I've been #influenced - pop culture style moments that stick

My purchase decisions haven't been the same since

Oct 09, 2023

I’m always fascinated by the ways in which pop culture moments can weasel their way into our consciousness and impact decisions we make. As I reflect upon my own life, I find it truly comical that these celebrity moments have had such staying power for me personally. Once I see something that really resonates, however, I can’t unsee it.

Here are some viral pop culture events that have been forever etched into my brain… for better or for worse. But honestly, after you read this you’ll probably say for better… at least I hope so!

Kim Kardashian and the saga of her diamond studs

Kim realizing she just lost a $75K earring on KUWTK

I spent the majority of my early adult years in Boston, the land of preppy styles - popped collars, J.Crew seersucker, Sperrys, pearls, and dainty diamonds accents. Before moving to the city, I had never lived in a place that embraced such style traits. While I sought to still forge my own fashion identity in a sea of stripes, I was always yearning for a pair of diamond stud earrings. Knowing the price, however, I found it hard to justify a pair and was terrified by the prospect of potentially losing them. Yes, there are special clasps that mitigate the risk of an earring falling out, but that didn’t ameliorate the situation in my mind. Then 2011 hits and an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians airs. Kim and her family are on vacation in Bora Bora and she loses her $75,000 diamond earring after Kris Humphries (blast from the past!) tosses her in the South Pacific Ocean. She has a full-on melt down and this moment further justifies my position (though at a markedly different price point!).

So thank goodness lab grown options like Dorsey exist. I purchased a pair of lab-grown white sapphire studs from them a few months ago and was impressed by the assortment, quality, and customer service. Now I can rock high-quality studs that are more environmentally conscious in addition to being wallet friendly without constantly stressing about a lost earring.

A number of lab grown diamond and sapphire options have emerged over the past decade, but Dorsey has always stood out for me. Dorsey was founded by an LA-based female leader that I have admired from afar, Meg Strachan. Her background is in fashion and marketing, having operated as the VP of Growth and / or Strategy at a number of major brands including Girlfriend Collective, Bandier, Carbon 38, Goop, etc. I’ve been drawn to her success personally, as she consistently describes herself as data-driven and numbers obsessed, so she seems to have a natural blend of left and right brain, which is incredibly rare. She started Dorsey while working at Girlfriend Collective, putting in tireless work after hours to get the company off the ground. Dorsey is her grandmother’s namesake and on podcasts and in her social media posts she speaks incredibly fondly of the woman who shaped her throughout her childhood and adolescence with impeccable taste in costume jewelry. Meg’s designs have been featured on major celebrities and models, continuing to drive awareness of lab grown alternatives.

I own the Dorsey 0.37 carat studs and wear them with frequency.

The Katie Holmes Khaite moment that stopped traffic

The cardigan had long received a bit of an outdated, stuffy reputation before paparazzi captured Katie Holmes crossing the street in a Khaite cashmere sweater set. This isn’t your mom’s sweater set - a classic crew neck shell with a fitted cardigan. This is a beautifully stitched cashmere bralette and cardigan with beautiful oversized sleeves that offset a more fitted and elongated body. It was styled half off the shoulder with just one button closed to showcase skin in all the right places. Damn, so good. Thanks to Katie for the great cardigan revival - I can credit her for 2 of my purchases last year.

Here are some options for inspiration.

Jenni Kayne’s Cooper Cardigan is very similar in cut and design, for a fraction of the price of Khaite. Unfortunately it’s currently sold out in all 3 colors (though I did see a few in store earlier this week). You can sign up for your size on the waitlist.

This Acne Studios wool-mohair knit design comes in a number of colors. I own this exact color and have gotten a ton of wear out of it - the material doesn’t pill so it ages well. I love the ivory color with the ever so slight pink undertone.

If you’re looking for more of a cropped option, the Anine Bing Maxwell Cardigan is perfect.

The Gaston Cardigan by La Ligne also comes in two colors and has a more cropped silhouette.

Lenny Kravitz and the scarf that broke the internet (and then TikTok)

It’s rare to see a male making a fashion statement that’s not on the red carpet. So when Lenny Kravitz donned a knitted scarf thick, wide, and long enough to be a throw at the bottom of a California king bed, the world turned its head. While I would never dream to be as bold as Lenny, there’s nothing like being enveloped in a yummy scarf during a cold winter day. Whenever I wrap a scarf around my neck, I can’t help but think of him.

Lenny Kravitz made his TikTok debut in September by recreating the look.

Toteme’s oversized scarf option is incredibly beautiful and high quality.

Toteme’s classic wool scarves are also exceptional and come in an array of neutral color options.

Acne Studios’ wool scarf comes in 15 different colors and many you can personalize, making it a very thoughtful gift.

If you want a scarf from Acne Studios that’s even thicker, this one comes in 12 different colors.

Jenna Lyons takes the Met Gala red carpet by storm, in denim

In 2012, Jenna Lyons, then Creative Director and President at J.Crew, walked the Met Ball red carpet in likely one of the most genuinely authentic looks to ever grace the event. Jenna, the longtime queen of elevating everyday pieces, invited the world to step away from the suffocating confinement of longstanding fashion faux pas and instead mix and match styles, price points, colors, cuts, you name it. Jenna had her denim jacket perfectly tailored in length and then added a collar and cuffs from a white shirt, to complement the design of her pink silk skirt (inspired by 1947 looks by Elsa Schiaparelli). She combined androgyny on the top with ultra feminine on the bottom and made it look so darn cool. This is her genius.

If you’re in the mood for some denim, might I suggest the following.

J.Crew’s Louisa Lady Jacket in denim has been featured on the brand’s latest Creative Director and Head of Design, Olympia Gayot.