Gals

This is Gals in IS first ever double interview! We chatted with Margaux and Arden, long time friends and co-owners of the epinonimous, Argaux. An all female team that works on small production, family-owned, and responsibly farmed wines--this is a brand after our own heart. We talked about dressing for classic comfort, nearly killing Diane Keaton, and of course wine.

HOW DO YOU STYLE YOUR INDUSTRY STANDARD PIECES?

Arden: I dress pretty...I don’t want to use the word basic, but I generally wear neutral colors with a focus on comfort. Before COVID we did a lot of events and I needed clothes I could wear from 8AM to happy hour. I add a silk scarf for a pop of color.

Margaux: my general style is all over the place depending on what mood I’m in. I can dress preppy, but I’m consistently a lover of vintage items. Whether it’s consignment or flea markets. In terms of basics, I love white tee shirts. My day-to-day outfit is jeans, a white tee and blazer. I have a large collection of blazers, a lot are vintage that were my grandmother’s.

WHO'S YOUR STYLE ICON?

Arden: I'd have to say my mom! She's the most classy. I trust her on all things design and style.

Margaux: Diane Keaton. I almost ran Diane over in Beverly Hills. I was pulling out of a parking lot and putting on my seatbelt and looked up and there was Diane wearing a sear sucker suit, with a bow tie and a top hat eating a vanilla ice cream cone.

MID-RISE OR HIGH WAISTED JEANS?

Both: High Waisted!

BOYFRIEND OR SKINNY JEAN?

Arden: Skinny jean

Margaux: Boyfriend

WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

Both: we share the exact same birthday.

IF YOU HAD A DINNER PARTY WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE?

Both: The concept of Argaux was actually inspired by the dinner parties we used to have in college. We would cook these dinners and dream up what we wanted to do after school. To eat we would probably make spring corn pasta with marinated feta, chili oil and chili flakes, plus a mediterranean salad with avocado, and Argaux wines. We'd host Margaux's grandfather who was in the CIA, gotta throw in a comedian like Larry David or Jerry Seinfeld, and someone in food like Julia Child.

IF YOU COULD ONLY HAVE ONE THING EMBROIDERED ON A TEE WHAT WOULD IT SAY?

Margaux: Argaux or a fun french word like the one we made up for our sister company, Amlière!

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE DONE IN COVID THAT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE?

Arden: Virtual tastings. I know people are zoomed out but we hope to provide a unique tasting experience. Personally, I was over the workout clothes. We started to go back to the office in March with everyone and I decided I’m going to get dressed at least 3x’s / week!

Margaux: I was very content staying home. Prior to COVID if I didn’t have plans on a Friday night I felt like I needed to. But now I actually enjoy not having plans and staying home. I’m kind of a homebody which I wasn’t before. Now I’m encouraging myself to go out more.

Strategist, Founder, Creative, and Creator, Clarice Metzger wears many hats. She's a Creative Strategist at Creative Theory a digital consulting and content creation agency. She's also the founder of Kno. Media — a platform that focuses on telling the stories of marginalized individuals. We browsed through her local used bookstore and wandered around Ridgewood on a beautiful spring day.

DO YOU HAVE A STYLE ICON?

Definitely Chrissy Rutherford. She always strikes the perfect balance between cozy and chic.

HOW DO YOU STYLE YOUR INDUSTRY STANDARD PIECES?

A solid graphic tee with jeans is my go-to.

MID-RISE OR HIGH WAISTED JEANS?

Depends on the day, the look, and the bloat situation but I’ll have to go with high-waisted.

BOYFRIEND OR SKINNY JEAN?

Boyfriend jeans ALWAYS.

WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

Takers — I love Idris Elba.

IF YOU COULD ONLY HAVE ONE THING EMBROIDERED ON A TEE WHAT WOULD IT SAY?

That bitch.

WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I aspire to create a non-profit arm of my creative platform Kno. Media. Manifesting that!

WHAT’S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by Adrienne Maree Brown. Highly recommend!

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

Extra buttery popcorn (as in very extra) with a glass of cabernet sauvignon laying underneath my weighted blanket binge-watching old SVU episodes. It’s very Olivia Pope of me.

WHAT DON’T YOU DO?

