The Debrief: Ralph Lauren's Latest Show, The Flip Flop Rebrand, and What I'm Bringing Into Summer Style

0:01Hey, everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Let's Get Dressed. It's your host, Liv Perez. us. It's just me today, and I wanted to start something new on the podcast where the last episode of every month, I do a little check-in with you guys, catch up, let you guys know what I'm up to, some things from the month, but then also save some of my favorite questions that are submitted in the AMAs on my Instagram on the weekends just for podcast listeners. So very excited to be doing that today. Hope you guys are having a great start to your week and thrilled that you're all here. It's been a really chill month for me, which is nice.

0:37If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I'm usually on a plane like every two or three weeks. So the fact that I was just home for six weeks straight post Paris Fashion Week was kind of a dream. I didn't plan on it. I mean, things always pop up, but I've had a full six weeks at home. I've been addicted to my aura ring and making sure that I sleep eight hours every night. I don't know if you guys have this aura ring, but truly it kind of rules my life. So when people say to me that they're afraid to get one because of that, I'm like, yeah, it could happen. Like I track my steps on there. I track how much I'm sleeping.

1:13And I actually noticed the other day I like didn't get a good night's sleep. I couldn't fall asleep until like one in the morning. And I think I slept like seven hours. And a friend called me. It was a Saturday. And he was like, what are you doing today? And I was like, I slept really bad. I'm doing nothing. And I remember him being like, oh all right you do you like want to go grab lunch and I was like no I I can't function because I didn't sleep well and when I got off the phone I was like oh we can't be doing that like we can't let the seven hours not eight hours dominate our lives and like make me grumpy so needless to say I've been sleeping a lot and working out a lot and kind of being in a really good routine I'm one of those people who like thrives on routine I'm someone who if I could like wake up and kind of do a similar version of the same thing every day, I'd be really happy.

2:01But life doesn't really work like that. I feel like between work and travel and just like life in general, I always find myself not home. Anyways, I'm going to New York tomorrow for the weekend. It's one of my best friend's 30th birthdays. And then I'm doing a few podcasts out there. And then Alex and I are going to Japan next month for two weeks. So I enjoyed it while I could. Back on the road again. I actually saw someone post on TikTok that they think that if you live in LA, you need to leave. I think it was every six weeks. And I kind of agree with that, I guess. I mean, I'm from here, so maybe my perspective is a little different.

2:34Like I've been here for very long periods of time. But yeah, I feel like, you know, LA can be a little bit slower, which is something I actually really appreciate about it. I like that kind of slower pace. I think mixing it up every now and then and experiencing something other than the sunshine is good for us. You know, you got to experience a little bit of hardship out there, like go to a place that's 40 degrees every once in a while. So, but anyways, I'm going to New York tomorrow. I'm doing a batch of podcast episodes to make sure that you guys are well-fed while I am in Japan next month. I'm so excited to be in New York in the springtime.

3:06I heard that it has just gotten warm there, just in time for Alex and I to be there. And honestly, it's always very special when Alex and I get to go back. For those of you who don't know, it's actually where Alex and I met. I was graduating NYU. He was starting at Columbia Graduate School and we met there. So every time we go back, We kind of hit our usual spots that we used to hit when we first met and we're just friends. So I'm excited. It's always a good time. By this time, you guys will see, have seen some of the content from there. Feeling the spring outfits. I'm very excited. I'm trying a new hotel this time.

3:38So I think it will be a really great trip. There are two good times to visit New York and it's April, May or September, October when the leaves start to change. I also am a crazy person and I love New York in like peak summer when all you can literally wear is like workout shorts and a tank top because it's so hot. But that's just me. I like really, really hot climates. And New York in the summer is also really fun. Okay. Anyways, let's dive into some of these AMAs that I've saved for you guys. In case you don't know what I'm talking about, every weekend on my Instagram, I post a question box for you guys to submit questions about anything.

4:16Career advice, what you should wear to your friend's wedding this summer, what you should wear to a work gala, maybe a shoe recommendation for the summer. And I try to get to as many as I can. There are so many. And if I'm not responding publicly, I try to DM you guys on the side and get you the answers you guys deserve. So I saved a few for the pod today that I think are perfect conversation starters for summer style, trends, and some things that I'm really excited about in the industry right now. So let's dive into a very pressing subject. I feel like I've gotten asked this. I got asked it yesterday and I saw it in the AMA and I've seen a few articles about it.

