Surprise of all surprises, Disney is releasing another villain spin-off. _Earlier_ in December, the company announced that it would be returning to the live-action world of _Beauty and the Beast_ by means of a film centering the origins of the story’s protagonist, the airhead hunter Gaston. It seems to be an adaptation in a similar vein to 2014’s _Maleficent_ or the 2021 movie _Cruella_ , in which Emma Stone swayed us into believing dog-killer Cruella De Vil would be someone who’d seriously mess with Vivienne Westwood –- a movie that received an Academy Award, cultural praise and a greenlight for a sequel. The cultural impact of _Wicked,_ which exemplifies Universal’s take on the misunderstood rebel archetype, also cannot be understated. ### These conventions play a desirable role not only in fictional media, but also how audiences characterize figures in reality TV. “Reality,” in these cases, is a strong word to begin with; we’re aware of how characters are intentionally created and archetypes are filled. To join in on these shows as a viewer is to give into the self-indulgent, voyeuristic joy of watching strangers engage in manufactured squabbles in front of a camera. To be an actual contestant, however, is to risk enduring the “Villain Edit” in the eyes of millions of viewers. ### The _term_ originates within the world of reality TV culture, and refers to the act of stitching select footage and scenes together in post-production to establish a clear antagonist. It feels ridiculous to liken an average Joe or instagram model plucked from obscurity to the likes of the Joker or Harley Quinn, but the abilities of producers and editors alike to coax character arcs from hours of footage can make a maniac out of anyone. Of course, one can’t count out actual behavior in the making of these narratives. How much of the lies, lowbrow crime and cheating could have been _Frankeinstein-_ ed into Jax Taylor throughout his eight seasons on _Vanderpump Rules?_ As viewers, an over-the-shoulder view of reality show chaos renders us co-conspirators to these villains, deliciously in on their plans. When thinking back on my stint watching _Survivor,_ I most vividly remember watching antics like Tony Vlachos’ spy shacks or Sandra Diaz-Twine’s manipulative me-first mentality unfurl across episodes. Watching season one for the sake of nostalgia after the fact, where the hottest debates revolved around who wasn’t pulling their weight at camp, was disenchanting by comparison. In the OG’s defense, the inherent spice of a hidden immunity idol wasn’t included until Guatemala in season eleven, but playing the sidekick from the couch truly can be the show’s most enticing aspect. ### Even when strategy isn’t meant to be a program’s focal point, our values as viewers seem to stay the same. With months of distance from 2025’s most talked about television show, _Love Island,_ there was no more polarizing figure than Huda Mustafa – she was a name I knew before I began watching the show. Her simultaneous affection and outrage for Jeremiah Brown, as well as the overflow of the latter for anyone who showed an iota of interest in him, fueled the July algorithm. When placed in tandem with more lighthearted moments — queue the “I’m a mommy” audio — conversations around her were fueled by a cult of personality. In addition to having the support of many of her fellow cast members when it came to in-show voting, the flack she received online for her behavior didn’t equate to her being cast out based on fan preference, either. Rather, the show’s public polling mechanism led Jeremiah to be recoupled with bombshell Iris Kendall – likely in a ragebait-y attempt to further exacerbate her anger on live television. If not feeling immersively close as sidekicks, the Villain Edit allows viewers to embrace distance, instead: here from the drama, but thousands of miles from the mess. ### Huda’s longevity on the show was never a matter of embodying the game’s intention – her relationship with overseas baller Chris ended before they even made it to the finale’s podium. But there was something enticing about that drama that fans preferred to the champagne problems of other insecure couples or the “girl’s girl” dilemmas that plagued the season in equal parts. The chaos of an in-show persona hardly ever equates to a figure’s lifestyle or actions outside of set, and while Huda has engaged in her own share of controversy since the show’s ending, her memorability shows in the stats: While Season 7’s winner, Amaya Espinal, sits pretty at 3.4 million Instagram followers, Huda has retained 4.7 million since the season’s end. And for all her talk about being mischaracterized on the show –– she claims she “really is] chill as fuck” in a post-season interview with __[__Vulture__ — her villain arc garnered her more clout than a wholesome spin on the show ever could. ### In high-pressure, high-surveillance settings like reality TV, the word “nice” is as relative as “reality.” But while “nice” players in these settings always garner pathos, more often it’s the devious characters that earn financial and cultural renown. Within the sphere of fun and fiction, it’s a far worse crime to be boring than to be bad. ### _Eleanor Jacobs is PAPER's 2025 Fall Intern. This will be her last piece for PAPER as an intern, so please join us in wishing her the very best in her studies in the new year. Thanks for all the fabulous writing, Eleanor! You have a bright career ahead of you._ _Best wishes, J_ _oan and the entire PAPER staff._ _Image via Getty_

_This is_** _So Chic, Very Chic_** _, PAPER’s examination of Bravo’s sprawling cohort of fashion obsessives. From haute couture to TJ Maxx, they’ve literally worn it all. We've just got two questions. Is it so chic? Is it very chic?_ ### ### The most astute observation on contemporary society was made in the cancelled-too-soon TV show _The Other Two_. In an early episode, a character repeatedly googles "Lisa Vanderpump how old." It's basically what life looks like on a daily basis now, except I'm more keen to google "Kyle Richards sexuality." ### Such is the case for most viewers of the dreary new season of _The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills_. So far, it primarily concerns Richards' anxious attachment style with her ex-husband and a scammer named Amanda Frances, who mostly sits in various restaurants in knock-off Chanel blazers describing herself to complete strangers as a "guru" and "boss bitch thought leader." It's riveting television for the shadows on the wall of Plato's cave, I'm sure, but I still have just one life to life, and I'd rather spend it doing anything else but fussing over Richards' refusal to name maybe-maybe-not-ex-girlfriend Morgan Wade on national television. Social media tells me that the closet-case representation in the gay hockey show you're all obsessed with will have a trickle down effect on down-low individuals in the NHL and elsewhere. If that's the case, why hasn't __it made it made the world safe enough for _The_ _Real Housewives_ stars to admit they sometimes date women, huh? Seems like everyone's favorite gay hockey show has failed in the one duty fans have saddled it with, besides being outright porn I can have on a second screen while catching up on my quests in _Genshin Impact_ this Christmas. At least Amanda has those knock-off Chanel blazers for me to bitch about this week. Shall we? ### The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills ### Rachel Zoe I lied about there being knock-off Chanel blazers to bitch about this week. Instead, I'd like to first focus on how hot Rachel Zoe looks in this sherpa vest. I don't think I ever envisioned myself saying things like "Rachel Zoe looks hot in a sherpa vest," but we live in a brave new world. This is simply how I adapt to it. Besides the sherpa vest, I love that she always seems plucked right from the background of _Almost Famous_ , a movie she probably thinks she's living in. ### Sutton Stracke It's funny to know that sat across from the sherpa vest is Sutton in a blazer. Longtime readers will know that Sutton is always in a blazer — but this one is special! She's in a blazer and it's embellished on the collar. Nobody in the history of blazer design has ever thought of this before. Her croc-effect Birkin only adds to the tension of the outfit, as does her tightly drawn on waterline and Mac lipstick in Twig. ### Bozoma Saint John We often see Boz in orange, and thank god! She looks stunning here, from the hair to the wrap to the color of this dress. It's an outfit where going big has real payoff, although I'd liked to have seen something with a bit heftier fabric. This isn't to call the dress inherently cheap, but in the wide shocks, I could have sworn it was made from the stretch jersey that they use for _most_ downstream TJ Maxx designer clothing. ### Sutton Stracke and Bozoma Saint John Later in the episode, Boz wore gold to her singles mixer while everyone else wore black. Sutton specifically wore a black jumpsuit with butterfly sleeves and no tracks in her hair. I don't like either of these outfits, but at least one of them dressed for the occasion! While Boz looks like those women who film get-ready-with-me videos for their anniversary with a man they met on a cruise, Sutton looks like she's at the wake for the third husband she hated and his new wife, who both fell off the side of the cruise Boz met her man on. ### Dorit Kemsley and Rachel Zoe Elsewhere at the singles mixer was Dorit in a mesh outfit and Rachel Zoe in fur and sequins. Zoe, in a confessional, said women shouldn't look like they'd gotten ready when on a date, as it is a turn-off for guys to think a woman is high maintenance. I don't know what about her fourteen feet of blonde hair or fur shawl scream "low maintenance," but I'm happy that she's happy. Dorit, meanwhile, is Sutton's plus one to the wake of that poor man and his poor new wife. I hear they're making a true crime documentary about the cruise, after a TikTok video said the cartel was involved. ### Erika Jayne Erika didn't even attempt to dress for a singles mixer. She moonlights as a funeral director at the place they held the wake, and had to leave the singles mixer early to set up the flowers and field inquiries from the press, who lined up outside with the influencers streaming on TikTok Live. ### The Real Housewives of Potomac ### Gizelle Bryant This is probably the first time that Gizelle looks like she didn't get dressed in the dark. She very much got dressed in a well lit room and made the best possible choice from the worst of her closet. Jokes aside, I think this color is beautiful, despite the fact she's washed out by the hair and glam, which is just a bit too peachy for a nude illusion dress. Another positive? I find the lack of a necklace or pendant refreshing! Most lesser stylists would suggest one, what with the low cut of this dress and all. But I find it works just fine without. ### Ashley Darby Ashley Darby did get dressed in the dark, but that's only because she is also Carmen San Diego and oftentimes has to change in supply closets and in the bathrooms of planes to a foreign countries, where she'll also have to change in a confessional booth or basement spy hideout. I don't know whether to laugh or cry about the gloves, but I do know I should laugh at the Balmain skirt and blazer set. In fact, I'm laughing at the hat too, for sure, and I suggest my readers do the same. ### Stacey Rusch Hello, wow! I didn't know this week's column would contain an entry for the most beautiful woman in the world contest I hold periodically. What a surprise, Stacey! This gold is delicious, and such a refreshing take on fashion and being beautiful after last week's boob prison dress. I love the subtle flower detail, I love the glam, and I love the color of this hair. Kudos, mama! ### Keiarna Stewart ### Keiarna Stewart ### Keiarna is not a very good _Real Housewives_ star, but she is a phenomenal dresser. This Cinq À Sept dress and the braided brown look are exquisite. I wish the taste levels carried into her choice of enemies and allies, but beggars can't be choosers! On a show oftentimes starved for taste, Keiarna is a ray of absolute sunshine. Should I offer some small criticism: I'd like to see her makeup artist move away from this specific eye shape, with the wide highlighter under the brow and carved out crease. It's dated in a way that clashes with how forward thinking the clothes are. ### Wendy Osefo I found it silly that this is the dress Wendy wore to beef with her mom onscreen. It's a delightful little number, despite how washed out the glam is. The heart cutout is funny enough, but then they went and bedazzled the outline! It's like the dresses I used to envy in the windows at Limited Too. ### Angel Massie I oftentimes forget that Angel is a cast member on this show. It's not her fault that she's been ceremonially dumped from the group hangs, or that the clothes swallow her whole. Well, I guess it is her fault on both fronts, but I know she did her best! Now she's gone and I've already forgotten her again. Hey, at least she gave us some drama with this makeup! ### _Images courtesy of Bravo/NBC Universal_

I am something of a Christmas music trivia savant, having accumulated hundreds upon hundreds of weird holiday music across numerous playlists I curate for no real reason except the comfort kitsch often brings me this time of year. ### This veritable treasure trove of Christmas tunes was put to good use last year, when I ranked and reviewed every single RuPaul Christmas song that had ever been released, totaling almost 100 original tracks that I meticulously combed for trends, themes and vibes. Instead of dipping back into the drag queen holiday pond, I expanded the search this season to include every weird diva track I would find and think of for _PAPER's_ newest yuletide playlist: "A Very Diva Christmas." Don't let the title fool our dear readers, however. These are not the classic Christmas carols society hears in CVS or at the church service parent's drag some of us too each season. These are deep cuts in the diva archives, from Lady Gaga's cult classic "Christmas Tree" to Girls Aloud rockabilly "Not Tonight Santa." There's also the uncomfortably weird "Mistletoe Bikini" from Courtney Stodden and Kylie Minogue's sexually charged "Hot in December," and that's before one gets to Blondie's rock-rap fusion b-side "Yuletide Throwdown" with Fab 5 Freddy or Big Freedia's "Tis The Season." ### ### The cousin walk at the holidays has been much meme'd of late, and I'd propose an alternative this Christmas Eve: the diva walk. Smoke a joint, leave the house with a wine glass like Rihanna, and stroll around the neighborhood we all hated growing up in with the sickly sweet tunes of the Spice Girls' forgotten holiday discography. Most importantly, remember that nobody is ever really alone on Christmas. Sure, the house might be empty, the family estranged, the boyfriend out of town, the friends back home in the too-big mansions they're uncomfortable to admit their families live in. But there's always Christmas music, and movies, and the festive songs that Cher occasionally drops to remind everyone she's still a diva. I mean, how can anyone hear "DJ Play a Christmas Song" and not feel lifted by the spirit of the season? That's me being positive, anyway. It's just about the only thing I can do these days, with these gray skies outside and a heating bill breathing down my neck. ### Just know that _PAPER_ staff are keeping each and every reader in our hearts this Christmas. We love and rely on the joy, laughter and eternal font of creativity each and every one of you brings into our lives. Thank you for sticking with us another year, even if we subject you to downright unlistenable music from time to time. Merry Mariah Carey Christmas to all, and to all, a happy Destiny's Child holiday! ### _Images via Getty_

Tyra Banks has never been to Basement but loves drag queens. Santa SMiZE, her Christmastime arch-nemesis and doppelgänger, has also never been to Basement and has mixed feelings about drag queens. I was privileged to learn these facts during our interview about their new music video for "Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE." ### In the waning light of 2025, a most peculiar email crossed my desk concerning an interview opportunity with the supermodel and former _The Tyra Banks Show_ host. Just one catch: our interview would be held jointly with the definitely-not-an-alter-ego Santa SMiZE, self-professed ice cream innovator and South Pole resident Santa SMiZE. How could _PAPER_ turn it down? I've been riddled with questions about the proliferation of Banks' latest hot ice cream venture, and to my extreme pleasure, the interview would be about just that. Well, hot ice cream was one topic up for discussion. The other? A new music video together for their latest song, "Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE." It's Banks' first single since her last single about ice cream, "I Want That Smize Cream" with DJ Splitz featuring Banks and STORi. Check out that new music video, premiering exclusively on _PAPER_ : ### ### I had many questions for them both, primarily concerning Banks' newfound life as an ice cream mogul and near-constant state of self-reinvention. In the chaos of her feud with the holiday doppelgänger and flurry of concerned TikTok videos from fans and critics about what exactly "hot ice cream" is, the skeleton of some master plan emerges. Banks wants to provoke, entice, keep people guessing. I ask, quite frankly, where that urge comes from. "I don’t mess with people’s heads. I invite them to think differently. Calling it 'crazy' is just what happens when imagination shows up somewhere it’s not expected." She adds that "If a comedian did what I do, people would say, 'That’s just their bit.' But when you don’t come from that lane, especially in fashion, people freeze." Note the ice cream pun. ### Despite our extensive conversation, I'd say I left with more questions than answers. They talked amongst themselves about their feud, which seems to be based in Santa SMiZE's belief that she owns the intellectual property to both Christmas and ice cream. Despite popping up in NYC, they did not make any hot reservations, nor did either make an appearance at Basement or Mansions or any Brooklyn hotspots that _PAPER_ staff can be found. They did tussle with some drag queens though, and jet off to Los Angeles to premiere the video in person together. Selfishly, I also got the answer I've been looking for about the potential successor theme park to Banks' gone-too-soon ModelLand experience, which was shut down after the onset of the pandemic all those years ago. "My passion for immersive theatricality is still strong. Building worlds people can step into in unexpected places — especially through ice cream — that’s the dream I’m living now. ModelLand is gone for now, but her spirit lives on inside these other worlds. And yes, I’ll be introducing a new world early next year." I mean this genuinely: _PAPER_ cannot wait to see how that turns out. In the meantime, read our full conversation with these warring Christmas divas below. ### **Is Santa SMiZE in the room with us right now?** **Santa SMiZE** : What do you mean, am I in the room? I’m right here. You’re talking about me like I’ve stepped out — as if the Diva of the South Pole would ever miss an entrance. Please. Don’t confuse me with the North. I show up. I show out. And today, I’m showing up seated right next to Miss Banks. **Tyra** : Yeah, she’s here. Trust me. **How did “Santa SMiZE, Santa SMiZE” come into existence?** **Tyra** : It started with hot ice cream. I wanted to help ice cream shops around the world stay alive during the winter. When it gets cold, scoops slow down and businesses get hurt — but I wanted to keep it happy, energetic, and joyful. Not sad. **Santa SMiZE** : I don’t need your charity, Miss Banks. **Tyra** : Honey… yes, you do. So I created hot ice cream, and then I wrote Santa SMiZE a song to keep cold ice cream alive too. ### **What about you, Santa SMiZE? Did seeing Tyra drop a single make you want to jump into the studio?** **Santa SMiZE** : Yes, music is in my South Pole bones. I’ve had an ice cream tavern there for years. Some of the best ice cream on the planet. We do open-mic nights every day. I perform on the weekends. But when I step onto my own stage? I light the whole place up. I sing. I rap. Santa Claus used to be my backup dancer — many, many years ago. That’s where the jealousy began. **Tyra, what was it like to return to the studio after all these years?** **Santa SMiZE** : She thought about _shaking her body body_ again. **Tyra** : I did not. But it did remind me how much I love using music to tell a story. And I do need to give credit where credit is due. Santa SMiZE…yes, you can sing. Yes, you can rap. But you cannot write lyrics.I wrote every single word that came out of your mouth. Even the ad-libs. **Santa SMiZE** : Yeah… well. I made them words sound damn good.And catchy as hell. **You both are in Australia during the wintertime. Was it weird to adjust to a country where it's beach weather during Christmas?** **Tyra** : I’m from Los Angeles, California, so I grew up waking up on Christmas Day with the sun shining. You get a new bicycle and you can actually go outside and ride it — because it’s warm and bright and there’s no snow. That’s my normal. ### **Santa SMiZE, did you have to update your sleigh riding outfit to include a bikini and beach towels?** **Santa SMiZE** : See, that’s where it gets weird for me. Christmas without snow is confusing. I don’t know what the hell is going on. I’m used to snowfall, sparkle, drama… not sunscreen. Even rocking a bikini on the beach, which I do, and look lovely, feels strange without snow falling around me. What I do love about Christmas in Australia is that it’s hot, and people are lined up down the block and around the corner for ice cream. **Tyra** : And hot ice cream. But whatever, take credit, boo. **Santa SMiZE, you stormed NYC this week. Did you have reservations at any hot restaurants or invites to any clubs? Tyra, did you run into her anywhere?** **Santa SMiZE** : I didn't have time to RSVP. I was in demand. From club stages to drag stages, everyone wanted me to perform. And let me be clear, I love drag queens, deeply. But they kept singing Tyra's songs at me. "Be a Star," "Life-Size," "Shake Your Body." Next thing I know, they're dancing on bars like it's _Coyote Ugly._ And honestly? I was a little insulted. This was my moment. **Tyra** : Icons have a way of showing up, even when they're not in the room. Deal With it. ### ### **On the topic of hot NYC spots, Santa SMiZE, have you gone to Basement? Mansions? ** **Santa SMiZE** : I don't chase hot spots, I follow the heat. **Tyra** : She means my blazing ice cream. And she's not wrong, everyone's talking about my heat, and her holiday anthem is riding that wave. **Santa SMiZE, have you tried the viral hot ice cream yet? What’s your dream hot ice cream flavor? ** **Santa SMiZE** : I actually stayed away from hot ice cream at first. I trust Tyra's palate, but if I'm being honest, I was sulking. It was getting a lot of attention. Then Miss Thang told me she wanted to create a flavor with my name on it, so I had no choice. I wrapped my lips around that cup and took a sip. And It pains me to admit this, but Santa SMiZE Cookies slaps. I did insist we make it as a cold ice cream too. Because hands down, the cold one is the one. It is the moment. The hot one is... good enough. ### **Tyra, you’ve had a busy year, between your businesses and now your all out war with Santa SMiZE. Have you heard the adage: “Never let them guess your next move”? Do you feel that applies?** **Tyra** :**** I’ve always been a master at a pivot, not just on a runway.Okay, that sounds so braggy. See? She’s contagious. But really, for me, it’s about chasing passion and then going all the way in. When I enter a new world, I study it deeply. I become a student, then an expert. With ice cream, I’m a sommelier, a little bit of a scientist, a little bit of an R&D nerd. I’ve tasted ice cream all over the world for decades. And I don’t say this lightly, what we’re making is some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Friggin ever. This is my ice cream era. And I genuinely believe the world will come to know me for this just as much as they once knew me for magazine covers and catwalks. **Santa SMiZE** : She rehearsed that answer. **Tyra, you also seem to enjoy messing with people's heads a bit, and playing with the idea that people think you're a bit "crazy," to use your own words. Where does that impulse come from, for you?** **Tyra** : I don’t mess with people’s heads. I invite them to think differently. Calling it “crazy” is just what happens when imagination shows up somewhere it’s not expected. If a comedian did what I do, people would say, “That’s just their bit.” But when you don’t come from that lane, especially in fashion, people freeze. And I love it. If you lead with logic, people relax, but if you lead with surprise, they lean in. I’ve said it a thousand times, different is better than better and now I’m not just teaching it. I’m living it. These ideas keep coming. I don’t sleep. ### **PAPER is still sad we missed our chance at going to your real world ModelLand pop-up years ago. Do you imagine there's a Christmas themed iteration in the works anytime soon?** **Tyra** : ModelLand was an immersive world I created that was sadly ruined by Covid, a painful loss of a business. It was theatrical. A little surreal. But that spirit didn’t disappear. It just evolved. My passion for immersive theatricality is still strong. Building worlds people can step into in unexpected places — especially through ice cream — that’s the dream I’m living now. ModelLand is gone for now, but her spirit lives on inside these other worlds. And yes, I’ll be introducing a new world early next year. **Santa SMiZE** : Don’t forget about me. **Tyra** : I’ll never forget you.You won’t let me. _Credits:_ _Cinematography: Ben Deigman_ _Editor: Phil Meyer_ _Styling: Wilford Lenov_ _Makeup: Jordan Wolferstan_ _Hair: Delphyne Kanuma_ _Creative Direction: Byron Spencer_

