Nymphet Alumni

Nymphet Alumni is a podcast dedicated to the study of fashion and culture.

www.nymphetalumni.com

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134 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes134

Newest first

Oct 31, 2023 · 1 hr 9 min
Ep. 62: Thanksgiving
In this week's episode, we ring in the upcoming Thanksgiving season and its assorted fashion implications, from the domestic humiliation of living room glam to the mercantile hysteria of Black Friday shopping. Does the donning of brown leather subliminally evoke the turkey and/or football? How does Thanksgiving day become a social minefield of gendered and generational tensions? We also reflect on the visual monoculture of Thanksgiving Americana— Charlie Brown, Norman Rockwell, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade— and the genealogy of the boot known as the "Pilgrim Stepper." Links: Image board The Pilgrim Stepper meme Iconic Macy's Thansgiving Parade moments Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade wiki Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamation Eli Roth's Thanksgiving trailer (2023) Eli Roth's fake Thanksgiving trailer (2017) Pilgrim style on the runway – Vogue Find 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
Oct 1, 2023 · 1 hr 14 min
Ep. 60: Shoe Diva
In this episode, we celebrate one of the great and glamorous muses of the early 21st century: the Shoe Diva! We discuss the importance of being 40, the ineffable poetry of Hallmark greeting cards, the death of suburban representation, and the boozy decadence of American motherhood. We conclude that you should never resist the urge to put cucumbers on your eyes, make the crosswalk your runway with ten shopping bags in arm, "ACK!" like Cathy, and have "a naughty little treat" etc. Image Board Links: Shoe Diva, Aesthetics Wiki “The Cheeky ‘Wine Mom’ Trope Isn’t Just Dumb. It’s Dangerous”, Washington Post Sass Gallery by Alece Birnbach Cathy by Cathy Guisewite Shoe Diva Aesthetic Facebook Page James Cerne’s Brilliant Ode to Shoe Divas Enter Helen: The Invention of Helen Gurley Brown and the Rise of the Modern Single Woman by Brooke Hauser Chick Lit Cari.Institute 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
Sep 27, 2023 · 1 hr 21 min
Ep. 58: Fashion Intellectualism w/ Avery Trufelman
In this very special episode, we meet the doyenne of fashion podcasting, the honorable Avery Trufelman, and discuss the rise of fashion history and analysis as content. We talk about brands as journalistic outlets, World's Fair modernism, the abundance mentality of the Internet, the slutty librarian look, and more! Articles of Interest by Avery Trufleman Terry Nguyen on "thought-fluencing" for Vox The Meaning of Ryanair – Dublin Review of Books Gem.App Victorian Hair Jewelry Louis Armstrong House Virtual Exhibit On Photography by Susan Sontag The Fashion System by Rolan Barthes Every Company is a Media Company by Tom Foremski Special thanks to Max @windy.500 for producing this episode! 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
Aug 29, 2023 · 1 hr
Ep. 57: The Dandysode
This week, we discuss the great mascot of modernism and one of our personal favorite archetypes: the dandy. We reflect on dandy theory from Baudelaire to Baudrillard and investigate the roots of dandyism as a reaction to “the great masculine renunciation” of the Age of Revolutions. We mourn tragic dandies past and honor their self-sacrifices at the altar of decadence, and we speculate on 21st century dandyism and its expressions online— and Sam shares her michelada recipe! Links: The Dandy, from The Painter of Modern Life by Charles Baudelaire In Praise of Cosmetics, from The Painter of Modern Life by Charles Baudelaire Simulacra and Simulations by Jean Baudrillard The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt by Albert Camus Beau Brummel and English Dandymania – National Geographic Great Moments in Dandyism – The Cut Paris Fashion: A Cultural History by Valerie Steele Dandyism and women’s fashion in the 1980s – The Guardian Edward Preble on Tik Tok Ethan Wong on Instagram Mexican street corn devilled eggs Instagram recipe 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
Aug 21, 2023 · 1 hr 8 min
Ep. 56: Eurodance
This week, we’re bopping our heads through the last weeks of summer— to the tune of Eurodance! We reflect on the high BPM European dance music that soundtracked the ‘90s and 2000s, from hits like “Barbie Girl” and “I’m Blue” to CGI-characters-turned-chart-toppers like Gummibär and Crazy Frog. We discuss the controversy around Sweden’s supremacy in music production, Eurodance aesthetics as a blueprint for Mass Bushwick, the Euro-exoticism of Albanian pop stars, and more. Links: Image board 'Why Don't We All Go Bonkers?' – The Rise and Fall of Happy Hardcore SNAP! – Rhythm is a Dancer Albanian pop star conspiracy Twitter thread Green Day’s Anti-Sweden billboard Flat Pack Pop: Sweden’s Music Miracle – BBC Why Backstreet Boys 'I Want It That Way' Lyrics Are so Confusing The Soviet Spy Who Invented the First Major Electronic Instrument – Smithsonian Magazine Planet of the Bass Official Music Video The Eurodance Encyclopedia Freestyle Disco Dancing Championship 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
