Hot Topic(s)

It's so hot out there. Fall, am I right?

I want my pumpkin spice latte. I want a chunky sweater. I want to light a candle and put on Folklore... Instead, I'm in Southern California, and it's very much giving Cruel Summer.

So, since I am already hot and bothered, I figure I'd drop some hot takes.

Influencer culture is over.

Because I have news for you: buying the same jeans as Kendall Jenner is not going to make us look like Kendall Jenner. Instead of buying whatever someone is pushing at us this week, I think we should start buying things we actually like. Wear what makes you happy. Buy what makes you feel good. Not everything needs to be "the next big thing".

And honestly, I think we're all exhausted from trying to keep up with the (Jenner) Kardashians!

The algorithm is killing creativity.

We've all seen "Kinda chic to...". In fact, we posted it. We are not above accountability here. But that's the problem. The algorithm has gotten so good at rewarding what already works that everyone is incentivized to make the same thing.

We can spend three hours coming up with a genuinely creative concept, carefully edit it, obsess over the details, and post it to approximately 14 people, three of whom are our employees. Or you can put bland text over a random still image and suddenly the algorithm is like: THIS. This is what the people need. Don't worry; we will absolutely still subscribe to a trend here and there. We are not above it. But we are going to keep making room for creativity too.

Which brings me to something I'm very excited about: First Takes Only

We've heard such great feedback and we love that you're loving it. We're constantly coming up with new ideas and talking points, but we also want to hear yours. If there's something you want us to talk about, debate, obsess over, or completely overthink, send it our way. We're all ears.

Can we get some new holiday traditions?

I love a pumpkin this. I love a pine that. A candle that smells like someone somewhere is baking something in a kitchen I will never see. But just like that Mariah Carey Christmas song, we all love it. We know every word. It is objectively good. Maybe this year we try something new?

Try a new holiday scent. A unique holiday candle from Rik perhaps?! Decorate a little differently. Find a new tradition that actually feels like yours instead of recreating the exact same Pinterest board every December. Speaking of scents, I am officially going on the record:

RÜHL: No.64 Chateau is better than any $90 Diptyque candle.

Yes, I have worked with both companies. No, I do not think that makes me biased. If anything, I think my biases have cancelled each other out, which means I can confidently stand ten toes down on this opinion.

Chateau wins. I said what I said.

And finally: I think we all need to embrace a well-fitting straight-leg jean.

This may be my most controversial take yet.

Jeans are supposed to be a classic. A staple. Something you can wear for years. And yet, every time I look back at old photos, the most cringe-worthy part is almost always the jeans. I rode the second-skin skinny jeans trend for far longer than I care to admit. Those jeans were eventually retired, along with the photographic evidence.

For something that is supposed to be a wardrobe staple, why do the trendy styles cycle through so quickly? One season it's ultra-wide. Then it's barrel. Then it's low rise. Then it's high rise. Then it's somehow both low-rise and high-rise depending on the brand.

At some point, can we just collectively choose a well-fitting jean? Classic. Flattering. Reliable. Not going to make you look back at a photo in three years and wonder what, exactly, possessed you.

Maybe the hottest trend this fall is simply not looking back at your outfit photos with regret.

But seriously... RÜHL is in-store now, so go check it out!! (and online shortly. we have big ideas for the website and big ideas take time).

-Brett