What does it take to become an artist of the modern Christmas carol canon? ### The TV holiday special is one rite of passage that comes to mind. Musicians that aim for their works to find its way to the top of the festive playlists tend to go all-out in their embodiment of the Christmas spirit, and these specials are often complete with scenic sets, collaborations with fellow artists and unforgettable costuming. During the coldest and darkest month of the winter season, bundling up has never been an excuse for dressing down. So many of our favorite artists have historically pulled out all the stops for the most wonderful time of the year, and a few ensembles of Christmas past and present come to mind. ### Christina Aguilera, “Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Paris” - 2025 Aired just yesterday, Aguilera’s holiday special sees the artist reflect poignantly on her past 25 years in the music industry, dressed to the nines for holiday numbers in the city of lights. Her array of unique gowns was cultivated by stylist Chris Horan, who’s also known to pull together looks for figures like Charli XCX and Barbie Ferreira. Horan enlisted the work of Celia Kritharioti, the oldest couture house in Athens, for one iconic _scarlet dress_; its flared mermaid silhouette feels almost operatic. A _custom, hand-embellished catsuit_ from Agent Provocateur for her rendition of “Santa Baby” first feels unconventional to the holiday theme but finds its meaning in the details.The suit grounds itself in a translucent, brocaded pattern that reads like a reinvention of the classical. The special itself was made scenic both by its ensembles and ornate view of the Eiffel Tower. ### Mariah Carey, “Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!” - 2022 Looking into the looks of Mother Christmas herself, Mariah Carey’s reign over the holiday season has been studded by outfits that have cemented themselves as holiday iconography. Beyond her classic scarlet scoopneck that she wears for her 1994 “Merry Christmas Album,” her series of holiday specials have seen her show up in equal force. Her 2022 TV special, _Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All!,_ was styled by Wilfredo Rosado, with whom Carey has a longstanding professional relationship. Rosado also styled the songstress for her 2024 Las Vegas residency and 2015 special _Mariah Carey’s Merriest Christmas_. According to ____Harper’s Bazaar__, he even designed the 35-carat diamond ring for her engagement to James Packer in 2016. Her costuming in this 2022 special are adorned with equal shimmer and have a focus on accessorization, from the tinsel of the white gown she wears for a rendition of “Silent Night” to the tassels of the Nutcracker-inspired bedazzled bodysuit she dons for the TV special’s finale. Carey’s flashy fits and showmanship scream holidays in a way that few other artists can – there’s a reason she thaws each year to dwell at the top of the charts. ### Kacey Musgraves, “The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show” - 2019 A celebration of her 2016 album _A Very Kacey Christmas_ , Kacey Musgraves pulled together a variety of guests to perform with her alongside a live band in the warmth of an emerald green parlor. She _shared_ with reporters ahead of the premiere that she envisioned the special as “Wes Anderson-meets-Gucci-meets-Cher-meets-a live theater production,” embodied in full-force through her collaborations with designer Susie Cave. Her looks achieve that sense of otherworldly timelessness through ethereal and classic features, such as a silver midi dress with frilled hemmings by Cave’s brand, The Vampire’s Wife. Another fabulously formal look was a _red gown_ from Giambattista Valli, which had a sweeping cut and was adorned with ruffles and an oversized bow. A rust-colored, beaded pantsuit pairs perfectly with a billowy translucent top serve as the focal point of her rendition of “Let it Snow” alongside James Corden. From matching Troye Sivan in shimmering Gucci suit sets for original and appropriately titled song “Glittery” in an undeniable program highlight to donning twee red tights and a Christmas sweater as she banters with the crowd, her other looks range from fireside comfort to Christmas cocktail hour. ### Halle Bailey, “A Motown Christmas” - 2024 Last year, Bailey collaborated with songwriter and producer Smokey Robinson to put a stylized and resonant spin on holiday classics. For the special, she was dressed by Nicky Good, whose curated looks have seen Bailey through Rockefeller Center’s recent Christmas tree lighting, the 2023 Met Gala, and the world premiere of _The Little Mermaid,_ which Bailey starred in. Bailey donned a _golden halter-neck gown_ from designer Le Thanh Hoa, complete with rippling sequins and a shimmering rosette, to perform a medley of Diana Ross classics, including a cover of The Supremes’ “Stop! In the Name of Love.” She also joined Robinson pianoside in a luminescent emerald gown from _Maison Met_, and wore a _scarlet satin off-the-shoulder gown_ from Saiid Kobeisy, embodying the holiday through rich jewel tones and luxurious fabric looks. ### _Eleanor Jacobs is PAPER's 2025 Fall Intern_ _I_ _mages via Getty_

This was originally going to be a blog about the enduring yuletide fashions of _How the Grinch Stole Christmas_. What aspiring fashion journalist wasn't changed by Christine Baranski's landmark performance as Martha May Whovier? Then I saw the photos from the premiere. ### On slightly chilly Wednesday in November 2000, various stars gathered in Universal City for the premiere of the live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic Christmas tale, starring Jim Carrey in prosthetics as the Grinch, and most importantly, Christine Baranski as love interest and iconic sex symbol Martha May Whovier, ensconced in a powdery blue coat I can almost touch, it's so vivid in the memory. The film's fashions have been much written about — particularly Baranski's wardrobe as Martha May. There was even a recent oral history in _Vulture_ that was just about the best thing I've read all year. So color me surprised when I found very little on its premiere, or the emblematic turn of the century fashions. From the vantage point of a post-Y2K boom and a full 25 years, the clothes worn on that fateful November eve sit at the crossroads of the waning '90s grunge sensibilities and the swift-approaching satin vibrancy of the early aughts. It's a confounding mishmash of denim and leather and trench coats and pops of pink and green that have utterly fascinated me. ### I want to live inside this premiere forever, decked in sequins with my hair stacked to heaven. How funny, really, that the movie went on to become as popular as it did. I wonder if Melissa Joan Hart would have worn jeans again, knowing what a smash success it'd all be. Probably, if I think about it. Hilary Duff and her cohort of up-and-coming tween actors would continue wearing bedazzled tops and boot cut jeans to red carpet premieres well into the new millennium. ### Christine Baranski Among the iconic fits of the night was Baranski's, of course. The maven of Whoville wore her hair in the classic bob she'd become known for throughout much of her theater and Hollywood careers. The necklace and watch are classic Hollywood, in that these people absolutely dressed themselves and grabbed whatever it was they liked to wear. The real star here is this sequined dress, which looks like something my friends wore to prom. It's just so deliciously dated, from the column silhouette to the sweetheart neckline. It's something I'd imagine one of those TikTok fashion obsessives would style now with leather gloves and tabis for a quick jaunt on the subway. ### Rachel Leigh Cook ### Rachel Leigh Cook ### Perhaps my favorite fit of the night is Rachel Leigh Cook's leather trench, plunging sweater and relaxed chinos. Her chunky leather platforms are also deliciously irreverent. More than any other outfit that night, this is the one I find to be the most contemporary and enduring, as I've pulled off the exact look perhaps ten different times this month alone. Were it not for the pixie cut, this photo very well could have been taken today. It's what I find so charming about the millennium turn and the perennial staples of the cool girl — sometimes, the fits endure because they just work. Whether in 2000 or 2025, a leather trench and slacks can never go wrong. ### Courtney Love Speaking of eternally cool girls, Courtney Love wore this daringly sexy knit dress to a children's movie premiere. She brought daughter Frances Bean to the premiere, which tracks, as does the tiny little purse and chipped red nail polish. It's almost like I'm looking at the face of my lifelong style icon. The wild hair really sells the look, as does the just-so-smudged pink lip and haphazard eyeshadow. ### Taylor Momsen Over at the London premiere, future _Gossip Girl_ star Taylor Momsen popped up in this delightful Mary Jane and caped jacket ensemble. I cannot overstate how delightfully cute this look is. Brings a smile to my face, really, to know Momsen was a lifelong style icon, future punk-pop career notwithstanding. Just look at these cute little shoes and the cut of this dress! Oh, my heart just explodes. ### Melissa Joan Hart Back in Universal City, Melissa Joan Heart wore low-cut jeans and a sweater. The piecey hair and thin brows are exquisite, really, as are these thoroughly modern square cut booties. The chain choker is another favorite facet of this look, alongside the very-late '90s copper nail polish. I can still see the exact shade on my babysitters nails back in '99. ### Molly Shannon Speaking of copper nail polish, here's Molly Shannon in sateen pants with a front crease nobody ironed out and some biscuit kickers.The tube top is the real star, somehow, what with this bedazzled effect and the way it compliments the overwhelming brown of the look. I reference it near constantly, but I'm almost positive this is Mac lipliner in Twig. Ask me how I know! And, because I must: "SUPERSTAR!" ### The Queen The queen also made an appearance at the London premiere of the film in this minty gown and knit cape. The peep of silver from the heels is my favorite part, because I like to picture this little old lady thinking to herself: "Let's have some fun tonight, let's go for the _silver_ kitten heels!" I wonder, though, what she thought of the love story between the beautiful Martha May and that dastardly Grinch with the fucked up body. Did it feel relatable at all to her, and what she'd put poor Diana through? ### Kelly Preston Kelly Preston is something of Seuss-head, seeing as she'd later star in _The Cat in the Hat_ _._ She also starred in _Jack Frost_ as a woman who'd maybe fuck a snowman that was also her reincarnated dead husband, if given the chance. How many other actresses can boast such career highs? I don't mean this as shade, being a Seuss diva and a Christmas diva is a rare honor, as is this outfit. From the pointy patent leather shoes with matching pants to the bucket bag and green suede trench, there's just too much to love here. The top is almost too much of a good thing, so much so that I have to keep scrolling up and making sure it's really real. Why don't tops these days come with beaded fringe anymore? I really think we should push mesh out of the conversation and bring back beaded fringe. Regardless, there's just so many looks to look at. So why don't we send this post off into the Christmas night with a gallery of them? Merry Christmas all, but especially the attendees of the red carpet premiere of the 2000 holiday flick _How the Grinch Stole Christmas_! ### Danielle Fishel ### Hilary Shepard ### Lacey Kohl ### Rob Zombie with friend Sherrie Moon ### Loni Anderson ### Tracy Tweed ### Actor Warwick Davis and his wife Samantha ### JoBeth Williams ### Jim Carrey ### Jenna Elfman ### Faith Hill ### Elise Neal ### Rachel Winfree ### Kathleen Quinlan ### _Images via Getty_

### It's peak brand cameo. Tucked in the seventh episode of the latest season of Emily in Paris is a float boldly branded with the word LELO. In the scene, festival goers are in full on revelry mode waving flags and toys from the brand. ### ### The best part? _LELO_ is real. The Swedish sex toy maker is the quiet luxury king in the category. LELO has transformed the standard of what a sex toy is. From the Switch. To the Sona 2. To the Soraya Wave. To the F2S. LELO boasts an ever-evolving catalog of devices that have elevated traditional dildos, vibrators and more into works of art. In true Swedish form, they blend the mastery of European design with the precision of perfect function - all wrapped in tech as smooth as silk. Babes that enter LELO-land are not leaving without an orgasm. __See Emily.__ ### ### Her journey to Paris - in so many ways - is ultimately a journey to pleasure. And like Emily, LELO is less about the destination and more about the experience of getting there. Launched in the early 2000s, the Swedish brand has redefined the sex toy. Their revolution is built on LELO core: slick design, sustainable materials, and function that stimulates every body, race and gender. That's why, from Paris to Portland, LELO has attracted millions of dedicated users across the globe. The reason for the enthusiasm is clear: all their products are designed to deliver. The aesthetics are pleasing. But it’s the function that will keep you coming back for product after product. All toys in the LELO family feature multiple settings that slowly raise the crescendo in intensity, pressure and pleasure. Want control? Or want to be creative? These modes empower you to play your way - solo, or with a partner. In true __Emily in Paris__ style, perhaps what tingles and tickles the most may just be the accoutrements that come with each new toy: a luxe satin pouch for storage that's just as stylish as the product it holds. It’s a chic finishing touch on a range of products that are as fun as they are functional. This feature, above all else, is what Emily - and the fashionista in you - would love too. __Explore and purchase LELO__ ___here___ _and use code_** _PAPERPARIS_** _for a 20% stackable discount on all LELO products._ ### ### __This article is a collaboration between__ _____LELO___ __and PAPER.__

_This is_** _So Chic, Very Chic_** _, PAPER’s examination of Bravo’s sprawling cohort of fashion obsessives. From haute couture to TJ Maxx, they’ve literally worn it all. We've just got two questions. Is it so chic? Is it very chic?_ ### ### In ancient times, a Grecian woman of myth named Electra murders Clytemnestra alongside her brother, Orestes. In more ancient times, Clytemnestra, consumed by hatred over the ritual sacrifice of her daughter Iphigenia, murders her husband, Agamemnon. In modern times, a woman named Angie Katsanevas is born to Greek immigrants in Salt Lake City, Utah. In more modern times, she names her daughter Electra. Such is the cycles of Greek myth, as they fade to legend, then the tragedies teenagers gloss over in fourth period, and then the anecdotes writers named Joan Summers use for dramatic effect in fashion columns about what _The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City_ wore to Greece on vacation. Woman turns on woman, Whitney Rose raises blade against Meredith Marks, the specter of the sea serpent looms offshore, Heather of Utah finds herself cursed with the gift of prophecy, the Trojan Horse named Britani Bateman finds herself stuffed with soldiers from the Osmond family. These are the stories that Sophocles told himself in order to live, and now we repeat them, so we can live too. It comforts me, some small measure, to think of Bravo like the contemporary orations of the Greek tragedians. Over and over again, the great wheel of time spins out these stories through the ages. Woman against woman, man against wife, daughter against mother, Housewife against the very Gods themselves. I can't see into the past like Sophocles, but if I could, I bet Electra was wearing Clytemnestra's favorite Versace dress when she stabbed her right through the heart. Shall we talk about what her modern counterpart wore, too? ### The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City ### Angie Katsanevas Angie Katsanevas is the most beautiful woman alive. I say this because I've met her, and so I would know. I also say this because she can actually dress, unlike the majority of this cast. This look is gorgeous, from the dress to the nails to the glam. I love these waterfall earrings, and the drama they play on with this matching cascade of hair. I'd have liked to see more hair piled up, or had the bun be lower. As it stands, the slight peak of a hair mound over the top of her head gives it an unnecessary asymmetry, which would be my only criticism. Similarly, there's a world where this dress overwhelms, but the chicness of her styling helps ground it in her natural beauty. I hate how overplayed this specific descriptor is, but she's the spitting image of a Greek Audrey Hepburn. Kudos, Ang! Sending you love from PAPER. ### Britani Bateman I've spoken quite frequently about the idea of the "embodied dresser." That is, the woman that is fully expressed through her clothing choices. Like a pot that has found its perfect lid. Britani Bateman, love or hate her, is one of the few embodied dressers on this cast, alongside Angie and Whitney. I find just about everything concerning this look a hideous affront to fashion, but its hard to deny that at the very least, it looks like it was made with her in mind. That's a hard feat to accomplish, even in the realm of sheer tackiness. Props to you, Brit! With all the love in my heart, I hope I never see this dress again. ### Heather Gay On the topic of dresses I'd like to never see again, there's not much to say about this that doesnt' immediately spring to mind of everyone who beholds it. She's like a background character in a bad fantasy movie about teens that discover their parents are Greek gods. She looks like if Clytemnestra had a Lifetime Original Movie, or Spirit Halloween had a costume billed as "Evil Stepmother in Play." ### Lisa Barlow Lisa Barlow is back in black! Despite the mundanity of the look, it's nice to see she's fixed her glam. The hair has never been shinier, the tan has never been tanner, the nails have never been nuder, and those eyelashes have never been more symmetrical. The eyebrows are still cousins, but at least her hair is still shiny! ### Bronwyn Newport Bronwyn occasionally pops up on television in a color that modern camera technology still struggles to capture. It doesn't help that her living room is filled with similar colors, lending each confessional a funhouse quality that seems ripped right from that straight-to-cable _It_ prequel series. Not that she looks like a killer clown — obviously not! But she does live in the sort of house a kid might find themselves trapped in when running from a killer clown. Also, bring back the bob, Bronwyn! I found myself wondering what it might look like for her to install some bundles, but I'm already missing the bob. Bring it back! ### Much better. Not this outfit, of course. While my distaste should be obvious, I do appreciate that I can always count on Bronwyn to dress like the kind of parent chaperone a gay teenager in Minnesota would feel comfortable coming out too at the annual harvest festival. ### Meredith Marks ### Meredith Marks ### Did Meredith Marks fire a stylist? Did Meredith Marks hire a stylist? Did Meredith Marks primary residence in New York City burn down? Did Meredith Marks rental home in Salt Lake City slide off the side of a ski slope? Everything she's worn this season has been off in a way I cannot quite put my finger on. It's just off, like her general disposition this season. Still, this shade of blue suits her nicely! ### The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills ### Kyle Richards I am going to be brave and say that this is the best that Kyle Richards has ever looked in her 15 years as the star of _The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills_. She looks hot beyond belief, in ways I frankly did not think her capable of. I love this suit, and I love that she wore this suit during the episode in which she revealed to Erika (and the viewers) that she did in fact date a woman. Sure, she never actually said that, but Real Housewives fans notoriously cannot pick up on clues and subtext. Kyle Richards dated a woman, and she delivered the news in a suit. Not only that, but she embellished the tie with broaches and left fashion columnist Joan Summers wowed out of words. ### Sutton Stracke I like when Sutton shows cleavage. I like when Sutton does severe glamour. I like when Sutton wears a blazer on a date or in a confessional. I love when Sutton wears earrings that double as weapons, should her cold war with Erika escalate to all out violence. ### Erika Girardi Erika Jayne exclusively delivers news about her million lawsuits in outfits that make her look like a _Persona_ character. Erika Jayne exclusively delivers news about her million lawsuits in outfits that Violet Chachki wore during her Crazy Horse residency in Paris. Erika Jayne exclusively delivers news about her million lawsuits in outfits she stole off a background character in the season finale of _I Love LA_ season one at a fashion party Jordan Firstman's character accidentally shit all over the floor at. ### Bozoma Saint John I can always count on Bozoma to wear something larger than life, like this top, or these earrings, or this headband! The shock of white is lovely, as is the red lip. The earrings don't _really_ work for me, but at least she wore something. At least she wore something! ### Amanda Frances Amanda Frances really wants me to think she is rich. Not just rich, but a maestro of money that shits bricks of gold and wipes her ass with Benjamins. She has not figured out how to dress the part just yet, and I do not think she ever will. A woman in a coral red lip with too much bronzer cannot figure out such things on their own, hence the bronzer and coral red lip. ### Jennifer Tilly ### Jennifer Tilly ### Speaking of coral red lips, Jennifer Tilly knows to put the bronzer down and let her features shine. This dress costs more than I will ever make in my life and the butterflies visited me in a dream last night. As did she, now that I think about it. She hosted a dinner party with friends where we painted gay models who took their clothes off and flashed us their penises. Actually, I think I'm just remembering the most recent episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. ### The Real Housewives of Potomac ### Tia Glover Is that supposed to be a chicken on her top? Is her top made of mesh with a modernist chicken applique? Did this woman really wear a chicken in the confessional booth? ### Wendy Osefo Wendy Osefo might have been arrested. Wendy Osefo might have been charged with fraud. Wendy Osefo might have investigators beating down her block to triple check her credit card transactions. Wendy Osefo might be preparing for court. But Wendy Osefo does not look bad on television! The dress might be slightly cheap, and made of stretch fabric. But Wendy Osefo does not look bad on television! In fact, Wendy Osefo looks like a total glamorpuss on television — I just hope none of these jewels were stolen in the robbery. ### Stacey Rusch There's something menacing about this dress, eh? Maybe it's the lack of color in her makeup, or the boob prison she's trapped her ta-tas in. Maybe it's the white nail or the high collar. It's just very menacing! I want to look at it less, so I'm wrapping things up for the week. Goodbye to this dress, which I'm sure a gentleman's club dancer wore in a movie where she actually has a heart of gold and a kid sister she takes care of after their parent's died in 9/11 or a tsunami. Whichever was sadder when the movie came out. ### _Images courtesy of Bravo/NBC Universal_