I don’t walk over grates in stilettos. I also don’t say no to a free meal.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE DONE IN COVID THAT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE?

Daily walks! They’ve been helping me prioritize my mental wellbeing.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE DONE IN COVID THAT YOU WANT TO STOP?

Order food every weekend. I need to get it together ha.

Nadya Okamoto is the co-founder of August, a lifestyle brand focused on destigmatizing menstruation, the founder of PERIOD an organization working to end period poverty, and the author of Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement. Oh, and did we mention she's only 23? We braved a cold day in Williamsburg to discuss what habits she wants to leave in quarantine and what to take into the future.

How do you style your I.S. pieces?

Probably with a sweatshirt...in all honesty :) In quarantine, of course!! If i’m wearing jeans to an event or to hang out with friends, I really love crop top sweaters!

MID-RISE OR HIGH WAISTED JEANS?

High waisted

BOYFRIEND OR SKINNY JEAN?

Pre-quarantine I was very much a skinny jeans person, but after loving the last year or so of wearing sweatpants every day, I think I may switch over to boyfriend jeans being my top choice!

IF YOU COULD ONLY HAVE ONE THING EMBROIDERED ON A TEE WHAT WOULD IT SAY?

I’m on my period.

WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I’m much more introverted than people think I am.

WHAT DON’T YOU DO?

Cook!

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE DONE IN COVID THAT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE?

Crochet and focus on my mental health

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE DONE IN COVID THAT YOU WANT TO STOP?

I’ve been pretty antisocial this year.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU GOOGLED?

Why do people faint on their periods?

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

Cheese. All the time.

DO YOU HAVE A STYLE ICON?

Peggy Gou

Co-Founder, Bulletin

Co-founder of wholesale marketplace, Bulletin and author of How to Build a Goddamn Empire, Ali Kriegsman is also one of the most open and welcoming people we know. We spent an afternoon in her Brooklyn apartment drinking a chai-coffee blend and interrupting a dog play date.

HOW DO YOU STYLE YOUR INDUSTRY STANDARD PIECES?

I love absolutely nothing more than a cozy tee and a pair of comfortable but flattering jeans, and IS has both. In the fall, I plan to pair my tees with my oversized All Saints leather jacket, a colorful or bold pant and a muted bootie. With the IS denim, I think a loose-fitting button down white shirt with piles of gold jewelry is a total vibe!

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS CHANGED IN THE ERA OF COVID?

Bulletin’s wholesale marketplace makes it easy for retailers to discover and shop the best brands and products for their online or offline storefront. For all the reasons above, when COVID hit, we knew we were smack-dab in the middle of the storm. It threw a wrench into our growth plans and we immediately adjusted our work to focus on helping our brands and retailers emerge from this crisis. We are out of the woods now and our business has rebounded beautifully, which serves as a testament to how resilient our small business community truly is.

DO YOU HAVE A STYLE ICON?

Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. Jessica Simpson on her most recent book tour (she wore this vegan pink leather and fur getup that had me salivating). Rihanna because she sets all the trends but her style is truly distinct and all her own. 1990s early 2000s Gwen Stefani. And Maddy from Euphoria :-) I am all about a fun blend of tomboy and femme, I poppy textures like leather, fur or shine, and I’m not afraid of color or going a bit over-the-top.

MID-RISE OR HIGH WAISTED JEANS?

High-waisted. I like how it makes my booty look :-)

BOYFRIEND OR SKINNY JEAN?

Boyfriend all the way - I love a loose fit. I feel like I graduated from skinny jeans post-covid. I need room to breathe and move!

WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

Gattaca! Oh my god, so good. I love Uma Thurman. She’s such a classic, captivating movie star. I am a total nerd for all things outer space, extraterrestrial, sci-fi. It had it all. The movie is about the future of genetic engineering and how it affects society at-large and creates a whole new caste system around the world. It’s not the best movie you’ll ever watch but it suits the craving if you’re looking for something entertaining and a little heady.

IF YOU COULD ONLY HAVE ONE THING EMBROIDERED ON A TEE WHAT WOULD IT SAY?

“giving up” is not a thing.

WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I present as extremely confident, self-assured and extroverted but I feel extreme waves of indecision, insecurity and feeling “lost.” I am constantly talking down to myself and worrying I’m not enough, I’m not successful enough, I don’t have enough momentum. Literally Bulletin can hit its sales goals 3 months in a row and I’ll come up against the 4th month like, “it’s not going to happen. This is where we fall.” I am working on it, as we all are, but I definitely sense people assume I don’t struggle with those voices or thoughts.

WHAT’S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

They Wish They Were Us, by Jessica Goodman, a friend who was a year above me in college! It’s a YA Thriller about a prep school murder and it was the perfect summer read. GO BUY IT!

WHAT’S THE LAST THING YOU COOKED?

I used a Madras Curry simmer sauce and sautéed some onions, potatoes, green peppers and rotisserie chicken and put it over a bed of farro. I love Indian food and use a lot of Patak products for Instant Pot meals or sautés!

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

I love nothing more than guzzling down a whole pint of Halo Top, watching Selling Sunset and entering a dark hole where I don’t have to think or move.

WHAT DON’T YOU DO?

I don’t put people down. I don’t listen to my gut as much as I should. I don’t say “no” as much as I should. I don’t call my mom enough. I don’t floss. Does anyone actually floss?

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU GOOGLED?

“Outdoor drinks happy hour Clinton Hill.”

Note: This interview took place safely pre-COVID

What’s the secret to perfectly salty-sweet chocolate chip cookies? According to our Gal Eden Grinshpan it’s tahini. Eden is a Top Chef Canada judge, Cordon Bleu graduate, super mom, cookbook author, and hands down one of the funniest people we’ve ever met. We hung out at her unbelievably sunny Williamsburg apartment and talked about big feet and big fears while eating cookies (the tahini really does make it).

HOW DO YOU STYLE YOUR INDUSTRY STANDARD PIECES?

I love jeans and have a big collection. The Margot highrise fit great and are surprisingly comfortable. On a day when I’m not on set I’ll wear a pair of jeans with a big coat and Ganni boots or classic Reeboks if it’s more casual. I do clothing swaps with a bunch of friends and it’s where I get some of my best pieces.

WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

If we do watch a movie, it takes us three days to get through it because we’re tired parents. Working Girl is my favorite movie of all time though.

WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I have size 40/41 feet and I’m not even 5’8”.

IF YOU COULD STEAL ANYONE'S HOME TO LIVE IN, WHOSE WOULD IT BE?

Athena Calderon.

DESIGN YOUR IDEAL DINNER PARTY WITH ANY 3 GUESTS OF YOUR CHOOSING:

The guest list would be all comedians; Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and James Cordon. I’d make a classic middle eastern spread. It’s all comfort food that we eat with our hands and we’d just eat and drink and laugh.

WHO IS YOUR TV ALTER EGO?

It would be a combination of Madonna in the 80’s, with Lizzo’s unapologeticness.

WHOSE STYLE DO YOU ADMIRE MOST?

Cher from the 70’s, boho with the long hair. I’m more girl next door than sequin body suit.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BOOK?

My book, Eating Out Loud. It just came out. I love and collect cookbooks so my favorites are all cooking related. My friend Adeena Zussman’s book that came out last year, Sababa is especially high on my list.

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

Gossip magazines. They’re not guilty, they’re just pleasure. Ido (my husband) got me a subscription!

WHAT DON’T YOU DO?

I don’t swim in large bodies of water. We haven’t discovered 70% of the ocean floor and I’m a doggy paddler. No thank you.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU GOOGLED?

Pickling tips.

WHAT WAS THE LAST CONCERT YOU WENT TO?

Fleetwood Mac--it was a long time ago! The only reasons I don’t go to concerts that often is because I hate crowds and not having seats.

Founder, Pretty Well Beauty

Jazmin Alvarez is a veteran of the fashion and beauty industries and the Founder of Pretty Well Beauty, a curated clean beauty marketplace. While sustainable beauty can be hard to navigate and understand, Jazmin has created an approachable one stop non toxic shop for your whole body. We chatted about why there are too many variables to pick her favorite jeans and taking care of yourself in the ‘self care’ business.

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS CHANGED SINCE COVID-19 BEGAN?

