Lauren Santo Domingo’s Philosophy for Shopping Well, Living Authentically and Dressing Chic

Summary

The Good Buy: Lauren Santo Domingo’s Philosophy for Shopping Well, Living Authentically and Dressing Chic

Released: December 6, 2024

In this engaging episode of The Good Buy, Harper's Bazaar editors Leah Chernikoff and Lynette Nylander sit down with Lauren Santo Domingo, a luminary in the New York fashion scene. As an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, co-founder and Chief Brand Officer of Moda Operandi, and Artistic Director of Tiffany Ho, Lauren brings a wealth of experience and impeccable style insights to the conversation. This summary delves into the key discussions, insights, and philosophies shared during their conversation.

Personal Style Philosophy

Lauren Santo Domingo begins by discussing her evolving yet authentic approach to personal style. Growing up split between the East and West Coasts, Lauren describes her style as a blend of classical East Coast elegance and West Coast vibrancy. She emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself while allowing style to evolve.

“I try not to take things too seriously. I grew up on the east coast and the west coast, so I feel like I have a classical east coast side, but then, you know, from the West Coast. I love color and to be playful”
— Lauren Santo Domingo [04:57]

Inspirations and Mood Boards

When asked about her inspirations, Lauren reflects on how her admiration for older, accomplished women has shaped her style. She cites figures like Adida Blair and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy as key influences, appreciating how they balanced sophistication with a relatable warmth.

“When I was in my 20s... Kate Moss was dating Johnny Depp... realized that style and the way you present yourself could sort of tell a different story...”
— Lauren Santo Domingo [05:54]

Lauren highlights the juxtaposition between public personas and private realities, noting how these role models used fashion to navigate their identities and social circles.

Approach to Shopping

Lauren shares her strategic approach to shopping, influenced by her dual life uptown and downtown in Manhattan. She strives to balance accessibility with exclusivity, ensuring her wardrobe accommodates both sophisticated and edgy environments without the need for constant changes.

“I feel like I'm a little cooler than, like, the ladies on the Upper East Side, but I'm definitely, like, a lot uncooler than all the girls downtown...”
— Lauren Santo Domingo [10:51]

As the co-founder of Moda Operandi, Lauren emphasizes the importance of making high-fashion accessible to everyday women, bridging the gap between runway exclusivity and public availability.

Memorable Purchases and Shopping Rules

Lauren recounts her first significant designer purchase: a Hermes belt with the iconic dog design. This purchase not only symbolized her entry into the world of high fashion but also underscored the value of timeless pieces.

She introduces her personal "one in, two out" rule, a method to prevent overconsumption by requiring the rotation out of two items for every new purchase.

“If I buy one black sweater, I have to be willing to rotate out two. That helps me... I can lie to myself. I'm like, there's no referee here.”
— Lauren Santo Domingo [15:46]

This rule ensures that her wardrobe remains curated and functional, preventing clutter and encouraging thoughtful purchasing.

Regretful Purchases and Style Evolution

Reflecting on her style journey, Lauren shares a memorable, albeit unconventional, Met Gala outfit designed by Alexander McQueen. While initially feeling it was a risky choice, she has grown to appreciate its uniqueness and the experience it represented.

“I still love it. I stand by it. But it was a bit ridiculous... It was as McQueen as it could be.”
— Lauren Santo Domingo [21:19]

This anecdote illustrates her willingness to experiment and embrace bold fashion statements, even if they challenge conventional tastes.

Repeat Buys and Wardrobe Staples

Lauren emphasizes the foundational role of proper undergarments in her wardrobe. She advocates for high-quality, well-fitting bras to enhance the silhouette and overall appearance of outfits.

“I always want to be like, you need to wear a proper bra if you're going to be wearing proper bra. It makes all the difference in the world.”
— Lauren Santo Domingo [23:09]

Additionally, she highlights staple items such as tailored coats and versatile boots that seamlessly blend functionality with style, ensuring her wardrobe remains both practical and chic.

Dream Buys

Looking ahead, Lauren expresses her desire for exquisitely designed boots and the latest offerings from The Row. She discusses specific features that make these items perfect additions to her collection, such as flattering heel heights and sophisticated silhouettes.