_Welcome to**GURU** , where culture’s fairy godmother Mickey Boardman sits down with industry titans to unpack the secret to their sauce. This month, he chats with footwear kingpin Steve Madden. _ ### ### Steve Madden is obsessed with shoes which is a good thing considering he is the shoe king of New York. He’s also a showman in the great tradition of NYC’s Florenz Ziegfeld and Hollywood’s David O. Selznick perhaps that’s why you’ll find a series of videos called The Shoe Shrink on his website. Madden is great at putting out cute, hip, trendy footwear but he also sees the big picture of brand identity and entertainment. We’ve been fans, friends and collaborators for years and we were excited to catch up with him at his huge factory/office/headquarters in Queens. Read our full conversation below. ### **Steve Madden** : Do you guys know who David O. Selznick was? **Staff** : No. **SM** : Really? I remember reading about “ _Gone with The Wind_ ” and thinking the director was an afterthought because the book was so powerful, you know? **Of course.** It was Selznick. He was the _PRODUCER_ of the film. He produced it. He gave birth to it! He took this book and hired the actors. He hired directors. He fired them. He kept firing the directors! He made this film happen. It was the greatest film ever made. Up until like, the fucking Godfather. You know? It was amazing. I remember going when I was a little boy to see it with my parents. ### **It’s long. It’s like three movies in one.** I remember that was the first time there was a movie with an intermission. I freaked out. They don’t have that anymore! You know what I’m talking about— **I Do. I have been to a few—** In Times Square! With my parents! **Staff:** Oh, that’s cool. It was amazing—and I said “That’s who I am. That’s what I want to do.” I didn’t know it would be shoes. Not quite the writer. Not quite the director. Not the actor, but the guy that’s running it. It’s very hard to explain that to people. So, I would go around to see various people looking for money (to start my shoe business.) I couldn’t explain it. I knew that I had something that I could bring here and make something big. Nobody funded me! Nobody would give me money! They almost did: Kenneth Cole, this guy New York Transit, another Israeli guy, and the guys from Tulips—that was a funky company in California, but they couldn’t get there. ### ### ### **Was this before or after you started in the trunk of your car?** Oh, this is before the trunk. **So, you’re a showman basically. Like Ziegfeld.** Yes! Like Ziegfeld. I’ve been doing it and I’m still doing it. It’s like making a movie, but of course, when you get older you have less energy. **No shit.** Even the great directors pretty much fizzle out young if you think about it. There’s very few that— **Well, Billy Wilder had a great long career although he did fizzle out a little bit at the end.** All of those guys that were great in the 70’s, you know? The “New Hollywood” guys. Not Spielberg, not Scorsese, but the rest of them. Like the guy that made “The Exorcist.” ### **William Friedkin. Do you know Peter Bogdanovich? He made like 3 of the most amazing movies ever**. He was young. **“Last Picture Show,” “What’s Up, Doc?” And “Paper Moon.” His wife, Polly Platt, was sort of the brains behind the operation. I’m obsessed with her. He started fucking Cybill Shephard and after a while Polly quit working with him.** Oh, right! **Polly Platt actually casted Cybill Shephard in the movie. She saw her on the cover of Glamour Magazine and said “This is the girl who we should get to play Jacy“****** Wow! **She did the hair. She scouted the locations. She did everything.** So you think she was— **It was all her. 100%** Oh God! **Later she worked for James L. Brooks. She actually got nominated for an Oscar for doing the scenic design for “Terms of Endearment.”** Brooks was amazing. **She also discovered Wes Anderson, Cameron Crowe, she gave them their first breaks—** *To staff** Did you ever see “The Last Picture Show?” **Staff:** I’ve seen The Last Picture Show but no— **SM:** It was one of— **It’s amazing.** Jeff Bridges first, ya know? “The Big Lebowski,” one of his big things with Cybil Shephard. It was amazing. **** ### **The guy who wrote “The Last Picture Show” also wrote “Terms of Endearment” ironically. Larry****McMurtry he was kind of in love with Polly Platt.****She was an alcoholic and problematic too I have to say. There’s a podcast— I can’t believe I’m a douchebag who is recommending podcasts but, it’s called “You Must Remember This.”** Oh God I’ve got to listen to it—That’s it! **Staff** : Me too! I have to also. You know cause I’m—you know what I’m listening to? **What?** There’s a podcast about Dominick Dunne **I would love to listen to that.** Yeah. It’s called Done & Dunne. **I love it.** **Let me write down “Done & Dunne”****** “Done & Dunne” **Oh my God. We’re podcast people! Well, do you know what else I love? Have you ever listened to Anderson Cooper’s podcast about death?** Yeah! ### ### **Fabulous. When he had Amy & David Sedaris, that was the best thing ever in history. Let’s flashback to the beginning, you were talking about how you were pitching people. Tell me how.** I’d pitch them but I couldn’t explain it. It was like the whole David Selznick thing from “Gone With the Wind.” I could not —I tried and I could not get them to— they didn’t understand. They knew there was something there but they just didn’t— **How did you come up with the idea to do shoes?** I worked in a shoe store in High School. Then I went to work at a shoe company. I was 22. I worked pretty much the whole 80’s in the shoe company and learned the business and then at the end of the 80’s I went out on my own. It was at that—88,89,90. That’s when I was looking for funding and it didn’t happen. Then I just did it. I just took whatever I had and just went into business. **Was it all women’s shoes at this time?** All women’s. **What makes an amazing woman’s shoe? What are the ingredients needed for it to be a fabulous****shoe?** Wow. For many reasons, we just cannot understand or codify. It’s like, what makes a hit song? It’s the same thing. We do— ### **Do they have to be comfortable? Do they have to be sexy?** Some shoes are sexy. Some shoes are not sexy. **Do they have to be accessible in price?** Well, everything is important, but, we’re in the style business. We’re in the hip business. We have to be trendy and we have to keep trying to come out with the trendiest sort of shoes. **Oh, I think you succeed. When I think of Steve Madden, I think of very now, current, hip, cool.** We’ve been doing it a long time. The culture of the company is; we’re business people and we’re creative people. We’re very focused on hits. **You’re from Queens originally?** I’m really from a town called Far Rockaway which is in Queens. I was born in Rockaway Beach Hospital. Then I’ll have a cousin that will call me up and yell at me and say “You were not born in Rockaway!” You know, that kind of thing. My mother, we were a very close family. As many families were 60 years ago. Everybody lived in one place. We were very much a Far Rockaway sort of family. I consider that home. ### **Why is your business in Queens now? Is it because you love Queens? Is it a random coincidence?** It was just random. In the garage of this building, I started with a shoe factory. That’s why I’m here. Then we took over more and we became an importer and so the rest is history. **How did you sell shoes out of the trunk of your car? Did you park on the corner and sell them to****strangers?** No. I’d drive around and look for stores. There must have been 50 shoe stores in Manhattan. So, you could just keep selling shoes. **When did you start—** There are no shoe stores now. Do you realize that? The greatest shoe store just closed. Harry’s on the Upper West Side. The greatest store ever. They sold the most amazing shoes. Closed. It’s the craziest fucking thing. **Why do you think?** Internet. **Yeah.** People can get on their phone and buy their shoes. It’s just the way it is. ### **When did you go from selling out of the trunk of your car to actually having your own Steve Madden boutique?** I opened up a store about 2 and a half years after I started. I opened up on Broadway. I feel like it was May of 1993. I don’t know how I did it without any of the things I have now. Looking back on it is like wow. How the fuck did I do that? You know? It’s like—like I heard an interview with Bob Dylan and it was like “Could you write those songs again?” He said “I don’t know how the fuck I did that!” You know? I don’t know where they came from. They were so great his songs. **Did you ever have a moment that was like “Wow. I’ve really made it now.”** There’s been a few moments. They happen. I guess the store was a moment for me, the first store. Hearing from people that my shoe, it was an elastic shoe, was the biggest shoe in the US. It’s called “The Slinky.” That was pretty good. **I’d say. How long do you keep a shoe in the rotation?** We’re still making “The Slinky.” Yeah, 30 years later. **That’s amazing.** I can’t remember if it was ‘95 or ‘96. The internet keeps them longer. You know, dot com? I don’t even use the right expression, do I? **Makes sense to me. What percentage of your business would you say is online versus in person?****** In retail 2 thirds is on the internet. We also have a lot of stores. It’s tremendous. Some days we do a million dollars a day. It’s mind boggling. ### ### ### **That’s fabulous. Are you a $2 billion company?** I think we’re close to 3 now. We just bought a big company. **Which company did you buy?** We bought a company called Kurt Geiger. **Oh, interesting.** It’s different when you're younger and you’re doing it but at the end of the day, it’s all the same shit. You go to bed just like everybody else you put your pants on one leg at a time. You look in the mirror you see a zit. I don’t have delusions of grandeur. I mean, maybe I do sometimes, but mostly I don’t. I wish I did more, frankly. I actually think—is it a gift to be able to think that way? I’m just saying, yeah. I’m still at it. That’s really it. I’m still at it and I do recognize that I have wealth now. Or less, since this idiot came into power. We’ll be ok. I’m not going to be homeless. When I say homeless I should really clarify what that means. Obviously not homeless but there was a long time where I wasn’t paying my rent. Believe me I was one of those guys that used to wait. **I still haven’t paid last month’s rent.** In the old days, when I was away for 3 months to go buy and then they put a notice on your door. Then a months later they say we’re gonna evict you. I was never a good bill payer. **Same.** Yeah. ### **We have so much in common. We love Tuesday Weld. We’re bad bill players. Did you in the end feel like going to prison was a good experience or bad experience? You’re very forthcoming and open about talking about it.** It was absolutely horrible and painful. Of course, it doesn’t matter what I say because I went to prison and I can’t undo it but I’m grateful for everything that I’ve done in my life and I’m grateful for where I am today and some of that is a result of being at the bottom. In the pit, in the darkness. I can’t speak for other people but there’s something about being in that moment of complete darkness in the pit and coming through it. There’s something about that. I’m not even sure how to explain it. Whether it builds character. Whatever the word is I’m thinking of. I got to see highs and lows. The perspective I’ve gained is unbelievable. **Well, we don’t learn anything from success. I mean, from that kind of experience, like you just said,****you learn that your’e a survivor and you can get through anything. After you’ve lived through that, it’s****suddenly like, “Oh wait, they’re out of this color leather for the sandals.” That’s not such a crisis**. Or they ran out of Diet Pepsi. That kind of thing. **Absolutely, I’m grateful for the bad things that have happened to me. Although, I haven’t been to****prison, but I feel like I’ve learned. It made me appreciate life in a way that I didn’t otherwise.** Sure! ### **So then you come out of the big house and in that same year—** The hoosegow. **The hoosegow. Footwear News names Steve Madden the company of the year.** Is that right? I don’t remember. Was it that close? **It was either the same year or very shortly after. Within the year.** We came out with so much energy. **Yeah, how do you explain that?** It was 20 years ago! **That’s so crazy.** 20 years ago—actually, right around now. **Well, there you go. Happy Anniversary. How important is it for celebrities to wear your shoes, or do you not care?** Oh, it’s a gas when anybody wears my shoes! It’s great. I love it. You know. The celebrity of today is a different thing. It’s the TikToker. **Are you on TikTok?** Sure, yeah. Not myself, but I watch everything. Do you like TikTok? **I do—it’s a little young for me, and a little frantic for me. I do go on it though. I used to have an****account. I had an intern who made me do a TikTok everyday. Like about my clothes or—** How was it? **Grueling, exhausting, and not rewarding.****So, what are your hopes and dreams for the future? What is your inner****David O. Selznick working on? Is it ad campaigns? Is it—** Oh God! I’m so over my head! ### **You are?** Yeah! You know, I work with really great people. **You do.** I do, and, you know, it’s different now. I have great people I work with and the social media is so important. it’s tough for me, but, there’s people that seem to have a knack for this. **They do, I know.** We had a girl wear one of our shoes, this influencer. The shoe is doing great. I can’t keep it in stock. **How many different shoes a season?** Over 100. **100 new ones? Wow, that’s amazing.** Yeah, we do so many. We have retail, wholesale, internet. ### **What do you personally look for in a shoe? Do you wear the same shoes every day?** You know, I do pretty much wear the same shoes everyday. I have loafers from Steve Madden that are great. I have a few of these which are fine for me. I have a pair of boots that I can’t get rid of. I can’t find a replacement for them. It’s been 15 years and they have holes in them. It’s an engineer boot. **Are they Steve Madden?** No. **Is there something that the Selznick in you is still dying to do?** You know, I always just want to make better shoes. That’s it. That’s really all I want from business. Is to have a season of perfect shoes. That to me is heaven. That would be heaven. **Have you ever had a season of perfect shoes?** I’ve come close, but it’s hard. It’s really hard. ### ### _Photography courtesy of Steve Madden_

_Jack Champion_ got cast as Spider in _Avatar: The Way of Water_ when he was just 12-years-old. “I feel like I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t played that character,” he tells _PAPER_. Now, the 21-year-old actor is stepping into a moment that’s been quietly building for nearly a decade: the release of _Avatar: Fire and Ash_ , the latest chapter in James Cameron’s sprawling sci-fi universe. It arrives after years of waiting, growing up and living alongside a character who has shaped his life as much as any real-world experience. ### Set on the lush alien moon of Pandora, _Avatar_ is more than just the biggest film franchise on Earth; it’s an immersive world built around themes of environmentalism, colonization, chosen family and spiritual connection to nature. At the center of it all are the Na’vi, Pandora’s Indigenous people, whose culture is defined by deep emotional and physical ties to the planet itself. For audiences who may not be fluent in _Avatar_ lore, Spider serves as a natural entry point: a human boy raised among the Na’vi, caught between worlds, cultures, and identities. Spider, whose full name is Miles Socorro, is the franchise’s most literal bridge between humanity and Pandora. He’s too human to fully belong among the Na’vi, yet emotionally tethered to them through the Sully family, who raise him as one of their own. That longing for belonging is what defines Spider — and, in many ways, it mirrors Champion’s own experience growing up on a set that became its own kind of home. ### Filming for _Avatar_ began in 2017, when Champion was barely a teenager. By the time _Fire and Ash_ arrives in theaters, he’s an adult reflecting on years spent inside one of the most technically ambitious productions in cinema history. “It feels like it’s a long time coming,” he says. "2017 is when we started, so I feel like it’s been years of anticipation… it’s very overwhelming.” What once felt monumental eventually became routine — a necessary normalization when the stakes are this high. “After a while, once you’re on year three of making this movie, it’s so normalized that you almost forget the pressure of, ‘Oh wow, this is a big blockbuster thing,’ which is a good thing.” That sense of normalization didn’t erase the emotional weight of the role, though, especially as _Fire and Ash_ pushes Spider into darker territory. Champion describes the most challenging part of the film as Spider’s relationship with the Sully family, a bond defined by love, distance, and heartbreak. “He always wanted to be part of the Sully family,” Champion says, noting how the feeling mirrored his own experience returning home after months away on set. “I also wanted to be a normal kid and have normal experiences in life, but I couldn’t have that while filming for months and months on end.” ### There’s a quiet poetry in the fact that Champion’s earliest memory of _Avatar_ is watching the original film as a child, staying up past bedtime and feeling completely transported. “I just remember being so captivated by it,” he says. Years later, he isn’t just part of that world — he’s grown up inside it. We sat down with Champion to discuss the upcoming release of _Fire and Ash_ , what parts of Na’vi culture he would want IRL, and growing up within the highest-grossing film franchise on the planet. ### ### **You’ve lived with this character through some massive personal years. What headspace are you in right now with _Fire and Ash_ coming out next month?** Yeah, I mean, it feels like it’s a long time coming. You know, 2017 is when we started, so I feel like it’s been years of anticipation. And I mean, it’s hard to put into words, but it’s just kind of like this thing has finally happened. The anticipation, the hype, it’s almost too much. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s very overwhelming. **Because you were basically a kid when you were cast, right?** Yeah, I was 12 years old, and I just turned 21, so it’s been almost 10 years, I guess. It’s crazy. It’s absolutely nuts. ### **I mean, you literally went through puberty while you were cast. How does it feel looking back, having grown up with the film? Do you feel like an _Avatar_ character now — is it part of your identity? Or how do you separate the growth?** Yeah. No, I did. I mean, I feel like the character Spider is kind of like a Tarzan-esque character, you know, like a Mowgli. So I feel that wildness — that wild feeling of the inner person, whether it be the aggression aspect or the willingness-to-do-anything aspect — is something that everyone around me on set helped me live in. And to this day, I feel like I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t played that character. There are aspects of Spider in my brain that will never go away. **It’s literally the biggest film franchise on Earth. So when you’re on those sets, does it feel massive, or do you find yourself tuning it out to actually do the job?** I feel like it’s honestly so normalized almost immediately. At first there was definitely that aspect of, _Holy crap, this is one of the biggest movies ever, and this is one of the sequels, so it’s one of the biggest movies ever,_ blah, blah, blah. But very soon, you get into a rhythm of, “OK, every day I’m working with this amazing cast and crew,” and they slowly but surely feel like friends, and then friends to family. After a while, once you’re on year three of making this movie, it’s like, OK, it’s so normalized that you almost forget the pressure of, “Oh wow, this is a big blockbuster thing,” which is a good thing, in my opinion. ### **Is there anything about you at 12 versus you now that directly changed how Spider behaves or moves or reacts?** I feel like, when I was cast at 12 years old, the character Spider was always written as like 15 years old-ish. So when I was first cast, I felt like I was playing older than I was, and I hadn’t even hit puberty yet, so I was pretending to be this, I guess, hormonal teenager. And then the hormones actually came in, and I became a hormonal teenager, so it was a lot easier to play. And now, if I ever go back for FPR or something, if there are little pickups here and there, I really have to play young. So it’s funny how it works. I don’t know if that answers your question, but yeah. It’s always felt like I’ve been playing older, younger… yeah. **Without spoiling anything, what part of Spider’s journey in this film felt the most emotionally challenging for you as an actor?** I guess it’s just his heartbreaking relationship with the Sully family. That was the hardest to wrap my head around a little bit, because I feel like he always wanted to be part of the Sully family. And to me, as a human being, I feel like I could relate, because I spent so many years filming this movie, and then whenever I’d come back home — of course I had friends and family — but there was always some amount of disconnect, because I’d been gone for years or months at a time. I also wanted to be a normal kid and have normal experiences in life, but I couldn’t have that while filming for months and months on end. So I think that was something I could relate to, but it also made it really emotional and really personal when I was performing those emotional scenes. ### **Do you remember watching the first _Avatar_ as a kid?** Yeah. I was four years old when it came out in theaters. I never saw it then. My earliest memory was at my mom’s house. It was nighttime, and I got to stay up extra late because we were watching a movie. And I just remember being so wowed by it, because as a kid, however old I must’ve been — like seven years old or something — I was watching Disney Channel movies or whatever. And then you go from that to… wow. This is like a “WTF” kind of moment. I just remember being so captivated by it. I also remember literally thinking, “God, they have to make a sequel to this,” which is just funny to think about now. **What’s something about Spider that you personally relate to, or something about him you wish you had in your own life?** I feel like something I relate to him on is his… well, I feel like he’s very much a ride-or-die for his friends. He’s a very loyal guy to his friends and his family, and I feel like that’s something that’s ingrained in me as a person as well. But something I wish I had was…I mean, he’s an action-movie character. I wish I had his bravery. I’d be lying if I said I was as brave as Spider. I mean, all these characters just go head-on into battle and are so good at climbing through chaos. And I wish I had his parkour skills, as well as his Mowgli, jungle-swinging skills. ### **If you could steal one piece of Na’vi culture and bring it into your real daily life, what would it be?** I don’t know if this counts as a culture thing, but I wish that kuru were real. I would love to actually, like — you know, us as humans, we can spiritually connect to nature, but I wish there was a physical plug where we could just plug into nature and visit our ancestors. I feel like we could communicate, at least emotionally, with our dogs. Literally just sync our minds for a second. I don’t know. It’d be so cool. **For the fans who have followed Spider closely throughout the years, what’s one thing you want them to pay attention to in this film? Or what do you hope people feel walking out of _Fire and Ash_ in general?** I hope they feel very full. Creatively, imaginatively. I hope they feel like if there was a thirst for experiencing the world, that feeling is quenched. And as far as what to look out for with Spider, I feel like just his emotional journey. I feel like " ### _Images courtesy of Jack Champion_

