IN THE WORKS is a series about the women who get things done. Each edition goes inside what she’s working on, where she goes, and what she wears through all of it.

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Claire Parker is a Brooklyn-based podcaster and comedian. She sums up her career best when we compliment her on her thoughtful answers to our questions;

However, one does not become a professional yapper overnight. Claire, originally from New Jersey, was working the standup comedy circuit in New York City while holding various day jobs to pay rent when she met the woman who would become her best friend and longtime co-host, Ashley Hamilton.

The two Brooklyn-based comedians hit it off, and decided to bring their love of comedy, yapping, and pop culture to podcasting. First in the form of a Brittany Spears podcast where they took an un-fact-checked approach to discussing everything from her discography to her memoirs to her lore.

Their next podcast, ‘Celebrity Memoir Book Club’, was exactly what it sounds like. They read 100s of celebrity memoirs (so you don’t have to) and discussed them in depth once a week. Once they had begun to sufficiently lose their minds from reading so many celebrity memoirs, they decided to broaden the scope of their coverage, rebranding the podcast to ‘Good Noticings’ - which takes their critical lens, strong stances, and comedic takes on celebrity memoirs and applies it to all that’s happening in the zeitgeist.

Both of which I listen(ed) to religiously.

A few nights prior to meeting up with Claire to do this profile, I was an audience member at the second ever ‘Clash Talk’ held at Union Hall in Park Slope, Brooklyn. And it was funny. Like really funny. Like take a first-date whose first language is not English, give them no context and they’ll also find it funny-funny (not that I’d do that).

‘Clash Talk’ — a live panel talk show — is the latest endeavor in the content universe Claire and Ashley are building alongside their podcast.

And this evolution was always part of the plan.

The week of this profile, ‘Good Noticings’ was moving studios. So, when we asked Claire to choose somewhere (else) that felt like ‘her’ in NYC for the shoot, we ended up at a quiet plaza in Clinton Hill next to her favorite Japanese market.

On work

Plain Jane New York: What is the premise of ‘Good Noticings’ for anyone hearing about it for the first time?

Claire Parker: ‘Good Noticings’ is the podcast that I do with my best friend and fellow comedian Ashley Hamilton. We basically take all the hot headlines from the week and do a little bit of a deeper dive. We actually read the articles and we come up with opinions, and then sometimes we’ll even bring in a secondary or tertiary source so that we can give the listeners a bigger picture of what’s going on in the news and in pop culture.

PJNY: How did ‘Clash Talk’ come about?

CP: We just love talk shows. We love interviewing people and we feel like the late night landscape is changing, and we want to be a part of the change. We want to hold celebrities accountable for actually being interesting and entertaining. I don’t think they should get away with just getting up there and saying whatever. We love a Graham Norton panel show. We love British humor. We love a Channel 4 TV talk show. And so we’re really trying to bring that to the US.

PJNY: Obviously ‘Good Noticings’ has developed past just a podcast. Why was it important to expand it?

CP: We are stand-up comedians first and foremost, so I feel like when we started the podcast, the goal was always to get people to come out and see us perform live. I love performing live. I love having people in person. I feel like post-COVID, people love coming out and meeting each other. We have such a strong community, which I feel like — if you listen to our podcast, you probably have a specific set of values and also probably a specific sense of humor. And so I feel like it’s a great way for people to make friends in real life if they can bond over the pod.

PJNY: What did you want to be when you grew up?

CP: I feel like I wanted to be everything when I grew up. And then when I was in college, I had a professor be like, “Well, if money was no object, what would you be?” And I was like, “Well, everybody would be a comedian. Everybody’s dream is to be on SNL.” And I remember him being like, “No, it’s not.” And that’s when I found out that was my unique dream. So I guess that had always been my dream, but I didn’t know that not everybody in the world wanted to be doing stand-up.

PJNY: What’s the piece of work you’re proudest of so far?

CP: I think the thing I’m proud of most is, one, my special that I put out. I just decided I wanted to do it and I did it, and I am really proud of how it looks, how it came out. I feel like the people who have liked it got exactly what I was trying to do, and so I’m proud of that. And then also I’m just proud of the constant pivots. I feel like we had something that worked, and to be able to walk away from something that works to pursue greener pastures — I’m proud of the courage that took.

PJNY: What do you love most about your work?

CP: My dream has always been to be able to pay my rent by hanging out, and that’s what I figured out. That’s kind of an incredible job. We’re going to Edinburgh at the end of August for Fringe Fest, which is this amazing experience. I went last year for my comedy special, Claire Parker’s 32, and this year we’re going back with ‘Clash Talk’. To see that many people being creative on that scale, you’ll see the most genius thing you’ve ever seen in your life, and it’s just one person with no props. And then you’ll see some of the worst pieces of shit you’ve ever seen, and it just is fun to see what people are putting out there at all levels. We’re doing eight nights of ‘Clash Talk’.

On getting dressed

PJNY: What are you wearing today?

CP: Today I am wearing my Plain Jane New York white t-shirt — The Shortie sleeve. I thrifted these trousers somewhere in London. I have my Crocs, and then I got this handkerchief from Liberty London.

PJNY: What makes an outfit feel like you?

CP: I feel like if it has an academic vibe. Everything I wear ends up being a little bit dark academia. And then I love a chunky boot. Simple, easy.

PJNY: What do you think about when you’re getting dressed to record versus for an event versus for stand-up?

CP: I feel like the big thing about getting dressed to record is I’m sitting down, so what’ll work sitting down, what won’t be too revealing if I’m crossing my legs a lot. I think I’ve been trying to lean towards bright colors that pop on camera — that aren’t necessarily in my normal palette, but just what’ll catch the eye as people are scrolling.

PJNY: And for stand-up?

CP: For stand-up, my number one rule is I don’t want to show my knees. It has to be something that I absolutely feel confident in, because if you’re alone up on stage, there’s nowhere to hide. You can’t do that thing where you wear an outfit and then step outside and feel embarrassed and you’re trying to cover yourself. When you feel uncomfortable in an outfit, it’s tenfold when you’re alone on stage, especially if you’re trying to post a photo or a clip later. So, things that make me feel confident, things that I can walk in. I can’t wear something I can’t move and lunge in, should I want to do an act-out. And yeah, I try to stay within my own color palette. I do a lot of blues, navys, blacks, whites.

On life in New York City

PJNY: Favorite spots to shop?

CP: I love the second floor of the Chinatown Mall. There’s an Eckhaus Latta there, and then there’s this place called Old Jewelry, and then there’s just a lot of vintage stores. I was just walking through Cobble Hill for home goods, down Atlantic — they have the most gorgeous stuff. There’s this potter I’m obsessed with from England who I’ll actually gatekeep, because I feel like his stuff goes on sale so randomly, and they had his vases there. So walking down Atlantic is great for home goods. I love the Lower East Side for shopping. There’s a couple great vintage stores in Greenpoint. Bunny’s Vintage, and then there’s the one we did a book swap at — Close Friends Vintage.

PJNY: What’s your favorite thing about living in New York?

CP: My favorite thing about living in New York is kind of everything. I love the walkability. I love that everybody here is trying their best at every single thing. I love the variation in different industries. I don’t want to go somewhere where everyone’s doing the same thing, because I think it’s cool that the people who rule the roost in the finance world don’t give a shit about the people ruling the roost in the stand-up world, who don’t care who’s the best dancer, but they’re all here living together. I love that. I love buskers on the subway. I love an e-bike. I love bopping around. I love going on a walk. I feel like when I take the J train over the Williamsburg Bridge, I still am in awe. So kind of every part.

I love to take people on meandering walks. I do a big Williamsburg-Greenpoint run that includes McCarren. I call it the Great Gates of Greenpoint, where you go to the Five Leaves area, and then you can do all the thrifting — you go to Seven Wonders, you can end up at Taqueria Ramirez, I love putting my name down for Bernie’s. So I just think walking through and window shopping in those areas is fun when you’ve anchored it with a great brunch and then a great dinner.

I love the Lower East Side. I love to take people to the second floor of the Chinatown Mall. I feel like that’s such a fun thing — nobody trusts you when you walk in because it’s kind of a defunct mall, and then you go upstairs and it’s the coolest vintage and the coolest clothing stores, and then you can get amazing Chinese food next door.

PJNY: Favorite place to eat right now?

CP: I love Dolores in Bed-Stuy, that’s a big one. All my Bed-Stuy spots — Dolores, Little Muenster. I love Barker’s, and then I love Welcome Home. Those are kind of my “en route” spots, and then I’ve been getting a lot of ice cream at Brown Butter. Those are my top five rotation spots right now.

PJNY: What’s one place that feels very New York to you?