4:53Is Sway to Trend? Do we think it's just happening now or is it going to be a forever thing? Okay. For starters, something that I'm working on in my personal style is to eradicate this idea that certain fabrics and colors can only exist for certain seasons. I think it's very limiting and I think we can be a little bit more creative. If you're someone who's dealing with a small closet space, I definitely recommend putting away those bulkier seasonal clothes, really chunky turtlenecks or knee-high boots, winter boots, things like that that you don't need to see every day. I highly recommend putting them in a box and maybe putting them in your garage or a storage closet or something if you don't need them for the summer.

5:34But I'm thinking more trendy things like burgundy, for example, suede, for example. Actually, I posted a piece of content on my Instagram this month in case you missed it. And it was me basically saying that for those of you who are sad to be putting your burgundy away now that it's spring, because it was such a popular fall color, you don't have to. I actually think burgundy is such a great color for spring. So if you're looking for ways to incorporate it into your spring style, I really love it with butter yellow. The other day I was wearing a pair of jeans with a butter yellow button down and my big burgundy clutch, and it looked so good.

6:07And actually the other day, data but make it fashion, my favorite fashion Instagram account, actually posted that pastels for spring are out and burgundy is very much in. It increased 76 % in the past week and that's up 13 % from April, 2024. So a lot of people are still wearing burgundy. Again, I like it with butter yellow. I love it with white. I really love it with like a dusty rose pink. There's a picture actually in the carousel that I posted of a beautiful woman and like a dusty rose button down shirt with burgundy pants and like a burgundy jacket. And I think that would be epic for spring.

6:42So I don't think you necessarily have to put those things away, especially if you're someone who's spending a lot and investing in a designer suede bag. I don't think it's realistic to say, okay, I'm going to spend three or four grand on this suede bag and wear it only like six months out of the year. So I'm all for it. Bring it into summer, guys. Okay, moving on. One of the biggest questions that I've been getting lately is what is the shoe of the summer? And of course, also people have been asking for great things to wear for spring as well. And I have two that I think are percolating that I've really been seeing everywhere.

7:17The first are these like retro style minimalist sneakers. I feel like they really became popular around Christmas time last year when Dries Van Noten launched their sneaker. That is like a very sporty retro style. They're a very like slim, low to the ground, anti-chunky sneaker. And they came in so many chic colors. I'm dying for this olive green color that they have, but they've been sold out everywhere. Even when I was in Paris, I went to Galleries Lafayette and they were sold out there, except they just restocked into new colorways that I really like. There's a brown pair that is suede chocolate brown with light tan brown accents.

7:55And then there's a pink pair that's also really cute. I might have to get these for Japan, but they're like a bubblegum pink with an orange accent. So I feel like these sneakers to me are like the anti-sneaker sneaker. They're like the antithesis of a chunky Air Force One. They're the opposite of like a workout New Balance. They're really just like a streamlined fashion person sneaker. Like if you're someone who loves fashion, you're wearing these sneakers. And then Louis Vuitton also just released their sneakerina, which they're calling kind of the in between of like a ballet flat and a sneaker.

8:28So I feel like overall, the trend of this like laid back but refined sneaker is everywhere right now. And I'm not surprised. I feel like for the past two years, we've been in Samba world. Like everyone is obsessed with Sambas, even myself. They're really the only sneaker that I wear. I have them in multiple different colors. It's that laid back but elevated feeling of a sneaker that's not a chunky sneaker. I actually went to the Louis Vuitton event for the launch of the sneakerina here in LA and I got to see them in person. I'm not usually like a bright color sneaker gal, but the pink ones are so cute.

9:04I saw a few people wearing them at the event. There was one girl who was like in this full kind of dark wash denim look with the pink sneaker and it was so cute. So if you have a colored sneaker, highly recommend pairing them with like a dark denim, maybe jean and a jacket or a miniskirt and a jacket. It looked so good. P.S. The event for that Louis Vuitton event was at the new San Vicente Bungalows in Santa Monica. And I used to go to the one here in West Hollywood all the time. So I hadn't made my way over to the Santa Monica one. But like, wow, it's really beautiful. You have like a full view of the beach.