At the SAG Awards in February, Timothée Chalamet claimed his award for Best Male Actor and asserted to the audience that he wanted to be “one of the greats.” This claim of ambition was decried and admired in equal parts by the internet’s horde of critics, and ultimately dissected: What does it truly take to join Hollywood’s hall of giants? The SAG win certainly seemed like a step in the right direction – Chalamet, 29, became the youngest to be recognized as Best Actor by the Screen Actors Guild, dethroning Nicholas Cage for his 1995 win at age 32. His desire to be one of the greats became the nexus of his next movie’s campaign – buzz around _Marty Supreme,_ as well as the lofty marketing moves that herald its upcoming premiere, is everywhere. ### Initially confirmed as Josh Safdie’s eighth feature film in the summer of 2024, the director and Chalamet had been in talks around the role since 2018. _Marty Supreme_ is a sports-comedy drama that loosely documents the life of American table tennis champion Marty Reisman, who Chalamet embodies through his fictional likeness, Marty Mauser. It has generated Oscars buzz practically since its announcement, but talk around the film until recent months had otherwise been somewhat tight-lipped; all we knew was that the film was bound to be… great. ### ### Safdie, Chalamet, and a number of other cast members shocked audiences with appearances at the 63rd New York Film Festival’s annual surprise screening, which turned out to be the film’s world premiere. Soon, it had a standing ovation and online buzz under its belt. _Marty Supreme_ would soon be everywhere, all at once, and Chalamet has done something surprising for a star of his caliber: Through months and across mediums, he has seen the campaign through. Last month, Chalamet seemed to leak a recorded _Zoom call_with his marketing team on his social media. After flippantly greeting each of the professionals with a distracted nod or apathetic “dope,” the team seems to indulge Chalamet’s increasingly self-serious – and undeniably absurd – ideas, from releasing a fleet of blimps to rain ping-pong balls down on witnesses to painting the Statue of Liberty orange. I’d consider it performance art; Chalamet leaned into his critics’ skepticism through the act of parody, playing the part of the disillusioned fledgling star that they pinned to him from the moment he expressed his aspiration. ### ### Ultimately, we did get the blimp. Beverley Hills was blessed with an electric orange behemoth in the sky on December 8, ahead of the film’s premiere in Los Angeles – no ping pong balls included. The iconic color, which Chalamet likened in the Zoom call to the characteristic pink of the 2023 Barbie film, continues to manifest across the film’s promotion: From the round orange heads of the helmetted figures who have accompanied him to the film's 30-minute guerilla teaser in Times Square and in _enigmatic hype reels_ co-directed by Aidan Zamiri to the matching Chrome Hearts sets he wore with girlfriend Kylie Jenner to the LA screening, the color and film have become successfully ubiquitous, largely due to his championing. Speaking of pop-ups, we truly can’t talk about the campaign without addressing the coats. You’ve surely seen the windbreakers online – nineties-esque color blocking, offered in several colors, the words “Marty Supreme” and several stars emblazoned across the chest. We can’t talk about the campaign without talking about the coats. You can’t go five seconds of scrolling without seeing one of the windbreakers. The coats were produced by the lifestyle brand Nahmias, and teased first in photos both by the cast and figures like Hailey Bieber, Tom Brady, Misty Copeland, Bill Nye and Kid Cudi. The convergence of athletes and celebrities of various fields rocking the merch seems to pose a pantheon of sorts. Brand founder and designer Doni Nahmias told _GQ_ that the flicks were part of a “rollout plan of having all these people that we considered represented greatness.” The look thus becomes one associated with ambition and success, as well as undeniable street style. ### ### A surprise pop-up in SoHo on Nov. 20, as posted about less than a day in advance on Chalamet’s story, was the first opportunity for enthusiasts to grab the merchandise. Then, west-coasters had the chance to get their hands on the merch at a subsequent LA event on Dec. 8. Most recently, Chalamet took to London for a Boxing Day pop-up. Present alongside other film-customized items like polo shirts and socks, each jacket goes for around $250. Now, they are being resold for thousands. The film has become grounds for clickbait discourse and fashion commentary alike, all before it hits screens internationally. Although clearly ideated by an extensive team of creatives – in spite of what the Zoom meeting might imply – the film’s extensive promotional campaign takes on greatness as a motif, finding its footing in Chalamet’s ambitious claim from months ago. The arterial vein of _Marty Supreme_ as a story seems to be Mauser’s underdog journey to become a table tennis legend, and the leading man portraying him might have more in common with his character than first meets the eye. _Eleanor Jacobs is PAPER's 2025 Fall Intern_ _Images via Getty_

A lot has happened in the world in the 10 years since _Kylie Christmas_ was first released. If reading that floods you with jarring flashbacks of the multiple lives you’ve lived since then, you’re not alone. Kylie, too — with the sequential releases of _Golden_ , _Step Back In Time: The Definitive Collection_ , _Tension_ , and _Tension II_ — has had quite an eventful decade. Almost as if she knew the world was in need of some lighthearted magic again, Kylie is back, shimmying down the chimney once more to revisit her now-classic holiday album. With _Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped)_ , the pop princess returns to her festive throne with a deluxe anniversary edition featuring four new tracks, including the Amazon Music Original, “XMAS.” ### Yes, that’s pronounced X-M-A-S. And yes, I already know the dance. The new tracks play out almost like a holiday itinerary, a freewheeling sleigh ride through genre and occasion for the festively inclined: Last night in the club: “Hot in December.” Last work Friday of the year: “Office Party.” Road-tripping back home: “XMAS.” Snuggling up on the couch before the rom-coms drop: “This Time of Year.” The anniversary edition is available to pre-order now and will be released in various festive formats, from limited edition candy-cane vinyl to transparent red and pink-and-white marble colorways. (I’ll take the candy cane, for those asking.) We caught up with Kylie to revisit her Christmas (album) past, chat holiday traditions, and hear more about the stories behind the new tracks. ### ### **You’ve had quite a year with a global tour, 66 shows, then launching the deluxe _Kylie Christmas_ _(Fully Wrapped)_ album, and all the performances that come with it. I can imagine…** My quote for that is: don’t even. Like, it’s been a gigantic year. I mean, in the best way, my head just went and rested in my hand. It’s been a — you know, I wouldn’t say a mountain to climb, but now that I’ve done it, it was a mountain to do. And I’m really, really proud of this year and, I guess, the last three years since _Tension_ and “Padam” kickstarting everything for me. So getting the 10th anniversary of the Christmas album in, sneaking that in at the end of the year, wraps up a really incredible year for me. **We saw the _Tension_ tour here when you came to the city and it was incredible. ** Were you at MSG? **Oh yes, we were.** I can’t believe it. Two sold-out nights. It’s just incredible. And I want to come back. That’s all I’m gonna say. **Well, we want you back. The energy there was insane. Do you actually get a holiday break? Does Kylie Minogue get to unwind for the holidays?** Kylie Minogue is planning to do such a wild and crazy thing as have a holiday. Yeah, I think I need to treat it like work. I really have done so much this year that I just probably need to take stock. I’m wildly grateful, but, yeah, just take stock and try to comprehend what 2025 has been. I’ll have a break with my family in Australia and, yeah, see how we roll into 2026. **What is a Minogue Christmas like? Are you a big tree decorator? Do you have a favorite holiday tradition? ** We try to keep it laidback each year. My nephews are teenagers now, so it’s not like there are little kids around. I would say we just repeat ourselves every year. Like, “Okay, we’ll try to keep it simple this year,” and, yeah, no one wants to make too much of a fuss. We don’t want my mom going crazy and going OTT. But also: Mom, you can, because it’s your rules and you can do whatever you like. So we’ve said it again this year: Let’s try not to get too much food. Let’s keep it low-key. We’ll see how successful we are. Because, you know, you reach fever pitch right before Christmas and it’s all systems go. But it’s summer, so the days are long. Someone’s on the barbecue, someone’s in the pool. That’s what I’m looking forward to. And for all of us as a family, it’s been a big year. My family helped me so much with the tour. They came to a lot of the shows. My sister was at MSG both nights. I’ve had a lot of family support. So yeah, let’s hope we manage to slightly underplay it — which is probably weird coming from me, talking about a Christmas album. ### ### **Congrats again on the re-release. Ten years — it’s an obvious classic now. And I must say, “Santa Baby” plays on repeat all season in my household. I’m curious: What initially inspired the Queen of Club to record a Christmas album to begin with?** You know, I was just asked that and I don’t know the answer. I honestly don’t. I couldn’t even tell you why I recorded “Santa Baby.” I’d have to ask my producer. People have different memories of events. I covered “Santa Baby” in 2001 and it was a B-side on a single. So I feel like it might have been — this is a bit of a guess — something like a Christmas special, some kind of show in the UK, and I must have gravitated toward “Santa Baby” as a performance. Did it. It kind of suited me. So it was put on as a B-side. At that point, I didn’t think about doing a Christmas album. Then if we cut to 2015 when I did the first _Kylie Christmas_ album, I think I’d done _X_ , _Aphrodite_ , _Kiss Me Once_ and I probably thought: Now’s the time. This is a terrible answer, but I don’t know. I just don’t know. But we did it. Maybe it was a more accessible thing to do than trying to come up with what’s next. I don’t think we were calling them eras back then, but what’s the next thing? But I loved being in the studio and making music. And yeah, we really went for it. **One of my personal faves is the duet with Frank [Sinatra]. And I’m curious, since there are so many legends tied to the sound of Christmas, are there any icons of the past you wish you could collab with on another Christmas classic?** I haven’t thought about this in a Christmas sense, but just in general: Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Prince — those would be no-brainers. I just fantasize about what it would have been like to sing and perform with them. But to work with Frank Sinatra’s vocals was almost like a small lesson. First off, the estate gave us permission, which was huge. We were punching the air with excitement about that. **Seriously.** Seriously. And then to get the master recording of his vocals — which you can even hear some of the band in it, because that’s just how they did it then. It was all done.. **Yeah, it was all done as one performance.** Exactly. When we record now, usually, 99% of the time it’s to a click track, so you’re already in time. So to try and imagine what my interaction with him would have been, or what it was to be in the recording of that song, was wild. He’s known for his singular timing and phrasing, so hearing his voice and dancing with that while we recorded… it was pretty incredible. ### ### **Very special moment, I’m sure. But also, I love the new songs, especially “Office Party” — I’m already so obsessed with it.** I have to say, it’s hilarious. **I love that you say that. It almost feels like a playful nod to those golden age greats who leaned into the kitschy, theatrical elements of the holidays. I think one of my favorite songs is “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.** Oh, that makes “Office Party” seem less hilarious. "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas," I don’t know that song. **You have to look it up. Gayla Peevey.** I'm going to write it down. I must have heard it before, I must have heard it. **It’s so pure. But are there any obscure Christmas songs you love?** Not until now, not until I listen to that one. I must have heard it at some point. **I can’t wait for you to hear it.** But with “Office Party,” we — myself and three other guys writing and recording in the studio — had a very funny alt album title list that goes no further than the studio — so I can’t share it — but there were a lot of LOLs. “Office Party” came from a couple of places. Obviously, the TV show _The Office_ , which we all know and love. But also on tour, our whole team had to get visas done, and when visas are done — everyone's in suits. They just add your head and neck to a suit. And I went, “Oh my god, look at us -- that's not us.” And I said, that’s got to be our Christmas office party — everyone shows up in a grey suit. So that was in my mind, plus the show, and especially in the UK, where Christmas is such a huge thing. And it is about the office party and Christmas sweaters, and _Bridget Jones_ and _Love Actually_ — and all of that. Just for laughs in the studio, we added a photocopier sound at the end. I thought, “I’m going to get an email about this.” Like, “We love it, but not sure about the sound effect.” But we love it. It’s a great little button on the song. That’s the playfulness. Sonically, it’s leaning into that “Santa Baby” world — a little sassy. ### ### **And it totally lands that way. I also love “XMAS.” I can already hear it in the club. How did that one come about?** I can tell you exactly, because _that one_ I do know the genesis of. After we recorded the first Christmas album, we did a performance somewhere in Berlin. After the show, we were all on the terrace bar at Soho House for my choreographer’s birthday. My guitarist, Luke Fitton who I adore, and I, we must have just had Christmas in our minds because we had just finished making the album. And...possibly had a glass or two of wine. And the two of us just started singing “XMAS” over whatever was playing at the bar and shaping the letters out with our arms. Just as a joke. But then we thought, wait, this is catchy. And I’ve had it in my head for 10 years. And this year, being the 10th anniversary, I was like, "I've gotta get it out of my head. It can't live in my head and in my voice notes and in my notes -- any longer. I need to see this through." So now that I have people doing the “XMAS” dance with me and for me. It’s incredible. And then "Hot in December," which is a total bop. **We need more December bops. The _world_ needs more December bops.** Absolutely. I'm here for you. **Last one — totally off the cuff. Fuck, Marry, Kill: Santa, Scrooge, or Frosty?** Hang on, I’ve got to write this down. **pen clicks** FMK: Santa, Scrooge, Frosty? Ahhh. You’re hitting me with the hard questions here. **I’m literally giving journalism.** This is cutting-edge. Oh my gosh. There’s no right answer, is there? **Maybe _that_ is the answer. There _is_ no answer.** I’ve written it down, the shorthand — FMK: Santa, Scrooge, Frosty. Just imagine, it's very: Russell Crowe in _A Beautiful Mind_. That’s the calculation happening right now. ### ### _Interview edited for clarity and length._ _Photos courtesy of the artist._

On the cover of his debut album, ___SweetFace Killah___, _Infinite Coles_ is grinning really wide. __Cheesing__ , actually, straight into the camera. “This was my plan,” he tells me. The joy in that image is hard-earned. After living in a shelter in Queens, New York for over a year, Coles, the notorious estranged son of GhostFace Killah, finally had enough. “From my window, I’d watch planes take off and land,” he says. “In the beginning, I’d cry on the train or on the boat. But after six months, I started to feel powerful, strong.” ### From there, Coles’ writing got better, stronger. “ _Dad & I_” was written and the now-viral “ _SweetFace Killah_” came about. “Straight boys come up to me all the time now,” he says. “They’re like, ‘Bro, we love what you’re doing. You’re in a position to change the world, to change how the industry sees people and who they let in.’ And I was standing there like… __damn__. Coming from two straight men who weren’t being judgmental. They loved the art.” Hip-hop blogs and tabloid-style headlines would follow — even _Joe Rogan_ praised his talent and vulnerability. But getting on some hetero hip-hop ‘good side’ was never even Coles’ intention. In fact, he didn’t even wanna be a rapper. “In my family, there was a lot of ‘faggot’ talk in the raps, and it made me uncomfortable. It made me feel like I wasn’t supposed to like rap.” When I first came across Infinite Coles, it was on “ _Bloodshot Red Eyes_,” a one-off track from 2019 in which he sings in his soothing R&B falsetto. This is the type of singing that influenced Coles’ earlier music and still shows up on __SweetFace Killah__ — tracks like “ _Thankful_” feature his powerful belt and throwback 90’s R&B vocal singing, “If you want it, you can get it / all this love is neverending” followed by, “The scars on my body could’ve been much worse, but I’m still here.” Other tracks like “ _Mama Song_” and “ _Hummingbird_” feel like internal mantras come to life, straight from the source. It’s a testament to Coles’ range and vigor in this shining moment he’s currently having. From rap to ballroom to R&B and pop melodies, __SweetFace Killah__ puts Coles directly in line with his given name: Infinite. He doesn’t need to be just one thing — maybe he can be everything. We sat down with Coles to talk about his huge 2025, wild TikTok fan reactions, and prayer. ### ### **How did we first meet? I honestly forget.** I forget, too. We be having too much fun. I feel like it was at that party by the ferry on Trinity. Club Glam? Yes, Club Glam. **Definitely Club Glam. I also feel like my first memory of you was this random song in 2019, “Bloodshot Red Eyes.” I love that song.** Aw, thank you my love. Yeah, that was my first song ever. With Richard Russell, XL Recordings. **Now you’re having this huge moment, which I’m so proud of. The songs blowing up, the TikToks, all the blogs… and so much of the attention tied to your dad, Ghostface Killah. How have you navigated that connection while also carving out your own name?** It’s been rough a little bit, but it honestly hasn’t bothered me. And I don’t mean this in a negative way, but… this was my plan. You know what I mean? I knew there’d be recognition just from using the name SweetFace Killah. I didn’t know it would get this big, but I knew something would happen. Dealing with it doesn’t bother me. That is my father. I’m always going to be connected to him. He’s everybody’s top ten writer, top ten rapper. I’m never going to get away from that, so there’s no point in trying. But I do want to carve my own lane with my music. So yeah, it’s been fine. The only annoying part is the comments — his fans telling me to kill myself, or that when they see me they’re gonna do something. It’s like… yikes. That part makes me nervous sometimes. But I’m dealing with it. **Have you gone to therapy for any of it?** No, not at all. I love talking to my friends. They’re my therapists. Especially the ones I’ve known for years, like Robot and Jazelle. They keep it real and tell me when I’m doing too much or not enough. Honestly, that’s why all this new music is happening, and why I feel fearless right now. Jazelle and Robot have been on my ass like, “Shut up and do what you’re supposed to do. People are going to talk regardless. You can’t be 30 years old still looking for acceptance from a dad or a mom. You have to love yourself first.” And they’re right. Even with other family members like my siblings. Suddenly everyone’s proud of me or reaching out. It’s annoying, but I’m trying to embrace it in a positive way. But I don’t think it’s because I’m “having a moment.” I think it’s because they see me accepting myself. They see everyone else happy for me, and it hits them like, __That’s my brother — why can’t I just do that too?__ It feels like they see the world loving me and want to join the bandwagon, but in a genuine way. ### **Why do you feel like this is happening now? It feels like everything just exploded all at once.** It’s because I’m being authentically myself this time. With “Bloodshot Red Eyes,” I was brand new. Even with my last project, I was brand new. I was living in the shelter. I basically just threw a bunch of songs I’d recorded onto one album. That was my last project. Since leaving the shelter, everything has grown. In my own house, I created a space, an energy, where I can say what I want, be who I want. So now that’s showing up in my music, because I’m writing in a space that’s mine. There’s no judgment in my home, no holding back. I can be completely free. Most of these songs were written in my house after the shelter. Before, I didn’t know myself. I wasn’t fully accepting of myself. And now? I’m here with my wigs on, my skirt on, my heels on, not giving a fuck about anything. That’s what it gives. **Do you think it was also just the literal physical space? In a shelter, you don’t have your own personal space.** Exactly. Your thoughts get mixed with everybody else’s thoughts and actions. I’d be thinking to myself, then look up to make sure a man wasn’t about to attack me. Men would come up to me and say, “Give me your food.” Stuff like that. It was hard. I couldn’t focus on my art. Even when I wasn’t physically there, it was hard to write because I’d be like, Girl, I have to go back to that place tonight. So yeah — being in my own home let me be completely free and not give a fuck. And around that time, my niece — but that’s my daughter — was born. That changed my life in the most amazing way. It made me feel like I had something to fight for. My sister has schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, really severe, so I had to take custody of my niece. That’s why I say she’s my daughter. I feel like God gave my sister that baby because she was supposed to be mine. Everyone knows I always wanted a child, always wanted a daughter. I ended up naming her and everything. It truly feels like she’s mine. She gave me a reason to fight. In the past, I didn’t know what I was fighting for. When she was born, it all came out of me. Tears every day. I pray every single day. I haven’t missed one in four years. That’s what it’s been like. ### ### **Tell me about that time in the shelter. What led up to it, and what was the process coming out of it?** Well, going into that situation… I don’t get along with my parents at all — mom or dad. Before the shelter, I was living with my mom, and my sister was there too. There was a lot of arguing, a lot of people not seeing my side, a lot of me feeling uncomfortable. My mom would tell me to get the fuck out of the house and not come back. It was just a lot. My last straw — and I’m not trying to bash my sister, but this is my story — was when she did some weird shit. She’s schizophrenic and bipolar, so she switches sometimes. We had a little tussle, and she ended up calling the cops, telling them I tried to rape her. So I had to get out of that situation. I was like, Girl, you are not going to have six cops in my room questioning me about this and that. And mind you, I had on a crop top and booty shorts because I was about to go to the gym. The cops were looking at me like, _What is going on? Isn’t he gay? Is this a trans person?_ They were confused. I explained the situation, and they left me alone, but I was like, I’m not doing this. Something has to change. I couldn’t afford an apartment, so I went to the shelter. I told myself, I’m gonna do this for 11 months and see what happens. And honestly, it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Even though it was hard and dark, something beautiful came out of it. I’ve been in my home since 2021, and look — I made a beautiful album that’s literally taking off. I’m so grateful. I knew something big was going to come after the shelter. I could feel my music getting better, my writing getting better. Something felt different — and now look. **So the shelter might’ve been the best thing that ever happened, in a way?** Yeah. I learned a lot. Mind you, I had to take a ferry every single day plus a train. I’m from Staten Island, and the shelter was all the way in South Conduit in Queens — literally next to the airport. From my window, I’d watch planes take off and land. That’s how far I was traveling. In the beginning, I’d cry on the train or on the boat. But after six months, I started to feel powerful, strong. I’d tell myself, After this, something is going to happen. I’m about to storm after this. I started embracing it. And that’s when my writing started changing — on the ferry, on the train. When I got out, that’s when the writing really happened. But even while I was in the shelter and traveling back and forth, I could see the shift happening in me. ### ### **Tell me about the writing process, specifically for “Dad & I,” because that feels like the breakout track — along with “SweetFace Killah,” obviously.** “SweetFace Killah” was written a little later — maybe last year or the year before. But “Dad & I” was written as soon as I got out of the shelter and had my own space. There was a situation happening where I was trying to call my dad for help. Because of my niece (my daughter). The only reason I had to get custody of her was because my sister had a moment, and they ended up taking my niece away. I wanted to commit suicide. It was crazy. I didn’t know what to do. My baby was getting taken away from me, and he was the only person who could really help. And he did nothing. He chose to do nothing. So I posted something on Instagram. I don’t know if you remember. And it went viral. I just aired it all out. Like, If you’re not going to pick up for me, then here’s what’s going on. “Dad & I” happened right after that post. There was so much drama, and I was angry, but I’m the kind of person who doesn’t stay angry. I don’t hold grudges. I’m very forgiving. Even if I don’t talk to you, I’ll still love you. They’re our parents. We’re probably always going to love them, no matter what. That’s how I am. So “Dad & I” came from that place. I wanted to tell him how I felt without being disrespectful. Because I knew some people would see “SweetFace Killah” as the disrespectful one — not me, but other people. “Dad & I” feels more like… us sitting in a conference room or a therapy room. Just me and him, talking, and me finally telling him how I feel. **Yeah, “Dad & I” is more sentimental. “SweetFace Killah” is more bark more bite.** Yeah. And you haven’t really heard me rap like that. “SweetFace Killah” was my first rap song. **Were you writing raps before that?** No. I just go back and forth with Robot and Jazelle. We joke and try to diss each other. Robot is the best rapper. He can freestyle off the dome, and I’m over there mumbling my shit. But after “Boots,” I started getting into rapping. I was watching something on TV — I forget what — and that’s how “SweetFace Killah” came about. I just started going yada yada yada and made a voice memo. I went to the studio and played it for my producer, and he was like, “Let me try to make a beat to it.” I recorded it and I hated it. I was like, “No, I sound weird. I don’t like how I sound.” Everyone around me was like, “Girl, this sounds fire.” And I’m like, “No, I’m not doing this.” They said, “You’re just not used to hearing your voice like this.” Then I accidentally sent it to the label. Literally on accident. And they were like, “Infinite, what’s this? ‘SweetFace Killah’?” I was like, “Oops, sorry, that wasn’t meant to be sent.” And they were like, “No, this is a banger.” I told them, “It’s not going on the album. Everyone’s going to think it’s a diss.” They fought me on it. Eventually I was like, “You know what? Put it on there. Whatever.” And I guess they were right. ### ### **What’s been the craziest TikTok or reaction video or internet take you’ve seen through all of this?** I wouldn’t call anything crazy. Everything has been so positive and beautiful, honestly. Yeah, there are men talking shit on little podcasts with 100 followers, thinking they’re doing something or hurting someone. And I’m just like… next. But my heart has been so full of gratitude. This is all I’ve ever wanted — to finally be seen and heard. I’ve been the underdog for so long. My brothers got chances to be on my dad’s albums or go to the studio with him. My cousins too. And I love them — they’re amazing — but I always felt like I was the most talented one and no one wanted to give me a chance. The fact that it had to happen like this is unfortunate, but I’m still so grateful. So when people make their TikToks or reaction videos, it feels more beautiful than crazy. One video that stood out was a guy talking about how powerful it was for me to get on TikTok and share my story about my dad. He said it helped him open up about his own father putting a gun to his head, and that I was breaking generational curses for him. Then another girl made a video saying the same thing. Someone else said her dad heard the song and reached out to her for the first time. I didn’t think it would go that far. To see people connect with my story — and realize I wasn’t alone — feels so good. I’m glad they feel that same way too. **Are you nervous for the full album to be out, since these songs had such a huge moment? Do you feel pressure to deliver?** I literally feel that. I keep telling my friends, “Y’all, it’s eight days left. I don’t know what to do.” People are in my inbox saying it’s going to be Rap Album of the Year, and it’s not a rap album. Everyone thinks it’s going to be rap or straight R&B/hip-hop. I don’t really know what it is. I just know it’s me. I love ballroom, I love hip-hop, I love R&B, and I love house. So I’ve been trying to mix all of that into one sound. Everyone keeps telling me it’s better when people get something they didn’t expect. Even though people think it’s a rap album, they might love it more because it’s not because they’ll finally see what I’m really giving. So I hope it works out that way. But yes, I’m nervous. Everyone thinks it’s something that it’s not. And I wish I had more rap songs, which I’m doing now, but I didn’t know any of this was going to happen. Now I’m like, oh God… am I supposed to be a rapper too? **I mean, “SweetFace Killah” is such a strong track. You can just have that one and come back with more rap later.** Right, right. And I’m definitely doing that now. I just released a feature with my bestie Mali Melizon on her song “Conti,” featuring me, Brooke Candy, and Aaliyah Interlude. My verse goes off. I rapped, and yes — it’s so cunt, it’s so fab. And I’m like, Yo… I’m really a rapper. I’m getting better. And believe it or not, it feels easier to rap. I don’t know why. ### ### ### ### **I know you love Tierra Whack. What other rappers did you love growing up?** I didn’t listen to any hip-hop growing up. In my family, there was a lot of “faggot” talk in the raps, and it made me uncomfortable. It made me feel like I wasn’t supposed to like rap. I honestly didn’t start listening to rap until Nicki Minaj came out. I didn’t even listen to Lil’ Kim like that. I loved her, but she didn’t make me want to rap. Nicki did. Nicki made me fall in love with flow, character, cadence. She made rap feel beautiful. She was someone I could relate to. And through her, I started listening to men. Lil Wayne is one of my favorites. Eminem. Kendrick Lamar. And I’m like, Oh my God, where have I been? **You were born into rap, so it makes sense you didn’t want to be in it.** Yeah. My brothers and cousins were always rapping for fun. I always wanted to be part of it and just wasn’t. So I’d go hang out with my girl cousins instead. Like, girl, I’m brushing dolls’ hair. **This whole thing feels so symbolic. It’s healing, but it’s like… you’re healing without your father. You’re reaching out, but it’s almost like you’re reaching out to a ghost.** Yeah. And like I said, it feels like something I just had to let out. Am I looking for him to respond? To hit me up? I don’t know. I just knew I needed to tell my story. Writing these songs and putting out this album — that’s my therapy. **Does he talk to your other siblings?** Yes. **Wow. So it’s just you?** Basically, yeah. It’s insane. And I probably made it worse now by shining. You know what I mean? He’ll probably never hit me up now — because I’m about to be all in his face, like Nicki Minaj said, __he see my sexy ass every time he scroll__. **Exactly. It could go either way. It might make him mad, or maybe it’ll bring him to a place of reflection.** Hopefully it’s the second option. Straight boys come up to me all the time now. I was in the city the other day, smoking, and these two boys walked past me, then turned around and came back like, “Wait, are you SweetFace Killah?” And I was like, “Yeah, girl, whatever.” They were like, “Bro, we love what you’re doing. You’re in a position to change the world, to change how the industry sees people and who they let in.” And I was standing there like… __damn__. Coming from two straight men who weren’t being judgmental. They loved the art. And I realized: This is possible. There are going to be people who don’t like me, but there are also men outside my community who will accept me, love my art, understand it, relate to it — while I can still have my wigs, my skirts, my heels. That’s so beautiful to me. I wish the whole world could be like that. But it has to start somewhere, right? **There have been gay or queer trailblazers like Lil Nas X, or Pabllo Vittar in Brazil, but they didn’t have your storyline.** Exactly. Pabllo in Brazil, giving it down. They call her the Beyoncé of Brazil. But yeah, it’s different. **It’s a “PR headline” that you’re Ghostface Killah’s son, but it’s not a headline to you. It’s literally your life. You’re just living your truth.** Right. Literally. That’s all it is. **And you sing. Like, no one really sings anymore the way you’re singing — it feels very ’90s throwback, real vocals. You posted that reel of you belting the “Dad & I” part in the studio. And now you can rap too. You’re so versatile.** I’m so excited. I’m so happy, girl. I really am versatile down. I want to do it all, and I’m going to make sure I do it all. **It’s so interesting. I don’t really know much about Wu-Tang or rap as a world, but it’s wild to watch you become this bridge for straight men, like Joe Rogan fans, who love rap culture.** And I feel like I can. If I keep going and working, the bridge will be for everyone. A$AP Ferg hit me up and invited me to his UGG party. I went, and he comes right up to me and gives me a huge hug. And I’m standing there looking like myself — beat face, hair done — and I’m like, Wow, this is crazy. We exchanged numbers, and he texted me a few days later like, “Yo, meet me at my studio.” I was so nervous, but I went. And I brought Robot to break the ice. It really does feel like a gap I’m bridging. And I hope that’s exactly what it is, because I think we need a change in this industry. People forget where hip-hop originated — literally from disco music, which was so rooted in queer culture. House music, ballroom — the girls were rapping over disco and house beats in the Bronx. But so much gets taken from us and turned into something else, and then they try to erase us from the narrative. I always say: there’s a problem with us until you need us to dress you for the Grammys. Now you don’t care if I’m measuring your thighs, but you have a problem with me rapping. Meanwhile, y’all took so much from us. And now straight men are saying, “clock that tea,” “no shade,” doing the Vogue duck walk. They don’t even know where half of it comes from. But it happens. Everything is cyclical. I definitely feel that bridge forming, and I hope that’s what I’m creating. People like Lil Nas X, Saucy Santana — they opened doors for me to be able to come in and give what I want to give.

### En Ciudad de México, una noche fresca típica de otoño en esta bella ciudad envuelve la fachada de Cine Tonalá. Afuera, una fila serpentea con fans, curiosos y cinéfilos que quieren presenciar el estreno de _Yellow_ , la nueva serie de HBO que mezcla humor negro, adrenalina y un extraño —pero encantador— triángulo emocional. Adentro, el elenco empieza a tomar sus lugares. Y en medio del caos de fotógrafos, vasos de mezcal y nervios colectivos, aparece Lizeth Selene, flotando —casi literalmente— en un vestido de drapeados negros, brujil y etéreo, diseñado por la mexicana Paloma Lira. Lizeth tiene ese aura que no se impone: te envuelve. Como si estuviera siempre a un par de latidos de contarte un secreto. ### ### La historia de _Yellow_ inicia con dos fugitivas que roban un taxi y descubren demasiado tarde que el auto no es automático. En un giro absurdo y maravilloso, se ven obligadas a secuestrar al conductor: un expiloto de Fórmula 1 en espiral suicida. Él se quiere morir; ellas no pueden permitirlo. No por misericordia, sino porque sin él… nadie puede manejar. Es una comedia negra que pulsa entre la tensión, el desastre y un tipo de ternura rota que solo aparece cuando los personajes ya no tienen nada que perder. Entre esas aristas vive Nico, el personaje de Selene: una chica confundida, compleja, dulce a regañadientes, que experimenta desde la amistad hasta la sexualidad y el amor con una torpeza honesta —tan humana que duele. “Creo que Nico me encontró a mí”, dice Lizeth. Y tiene sentido: desde su debut en _Rebelde_ , la actriz ha buscado personajes que dialoguen con su propia identidad, con su mirada queer, con esa forma tan suya de nombrar el amor sin miedo. ### ### El elenco reunido —Tessa Ia, Martín Saracho, Herednira Ibarra, Humberto Bustos— tiene ese brillo que aparece cuando un proyecto nace con entrañas. Están guapísimos, relajados, cómplices. Pero hay algo en Selene que corta el aire: una mezcla de serenidad y electricidad. Quizá es el vestido. Quizá es la risa. Quizá es que, a diferencia de muchos, ella no interpreta un papel: lo habita. Entre saludos y fotos, se toma un momento para hablar con nosotros. No es una entrevista formal; es más bien una plática que podría haber pasado en una cocina a las tres de la mañana. **Tres estrenos en un mes.**¿** Cómo lo estás viviendo?** Me siento muy agradecida y muy afortunada. Tener _Cometierra_ , _VGLY_ y _Yellow_ afuera al mismo tiempo es un sueño. Estoy feliz de compartir con gente que admiro desde hace años. Y con _Yellow_ … wow. Éramos un grupo de personalidades totalmente distintas, y eso hizo que la serie se sintiera viva. La química dentro y fuera del set se convirtió en familia. ****¿** Cual fue tu escena favorita?** El final. Cuando Richie se apodera de sí mismo y vamos por Dan. Es un momento donde Nico por fin deja salir lo que siente. Es amor. Es honestidad. Es magia. ### ### **Hablas de amistad como si hablara de un lugar físico.** Amistad es amor. Es hogar. Es estar presente. Es lo que puede salvarte en los peores momentos La amistad es amor, y un amor muy fiel. No creo que haya una diferencia real. **Nico te transformó.** Aprendí a ser más suave conmigo misma. A no tomarme tan en serio. A reírme de cosas que antes me daban ansiedad. ### ### Esa es la esencia de Selene: magia con pies en la tierra. Una artista que rompe moldes en pantalla mientras se convierte en embajadora de ONU Mujeres. Una figura de YSL Beauty que reivindica la piel morena, los rasgos indígenas, los tatuajes y todo aquello que durante décadas nos dijeron que “no era imagen.” ¿Por que ver _Yellow_? Porque es divertida. Porque es profundamente humana. Porque habla de amor sin etiquetas. Porque está hecha en México —y se nota en su textura, su humor, su corazón. Y porque Lizeth Selene, desde su vestido negro flotante hasta sus palabras suaves, nos lo pide con honestidad: “Ábranse a ver algo distinto. Apoyemos lo que se hace aquí.” Amarillo nunca se había visto tan brillante. ### ### _Articulo y entrevista: Cesar Alvarez_ _Fotografia:Adonay Sánchez_

_This is_** _So Chic, Very Chic_** _, PAPER’s examination of Bravo’s sprawling cohort of fashion obsessives. From haute couture to TJ Maxx, they’ve literally worn it all. We've just got two questions. Is it so chic? Is it very chic?_ ### ### It's another season of _The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills_ , Bravo's answer to the question posed by tabloids and Reddit users everywhere: If a Real Housewife gets divorced in the off-season and nobody is around to film it, did it even really happen? It's much mouthier than the older adage about trees in forests, but it gets at the core mysteries of life all the same. ### Like always, there are old faces and new, literally and figuratively. Besides the excessive plastic surgery, newcomers include longtime Bravo veteran Rachel Zoe, adrift in a sea of vintage gowns and gold jewelry. She joins a cast whose primary directive each episode includes sitting around at parties and talking in circles about their ongoing divorces. We're none closer to the truth about what happened in Kyle Richards' marriage, nor will I ever understand the dynamic between Sutton Stracke and her menacingly wealthy ex-husband. Erika Girardi still won't talk about the lawsuits and now, Dorit Kemsley can join in on the divorce chit-chat by never speaking directly about her separation either. Zoe is also mid-divorce, except she's cut from an older reality television cloth, and instead of talking in circles, breaks most social contracts established on this show by blurting out what everyone is really thinking. It was a welcome change in tone, following a parade of increasingly beige outfits on Dorit and the many blazers Sutton punishes herself and this column with. Kyle, unchanged from last season in her vagueness around her sexuality, wore more black outfits, if anyone can believe it. Erika dressed like she isn't being actively sued for fraud by Marco Marco and Boz wore earrings the size of the shoebox Dorit will find herself in if the upcoming memoir doesn't sell well. ### If I sound peeved, it's because I am. How is it that the so-called richest Real Housewives on this network get out dressed by a cabal of Mormons in Salt Lake City or millennials working at a brunch restaurant in Charleston? Let's talk about it, shall we? ### The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills ### Dorit Kemsley ### Dorit Kemsley ### Dorit has, at various times in her reality television career, described herself as a fashion savant. But as her divorce proceedings continue and her ex-husband's finances get called into question across the tabloids, I've noticed a shift in her style. It could be purely coincidental, but she's grown increasingly muted, beige, even plain. Her shocking blonde has transformed into a mousy brown, indicative in the overall aesthetic shift Dorit's undergone the past few seasons. In isolation, I like these two looks quite a bit. I'd likely wear both of them. But in the context of what it is she used to look like on this show, I can't help but feel an immense sense of dread looking at that leopard print. ### The episode also began with a slow motion shot of her leaving a store with used Hermes shopping bags. I don't know what they hoped to achieve with this shot, because the bags are clearly used and the outfit isn't Hermes — it's clearly supposed to be Chanel. ### She also popped up at Boz's house with her sleeves pulled up around her wrists. I point this out as a warning to women everywhere, and also boyfriends and the people who date women: if your girlfriend or friend who's a girl shows up anywhere with her sleeves pulled up around her wrists, promptly hand her a drink and a cigarette. In fact, cancel every meeting for the day and make a reservation somewhere with dim lighting, because she's in crisis, and now you're the only one who can help her. ### Rachel Zoe ### Rachel Zoe ### Look! It's Rachel Zoe! Overall, her first outing on this television program was moderately successful. She came in, cut through the noise, established a clear plot line around her divorce. She also wore some sequined frocks and dresses that cost more than my yearly salary. She oozes wealth, her hair is long, and generally speaking, she sits in that confessional booth looking like Cavalli's angel. Even in her daytime drag, arranging a plate of breakfast for her sons, she's chic and well put together. As an original viewer of The Rachel Zoe Project, it's nice to see the gold jewelry has only continued to multiply, so much so that I must imagine there's a room somewhere in her house that she keeps locked, door slightly bulging from the weight of the bangles she hides in there. ### Bozoma Saint John This is my favorite confessional look from Boz. I say that sincerely, because they haven't all been winners. The dress is an exquisite shade of pink on her, and these appliqués are, generally, very interesting to look at. Imagine I just made a joke here about Lily Allen and Chappell Roan's new duet, "Pink Pussy Palace." The visible boning on the dress deducts from her overall score slightly, if I'm being my honest and authentic self. This column essentially serves as a written record of my distaste and aversion to visible boning. But I do like the piece eyelashes enough to override my negativity around modern corsetry trends! ### Erika Girardi Speaking of modern corsetry trends, Erika here looks rich enough to rent from the runway again. She's also glowing, thanks in small part to her cast mates finally moving off the topic of her many lawsuits. I haven't, but for the sake of this being a fashion column, I'll say that evil does look good on some people. Leather also looks good on a few, and pleather even less. Blonde is not everyone's color but it is hers. Congrats to Erika, then, on winning the lottery! ### ### ### Back in the real world, Erika wore Jean Paul Gaultier to sneer at Sutton and Christian Louboutin Boltina 120 Fluo Sneaker Booties to wash her car. I love that she perpetually swings between corporate wife and an actress in an _Interview_ spread dressed like a pop star in conversation with a pop star. I suspect that's what happens when you exclusively employ gay guys in West Hollywood. ### Kyle Richards ### Kyle Richards ### What can possibly be said about Kyle Richards' black outfits that haven't already been said about Kyle Richards' black outfits. She is in mourning, I guess, because her marriage exploded in slow motion. I just wish she'd leave the see-through fabrics and statement buttons and illusion lace back in 2016 where they belong. Back when Balmain meant something and _The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills_ was the most entertaining show on Bravo. ### Later int he episode, she participated in a _Midsommar_ -esque humiliation ritual, where she donned a flower crown and evil eye necklace and listened to a bunch of women talk about how they've almost gone on dates with her ex-husband. ### Sutton Stracke There's something not quite right about this look. Maybe it's the hair, or the button, or the ever-so-subtle collar on this quasi-shirt dress. Maybe it's the lack of pronounced glam, or the spray tan, or the geometry of her living room furniture. It's ominous, no? Like looking at an image of a woman that doesn't exist posted by an AI company to promote their new talk therapy app. ### While everyone else traipses around in Louboutin sneakers and leopard catsuits and archival gowns, Sutton rocks a white blazer and Kyle rocks striped pants. Yin and yang, really. ### _Images courtesy of Bravo/NBC Universal_

Last week, the _teaser trailer_ for __Camp Rock 3__ saw the Jonas Brothers –– or as they’re known in the Disney ‘verse, Connect 3 –– step back onto the sand at the aforementioned summer camp, fifteen years since their last summer there. The three are starring in the series, Demi Lovato is executive producing alongside them, and a flock of new campers are set to grace the grounds this summer. It’s a recipe for reminiscence, and the version of myself that contentedly watched the second movie on a car ride is beside herself. ### In recent years, the entertainment world has recognized that there’s truly nothing like a throwback. In October, the internet was abuzz with the dubious fate of Alex Russo after she sacrificed herself to save her family in the season finale of the __Wizards Beyond Waverly Place,__ the remake of the seminal Selena Gomez classic. Miley Cyrus recently _shared_ with __Good Morning America__ that she might be planning something special for the 20th anniversary of __Hannah Montana, and__ Netflix’s __Cobra Kai__ drew new fans back to the original __Karate Kid__ movies in a storm of ’80s euphoria with every season premiere. We just caught our _first glimpse_ of Hero Fiennes Tiffin of __After__ fame as a young Sherlock Holmes in an upcoming revitalization of the literary classic. ### ### This __Camp Rock__ reinvention feels especially appropriate; there’s something inherently summer camp-like about the nature of these revivals in the first place. Our love for them is based in nostalgia, often seasonal (__Gilmore Girls__ Fall, anyone?), and fueled by the permanent possibility of our return. When beloved characters are brought back to life, often a decade or two down the line from their initial end, they can be effectively immortalized in pop culture iconography. We develop a special relationship with the media we grow up consuming – after all, being entrusted with the cosmic secret of Miley Cyrus’ alter ego before we were deemed responsible enough for the family Netflix password was a massive deal. When these retrospective milestones roll around and announcements for reboots and revivals are made, there's never really ever any doubt that OGs will tune in. These reboots are often a one-time hit – the polarizing universes of __And Just Like That__ and 2021’s __Gossip Girl,__ both of which met early ends in spite of our generally ubiquitous interest in the life of Carrie Bradshaw and the snarky cultural underbelly of wealthy Upper East Siders, are evidence that beloved source material isn’t always enough to sway us into loving its return. Loyalty is often the cementing factor keeping us glued to shows as they stream, or to a single viewing of a reboot movie at the time of its release. But when we crave a fix of __Gilmore Girls,__ we don’t tune into Rory and Logan’s extramarital affair à la __A Year In The Life.__ We go back to the source material and reminisce on the days when we were all still Team Dean. ### ### Critics online have expressed that Generation Z lacks their own _Sex and the City,_ their own _Friends_ or _Girls._ While discourse around the cultural permanence of new shows as they come out is bound to continue, the fact of the matter is streaming makes it easy for these throwbacks to have a continuous grip on the cultural zeitgeist. _Gilmore Girls_ ended in 2007, and it continues to make the Top 10 streaming lists across platforms each year. We relish throwbacks, living in an era of times gone by. It’s not as if these revivals are necessarily trumping our media consumption habits, either. Netflix’s current top 10 is overrun by the presence of every “Stranger Things” season, and HBO Max’s most popular list is studded with new shows that have provoked online chat like “Heated Rivalry” and “I Love LA.” These original hits seem to satiate a desire for original content that we undoubtedly crave, even if the rush of the internet makes it difficult to pin a particular film or show that defines a generation. It’s also not unusual to see moaning and groaning online at the announcement of a newly revitalized Disney classic coming to the screen. In the wake of a subpar release weekend for animated original _Elio,_ Pixar took to _TikTok_ over the summer to suggest that critics “Stop complaining that Disney doesn’t make original stories if you don’t show up to movie theaters to support them in the first place.” ### ### A general love of remakes undeniably coexists with a fatigue for them. Beyond the initial hype and reminiscence that reboot announcements can receive, it almost feels like there’s a tension between creator and consumer. We want more original content, but aren’t turning out for it as needed to make it worth the gamble, at least when it comes to the rapidly changing environment of film. Nostalgic media might be a safer bet to ideate, and is undeniably easy to consume. But in an entertainment environment where some of the most viral hits are from the past or newly rehash it, where we’re already engaging with nostalgia to an extreme, what content can we plan on looking back on? _Eleanor Jacobs is PAPER's 2025 Fall Intern_ _Photos via_ _Getty_

I’ve always been obsessed with things. Weird old things. Inexpensive, interesting things. Outlandishly lavish things. Obscure things. All the things. I once came home from an elementary school book fair, age nine, beaming because I was certain I’d found my future car. I unrolled my newly purchased poster to reveal a burnt orange Lamborghini Gallardo and excitedly proclaimed, “This will be my car someday.” My parents didn’t exactly shut it down, but the message was clear: people from where we come from don’t buy things like that. Even if we could—we wouldn’t. Too flashy. Too wasteful. They weren’t trying to kill the dream, exactly, just temper expectations. ### But I held firm. I was determined to leap that cultural gap, by sheer will if I had to, and claim the car (and, by extension, the life) of my dreams. I do not have that car. But I did just buy a burnt orange Birkin and justified the purchase by noting it was cheaper than the Lambo. I love that bag with the same emotionally-charged fervor I feel for my thrifted Jeff Gordon T-shirt. They are both irrational and deeply rational expressions of joy. As I may have mentioned above, I just love things. All of this to say: the holidays are my happy place, arguably my favorite time of year. A sanctioned season of judgment-free indulgence, dedicated entirely to the art of giving and getting things that will be cherished forever. It’s the time of year where treasure hunting (as I like to call it) isn’t a frivolity. And with all the work we put into scouring for the right thing to gift the ones we love, don’t we deserve to treat ourselves along the way? These sales basically rationalize themselves. So in the spirit of excess, emotional purchases and _exquisitely_ curated logic, I present the irrational rationalist’s holiday gift guide – for all the gifts you should treat yourself with this season. Because truly, any self-gift can be justified... if the rationale is good enough. ### ## Casio: The Baby-G BG169M-4 It tells time globally, has five alarms, a countdown timer, a stopwatch, and a full auto-calendar. So basically, it's a personal assistant in a sporty pink resin shell. ### ## Bottega Veneta: Intrecciato Leather And Suede Shirt It’s a shirt, a jacket, a boxy mini. Versatility that amortizes itself into oblivion. ### ## The Skateroom: Untitled #92 Cindy Sherman Deck Set It’s asset diversification — with the option to hang it in your hallway. ### ## ACNE: Multipocket Grained Leather Bag One bag to replace five. Storage efficiency that pays for itself. ### ## Casio: Baby-G + Plus BGD10K It tells time in 30 cities, has five alarms, a countdown timer, a stopwatch, pixel animations, water resistance, shock resistance, and transforms into a charm—and you’re hesitating? At this point, not buying it feels financially irresponsible. ### ## Chopova Lowena: Red Tartan Rain Bonnet Weatherproof and heirloom-ready. This is generational wealth disguised as headwear. ### ## Collina Strada: Charcoal Flames Star Hoodie Ethically made, emotionally stabilizing. It’s not just fashion, it’s civic duty. ### ## FREECITY: SUPERVINTAGE YUMM OG Sweatpant Mental health matters, and feeling, even delusionally, like you just worked out will save thousands in therapy down the line. ### ## Mother Denim: The Burnout MOTHER Candle and F#CKER Candle Lighting this instead of screaming is emotional maturity. Ambiance + inner peace? Priceless. ### ## Isabel Marant: Bekett Sneakers They lengthen the leg and support the arch, basically a medically necessary expense disguised as fashion. ### ## Kiehl's: Advent Calendar 24 days of skincare = one month of structure. Like a wellness coach, but travel-sized. ### ## Jonathan Adler: Xanax Pill Box A daily reminder to take your vitamins = future savings in health care bills. ### ## Maison Margiela: Loved to Death Pump Wear them 2,000 times and the cost drops below a dollar per wear. That’s called ROI. ### ## La Roche-Posay: Anti-Aging Four Serum Set Suddenly the Botox budget is looking very... discretionary. ### ## LOEWE: Large Marihuana Candle Preemptive emotional regulation that lasts longer than an eighth. Every burn is basically saving you money. ### ## Nike: Shox Z SE Shock absorption = self-preservation. Think of the orthopedic co-pays you’re avoiding. ### ## Foundrae: Lovestruck Pierced Diamond Initial Pinky Ring File the receipt under personal branding. If it’s a tax write-off, it’s practically free. ### ## Taschen: Helmut Newton Baby Sumo Cheaper than collecting prints? ### ## Thom Browne: Funmix Prince of Wales Armband Overcoat Less coat, more wearable trust fund. You're just securing your daughter's future in finely tailored wool. ### ## Willy Chavarria: Diablo Bodysuit When one piece covers squats __and__ strobe lights, that's efficiency you can feel. ### ## Uniqlo: POP MART Half-Zip Sweatshirt It’s a seasonal uniform. Buying now simply prevents future impulse purchases. ### ## Urban Outfitters: BAGGU UO Exclusive Teddy Bear Nylon Crescent Bag Reduces plastic and the need for therapy. A sustainable twofer. ### ## PRADA: Pop Strings Key Chain Charm Doubles as a backup strap. Technically an insurance policy for your designer bags. ### ## Vaquera: Slip Dress T-shirt Two-in-one means one less decision to make, one less item to buy. Time and money! ### ## adidas: Argentina 26 Home Cropped Jersey A going-out top __and__ a game-day jersey? World Cup-level efficiency that cannot not be ignored. ### ## Lamborghini: Temerario Fulfilling childhood dreams prompts long-term psychological wellness. It’s healthcare in car form. ### _Select products in this guide were included as part of a paid partnership._

It's recently come to my attention that I love messy gay people. I also love Drew Droege, although that's no secret for anyone clued into the genius behind the biting, "pitch black" new satire _Messy White Gays_. The playwright and star calls me from the park just days before the holiday, house packed with people and a fresh chill in the air. I'm still shivering from the jokes I'd seen the night before, when I sat with my hands over my mouth for much of his new play's second half. Murder, cocaine and rosé make for quite the comedic smorgasbord — that's all before Droege walks onstage, after which he proceeds to be the deliciously hateful middle aged gay guy I make up in my brain every time I'm at drag brunch. It's a play unlike any I've seen in recent years, and likely won't again when it leaves. That's just how sharp his pen is — it leaves a mark that could kill. ### Now that critics and audiences alike have digested much of its early run, Droege is well aware that the material — which concerns a murderous pair of messy white gays and their cabal of self-obsessed Manhattanites — is off-putting to some. "​It's a pitch black satire and we are playing terrible people, and I think it's just hard for people to wrap their heads around: _Oh, is this show in on the joke_? We would love people to know: We absolutely know that we're playing horrible, nightmare monster people, but we are having so much fun." Droege jokes that well-meaning audiences some nights seem visibly mixed up over whether it's ok to laugh at all. "When you get the drunk gay crowd, they know we can laugh at ourselves in a way that maybe straight people are like, O _h, I don't know_. _My child is queer or my friend is gay and I don't know if can I laugh at this_?_I don't want to look like I'm on the wrong side of history or whatever_." I was thankfully sat in a crowd of seasoned New York City queer people, who laughed at the broad strokes comedy about Grindr as well as the more specific nuances of open relationships and the unfortunate closing of Hell's Kitchen fixture 44 & X. It's the exact blend that made Droege just a cult favorite amongst the cohort, raised as I was on his eternally funny impressions of Chloë Sevigny on YouTube. ​"​I grew up in a small town in North Carolina and I was just enamored with New York culture, like Downtown, indie, everything that Chloë Sevigny is. So cool and edgy and weird and alt, and it was everything that I just looked up to." ### ### That alchemical cocktail of cutting gay satire and specificity extends to his cast mates onstage, working through material only someone of his comedic prowess could possibly hope to achieve. Droege tells me that he "didn't want to write any character who was going to be MAGA or use slurs. That was too easy. Of course we hate that. What are our problems with liberals and with people who think they're on the right side and they think they understand?" Alongside vets like James Cusati-Moyer and Aaron Jackson are Derek Chadwick and Droege's comedic foil, Pete Zias. I was familiar with the Instagram Live iconoclast from his weekly show, _TOTAL TRASH LIVE!_ , which features more berets and magnifying glasses than I'd know what to do with. "Pete is the funniest person I know. We've been best friends, and we've known each other for 20 years almost." Droege says that when he originally wrote Zias' character Thacker, "I really thought, in my mind, it was going to be a 25 year old chorus twink." ### Coke-addled, cantankerous and clad in a pink tracksuit, Droege jokes that "we don't see that character a lot in gay representation yet. We all know that person, and I think a lot of us are afraid maybe of representing that and being like, Oh, is this offensive or stereotypical? Pete plays it with such honesty." One memorable monologue anchors the show's later half, in which Thacker runs onstage under the influence of some freshly acquired substances, shaken up by an encounter with an elevator and some tourists. For Droege, it was the easiest bit to write in all of Messy White Gays. "When you have that inspiration, I've learned now to go write it, put it down somewhere, make a note, use it later. You have to jump on board, because the easy is the good sign." For more on Droege and the messiest white gays off-Broadway, read his full conversation with _PAPER_ below. _This interview has been edited and condensed._ ### **How are you feeling now that Messy White Gays has been out in the world and audiences have seen it?** It's a blast. I've never done a show that has such wildly different reactions from crowds every single night, so it keeps us on our toes. We really have no idea some nights. I mean, it usually goes well, but some nights they sit there in silence and then we get a really lovely response at the end. They're just sort of taking it in. Other nights, they're laughing from the beginning. It's a pitch black satire and we are playing terrible people, and I think it's just hard for people to wrap their heads around: _Oh, is this show in on the joke_? We would love people to know: We absolutely know that we're playing horrible, nightmare monster people, but we are having so much fun. ******I'm sure the reaction to it probably depends on if you get the, let's say, typical Broadway audience versus a room full of gay people.** Fully, and it's also in a small theater, it takes one or two people to laugh really loud to give everybody else permission to laugh. A lot of people have their mouths covered. Sometimes it just takes somebody to give them the bravery to go, _oh, we can laugh at this_. And yes, when you get the drunk gay crowd, they know we can laugh at ourselves in a way that maybe straight people are like, _oh, I don't know_. _My child is queer or my friend is gay and I don't know if can I laugh at this_?_I don't want to look like I'm on the wrong side of history or whatever_. So we want to just give people permission to feel your feelings, because we say terrible things and it's totally valid and fine to be like, _oh my god, that was horrible_. We're also prepared for that reaction too. It's fun. ### **Since we're lifelong friends, we've decided, I feel like I can be honest with you, Drew. I have been watching your YouTube videos since I was an evil little gay boy in high school. I'm not an evil little gay boy any more, but they were coming out while I was a senior in high school. And so I just want to say, from me to you, that you are probably responsible for every funny and also mean thing I've ever said about a celebrity on the internet.** Oh my god, that makes me so happy. Thank you. **Putting on your Chloë videos has become something of a party trick for me, no matter my age. The ironic coin skort from Obesity & Speed is just as funny the 400th time they've heard it. ** Thank you, Joan. Thank you for saying that. That means a lot. It's wild, but you just put things out in the world and so many things just don't go anywhere, and then there's something that I did a long time ago, and I love that people remember it and still quote it and tell me about it. Very cool. It makes me feel good. Thank you. **I will never admit this in polite society, but I think you're the reason I knew who Tinsley Mortimer was in high school, living in Farmville, Nowhere.** I grew up in a small town in North Carolina and I was just enamored with New York culture, like Downtown, indie, everything that Chloë Sevigny is. So cool and edgy and weird and alt, and it was everything that I just looked up to, and I was like, _oh, these DJs and these fashion people and food and cuisine and all of that is so not in my world._ But I get a lot of people that love to talk to me about that stuff, and think that I know a lot more about it than I do, and I really don't know a lot about it. I'm just going to pretend to. **I work in a fashion magazine now, but back in the day I was like,_if I talk that video, people are going to think I really know what's going on in New York_ _._** __I was just such a outsider looking in on that whole thing. ### ### ### **I caught the show this past weekend and I loved two things right off the bat. One, that you enter to applause. Two, you walk in and proceed to just be absolutely hateful for an hour. I mean, how fun is that?** It's so satisfying. It's so much fun. I love to write horrible people, and I genuinely don't think Chloë's horrible, I don't think at all, obviously, but even mine is. But a character like Carl, in this play... I literally have a character that calls him a cautionary tale. I write these people to be like,_don't turn into this. Don't become this yet._ I exercise my ability to just read people to filth on stage where it's comfortable and safe in a fun way. You meet every other character in the play before you meet my character. And so by the time you get to me, the audience has spent time with these people. and then this monster neighbor comes in and immediately is like boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. I see you, I read you. I also wanted people to think that despite his horribleness, I wanted people to believe that he might be the moral center of the play until he absolutely is not. And I really wanted people to think that, _oh, here's the playwright. He's not with them. He's a little bit older than them. He's going to come in and go, here's how you're all wrong and here's how to be a good gay_. And I think Carl thinks he thinks that, but he's not. And I also just love the idea of being like: _What if we are all messy? What if all white gay are part of the problem, myself included, and can we laugh at ourselves for 80 minutes?_ **It must feel like doing an exorcism, to allow yourself to play in that level of hatefulness. So much of media is good characters that we root for, and it must be fun to just be a completely horrible person on stage.** I try to be a good person in life and I want to be, but I just don't think it's honest when everyone's like: I want a likable character. What's likable? I also love flawed people. That's more human and that's more real. It does feel like an exorcism to get out there and do that, because also, we've done a lot of workshops on the play. We've had a lot of conversations about what we're saying, so I'm not just improvising. I wouldn't trust myself to just come out and do that because you do want to be sensitive and you can't really punch down. And we're saying a lot of things about race, and I want the joke to always be on white people. We're able to get away with this because in my mind also, I grew up watching John Waters movies and _Heathers._ I knew the goal wasn't to be Mink Stole in one of those movies. The goal is to be Divine. I am tired of watching comedies where everyone's just so chummy and likable and good people and get along and wamp wamp — I made a little boo boo. It's dull to me, like, why are we spending time in the theater? I feel like the other side is making such horrible statements and they have no fucks left to give. They'll say whatever they want, so why can't we? I think we're very worried about hurting each other's feelings, which I think is a lovely quality in real life. But when we're on stage, I think it's important to make people go, _whoa, can we say that?_ ### **A lot of media around gay culture can tend to be quite precious about older gay men, who lived through the '90s or even the "before times." It must be fun to subvert that expectation too, because you come in as an audience member thinking that character will be the moral center, have these quips and read the young kids down. Then, like you said, it turns out he's also a terrible person too.** I think Carl is older than I am, personally, and I'm 48. I've been alive during all of the AIDS crisis, but I am very careful not to claim to know what it was like. I don't firsthand know what that experience was like, but I do know someone who thinks they own all levels of oppression because they've had one in life. The amount of gay men that would say, _Well, I understand what's going on with people of color or with trans people or with women because I'm gay_. They might mean well, but they absolutely do not understand that experience. I think there's an arrogance in that. I think there's also a rage in it, if you've been around for a long time, like: if you don't know a reference, at least want to know the reference, at least be curious as opposed to going, _well, I wasn't around then. I don't need to know about that._ But I think there's a danger in that as well, to sort of hoard over knowledge and to think that's intelligence. Just because you're older and know a reference, that doesn't make you smarter than someone who's younger and just doesn't know the reference you're talking about. So I think that's a very gay thing, that we sort of hoard information and we use it as currency against each other, but also to mask a lot of insecurity. **That's a good way of putting it.** I didn't want to write any character who was going to be MAGA or use slurs. That was too easy. Of course we hate that. What are our problems with liberals and with people who think they're on the right side and they think they understand? My character has a black husband, so he thinks he understands. It's like, do you fetishize that? Do you say that a lot at parties? That's fucked up. I know there have been criticisms of the play where people have said that I don't provide any answers, but I just laugh at that criticism. Like, how dare I provide answers? That's not my job. Maybe your job is to try to, but I'm just asking the questions. I just want to be like, _Hey, look, this is the problem._ But I'm not going to in 80 minutes — or even if the play was seven hours — I'm not going to give you answers on how to be a better person or how to change things. ### **I also think it's such a modern criticism to say art doesn't provide answers.** I guess because everyone has gotten so... "I me me mine." They're like, well, I didn't understand that because it wasn't my experience. It's sort of like the pendulum has to swing the other way eventually, and for you to go, oh, I'm observing these people and I can see similarities, or I can recognize this, but I don't need "And the moral of the story is..." **It's like a children's story then.** Yes, it's Aesop's Fables. **I also want to say, you and Pete's character in the play have incredible chemistry. There was a part where I went: Are they going to make out? Did it feel good to have a character like that onstage with you, who brings to much levity to scenes where things get quite heavy?** Oh yes, Pete is the funniest person I know. We've been best friends, and we've known each other for 20 years almost. He's always saying the funniest thing in everything he's in, and I'm just so happy. I didn't know when I was writing the role that it was going to be him. I really thought, in my mind, it was going to be a 25 year old chorus twink. I really thought that, and I asked Pete to do a reading of it in LA, and I was like, _You're hilarious, and I don't know if this is any good, but you'll make it funny._ A couple lines in, I was like, _Oh, it's him. What if Thacker thinks that he's still 25 and is that delusional?_ It really helps to have that foil. I had a friend that pointed out, and said, that the show is _Golden Girls._ Thacker is Blanche, because Addison is Rose. Brecken and Caden are Dorothy and Sophia. And then I'm Reynold. ### ### ### **I had so many moments with Thacker where it felt most like I knew that character. I know a lot of characters run the show, but Thacker's the character where people I've met in that vein stay with me more than the Addisons.** I feel like we don't see that character a lot in gay representation yet. We all know that person, and I think a lot of us are afraid maybe of representing that and being like, _Oh, is this offensive or stereotypical?_ Pete plays it with such honesty. Pete, every moment is so real for him up there as that character, and never is having you laugh at him. He's just so unapologetic. One of our producers said that Thacker's the smartest person in the room, and I love that take. I think it's like, for yours, a lot of the gay men I've played... I've had a lot of gay men criticize me for that. The years of shorts that I've done and things I've done, they've been like, "Oh, that's awful. That's too stereotypical. These screaming queens, why do they have to be like this." I'm like, what's wrong with a screaming queen, number one? Let's pack that. What's wrong with an out and proud unapologetically femme person? If that's your take, then look at yourself and love yourself and love that part of yourself, because that's not what I'm laughing at about Thacker. Carl says a lot of awful things, but that's sad for Carl to not really embrace who Thacker is, you know what I mean? I think all of these characters are very selfish people, and they all don't see the forest for the trees. **Gay guys will consume a thousand episodes of the screaming _Real Housewives_ , but god forbid an overgrown twink wants to act the same way. ** It really is strange to me that we also don't really love to give flowers to other gay men. To totally generalize, gay men have been way more supportive of women and of drag queens over the years, but when it's a man, there's an instant sense of competition or there's a sense of, _Oh, I could be as funny. I could do that, or I could do what you do._ I don't know. It's very strange. Why don't we make Adam Lambert as big a deal as Lady Gaga in our community? He's brilliant and that voice is unbelievable. And yet his fan base is a lot of women, and it's like gay men don't want to look at a gay man in the same way. ### **Without spoiling too much of the show, do you have a favorite line or a favorite moment that still tickles you?** My friend, Sam Pancake, who's a brilliant actor... this isn't really a spoiler at all, but there's one point where Thacker cuts into the conversation and slams his wine bottle down and goes: "I hate magic." And it's something that Sam said one time. We were talking about some magician, and Sam said, "I hate magic." It's so simple. Those are, to me, funnier lines than jokes. It must come from my years of watching John Waters movies. It's such a Waters' character to just have a declaratory statement, across the board, "I hate magic." So when Pete says it, that is a moment that genuinely makes me laugh every night that I'm on stage. **There's a monologue that Thacker does in the midst of an... experience... that is so comedically intense and timed so well. Was that a difficult monologue to write, just with the circumstances around it, or did it come through you immediately?** It was the easiest thing I have ever written. I literally wrote it without stopping, I made myself type as fast as I could and I would not let myself edit any of it. That was something I wrote before Pete was even involved in the show. When I've done rewrites, I never touch it, and Pete is about 98 percent the same, and every single night that 2 percent destroys us. Sometimes it's just in pace, sometimes it's just an added thing. Sometimes his phone slaps him in the face or something happens. It's so present and spontaneous that we're like, keep it, because it keeps us so in the room. It was the easiest part of the whole show to write. **I have to go back to drama school now, so that I can audition with that monologue.** I would be so honored if anybody used that monologue. I wish it was always that easy, because I feel like when things are easy, it's kind of when you're at your best. It's so hard to just go and make it easy. Especially in comedy, when you labor over something and really work it... I learned it in writing sketch comedy and doing stuff with the Groundlings. You would spend so much time on a sketch and you'd kill it. Then, the other ones you wrote in 15 minutes were instant. You're like, _God, I wish I was that inspired all the time._ But when you have that inspiration, I've learned now to go write it, put it down somewhere, make a note, use it later. You have to jump on board, because the easy is the good sign. ### _Photography: Marc J. Franklin_

When in Miami for Art Basel, it can be hard to narrow down your schedule. Between checking out the art, laying out on the beach, suntanning by a hotel pool, stuffing your face with delicious food, and hopping from party to party, there is no shortage of activities to keep you busy. ### But every year, there is one event that everyone wants to be at — and this year, that honor belonged to PAPER, whose Saturday night party with Kiehl’s was the place to see and be seen. Held at the Miami Design District’s newest hotspot, The Roof at The Moore, PAPER’s party marked the official opening of the private members-only club’s new outdoor rooftop, developed by Alpha Hospitality’s Frederic Frosini, Sofyen Ben Amara and Jesse Saenz, in partnership and collaboration with The Moore and The Woodhouse, led by Simon Sorpresi. ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### And what a crop of guests turned out! Amongst the star-studded, full-capacity crowd, one could spot everyone from Los Angeles rapper Tyga to award-winning supermodel Taylor Tookes to social media sensation Bryan The Diamond. There was a BravoCon reunion as __The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City__ ’s own Meredith and Seth Marks sat down to catch up with __The Real Housewives of Miami__ mainstay Alexia Nepola, and a __Love Island__ reunion as recent breakouts Andreina Santos and Pepe Garcia had a chance to reunite. Stars from the __Southern Hospitality__ cast had a blast swanning around the venue, Rolling Loud Festival CEO Matt Zingler held court with his beauty brand founder wife Bunny Zingler, and no one seemed in better spirits than former __RuPaul’s Drag Race__ contestant Carmen Carrera, whose head-to-toe Gucci logo look turned many heads as she partied alongside Artist Couture founder Angel Merino. ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### Everyone made their way to the dancefloor at least once during the night, finding the sounds provided by DJs like Jonas Blue and RICHE far too pumping to resist for long. Rising pop star Chloe Jane certainly gained a few new fans, too. Pulling double-duty, the musician stepped behind the DJ decks __and__ delivered an instantly memorable special-edition live performance of hit singles “Famous,” “Iconic,” and the newly released “Shut Up.” The buzzy artist got guests worked up as she stepped into the audience to sing alongside the crowd of excited attendees. When guests needed to cool off from twirling, they kept hydrated with sips of curated cocktails from Centinela Tequila, Bates Gin, Beast Vodka, and Sonrisa Rum — all while sitting around to watch as visual artist, illustrator, and muralist Alex Alpert painted a life-size version of a jar of Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. Staying true to the spirit of Miami Art Week, this installation treated guests to a one-of-a-kind, in-person art experience, welcoming all attendees into an artist’s step-by-step process as Alpert slowly but surely turned what started as the familiar plain white cabinet staple into a gloriously vivid, graffiti-inspired creation. It was pop art perfection. ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### All in all, PAPER proved yet again that we know how to throw the kind of event that will be talked about for months, capping off an incredibly busy week of art and partying with a blowout bash that kept the energy up and spirits high. But no need to take our word for it: as guests began to file out of The Moore around 2:30am, no one could stop talking about how much this Miami Art Week party took the Basel cake. And those are some words we can eat off forever. ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### _Roaming photography byAnneliese Horowitz_ _Step and repeat photography by_ _Julio Guzman_ _This article is a collaboration betweenKiehl's and PAPER_

### Popularity is relative, especially in the digital age. You could have hundreds of thousands of followers online but be completely unknown in the streets — massively famous on Instagram, YouTube or Twitter, but lack any kind of real, authentic cool in person. For our series __Coolest Person in the Room__ , we pinpoint all the people whose energy is contagious regardless of their following count or celebrity. For this edition, we took over the Charles Pierre Suite at The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, to catch up with _Diana Silvers_, the actor-model-musician whose debut album __From Another Room__ has introduced an entirely new side of her. ### ### **How are you? You’re on a walk in LA, it seems so beautiful.** I’m on a walk in Los Angeles. I’m here for Thanksgiving because I’m from here. Are you calling in from New York? **Same vibe. I’m home in Texas right now for Thanksgiving.** Where in Texas? **Houston area. It’s called Sugar Land, Texas.** Wait, you’re in Sugar Land? That’s crazy. I actually wrote a song in Sugar Land, Texas, called “Sugar Land, Texas,” when I was on tour. **No way.** Yeah. This is very serendipitous. I love Sugar Land. The venue and the people were so nice. I didn’t really get to see Sugar Land. We woke up in the parking lot, went straight into the show, and then left that night. ### ### ### ### ### **I heard you’re opening for Fletcher.** Yeah, Fletcher! I’m really excited. It’ll be my first time really playing at home. **Tell me about performing live. Are you building that muscle more and more?** I really enjoy it. Because I grew up acting and doing theater, every show was always different. The audience changes the energy every night. I love that exchange. And performing my own songs gives me so much freedom. I can change the setlist every night, and I did on the road with Jon [Batiste]. I was writing so much, and sometimes I’d finish a song and say, “Alright, let’s try it tonight and see how it goes.” Getting to feel an audience react in real time to something I just wrote was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I love that energy exchange. Music is also the only medium where you go to other people’s cities — you step into their world, you’re the visitor, you’re experiencing their town and their lives, and you’re sharing this moment with them. ### ### ### ### **What was the song you wrote in Sugar Land, Texas? Now I have to know.** It’s literally called “Sugar Land, Texas.” The one I wrote was more just because I happened to write it in Sugar Land. It’s about… I don’t know, Texas really. The opening lyric is: __“I’m in Texas and the moon is a half-eyed smile, how majestic, the sky goes on for miles / And the roads, will they lead me to your door? And the rains, will they take me to your shores?”__ **Okay. Very Texas.** And the day before, our first stop was Austin. My guitarist, Paul, has always had this fear of horses — and he’s not afraid of anything. But he had a bad experience years ago. I told him, “Trust me, they’re amazing. Let me take you horseback riding.” So we rented a car, drove an hour outside Austin, went riding, and it was wonderful. His horse’s name was Cowgirl. So the next lyric I wrote was: “Paul’s got his cowgirl, and I’ve got my new life to begin.” It’s really just about the time we spent in Texas. Road songs are metaphors, sure — but they’re also snapshots of where you were emotionally while you were traveling. Every audience, every city brings out something different depending on where you are in the tour. I wrote a song in every city. Most of them aren’t about the city necessarily, but the place always leaves an imprint on the song. ### ### ### ### **I listened to** _**From Another Room**_**, and it’s very folky. That leads me to my next question: what media influences or specific artists inspired the record? I even got a little Angel Olsen vibe.** I love Angel Olsen. I haven’t listened to her in a while, though. But I love her. That’s a good question. I think, to a degree, _The Royal Tenenbaums_. That movie had such an impact on me as a teenager, and the soundtrack especially. There’s something so wistful about it. And then there’s this darkness and sadness — especially with the “Needle in the Hay” needle drop. When I think of that movie, I think of certain colors and textures and sounds and feelings. In a way, my record kind of takes you on a similar journey. And with “Burning in the Sun,” I’m like, Oh, this could’ve been in the _Lady Bird_ trailer. When you consume art, it seeps into you. It affects how you think, how you view the world, and then of course, how you create your own art. Everything I’ve listened to multiple times, watched multiple times — the things I revisit, the things I gravitate toward — all of that influences me. ### ### **What were you gravitating toward while you were making this record?** Very different things from what the record actually sounds like. I was listening to a lot of Prince, a lot of Stevie Wonder. I’m always listening to Nick Drake — __Pink Moon__ is the perfect record to listen to while walking through Central Park in the winter at sunset. I was listening to things so different from my record because I didn’t want to accidentally recreate whatever I had on repeat. You know what I mean? **I feel like that’s a common theme when I interview artists. When they’re making their own music, they either stop listening to other artists entirely or listen to things nothing like what they’re making.** Yeah. Unless there’s a specific production element I’m trying to figure out. Like, I remember wanting to understand George Harrison’s guitar tone, and the organ sound on __All Things Must Pass__. I was like, __What is that?__ So then you research. You’re playing and thinking,__I want that sound — how do I get that sound?__ Then you look at the credits on Apple Music and see: oh, he was playing a Hammond B3 organ, and there’s something called a Leslie. One thing leads to the next. It’s investigative work in a way. I’m a very curious person. I’m a Scorpio, and we’re known to be investigators. We’ve gotta get to the bottom of things. But that’s what’s so fun about creating: you start listening to music in an entirely different way. ### ### ### ### ### **You’ve been in this expansion from acting — not a transition, but widening the scope of what you do. Acting is about inhabiting characters, but with songwriting, do you feel more like yourself? Or is there still a persona involved?** It doesn’t feel like a persona. I could see stepping into different personas as I make more music, but this first record is so honest. I don’t know how not to be honest. I’m not a very good liar — which my mom and I once got into a funny spat about. She said, “You’re lying,” and I was like, “Mom, I can’t lie.” She goes, “What are you talking about? You’re an actor!” But acting doesn’t feel like lying to me. It feels like telling the truth for someone else. That’s different from my own truth. And you can ask anyone in my family — I’m a terrible liar. It’s very hard for me. Sometimes it even makes interviews difficult because I want to answer a question, but I don’t know how to not answer it fully. And the next record, I’ve already written it, actually. It’s very authentic, not a character at all. It’s about the transition from girlhood to womanhood, because that’s where I’m at right now. Being in your 20s is such a funny thing. You’re leaving adolescence and entering adulthood, but time feels like it all morphs together. And the expectations placed on you as a woman shift. People start asking, “When are you going to have kids?” And I’m like, I don’t know. I still feel like a kid. ### ### ### **I see that you played tennis in high school and did theater camp, cello, modeling — all these different disciplines. If you weren’t in entertainment right now, what do you think you’d be doing?** I’d be a journalist. I think so, yeah. **Like, would you go to journalism school? What would your path be?** I’d love to write for __National Geographic__ or __Rolling Stone__. I’d want to do music journalism or photojournalism. I really want to do a national parks amphitheater tour and document it — as a way to document the National Park system in America, especially right now with so much funding being taken away. It’d be a way to protest and bring awareness to our parks through art and journalism. Maybe that sounds pretentious, but it’s something I’m passionate about. **No, I love that. Since this is for our Coolest Person in the Room series, who’s the coolest person to you, right now or just in general? Alive or dead.** Oh, wow. Okay — is it cliché to say a friend I really admire? **No, that’s perfect.** Alright, I’ll do one person I know and one person I don’t. My friend _Alexandra Hainer_ — she’s so cool. She’s a professional race car driver; she races for McLaren. She’s also an incredible photographer and retoucher. She helps me with all my creative — vinyl, merch, posters, everything. She has the best taste in music. She’s so curious and always tells me about artists and photographers. She’s had such an important influence on my taste and my art. I trust her with my life. She’s one of my very best friends and a close collaborator, and she’s so understated. She’s the coolest person in every room she walks into. And then someone I don’t really know: Rosalia. I think she’s really cool. I met her once and she was so lovely. She has such a beautiful energy and light about her. She has such a strong sense of style, her artistry is so strong, and her sense of self is very strong. I’d love to ask her a million questions and just listen to her talk about anything. I think she has a very unique perspective on the world. So those are my two coolest people. I can’t pick just one — there are too many cool people. ### ### ### ### ### _ _ _ _ _PhotographyDiego Villagra Motta_ _StylingAngelina Cantú_ _Hair ArtistMarki Shkreli_ _Makeup ArtistTatyana Makarova_ _Lighting DesignerPeter Demas_ _Styling AssistantsJoyce Esquenazi Mitrani, Quinn Tommy Herbert, Carly Dinowitz_ _Executive Creative ProducerAngelina Cantú_ _StoryIvan Guzman_ _Chief Creative OfficerBrian Calle_ _Location_ _The Pierre, a Taj Hotel_

_This is PAPER Diaries, an unfiltered look into the thoughts and lives of creative people making it happen for themselves — in the real world, on the internet and in our wildest fantasies. This time around, we caught up with rising pop supernova Eli, whose new single "Glitter" arrived in New York City with its own bus, courtesy of Glow, Spotify, and RCA Records. When you're a diva like Eli, everywhere's a stage._ ### ### **How did your event go? And what was it like to interact with your fans in person?** Girl, it was a dream come true. Picking up your top Spotify listeners of the year on a sparkly pink glitter bus is much more satisfying than a “thank you” DM on instagram. Everyone was so fun and down to be crazy with me. We went from parasocial pen pals to bonded forever. **Your guerilla marketing and true passion for the music (and pop superstardom) has totally captivated Tiktok. Did you expect people to take to it so well, or did you expect there to be pushback?** It’s genuinely so hilariously affirming that everyone is getting it. That’s what I love about my _eliance_ and my listeners. They’re so smart and witty and completely in on the bit. We have a secret language with each other. ### **Robyn just posted your billboard on Instagram. Did you both speak at all prior or was that totally unexpected? And how did that feel/how did you find out?** Completely unexpected. People were tagging me. I kept going back to make sure it was real. It felt so serendipitous because "Dopamine" was like the only song on my phone I was invested in during the few weeks leading up to that. Robyn’s influence goes deep... like so many of my current fave Ari tracks don’t exist without the pioneer that is Robyn. **Your new single "Glitter" follows a run of viral tracks. It also calls to mind the iconic Mariah Carey movie with a slightly doomed launch. What do you remember of the first time you saw the movie? And do you see anything of yourself in her character?** I wish I could say _Glitter_ came across my DVD player growing up, but it did not, perhaps it was that doomed launch that made it never reach me, even being a Mariah fan. I just watched it with my friend Issa (Olive Ugly) a month ago. We took an edible, ordered a pizza and were enamored, confused, disturbed slightly. I think she wrote a good letterboxd review after watching it with me. ### **You've been pretty engaged with both fans and critics alike on social media, something that must feel expected of artists who kickstart their careers online. How do you balance engaging with both the positivity and negativity?** I just make sure if I’m gonna engage with negativity I’m gonna come correct and come with a valuable perspective worth engaging with that kind of stuff. But that being said, when it comes to real critique, I will always welcome that, for that’s an invaluable part of the music conversation. A few months ago during album promo, I was calling myself a stan twitter adjacent diva, since I grew up fangirling over Ariana Grande, reading WattPad fanfictions of myself at 14 on the internet and checking Pop Crave for MTV Awards looks. But I think I’m starting to remember why I was never actually in possession of a stan twitter profile as a child or teenager, ’cause I would see how ravenous and miserable the space could become quickly, and the “i’m edgy but really i’m just unhappy and taking it out on someone else” posts stressed and bummed me out too much. Luckily now, I have a support system and a more healthy mindset about these negative shades of the internet. I’m able to not only just ignore the ignorance, and celebrate the lighthearted parts about pop culture, but to clap back and make sure some of these keyboard warriors know what I stand for. You can’t read the doll, but she can read you. **You've just been handed one million dollars to do the viral pop star marketing stunt of your dreams. What do you do with it?** Double it and give it to the next person. I’m already the next Stage Girl. ### ### Thank you to Glow, Spotify and RCA for this insane bus! What a dream come true. If you’re gonna go on tour it should be in a bus with your face on it. ### #### I've been a fan of Marcia Marcia Marcia since she walked in the Werkfoom with a bandaid over her nose and was running, or should I say swimming, fresh tilapia circles around a lot of the girls. Then I got to watch her transcend the show and run circles around it in theater, on Broadway and in her iconic art and creative entrepreneurship. I'm so grateful she let me pick her up on the bus. ### ### I'm serving Disney Diva about to go wild. I love this hat, literally felt a shift when I put it on the first time. I got it in Burbank at Junk for Joy. ### ### In this moment, I knew I had no choice but to sing the "maaaaalllll" riff that overlaps into the second pre-chorus of "Glitter." I loved my boombox, world premiere of "Glitter" outside the bus. Lady Gaga was performing in parking lots, I'm performing in the streets. ### ### I kept falling on my fans but like they do on the internet and at my shows, they always lift me back up again ### ### My album Stage Girl is about making anywhere the stage. Whether it’s from your bedroom, at the mall or on the streets of NYC, every new day is a new opportunity to perform. ### ### Oh, you thought we were gonna steal the bus? ### ### The "Eliance." I love these angels. What a dream. ### ### You want a wig, we've got a wig. You want a fedora, we have fedoras. Like, keep up. ### ### All aboard the Glitter Bus, girls! I'm just an ordinary girl, but the paparazzi was out. ### _Photography: Aysia Marotta_