“It's the perfect boot because it feels like it's tall, right? It's tall without being, like, slutty. It's high but flattering.”
— Lauren Santo Domingo [27:43]

These dream buys reflect her commitment to maintaining a wardrobe that balances elegance with modern trends.

Conclusion

Lauren Santo Domingo’s insights offer valuable lessons in intentional shopping, the importance of quality over quantity, and the significance of maintaining an authentic personal style. Her disciplined approach, coupled with a passion for making high fashion accessible, underscores her status as a leading tastemaker in the fashion industry.

As Leah Chernikoff aptly summarizes towards the end of their conversation, Lauren embodies the balance between having her "shit together" while embracing the inevitable messiness of life, a testament to her enduring influence and impeccable style.

“I always just wanted to look like someone who had my shit together and wasn't a total mess. So it's working.”
— Lauren Santo Domingo [32:31]

This episode of The Good Buy not only showcases Lauren’s fashion expertise but also provides listeners with actionable philosophies for shopping well, living authentically, and dressing chic.

Transcript

[Lynette Nylander]

Harper's Bazaar's the Goodbye is sponsored by Google. Hi, I'm Lynette Nylander, executive digital director of Harper's Bazaar.

[Leah Chernikott]

And I'm Leah Chernikott, the executive editor of Harper's Bazaar. And this is the Goodbye, where we.

[Lynette Nylander]

Invite celebrities, designers, models, and tastemakers to talk shop. What they buy, where they got it, and why it matters. Okay, another episode of the Goodbye. And what is your goodbye this week, Leah?

[Leah Chernikott]

Here is. One of my shopping problems is that I always remain in, like, hope that, like, I'm going to find a more perfect pair of jeans. That's really what I wear every day.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yes, you do.

[Leah Chernikott]

And because it's my staple and my, like, foundation, I keep thinking, like, I can keep going. I can find a pair that's even more perfect. Lately, I'm obsessed with. With vintage Levi's because I found out that the 501 is sort of like an elusive dream and I should just give up. It's really about the 550s and the 505s. But then also, is it about, like, Silver Lake or Feel or whatever brand? Something's gonna be my Cinderella jeans. So I'm always letting the Internet help me, you know, so constantly trolling, searching Google, and just seeing, like, which companies are, like, making the jeans that I'm looking for right now. But that way I can sort of, like, see the breadth of options. And I really. I'm always trying to also, like, factor vintage in there, too. And then I try to get specific too. Like, I'm looking for straight leg, mid.

[Lynette Nylander]

Rise, certain wash. Yeah, exactly.

[Leah Chernikott]

Yeah, that's my goodbye. But I'm, like, eyeing a pair of vintage 505s right now.

[Lynette Nylander]

A set of jeans is a lifelong bow. So I think that that is. Is something that you'll be on. You'll be on the journey to find the perfect je. I mean, people go, it's a lifelong journey. It's a lifelong journey.

[Leah Chernikott]

What is your goodbye this week?

[Lynette Nylander]

Okay, this goodbye was.

[Leah Chernikott]

You're looking away.

[Lynette Nylander]

I sigh. Yeah, it's a little extravagant, but post Paris, I was really looking for a piece that I. A forever piece. I'm always.

[Leah Chernikott]

Why? Why? So did Paris Fashion Week just give you the shoppies or what?

[Lynette Nylander]

I think it always does. You can't help when you're seeing collections from the best designers in the world and you're seeing things in different shapes and colors and you're thinking about your own wardrobe and how to integrate that in. And I was really thinking about a perfect leather jacket. And there are so Many amazing leather jackets out there. Shout outs to the Phoebe Filo black one with the peplum. Peplum. I mean it is incredible. I would love that jacket. I still have some sort of like long lead four year plan to save up for that jacket, but alas, that's what you'll need. Yeah, I need four years. I, I splurged on a Loewe jacket. It's chocolate brown and it has incredibly butter soft leather. And I think we've been so lucky this season. There have been such incredible leather jackets and kind of different reiterations whether it be high funnel necks or volume. And this one kind of takes all the best tenants of kind of classic leather jackets and makes it modern and new and fresh. It's Loewe's Jonathan Anderson. I'm completely obsessed with it. I shouldn't have bought it, but I did. I just threw caution to the wind. And I know it's a good one because everywhere I've been, I've been on the subway. I was on the subway, people stopping.