9:41You can eat outside in Santa Monica. And like, I feel like in the past few years, Santa Monica has kind of fallen off a little bit. Like everything closed at the Third Street promenade. The only thing for me that gets me over to Santa Monica is going to the proper hotel. So I'm really glad that there is like another destination now that's right by the beach, especially since I feel like Malibu is going to take a while to be a place where people publicly go again. So it was really nice to be by the beach. It was a great event. If you have a chance to go there, I highly recommend it. And I also heard their opening in New York soon at the old Jane Hotel location.

10:14So San Vicente bungalows for everybody. The other shoe that I think is making a major comeback. Let's talk about the flip-flop guys. If you follow me on Substack, I just put out a story and there's also an Instagram that I put up last week of me styling a pair of Javianas. And if you followed me for a while, you know that that's like the craziest thing ever and probably the most like far out of left field thing considering I am like a serial overdresser. But I really have been seeing flip-flops everywhere. Javianas just made Gigi Hadid their new face. So they're in the midst of a major push. I saw a lot of flip-flops like Sophia Ritchie and Hailey Bieber wore them at Coachella.

10:52And I don't know if you guys saw, I'm sure you did, but The Row released a pair of$690 sneakers, rubber sneakers with like a cotton strap on them and they sold out really fast. So clearly there's a lot going on with flip-flops right now. And if you go to my sub stack, I wrote a little bit more of like an in-depth story on kind of the exile of them and now the return of them. I feel like for a while they really had that stigma of like a lazy outfit. And even like people who were who wore like flip flops at airports, like it kind of just became synonymous with just like not put together. But now I feel like they've come back in a really refined way.

11:32Like it's not the like neon pair I feel like I grew up with. You know, the row has a pair. Totem has a pair. But I think that they are back and better than ever, if I was to say. Last summer, I went on holiday and the night before I was packing. And usually, I have like my really kind of chic leather thong sandals. And I was like, you know what? This trip is all on the beach. Like I want a pair that I can like get messed up. The sand can't mess them up. I can wear them in the sand. And so I like panic ordered a pair of Javianas on Amazon Prime and I have been wearing them nonstop. I wore them the other day with a suit, actually, like a linen blazer short set that was beige and I wore it with my Bottega Hop and I thought it was actually cute guys.

12:18I was shocked but I think we're going to see a lot more of them this summer and I think that you can go like as far left or right as you want on this like you can totally get a pair of Javianas and keep it really classic but also in my sub stack I put together a bunch that I love like there's a great Chanel pair that are obviously fabulous. There's a pair of like jelly ones on there. There's a pair from Reformation. So you can go as like chic or like lo-fi as you want with a flip-flop. But don't be surprised if you see them everywhere this summer as everyone's like solution to just something that's really laid back, chic and minimal.

12:54I think shoes right now are in like this minimalist era, like between the sneak arena, between the flip-flop. Like I think people want things that don't feel like they're taking up a lot of space or real estate in the outfit. They're just like complimenting it and are comfortable. They're like not the focal point. Whereas I feel like a few years ago, maybe five, six years ago, like we were wearing like Prada sandals with like flames on the back and like the shoe was very much the moment. And I just don't feel like it's that right now. Okay, moving on. I got a few questions this week about capsule wardrobes and how specifically to shop to make a capsule wardrobe.

13:28I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I really don't believe in the idea of a capsule wardrobe. I think to me, the point of fashion is to constantly be trying new things and exploring and shopping within your closet. And I think if you get really fixated on this idea of a capsule wardrobe, you're totally taking away the fun in that. And you're limiting yourself to just a few items. If you are someone who just wants to wear the same thing all the time, it might work for you. But for me, if you're a lover of fashion who also believes it could be an opportunity to get to know yourself better, I really don't recommend having that restrictive of a wardrobe.