Remember when everyone you knew started investing in Korean skincare and, suddenly, started walking around with the kind of glow once reserved for pregnant women and newborn infants? For eons, Koreans have (rightfully and deservedly) cornered the market for facial products — and thankfully for the rest of us, they are now ready to embark into new territory. ### Enter _Stretch Your Story_, the first Korean performance wear brand to launch in the United States. Promising to maintain the same quality of Korean excellence, precision, and discipline that your favorite skincare brands have become known for, Stretch Your Story plans to do for personal fitness and wellness what labels like COSRX and Sulwhasoo once did for those unforgiving pimples, visible smile lines, and heavy undereye bags. Engineered in Korea, the brand wants to help you build “a new uniform for evolution,” and has done so by designing garments that are meant to become staples in your everyday wardrobe, whether you are going on a jog in the park or running to the grocery store to buy eggs and milk. ### ### ### At this, you may find yourself asking what separates SYS from the pack. After all, plenty of brands have capitalized on the “athleisure” movement, designing workout clothes that they _claim_ should work in everyday scenarios. But Stretch Your Story is thinking beyond this. Guided by principles like self-discipline, self-evolution, and self-expression, SYS believes in the power of a _Pulse State_ , which is achieved once the pillars of mind, body, and self are in full alignment. To reach this synthesis, the brand operates with a holistic outlook on how we dress ourselves, hoping to _inspire_ and _motivate_ us all to get out and move. Stretch Your Story’s clothes aren’t just to _wear_ ; the brand is actually thinking more broadly about how clothes can functionally fit into — and improve — our everyday lives. ### ### And unlike other contemporary activewear brands, who either focus on the technical aspects of fitness gear at the expense of style or do the opposite by privileging outward aesthetics above practicality, Stretch Your Story looks at both sides of the equation in tandem, merging form and function to craft pieces that are as fashion-forward as they are utilitarian. This is performance wear for the person who doesn’t want to choose between __looking__ good and __feeling__ good. And who wouldn’t look and feel good in these garments? Flip through Stretch Your Story’s already expansive list of offerings and you’ll find that they’ve covered bases top to bottom, whether you’re seeking out a casual _graphic hoodie_ or a slightly dressier _half-zip sweater_, a comfortable pair of _jogger leggings_ or a flowy _yoga jumpsuit_. They have _tank tops_ that can easily be worn under a blazer for a business meeting and _cropped short sleeve t-shirts_ that are perfect for an afternoon spent wandering the streets with your friends. The garments, which are made in extremely lightweight, breathable fabrics, are designed to feel like a second-skin. ### ### ### So the next time you need to stop by the office for a meeting on your way to an early-evening cardio session at the gym, don’t bother packing a change of clothes — Stretch Your Story has already made sure that you can get from one place to the other with no problem. __This article is a collaboration between__ ___Stretch Your Story___ __and PAPER.__

In the _trailer_ for A24’s newest thriller flick, _Mother Mary_ , Anne Hathaway plays a seasoned pop star embarking on a comeback tour with something to prove. She returns to an estranged friend, played deliciously by Michaela Coel, to create a perfect dress for the stage. Aside from the sheer pleasure of watching Hathaway and Coel's generational mog-off — and the threat of supernatural occurrences to come — the trailer centers intimate connection that forms between a stylist and the artist that they dress. It is an era where the visuals of a concert circuit are immortalized in the camera rolls of those who go to listen. Given the trust and understanding it takes to collaborate on durable and comfortable show looks that cater to one another’s creative visions, it’s no wonder that many teams don’t go their separate ways for years. Let’s take a look at some of the top-grossing and most viral concert tours of 2025. While the costuming process was hopefully not so witchy and unsettling as it appears to be for Miss Hathaway, there was undeniably some magic behind the scenes that made its way onto these stages. ### ### Sabrina Carpenter's Short n’ Sweet Tour ### Sabrina’s recent fifth headlining tour ran laps around the internet with its pastel glam and dolly dreamhouse energy. She began each concert apparently in just a towel, fretting that she had nothing to wear. The reality of her wardrobe turned out to be quite the opposite. Carpenter was joined on tour by stylist Jared Ellner, who divulged to _Vogue_ that Act 1 is entirely Victoria’s Secret, Act 2 is custom Patou, and Act 3 showcases Ludovic de San Sernin. As Sabrina slowly prepared for a shindig set in her house on stage, she shifted from her signature strapless sequined bodysuit to a catsuit that pulled inspiration from Hollywood darlings like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn for its silhouette. Many of her looks featured interchangeable feathers, bows or embellished sequined kisses. For his hard work, we owe Ellner a kiss for sure. ### Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour ### Beyoncé’s seminal 32-stadium tour saw the queen of pop challenge stereotypes and suppositions around the country music genre. She looked fabulous doing it. As well as continuing her relationship with stylists Shiona Turini and Karen Langely, she reunited with Ty Hunter, who was her main stylist from 1999 to 2014 – a witness for the era of Destiny’s Child. Her rotating arsenal of killer clothes largely featured pieces from independent female designers, such as an iconic black pair of buckled thigh high _boots_ from the LA-based brand Partlow. She also collaborated with Glenn Martens, the creative director of Diesel, on a newspaper-printed _jumpsuit_ during her rendition of “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM.” In a glorious homage to cowboy culture, she performed in a _rhinestone-embellished set_ from Lindsey James Show Clothing, a custom jacket hotspot for cowboys on the rodeo circuit. The selections for Cowboy Carter were rowdy, regal and had something to say – nothing less than expected of Queen Bey. ### Kendrick Lamar & SZA's Grand National Tour ### During 2025 Superbowl Halftime show, which featured the _Celine flared jeans_ seen ‘round the world, Kendrick Lamar set the tone for what to expect at his upcoming joint tour with SZA: Fluid vocal collaborations, rhythm, and style. Their ongoing Grand National tour saw Kendrick hire two additional stylists to his team, Marika-Ella Ames and Zara Mirkin, who joined his longtime stylist Taylor McNeil. As well as showcasing legacy brands like Supreme and Chanel, the most eye-catching additions to Lamar’s wardrobe were features from NYC-based designers, which felt like they had stories all their own: A custom _patchwork leather jacket_ from Robin Goods and woven jeans from _Gabe Gordon_ were the kind of grail that any frequent-flying thrifter might pray for. SZA matched the energy perfectly. Her style squad was led by stylist Alejandra LaPilusa, with whom she has a longstanding professional rapport. She also styled the artist for the 2025 Halftime Show, her _LANA_ album shoot, and served as the artistic director for her VANS campaign. The tour saw memorable looks like a custom _Kiko Kostadinov set_ by Laura & Deanna Fanning, as well as a _black suit set_ from Chrome Hearts. SZA also brought on local stylists at select locations to showcase new looks, such as an unforgettable _fur ensemble_, custom from british designer Mariusz Malon, at her London stop, and a custom KEBURIA _bubble bodysuit_ in Paris. ### Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour ### Over her decade or so in the public limelight, Billie’s style evolution has proven that she really can wear it all. Her yearlong tour showcased a kaleidoscope of streetwear chic. She collaborated with stylist Spencer Singer on the looks, who recently dressed her in Miu Miu for the WSJ Innovator Awards and in Prada for the GRAMMYs (And with other clients including Gracie Abrams and Lily-Rose Depp, he seems to have fully struck a cool-girl monopoly). Her concert looks shifted each night to showcase different brands and colors, but hit the same structural points that allowed her to rock and move. Her tour closet featured custom pieces like monogrammed snapback hats from brands like DOLLY and her _collaboration_ with Mitchell & Ness, vintage finds like a _Rawlings jersey_, and niche brand picks like a camouflage supreme long sleeve. Her wardrobe was equal parts sporty and suave, and the stylistic chemistry she has with Spencer is undeniable – the cohesive outfits seem to prove they just _get_ each other. ### _Eleanor Jacobs is PAPER's 2025 Fall Intern_ _Images via Getty_

_This is**So Chic, Very Chic** , PAPER’s examination of Bravo’s sprawling cohort of fashion obsessives. From haute couture to TJ Maxx, they’ve literally worn it all. We've just got two questions. Is it so chic? Is it very chic?_ ### ### I have been amongst the _Vanderpump Rules_ reboot's most vocal skeptics. I was terribly wrong. ### After Scandoval left an Ariana Madix sized crater in the network's scheduling lineup, I questioned if there was anything left to mine from Sexy Unique Restaurant, the WeHo hellhole that Lisa Vanderpump presided over as a brothel madam for 30 years. The mystique had worn as thin as the table clothes, with the restaurant not drawing in the same crowds as in the show's heyday, when patrons would fly from all over the Midwest to watch cast members stumble over the appetizer menu and sling musty goat cheese balls. They'd be lucky to see anyone working there at all, sans the b-team they hid from cameras when the show was in production. ### I was deeply wrong, which is humiliating. The new show has the secret alchemical mixture of desperation and bisexual confusion and undiagnosed personality disorders that made its predecessor so compelling. Their clothes are cheap and their apartments are shitty, and they all seem eager to destroy their friendships and lives in the pursuit for fame. I'm happy to let them! Shall we talk about what they wore for their big debut? ### Vanderpump Rules ### Venus Binkley ### Venus Binkley ### Venus as a boy! Oh, how the dreams of Bjork have manifested in this Botticellian icon of beauty and grace and dressing like the villainess in a movie about teen spies. This crimped blowout with the leather gloves sent me into hysterics, both from sheer lunacy and how I do actually believe Venus shows up places dressed like this in real life. He's like an angel you meet outside the afters, unsure in the morning if the figure in a leather trench was ever really there at all. Then there's the boy drag, which includes a necklace with Venus' angel numbers. It's yet another sign of his impending takeover of the millennial Bravosphere, should I have my way with things. ### ### Outside the confessional booth, Venus plays the role of pot-stirring gay best friend in a muscle tank with an indeterminable agenda. It almost borders on stereotype, except Venus is a real person and I've decided I love him. Even if he has to sit on the couch of a woman trapped in heterosexual hell every episode and hurry along the impending death of her relationship. ### Natalie Maguire ### Natalie Maguire ### There really are Kristen Doute's everywhere for those with the eyes to see. Just like Kristen, Natalie can't dress either, but god does her hair look good! This firebrand is obsessed with sending her friends' boyfriends photos of her feet and screaming at her job, two things that pair well with slip dresses and chipped red nail polish. She's also Italian, and name dropped Ariana Grande in her first twenty minutes onscreen. I have high hopes for this diva! ### ### Her daytime drag served as a funny foil to Venus this episode. She's the dark and stormy demon to his angelic light — here she is with basically the same hair and t-shirt as Venus when he sat on Kim's couch, except in all black. The nameplate necklace instead of the angel numbers and loose hair tie really sell the contrast. ### Demy Selem ### Demy Selem ### Demy's fashions were probably the worst of the episode, which means I will protect her with my life. The fit of this faux-Romy high school reunion dress is about as troubling as Natalie's untreated anger issues. The pink number was a reprieve, and quite the color on her! I give her a season to figure out the glam before I address it directly, which feels just and fair for a woman I will probably devote untold chunks of time singing the praises of. ### ### Side note: I immediately clocked the Nike Dunk Lows she changed into for their afterparty at The Belmont. A pair of Nike Dunk Lows is more instructive than the results of any psychoanalytical test or whatever research they're doing down in the Large Hadron Collider. I know this woman, I love this woman and I fear this woman — specifically her pleather pants. ### Audrey Lingle ### Audrey Lingle's one dream in life is to be a scream queen in a horror movie about college girls that get axe murdered by a demonic entity possessing the girl they bullied in middle school. Fitting, then, that her on-camera introduction was this racy top with an entire nipple out. The Utah curls add a welcome bit of grit to the look, considering their cultural connotations as both conservative and suburban. She's like if one of the girls in a Maxim magazine back in the day had been frozen in a block of ice outside Salt Lake City. With climate change raising temperatures, she defrosted 30 years later and wandered into JZ Styles, where that lady on _Secret Lives of Mormon Wives_ installed fourteen pounds of hair and explained what a balayage really is. ### Jason Cohen ### Jason Cohen ### Jason Cohen is a guy who does OnlyFans with his half-cousin, once worked as a stripper and now dreams of growing up to be Ben Affleck. He's a real renaissance man and has the eyebrows to prove it! Curious, I perused his Instagram, and he has that gay-for-pay look that actual gay guys spend exorbitant amounts of money chasing on subscription apps that give them access to videos where men like Jason take showers in milk, or something. None of this is criticism against Jason, to be clear, who knows how to make a bag and dress to boot. This red is a great color on him and he's figured out the right tussle-to-eyebrow ration for his face. I expect big things — and big mess — from him! ### Kim Suarez ### Kim reminds me of so many women I knew growing up, when I'd party with kids from the high school two towns over. By that I mean she was meant to land somewhere in a Bay Area suburban enclave with a high school sweetheart that works in recruiting and 2.5 kids she sends to Catholic prep academy. Instead, she found herself doomed to wander through the doors of SUR, where they quickly saddled her with an alcoholic boyfriend she hates and a reality television show. Welcome back to the stage, Katie Maloney! She even has the striking beauty and requisite smoky-eye-to-cleavage ratio. ### Chris Hahn ### Here's the other half-cousin and former stripper turned OnlyFans creator and aspiring actor. Unlike Jason, he wants to be Matt Damon instead, and says his one dream in life is to play Flynn Rider in the live action version of Tangled. Not if I have anything to do about it! No, he's meant to be sitting in this chair with his shirt unbuttoned down to his happy trail. Hopefully next time he picks something other than this pale green. Something more see-through, perhaps? ### Marcus Johnson ### Marcus, being the villain, was the only man brave enough to wear a suit in his confessional. It signals that he is deeply aware of the television show he is creating and has also studied what came before him. I don't believe his act, but neither do producers or Lisa Vanderpump either. Like Tom Sandoval and Jax Taylor before him, he thinks he'll outsmart this production crew with his staged acts of rebellion and smooth-talking. Look how that turned out buddy! Marcus might have studied the material, but I don't think he'll ace this test. I eagerly anticipate watching him fail his way to the bottom! ### Images courtesy of NBC Universal/Bravo

Waterparks, the Houston-bred band currently composed of Awsten Knight, Geoff Wigington and Otto Wood, have their eyes on the mainstream prize. The group earned their fame over a decade ago with a bright, guitar-heavy take on pop-punk. This sound, featuring 2000’s emo-esque vocals by Knight atop racing drumlines and addictive melodies was most prominently featured on their 2016 debut album, _Double Dare_. ### But in the time since, and across the three LPs the band has released post-_Double Dare_ , genre lines have started to blur. On 2023’s _INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY_ , the group traded in their OG soundscape completely to dabble in scenes from hyperpop to trap to synth pop. “BRAINWASHED” goes so far left as to lead with acoustic guitars and soft vocal deliveries by Knight, a complete 180 from his bold brashness on earlier projects. ### The group doesn’t feel constrained by genres, nor by barriers of music as a medium. Knight runs the streetwear brand, hii def, which fans flock to for graphic tees, beanies and zip-up hoodies. The trio loves making the occasional podcast appearance as well, recently speaking with Scott Lipps on his show _Lipps Service_. This year, Waterparks have released a slew of new singles. Things kicked off in July with “RED GUITAR,” a bouncy track with layers of distorted vocals that cover the band’s stardom. In November, they put out “ANY MINUTE NOW,” which includes twinkling melodies and confrontational, existential lyrics. ### ### ### ### These tracks, and their entire back catalogue, serve as the setlist for the _Prowler_ tour. The band is taking every sound under the sun across North America through December. They’re joined by a slew of openers from various musical niches: Chloe Moriondo, Plain White T’s and Landon Barker to name a few, who match the chameleon sound their discography has developed in the 15 years since their start. Waterparks sat down with _PAPER_ to discuss tour essentials, creative sidequests and the future of the band’s sound. ### **You’ve developed a reputation for genre‑hopping.** I know I sound like a contrarian and I don’t mean to give a non-answer but genres to me are so pointless beyond low-hanging marketing fruit, especially in 2025. I wake up and make whatever style I feel like doing that day; some days that’s a sleek pop song and other times it’s an industrial, gothic, synth-heavy track. If I had to pick one sound to represent me I’d choose a stack of Beach Boys harmonies. **What’s the most ridiculously minor studio moment, a weird sound effect, an overheard joke, an impromptu snack break, that ended up shaping a track in a big way?** When I’m working on demos I only trust a few friends to hear them in such deconstructed shape and I was sending a video of one to my friend Joe- now when I’m showing someone a demo, I always have a ton of disclaimers and so I was sending him a video explaining what the song needed and what I was working on, but I wound up putting that audio from that video at the beginning of SNEAKING OUT OF HEAVEN. Same with ST*RFUCKER, actually. **Touring often becomes “routine” in its own way — is there a ritual you absolutely refuse to skip on the road?** I definitely make it a point to sit down on an off day and read a ton of the letters people write and give us at m&g. Everything we do is so fast-paced, something is always due, but it’s important to hear about how the music affects people and their day-to-day lives. Some of the notes are really heavy stuff, but some of it is really sweet and it’s really inspiring to see that Waterparks is alive outside of all our phones; it’s a real thing with real power. ### **What’s one memory from your early career, before you hit main‑stages, that still makes you laugh?** I mean, I used to be so shy I could barely look at a crowd. Early on we were playing at a bar and we were shocked all these dads seemed so into us and I realized during the last song it’s because a basketball game was being projected onto the wall behind us. That made things make a lot more sense because we were all confused why they kept cheering mid-song. **If you could re‑design one piece of your past imagery to reflect where you are now, what would you change?** I wish I trusted myself with more iconic, simplistic album art from the jump. Sometimes when ideas came to me too easily, I’d dismiss them because I didn’t have to work hard for them. I wouldn’t do _too_ much to any cover but there are definitely some lines I’d re-word because I just thought of better ways to say things years after, my bad! **What band, artist or creator are you not working with yet but lowkey wish you were?** One of my favorite people of all time is Donald Glover, I’m such a fan. I’d work on anything with him. Kesha, Jack Antonoff, Danny Elfman, Halsey, Gerard Way, Brett Westfall, Daft Punk, JID, Bad Suns, Osgood Perkins, Ari Aster, Adela, Vince Staples. I like making stuff with my sweet angel Dillon Francis, we need a collab album. ### ### ### ### **If the band were a theme park ride, what kind of ride would it be?** I like haunted house. I used to work at one when I was in high school!I’ve always wanted to make either a waterparks themed haunted house OR a waterparks escape room with a bunch of different music video settings and all that. If someone from the label reads this, let’s make one or both for the album roll-out, god bless! **You’ve signed with multiple labels and shifted your sound, when you look back, what was the hardest “pivot” moment where you thought “we’re doing this differently now” — and how did it feel to experience?** Luckily, labels have never had input on sound or artistic direction- that’s always been a deal breaker, even before we’d ever signed our _first_ deal. Spiritually it felt really good going from our first label to having budgets for the first time at Hopeless Records. Every time there’s a “first” it feels amazing; first bus, first billboard, first album in Target, first time on TRL, first time on the radio, those are the things that make us feel the best. I’ve got a long bucket list though, plenty for ‘firsts’ to go. ### **What hobby or obsession do you have that nobody would guess?** Let’s seeeee, I have a big rock collection! I have all the original holographic Pokemon, please don’t rob me. I collect all my hotel keys from everywhere we’ve stayed, I have stacks. I go down conspiracy rabbit holes all the time even thought Republicans have lowkey ruined that shit. I love glass stuff, I have a bunch of glass fruit I pick up at antique stores. I’m a sentimental hoarder though, for sure, I have the hardest time throwing things out. **If you could erase one misconception people have about the band what would it be?** I’ve stopped fighting genre labels as much when I saw The Killers and Panic At The Disco both get referred to as “pop-punk” by publications. It’s a lazy term people smack on musical acts with guitars and bleached hair. We’ve always been extremely genre-conscious and have gone out of our way to avoid the ‘pop-punk’ label because we truly do so much more than that and I feel like it’s such a limiting term, I knew that before we ever even had an album. There were always be bands we grew up with and actively love like blink-182, and our band has guitars and drums, so there will always be a piece of that somewhere in the bones of what we are, but I feel like it’s such a tiny piece of what we accomplish on every single album. ### **What’s the weirdest lyric or musical idea that started as a joke between you guys, but ended up making it onto an album?** There are a lot of lyrics where we’d be laughing as they’re pitched like, “she said, ‘I know your dying wish is to be baptized in my spit’” where I’m like “Man, we cannot say that hahahaha ..unless…. And they wind up being the standout lines. My earliest memory of something starting as a joke is back in the day I was trying to figure out how to get us sponsored by Chipotle and we had this very dance-inspired instrumental loop that we wanted to write a commercial over and pitch to the company, but that wound up being the chorus of a song called “I’m A Natural Blue” that caught us early label attention so. **Looking ahead, what’s the “wildest” non‑music project you’d secretly love to do — no limits.** I do have a fashion line! Season 4 drops are picking back up next month which I’ve been developing for the last 18 months and it’s almost all perfect. I used to want to have a show where I’d go to places with high levels of paranormal activity but after getting followed by negative energies for too long, I don’t think I wanna do that anymore. I’d love to produce and direct a short film, maybe even a full length too! I’ve gotten into writing screenplays over the last few years and it’s a really satisfying escape when I need a break from real life. Danny McBride hit me up, I love you so much. **When finishing one era and starting the next, what’s the internal mood like — relief, excitement, dread?** I don’t really “reset” because my brain doesn’t stop- I was up until 4AM last night because I kept thinking of better ways to word one of the new demo ideas. Like I’ve said before, I’m so competitive against myself and every time we make an album, I’m like, “holy shit, this is the best.” I know when we do an album cycle I put everything I have into it and so, while I wouldn’t call it dread, I know the mountain I’m going to be climbing- it’s more so “daunting” than anything else. No album will be released unless I think it’s better than the one that came before it, and this next one is close. ### ### ### ### _Photos byNikki Cardiello Produced by Cancel Creative _