[Leah Chernikott]

To talk to you and people are.

[Lynette Nylander]

Stopping and telling me how much they love the jacket. And I think that is really a testament to when you buy something forever and even if it's pricey, you can really, yeah, you can really see the quality of this jacket. So I'm very excited about it and you will be seeing me wearing it all winter because I have to get down the cost per wear. So don't judge me. Today on the podcast we have Lauren Santo Domingo, a fixture on the New York scene, a woman of impeccable taste and truly one of the best dressed women in the world.

[Leah Chernikott]

Her style is refined yet daring. And guys, this is someone who clearly loves fashion. You can tell when you look at her street style or her red carpet looks. But a gala outfit? This is someone who is having fun getting dressed.

[Lynette Nylander]

She is an entrepreneur, an investor, a philanthropist, the co founder and chief brand officer of Moda Operandi and the artistic director of Tiffany Ho.

[Leah Chernikott]

Welcome to the Goodbye, Lauren Santo Domingo.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Thanks for having me. It's nice to be here.

[Lynette Nylander]

So I feel like I have seen images of what you've been wearing for at least the last 20 years. I mean, I thought about pictures of you in magazines and at fashion shows and you were really a part of being captured on street style blogs when that was a big thing. Describe your personal style philosophy, I suppose.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Well, thank you. Thank you for the nice introduction. I would still say evolving. I would still say as much as it's evolving, it's still very true. To who I am. I grew up on the east coast and the west coast, so I feel like I have a, you know, a classical east coast side, but then, you know, from the West Coast. I love color and to be playful, and I try not to take things too seriously.

[Lynette Nylander]

And who's on your mood board? Who was some of the inspirations and people and brands that you looked at and thought about when you get dressed?

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

You know, I would say that when I've always sort of looked to the generations, like, before me, you know, I've always, like, looked ahead. So when I was in my 20s, I was, like, kind of a mess and, you know, went out a lot. It was sloppy, and I just didn't really have my shit together.

[Leah Chernikott]

So who does at that point? Thank you.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

So, you know, I always look to, like, older women who, you know, it was kind of like women in their 40s or women that were older than me that I felt like they had their life together and they had everything figured out. And, you know, there was this moment, you know, the 90s. Kate Moss was dating Johnny Depp, and there were stories of them. They were partying, they were trashing hotel rooms. It was wild. It was crazy. It looked like a lot of fun. And then all of a sudden, they attended the Cannes Film Festival, and they were perfectly dressed and well turned out, and they just projected this image of, like, you know, a proper couple that had their shit together. And that, I think, for me, was this sort of pivotal moment where I realized that style and the way you present yourself could sort of tell a different story. And I think that was the moment where I'm like, okay, I can just fake it for a little bit and make it look like I have my shit together, when in reality, I got 45 minutes of sleep. I still have, like, you know, bar stamps on my hands. And so I think that was sort of a pivotal moment. But I definitely always look for, you know, women who are older than me. So right now, I'm in my 40s. I'm looking at these, like, old broads who live, you know, decadent lives. They go to parties, have long lunches.

[Lynette Nylander]

Name.

[Leah Chernikott]

Name. Is this Adida Blair?

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

You know, Adida Blair, like Annette de la Renta, you know, these fabulous women. They love art, they love culture. They seem to take advantage of all the great things in the city, museums and shows. And I find that something very aspirational. And then when I was in my 20s, I look to Carolyn Bissette. Grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, where I went. She was very Good friends with my babysitter, a girl who lived down the street that I was obsessed with, who was older than me. And so I'd always sort of been following her from afar, even when I was in my teens. And you know what. What I love about that and what really I relate to is that when you look at pictures of Carolyn Bissette Kennedy, right, she looks really icy and stoic and very serious, but she was wild. And she. You know, from people that are close to her, they tell you she swore she was loud, she was boisterous. She was not at all like her father. And that's also something that I really relate to because I feel like, you know, when people meet me, they often say they're very surprised that I'm outgoing and I'm friendly and I'm warm, and they're, like, surprised that I'm not a total biatch. And there's something about that. And I feel like, you know, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy has this image that she's super unapproachable, but the reality was quite the opposite from that. And I do feel that she used her clothing to sort of put people at bay. And I wonder sometimes if that, you know, as she became more settled in that role, I also married into a family that was quite serious and proper, and, you know, you find yourself wanting to fit into that mold. I definitely have gotten more comfortable over the years, and I wonder if the same would have happened for her if she would have settled in and how would her style have sort of evolved.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah, I think that's a really astute observation, because I think she's lived on in this romanticism because we have very limited photos of her. You know, she was. She was famous for a certain time, and then she was gone. And people kind of pour over these photos and kind of project their own thoughts onto her and the way she dressed. And it's. It's. It's affirming for you to say, you know, she was. You remember her as a warm, inviting person. And I also think it's interesting because I was lucky enough to be hosted in your home at Fashion Week for a cocktail party. You hosted was for Pete Mulier of Elia. And I can totally say that you're the same. I thought I walked into her home and I was like, it's going to be really uptight. She was putting a baked potato with caviar, I must say, in my hand. And, like, I had to go to a show. She's like, here, take it, take it.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