14:06However, I will say, I think one of the things I'm going to push for this year is maybe reframing that. Maybe we can start calling it our core pieces. Because for example, I'm packing for New York right now, right? And I'm pulling out those key pieces that I love to wear all the time that I know are really good that I will take with me on any trip. And I guess you could consider that my capsule wardrobe that like I take everywhere with me and is like my go-to. But at the same time, like that might change in six months. Like it might be some new pieces. It might be different because of the season.

14:37So I think I might want to reframe it to core pieces. I think knowing what your core pieces are is really important. Like knowing those pieces that you can turn to on a busy morning when you just want to look really good. Like those can be your quote unquote capsule wardrobe pieces that like are your go-tos and you know you can rely on them all the time. I really recommend taking pictures of those outfits for those busy mornings, for those moments where you just don't know what to wear and you need a good look. But yeah, I just, I think it's so minimizing to like stick to just a few pieces all the time.

15:12So that's my thought on a capsule wardrobe. I think in terms of like shopping to better your closet and like shopping to make sure you have those key pieces, what I always do is I'll spend some time, usually when I'm cleaning out my closet and trying on outfits in my closet, like shopping my closet, and I'll write a list of things that I feel are missing. So say I have a lot of like brown tops right now and brown bags, but I realize I don't have a brown shoe to kind of tie it all together. That goes to like the top of my shopping list. Say I have all these like lighter colored tops that would look really good with a contrast dark wash jean.

15:50That's also going on my list. So I think making a list of things you need to make your wardrobe feel more cohesive, not those one-off pieces that only go with one thing, but those pieces that really go with everything is a great way to shop to better the core pieces of your wardrobe. So that's my biggest recommendation. Again, if you love a capsule wardrobe, all the power to you. That's just my thought on the matter and how to better shop for your closets. You're making sure you have pieces you really love. Okay, moving on. What brands are you really excited about right now? Great question because I do honestly, I feel like it's changing like every quarter at this point.

16:26Like brands are changing at the speed of light, whether it's like via their new creative directors or the things that are coming out. So I always love answering this question. For starters, I am really loving what Gap's doing. If you follow me on Instagram and Substack, you know I've posted a few pieces that I've gotten from them recently. And my current go-to pair of jeans is a Gap mid-rise kind of 90s loose fit, really dark wash jean that you guys, I got for$45. They have become my go-to. They're so, so, so comfy. They're linked in my shop, my. And I also got this butter yellow kind of knit sweater set that I've been wearing a lot too, and it's so great for summer.

17:05If you're someone who wants to try butter yellow and you haven't really worn the color before, this is a great like low cost investment to try it out in your wardrobe. I actually loved the two pieces together. I love that kind of dark blue navy with butter yellow. It looks so good. And it's just like a great elevated outfit for every day that looks a lot more expensive than it is, honestly. As we've talked about on the podcast before, Zach Posen is currently the creative director of Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic. They're all owned by the same company. And I really love what he's doing over there.

17:34I think Banana Republic is looking really good. I think Gap and the recent launch of Gap Studio was great. Gap Studio is kind of his attempt at a more elevated line from Gap. They're all made in like the Gap Atelier and have a really good focus on like fit and quality. A lot of those pieces sold out really fast. And that's really exciting to see. I wouldn't be surprised if we like see them somehow at the Met Gala and more red carpets this year. And I think that that's really amazing. I love to see this like heritage American brand really making an effort to shake things up a little bit and be front and center.

18:08There are a few Gap Studio pieces available still, so go check it out if you are interested. Some good summer dresses. I think there was a great trench on there, a great blazer, and all at a really great price point. One of the coolest things that I think I've seen in a really long time was a recent Ralph Lauren launch that happened the day after their show that just happened in New York City. If you didn't catch that show, it was one of my favorites to date. Ralph Lauren, to me, is truly a hero of mine and an icon. I've never seen a bad Ralph Lauren show. Like I just haven't. Every show is incredible.

18:40And this show specifically, the romance, the layers, the styling. There was a TikTok that I saw recently that said that a lot of designers are really good designers, but they're not also really good stylists. So, you know, they could put together a really good collection, but the way they present it down the runway sometimes doesn't resonate. And Ralph Lauren is both. He is 100 % both. He knows how to create beautiful clothes, but he also knows how to present them in a way that is both high fashion and marketable. I wanted to buy every single piece from that collection. It's truly stunning. Took my breath away.

