Nymphet Alumni

In this very special video episode of Nymphet Alumni, we convene in Hell’s Kitchen to perform our first-ever mukbang. Filmed the evening after our tiki-themed Substack launch party, we attempt to recover with 30 Chick-fil-A nuggets, two Cokes, two large fries, one chicken sandwich, and six Crumbl cookies. Along the way, we unpack the economics of fast food franchising, explore the theological divide between Protestant and Mormon desserts, debate the integrity of Chick-fil-A’s pickle batter and more. Bon appétit! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe

In this episode, superstar model-actress-writer and certified Tumblr icon Hari Nef joins us to discuss the electric energy of the mid-2010s New York fashion scene— VFILES, Hood by Air, Eckhaus Latta, and more— and the collision of early online content and the fashion industry that birthed some of the most brilliant creative personae of our generation. We learn about Hari’s cutthroat electioneering of the Dazed 100, her double life of uptown collegiate excellence and downtown nightlife chaos, street casting in SoHo and shitposting on the main grid, reflections on a decade of woke ideology, and so much more. We also get exclusive scoop on Hari’s upcoming Candy Darling biopic!Links:Image boardHood By Air – FW 2014 RunwayHood By Air – FW 2013 RunwayKalifa (fka Le1f) profile in The Washington PostVenus X on the origins of GHE20G0TH1K, a club night that shaped the 2010s – DazedVFILES Model Files Episode 5: Nodels (Not Models) on YouTubeVFILES Model Files Season 2 Episode 1: Save SoSo on Youtube“Where Fashion Blogging Began” (Fashin F*gs profile) in The New York TimesBlythe Marks on Instagrami-D Meets: Hari Nef on YouTubeHari Nef for the Dazed 100Hari’s scarily spot-on gay identity prediction tweet from 2014Enigma (dir. Zackary Drucker) in Variety@FilmUpdates announces the upcoming Candy Darling biopicHari Nef’s Hottest Fashion Opinions – The Run-Through with Vogue@marcitlali’s legendary amish b***h Tumblr post This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nymphetalumni.comIn our first exclusive episode on Substack (yay!), we discuss the Ibiza fashion craze, unpacking the sparkling, sunset-hued resortwear fantasy that looms over the coming summer. Using our revolutionary theory of “trickle-down Ibizanomics,” we leave no sequin unturned, from the couture treasure trove of Annie’s Ibiza to the injection-molded accessories of Amazon influencer storefronts. We analyze the aesthetic’s cultural context through the Balearic club scene’s seedy history, 2000s rom-com costuming, White Lotus hypergamy discourse, EDM tourism, traditional Indian fashion, the moodboard-to-stimboard-to-vision board pipeline, and more.

In this week's episode, we take a deep dive into Grisch, the fascinating niche style gaining traction among Sweden's affluent youth. Drawing on our listeners' firsthand accounts and a century of Scandinavian cultural history, we dissect its surprisingly long lineage— from fin-de-siècle dandies and Eurotrash dudebros to gangster rappers and old money influencers—all culminating in a high-stakes world of designer denim, puffer vests, and luxury low-profile sneakers. We ponder how the complex relationship between class, age, nationalism, and masculinity embodied by Grisch might result in its global domination.Special thanks to Charles, Elsa, Justine, Iman, Matilda, Ebba, and Jesper for their insights! Links:Image boardSelected TikToks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7Chris Heyn Jr. on TikTokeric_roth2 on TikTokMarcus Rolf on TikTokYour Ultimate Guide to Scandinavian Fashion by The Daily ScandinavianAbout Us – Garde GrischDe Vet Du – Sture P (Music Video) Peder Fogstrand aka Greven"The Law of Jante" (on Janteloven) by Michael Booth for The Paris ReviewThe Murder of Einar (Swedish rap legend) – YouTubeAzealia Banks announces her move to Stockholm in Swedish radio interviewYung Lean @subwaytakes InterviewConsumers that are middle and upper class in Nordic countries 2024 – Statista This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe

In this episode, journalistic superstar Ezra Marcus joins us to chronicle his journey from the ashes of millennial digital media to the frontlines of today's most exciting investigative reporting. We extol his epic track record—the Sarah Lawrence sex cult, the culinary horror story of Horses, the galaxy gas epidemic, and more— and discover what draws him to the shady fraudster kingpins that personify online hustle culture. We also discuss the true crime documentary slop machine, moonlighting as a party-pumping DJ, the idea that men are the new women, and what it means to stand at the brink of the Chinese century.Links:Ezra Marcus's Website Ezra Marcus on InstagramSome of Ezra's greatest hits:The Next Drug Epidemic is Blue Raspberry Flavored The Package King of MiamiThe Stolen Kids of Sarah LawrenceThe Cat Who Could Kill HorsesThe ‘E-Pimps’ of OnlyFansHow Do You Make a Weed Empire? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nymphetalumni.comIn this edition of Study Break, we discuss the Hollyweirdness of the Oscars (notably that James Bond humiliation ritual), Pretty Little Thing's rebrand from Love Island resortwear to halal clean girl prison clothes, the Losercore undertones of Prada's FW 2025 show, the abjection of the Shrek 5 trailer and the gravity of Shrek's highbrow legacy, the revolt against millennial burger joints and craft breweries, plus Biz makes a special announcement.Links:James Bond Musical Tribute at the 97th Oscars (Lisa, Doja Cat, Raye)Pretty Little ThingFeatured PLT monstrosities: sage tailored cropped blazer/dress, burgundy soft rib two piece set, grey bardot ruched dressPLT founder Umar Kamani on their rebrand – DrapersBoohoo/PLT/Nasty Gal class action settlementPrada Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear Collection on Vogue RunwayShrek 5 Official Trailer on YouTubeEuphoria Season 3's "Silver Slipper" strip clubKyle Gordon's "We Will Never Die" on TikTokMillennial burger spot roast on TikTokTate McRae – Revolving door (Official Music Video)Flew out to Atlanta TikTok storytime (Girl's POV)Flew out to Atlanta TikTok storytime (Boy's POV)Appalachian hair texture discourse on TikTokStephanie Soo/Rotten Mango Ash Trevino Deep Dive on YouTube

In this week's episode, we discuss the legacy of Losercore, an aesthetic of the late 90s and early 2000s that celebrated the awkwardness of young adulthood and the sartorial idiosyncrasies of social outcasts, from orthodontia and ill-fitting gym uniforms to wire-frame glasses and dishwater-blond hair. We analyze the socioeconomic conditions that led to this period of loser glorification, identify key players (Todd Solondz, Paul Dano), cinematic touchstones (Napoleon Dynamite, Little Miss Sunshine), and generational anthems ("Teenage Dirtbag," "Buddy Holly"), and reflect on how the Internet has transformed today's young losers into threats to themselves and others.Links:Image board"The Birth—and Maybe Death—of Yuppiedom" by Walter Shapiro for Time"Loser: The Hero of the 1990s" by Grunge Included on SubstackThe Trap by Adam CurtisThe Nineties by Chuck Klosterman@yungkombucha420 on TikTok"Americans Need to Party More" by Ellen Cushing for The Atlantic"The Anti-Social Century" by Derek Thompson for The AtlanticLoser Generated Content: From Participation to Exploitation by Soren Mork PetersenBillie Eilish on having no friendsCelebrity with no friends blind item ("not Jessica Chastain")Emma Chamberlain closet videoBed rot talking stage TikTok / "Love in the Time of Bed Rotting" by Isabel Unhinged on Substack"The Story Behind The Song: Beck and the crowning of the ‘Loser’ generation" – Far OutTeenage Dirtbag – Wheatus (Offical Music Video)Buddy Holly – Weezer (Official Music Video)Losercore TikTok boys: Slushy Noobz, Thomathy, Ben Awad, William ConradMarc Jacobs, Circa 2003: Long Hair, Neck Brace & Sweaty (PHOTO)Prada Spring/Summer 1996Marc Jacobs Spring 1999Marc Jacobs Fall 1999Vetements Fall 2019 MenswearBalenciaga Pre-Fall 2021 "Gucci's Beautiful Losers Hit New York" – Business of Fashion"The Book of Gucci According to Alessandro Michele" – 032c"Student Teaches Teacher" aka Jeff Bliss aka Friggin Packet Yo (Original YouTube Video)"Who's Afraid of Hasan Piker?" – Slate"Still Life (Betamale)" by Jon RafmanParty in their Blood – Cloudy Heart (Official Music Video)Bully (formerly @bully.incel.simp.hero) Duane Hanson – Saatchi GalleryDadsgiving by Chris Maggio This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe

This week, we are joined by special guest Evan Collins — architect, design archivist, and cofounder of Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute — for a conversation about the Institute's pioneering work in coining and defining the most fascinating aesthetics of the past half-century, including Indie Sleaze, Frutiger Aero, McBling, Whimsigothic, Shoe Diva, and many more. We discuss his foundational research into the Y2K aesthetic, the consumer incorporation of subculture, the challenges of community-based digital archiving, the benefit of researching ugly and unfashionable visual culture, and more.Links:Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute Official WebsiteCARI on Are.naEvan Collins on Are.naEvan Collins on Patreon (access to 700+ books and magazines!)Art Deco of the 20s and 30s by Bevis HillierBlobjects and Beyond: The New Fluidity in Design by Steven Skov Holt and Mara Holt Skov This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nymphetalumni.comIn this edition of Study Break, we discuss the TikTok ban fakeout, Andrea Dworkin's Right-Wing Women, the inauguration party coverage heard around the world, the consequences of Trumpism on critical beauty studies, the true meaning of Eusexua in a post-Brat society, and more. Also, Sam finally reviews Emilia Perez.Links:Watch Vica's New Atlas Reels on InstagramJohanne Sacrebleu (Emilia Perez parody)Zoe Saldaña - La Vaginoplastia (From Emilia Perez)Karla Sofía Gascón's crazy tweet archiveRight-Wing Women by Andrea DworkinCandace Owens on Blake Lively vs. Justin BaldoniDr. Natalya (Natalya Toryanski) on TikTok"The Cruel Kids Table" by Brock Colyar for New York magazineMichelle Santiago Cortés on the Pursuit of HotnessSean Monahan on the Boom Boom AestheticTate McCrae ordering drinks behind the scenes of "Sports Car"Tate McCrae – Sports Car (Official Music Video)Listen to exclusive episodes here <3

In this week's episode, we investigate the rise of what we're calling Geometrica, the edgy, STEM-influenced design trend that ruled the 2000s and 2010s. We talk about the iconic looks of Lady Gaga's The Fame, triangle-induced Illuminati hysteria, Obama-era techno-optimism, second-generation k-pop music videos, Alexander McQueen's historic Plato's Atlantis collection, and much more.Links: Image boardCubism and Fashion – Met Gala 1998 Press ReleaseCubsim and Fashion by Richard MartinAlexander McQueen Spring 2010 (Plato's Atlantis) – Vogue RunwaySHOWstudio: Plato's Atlantis by Alexander McQueen (archived livestream)The McQueen Show that Changed the Future of Fashion – DAZEDEssay: Nick Knight on "Plato's Atlantis" – SHOWstudioTop by @perlaz0ne on InstagramImogen Heap's MiMU GlovesIris Van Herpen Spring 2010 (Crystallized)Mary Katrantzou Spring 2009 (Graduate Collection)Mary Katrantzou Fall 2011Basso & Brooke Fall 2009Lady Gaga and Daphne Guinness for V Magazine (2015)Daphne Guinness / Nick Knight / Noritaka Tatehana: Floating World – SHOWstudio2NE1 - 내가 제일 잘 나가(I AM THE BEST) M/VPSY - GANGNAM STYLE(강남스타일) M/VBIGBANG - FANTASTIC BABY M/VGirls' Generation 소녀시대 'I GOT A BOY' MVAsians Wear Clothes on the Internet by Minh-Ha T. Pham20 Years of Issey Miyake's Bao Bao Bag – The GuardianSaudi Arabia asks Hans Zimmer to rework national anthem – The GuardianComme des Garçons Fall 2012La Maison GagaSpecial thank you to Telle from our Discord for this episode idea!Listen to exclusive episodes here <3 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe