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What the Team at Bustle Wears to Work

Plus, their favorite internet rabbit holes, feminist icons, and bad TV.

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On the homepage of women's lifestyle site Bustle, you'll find stories on Mercury in retrograde, non-binary gender identity, Britney Spears's new haircut, and abortion clinics in Texas. In the words of editor-in-chief Kate Ward, it's a site that covers "anything and everything that interests young women." Racked took a trip to Bustle's Manhattan office to meet the women behind the site, and to chat with them about their favorite internet rabbit holes, their personal feminist icons, and the most recent TV show they binge-watched. Get to know them better below.


Kate-Ward-bustle

Kate Ward, Editor-in-Chief, is wearing a DVF dress, Nine West shoes, and rings made by Gary Solomon from Fire in Ice Designs.

Who's your favorite person to write about?
The best part about Bustle is that we're a site that covers anything and everything that interests young women—because there's no one person or topic that interests a woman like myself! The world surprises me every day with a new crop of interesting story subjects that become inspiring and news-worthy. I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and find out who's next.

What do you wear when you work from home?
I'm ashamed to admit my work-from-home uniform consists of a T-shirt, underwear, and that's pretty much it. But, really, only my cat can see me and she doesn't judge me... I think.

Who's personal style do you admire the most?
I never realized how unstylish I was until I began working alongside the insanely stylish women of Bustle. But since we've come together, I've been inspired to get piercings that they have, jewelry that they have, and, hell, I've even managed to confidently rock a crop top with their urging. Maybe I'll even try overalls—my fashion kryptonite—next?! No, probably not.

What's your typical office uniform?
How long have I slept? If the answer is "enough," then a dress and heels is fairly standard. If the answer is "not enough," then you're looking at jeans and as basic a tank top as possible. If the answer is "enough and it's freezing outside" or "not enough and it's freezing outside," then you can safely assume I'll be in my winter coat. Which I wear straight through the day for approximately six months.

What's your favorite internet rabbit hole?
Just try to log onto Wikipedia's list of unusual deaths page and tell me you won't spend the next three days there.

Kate-Ward-bustle-2

What was the last thing you binge-watched?
I've been known to turn on Keeping Up With the Kardashians while getting ready for the day, and, oops, now it's bedtime.

Do you read the comments?
Once you've been told to kill yourself for not knowing the ingredients in mole in a Top Chef recap, you pretty much know to stay away from any anonymous person with an opinion on the Internet.

Who's your personal feminist icon?
I've gained so much knowledge from Bustle's editors and writers, who inspire me to be better and stronger every day. I'm so proud to be able to work alongside some of the most talented women in the business—how lucky am I to be so close to my personal feminist icons?


Marie-Southard-Ospina-bustle

Marie Southard Ospina, Associate Fashion & Beauty Editor, is wearing an ASOS skirt, a Unique Vintage shirt, a Collectif UK denim top, Modcloth shoes, and a Penelopi Jones ring.

Whose personal style do you admire the most?
I love everything about Ragini Nag Rao. She's a plus style blogger and freelance writer (if you haven't read her amazing work on publications like Rookie and xoJane, do it now). Ragini's style is ethereal and otherworldly. It plays on traditional femininity but in a way that just screams strength and independence.

What do you wear when you work from home?
A super comfy pair of boy shorts and a baggy T-shirt. Some people swear by dressing professionally for motivation when you're at home, but I find it stifling. I take "WFH" days to just relax a little more apparel-wise than I normally would, and I find it helps my creativity.

What's your typical office uniform?
I don't go all-out in tutus and vintage prom dresses at work (though I own several and love everything about them), just because of the comfort factor. But I do like to let my style be a bit explorative in a way that's going to still mean comfy-ness. I wear a lot of dresses, full skirts with crop tops, cigarette trousers, denim tops tied at the waist. Lots of stuff with a retro flair.

Who's your favorite person to write about?
I love writing about people who have inspiring stories, but not necessarily the platform to share them. Think kids or buskers or the "man on the street" kinda deal.

Who's your personal feminist icon?
As cliche as it may sound, Margaret Atwood. Handmaid's Tale was the first novel I read written by a woman that just made me think, "Someone actually gets it. Someone actually sees it."