19:14But one of the initiatives that they launched around the time of the show, and they had a lot of influencers supporting this launch. It was actually a great kind of moment and something cool to see. They actually just launched an archive shop on their website. And this is something that I have been so excited to see for a really long time. Obviously, we all know vintage shopping right now is huge. I feel like we are all constantly looking for great pieces, whether it's from your local vintage store or you're following like incredible Instagrams like Happy Isles, Tab Vintage, Draft Vintage. Like I have alerts on for those because I'm just always kind of on the hunt for those great pieces.

19:50And I've been wondering why a lot of these heritage brands are not using their archive to either sell or buying it back up to sell on their own. Like they're kind of giving places like the RealReal, they're giving these third-party sellers all the real estate on that. So, you know, the RealReal is here making so much money on vintage Birkins and vintage Ralph Lauren and vintage Drees and all of these incredible brands. But I've always been waiting for the day that the actual brand takes back the control and opens their own archive. I'm so excited to see them selling their own archive pieces. It's available on their website right now.

20:29And there's a really great selection from high-end pieces. Say, for example, you're getting married or going to a great event. They have pieces that are multiple thousands of dollars that are incredible archive runway pieces. But then they also have the everyday pieces, great hats, t-shirts, button downs, jackets from the 90s that are also at a really great price point. So really fun. I want to see more brands doing this. Also, on that note, I'm going to New York and filming an episode with the founder of The RealReal this week, Julie Wainwright. And I'm so excited to have her on. I'm sure she'll have a lot to say about what we just talked about, especially since she's so close to the vintage world and the reseller world.

21:08I'm excited to see what she has to say. And I can't wait for that conversation. She's coming out with a book in early June that I'm sure is filled with so many gems. And she has a really crazy story. She was the CEO of a company. It dramatically failed. The day that she closed the company, her husband filed for divorce. She kind of had this reputation for being unhireable. And then she goes on to start The RealReal and brings it public and creates this incredible company and then steps away from the business. And now she's actually working on a whole other business. So she's a true serial entrepreneur.

21:37And again, I'm very excited for that combo. Coming soon, guys. Another brand moment that really caught my attention was that the brand Chromat actually just shut down this week. If you guys are unfamiliar with Chromat. The brand started in 2010 and was very architecturally inspired. A lot of great swimwear. To me, truly, this brand was the pioneer of inclusivity. This brand was all about including people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, all genders, all sizes. And it really, for its time in 2010, was truly a game changer. So I was really sad to see it close. But in the interview, the founder Bex, they said something that really moved me and I thought was such a great message to send to other brand founders out there, especially in this time where fashion is such a grind.

22:25People are constantly creating new collections and the cycle is really hard to manage. This is the end of the story that they wrote for The Cut. This is a direct quote. They said, for a long time, I thought that a quote unquote successful company must always be expanding. More products, more stores, more revenue, endless growth. But I don't believe in that model anymore. Growth for growth's sake isn't the only way. Things can get smaller without shame. Things can end without failure. And I loved that. I truly, I thought that that was such a good message to send out there that, you know, I feel like there are so many brands today that are struggling and pushing and they want to grow and they want investors and they want to make a huge exit, but I loved how they repositioned moving on, that it wasn't failure, that it just didn't align with their values anymore.

23:11So that really caught my attention. The entire story is on the cut right now. You should definitely go read it. I really can't wait to see what the founder does next. I think that they'll go on to do incredible things because Chromat was equally as incredible. One more brand shout out that I have been wearing and seeing a lot is Elu. I got gifted a pair of their earrings a little while ago and just kind of fell in love. And they have been doing so many good collabs. They did a collab with this bag brand called Sesta Collective, and they made these really cute suede pouches with LEU bag charms.

23:42And I went on vacation with my family three weeks ago for my mom's birthday, and I wore that bag by the pool every single day and got so many compliments on it. Just like a really fun, good summer bag. But then they also just did a collaboration with Crown Affair, my fave. I love them. I'm a huge fan of the founder, Diana Cohen. And they did a collaboration just in time for summer of like this beautiful beaded necklace. And then if you are a shopper of Crown Affair, you know that they make these like sage green scrunchies that are better for your hair than a regular hair tie. And Elie put little charms on the scrunchie.

