I Need These Fashion People on Substack Yesterday
And the nominees are...
This week’s letter’s premise is simple. Here are eight fashion people I wish would launch Substacks of their own. They all have exceptional taste, strong POVs, and almost certainly no time in their days to take on another social platform, but that’s neither here nor there.
And I’m not nominating them without providing any editorial direction. That would be rude! Instead, I’m pitching an angle, a sample letter, and even a secondhand pick because it is Long Live, after all.
Please contribute your nominees in the comments + let’s see who we can publicly peer pressure into launching a Substack, shall we?
Paloma Elsesser
Supermodel, my Tiktok comfort creator
She’s a mogul. An international supermodel. And one of my favorite people to follow on Tiktok. I think this level of reverence is how people felt about supermodels in the 90s. I just know she’s even cooler IRL somehow, which is why I need her on Substack.
The pitch: BTS on the jet-set life of a vintage fashion-obsessed supermodel—from her drugstore skincare routine secrets to her latest haul from Front Street General Store.
Sample letter: “Here’s Every Single Paint Color We Used In My Brooklyn Home.”
Secondhand pick: Paloma loves Comme, so these $261 shorts with tags on TRR are a total match made in heaven.
Jenna Lyons
Godmother of J.Crew, the reason I wore red lipstick from 2013-2015
Does she need an intro, dear Long Livers? I’m assuming “mother” might be an apt descriptor for Jenna Lyons when it comes to this group. Now that The Real Housewives shooting calendar is off the table, perhaps it’s time for her to find her way to the page, er, computer screen?
The pitch: Jenna’s little black book of the best tailors, the longest inseams, and fabulous breakdowns of her iconic looks.
Sample letter: “The Exact Details I Ask For When Creating A Custom Button Down.”
Secondhand pick: Let’s keep it simple in a $65 J.Crew denim chore jacket. I’m sure she’ll have an exceptional idea for what to wear on the bottom half.
Christopher John Rogers
Designer, met at a Substack dinner so there’s an actual chance here
CJR designs joy personified. There’s a feeling in seeing one of his creations in person that’s unmatched. Elegance! Fearlessness! Poise! And I’d like very much to see more of those three things here on Substack.
The pitch: A monthly letter-from-the-editor style missive, outlining recent collaborations, inspirations, and snapshots of CJR’s coterie of excellent dressers.
Sample letter: “August: Martinis with Tracee Ellis Ross at 11a”
Secondhand pick: If you want to score Christopher John Rogers on the secondhand market, you have to be quick. This maxi skirt is for us, since we can assume he has a closet bursting with perfectly custom pieces already.
Sandy Liang
Designer, the reason you tie a ribbon on your purse
Whether the Baggu collab was your first exposure to her brilliance or not, Sandy Liang is a fashion world darling. And her taste certainly does not stop at the closet.
The pitch: Sandy on skincare! Sandy on the best dry cleaner downtown! Sandy on layering to winter-proof even your frilliest frocks!
Sample letter: “How I Planned Two Weddings While Running Your Favorite Fashion Brand”
Secondhand pick: Not that she’s in need of any more bows, but this $20 brooch struck me as something she might pin onto a dress.
Aurora James
Designer, activist, author, founder of Fifteen Percent Pledge
I sort of just want to live in the wonderful world of Aurora James. Brother Vellies shoes have been on my wish lists for at least five years, and her creative energy is infectious, even online.
The pitch: Sun-soaked and always thoughtful, this is a peak behind the curtain at Aurora’s life as a founder and creative thinker.
Sample letter: “My Guide To Rose Bowl Flea”
Secondhand pick: Chloé feels like a very aligned choice. This swingy dress is under $300.
Danielle Goldberg
Stylist, probably sick of responding to my DMs
Another Long Live Hall of Famer, this one’s hardly coming out of left field. Danielle Goldberg is my favorite stylist, hands down. Her work’s iconic. And she’s incredibly in demand. All I’m asking for is one Substack a month…
The pitch: A first-hand account of custom looks from red carpet to couture, brought to you by an intern and signed off on by Danielle herself.
Sample letter: “Creating An Unforgettable Met Look For Laura Harrier”
Secondhand pick: Let’s go with a sample from Calvin Klein 205w39nyc on eBay. It’s $165.
Gabriella Karefa-Johnson
(Editor’s note: This exists. But whatever I’m still a fan and linking it here)
Editor, stylist, inventor of Airport Chanel™️
If you’re not following Gabriella, you’re an under a rock resident, and her incredible work gives me the same feeling I used to get when I opened to mailbox to a fresh copy of Harper’s Bazaar. The magic’s in the chic, surprising combinations she puts together effortlessly.
The pitch: Styling 101 from a pro live from fashion week, a top secret photo shoot, and the streets of NYC.
Sample letter: “Accessorize Like Your Life Depends On It”
Secondhand pick: A delicious little Fendi Baguette for $800! What’s not to love?
Emily Adams Bode Aujla
Designer, my Amex’s #1 opp
Bode is in my top 5 brand pantheon. And much of that is due to the brains of one Emily Adams Bode Aujla. She’s a designer and world builder. I kind of want her take on everything!
The pitch: Candid posts, likely inconsistently sent because she’s the cool kid in this group, with iPhone snapshots of her life in the city and country.
Sample letter: “Winter in Connecticut”
Secondhand pick: Silk tap shorts just make sense here. There are loads on Etsy! These are $80.
Honorable Mentions
Did you know you can get one-on-one styling help IRL and embroidered personalization at any Nordstrom? Pair that with the anniversary sale for tailored shopping and savings just for you. Find the nearest Nordstrom to you here. Rains makes the best rain coats, so I'm eying this one in the spirit of practicality.
Medicine cabinet corner: I’m using this on my legs after shaving to avoid razor burn. It’s working! As an anti-foundation person, this is changing my mind. I switched back to this $15 moisturizer. This has replaced my micellar water habit. And I’m swapping this in as my backup signature scent. Pregnancy is weird!
Red Moon Wellness is the best place for prenatal (and reg) massages in Brooklyn. Just trust me.
Thank you for reading Long Live. It means so much to me. You can preorder my romance novel, Exit Lane, on Bookshop or Amazon. You can shop my favs here, follow along on Instagram + Tiktok, and shop my Notion template. You can book my Office Hours to talk shop here. Get matched at EV Salon. And if you want to partner on a future Long Live, email evan@communite.co x
I love this!! My nomination is Chloe King: https://www.instagram.com/chloe4dayz?igsh=MXdydGMwZ2hjd2Jwaw==
I would love to spend a day in her closet!!
I love the variety on this post the photos it’s such top notch post on the art of fashion