a lot of really amazing outfits that both are inspired by great tailoring, but also a lot of like incredible self expression and personal style.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah. And I think we'll see a lot of great accessories. So watches, brooches, top hats, canes. Like a lot of the scarves, like a lot of the pocket watches. Yes, exactly. A lot of the finishing touches on menswear style that is obviously can be co opted, if you will, or worn by women. We'll be seeing a lot of that on the red carpet too.

[Liv Perez]

I can't wait. It is one of the most fun nights in fashion.

[Nikki Ogunake]

It's the best.

[Liv Perez]

It's our Super Bowl.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Absolutely.

[Liv Perez]

I get texts from friends that morning being like, happy super bowl day. Have the best time.

[Nikki Ogunake]

It's like, who are you excited to see? Yeah, it brings a lot of people in.

[Liv Perez]

No, I'm really excited. What is exciting you right now about the fashion space?

[Nikki Ogunake]

What's exciting me about the fashion space? That's a good question. I think that we are. There are so many changes in the creative directors of the fashion houses these days. I'm really just ready for everyone to get settled and get to work. Like, I don't want to hear any more about anyone changing anything. Like, I want off that Ferris wheel. I want everyone to get in their offices, start sketching. Let's get to work.

[Liv Perez]

There's much to be excited about.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

September will be fun for sure. Yeah.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

Thank you so much for coming on.

[Nikki Ogunake]

Thank you for having me.

[Liv Perez]

I'm so happy I got to have you on the show.

[Nikki Ogunake]

It was a blast. Thank you for having me.

[Unknown]

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