Pre-COVID half of our revenue was from popups. One of my goals for this year was to focus on e-comm so quarantine was actually a blessing in disguise because it forced me to shift my focus toward the website more. This plus the Black Lives Matter movement has actually benefited my business. People can’t go to the spa, they’re looking for self care, they’re considering the products they use, and at the same time they’re wanting to support Black and Brown businesses. Being Afro-Latina, many people and companies have reached out as they’re re-evaluating the products they use and partners they have. I hope this time makes us all better humans and better consumers.

DO YOU HAVE A STYLE ICON?

A mixture between Nicole Richie and Bianca Jagger. They’re both effortlessly chic in tees and jeans.

HOW DO YOU STYLE YOUR INDUSTRY STANDARD PIECES?

I’m not a hat person. I want to be a hat person but it never works out. If it’s a high waisted flare jean I do that with a tall heel. With skinny jeans and a tee I’ll wear a sandal. I don’t believe in kitten heels. If you’re going to do a heel do a heel.

MID-RISE OR HIGH WAISTED JEANS?

That’s an impossible choice. It depends on the shoe. So many different variables.

BOYFRIEND OR SKINNY JEAN?

Both.

WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

I don’t know if I have the attention span for whole movies. I have really been enjoying Queen of the South on Netflix.

WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I’m a science geek. I was a bio-chem major when I first started college. I also have a national medal in physics.

DESIGN YOUR IDEAL DINNER PARTY WITH ANY 3 GUESTS OF YOUR CHOOSING:

Maya Angelou, Madame CJ Walker, and Celia Cruz. I’m a vegan that doesn’t drink but I would break that for my Mom’s gumbo and really really good wine.

WHAT’S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs. My friend’s mom sent that to me. Also A Return to Love by Marion Williamson. And currently reading In the Flo by Alisa Vitti.

WHAT’S THE LAST THING YOU COOKED?

I made pasta with mushrooms, onions, organic sauce, and Beyond Meat Sausage. As a vegan, their sausage is the best.

WHAT DON’T YOU DO?

I don’t straighten my hair.

A LOT OF WHAT YOU DO HELPS OTHER PEOPLE ENGAGE IN “SELF CARE”, HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF?

Work from home was less of an impact for me as a small business owner, but it’s still hard because I was used to breaking time up with meetings. So now I make a point to take Sundays off, otherwise I’d be working all the time. Instead on Sunday I do my hair. I’ve also really been taking care of my skin and increased at home facials to twice a week. Self care is not just about what's on the outside so I also have been meditating, and writing daily in my gratitude journal.

Owner, Framed Florals

For our first socially-distanced Gals in IS, we couldn’t have picked a more flexible, creative partner than Lacie RZ Porta. The woman behind Framed Florals, Lacie artfully preserves flowers from travels, weddings, or your backyard in minimalist frames. We virtually sat down and chatted about life as a solotrepreneur during quarantine, high waisted jeans, and how 90 Day fiancé and homemade sourdough are the not-so-guilty pleasures getting us through these strange times.

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS CHANGED SINCE QUARANTINE BEGAN?

A whole lot! When quarantine first began I went through all the stages of “wtf do I do now?” as I feel like everyone did. I tackled all my computer tasks that I could from home, emailed with clients, and then went into sourdough baking mode. Over the last two months things have shifted and pivoted, I made a small collection of frames from home, added a bunch of new things to my site, and just went with the waves of having dozens of postponed weddings. I’ve been so thankful to still have clients send me flowers from elopements and zoom weddings so that has been the bright spot in all of this business wise!

HOW DO YOU STYLE YOUR INDUSTRY STANDARD PIECES?

My IS pieces feel very much “me.” I’m generally a no-fuss kind of dresser, I wear what’s comfortable and easy and effortless. (Which IS totally embodies.) Jeans and a tee are a weekly go-to for me! So styling with my favorite mules, purse (made by my friend Apprvl), and bandana is a classic style choice I make nearly daily!

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER?

Anemones!

WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

That I’ve given myself a tattoo! Totally DIY I stick & poked a tiny heart on my wrist over 10 years ago. It surprisingly still looks so cute.

MID-RISE OR HIGH WAISTED JEANS?

High waist!

BOYFRIEND OR SKINNY JEAN?

Boyfriend for when I’m trying to be comfy, skinny for when I’m trying to feel more put together!