CP: Parks. I know that’s silly, but anytime you go to a park and there’s a thousand people there doing unique, interesting things, I love it. I love a park in the summer in New York — it’s really people just spreading out, making do with this space. Anytime I go to a park and there’s live music, I’m like, ah, isn’t this cool?

PJNY: What part of the city do you feel yourself spending the most time in?

CP: I live in the Bed-Stuy, Clinton Hill area, so I’m there a lot. And then my studio is in East Williamsburg, so I’m there a lot. I feel like Greenpoint is probably my favorite neighborhood. But I love being everywhere — I really do love an errand. With stand-up, I was doing mics and shows all over the city, so I could be in multiple boroughs in one day, in one evening. I love the commute.

PJNY: What’s something you do every week without fail?

CP: I definitely go out to eat every week without fail. I mean, I’m going out to eat three to four, five to six times a week.

PJNY: Best place to meet up with friends?

CP: I love going for a walk. I mean, the best place to meet up with a friend is at their place, and then they come back to yours. I love living in a neighborhood with my friends and just going for a quick “let’s go get a coffee” walk, just to get out of the house.

PJNY: Best place to spend time alone?

CP: Oh, a backyard. I feel like the thing that Brooklyn has over Manhattan is that every restaurant, every cafe has the cutest backyard. To just be under a tree in a backyard with a breeze is amazing.

Rapid fire

PJNY: Go-to coffee spot?

CP: Padmore’s in Brooklyn.

PJNY: Favorite season in the city?

CP: Spring. When things wake up, it’s amazing.

PJNY: Best walk?

CP: To your friend’s house who lives nearby, so it’s no problemo at all, and then they can walk you home.

PJNY: One thing you never leave the house without?

CP: My phone and my keys.

PJNY: Something you’re excited about right now?

CP: I’m excited about going to Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival to do ‘Clash Talk’, in August. Oh, and Rosalía’s album Lux — I just saw her live and it changed my life.

PJNY: Your current obsession?

CP: My current obsession is a specific type of yellow rose I’m trying to grow in my backyard. I’ve been doing a lot of research on best climbing flowering plants for a Brooklyn backyard — a purple clematis versus a yellow... I think it’s called a Thomas Grady rose or something. I sound not-obsessed describing it, but I’ve done a lot of research.

PJNY: Your perfect NYC day in three steps?

CP: Okay, my perfect day would probably be: go to Welcome Home and get a cinnamon roll and something savory, like a sandwich, and eat it in Herbert Von King Park. Then maybe walk around the Lower East Side to do some errands and shopping, pick some stuff up. And then I think it would be going out to Queens, to Forest Hills Stadium, to see a concert.

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Thanks for reading <3

IN THE WORKS is a series about the women who get things done. Each edition goes inside what she’s working on, where she goes, and what she wears through all of it.

Truly original experiences are few and far between. But I think being sisters and roommates with a florist whose studio is our shared NYC apartment is one of mine.

Meet Hanna Darnell, a full-time social media manager who moonlights as a florist. Or perhaps it’s the other way around.

Older sisters will understand this—I watched my sister follow the blueprint I drafted. We went to the same college. We were part of the same club. I moved to New York, she moved a year later (and we became roommates). And so on and so forth. I would sometimes find myself wondering, ‘what path will she carve for herself?’ Not that I ever doubted her. I knew, and so did she, that she just hadn't found her calling yet. But her potential was always obvious. Whatever path she chose would be hers to own.

When Hanna first moved to New York, she was working a remote marketing job at a luxury watch brand. She was good at it, but didn’t love the work. After a few years with the brand, she hit that point of no return that I know many of us have experienced with a job. That re-direction led her to the career that had been sitting patiently dormant, waiting for the spark to reignite.

“I didn’t get back into floral until about 3 years ago. I had quit my job that I’d been at for 4 years and needed a reset, which led me back to floral. I was like, this always made me really happy, I want to just do this for fun. I worked at a flower shop in New York for a summer — best summer of my life — and that re-sparked my creativity. I forgot how much I loved it.”

Almost overnight, I went from wondering what my sister’s future would have in store to being awe-struck and inspired by the new career she was building for herself.

Then her floral and creator career really started to blossom (pun intended) when she began consistently posting her process on social media, her Flower Market hauls putting @hannasroses on the map.

“I already have a knack for making videos since I do that at my other job, so I basically was just like, why am I not doing this for myself? I loved watching people make videos about florals and learning from other florists, so I figured I should just make them myself. I’m not shy from the camera and I know how to edit, so it just came naturally to me.”

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On a weekday morning in June we followed Hanna to where you can find her on most weekday mornings: the NYC Flower Market, located on West 28th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan. This is where her work begins.

On work

PJNY: What did you want to be when you grew up?

HD: I always wanted to be a teacher. I just wanted to teach little kids — I love little kids, I always used to babysit. I was like, I’m going to be a teacher. That obviously didn’t happen.

PJNY: How did you get into floral design?

HD: I actually worked at a flower shop when I was in college for side money. My friend’s uncle owned this flower shop on our college campus and she got me a job there, which turned out to be the best thing I ever did. I knew nothing about florals, and a woman named Laura — she was the head florist, still my favorite person ever — she was my mentor. She literally taught me everything I know, all the basics, and then I just learned from there. I was doing basic flower arrangements on a college campus, nothing crazy.

PJNY: What were you doing before this?

HD: I was working for a small Swiss watch company doing marketing. Social media marketing is my background — I’ve been doing it for about 7 or 8 years since I graduated college. I was doing it for that company, which I always liked, but you get to a point where you feel like you’ve done everything you can do and it’s time to leave. That’s kind of where I was at.

PJNY: What do you love most about working in New York?

HD: The people you meet here are just like nowhere else in the world. The opportunities, all the brands, all the companies — there’s so much work to go around. I meet the coolest, most creative people, and it makes me feel very full and inspired constantly.

PJNY: Where do you look for inspiration for your work?

HD: Honestly, just being outside in New York City is inspiring — everywhere you walk, coffee shops, restaurants, stores, everything is so inspiring. Also Pinterest, obviously. And there are so many talented florists and creators out there that I’m constantly learning from. I try to put my own spin on things and have my own vibe, which I think I do. But there’s a lot of talented people out there and you can learn from them.

Plain Jane New York: You said your style in 3 words was timeless, sophisticated, and feminine. Do you see those qualities come through in your work?

Hanna Darnell: Maybe not timeless, because I think I can do some funky stuff. I definitely think it can be very sophisticated and chic and just different, and I think a lot of people appreciate different and unique floral these days. It’s like art.

PJNY: What work are you most looking forward to in the future of your career, both in florals and social media?

HD: I’m just excited to work with more brands that I look up to and am inspired by. I always have imposter syndrome, and I’m like, how are these brands thinking of me? They look at me as a creative and they want me to make florals for their events, which is always mind-blowing. So doing more work like that with people I look up to is what I’m most excited about.

PJNY: Who would be your dream client?

HD: Beyoncé.

PJNY: What are you most looking forward to with your work?

HD: I just feel like I’m feeling very confident, more confident than I’ve ever felt in designing floral in this era right now, and I’m just excited to keep going and doing more work.

PJNY: How do you see your business growing in the future, both social and floral?

HD: Only up from here. That’s how I see it, honestly. I just feel like I’m in my groove right now, and onwards and upwards. It can only get better.

PJNY: What’s your favorite kind of floral work to do?

HD: I love when the client gives me full creative freedom and just say, “Do what you do best,” and gives me a color scheme. That’s my favorite kind of work.

PJNY: When did you start incorporating social media into your floral work?

HD: I already have a knack for making videos since I do that at my other job, so I basically was just like, why am I not doing this for myself? I loved watching people make videos about florals and learning from other florists, so I figured I should just make them myself. I’m not shy from the camera and I know how to edit, so it just came naturally to me.

PJNY: What was the turning point on socials for you?

HD: I think my flower market hauls are what really helped me take off. People love to see exotic things, and in New York you can get literally any kind of floral imaginable. Everything’s shipped in from all over the world. The flower market hauls were definitely the start of it.

PJNY: How would you describe Hanna’s Roses?

HD: I think I’m very versatile. I can do really structured and sculptural work, which I’m getting better at, but also very whimsical and girly. My strongest suit is that someone can come to me and just be like, this is kind of what I want, and it could be literally anything, and I can make it work. I don’t have one specific style that I stick to. I can mold and do whatever is needed. A lot of people think you have to niche down and have your own type of style, but I don’t think you have to do that. If I enjoy doing all different kinds of floral, I should just do all different kinds of floral.

PJNY: What are some of your favorite floral trends right now?

HD: I love that people are using unconventional things to make arrangements — like food, or just things you wouldn’t think should be arranged, and it looks like floral. I also love bedazzled flowers. When people put stones and gems on them, I think it’s very fun and cute.