24:15So if you put your hair in a hair tie or a bun, you're wearing this like very chic green scrunchie with like little pearls dropping down. And I think that that will be such an epic accessory for summer. I think we're going to see it everywhere. So I'm really loving what Ellie is doing. And I think we're going to see a lot of it this summer. Okay. Last question to round it out. What is one thing you're not wearing this summer? I love the messy person that asked this question. This is such a controversial take, but I'm not a fan of jean shorts. I don't own a pair. I never wear them. Personally, I just think there are so many other elevated options than a jean short, like a black linen short, a white linen short, maybe a black pair of poplin shorts.

24:54you can wear with a belt. Like, I just think there are so many other options to look 10 times more elevated than just a denim short. And if you love your jean shorts, I love you and I love that for you. But I'm just not someone who really gravitates towards them. I am liking Bermuda shorts right now. I think with like a little heel, they're cute for like a girl's night out for summer. And if you are someone who kind of feels stuck in your summer wardrobe, I highly recommend that as a good replacement. Reformation has good ones. Gap has good ones. There's obviously an amazing short from the row, but there are plenty of options for you to try something new in your wardrobe.

25:30So yeah, that's what I'm not wearing this stuff. But if you are wearing them, I'm so here for you. I'm the biggest believer in wearing what you love. Okay. I want to close this episode with cute little what I'm watching, what's on my wish list, who I'm following. Hacks is back. I'm obsessed with hacks. I think it's so good. Such great acting, such great writing. So season two is back and I've been loving that. I'm also really loving Your Friends and Neighbors with Jon Hamm. It's so good. I feel like he's great in it and it's just really entertaining. So tune into those two. I love them. And then also, of course, The Last of Us, if you can handle the kind of horror aspect to it, I'm sitting there like half on my phone, eyes closed a lot of the time because I'm a scaredy cat, but I think it's still a really beautiful show.

26:12All right. Who I've been following that I love? How many of you guys are on Becca Bloom talk because I think that she is incredible and I'm so impressed by her growth. She's grown close to 2 million followers since the beginning of this year and I very much know why. She's so polite and calm and I actually really love her point of view. I think everything she says on TikTok and her advice is really interesting but also data backed. I like that she always brings in great facts that she's clearly analyzed and looked up and she's my comfort creator. like really and truly, like if I just want to scroll, I will scroll through her feed.

26:51Also, of course, she's got impeccable fashion. I would love to go through her closet like supermarket style. I'm her jewelry, her watches, her bag assortment. She just she just takes the cake for me. So obsessed with her. If you don't follow her, go follow her on TikTok. She is such a breath of fresh air and really just such a lovely person. I truly love following her. And then to close out the episode, what's on my wish list right now? I am nonstop thinking about that Chanel 25 bag, the new bag that they launched. Dua Lipa is the face of that campaign. And Dua could really sell me a paperclip.

27:26Like truly, I think she could sell me anything, but she really sold me on this Chanel bag. I think it's so chic. But most importantly, it's a very functional bag. Like it feels like a great work bag. It feels like something I would wear every day for the next 10 years of my life and get a lot of great use out of. So that's on the top of my wish list. I'm really thinking about splurging on it. But I'm also going to Tokyo, as you guys know, next month. So I've heard there's a lot of great shopping there. And if you have any recs for me, please DM me and let me know because I'm so excited. It's Alex and I's first time.

27:58We actually had a trip planned May of 2020 for his birthday and had to cancel it. So this trip has been five years in the making for us. And I'm so excited to go. So maybe I'll save my splurge for Tokyo. But yeah, send me your recs, guys, if you have any. I'm so excited for that trip. And the next solo episode will be right after that trip. So I'll be able to debrief the whole trip with you guys, tell you my recs, tell you what I loved. I'm so excited to do that. Thank you guys so much for tuning in today. As always, if you have a moment, please go leave a review, a kind review on the Apple Podcast and Spotify page.

28:30It really helps the show grow and grow this community. Have a great week, everybody. And I will see you next week for a new episode post my New York trip. Bye.

28:43Thank you.