Jul 31, 2023 · 1 hr 10 min
Ep. 54: French Girl Style
Following the passing of icon of effortlessness and honorary Frenchwoman Jane Birkin, we examine the mythology of the French girl — from the culture of chic aphorisms that surround her (Don’t be afraid of aging! Wear a black bra under your white blouse!), her philosophy as a form of IDGAF-ism, and how the most beloved representatives of French style aren't even French at all. Plús, we discuss Franco-American relations, the French girl digital media microeconomy, the subtle art of the basket bag and... le goûter!! Links: Image board How to be Parisian Wherever You Are (full book!) Alexa Chung's farewell to Jane Birkin Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong: Why We Love France But Not the French Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting (NYT review) Seducing the French: The Dilemma of Americanization by Richard Kuisel The French Way: How France Embraced and Rejected American Values and Power by Richard Kuisel Jane Birkin Vogue France interview (2018) Language policy in France "Fashion Foreplay" by Holly Brubach (NYT on French dating profiles in 1995) 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
Jul 30, 2023 · 1 hr 51 min
Ep. 53: Bond Girl Summer w/ Iona & Caroline Munro
In this week’s episode, we three devise a plot to revive one of the most iconic female archetypes in Western culture: the Bond Girl! We discuss the merits of a tropical, action-packed lifestyle, debate the gendered impact of the James Bond franchise, and unpack the taxonomy of the bikini marketplace, all while conferring with actual Bond Girl Caroline Munro (The Spy Who Loved Me) and her lovely daughter Iona Munro. Links: Caroline Munro’s Filmography Bond Girls: Body, Fashion, and Gender by Monica Germana Daddy, or The Death of Fantasy by Sam Kriss Femininity, Seriality, and Collectivity: Rethinking the Bond Girl Growing up a Bond Girl Follow Iona on Instagram! Image Board: https://pin.it/2farTIr 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
Jul 1, 2023 · 1 hr 43 min
Ep. 51: Broquette
In this ambitious follow-up to last year's viral Blokette episode, we hereby announce the second coming of sporty-cute style: Broquette, an All-American, booze-soaked celebration of athleticism, youth, and hedonism. We chart the rise and fall of Bro culture and explain how Bros invented the media landscape of the Internet as we know it. Through discussions of white rappers, boat shoes, Greek life, and more, we predict that sleaze is on the decline and raunch is on its way back up. Links: Thousands of College Kids Paid to Work for a Viral Party Kingpin. What Could Go Wrong? - The New York Times How to trick people into thinking you're good looking - Jenna Marbles I Love College - Asher Roth Jordan Belfort - Wes Walker feat. Dyl Dude, Here's My Book - The New York Times The Four Basic Aspects of Being a Bro - NPR All ERL Collections - Vogue Runway The Label Giving Prep a Saucy Makeover - Vogue (Raimundo Langlois profile) The Rise of the Portmanbro - Oxford Dictionaries 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
Jun 27, 2023 · 1 hr 14 min
Ep. 50: Fashioncore
What do skinny vanilla lattes, cheese cubes, and dodgy tattoos of Chanel logos have in common? They’re all fashioncore, darling! For the 50th episode of Nymphet Alumni, we summon the spirit of fashion itself — 𝓯𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓸𝓻𝓮 — first coined by none other than Megsuperstarprincess during her 2021 podcast appearance. Armed with a lifetime of vocal fry and metaphorical martinis with extra olives, we discuss the impact of fashion media from America’s Next Top Model to Audrey Hepburn’s Funny Face. Topics du jour include fashioncore disciples as the last of those bound to dutifully slay, fashioncore as the cure to the false promise of quiet luxury, Sasha Baron Cohen as the fashioncore voice of a generation, and more! Image Board: Pinterest Links: Elena Velez’s NYT Style profile Too Funky by George Michael Bruno “That is so pre 9/11” ANTM Compilation SATC Compilation Rian Phin Fashioncore Take Support Megsuperstarprincess for more Fashioncore: The F List Le Hipster Portal 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
Jun 13, 2023 · 1 hr 20 min
Ep. 49: Gen Z Masculinity Report (feat. atlgrandma)