PJNY: What’s one of your favorite floral arrangements you’ve ever made?

HD: I’m really loving this one right now. It reminds me of a pond, a really pretty pond in Paris or something. Kind of reminding me of Monet’s Water Lilies. Is that too big of a compliment to myself? But I feel like it’s kind of reminding me of that.

PJNY: What are your favorite flowers?

HD: I love anthurium. I feel like I use them a lot. But lately I love parrot tulips. I love orchids, all kinds of orchids.

On life in New York City

PJNY: What does a typical day in the life look like for you?

HD: Get up really early in the morning, go to the flower market, get a coffee always, or matcha at Kijitora. Then I typically do floral during the day, deliver, work some of my other jobs, and then usually get dinner with friends or drinks. That’s kind of my favorite activity.

PJNY: What do you love most about living in New York?

HD: The accessibility to literally anything I could ever need at any time of day.

PJNY: What does a typical weekend look like for you in New York City?

HD: Definitely filled with food, all my friends, bopping around, frolicking, kiki-ing. But I also do a lot of floral on the weekends too because people have events on the weekends. But it doesn’t feel like work to me. Like, this past weekend I went to the Hamptons, dragged my sister along, and it was a Saturday and technically I was working, but it was really fun work. So I don’t really think of it that way.

PJNY: Where do you take someone who’s visiting?

HD: I love to show them my neighborhood, so take them around Williamsburg, go to Domino Park, maybe Diner for dinner. But I also love a Central Park moment in the summer, so biking up the West Side Highway, maybe getting a cheeky glass of wine at Sauced. That’s kind of my vibe these days.

PJNY: Favorite vintage or just shopping spot right now?

HD: Sorbara’s is the best vintage ever. I cannot walk by it without going in, and it’s on my street, so it’s very dangerous.

PJNY: Favorite place to eat right now?

HD: Birds of a Feather in my neighborhood. Just always kills it.

PJNY: One place that feels very New York to you?

HD: Bar Oliver. Actually feels very Europe, so maybe not very New York. Maybe Le Dive. I feel like that is just like New York in a nutshell. Performative males, performative girls, all the things, me included.

PJNY: What part of the city do you find yourself spending the most time in?

HD: Definitely Williamsburg these days.

PJNY: What’s something you do every week without fail?

HD: Go to the flower market.

PJNY: Best place to meet up with friends?

HD: Probably the West Side Highway.

PJNY: Best place to spend time alone?

HD: I hate spending time alone. Probably my apartment, just doing florals at my kitchen table. This is like the only alone time I have, and that’s my choice. I choose to fill my time, but this is my time.

On getting dressed

PJNY: What’s something other than your Plain Jane t-shirt that you’ve been reaching for a lot lately?

HD: My black t-shirt. I need a Plain Jane version because I actually always wear black, so I’m like waiting for a black t-shirt.

PJNY: What are you thinking about when you’re getting dressed to make a delivery, do an install, or go to the flower market?

HD: I’m thinking that I want to look presentable always, but also very comfortable and chic and simple. Whenever I’m doing that kind of work, I’m not trying to wear anything too crazy because I know I might be getting dirty, and it’s not about me in the moment — it’s about the flowers. So I try to look very timeless and chic and simple.

PJNY: What do you think about when you’re getting dressed for work?

HD: I’m usually getting up really early in the morning when I go to the market, so I’m getting up at 6 AM, throwing on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, just very simple. And when I’m doing events and setting up, I try to look decent and cute, but you just never know what you’re going to get.

PJNY: What about when you’re getting dressed to make a video?

HD: When I’m making videos, I like to wear outfits that I would actually wear with my friends going to dinner, out on the town. I just think it’s a fun contrast of me working but also looking cute.

PJNY: What are you wearing today?

HD: I am wearing a Plain Jane New York t-shirt in a size medium. The Shortie. With Levi jeans, a leather belt, and hoops.

PJNY: How has your style evolved since moving to New York?

HD: Oh my God, I don’t think I would have good style if I didn’t live here. No shade, but I definitely dress more chic, and I’m not wearing like designer things all the time, but I’m wearing like cool vintage pieces or just very simple outfits that just naturally look good.

PJNY: What makes an outfit feel like you?

HD: I always like to look very chic and simple, but often with really fun accessories. I like to look feminine — not girly feminine, but in a ‘woman’ way. Chic and feminine, not cutesy.

PJNY: How would you describe your personal style in 3 words?

HD: Timeless, sophisticated, and feminine.

PJNY: How do you balance comfort versus style in a city where you’re always moving?

HD: I always try to wear comfortable shoes — ballet flats, cute sneakers, wedges if I’m trying to be more dressed up. And as far as style, I’m never wearing tight outfits. I’m always wearing something very chic and classy but something I can move in. Silk pants I’ve been wearing a lot lately, linen in the summer, that kind of vibe.

Rapid Fire

PJNY: Go-to coffee spot?

HD: Changes all the time, but right now I’ve been going to Butler a lot because it’s really close and they make good lattes.

PJNY: Favorite season in the city?

HD: Summer. I love summer and spring.

PJNY: Best walk?

HD: Walking from my apartment up to Greenpoint and looping around by the water.

PJNY: One thing you never leave the house without?

HD: Lip gloss.

PJNY: Something you’re excited about right now?

HD: My European Sister Summer.

PJNY: Something you’ve been listening to a lot lately?

HD: I have been listening to a lot of my old playlists that I made like 5 years ago that has a mix of like the 1975, Brent Faiyaz. Like, it’s all over the place.

PJNY: Current obsession?

HD: Raspberry TruFru.

PJNY: Your perfect NYC day in 3 stops.

HD: Coffee in the neighborhood, lunch in the city, and wine in the park.

Signed. sealed. delivered.

xx Hally

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IN THE WORKS is a series about the women who get things done. Each edition goes inside what she’s working on, where she goes, and what she wears through all of it.

Photos by Zaina Mahmoud.

One fateful Sunday last November, I saw Allison post that she’d be participating in a makers market in our neighborhood. We’d been internet friends for awhile, so I made it a point to swing by. I figured I’d introduce myself. Say ‘hi’ and ‘bye’, in and out.

I ended up loitering at her booth for nearly two hours. During those two hours, I met her boyfriend, her friends, and watched as dozens of people ogled her work. And once you see it, you’ll immediately understand why.

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Allison is the exact person who comes to mind when you picture the coolest creative you know who actually makes a living from their work. Her resume reads like a tour through the roles that shape great brands (creative producer, creative director, art director, brand designer, graphic designer) at household names and IYKYK brands alike.

And then there’s Studio Dowd.

For her lighting pieces, Allison’s process can be separated into two distinct phases: Before accessorizing and after accessorizing. We’re here to capture both parts of the process in the two places where Allison makes magic: the studio and her home. We start at the studio.

On the day of our shoot, Zaina and I met up with Allison at Cafe Grumpy in Greenpoint (so ‘Girls’ coded) before commuting to CLAY SPACE together, a hidden gem she can’t not share.

And hidden gem is underselling it. The space is massive and full of windows that bathe the whole place in natural light. We got there early on Sunday morning and thought we were the first ones in, though it’s hard to say for sure in a space like that: shelves and shelves of finished and unfinished ceramic works, many different rooms for glazing, wheel throwing, hand building, firing, and so on.

Allison is wearing an outfit that feels very Allison: a Plain Jane New York tee, jeans, leather loafers, cool silver frames, and a sporty headband.

On Style

Plain Jane New York: Describe your style in three words.

Allison Dowd: I play a careful line between masculine and feminine — that juxtaposition of something tight and something baggy, something lace and something denim. I’d also say sporty. I love an Oakley sunglass or a sporty silhouette paired with more highbrow pieces. And bold — very bright and textural. I love playing with patterns, colors, and texture.

PJNY: Do you see those qualities come through in your work?

AD: Definitely. I think what people gravitate toward in my ceramics is that they’re more playful, colorful, and graphic than the standard ceramic. A lot of that comes from my graphic design background, but also just the way I move through the world. Very color- and pattern-oriented. I love incorporating that into the ceramics too.

PJNY: What are you thinking about when you’re getting dressed to go to the studio?

AD: I’m often thinking about a couple things. One of them is comfort. I’m doing a lot of running around, standing up, sitting down, so I want to make sure that I’m comfortable and flexible in whatever I’m wearing.

Two, I’m creating a lot of things and I want the confidence to make things that feel true to me. So oftentimes I really want to dress in a way that makes me feel good about myself and confident enough to create. And that often entails something that feels a little bit sexy.

My partner, Indy, always jokes that some of my sexiest outfits are worn to Clay [Space]. But I want to feel sexy, I want to feel confident, and I want to feel comfortable when I’m at Clay.

