Second Life

Second Life
Join our host, Who What Wear co-founder Hillary Kerr, as she chronicles the career changes that can come at any age in our podcast, Second Life.

All Episodes

We absolutely ride for Mary Beth Barone and Benito Skinner. While the comedians, podcasters, and real-life besties are known for their creativity and unmatched banter, their incredible personal style and love for fashion can’t be overlooked. The two have become regulars at various runway shows; Mary Beth wore a 1999 Versace dress for her latest stand-up special; and Benito’s IG feed is splattered with outfits from Dior and JW Anderson. Today, they join us to talk about Benito’s recently ordered Amazon show, Overcompensating, Mary Beth’s upcoming Pillow Talk Tour, and, of course, all things fashion—from their dream collab designers to the impact drag queens have on their performance outfits. Plus, stay tuned for news on Ride season 2 (which drops today!) and how Lizzie McGuire shaped the pair's personal style.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

E

Jul 10

41 min 24 sec

Kim and Vanessa Pham are the founders of Omsom, an Asian sauce and noodles brand. As the children of Vietnamese refugees who grew up in Boston, they always loved their traditional cuisine, but they often felt ostracized by their peers for it. So, decades later, after stints in start-ups and management consulting, the sisters decided to quit their jobs and found a brand that would help build the world they wanted to live in. In 2020, Omsom was born, and despite a pandemic-era launch, they sold out of their original product line in 72 hours. Since then, the two have scaled up the brand, releasing new products like saucy noodles and partnering with Asian chefs to create unique recipes. Most recently, in June 2024, they were acquired by DayDayCook. Throughout the process, they’ve done all of this to increase access to authentic Asian flavors and break Asian cuisine out of the confines of the “ethnic foods” aisle.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 8

52 min 27 sec

Benjamin Talley Smith is the founder of the denim atelier Talley Creative. Named “the most influential jeans guy you’ve never heard of” in a recent New York Times profile, Ben provides services across design, production, and marketing to brands looking to create or expand their denim offerings. Over the years, he’s worked on denim collections for Helmut Lang, Earnest Sewn, Ulla Johnson, Jordache, Re/Done, Everlane, Reformation, and Khaite—and that’s just scratching the surface. As a true denim whisperer, he often has a hand in the most exciting denim launches, including an upcoming line with Spanx in 2025. This week, Ben joins us to discuss the best pairs on the market today, the return of low rises, and naming Khaite’s Danielle jeans after his wife.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 3

27 min 29 sec

Laura O'Neill is the co-founder of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. O'Neill grew up in Melbourne and worked in event producing before deciding to travel the world. She met her future partner Ben Van Leeuwen on a fateful trip to London, and when she moved to New York to be with him, he proposed a wild idea: They should start a well-designed ice cream truck that sold delicious, high-quality ice cream. Thus, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream was born. In the last 15 years O'Neill, Van Leeuwen, and his brother Pete have positioned the brand as a household name—one synonymous with truly delectable ice cream. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is sold in over 12,000 grocery stores, has over 50 stores in the United States, and recently opened its first-ever franchise store in Singapore. Later this year, the first-ever Van Leeuwen Flavor Lab will be opened in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 1

49 min 28 sec

Wedding season is gearing up, and you know what that means: It's time for Who What Wear to break down all of the hottest wedding trends, from bridesmaid dresses to the most interesting bridal designers on the market to the tablescape details that will make each of your guests feel like VIPs. Join Who What Wear Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen and Associate Director of Special Projects Kristen Nichols to hear what the chicest brides and wedding guests are wearing this season and how you can get the looks. Plus, Eggertsen shares where she's finding inspiration for her own wedding later this year. Be sure to check out our full digital Wedding Issue at the link below!https://www.whowhatwear.com/living/wedding/the-wedding-issue-2024 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 26

31 min 2 sec

Bo Shepherd is a designer, author, and co-founder of Woodward Throwbacks, a Detroit-based reclamation and design brand. She got her start as an interior designer for GM’s Chevy product line, working on door design for cars like the Chevy Bolt. During her time at GM, she also got to know the city of Detroit and began exploring the world of salvaged materials and furniture with her partner Kyle Dubay. After several years at GM, Bo took the plunge and left her job to work on this new project, dubbed Woodward Throwbacks, after one of the main streets in Detroit. She and Kyle began producing home décor and furnishings from reclaimed materials found around Detroit and developed an interior design business. She’s also written a book, renovated several properties, and expanded Woodward’s product offerings, all highlighting her own creativity and Detroit’s creative spirit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 24