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

90 Day Fiancé.

WHAT’S THE LAST THING YOU COOKED?

Predictable…pizza dough with my sourdough starter!

WHAT DON’T YOU DO?

Eat meat...I’ve been vegetarian more than half my life now.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU GOOGLED?

Searching for the best bubble bath soap… bath plus wine and listening to a podcast is my favorite way to end a long day.

DO YOU HAVE A STYLE ICON?

Not exactly one person, but I love the casual cool style of the 70’s. Patti Smith in iconic tees and oversized mens shirts with jeans. Stevie Nicks in flowing dresses and jumpsuits. Even Bruce Springsteen rocking all denim and a leather jacket, so good!

Leiti Hsu is a food-obsessed, globetrotting, “robe-bopping” (more on that later) powerhouse. She’s a co-founder and now advisor, of the modern-day travel agency Journy. She also started the food media company Word of Mouth, which tells stories of life through the lens of food. We caught up at one of her new favorite haunts, Last Light at Sister City to talk about dressing for maximum fun—and, of course, to eat and drink.

HOW DO YOU STYLE YOUR INDUSTRY STANDARD PIECES?

I was a late bloomer style-wise. Growing up I was a nerd. I didn’t have as much courage in terms of dressing to make a statement. When I started working I was in investment banking, there weren’t a lot of role models for young women like me in the workplace. It was a lot of Brooks Brothers shirts at office golf tournament types of scenarios. At a certain point in my career, I was able to go “F— it!” and go for maximum fun. When I wear IS I’m using it as a base for a statement—a clean palette of sorts. For example, I’ll take the Odette white jeans and the white Maxime tee for a monochrome base and add an ethereal emerald organza duster jacket and my chartreuse Manolos.

WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

I honestly can't remember. Even if I did I’d be ashamed because I love to watch rom-coms on the plane with a plastic cup of below-average red wine and bawl my eyes out alone. I fly a lot for work so it's a good release.

WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I'm far more introverted than you might expect. I dive into big events, on-camera and/or interviewing people, so when I show up I might already be in the hosting and entertaining flow. Still, before, during and after, I take deep breaths and really harness my extrovert reserves. Always remember to breathe.

IF YOU COULD STEAL ANYONE'S HOME TO LIVE IN, WHOSE WOULD IT BE?

I would combine Oprah, Gweneth Paltrow and Chrissy Teigen’s homes and then bring in my own designers to create a kind of female badass mogul paradise.

DESIGN YOUR IDEAL DINNER PARTY WITH ANY 3 GUESTS OF YOUR CHOOSING:

I’d be in Japan because Japanese food is the best—well, tied with Taiwanese—I’m Taiwanese. The location would be an epic ryokan [traditional Japanese inn with room service]—that way after eating I’d just roll myself to my room afterwards—or better, into bed. The restaurant would have flowers, like Gramercy Tavern level of floral arrangements. Food would be a procession of omakase, as biodiverse as possible. There would be uni, uni everywhere. To drink there would be red and white Burgundy served in impossibly thin glassware. Three guests. Well, I’d invite the posthumous Anthony Bourdain, Awkwafina and Oprah (because I’m taking her house). Actually I’d invite more people, even though you only said three, it’s a party! There are always extra folding chairs. Dress code is bring the most drama(!) renditions of yourself...colors, sparkles, feathers, leather, see-through and so on.

WHO'S YOUR TV ALTER EGO?

There aren't enough Asian women in entertainment, first of all, but if I had to pick someone I'd say Ellen DeGeneres. We both dance on command.

WHOSE STYLE DO YOU ADMIRE MOST?

Amal Clooney. She’s elegant with flair. Love that over-the-top drama executed by a brainy woman.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BOOK?

My coach, Lauren Zander’s book, Maybe it’s You. It’s a distillation of her coaching philosophy: telling the truth, keeping promises and being accountable. Getting coached is expensive; I understand it’s a privilege. That said, it’s the way I learned how to build an epic life professionally, personally, even romantically. My dating life is fun, now! It’s also helped me to navigate my mother's death. My coaching helped me get serious about keeping promises to others and, just as importantly, to myself. Promises to ourselves are the first ones to go. And if you can’t keep a promise to yourself, to hold yourself accountable, how are you going to really keep promises to anyone else?

