Rachel Tashjian, fashion critic at The Washington Post and creator of the popular newsletter Opulent Tips, shares her journey from blogging to influential journalism. She discusses the evolution of fashion media, emphasizing the value of unique storytelling and originality. Tashjian reflects on the contrasting dynamics between men's and women's fashion and how integrity plays a crucial role in her recommendations. With insights on navigating the industry and embracing change, she inspires listeners to stay authentic and adaptable in their careers.
Rachel Tashjian emphasizes the importance of finding one's unique voice in fashion journalism to create impactful, relatable content.
The evolution of fashion media necessitates adaptation to platforms like Substack and TikTok for engaging modern audiences effectively.
Tashjian discusses the challenges of maintaining integrity as a fashion critic while addressing diverse perspectives in her assessments.
Deep dives
Early Impressions of Fashion
The guest reflects on her initial encounters with fashion, describing her feelings of alienation and misunderstanding. Growing up surrounded by magazines like Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, she struggled to connect with the fashion world, perceiving it as something extravagant and unattainable. However, her fascination began to shift when she discovered Lucky Magazine, which resonated with her interest in style. Influences from musicians and television, particularly iconic figures like Janet Jackson and Britney Spears, played a pivotal role in shaping her understanding of fashion as an expression of personal identity.
The Journey to Becoming a Writer
The guest discusses her academic background in English and art history, emphasizing her lifelong passion for journalism. While navigating her college experience, she became increasingly interested in the work of fashion journalists such as Robin Gavon and Kathy Horn. This led her to explore writing as a potential career path, though she felt uncertain about her prospects in the competitive journalism landscape. After graduation, she faced numerous rejections in her search for writing opportunities but eventually started her own fashion blog, which helped her gain visibility in the industry.
Navigating the Fashion Industry
The guest shares her experiences working at prominent publications like Vanity Fair and GQ, highlighting the importance of finding one's unique voice in fashion journalism. She notes that working under supportive editors allowed her to explore her creativity without the stress of being micromanaged. Her approach to writing involved viewing fashion through the lens of cultural phenomena, finding connections between style and broader societal trends. This perspective has enabled her to craft insightful pieces that resonate with a diverse audience, bridging the gap between high fashion and everyday dress.
The Impact of Social Media and New Platforms
The conversation touches on the evolution of fashion journalism with the rise of social media and the challenges of capturing reader engagement. The guest discusses how platforms like Substack and TikTok have transformed the way fashion content is consumed, necessitating a shift in how writers present their work. By adapting her content to fit these platforms, she seeks to foster conversations around fashion in more accessible formats. Through sharing snippets and engaging with her audience directly, she aims to create a sense of community and interactive dialogue about style.
The Role and Responsibilities of a Fashion Critic
The guest reflects on the responsibilities that come with being a fashion critic and the challenges of maintaining integrity while providing honest assessments of designers and trends. Her writing aims to be accessible, removing jargon while still addressing complex issues in the fashion world. She expresses the importance of considering diverse perspectives, especially when discussing trends that may not appeal to traditional fashion audiences. This thoughtful approach allows her to engage readers from various backgrounds, ensuring that her critiques resonate beyond industry insiders.
This episode is for the REAL fashion heads and critical thinkers. This week, Alyssa sits down with the esteemed Rachel Tashjian, fashion critic at the Washington Post and the brains behind the cult-favorite, invite-only newsletter Opulent Tips, for a fascinating discussion about the state of fashion media and the industry at large. Tune in to hear about Rachel’s origin story as a blogger, plus her ascent up the masthead with stints at Vanity Fair (as a publicist!), Garage, GQ, and Harper’s Bazaar; what she learned studying the work of critics like Cathy Horyn and Robin Givhan; figuring out how to find the fashion angle in non-fashion stories, because that’s how so much of the world thinks; the value of having a good (and scrappy) attitude, as well as of asking for what you want; how to find your voice and your unique point of view, and why both are crucial to success; paying attention to what makes you a person and letting people see that; how working in men’s fashion differs from working in women’s fashion; writing for a magazine vs. a newspaper vs. your own audience; how her best bosses always led with integrity; looking at advertiser relationships as an interesting puzzle to solve, rather than a limitation; whether it’s easier or harder than ever to be a fashion journalist now; what happens when a designer or a brand takes issue with her reviews; the importance of always staying open to the next thing; starting Opulent Tips ahead of the Substack and recommendation newsletter boom; Lorde referencing Opulent Tips in her last album cycle, and so much more.
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