I gravitate towards workwear that can go through the wash, that can bear some clay and glaze, and is a little bit tougher. So oftentimes I’m looking for natural fibers, cottons, a lot of denim and corduroy, things I can throw in the wash after clay, get a little bit muddy, and it’s totally fine.

PJNY: You grew up between Hawaii and Southern California. How has your style changed since moving to New York?

AD: One of the things that really brought me to New York was the freedom of expression here. When I first visited, I was enamored by how many people were expressing themselves in so many different ways. Moving here gave me the confidence to experiment a lot more — to try out different styles and see what I really gravitated towards.

Growing up between Hawaii and Southern California, everything is so much more casual. A kitten heel there is basically dressed up. Moving to New York, I’ve loved being able to be a little fancier and more experimental. I can wear a fancy dress and heels just to go buy groceries, and that feels fun and chic. It’s really changed my style in that way.

PJNY: Alright, what are you wearing today?

AD: Obviously my Plain Jane t-shirt. I have The Short on in a small. It’s my favorite sleeve length, which I’ve heard it’s slept on, so don’t sleep on it.

PJNY: Love that you love The Short.

AD: It’s extremely versatile, I love the way it sits on my body… I love mixing masculinity and femininity, and the juxtaposition between those worlds shows up a lot in how I dress. That longer sleeve gives a classic, slightly boyish cut, but I love that boyish cut in a tight silhouette. It’s this mixture of masculine and feminine, and I feel really confident in that in-between.

PJNY: What’s been heavy in your wardrobe rotation lately?

AD: Denim, obsessively. Jean jacket, jean shorts, denim button-down, dark wash, light wash — just denim everything. And vintage sunglasses. A jean and a vintage sunglass is basically what I’ve been wearing every single day.

On Work

PJNY: How did you go from working in more corporate graphic design into lighting design and ceramics?

AD: I’ve always had an affinity for lamps. If you look around my apartment, I think I have like 20 different lamps that I’ve collected just from me living on this earth. And I was really interested in working in a material that was organic. I love creating, and I love creating digitally, but I just wanted a balance of working with my actual hands. And so that brought me to clay.

And once I got the hang of clay, I was really imagining myself making lighting out of clay — and marrying the world of interior design and clay is two worlds that I’ve been really interested in. I got into lighting design from that whole journey.

PJNY: Tell me more about accessorizing your ceramic pieces.

AD: I love accessorizing myself, and I just like the concept of charms and bringing personality into objects through charms and beads. And I’ve also always loved pearls. Growing up in Hawaii, it’s such a big part of the culture there. So I kind of discovered playing around with clay and jewelry and almost making it like jewelry for your home. I think accessorizing your home is something that’s really fun and personal. And I love this kind of masculine, rigid clay form that can meet these really feminine and fun and flirty, moving beads — like this guy.

PJNY: What do you love most about working in New York?

AD: I think the mixture of so many backgrounds and so many perspectives. I think something that’s really incredible about New York is that there are so many industries that there isn’t one that’s predominant. There’s fashion, there’s finance, there’s architecture, there’s painting, there’s ceramics. Like, you can find an expert at almost anything that lives in New York.

And so I think being a creative and working in New York, you just get exposed to the best of the best kind of art and the most talented people in their own lane. And I think that kind of electricity of talent also really inspires me. Where I see people around me making beautiful things, and it makes it feel like I can make more beautiful things as well. And it makes me just inspired to create, being around so many people that are creating every day and creating so many different and new things.

PJNY: The piece that’s within your grasp right now. Tell us about it.

My latest chandelier — the one right above my head. I think it’s my favorite piece I’ve ever made to date. It is a brown bear clay base, a very organic form — I laid it atop a form and allowed it to be this very flowy, organic ceramic piece. So it’s made with brown bear clay and clear glaze.

But what makes it so special are these beautiful long pink ribbed handmade glass pieces I found in Lisbon at a flea market, from a deconstructed chandelier. All of this glass has its own life — I don’t know how old they are or where they lived before I found them, but these pieces are one-of-a-kind and I haven’t been able to find them anywhere else. And then marrying that with freshwater rice pearls — it’s just all of these elements coming together that makes it so beautiful and effervescent and truly one of a kind. This is one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever made.

PJNY: I know you’re a big traveler and that your travel influences your work. Can you speak to that?

AD: I think exposing yourself to things that are unknown to you is really one of the only ways to expand your vision and understand bigger worlds out there. Having grown up across so many places and experienced so many different cultures — especially coming from a mixed background — travel has bled into so much of my artistic experience.

Going to places and seeing the materials they work with, whether it’s Yakushima in Japan and they work with a lot of cedarwood, or Lisbon and they work with a lot of tile and ceramic, or places in Italy that work with a lot of glass or leather — I love that different places have so much materiality baked into them. And when I visit, going to local thrift stores, vintage shops, flea markets, and finding these one-of-a-kind pieces that originate from people who are experts in that craft — I’ve brought so much of that into my own world. A lot of the beads I use are from Lisbon flea markets, from deconstructed chandeliers, where they are experts at beautiful glasswork.

So I think going to new places, really immersing myself in what they’re experts at, and bringing that back and reflecting it into my own work in a way that feels like me has been really, really fun to experience.

On life in New York City

PJNY: What does a typical weekday look like for you lately?

AD: I always make a coffee in the morning. I have a new espresso machine and I’ve been loving experimenting with different syrups — vanilla bean, salted maple. So coffee first, and then usually a run or a workout to get my body moving.

Then I journal, which — shout out to The Artist’s Way. I really believe in manifestation, in talking about your dreams and expelling any anxieties for the day. It really sets me off on the right foot.

From there I’ll either head into work — I work as an art director in Manhattan — or I’ll go to the studio to grab or finish up pieces. And I’m a big cook, so I’m usually making something when I get home: poke, miso salmon, salted chicken thighs. Something fun. I love cooking and hosting — it brings the community together.

To wind down, if I have the time, I love to take a bath. I was raised by the ocean. Being in water calms me down and washes away the day. That’s what my days are looking like right now.

PJNY: Where do you take someone visiting?

AD: I definitely hit all the parks because I feel like the park culture here is unmatched — that’s where all the energy is, especially in the summer. So I’ll hit up McCarren, Prospect, Domino, Marsha P, Central Park if we’re feeling like going up there. The parks have a lot of really great New York energy.

Definitely some wine bars too. I like Sauced, Plus de Vin, Rude Mouth — there are so many amazing ones where you can just grab a bottle and stay out in the sunlight in the backyard.

And definitely biking around. I’m a big citi biker. I always take them over the Williamsburg Bridge because when you ride over that bridge, you feel like the main character — and that’s really what New York is all about, feeling like a main character everywhere you go.

PJNY: Favorite vintage or shopping spot right now?

AD: Mother of Junk — it’s that spot on Driggs, the big crazy thrift store with the furniture. It’s wild in there but I love going in and finding frames. They just have so much crazy stuff and you can spend a long time in there picking up random things. I love seeing all the vintage chairs, dressers, lamps, beads, frames — that one’s kind of up there for me right now.

And then there’s a strip in the Lower East Side I go to and just bop around. And a lot of online — I’ve been a big eBay girl lately. When I find something I love or I’m really into a designer or a silhouette, I’ll try to source it on eBay.

PJNY: Favorite place to eat right now?

AD: It might be a basic answer, but I am a Café Mogador girl through and through. I love their chicken tagine with the prune and apricot sauce — it just nourishes something inside me. Top it off with a little baklava and a mint tea and I’m set for the whole day. My favorite restaurant.

PJNY: What’s one place that feels very New York to you?

AD: The Williamsburg Bridge. I spend so much of my time on that bridge. I was training for the New York Marathon last November and all of my long runs were just back and forth on that bridge. You see so many different people from all walks of life — biking, commuting, going on strolls — and it just captures this New York essence.

I love that it’s the bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn, and that you can see the entire skyline on both sides. The Manhattan skyline is obviously so iconic, but then you can see the Brooklyn skyline, which I think is just really charming and industrial. Whenever I’m on it, I take a moment to be like — wow, I live in New York and I love it here.

PJNY: What part of the city do you find yourself spending the most time?

AD: Greenpoint. I have a lot of friends there, my clay studio is there, and a lot of my favorite food spots, parks, and vintage stores are up there. It’s kind of my home base right now.

There’s a new vintage store called Glory — she and her mom have been collecting for the last 20 years. I can’t leave without getting something. And there’s a new rotisserie chicken and wine spot. Very slim menu — rotisserie and wine. That’s kind of all I need.

PJNY: What’s something you do every week without fail?

AD: Journal. If not every day, then almost every day. I’m also a big sauna person — I feel like it’s really good for your health, so I sauna every week. I work out every week. I go to the studio every week, if not multiple times a week. Working with clay is really grounding, especially during a heavy laptop week.