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

I travel a lot for work. After traveling and a long work day I love baths. I’ll call ahead to make sure there’s a tub, I’ll change rooms if possible. After the bath I like a very, very large bed. The best are those as wide as it is long. As important as the size of the bed are the sheets. For me it’s not about thread count, it’s about how crisp they are. I want crispy-ass percale cotton sheets on my bed. I get into it, and go ahhhh. Then I make time to dance in robe wherever I am in the world à la Robe Bop.

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, YOU WOULD GO TO:

I wouldn't want to go back to any other era because they would all be less comfy and delightful in terms of travel, food and drink, oh my! Plus, all those little things in life—toilets, electricity and running water—are not to be taken for granted. If I had to go back in time, I would go back to an earlier time in my life and apply what I know now. I would have had more fun...and sooner.

WHAT DON’T YOU DO?

I avoid complaining out loud how expensive food and drink are. Both personally and professionally that really bothers me. Professionally, good food costs money. I understand people struggle to put a square meal on the table, I’m talking the fortunate people who can afford to choose to go out to eat. A lot of bad (farming, production and processing of ingredients not to mention labor practices) has to happen for cheap food to happen. My Asian parents said “I love you” via food, not words. So any limits on food makes me sad. It’s a scarcity mentality that reminds me of starting out an immigrant kid, when ordering a soft drink was once a splurge. I knew I’d have to work hard for the experiences I wanted to have.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU GOOGLED?

How to say veal milanese in Italian. I was in Milan for work, and they had this classic milanese dish that’s essentially a breaded meat cutlet. But the difference was, it was the size of my head! I don’t speak Italian and I wanted to get it right, so Google to the rescue: “Cotoletta alla Milanese” with the addition of “Gigantessa.”

The champagne queen of Greenwich Village (and all of New York in our opinion), Ariel Arce is the woman behind our favorite spots to sip all kinds of wine--from bubbly at Air’s Champagne Parlor to sake at Tokyo Record Bar and Special Club to a little bit of everything at Niche Niche. Each of her restaurants feels like the dinner parties you wish your friends had in their non-existent giant New York apartments filled with delicious food, rad music, and of course amazing wine. We hung out with Ariel at Niche Niche where we chatted about 8 year old fashion influencers and pizza, lots of pizza.

How do you describe your style?

I need to dress for 9AM to 2AM so there’s a big focus on comfort and movability. A lot of days, I’ll wear jeans, a tee, and a sweater that’s breathable and won’t get wrinkly. I really love a monochrome outfit with a statement jacket. I wear a lot of white on white which people think is crazy in the food and booze industry. Sailors would wear white because on ships it wasn’t easy to do laundry and this way they could throw their uniforms in with the sheets and wash everything at once.

What's something that most people don't know about you?

From age 8-18 I was an actor and during some of that time, an Olympic level gymnast.

If you could steal anyone's home, whose would it be?

Donald Trump.

What was the last movie you saw?

Downton Abbey. I love the show and the movie was great.

Design your ideal dinner party with any 3 guests.

Stevie Wonder, my dad, Bill Murray--total dude party. We’d eat pizza and drink champagne on ice, Bill’s favorite.

Whose style do you admire most?

Coco Princess, she’s 8. I’m not that girl but her style is dope.

What's your guilty pleasure?

It’s pretty basic but eating pizza and binge watching TV when I should be working, because I always should be working.

What was the last concert you went to?

I get to see lots of live music because of Special Club. We opened a concert venue in the lower level of Niche Niche this year. It’s mostly blues and soul acts that do a few day residencies at a time. The last one I saw was Brian J.

What don't you do?

Unfortunately, nothing. I say yes to too many things.

What was the last thing you Googled?

John Witherspoon. My high school friend group was really into the movie Friday and he died recently so we were texting and I ended up looking him up on Google.

If you could go back in time, you would go to:

The late 60’s early 70’s, they had the best fashion, cars, parties.