A Go a roadie.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah.

[Leah Chernikott]

I love a roady caviar potato.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

That.

[Leah Chernikott]

That is. Yeah, that's the right kind of elegance.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah. Tell us about your approach to shopping. I mean, we've got to say you're lucky enough to have your own, you know, shopping platform that you co founded and you. And you run. So you get to see the best of the best in terms of collections, and you really get to be up close and personal with the pieces. How do you decide what you're going to buy each season?

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

You know, when it comes to my personal style is I. I often think to myself, you know, I live in the 20s in Manhattan. I live in, you know, Midtown. And there's something that's so applicable about that because I feel like my style, it's like, I feel like I'm a little cooler than, like, the ladies on the Upper east side, but I'm definitely, like, a lot uncooler than all the girls on the, you know, downtown. And so I feel like I live, like, somewhere in the middle. And I remember when I first moved to New. My two worlds in New York were very different. I had my fashion world I worked at. I've worked in fashion my whole life. That really existed downtown and clubs and restaurants, and that was very much my world. But then on the flip side, I married a guy who grew up on the Upper east side, and he had a very, very rich life up there. And I always felt like I was trying to go between the two. And my greatest challenge every day was like, okay, how can I dress for both? You know, so if I'm going uptown or downtown, how can I fit in both ways, honestly, without having to go home and change.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

And I do feel, to some extent that that sort of informed everything where I'm, like, kind of just trying to be in the middle. Cooler than uptown, but definitely not as cool as downtown somewhere, you know, midtown. But when it comes to shopping, I definitely. You know, when I started Moda, it's really the same thing of bridging these two worlds. And when I moved to New York and I was working in fashion, and I had access to all these incredible Runway shows and designer showrooms, and I could borrow clothes from designers and from showrooms, and I had access to just the most incredible fashion. And then I would be with friends on the. You know, my New York friends who had no access, you know, they could only. Whatever they could find on the shop floor at the time was all that was available to them. And I'm one of those people that Like, I like to share things. And so it's always been my impulse to share things or to connect people. I want everyone to have the same access and to see the same things and to appreciate everything as much as I do and to just bring as many people along for the ride as possible. Because fashion is fun. The fashion industry is fun. Who wouldn't want to work here? So with Modi, it was making the Runway shows and the fashion showrooms accessible to the regular woman. You know, the Runway part of fashion is still incredibly exciting for me. I say the second I stop getting excited about Fashion Week is when I need to retire. And just when I think it's time for me to retire, you know, something new, something new happens. I mean, now we're seeing all this excitement with young designers out of Paris with Coparni and Defemme and Ludovic and, you know, Jacques Amus and even Peter again at Alaia. So there's just a new movement, new excitement again. And so I definitely approach fashion where I am definitely in touch with what's going on on the Runway. I get excited, but I'm just too old to, like, change who I am. And I think I dress pretty conservatively for the day, and when I have fun, it's at night. I still love to get dressed up. I still love going out. So that's sort of, like, the fun part of fashion for me. And when I'm ordering from the Runway, I'm, like, really looking at all the evening clothes.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah. And, guys, if. If you haven't googled Lauren Santo Domingo evening dresses or, like, looks, the. The evening ones are really kind of stellar, so there's lots of inspiration there. You know, on the. Goodbye. On the podcast, we love to interrogate people's buys. Like, we like to get in the weeds. We want to know what it is that you've been buying. So take us back to the first buy that made you feel like you had made it, that is in your memory as something you really wanted or craved and you got. And tell us about what that experience was like.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Okay. When it comes to shopping, I had parents, like my dad used to famously say if I asked for something, he would say, if you. You know, if you can't get it at Walmart, you don't need it. So. And my mother, when I wanted something, would ask me, what are you going to wear it with? And where are you going in it? So I always really have those two things in the back of my head. She also would say the only advice she would ever Give me in terms of getting dressed, you know, no matter what phase I was going through, she would always say, like, just try to look nice. So I think I have all of those things sort of going through my head. And I think that exercise of what are you wearing this and where are you going in? It has always been very helpful in getting dressed and not over consuming. I also have a, a one in, two out rule. Okay, talk us through it. So like, if I buy one black sweater, I have to be willing to rotate out two.