In this special episode, we're joined by longtime friendo'thepod Liam Hall aka grandma. A veritable rockstar fresh off the heels of a North American tour, he consults with us on the mysteries of masculinity as we attempt to unpack the aesthetic universe that young men navigate today. We discuss skinny jeans, fluffy hair, self-care thirst traps and other forms of visual rizz, and our predictions for a post-softboy society. Subscribe to our Patreon <3 Pinterest Board Links: Liam / grandma <3 Website Apple Music Spotify Instagram Before and after skinny jeans videos (one, two, three, four) Bell bottoms thirst traps (one, two, three, four) Self-care thirst traps (one, two) Rockstar thirst trap, lumberjack thirst trap Impossible beauty standards for young men by @thestyleturnernyc @syrianpsycho on TikTok @un.ermite on TikTok @samstailor on TikTok Everybody Wants a Piece of The Dare by Samuel Hine for GQ Trauma dump beach YouTuber negative rizz ?? 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
May 23, 2023 · 1 hr 23 min
Ep. 48: Shabby Chic
Wake up shabby heads! To mark the return of flowering blooms and the internet’s reckoning with Magnolia Pearl, we’re drawing back the aged lace curtains on your mom’s favorite aesthetic: shabby chic! We investigate shabby chic’s Old World origins, its popularization by Portobello Road elite Rachel Ashwell, and its various contemporary forms — from TJ Maxx faux-distressed decor to New Orleans crust-twees. Plus, we reflect on Galliano’s homeless-inspired collection, stealth wealth and recessioncore, and Grimes sailing down the Mississippi in a DIY houseboat. Wishing you all a shabby chic summer! Pinterest board Magnolia Pearl Official Website Magnolia Pearl Mom TikTok Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic (1996) Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic TV episode on Roses (2000) Liberties; Haute Homeless via The New York Times Subscribe to our Patreon <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
May 3, 2023 · 40 min
Ep. 46: Das Karlwerk
For part one of our Met Gala special, we paint a psychosexual portrait of Karl Lagerfeld through an assemblage of fascinating anecdotes. We theorize on his self-emojification, the influence of his German heritage, his paraphilic idiosyncrasies, and his infamous rivalry with Yves Saint Laurent. We also present “fashioncore” as a framework for understanding Karl and Chanel and offer our pre-Gala predictions. Links: Baroque and Bildung in the Creative Practice and Personal Style of Karl Lagerfeld by Michael A. Langkjær Karl Lagerfeld didn’t have a signature design — but he invented a new kind of designer – The Washington Post Karl Lagerfeld, a man possessed — by possessions | Financial Times Anna Wintour Breaks Down 13 Karl Lagerfeld Chanel Looks – Vogue Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent's Rivalry Changed Fashion Forever – W Mag The Private Provocations of Karl Lagerfeld – W Mag Supermodel Amber Valletta Breaks Down 15 Looks From 1993 to Now – Vogue The Chiffon Trenches by André Leon Talley The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris by Alicia Drake The Cut: Who Even Was Karl Lagerfeld? on Apple Podcasts 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
Apr 30, 2023 · 1 hr 28 min
Ep. 45: Will You Go To Prom With Me?
This week, we dive head first into America’s most beloved national tradition: PROM!! We discuss the discreet charm of the bedazzled Sherri Hill prom dress, the tomfoolery of mid century teens, the history of Drake as prom chaperone, Chik Fil A themed promposals, and more! Pinterest Board Links: Kate Upton, Will You Go To Prom With Me? Good on Kate Upton for Not Going to Prom With a Nerd via The Cut NPR piece on prom send-offs Coming of age at the High School dance via Fashion Institute of Technology The History of Prom via Bustle 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
Mar 31, 2023 · 1 hr 9 min
Ep. 43: Into the Superflat
This week, we consider the lasting impact of Takashi Murakami's Superflat art movement on the chaotic visual landscape of the 21st century. The youthful funkiness of "Frutiger Metro," the punk orientalism of Tokidoki, and the dystopian cheekiness of Gorillaz all epitomize the hybridization of cultural symbols between East and West and the flattening of art and consumer culture. We reflect on the Y2K revival of Atompunk, nostalgia for the utopian promise of Microsoft Windows, and the importance of lime green in a girl’s bid for independence. Pinterest Board Links: Tokidoki: Cute and Sexy Fantasies between East and West Tragedy and the Superflat by Daniel Moldoveanu for Spike What is Frutiger Aero? by Laura Holliday for Dazed Superflat Pop via CARI Institute Frank Ocean's Homer vs Kareem Rashid's Digipop Happy99 NEW YORK - night n day album art Tokidoki Character Guide Tokidoki Healthy Besties Blindbox 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
