Second Life

Katie Jane Hughes is a world-renowned makeup artist, content creator, and founder of the beauty brand KJH Brand. Hughes originally trained as a nail technician and worked for several years in London as an in-demand nail tech for runway shows, editorials, and red carpet events. But she knew that her true passion was makeup, so she eventually quit doing nails and moved to New York City, throwing herself into the makeup world. During this time, she also started posting tutorials and looks on Instagram and, eventually, TikTok—a decision that’s paid off, as she now has over one million followers between the two platforms. Fans were drawn to her sense of humor, her impeccable technique, and her down-to-earth, no-BS approach to makeup. Last year, after years of working with brands like Glossier and Estée Lauder, Hughes launched her own makeup line, KJH Brand, which focuses on multiuse, flexible products that anyone can use. The brand followed up its first smash-hit release, the Hyper Shine High Lite Kit, with its newest product, the Soft Smudge Lip and Cheek Stick, released this October.

This week, we're doing a deep dive into the trends, habits, and styles of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. We've assembled a fascinating panel to help us decode and break down what's popular these days and how it differs between generations. We're joined by Gen Z stylist Tabitha Sanchez, trend reporter Casey Lewis, and content creator Faith Hitchon. At the end of the episode, we even get a few responses from Hitchon's Gen Alpha daughter, India. They're here to talk about how each generation tackles shopping, what's in and out, and why Gen Alpha might not care about trends at all.

Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo are the founders of the modern romantic fiction entertainment company 831 Stories. The two met in college, and after graduating, Claire worked in the arts and Erica in editorial, but they stayed close and constantly shared ideas. In 2010, they partnered up and launched Of a Kind, an e-commerce company that sold limited-edition pieces and crafted meaningful editorial content about the designers behind them. Of a Kind grew a loyal following of customers who loved Claire and Erica’s keen sense of style and humor. In 2015, they sold the business to Bed Bath & Beyond and stayed at the company for four more years doing marketing and strategy. In 2019, BB&B closed Of a Kind, which allowed Claire and Erica to slow down for the first time in years. They took a pause and thought about their next steps. Realizing the potential of the romance space (and how much they personally resonated with the content), they founded 831 Stories. The company now has a publishing imprint with Simon & Schuster, and their first book, Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff, was published this past September.

Who What Wear Associate Director of Special Projects Kristen Nichols just got back from Paris Fashion Week, so we had to get her in for an episode to break down her time in the fashion capital of the world. Join Kristen and Shopping Director Bobby Schuessler as they discuss the biggest headlines from Paris, their favorite shows, and the trends they’ve noticed across fashion month—from a return to personal style to an anti–quiet luxury movement. Plus, they talk about their dream shopping lists, including which of the 11 newly debuted Hermès bags they’d love to own.

Imani Ellis is the founder and CEO of The Creative Collective and CultureCon. Imani studied communications in college and soon after began her career as an NBC Page at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. After just two months, she was plucked from the program for a job in communications at Bravo. She spent the next few years at NBCUniversal, rising through the ranks, but she craved a more authentic connection and collaboration. In 2016, she founded The Creative Collective from her living room. What started as a weekly gathering for Black and Brown creatives quickly outgrew her apartment, as Imani realized there was a real need for these spaces. In 2017, she created CultureCon, a conference that brought together Black and Brown voices to collaborate and celebrate each other. Over the next few years, she scaled CultureCon considerably by moving to larger venues; inviting guests such as Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King; and working with brands like Target, Google, HBO, and Netflix. In 2022, she left NBCUniversal, where she’d risen to VP of communications, unscripted entertainment publicity, to pursue her projects full-time. This year’s CultureCon, presented in partnership with Max, wrapped up just this past weekend.