[Leah Chernikott]

Wow. Lynette doesn't understand this.

[Lynette Nylander]

No, I understand it. I want to, I want to adopt it. Tell me a bit about that philosophy because I think we need to know we're very over consuming, I think as a, as a society.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

So when it's something exciting, then it's like we throw all caution to the wind, right? Fine, fine. A gold sequin Carolina Herrera two piece evening set. Why not? But when it comes to like my everyday staples, I would hope, you know, as a grown ass woman that I would have all my, you know, wardrobe staples. Yeah, right. Pretty down pat. Do I need any more black sweaters? Do I need another tweed jacket? Keeping in mind silhouettes change. If I want to bring something new, I have to be willing to get rid of two things to make place for it. That's sort of my rule. And it helps me, you know, I can lie to myself. I'm like, there's no referee here. So, you know, and I tend to write rules, but that is sort of, you know, how I really approach things. So, yeah, so that's my rule to in, to out. I did modeling in high school. Like summer, summer vacation, high school. And then on and off in college. And then after graduation, the first, like real designer purchase I ever made was that Hermes belt with the dog, you know, the xian belt. It was in Paris. I was the 90s. It was modeling. It just felt like a very supermodel thing to do. And it also, even then I realized that this was something that was, was timeless. And even then, this was, you know, I was, of course, in those days, we were very much overpaid. But I was still, even in that moment, having, you know, remembered every single job and early morning and terrible casting and terrible photographers to get to that moment that I was really, you know, it was a real purchase for me and I still have it. It's. It's perfect. It's in perfect condition. I still travel with it. And it's, you know, original.

[Leah Chernikott]

Wow.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Original pouch.

[Lynette Nylander]

You wear it.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

You see this so, well, I wear it, I wear it, but I, you know, I take very good care of my, of my things. I'm not like a type a person, so to speak. I'm like, still kind of a mess, but I do, I do take really good care of the, of the things that I buy. I'm a little anal like that, you know, like nice, nice hangers.

[Lynette Nylander]

And I think you've got to get into the habit of if you're going to invest in these pieces, that there is an aftercare, like.

[Leah Chernikott]

Yeah, like, absolutely.

[Lynette Nylander]

Commitment to things as well. It's not just a one and done.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yeah.

[Leah Chernikott]

She's looking at me like, get your.

[Lynette Nylander]

No, it wasn't, it was. No, totally not. I just think that a lot of people, like a lot of my friends don't want to invest in tailors and things like that. And I'm like, do you think there's something off the rack is just going to fit you perfectly? You know, I mean, I'd love to live in the 50s and have everything couture, like hand, like made to my measurements, but it, it isn't like that. And so you have to kind of.

[Leah Chernikott]

And also investments. Take care.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly.

[Leah Chernikott]

When you launched Moda and this was like, you know, a big thing and you had founded something, you were the big boss, was there anything you wore or bought yourself to sort of like help you inhabit this new role?

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

That's a good question. I think that's when I really realized, you know, I had grown up in fashion where, you know, the women who had the most power and the most respect were women who were somewhat unapproachable and intimidating. And I never wanted to be like that. I never, I wanted to always be relatable and have really honest and reciprocal relationships. I've always been careful not to wear clothes during the day, you know, when I'm working that will be like off putting or intimidating. And while sometimes, you know, that managerial style can be more efficient, you know, it just wasn't something that I could like inhabit that role of being like that. So I think I've always been very careful of just trying to be, you know, relatable, approachable.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. What is a buy that you regret? What? Have you ever bought anything and regretted it? Or have you gone through a style evolution or a moment that you're like, gosh, never.