Marie-Southard-Ospina-Bustle-3

What are your beauty must-haves?
Benefit's Curling Mascara, a MAC lipstick (any color, I'll take them all), Nars blush, and Nailen powder—I've only ever found it in Colombia so I always stock up when I visit family!

What was the last thing you binge-watched?
I'm currently binge watching Mad Men (I know, I'm a late bloomer). I was reluctant to try it because I thought it was going to be a "Wolf of Wall Street-esque/let's look at a bunch of rich Manhattan men screw everyone over" kind of show, but it's actually nothing like that. Despite its title, I very much think Mad Men is about women—and what being a woman has (and still sometimes does) seem to entail in our culture.


Rainey-Lennon-bustle

Rainey Lennon, Account Executive, is wearing a J.Crew skirt and shirt, an H&M belt, Chloé shoes, Temple St. Clair and Tiffany & Co. rings, and a Chloé bag.

What's your typical office uniform?
It depends on if I have client meetings that day or not, but you can pretty much always find me in something from J.Crew or Anthropologie.

What are your beauty must-haves?
CeraVe is my go to for face wash and everyday AM/PM lotion. In addition to that, for daytime, I will alternate between Glossier's Priming Moisturizer and Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. Before bed I usually apply Clarins Multi-Active Night Youth Recovery Cream. I've been using anti-aging products since I was 18—talk to me again in 10 years to see if it actually paid off.

Do you read the comments?
Does anyone not read the comments?

What are your must-read sites?
Bustle.com, New York Magazine, The Infatuation, and Guest of a Guest.

Rainey-Lennon-bustle

Who's your personal feminist icon?
Anna Kendrick. She isn't afraid to tell it how it is—and I'm also obsessed with Pitch Perfect.

What's your favorite garbage TV program?
Definitely Million Dollar Listing New York.

What was the last thing you binge-watched?
Bloodline. Two words: Kyle.Chandler.


Dawn-Foster-bustle

Dawn Foster, Junior Graphic Designer, is wearing a Forever 21 cardigan, an American Apparel shirt, an ASOS skirt and socks, vintage shoes, an Emiko Shinozaki necklace, a Marc Jacobs ring, and a handmade custom double knuckle silver ring.

What's the weirdest social media account you follow?
Clipart Covers Tumblr.

Who's personal style do you admire the most?
I've always loved everything about Zana Bayne. I miss her old blog, Garbage Dress. I took so much style inspiration from there growing up.

What's your favorite internet rabbit hole?
A way-too-late-night internet session always leads me to the multitude of weird subreddits on Reddit.

What are your beauty must-haves?
Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner, EOS lip balms, and coconut oil. So much coconut oil.

What's your favorite garbage TV program?
Catfish is my guilty pleasure.

Dawn-Foster-Bustle-2

What's your typical office uniform?
An easy-to-wear dress with a cardigan.

Do you read the comments?
Yes, every time! Even if I know they're gonna be bad.

What was the last thing you binge-watched?
All eight seasons of 24.


Allie-Litwak-Bustle

Allie Litwak, Account Executive, is wearing a Banana Republic shirt, a J.Crew skirt, Halogen shoes, a Michael Kors watch, J.Crew, Stella & Dot, and Charmed Circle necklaces, a Clare Vivier bag, Fitbit, BaubleBar, and Ryan Porter bracelets, and rings by Marina Pecoraro and Kendra Scott.

What do you wear when you work from home?
Gym clothes. Unless I'm meeting with clients, in which case I'll get dressed like a real person. But in the words of Anna Kendrick, I like sweatpants and staying home.

What are your beauty must-haves?
I have so many! And they vary by season. Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster and Bite Agave Lip Mask in the winter; Soapwalla Moisturizing Body Oil in the summer. Neulash and eye cream always. I feel pretty strongly about eye cream.

Who's your personal feminist icon?
Taylor Swift.

What's your favorite internet rabbit hole?
I follow a lot of blogs via Bloglovin'—mainly style, interior design, and cooking sites.

Allie-Litwak-Bustle

What's your typical office uniform?
In the winter, jeans and a sweater with ankle boots. In the summer, a skirt and top with flat sandals. I also walk to work, and office temperature fluctuates, so layers are essential.

What was the last thing you binge-watched?
Silicon Valley on a recent sick day. It's hilarious and relevant.