51 min 50 sec

Alexis Novak is the founder of the celebrity-adored vintage studio Tab Vintage. Novak founded Tab in 2019, and since her first foray into sourcing an impossible-to-get Jean Paul Gaultier piece, she's built the brand into one of the most sought-after destinations for luxury vintage and archival pieces. Today, Novak works closely with some of the top stylists and celebrities in the world. She recently sourced pieces for Emily Ratajkowski's Met Gala looks and Alex Cooper's wedding! Novak's passion for sourcing, restoring, and sharing the history of every one of her unique finds is palpable. This week, Novak joins us to discuss her FBI-level techniques for sourcing rare pieces, her new appointment-only showroom in L.A., and why glamour is back.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 19

31 min 59 sec

Seema Bansal Chadha is the co-founder of the luxury floral brand Venus et Fleur. Born and raised in Vancouver, Bansal Chadha spent her formative years learning the business at her father’s lighting and plumbing fixtures store. In 2015, after a fateful meeting with her now husband, she used her experience in sales, marketing, and customer development to create Venus et Fleur. Initially, the couple aimed to start a reliable luxury floral business that could prevent what had happened to them on their first Valentine’s Day: a botched flower delivery. The two innovated even further by developing a unique and instantly popular way to preserve roses for up to a year. Since then, Venus et Fleur has exploded in popularity and has become a favorite of celebrities like Khloé and Kourtney Kardashian. Bansal Chadha has guided the brand through massive growth and expansion into new flowers and product categories, positioning Venus et Fleur as the most innovative and buzzy floral brand on the market.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 17

54 min 21 sec

You can rest assured that Lauren Sherman is always going to get the full story. The journalist and author of the popular Puck Media fashion newsletter, Line Sheet, has spent years crafting detailed, thoughtful stories about the business of fashion. The result? She is now one of the most trusted, respected voices in fashion journalism. From following the movements of designers to their next fashion house to familiarizing the public with the players of the biggest luxury goods conglomerates in the world, Lauren demystifies and investigates the fashion world in a fun and engaging way. She is also the co-author of an upcoming book about Victoria’s Secret titled, Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon, and hosts a podcast called Fashion People. This week, Lauren joins us to discuss her reporting process and whether the time is still right for there to be a Victoria’s Secret fashion show.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 12

40 min 50 sec

Zanna Roberts Rassi is a fashion journalist, a television host and producer, and the co-founder of Milk Makeup. She cut her teeth in the beauty industry in London, working at magazines such as Glamour and Marie Claire UK before becoming a fashion editor at Marie Claire US. In 2013, Roberts Rassi took a leap, bringing the skills she learned in fashion media to the red carpet. As a style correspondent for E!, she infused red carpet journalism with her telltale fashion know-how, adding a level of gravitas that viewers loved. In 2016, she again branched into something new, co-founding the effortlessly cool makeup brand Milk Makeup. In 2024, she was named Today’s style correspondent, and this summer, she will be taking Today to the Paris Olympics, using her stellar fashion journalism skills to tell stories about France’s storied fashion houses.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 10

56 min 25 sec

We have a special bonus episode for you today! In honor of Lilly Pulitzer's 65th anniversary, Who What Wear joined the Lilly team for a live podcast event. Senior editor Anna LaPlaca and editor Jasmine Fox-Suliaman host this live conversation, tracing the origins of the brand back to its unlikely beginnings as a juice stand. Lilly Pulitzer—both the free-spirited founder and the iconic heritage brand—share an enthralling history you won't want to miss. Of course, our editors also discuss how they'd style their favorite pieces from the current collection. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 7

34 min 58 sec

Henrietta Rix is the co-founder of the womenswear brand Rixo. Founded in 2015, it has quickly become a favorite for its gorgeous prints, timeless silhouettes, high-quality silk, and non-designer price tags. But beyond the brand’s stunning dresses, Rix and Co-Founder Orlagh McCloskey have worked to develop Rixo as a company with a unique perspective on fashion and vintage. To that end, they’ve opened up a flagship store on King’s Road in London that contains a coffee shop, bar, bridal boutique, tailoring bar, and rental collection. To align with the brand’s aim to produce “future vintage” pieces, it also tracks several sustainability goals to lower its impact on the environment. Henrietta is here to discuss the origins of Rixo’s signature prints and what it takes to grow a brand without outside investment. Plus, hear what her favorite pieces for summer are.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 5

33 min 32 sec