[Leah Chernikott]

Or any, any outfits that you look back on photos?

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Oh my God, there are so many. There's so many. There's so many outfits. There was one year I went to it was Alex. It was the Met Gala, the Anglomania. It was honoring Alexander McQueen and, you know, his legacy. His legacy, exactly. You know, Andre Leon Talley. I was very lucky to. He would, like. He would dress me up from time to time.

[Lynette Nylander]

What an amazing person to be.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Not complaining.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yes.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

And so we were getting closer to the event, and I hadn't chosen anything. And so we were looking through all the lookbooks, and Andre pulled out this dress, and it was, you know, a high collar, like an Elizabethan collar with, you know, chiffon and. And some jewels around the neck. A drop waist. I mean, like a very bizarre length drop waist with a chiffon ruffle.

[Lynette Nylander]

Meanwhile, I think I've seen you in this dress.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yeah. And there were some feathers. Yes, Ostrich feathers.

[Lynette Nylander]

I actually know this looks sleeveless.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Sleeveless, yeah. And meanwhile, it's in a color, like. I can't even explain the color. I would want to say, like, dead moss.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Or like some sort of, you know, mold you'd find, you know. So anyway, Andre was like, you know, this is it when you're with him, you know, and that's part of fashion. Right. This was it. And listen, to this day, I still love it. I stand by it. But it was a bit ridiculous. But everyone was. Listen, maybe that was the forefront of everyone looking ridiculous there.

[Lynette Nylander]

Exactly.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

And so we were going up the red carpet, which is just an intimidating moment to begin with, and we get to the bottom of the stairs, and someone says, lauren, Andres. Like, you know, photo, photo. This was obviously back before there were celebrities, and they. They wanted our photo. And Andres looks at me, and he was like, I am not taking a photo of you in that dress. You look ridiculous.

[Leah Chernikott]

We waited till you were there just to be like, you're on your own.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

So we now have a rule. If he's gonna give me any commentary, it has to be before I leave the house.

[Leah Chernikott]

I think that feels very fair.

[Lynette Nylander]

I think that's good commentary. I would like to say I'm pretty sure I'm very aware of the look. You looked great.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

It was great.

[Lynette Nylander]

Also McQueen, I think.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yeah, right. You were aware.

[Leah Chernikott]

Exactly.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

It was as McQueen as it could be.

[Lynette Nylander]

As McQueen as it could be. And I think McQueen's one of those archival McQueen. So one of those things, you know, husbands aren't meant to get that. That's not what, you know, they don't get it. You're giving high fashion couture, you know, honoring a brilliant designer. I think that.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Leah Chernikott]

Nailed it, as always.

[Lynette Nylander]

Do you have any repeat buys? Anything that you always go back to or a wardrobe staple?

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

I would say. Can we be risque? A little risque here for. Excuse me. To the men in our audience. I am a big proponent of proper undergarments.

[Lynette Nylander]

Okay, speak to this woman over here.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Are you pro or anti?

[Leah Chernikott]

No, I'm just lazy and I have like little kids right now and I'm just like, I can't get it together.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

So.

[Leah Chernikott]

Yes, I know, I know.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

So I can't tell you how many times, you know, we have women come through and they'll, you know, customers and shoppers, and we'll be putting them in these beautiful dresses and this and that, and then they'll just be wearing like the wrong bra.

[Lynette Nylander]

Right.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Like the wrong bra. It's giving mounds, it's giving lumps. It's not giving perky and it's not so bad. And I always want to be like, you need to wear. You need to wear a proper bra if you're going to be wearing proper bra.

[Leah Chernikott]

So what are your.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

I think the safest bet is like an irresponsible. Gives the nice silhouette, like a proper shape. And I stand by this. And it makes all the difference in the world. And I just think if you're going to be wearing nice clothes, you need to be, you know, wearing the proper under. In fashion, we say underpinning.

[Leah Chernikott]

Underpinnings.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Underpinnings, yes.

[Leah Chernikott]

We had another moment the other day where I did not have the proper underpinnings.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

You need the proper underpinnings. So I think it's just one of these things that, like, you know, the French know all of these things. There's this idea, but they do. And I think that's like the one takeaway, other than no cappuccino after 10am was wear the proper bra. Those are like the two. The two takeaways. But I stand by it and it makes all the difference.

