029: LILLI MILLHISER
lives in Dickies pants and shoulder pads.
Hi everyone, happy Friday. Yes, you’re getting me on a Friday this week. Life happens! But I promise I’ll never leave you hanging for too long.
I deftly avoided The Row sample sale this week, too traumatized by the many hours I spent on line last year (and the prices were not that good). However, I did allow myself a little jaunt over to Mansur Gavriel’s 10th anniversary sale where I scored these orange-y red ballet flats in a lucky size 7. Not to hop on the trend train but, I’m loving everything in the red family these days. I’m into this perfect shade of nail polish, this Brooks Brothers shirt that my friend gave me (very Row vibes), and this album by Taylor Swift. Kidding about Taylor though, I did go see the concert in theaters last week. I’m not even a Swiftie and I shed tears.
This week I had a chat with Lilli Millhiser, an NYC based stylist who works with brands like Derek Lam and Glossier, and magazines like Love Want and many of the international Vogues. Lilli is simply the coolest. I’ve known her for a few years and I’ve always admired her style - very unfussy, very chic. Lilli shops a lot for her job and therefore tends to have a lead on the best (and often the best-priced) finds. She just launched Future Classics, a substack that dives into her excellent shopping recommendations. I’m excited to follow along. I asked Lilli to tell me what she’s been living in lately.
CH: Tell me a little bit about your personal style. Are you more of a uniform person or do you like to change things up?
LM: I'm a little bit of both. Recently I've really just been trying to wear what's in my closet. I edit it all the time. I do have things that are outliers, but I know what I always come back to. I wear a lot of jeans, and I have a couple of other pants that are not fancy. Dickies skateboarding pants are my favorite. I like an oversized T-shirt, an oversized sweater, a nice coat. And then, because I’m on set almost every day, I have to wear comfortable shoes. Although, I don't really like sneakers, as much as I try. For the most part, I like darker colors. I feel like I'm usually wearing navy or black. A white T-shirt and jeans are usually the lightest thing. I wear color sometimes, every once in a while but not a huge amount. And I love shoulder pads. Never met a shoulder pad I didn't love. I have so many 80s Armani blouses.
CH: Oh, that's so cool.
LM: I love to wear them with jeans. Or a blazer as a shirt is a favorite, or a jacket as a shirt - a couple sizes too big.
CH: So you like that kind of structured shape on the top?
LM: Yeah, I think a lot about silhouette.
CH: You said you don't really like sneakers, but you're always trying to wear comfortable shoes. So what do you wear instead?
LM: I’m still trying to find more. I wear Birkenstock Boston's all the time. I have some Chelsea boots, either from Blundstone or Celine, depending on the type of job. Cowboy boots. I have some Khaite boots that are maybe not best for standing all day, but sometimes I can do it. And Chinatown Mary Janes - even though there's no support, I can actually stand in them all day.
CH: You shop a lot for your job, obviously, but do you shop a lot for your personal closet? Any favorite places?
LM: I think because I'm shopping all the time for work, I'm therefore always shopping for myself. I just see stuff all the time and that's a blessing and a curse. Cos right now I think is amazing. Everything there is so good. I've bought a couple sweaters and coats. I buy a lot on The RealReal.
CH: Oh gosh, me too.
LM: It’s just the best prices. But I've come to terms with the fact I really don't need much. I have most things that I need, at least for now.
CH: Anything else you’re wearing all the time?
LM: I have a lot of t-shirts from, like, the deli across the street, or a restaurant. I love buying that sort of novelty tee whenever I’m somewhere. Small graphic on the chest and a bigger graphic on the back, preferably men's extra large. And I have these sweatshirts from Raey that I pretty much live in. I bought them before Covid and wore them all throughout my pregnancy. I had to buy a second of the black because my first one got so destroyed. Men's J.Crew sweaters. So good for the price. Men’s medium.
LILLI’S MOST WORN:
Jeans. Lilli did a whole newsletter on her jeans. These ones from Raey are her favorites.
Dickies $45 Blouses with shoulder pads.
Comfortable shoes that aren’t sneakers.
Celine $1150, Blundstone $230, Pearl River Mart $11, Birkenstocks $155 Oversized sweaters and sweatshirts.
Novelty tees.
Casa Magazines Tee $35, Rubirosa Tee $35, Baz Bagels Tee $35
Thanks for reading this week! What’s everyone doing for Halloween? I’m going to my cousin’s wedding so I’m planning to dress up as “a guest with a martini.” Until next Thursday! xx