Mar 27, 2023 · 1 hr 22 min
Ep. 42: Frou Frou
In this week's episode, we discuss the legacy of Frou-Frou in fashion, from its Belle Époque origins to the (New) Romantic taffeta explosion of the 1980s to the coquettish hyper-femininity of today's thotwear and couture alike. Over the course of over 150 years of fashion history, we weave together the can-can harlots of the Moulin Rouge, Princess Di's flounced and frilled wedding party, and the subversive stylings of Cafe Forgot. Links: Fashion History Timeline: 1860s Le Frou-Frou magazine covers Down with Frou Frou by Elizabeth Taylor and Lou Wilson John Duka on Reaganite fashion in the NYT The Vogue History of 20th Century Fashion: 1981 "Setting Free the Frou Frou" by Barbara Ehrenreich and Jane O'Reilly The Laura Ashley Collab Universe Fanci Club's Lethal Roses collection Fabian Kis-Juhasz Sophia Dowling on The Return of 1980s Decadence 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
Feb 27, 2023 · 1 hr 17 min
Ep. 40: Ancestral Apparel
In this episode, we take a stroll through time to discuss the legacy of historical costume in today’s trending fashion, from the high camp historicism of iconic ‘90s runway shows to the horrors of fast fashion corsetry and Netflix-sponsored “regencycore.” We also discuss ancestral divination via TikTok, Austen heroine beauty, fashion history “edutainment” at large, and musical influences from Celtic Woman to Caroline Polachek. Links: Javali’s “pov you’re immortal” The Ancestor Trend on TikTok via Mashable Image Board: https://pin.it/7kIN0Sg 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
Feb 22, 2023 · 1 hr 18 min
Ep. 39: Spiritual Bimboism
In this episode, we demystify the correlation between bimbos and the esoteric realm. Why do so many of our most surged-up, hard-bodied sex symbols undergo New Age-y spiritual transformations? Which path will you choose: bottle-blonde crystal healer, or the dark-sided occultism of succubus chic? We discuss The Secret, breast implants, the new Pamela Anderson documentary, the cult of Oprah’s Book Club, flea market jewelry, and more! Links: Barbara Ehrenreich’s Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America Anatomy of a Bimbo Image Board: https://pin.it/7lyvj0x 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
Jan 28, 2023 · 1 hr 22 min
Ep. 37: Après Chic
Pack your gear and get your slut strands out ... the mountains are calling! Inspired by a recent nepo baby pilgrimage to Aspen, we discuss fashion's love affair with ski glam through the decades. Blinded by the reflection of sunlight on snow, and moonlight on "snow" *sniff sniff* ... We explore Aspen's transformation from countercultural ski bum sanctuary to billionaire resort town and discuss our personal compatibilities with Eileen Gu, Hunter S. Thompson, and Shaun White. ‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿ Links: “The Aspenization of Telluride: Coming of Age and Mythologizing Change in Ski Country” by E. Duke Richey "The Ski: Its History and Historiography" by Leroy Dresbeck Ski rave baby Miu Miu FW 2021 collection Gucci x Adidas FW 2022 après ski Article on middle class Aspen in The New York Times Shaun White Mountain Dew clapback 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
Jan 25, 2023 · 1 hr 26 min
Ep. 36: Lost Generation III
In this episode, we herald the arrival of a new Lost Generation: shaggy-haired, slouchy-clothed, plagued by malaise and anachronistic sensitivity, and soundtracked by 80s British synth-pop. Armed with an impressive library of cultural references—the films
Dec 31, 2022 · 1 hr 21 min
Ep. 35: Global South-core
In our final episode of 2022, we unpack the wave of Global South media overtaking (and possibly decolonizing) our social media feeds. We discuss Bella Hadid’s epic pilgrimages to the Middle East, Brazilian child dance battles, M.I.A.‘s groundbreaking globalist maximalism, ethnic fan fictions of the modern day, and more. Happy New Year ... We are the world!! ‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿ Links: -Image board: https://pin.it/7nOXTQu -"Galang" by M.I.A. music video: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=DCL1RpgYxRM&ab_channel=MIAVEVO -Orientalismby Edward Said: https://monoskop.org/images/4/4e/Said_Edward_Orientalism_1979.pdf -i-D on M.I.A. and indie sleaze: https://i-d.vice.com/en/article/5d3bxb/mia-style -"Warm Heart of Africa" by Ezra Koenig music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MDYTkdVT8M&ab_channel=ADA -Bella Hadid's Vogueprofile: https://www.vogue.com/article/bella-hadid-cover-april-2022 -Bella Hadid and Ramy Youssef for GQ: https://www.gq.com/story/bella-hadid-ramy-youssef-friendship 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