[Lynette Nylander]

So foundationally setting up your clothes for success. So having, you know, right bra, right underwear, no visible panty line. We like. You're a big proponent of that.

[Leah Chernikott]

Yeah. And all that. I feel like all the youths don't wear bras anymore.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yes, this is true. This is true. Yeah, that's fine too. Actually, I would rather no bra than the wrong from.

[Lynette Nylander]

Let's take a quick break to talk about our sponsor, Google.

[Leah Chernikott]

Hey, listeners of the Goodbye, it's Leah, one of your hosts. So we've all been there. The holidays are approaching. I'm terrible at this. I'm a real procrastinator. You're scrambling to shop for those last minute gifts. You know exactly what to get your mom, but what about your dad? Will it get there in time? It's really stressful, Right? So this is where Google comes in. When I'm looking for a gift ASAP, like on the 24th, I can easily see what's available nearby or which stores offer speedy delivery with just a search on Google. I love how Google takes the guesswork out of holiday shopping. No more worrying about shipping deadlines. Just peace of mind knowing my gifts will arrive on time. Okay, the last of our buys. Tell us about your dream buy. Is there anything like you see it all? And one of the things I wanted to go back to is like, seeing it all right. I think Moda is known as a place for like discovery and discovering new brands. And you've launched a lot of them on your platform. So what are you lusting after right now?

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

I mean, I think that's my problem is I love so many things and I think that's why for me, Moda is so important. Because I love everything and I want everything to find a home. I want everyone to be connected with like that one piece that's gonna sort of change their life or help them figure out who they are or give them that like main character energy. What, whatever it is, like, that's my passion. I get DMs on Instagram. I'm going to. The recent one was I'm going to my, you know, my dad's getting remarried and I'm going to the wedding and these are all the things I need to project and what am I wearing? And I, you know, I answer all my DMs.

[Leah Chernikott]

Really?

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yes.

[Leah Chernikott]

I was like, wow, this is a quite a service.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

I mean, I'm not advertising it or anything.

[Leah Chernikott]

Dm Lauren Santo Domingo for your specific fashion.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

But I do, I really, for me, it's really important to connect people with those things and to make them fall in love with fashion and to like find those items. Like I said, I'm much better at evening, but I think that for me, I'm much happier having other people buy things. But for me, what was the question? My dream thing, it could be art.

[Leah Chernikott]

It could be interiors, could be anything.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

I mean, I'd have to get rid of two things.

[Leah Chernikott]

Yeah. So play by the rules.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yeah. I would have to say there are two things that are on Moda that launched, I think today, and both of them are extravagantly priced.

[Lynette Nylander]

We love them.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

One is a black, tall boot. It's like the Perfect boot. And then the. Who's it by the row? The row and then there.

[Lynette Nylander]

Why is it the perfect boot? Right. We have to, you know. Yeah.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Okay. It's the perfect boot because it feels like it's tall, right? It's tall without being, like, slutty.

[Leah Chernikott]

Where does it hit?

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

It hits below the knee, but, like, not calf, you know, it's high, but it's not like statement high. But it's flattering high. Okay. I also have a very strong. I think that everything should hit on your body at like the slimmest part. Right?

[Leah Chernikott]

Yeah.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

So, like, I don't want my boot to cut mid calf. Why would you do that? Cuz that's like the widest part of your calf. You want it to cut where the calf goes in. At the thinnest part of the leg.

[Leah Chernikott]

At your ankle.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

At your. Either at your ankle or like right below your kneecap. So. So these boots, they have a really good heel. It's a day heel. It's an uptown heel and a downtown heel. And then there is a shawl coat. It's like a cocoon shawl coat. You know, there's all these things just like wrapped once around the shoulder. And there's like a coat or a knit with a jaunty scarf.

[Lynette Nylander]

This is also from the Row.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

This is also from the Row. It has like a. But this has like a cape. Like, it's like a cocoon.

[Leah Chernikott]

Yeah. You're swathed.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yeah.

[Lynette Nylander]

That's something they've been doing a lot in their coats. Is also. You have this scarf moment that you just are kind of enraptured. Like, you're like a little caterpillar.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yeah. Just like in it and with the boot, you know. Okay.

[Leah Chernikott]

So perfection.

[Lynette Nylander]

I think you need to make this happen.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

I would be wearing it to, you know, like Fashion Week.

[Leah Chernikott]

All right. Where are you going? Right? The rules.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

This is for Paris.

[Leah Chernikott]

Yeah.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

This is a, you know, for couture in January. It's that. It's pretty special.

[Leah Chernikott]

That sounds really good.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yeah. I get rid of like five coats out.

[Lynette Nylander]

Yeah.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

For that one in, six boots out. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Leah Chernikott]

The rules have to adjust.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Oh, yeah, yeah. The real. Real would be like, Ka Ching. I'd be sending a lot. I'd be. I'd be doing a big show.

[Lynette Nylander]

I like that, though. I like. You know, I think about you as a woman of abundance, and you have. I'm sure you have a lot of beautiful things, and I like that you are like, no, you know, if I have this beautiful coat, you know, Some things have got to go. It's gotta be one in, one out or two in. What is it? One in, two out?

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yeah, one in, two out. Sometimes I'll do. Sometimes I'll do one in, one out. But, yeah, I think that, you know, my parents just drilled on me when I was young, and I was, you know, I always worked. I always had a job. You know, before I did modeling, I, you know, I was a lifeguard. I was a mother's helper. I was a hostess at a restaurant. Like, I always had a job. I always worked. I always bought my own things. I've always really understood the value. And when I buy something, it means something to me. And I still have that. And I still hear in the back of my head, you know, my mother, where are you wearing that? And what are you wearing it with? And I would have to tell her. And I wonder sometimes if that exercise, you know, made me who I am in terms of, you know, creating looks, creating outfits, creating style. From a very young age, you know, I just don't look at something as a piece. I look at it. How is this going to. How is this going to work into my life? And so it's made me a good shopper. So, yeah, I think that that that sort of exercise when. When I was young was very helpful.

[Lynette Nylander]

And it's a good shopping philosophy. I was talking to a friend last week, and she said to me, lynette, you know, I just think I shop for pieces. And I say that's such a dangerous way to shop because you're not thinking about things holistically. You're not thinking about. Do I. Okay, great. You love it. You bought a pair of boots because you love them. But do you have clothes that are also. You can pair them with or wear a jacket with something else? You know, if. If something just sort of remains an outlier in your closet, then it's. It just becomes a bit redundant.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yeah, And I hate that. I hate when I buy something and I don't wear it or I don't wear it as much as I told myself that I was going to wear it, I become very disappointed in myself. So I. I really hate when that happens.

[Leah Chernikott]

Hard on yourself about purchases.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Yeah.

[Leah Chernikott]

Yeah.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Especially because I had to give up two things to have it.

[Lynette Nylander]

So now I'm.

[Leah Chernikott]

Now made a sacrifice and it didn't pay off.

[Lynette Nylander]

Lauren, that was far too short because I could hear about your insight.

[Leah Chernikott]

I know I want more rules. I do think you should write a book of all of your rules.

[Lynette Nylander]

Lauren Santo Domingo's Guide to Living. Because you do, I think I would say, you know, observing you from afar, both of us, I think it seems that you've got it down pat.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Well, that was my goal. I always just wanted to look like someone who had my shit together and wasn't a total mess. So it's working. I.

[Leah Chernikott]

So she did hit you. Goal achieved.

[Lynette Nylander]

Thank you for being.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Thank so much for having me on.

[Lynette Nylander]

The Goodbye this was Harper's Bazaar's the Goodbye. I'm Lynette Nylander.

[Leah Chernikott]

And I'm Leia Chernikov.

[Lynette Nylander]

Thank you very much.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Bye.

[Leah Chernikott]

Thank you.

[Lauren Santo Domingo]

Bye. Foreign.

[Leah Chernikott]

The Goodbye is sponsored by Google. The Goodbye is a podcast from Harper's Bazaar. This episode was directed and produced by Alexandra Gurevich in collaboration with Edit Audio. The Goodbye is executive produced by Samira Nasser, editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar, and Jason Eichler, vice president of video at Hearst Magazines. It was recorded by Gabby Bulgarelli and edited, mix, mixed and mastered by Ali Sirwa.