clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

How the Team Behind Who What Wear Dresses for Work

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Over the past decade, Who What Wear has established itself as the intersection between celebrity style and personal style. Although the site first started as a humble newsletter-turned-blog (updated just once a day!), it's since grown into a popular website, a podcast, and, with a newly-launched Target collaboration, a fashion brand in itself.

Who What Wear co-founders Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr have also managed to use their winning model to establish the beauty destination Byrdie and the home décor site MyDomaine. We polled staffers at the Clique Media Group Los Angeles HQ about the best new trends, favorite beauty products, and A-list fashion.


Hillary Kerr, Clique Media Group Co-Founder, is wearing a vintage blouse, an Oscar de la Renta skirt, Jimmy Choo heels, and a Valentino bag.

What are some of your beauty must-haves?
Clinique Redness Solutions Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15, Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara, RMS Beauty Living Luminizer and Lip2Cheek in Smile, Charlotte Tilbury Rock ’N’ Kohl Liquid Eye Pencil in Marlene Midnight, BurberryEffortless Eyebrow Definer in Sepia, Glossier Boy Brow, and Lipstick Queen Frog Prince Lip Tint.

Which designers are you most excited about at the moment?
Right now I’m really into British designers and brands like Erdem, Roksanda, Emilia Wickstead, Simone Rocha, Isa Arfen, Mary Katrantzou, Shrimps, Mother of Pearl, and Christopher Kane.

How would you describe LA style?
There are so many different types of style in Los Angeles, but I think the thing that unites it is a sense of ease. It’s probably because denim factors into everyone’s wardrobe in such a huge way, and LA is the denim capital of the world.

What fashion or beauty trend are you most excited to try this season?
I love the fact that the shoulders are the new midriff.


Katherine Power, Clique Media Group Co-Founder and CEO, is wearing a Céline blazer, an Equipment blouse, a Tibi skirt, and Manolo Blahnik pumps.
How would you describe your personal style?
Classic and conservative.

What's one thing in your closet you could never live without?
Probably Manolo Blahnik pumps (I have about 8 pairs in black). They are my go-to.

What are some of your beauty must-haves?
Glossier Balm Dotcom, Osmo hair wax, Honest Beauty cream blush, Clinique Chubby Sticks, and Clé de Peau concealer.

Which celebrity would you swap closets with in a heartbeat?
Ashley Olsen.


Monina Gaerlan, Vice President of Marketing and Brand Integration, is wearing a Seed skirt, a Madewell top, an Isabel Marant jacket, and Proenza Schouler shoes.

Where do you go to get your news?
I follow most news sites on Twitter to get the fastest download, and read on from there. Daily reads usually include TechCrunch, Mashable, Business of Fashion, Venture Beat, CNN, and The New York Times.

What are some of your beauty must-haves?
I love Amore Pacific moisturizer and SKII eye cream. I'm obsessed with Korean products — so much so that my girlfriends and I went on a beauty trip to Seoul this past May! I get most of my products from Peach & Lily, whose founder, Alicia Yoon, is a regular contributor on Byrdie. I love the May Coop Raw Sauce, and Cremorlab's cleansing oil and melting cream. For lips, I use MAC Mehr and NARS Matte Pencil in Damned.

What's one thing in your closet you could never live without?
My camel Acne Studios blazer. It's a staple and helps pull together any look.

Which designers are you most excited about at the moment?
We just recently launched our sites in Australia,and I'm very into some of their designers at the moment: Toni Maticevski, Dion Lee, Camilla & Marc, and Christopher Esber.


Kat Collings, Who What Wear Editorial Director, is wearing an Aritzia blazer, a vintage scarf, a vintage blouse, Citizens of Humanity jeans, Proenza Schouler shoes, and Gabriela Artigas and WWAKE rings.

Which celebrity would you swap closets with in a heartbeat?
Kate Bosworth and Alexa Chung. I can’t pick just one!

Where are your favorite places to shop?
In LA, I love the vintage stores Scout, Collection, and Mixed Business. For current pieces, I shop almost entirely online.

How would you describe LA style?
Laid-back and non-black. There has to be an ease about your outfit, and the less the black you wear, the better! I’m always trying (with very mixed results) to wear outfits with more color.

What fashion or beauty trend are you most excited to try this season?
Square-toed heels. All of a sudden, my pointy pumps feel less current.


Clifford Ho, UX Designer, is wearing a UNIS varsity jacket, a Chapter shirt, Chapter pants, and Common Projects combat boots.

Where are your favorite places to shop?
Barneys, Odin, and Kith NYC.

How would you describe your personal style?
I really enjoy the absence of color, so I own a lot of black and white pieces. I love wearing black because it’s subtle and doesn't draw immediate attention. Instead, it relies on shape and cut to stand out.

I also love athletic and military-inspired apparel, because I think there’s a lot of thought and purpose in designing them in order function and perform for a certain activity. This always results in an interesting cut, fit, proportion, material choice, and construction method.

Which designers are you most excited about at the moment?
Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne of Public School, Errolson Hugh of Acronym and Nike ACG, and Waraire Boswell.

Who's your ultimate style icon?
Pharrell. I might not agree with every single one of his outfits, but that guy can pull off any look he wants. He also appears to be immortal.


Jessica Blumenthal, Director of Consumer Insights, is wearing a Carven jacket, a Brooks Brothers turtleneck, Zara culottes, Melissa Joy Manning earrings, COS socks, Tod’s boots, and Blac Bark and Tiffany rings.

How would you describe your personal style?
My style has become pretty formulaic when it comes to work dressing. Outfit = a simple base (typically jeans and button up or blouse) + blazer/jacket/sweater + black shoe. It's not super exciting, but it saves me from trying on four different outfits in the morning, which leaves more time for coffee. Whenever there's a special occasion in my life, I take the opportunity to go all out and wear something super fancy and feminine.

Where are your favorite places to shop?
I would say about half of my clothes come from Zara. When it comes to shopping as a pastime, I'm a big deal hunter. I'm a victim of seasonal sales and love rummaging through sale racks at Barneys or going to a good Nordstrom Rack (preferably South Coast Plaza, my favorite Nordstrom Rack).

What fashion or beauty trend are you most excited to try this season?
I want to get a ridiculous colored fur coat like the ones from Shrimps.


Farewell From Racked

Best of Racked

Best of Racked Essays

Best of Racked

Best of Racked Funny Stuff