Naomi Elizée, Fashion Editor and Podcast Host
Ever meet someone with so much style that it stops you in your tracks? I experienced that firsthand when I met Naomi for the first time at a random event when I was working at Teen Vogue and she at Vogue, where she’s still a market editor. Though she works at arguably the biggest fashion magazine around, she does so much to push for inclusion and diversity in fashion and beams with a genuine light that is so rare in the industry. When she’s not helping us all figure out what the next big thing is, Naomi hosts one of my favorite podcasts called ‘So...What Do You Do Again?’. She also happens to have one of the best denim collections around. On a recent sunny afternoon, Louisa and I stopped by Naomi’s Bed-Stuy apartment to shoot her in the most perfect wide leg AYR jeans while we caught up about where she does her denim shopping, and the coolest new brands to keep your eye on. — Callia
What is your relationship with denim like? Do you find it tough to shop for jeans?
I have always been obsessed with denim. I feel like Ive been looking for the perfect pair of jeans since I was 5 years old! I am definitely a jean hoarder (I own over 20 pairs) but each one of them has a different feel. I’m most comfortable when I am in a pair of jeans with a plain old t-shirt. It feels easy.
I do find it tough to shop for jeans because the fit has to always be right and I’m not one to get a pair of ill-fitting jeans with the idea that I will just get them tailored. When I shop for jeans, I'm either scanning through racks of vintage shops or scrolling online on the sites of my favorite denim brands like AYR and Mother Denim.
Can you Tell us about the pair of jeans that you’re wearing. what makes them special?
I am wearing a pair of AYR jeans and honestly they are my favorite. They fit well, look good, and are one of the most comfortable pair of jeans I own. I discovered AYR through Instagram and one day the brand invited me to try on a few things at their store in Soho. It was a beautiful experience. I believe it was the combination of shopping in store (something I honestly haven’t done in months) and being surrounded by the brand’s staff that were so welcoming and honest. These are special because I know they will last me for years to come and that I wont get tired of wearing them.
You work at vogue, meaning you have a great vantage point when it comes to the denim market. what have you noticed about its evolution over the past few years?
Two years ago a sustainability expert came into my office and educated us about the realities of pollution and how the fashion industry plays a major part in it. It was in that moment that I realized how many harmful chemicals are used in order to give jeans a certain "wash" or "feel" and it was horrifying. I was wearing jeans that day and wanted to take them off right then and there.
From that moment on, I have been more aware of the brands I choose to shop from by making sure they are utilizing ethical practices and working towards being sustainable. And that is where I see the evolution of the denim market going. Consumers are hyperaware of their carbon footprint and are looking for ways to reduce the waste they add to our environment. With that being said, Brands are looking to be more sustainable and eco-friendly because this is what consumers want — a good pair of jeans that fit well but are also not harmful to our environment. Brands like Everlane, Warp + Weft, and Boyish Jeans are leading the pack of brands choosing to be more vocal about their impact on our environment and connecting with customers based off of their ethos.
You’re a big champion for diversity in the fashion industry, and in my opinion, it can be hard to find jeans that fit curvier body types. are there any brands out there that you would recommend?
Yes! I have so many...Mother Denim, AYR, Denim Forum by Aritzia and Thakoon are currently my go-tos.
NAOMI’S DENIM STATS:
JEANS SHE’S WEARING: AYR’s ‘The Must’ wide leg jeans
WORN WITH: AYR White T Shirt and Miista Boots
#1 ISSUE YOU HAVE WHEN SHOPPING FOR JEANS: My thigh-to-waist ratio. I hate the back gap :(
THING YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THESE JEANS: The length!
All Photos by Louisa Wells.