And I watch Survivor. Every Wednesday. We’re a big Survivor household, so that’s been a fun tradition.

PJNY: So you sauna?

AD: I do. Actually, one of the best sauna experiences of my life was at a Russian bathhouse in the city — I saunad next to Justin Bieber for two hours. He called me a machine when I walked out of the cold plunge. I even have a mug with me and Justin Bieber on it that says “damn girl, you’re a machine.” Probably the best sauna day of my life.

That was pre-Bieberchella, so when I saw him on the big screen, I was like — the sauna has really been healing him. I think about it all the time.

PJNY: Best place to meet up with friends?

AD: I’ve been loving Plus de Vin in Williamsburg. It’s a little wine bar with light bites, and they have the best chocolate mousse I’ve ever had — a sprinkle of sea salt and olive oil on top. I’m not usually a dessert person, but this dish changed my life. It tastes like a brownie. They also have a great roast chicken and amazing natural wine. And there’s a back garden that’s never busy, so you can show up with a group of ten and just post up back there.

PJNY: Best place to spend time alone?

AD: The Bronx Botanical Garden. I had a five-hour solo date there once and it was one of the best days of my life. I just walked around the indoor garden during an orchid show — stunning florals. Especially in a New York winter, when you’re craving warmth and nature but it’s freezing out, the Bronx Botanical Garden has everything you need.

PJNY: What’s your matcha spot?

AD: Kijitora. I’m a sucker for their strawberry matcha — it’s basically like ice cream. That’s my go-to right now.

PJNY: Coffee spot?

AD: Puerto Rico Coffee Roasters beans, but in my own espresso machine. They’re on St. Mark’s and they have the best beans.

PJNY: Favorite neighborhood right now — and one other people should know about?

AD: I’ve been spending a lot more time in Ridgewood. I feel like that neighborhood is slept on — it has more of a real neighborhood vibe, great dance venues, amazing food, beautiful furniture stores. But also anything close to Prospect Park is the best in the summer. A lot of my friends are in Fort Greene right now, and the bakeries over there are incredible — the food scene, the wine scene, the shopping. I’m staying very Brooklyn-based this summer.

Rapid Fire

Favorite season in the city? Summer.

Best walk in your neighborhood? The Williamsburg waterfront or Berry Street when it’s closed down.

One thing you never leave home without? Headphones.

Something you’re excited about right now? I think beads. Glass beads in particular.

Something you’ve been listening to a lot lately? I’ve been listening to Frank Ocean a lot, both of his albums.

Current obsession? This is niche, but it’s a new Trader Joe’s dessert. It’s like a caramel Samoa cluster on cashews. And I love Samoas cookies, so that’s kind of been my latest obsession. And Survivor Season 50.

Your perfect NYC day in 3 stops? Coffee, park, wine bar. Perfect.

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Thanks for reading <3

IN THE WORKS is a series about the women who get things done. Each edition goes inside her working wardrobe, where she goes, and what she wears through all of it.

For our first edition, I met with Emmanuella Mascolo at her home in NoLita. It’s a loft that’s full of natural light, overlooking downtown Manhattan.

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When I walk in, pastel colored sheets are hung across her living room (a makeshift fort). There are hundreds of strands of pink tinsel across every doorway, amongst many other party decorations including, but not limited to, two avant garde floral arrangements, handmade party hats, finger sandwiches in the shape of butterflies, and a paper crown with “32” drawn on it.

She’s been prepping for her best friend’s 32nd birthday/going-away party since at least the night before. She’s also lined up a team of vendors (fellow party guests) and assigned out various tasks based on their skill sets. I was in charge of a veggie platter shaped like yet another butterfly and beet-dyed hard boiled eggs arranged as flowers.

Over the top? Yes. But it wouldn’t be the first time Emma has produced a feature-film-level event for a close group of friends. Take her annual Friendsgiving, for example. More elaborate than any family Thanksgiving I’ve ever attended, and somehow more impressive every year. There’s always a 20-plus-pound turkey that’s carved table-side like a scene straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. If Norman Rockwell had a Tumblr in high school.

I’m here to capture Emmanuella in her element. Visiting her when she’s actually on-duty is a bit out of the question. Emmanuella primarily produces fashion shows… think Matthieu Blazy’s debut Chanel show on a New York City subway platform, and Burberry's Winter 2026 runway when they recreated London's Tower Bridge in a 19th-century fish market.

So, it should come as no surprise that if an event is going to have her name tied to it, it’s going to be one for the books.

Once setup for the party was complete and before the guests started to arrived, I sat down with her to talk beginnings, big moments, life in New York City, thoughts on personal style, and what comes next.

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On Work

Plain Jane New York: What do you think about when getting dressed for work? 

Emmanuella Mascolo: Functionality over anything because I’m on my feet all day. I want to be comfortable. I go for a very simple but chic look.

Simple, comfortable, and timeless. It’s not Devil Wears Prada over here where I’m changing into heels. It’s definitely not that side of fashion, which I really do appreciate.

PJNY: Where did your love of fashion come from, and how did that eventually translate into an actual career?

EM: Growing up, I was surrounded by really stylish women. My mother and my sister-in-law to name a few. From a young age I just wanted to get dressed up. That desire never went away. To this day, I love collecting beautiful pieces and putting together a look.

One misconception people have is that I work directly in fashion, but what I actually do is produce the shows themselves. Taking them from concept to completion. It involves so much planning, creativity, and problem-solving, and that’s honestly what makes it such a cool and unique experience.

PJNY: How did you get your start as a fashion show producer, and when?

EM: I fully stumbled into this industry. I majored in psychology, and shortly after graduating I moved to New York City with no clear idea of what I wanted to do. Then, through a friend of a friend, a random opportunity came up to work as a PA on a Tom Ford show. That was my very first show. Intense, chaotic, but extremely rewarding. Something about it just clicked. I could see how much room there was to grow, and I wanted to find out what I was capable of. That was eight years ago, and here I am.

PJNY: What’s been your favorite project or show so far, and why?

EM: I’ve done so many incredible shows recently, but if I had to choose, it would probably be the Chanel Métiers d’Art show in the subway station. The location alone was incredibly challenging, and that’s exactly what made it so rewarding. My favorite shows tend to be the ones where we’re really pushing the boundaries creatively. They’re almost always the hardest to pull off, but the outcome is something truly beautiful. It becomes a piece of art, and I feel so proud to have been a part of it.

PJNY: What does a typical production timeline look like behind the scenes?

EM: It really depends on what we’re executing. Every show is different. Sometimes we’re starting from scratch. Scouting venues, navigating the creative process from the very beginning. Other times, a client comes to us with a venue already booked and a contract signed, or they have an in-house creative team that’s already handled that side of things. Then there are all the other moving pieces: street permitting, dinners, after-parties, performers. The scope of the show dictates the timeline. It can take anywhere from four months to a full year. I’ve had years where I’m producing six shows, with multiple overlapping in a single season.

That level of chaos requires a lot of organization on my end which still cracks me up, because I am so Type B. But this job has forced me to be Type A whether I like it or not.

PJNY: What’s the most chaotic or unexpected thing that’s ever happened during a show?

EM: There are many I can’t talk about and honestly, some of the funniest stories I have will have to stay off the record. But I’ll give you one: I once had a model get arrested and not show up on show day.

That’s just the nature of this job. No matter how much you plan, something is always going to present an obstacle. Even when we’re working with the same client season after season, something unexpected will come up. There are so many vendors, so many moving parts. Weather, celebrities, last-minute asks that would genuinely shock most people. Nothing surprises me anymore.

What makes a good producer is being quick on your feet. Most of this job is putting out fires, and the biggest thing I’ve learned is to never bring chaotic energy into a problem. I stay calm. Not just for my own sake, but because if I’m calm, the client is calm. The moment you start to panic, so does everyone around you. Instead, I just say, we’re going to figure this out and we always do. It always comes together. It always looks beautiful. There’s just a lot that happens behind the scenes that the audience never sees.

PJNY: Where do you see yourself in the next 5–10 years?

EM: I’ve already had the incredible opportunity to produce shows in Paris (in French) for an entire year. That was one of the most challenging experiences of my career, but I’m so glad I did it. There are still some couture shows I’d love to produce, and anytime a brand wants to do something in an unexpected or outrageous location, I’m always in. That never gets old. Producing a show in Asia is also on the list.

Looking further ahead, I can see myself gradually moving away from fashion and into events that are more art-focused — museums, galleries, exhibitions. Music is another world I’d love to explore. Some of my favorite events I’ve worked on have been intimate performances, and the idea of eventually doing a festival feels exciting, even if it’s a completely different beast.

What I know for sure is that I’ll never go into TV or film. I love live events. You get one shot, and then it’s over. There’s nothing quite like that.