Author and Creator, Reading My Tea Leaves

Fun fact: did you know the lady behind pretty much everyone’s favorite blog, Reading My Tea Leaves, is also the nicest? Yup, it’s true. We spent an afternoon with Erin at her office in Williamsburg and our faces ached by the end of the day from smiling so much. In a city where more is more is more, Erin keeps it simple. She writes about life with a husband and two kids in 500 square feet of space and is somewhat of a messiah for championing small space living and minimalism—not a palm frond in a vase minimalism, but, like, real life minimalism. The kind that betters your life and the world. See her office and neighborhood tour below.

What do you love about your IS jeans?

High waist. Good butt. No nonsense.

What was the last movie you watched?

You've Got Mail... a fall favorite I've never seen all of!

What is something most people don't know about you?

How much I enjoy chocolate milk.

If you could steal anyone's home to live in, whose would it be?

I've never visited myself but everything tells me that I need to see Georgia O'Keefe's desert house... and move in.

Design your ideal dinner party with any 6 guests of your choosing:

Apps! All the apps. Little crostinis, cornichons, aged cheeses, endive boats with nuts and blue cheese, creamy dips and fancy crudités... No main courses, just limitless finger foods... You were asking about the food, right?

Who is your TV alter ego?

Not Charlotte from Sex and the City!

Whose style do you admire most?

Keri Russell lives in my neighborhood and looks A++ every time I see her. (Not to sound stalkerish.) (or braggy!)

What are your three favorite books of all time?

1. A Hole Is to Dig -Ruth Krauss 2. Nope. 3. Nooo. I surrender... too hard, can't play favorites!

What is your guilty pleasure?

I feel no guilt about it, but I do really enjoy eating chocolate in bed.

If you could go back in time, you would go to:

Provence during the 1970's.

Creator of Passerbuys

You know that whole impossibly chic French thing? Clemence is that in spades. Half French, half Persian, born in the south of France and raised in the boomtown of Dubai, Clemence has a deep curiosity and fascination with people—how they live, what they listen to, what they read, what their morning routine looks like. So, naturally, she started Passerbuys, the website with a cult following that takes a look inside the lives of inspiring women around the world and profiles all their favorite things. We turned the camera on her and found out what she reads (Simone de Beauvoir) and what she loves (the Bauhaus movement) while touring her Greenpoint neighborhood in her skinny black Simones and white Maxime tee.

What do you love about your IS jeans?

The stretch. :)

What was the last movie you watched?

From Beyond by Stuart Gordon.

What is something most people don't know about you?

I'm half Iranian.

If you could steal anyone's home to live in, whose would it be?

Luca Guadagnino's home.

Design your ideal dinner party with any 6 guests of your choosing:

Rihanna, Larry David, Maynard James Keenan, Pamela Adlon, Isabelle Hupert, John Oliver.

Who is your TV alter ego?

Nathan Fielder

Whose style do you admire most?

Sarah-Lihn.

What are your three favorite books of all time?

Pour une morale de l'ambiguïté by Simone de Beauvoir, Mercure by Amélie Nothomb, L'Étranger by Albert Camus.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Watching Friends, the TV show.

If you could go back in time, you would go to:

the Bauhaus Metal Party during 1929.

Editorial Director of Obsessee

An early discoverer of Industry Standard, Naomi Nevitt is the American embodiment of Japanese minimalism. With so much talk of “uniform dressing,” Naomi is truly loyal to her look – mock necks, stripes, and of course, classic denim in the form of the Margot Highrise. She is a master of the millennial domain, having worked as an editor at Teen Vogue, Refinery29, and now Obsessee, a social media-based lifestyle publication for Gen Z. She’s the shopping guru to millennials, and yet, has a studied and intentional approach to dressing and design. Inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe and Cy Twombly, and a declared hater of self-deprecating memes, she is the oldest soul we’ve ever met.

What is your favorite way to wear your IS jeans?

With ballet flats.

What is the last movie you watched?

Lo and behold: Reveries of the Connected World.

What do you love most about IS jeans?

They show just the right amount of ankle.

What was the first CD you bought?

Lisa Loeb, "Nine Stories."

What's something most people don't know about you?

I hosted a French disco themed radio show in college.

What is something people love, but you hate?

Self-deprecating meme.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A microbiologist.

What is your idea of happiness?

Dancing for hours.

What is your idea of misery?

Never listening to music ever again.

What cartoon character do you identify with most?

Judy Funnie from "Doug."

Whose style do you admire most?

Georgia O'Keeffe.