104: LYNETTE NYLANDER
lives in threadbare tees and a Chanel shopper.
This week I spoke with Lynette Nylander, a writer, podcast host, creative consultant, and Executive Digital Director of Harper’s Bazaar. I first met Lynette almost a decade ago when we both worked at Teen Vogue (she was the Deputy Editor, while I worked in accessories). Even back then, Lynette was that girl. She had recently transplanted from London, where she worked at i-D magazine, and already seemed like one of the coolest people in New York City.
Lynette is a serious, capital-F fashion girl. She buys the best and, from my perspective, never says, does, or wears anything boring. I love following along with her punchy perspectives and shopping confessions on her Substack, lynettesaid, and on The Good Buy. Here’s what Lynette has been living in lately.
Describe your personal style. What are you living in right now and why?
I struggle to answer this question most times because my style feels very all over the place. It’s really an amalgamation of where I’ve been in my life and all the different things coalescing in my mind at a particular moment. It’s a little bit London, it’s a little bit Brooklyn, it’s a little bit West African. I’m always highly inspired by what and who I see on the street. I would never want to look too polished, even when I am trying to look polished.
How often do you shop?
Going out to a shop for me, in the traditional sense, isn’t really a thing because I tend to not really have the time to do it the way I want. But I am always scouring and looking on social. I love all the people who sell stuff on Instagram, like Fantasy Explosion, Akhra Lova, Jake Burt, though Jake’s is mostly for inspiration because you gotta be in London on a Saturday to shop there. I do love shopping online. I love The RealReal like everybody else does. So, it’s not ever really a big trip out. It’s more like an overall holistic practice that is part of my everyday.
Where do you shop the most?
It really depends on what I’m trying to hunt down. Usually I know what I’m looking for and then I take it from there. I’ll try and find the best place that has my size. I’m a big stickler for things fitting me the right way or the way I intend it to fit, like if I want something to fit more oversized, which requires a little more shopping around. I mentioned that I like these smaller e-shops. I find a lot of unique, younger designers on Instagram every week. Right now I love this brand Gui Rosa. Me and Giovanna Flores have been trying to set up a time for me to do a studio visit for weeks now. I’m going to visit Emily Dawn Long’s showroom soon. Readers of my Substack will be hearing more about that. When it comes to brick-and-mortar stores I like Scout—I go every time I’m in L.A. I like La Garconne and Outline in New York. I like The Row townhouse. I like New York Vintage. I like Desert Vintage. I want to go to Surrender Dorothy. I like the coolness of the BODE women’s store on Worth Street and Simone Rocha. Women’s History Museum is great. I like vintage fairs like A Current Affair.
ed note: Lynette has visited Giovanna Flores, Emily Dawn Long and Surrender Dorothy since submitting her answers! Read more on her Substack here and here.
LYNETTE’S MOST WORN
I feel like I wear my crocodile leather Chanel bag almost every day. I paid an arm and leg for it, so I have to really knock down that cost-per-wear.
I scored an amazing Prada sleeveless leather vest at the sample sale. I’ve really been giving that a good wear.
Some of my really threadbare vintage t-shirts from Scout LA are really getting up there, particularly this one that says Minnesota on it. I'm scared that I can't really wear it that much longer. It's really falling apart.
I wear my Levi's 505s all the time. When it comes to jeans, I’m a purist for vintage Levi’s. I have other jeans, but nothing beats them.
My cotton t-shirts from 45R. I have quite a few of them in different colours.
Best buy of the last year?
My Phoebe Philo Floral brooch. It’s so ridiculous. One of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever bought. I love it. It gives me so much joy and people love it.
What are you currently searching for?
I have this Dolce and Gabbana dress from the 1995 Spring/Summer collection. Nothing snatches me more than this dress. I need more dresses from that collection. I would never buy new Dolce, but old Dolce is fine. I’d love another pair of Prounis earrings. Jean’s designs are absolutely stunning. There’s another pair of earrings, that Lisa Eisner put on her website recently that I’ve been trying to get in touch with them about. There’s a Jimmy’s Corner vintage t-shirt at Fantasy Explosion that I really need to have.
What’s your go-to bodega/coffee/grocery-run outfit?
It’s a vintage T-shirt. I have a special place in my heart for my Wigstock ’87 tee. And usually the Suzie Kondi ‘Lito’ flare pants in velour. I have them in two colours, black and red. If it’s a little chillier, I will throw on my YEOHLEE Cardigan.. YEOHLEE is the eponymous brand of Yeohlee Teng—Sal from Desert Vintage put me on. Teng is no longer working because I don’t think she’s very well and her archive was recently sold. Her clothes are impeccably made. If you come across any YEOHLEE, you should buy it. I bought my jacket on The RealReal for almost nothing.
Does your style change when you go to work?
It’s definitely a little bit more polished. I’m very conscious that I’m at work, so I try to emulate some level of put togetherness. I’m probably a little bit more casual in my day-to-day life. When I get ready in the morning, I’m very conscious of what I’m doing that day, in a way that I really don’t think about so much on the weekend. Whatever outfit I decide on really has to travel because a lot of time I’m doing things after work or seeing people. So I’m always conscious of how the outfit can fit into the different contexts of my day. In the past, I’ve worked at places where I felt like I had to be someone else at work or dress in a certain way and I’ve always said that I wouldn’t do that anymore. So now I’m always conscious of being myself, whatever that means.
What’s your go-to outfit for a night out?
It kind of depends on what I’m trying to do on my night out. There’s a thing in the UK, of the ‘going-out top and a pair of jeans.’ I have some form-fitting tops that I definitely only wear in the evening. I have some old Vivienne Westwood corsets that are fun. I like a good mini. I have a couple of Prada minis that I really love. If I’m doing a mini, then I have to cover the top up. It’s either legs or boobs. You can’t have it all out. Accessories-wise, a really good earring or a necklace is key. It depends what I’m doing with my hair. I love a statement earring with an up do or a bun. But if my hair’s down, like I had really long braids for the first part of this year, then it’s a different tease, a big necklace or a fun bracelet.
What clothing item or accessory do you always travel with?
I always have a cashmere sweater on the plane. It seems kind of obvious but it makes the difference. Another maybe obvious one: I always pack The Row Gala pants because you can fold them up so small that they take up no space. They are incredibly versatile. You can wear them in a formal setting. You can wear them in an informal setting. They always work. And they wash amazingly. All I ask, people, is that you don’t wear them with some basic top. With the space you save, you can pack something really fun to wear with them.
Do you change your accessories or wear the same ones?
It depends. Sometimes I get a bit lazy and just wear the same things all the time. In general, it’s really outfit specific. If I’m going out or something, I want to make more of a statement. I really want more jewelry in my collection. I recently spoke about this on The Good Buy, the podcast I co-host — you don’t really appreciate jewelry until you get to a certain stage in your life. I’m at that stage in my life, where I have a much greater appreciation for what jewelry can add to a look. Jewelry is the flourish and you need that.
Love her! Perfect example of incredible personal style. Also love the Yeohlee shout out, her knitwear is so lovely, and that red silk coat( maybe dries?) is such an amazing find and looks to die for on Lynette. This post makes me want to shop 😤
ive been obsessed with her podcast recently