Welcome to Same Same But Different. As Gen Z and millennial fashion commerce editors, respectively, we know a thing or two about shopping—for all ages, and especially our demographics. As we find the best products for you, we can’t help but do a little shopping for ourselves and build our personal (age-appropriate) wish lists. And now, we’re sharing them with you. Ahead, check out what’s in our hearts and in our carts lately.
Dale Chong: Now that fashion month has come to a close, the time has come to discuss everything we saw from the runways. Sure, we’ve parsed through the biggest trends from New York, London, Milan, and Paris, but I’m curious to know what you’re feeling for your own closet come spring. Any thoughts?
Meg Donohue: I was sidelined by surgery this season, so I watched all the action from afar (the FOMO was crazy, by the way). But parsing through collection galleries and bookmarking my favorite looks was arguably as fun as attending shows without any blisters or crowds. As usual, there’s so much to break down. I’ll start here: Acne Studios and Alaïa are tied for my favorite shows.
I loved the way Acne played with prints, especially plaid. I think I fell out of love with plaid back in, oh, I don’t know, 2009? And haven’t given it another thought since. The fact that this collection changed that is truly a testament. And Alaïa was simply stunning. The movement! The shapes! The sum of these two collections really paint a picture of the kind of woman I aspire to be. Did you have a favorite? You must have.
DC: I do—quite a few, in fact! But to narrow it down, I found myself gravitating toward Bottega Veneta. I love how the entire collection focused on the idea of childhood and play. From the leather beanbags designed by Zanotta Socco (which were inspired by E.T., apparently) and vibrant color palette to garments exuding the feeling of playing dress up and the tromp l’oeil of it all in the leather crochet flowers and wraps, among other things, my inner crafty girl got inspired to start playing with my clothes again. (Of course, when I do it, it might not have the same appeal…but the sentiment is there!) All that is to say, I needed that energy injected back into my veins.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been ready for clothes that make us feel something. Bottega’s collection did just that. But another show that caught my eye was Issey Miyake in Paris. Man, this one will be living in my brain for a while. Firstly, I love strong silhouettes, plus, while we’ve seen a lot of sheer on the runways this season, I love the way it was showcased here—in silk organza, in open knits, in semi-sheer weaves. It’s light and airy but with an edge, and I imagine I’ll be emulating that come spring.
MD: I loved the beanbag chairs, personally. Okay, next question: Which collection can you most clearly imagine yourself wearing?
DC: After paging through collection after collection, I think I can confidently say I’m a Chloé girl. The way Chemena Kamali has brought boho-chic to life—and with vigor, I might add—has gotten me to rethink the aesthetic the way you’ve chosen to revisit plaid.
And on the note of hyper-feminine (but with an edge) collections that also feel wearable without getting too…costume-y, I love Cecilie Bahnsen. Her brand is strong, and I have swan-dived right into that Kool-Aid. Plus, I just get such a sense of joy when I wear her pieces, especially for everyday occasions, like I have in the past. Not to mention, I nearly fainted when I saw that she collaborated with The North Face. My two worlds have collided.
MD: Cecilie Bahnsen is a strong brand, and boho is eternal. My answer would be Coach. I mean, the outerwear! The chunky white sneakers and socks! The stickered bags! It was made for me. Honorable mention goes to COS’s see now, buy now collection. Frankly, it’s just one of my go-to capsule wardrobe brands. What’s the singular piece that you simply have to get your hands on?
DC: I can’t stop thinking about the belted tote Prada showed this season. It’s an updated take on the label’s current Buckle Bag with Belt, and it’s living rent-free in my head. So…if anyone out there is reading this…you know where to find me. What’s the one thing you’re eyeing from this season?
MD: Funny you should mention unforgettable bags because that’s what I was going to say. Should we discuss Moschino’s bleach bottle? And I’m pretty sure I saw a purse slung atop the shoulder like a sweater at Grace Ling (another show I loved).
I can’t lie, I feel a little bit rejuvenated, stylistically. To your point about clothes that let us explore, this month gave me the feeling that fellow fashion lovers are more open-minded than ever when it comes to personal style. Maybe it’s time I try serotonin dressing…
DC: Do it! I will be happily awaiting those office ‘fits.
Meg (she/her) is the associate fashion commerce editor at ELLE.com, where she specializes in shopping stories spanning the fashion, home, and lifestyle categories. Over the past three years, she has devoted countless hours to researching brands, testing hundreds (maybe even thousands!) of products, and deep-diving into market and consumer trends. Her favorite job responsibilities consist of co-writing the monthly series Same Same But Different and curating the fashion market for ELLE Escapes. Meg graduated magna cum laude from the Missouri School of Journalism with an emphasis on magazine editing. In 2020, one of her feature stories in the service article category was recognized by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The year prior, the Society of Professional Journalists named voxmagazine.com “Best Affiliated Magazine” in its Mark of Excellence Awards, when she was on staff. Meg’s stories have appeared on Cosmopolitan, Town & Country, Harper’s Bazaar, and Good Housekeeping, among many other outlets. Her personal passions include travel, buffalo sauce, and gardening. You can find her in New York, where she lives, or on Instagram, where she also lives. She will never stop hoping for a One Direction reunion tour.
Dale Arden Chong is the senior fashion commerce editor at ELLE.com, where she edits and reports on the latest trends, labels, and designers in the fashion space to bring you the best items that will elevate your wardrobe. With a passion for great sartorial stories and getting dressed (as well as a knack for nerding out over the details), she has a robust knowledge of high-quality design, construction, and materials based on testing hundreds of products over her eight-plus years in the industry, writing stories for Glamour, Who What Wear, Entertainment Tonight, and others. So, if you ask her for a shopping recommendation, she’ll give you five picks plus her honest, unfiltered opinions. Dale graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Communication Design. In 2015, she was a finalist for the National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Award in the Online category of “Commentary/Analysis/Trend” for her article “Calvin Klein Underwear: What Is Plus Size?” Outside of the style world, her hobbies include cooking, playing tennis, ceramics, and watching BTS dance videos on YouTube, among other things. Follow her on Instagram at @dalearden.