On Style

PJNY: What makes an outfit feel like you?

EM: You have to have something ugly to make a good outfit. You can’t just put like all one brand together. It needs to be something a little weird and unexpected, and then it makes an interesting outfit. And that would be how you know it’s a me outfit.

PJNY: What’s been in heavy rotation in your wardrobe lately?

EM: My Plain Jane t-shirt, obviously. No, but really, I will pair this with little white shorts, jeans, skirt, really anything. Change the accessories up. Layer. Love layering.

PJNY: What’s one more piece that’s not your Plain Jane tee lol?

EM: I just got little black Khaite shoes. And again, dress it up, dress it down, put socks with it.

PJNY: What’s your favorite way to layer lately?

EM: Well, now it’s hot and you can’t layer when it’s like hot out, but that’s why I love the fall. That’s why I love winter. I would put like a dress over this. I would put another t-shirt over this. I would do a sweater and then let the top peek out. Super fun.

PJNY: Favorite vintage or shopping spot?

EM: I’m not inspired to shop in person. I have to shop online. Vestiaire, The RealReal, Poshmark, Depop. But I’m really good at Vestiaire.

PJNY: You’ve been in New York for a while now. Coming up on a decade. How has your style evolved since moving here?

EM: I try not to get sucked into trends… well, maybe a little. But I think the real shift happened around 29. That’s when I stopped chasing trends and just started dressing for myself. I got here at 23, and it took a few years to figure out what that actually meant. Now I just wear what I want to wear.

PJNY: What are you wearing today?

EM: My plain white tee [the cap sleeve] white shorts from My Mum Made It, and a Burberry scarf I got secondhand off Vestiaire. The shorts have a stain on them because I just spilled something, but we’re not talking about that.

On Life in New York City

PJNY: What do you love most about living and working in New York?

EM: New York is just who she is. She doesn’t try hard. You can walk out in a full look or a plain white t-shirt and you’re going to have a great day either way. It’s an incredible place to meet people, to work, to find opportunities. I love her. And I’m actually celebrating ten years here this September.

PJNY: Coffee or matcha spot in heavy rotation?

EM: Park at KIMS. It’s amazing. It’s just like, it’s not trying and it’s just genuinely good because they’re just good at what they do.

PJNY: Best place to spend time alone?

EM: Ooh, a museum, obviously. I could walk around galleries and museums in New York by myself forever.

PJNY: One gallery you want to hit, and one classic museum or gallery you always go back to?

EM: I’m excited to go to the New Museum because it just opened back up after I think a few years of renovations. Met is always a classic New York museum for me. And then gallery, hold on, it’s on my phone.

Gallery would be Lévy Gorvy Dayan. I really want to see the Domenico Gnoli exhibition. The paintings look incredible.

PJNY: What neighborhood is that in?

EM: Upper East Side.

PJNY: Where do you take someone visiting the city?

EM: Probably Gem Home. It’s in my neighborhood and it just does everything really well. For food, Hā Snack Bar or Bistro Hā. And I’m really obsessed with Lei right now too.

PJNY: You work in both Paris and New York. What’s the biggest difference between the two cities?

EM: Work mentality, mostly. It’s just culturally different. They both have their positives and negatives, and honestly I wish you could sometimes mix the two. I think that would be the most perfect place ever.

PJNY: Agreed.

Rapid Fire

PJNY: OK rapid fire. Something you’ve been listening to a lot lately?

EM: Addison on repeat. She looked so good at Coachella, and she sounded amazing.

PJNY: Current obsession?

EM: My hyperfixation breakfast. It’s kimchi and berries, Chinese steamed eggs, and fancy butter molds. They just make your morning feel more whimsical, and you need to start the day like that.

PJNY: Your perfect NYC day in three stops.

EM: Matcha, a museum or gallery with a beautiful walk, and an amazing food spot — probably omakase.

PJNY: One thing you never leave the house without?

EM: Lip liner. The full lip combo.

We’ll leave you with this…

Thanks for reading <3

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Closet essentials that you wouldn’t otherwise buy secondhand, created to support personal style rather than define it.

Over our first year, we learned a lot. We grew a community we’re really proud of, we had many manufacturing mishaps, we adjusted things on the fly to accommodate our customer needs. We learned about what really matters to us, and about what our customers and community actually care about. Fit, feel, consistency. Pieces that last. Pieces you reach for without thinking.

We realized that somewhere along the way, our clothing taught us to expect less. Fast fashion made it normal to buy cheap, wear it a few times, and toss it. And luxury convinced us that paying more always meant better quality... even when it didn’t.

Plain Jane New York was created to challenge that.

This is what led us to Detroit. In 2026, we’re moving manufacturing to Detroit, MI in partnership with Soft Goods Manufacturing.

Moving production is about getting closer to the work. Improving quality. Making better decisions.

If we’re going to put more white t-shirts out into the world, we must craft our tees in such a way that there’s a story worth telling. This is where our second chapter begins…

Building something intentional, step by step. The tees you love stay the same. What’s behind them gets better: NYC-designed, 100% American-grown cotton, cut and sewn in Detroit.

We’re setting out to build the next great American basics brand for women. Defined by longevity, craftsmanship, and responsibility to the world we live in. And this is just the beginning.

xx Hally & Anna, co-founders at Plain Jane New York

(P.S. You can shop our new Made in the USA tees starting right….. now! SHOP NOW)

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Belts feel timeless to me as an accessory (maybe not the Gucci belt in question but I digress), but wide waist belts in particular are having a moment for me right now — one that sort of materialized out of thin air and straight into my brain.

A while back I wrote about an iconic white t-shirt moment I can’t stop thinking about: Mary Kate Olsen leaving Late Night with Conan O’Brien in New York City in September 2007, wearing a white t-shirt and carrying an Alaïa belt (which she had styled over a white tee with a black skirt for the show itself (see image below)). I have been deep in the pits of Vestiaire Collective and TheRealReal searching for my perfect version ever since.

Then, a few months or so ago, one of my favorite creators (chiefswanofficer on TikTok, also on Substack) styled her Plain Jane New York Cap sleeve with a waist belt. See the styling video below.

@chiefswanofficerKinda obsessed with belting a white tee

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Now, we’ve seen our fair share of sweaters and long sleeves tied around the waist of a t-shirt the last few seasons — square silk scarves too. Tying a sweater around your tee has been one of the more dominant styling moves of the last few years.

Tying your sweater around the waist. Mary Kate. Danielle. All living rent free in my head. Then this weekend, a Net-A-Porter ad lands in my Instagram — their belt edit — and something clicks.

Cinching your white tee with a wide waist belt is the spring styling idea no one is talking about enough. It’s the elevated older sister to tying a sweater around your waist. Same impulse, but a belt commits. A sweater around your waist says I got cold earlier. A wide waist belt says I thought about this.

With that… a bunch of examples, plus links to the belts I'm genuinely obsessed with and that you should buy so I can't (all vintage and secondhand, of course).

First, the outfit inspo

If you like this outfit you might like one of these belts

• Here

• Here

• Here

If you like this outfit you might like…

• This belt

• This belt

• This belt

If you like this belt I would try…

• Belt

• Belt

• Belt

Some other fun iterations of belt & white t-shirt styling

Will you try this styling idea out this spring? Let us know!

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It’s 2002. We’re in West Hollywood.

Julia Roberts is photographed by paparazzi wearing a DIY white T-shirt that reads: “A Low Vera.”

She styled the tee with a black suede jacket, mid-wash jeans, motorcycle boots, and a very good western belt.

A truly great outfit.

But what made this T-shirt controversial?

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Rewind two years earlier. While filming The Mexican alongside Brad Pitt, Julia meets cinematographer Danny Moder. Sparks fly.

There’s just one problem.
Julia has a boyfriend.
Danny is very married.

At the time, Julia was dating Benjamin Bratt, and Danny was married to makeup artist Vera Steimberg (they’d married in 1997). Despite this, a relationship between Julia and Danny develops. Danny eventually moves out of his marital home with Vera, but Vera is reluctant to agree to a divorce.

Nearly two years pass. No divorce.

So Julia appears to take matters into her own hands.

She steps out in busy West Hollywood — a place where paparazzi are guaranteed — wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with “A Low Vera.”

Like aloe vera.
But… not subtle.

Was it a pun? A dig? A message?

Julia has never fully explained the shirt, aside from a brief exchange with Oprah Winfrey:

Oprah: Why did you wear that T-shirt?
Julia: You know what that was about? It was private.
Oprah: Okay.
Julia: I stand by my T-shirt.
Oprah: Duly noted.
Julia: When people do bad things intentionally, they know they’ve done them. But it’s not to be cared about. That’s the problem with the tabloid press — they dramatize these things until there’s a frenzy.

The response from Danny’s estranged wife and her family was… tense, to say the least. Vera and her family were reportedly offended by the shirt (fair). According to Radar Online, Danny’s sister called Julia “rude,” “possessive,” and a “diva.”

In June 2002, Vera and Danny officially divorce. Less than a month later, Danny and Julia are married.

So whether you see the shirt as messy, unhinged, or outright legendary…

One thing is undeniable:

A white T-shirt can send a very powerful message.

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Sources:

• https://evoke.ie/2025/08/05/style/julia-roberts-a-low-vera-t-shirt

• https://radaronline.com/videos/julia-roberts-trashed-rehab-diary-danny-moder-sister/

First, the outfit. She’s wearing a white T-shirt, a black leather mini skirt, she’s carrying her Alaïa corset belt that she was wearing while on the show, Balenciaga gladiator wedges, and red Ray-Ban Wayfarers. According to my new favorite website, Star Style.

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For context, she’s on Conan to promote her season-long arc on season three of the TV show Weeds.

Even back in 2007, the Olsen twins kept extremely low profiles.

On Conan, Mary-Kate talks about how she doesn’t usually go places where she thinks she’ll be seen or followed.

She says the only place she really goes is Starbucks.

I was actually reading this really ugly profile on her—like, truly shocking how journalists used to write about celebrities—but she’s quoted saying:

“I don’t want my picture taken. The only time I think it’s okay is at a red-carpet event or a photo shoot. So every time I see paparazzi, I cover my face, and I’m just ‘the mean person who doesn’t smile.’”

To maintain any sense of privacy, she says she makes conscious decisions every day of her life. She doesn’t get out of the car. She keeps bodyguards close. She avoids certain stores. She invites friends over instead of meeting them out. She stays indoors.

She even says, “I would love to be able to swim in the ocean in Malibu, but that’s asking for a bikini shot. That’s inviting something I don’t want. I don’t need to be on a ‘Who’s Skinny, Who’s Fat, Who’s Healthy, Who’s Not Eating’ list.”

Here’s why I consider this an iconic white T-shirt moment…

Around this same time, Mary-Kate and Ashley are establishing The Row. And I don’t think this is widely known, but the brand actually started as a personal project in 2005, when Ashley Olsen challenged herself to create the perfect T-shirt. Sounds like another brand I know!!!

The Olsens were early to the concept of rarefied basics. Back in 2005 when they moved to New York from Los Angeles to attend New York University, they wanted T-shirts made to a T: the perfect fit, the perfect fabric. Now you can’t walk through a department store without dodging racks of “perfect” upscale this and that.

Originally, the product was intended as a charity project. “It was something we just wanted for ourselves,” says Ashley, sitting beside her sister behind a gigantic shared desk in their office at The Row’s TriBeCa studio, which they have occupied since November 2012. “It wasn’t something that I thought would ever be a business.”

From Jessica Iredale in WWD

According to The Row’s website, the brand officially launched in 2005 with a seven-piece collection including a T-shirt, cotton sateen leggings, and a cashmere tank dress.

So this moment feels iconic because Mary-Kate is going on Conan, promoting her acting career, while also in the very early stages of building a brand with her sister that would go on to be ubiquitous with quiet luxury and the highest-end retail available. And in the year 2025, it feels almost impolite to mention their Full House days.

So, at this major inflection point in her life. She’s still being asked about Full House, still being photographed and scrutinized in that very early-2000s way—she’s wearing a white T-shirt that represents the beginning of a shift in identity that we all recognize her for today.

She also wears another white T-shirt to the Weeds premiere (below), and again in a scene from of her arc on the show.

So, what comes to mind for you when you hear ‘iconic white t-shirt moment’?

TikTok version lives here…

@plain.jane.new.yorkMary Kate Olsen on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. September, 2007. New York City. #iconicwhitetshirtmoment #marykate #marykateolsen

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There’s a piece of fashion math that’s been hiding in plain sight for years. It’s simple, it’s rational, and it completely exposes the lie that fast fashion is “cheap.”

It’s called Cost Per Wear (CPW).

And once you understand it, you can’t unsee it.

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Why Cost Per Wear Matters More Than Price Tags

CPW asks a question fast fashion hopes you never ask:

How much does this actually cost me every time I wear it?

Not “How much does it cost right now,”
but “How much value am I getting over the life of this garment?”

CPW reframes clothing the way we already evaluate most purchases: by longevity, by reliability, by how often we reach for it without thinking. The research out of the University of Bath and Cambridge Judge Business School confirms this:

When consumers see CPW, they choose higher-quality, longer-lasting clothing, even if the upfront price is higher.

Because financially, it’s the smarter choice.

That $20 fast-fashion tee that lasts one year?
It’s secretly expensive.
The $42 tee you wear for four years?
Shockingly cheap.

CPW replaces impulse with intention.
And intention is the antidote to overconsumption.

CPW Isn’t Enough

CPW is powerful… but it still leaves out a very important part of a garment’s life:

What happens after the last wear?

Fast fashion never answers that question.
Most brands don’t either.
Because it’s easier to focus on the first wear, the glossy moment of purchase, instead of the messy, unglamorous ending.

But endings matter.

They’re where most clothing becomes waste.
They’re where the environmental cost skyrockets.
They’re where a tee becomes a problem instead of a piece of your everyday life.

At Plain Jane New York, we think any conversation about value should include the entire lifecycle, not just the fun part.

Which is why we’ve made this a core part of our philosophy:

We care what happens on the 101st wear.

Not just the first.
Not just the fiftieth.
The 101st. The moment your tee is no longer wearable.

That’s the moment most brands disappear.
But we don’t.

Why the 101st Wear Matters

Here’s the real, uncomfortable truth: even the best-made, most durable tees eventually reach the end of their life.

A perfectly cut neckline can only stretch so many times.
Cotton fibers break down.
Life happens… coffee spills, paint splatters, sweat, sun, time.

Durability alone doesn’t solve fashion waste.
Circularity does.

So we choose to design for both:

A tee that lasts longer than the industry average.
And a plan for what to do when it can’t last anymore.

Because value doesn’t end when the garment does.

Our Commitment to Circularity: Send It Back, We’ll Take It From Here

When your Plain Jane New York tee reaches the end of its wearable life, we don’t want it sitting at the back of a drawer or ending up in a landfill.

Send it back to us.

We’ll recycle it responsibly with our recycling partner turning worn-out fibers into something useful, something that keeps its story going.

Your 101st wear is our first step in the next life of that fabric.

This is how we measure value:

• How long it lasts.

• How well it’s worn.

• And what we can turn it into when it’s done.

CPW is about financial clarity.
Circularity is about environmental honesty.
Together, they tell the whole truth of a garment.

P.S. We’re still in the early chapters of our circularity work, and it’s important to us to name that clearly. We’ve brought on a sustainability consultant to help us design more responsible end-of-life pathways as we continue to learn and improve.

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The Case for a Really Good White Tee

A white tee is one of the most-worn items in any closet which is why it deserves the highest standards of design, durability, and end-of-life planning.

When you buy a high-quality tee, your CPW drops dramatically.
When you wear it 100+ times, your cost per wear becomes pennies (RIP).
And when you recycle it properly, the value keeps going.

This is what we believe:

A tee shouldn’t just look good.
It should live well, from its first wear to its very last.
And it should leave as little behind as possible.

That’s not just smart spending.
That’s a smarter system.

If your sister has “accidentally borrowed” your favorite sweatshirt since 2012, or has declared that anything living in her closet long enough automatically becomes hers (a very creative take on squatter’s rights), consider this the gift that keeps on giving (to both of you).

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Starting with the obvious (it’s our newsletter and we will shamelessly plug if we want to!!!!!)

The Plain Jane 3-Pack ($100 instead of $114 until 12/31/2025)

Shop here.

Here’s the move:

• You keep one (because boundaries).

• She gets two (because you’re a generous queen with a soft spot).

• And suddenly she has no reason to raid your closet… well, for at least a week.

100% cotton. Three sleeve lengths. Sizes XXS–4XL. The white tee she’ll steal anyway, so might as well make it official.

This is sisterhood, evolved.

2 Pairs of Bodil Chunky Socks in a Gift Box from Swedish Stockings

Shop Here.

This has quickly become my favorite hosiery brand and their collaborations with Camille Charrière and Leandra Medine Cohen? Perfect. I love this bundle specifically because it arrives pre-wrapped in an adorable gift box, but they also have a pretty big selection of bundles with tights and socks.

Kuta & Komodo Necklaces from Suede Davidson

Shop here and here.

Not exactly a “set of two,” but two necklaces that feel like they belong together. They coordinate without being matchy-matchy. Think sisters, not twins. You wear one, she wears the other, and somehow you both look like the better-dressed sibling.

Custom Bikinis from Black Dog Bikinis

Shop here.