What's your favorite garbage TV program?
Real Housewives of anywhere, especially New York. I actually saw Carole Radziwill at a book signing a few weeks ago and gave her a Bustle T-shirt. I'm sure she thought that was weird.

Do you read the comments?
There are no comments! I probably would, though.


Bianca-Consunji-Bustle

Bianca Consunji, Director of Video, is wearing Tory Burch shorts, an Ann Taylor shirt, a Gap scarf, H&M tights and socks, and Cole Haan shoes.

Who's your favorite person to write about?
I like doing stories about strangers and people who aren't famous; they're often more open, since they don't have an agenda to protect.

What's the weirdest social media account you follow?
@SavedYouAClick isn't really weird, but I'm glad it exists.

Whose personal style do you admire the most?
Kate Middleton. I have a few reservations about her public persona, but the woman can rock a dress and she never wears anything too ostentatious.

Who's your personal feminist icon?
Sheryl Sandberg and Marissa Mayer. It couldn't have been easy to make a name for themselves in the tech industry, but they did, and on their own terms.

What are your beauty must-haves?
DHC Cleansing Oil, Kiehl's moisturizer, SPF 50 BB Cream from my dermatologist, and Shu Uemura Hard Formula eyebrow pencil. Everything else is flexible; I go makeup-free fairly regularly, although the free table at Bustle always has fun beauty goodies.

Bianca-Consunji-Bustle-2

What do you wear when you work from home?
In cold weather, a well-worn grad school sweatshirt and shorts. It's a college student look, and I will never leave the apartment in it because there's usually a revealing wine stain or two.

What are your must-read sites?
Aside from Bustle? The New York magazine group of sites, The New York Times, BuzzFeed, Vice, The Verge, Mic, and Slate for their contrarian opinions, The Food Lab at Serious Eats because I obsess about cooking.

What's your favorite internet rabbit hole?
As with most people, Reddit. And Craigslist, because people love posting weird things in there. I recently read a for-sale post from a woman who looked like she was going through a pretty bitter divorce. She was selling her wedding dress, used boxers, half-consumed bottles of scotch..

What was the last thing you binge-watched?
Old episodes of The Twilight Zone. I wanted to watch North by Northwest because of the Mad Men exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image, but it wasn't on Netflix so I ended up watching Twilight Zone instead. Some episodes still hold up pretty well.

Do you read the comments?
I can't help myself. I do. Commenters on sites like Gawker are funnier than some of the posts. (That said, YouTube commenters are the worst).


Christine-DiStasio-Bustle

Christine DiStasio, Editorial Assistant, is wearing a Gap jacket, a Tracks Apparel shirt, Abercrombie & Fitch pants, Birkenstock shoes, rings from Catbird and Tiffany & Co., and a Bauble Bar necklace.

What are your beauty must-haves?
Benefit Brow Gel & Kit, Nars bronzer, Chanel mascara, Mac Viva Glam I.

What's the weirdest social media account you follow?
cashcats on Instagram—if by weirdest you mean BEST.

What do you wear when you work from home?
Leggings and a baggy tank.

What's your typical office uniform?
If it's black, I'm probably wearing it.

Who's your favorite person to write about?
Sophia Bush.

What's your favorite garbage TV program?
Kardashians, obviously (even though I don't think it's garbage #sorrynotsorry).

Christine-DiStasio-Bustle-2

What was the last thing you binge-watched?
Anthony Bourdain's Mind of a Chef.

Who's your personal feminist icon?
Emma Watson.

Do you read the comments?
Always.


Kai-Hsing-bustle

Kai Hsing, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Operations, is wearing a Brooks Brothers sweater, a Hilditch & Key shirt, A.P.C. pants, and Sneaky Steve shoes.

What's the weirdest social media account you follow?
Mario Balotelli's Twitter.

What do you wear when you work from home?
Camo shorts.

Whose personal style do you admire the most?
Ryan Chambers.

What's your favorite internet rabbit hole?
My email—does that count?

What's your typical office uniform?
Blue pants and a white shirt.

What are your must-read sites?
Nieman Lab.

What's your favorite garbage TV program?
Things on ABC Family.

What was the last thing you binge-watched?
Better Call Saul.

Kai-Hsing-Bustle-2


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