Coordinating bikinis from Black Dog Bikinis are the sister gift you didn’t know you needed. You pick any style and any two fabrics from their Out of Office collection, and they hand-make both suits just for you. Choose prints that complement each other without being identical. Think: curated, not cutesy. One for you, one for your sister, both of you looking like you planned this (even if you didn’t).

Burberry Mini Goddess & Her Perfume Sampler Set

Shop here.

My sister and I have been obsessed with Burberry Goddess. It’s genuinely one of the most delicious scents ever. I love this duo because you and your sister can each take one: a little Her, a little Goddess, and you both smell incredible without fighting over the same bottle.

Shinola Small Shoulder Bag

Shop here.

This is definitely the priciest pick on the list, but it had to make the cut. My sister and I both own this bag. I have the Black, she has the Espresso (I also love the Merlot), and we’ve been swapping them almost daily since they arrived. It’s genuine leather, beautifully minimal, and gives the same quiet-luxury energy as something from The Row… just without the eye-watering price tag.

Dieux Tattoo Forever Eye Masks

Shop here (really good Black Friday sale too).

The Dieux Forever Eye Mask is an under-eye essential: medical-grade silicone, endlessly reusable. I think the Tattoo iteration looks especially cool. It locks your serums and creams in place so they actually absorb (a concept), and it’s the perfect “one for me, one for her” gift for the sister who always wants what’s on your vanity. Why? Because it never runs out!!! You wouldn’t even know if she was using yours or visa versa!!!

Alexis Bittar Small Molten Bangle Bracelet

Shop here (30% off of full-priced items for Black Friday).

When I was thinking about the random little things my sister always gravitates toward, this bangle immediately came to mind. It’s one of those pieces that’s genuinely worth buying in twos. Sculptural enough to wear alone, sleek enough to stack. A perfect “one for me, one for her” piece, or stack yours and hers.

Will buying everything in pairs suddenly stop your sister from raiding your closet? Absolutely not. But it will buy you a brief moment of peace, a few coordinated outfits, and the satisfaction of knowing you tried.

Here’s to the sisters who “borrow,” the closets that merge against your will, and the gifts that keep the chaos cute. Happy gifting, and good luck out there.

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Before we dive in, a truth: we respect The Row. They make beautiful things. I’ve coveted many of their pieces (namely the Gala pants), and even attended a sample sale my first year living in New York. Didn’t think I’d ever financially recover if I’m honest.

Their pieces drape like poetry. Tailoring that whispers instead of shouts. Their commitment to quality is real.

But a five-hundred-and-twenty-dollar, 100% cotton white tee? Even for us, the white-tee obsessives, it’s hedging toward coo coo bananas.

And here’s why I think that.

They’re not selling cotton. They’re selling a dream.

A dream of Paris fashion week.
A boutique on the Upper East Side and Sag Harbor.
A mood board of quiet luxury and inherited silver spoons.

That’s what you pay for. Not the fiber content.

It’s the brand halo. The mystique. The scarcity. The “I saw this on someone very important” energy. That narrative is woven into the price more tightly than the stitching.

Quality matters to us too. A lot.

Like The Row, we obsess over:

• Fit

• Fabric

• Sleeve-length

• Neckline proportions

• Longevity in the wash

• How it lays on real bodies in real sizes

All of that costs real money. We’re not pretending it doesn’t. Quality production is genuinely more expensive than fast fashion, and we build our tees to last longer than one season.

But our prices are anchored in reality, not exclusivity.

So where does our price come from?

Simple ingredients:

• 100% cotton

• Ethical labor

• Sustainable production choices

• Fair margins

• Keeping the lights on

We don’t incorporate runway budgets, celebrity gifting circuits, or aspirational scarcity into our pricing. We incorporate only what it costs to make a tee that feels like luxury without asking you to trade rent for it.

The Row sells exclusivity.

Plain Jane New York sells your everyday uniform.

We built PJNY on the belief that a white tee should feel elevated and accessible. Soft, structured, and flattering without the psychological weight of a luxury price tag.

It should feel like luxury and perform like your ride-or-die staple. It should last wash after wash without losing shape. And it should leave room in your budget for matcha, rent, and a life that feels good.

A question we’re genuinely curious about:

As a brand building in the middle ground, we want to hear from you.

When you’re considering your next white tee, what feels more meaningful? Exclusivity or accessibility?

Hit reply, comment, or DM us on Instagram. We read everything :)

xx Hally

Don’t let this be you!

In case you aren’t already layering a white tee under your knits, you absolutely should be, strictly from a practicality perspective. Better yet, from a hygiene perspective—your sweaters’ hygiene, not yours. Maybe yours. Protect your sweater and your peace.

Aside from the above, I maintain that every sweater, and I mean every sweater, looks better and feels better with a 100% cotton tee underneath.

Let’s get right into the photographic evidence…

Cardigan

One button buttoned at the top is so charming.

Also like this double-zip cardigan which is perhaps not a cardigan but a zip-up.

Layered under a trench coat, middle buttons buttoned. Perfection.

Chunky & wide-open.

As classic as it gets.

V-Neck Sweater

Super deep v-neck. Definitely Yes.

Layered under a blazer.

Navy & black. Very visible white tee.

Me everyday starting November 1.

Crew Neck Sweater

God, it’s me, Hally. If you give me one more nice day I promise to re-create this outfit with my new boots.

Classic cable knit. Classic young Gwyneth.

Super into beige jeans right now.

Boat Neck Sweater

I might have even said boat neck sweaters look less-good with white tees until I saw this picture and now my hypothesis has become a tried and tested theory.

Kind of boat neck, kind of v-neck, ultimately really good.

Bonus Round: Sweater Vest

More Rachel Green inspo coming your way soon! Watch this space!

Super charming sweater vest with a slit!

Make it athleisure!

Hopefully you found at least one outfit you’d like to put your own spin on this month :)

A whole lot more satisfying layering inspiration on our Autumn and Winter white t-shirt styling ideas boards here and here.

xx

Hally

When we launched the #PJNYRemix challenge at the start of August, we weren’t sure what would happen. Honestly, we thought: absolutely no one is going to enter this. After all, it was our very first community challenge.

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But instead of zero submissions, we ended up with twelve. Twelve insanely phenomenal remixes from insanely talented creators (including three of my own submissions, lol). Each one totally different, each one reminding us why we started Plain Jane New York in the first place: because a white tee isn’t just a white tee. It’s a canvas.

We wanted to take a second to spotlight every single entry before announcing the winner on Labor Day. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned—it’s that Jane has a lot of very cool friends.

The entries 😍

✨ @gabyishhh mixed her love for printmaking and hand embroidery to create a wild horse-motif tee that’s equal parts art piece and closet staple (via TikTok).

✨ @carawengenco captured the last rays of summer with a cyanotype masterpiece—botanical, sun-kissed, and perfectly Jane (via TikTok and Instagram).

✨ @kikifibers showed off three (!!) remixes (via Instagram):

• A hand-stitched tinned fish patch tee (yes, snack of the summer).

• A cheeky Local MILF Union embroidered graphic.

• A floral hand-carved stamp print that gave major heirloom vibes.

✨ @get2thepoint_cd tried out a new form of needling and came through with the sweetest baby tee, repping the New York Yankees in style (via Instagram).

✨ @aclassicdarling upcycled a tee while testing a new pattern, transforming it into the most detailed, perfectly cut white tank (via Instagram).

✨ Lyla! (our youngest participant!) pulled out her markers and made the sweetest “Fun Mom” tee. Colorful, playful, and a reminder that not every remix needs to be “precious” to be perfect.

✨ Julie! Put her own spin on our Plain Jane New York ‘Jane’ logo, earrings and all!

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And the winner is…

Today we will be sliding into the winner’s DMs with the news: Plain Jane tees for life are officially theirs. But in our book, every single person who entered is a winner (we know, cheesy—but true).

When we imagined this challenge, we pictured scissors, bleach, tie-dye, and maybe a safety pin or two. What we didn’t expect was to be floored by your creativity. To see something so ordinary become extraordinary twelve times over.

We’ll say it again: we weren’t sure anyone would enter. Instead, we got proof that the white tee really is the most universal blank canvas—and that our little community is full of people who know exactly how to make it their own.

Here’s to twelve remixes, a thousand ideas, and the reminder that Jane would 100% approve.

xx

One of the best things we’ve ever done for our brand was… invent a person who doesn’t exist.

We call her Jane. (Who could’ve guessed that?)

She’s not exactly me. She’s not exactly my co-founder. She’s not exactly Jane Birkin, either. She’s an amalgamation of all of us—and none of us—at the same time. She’s our fake muse, our north star in a white tee.

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Whenever we’re making a decision—what photo to post, writing copy for our website, which sleeve length to spotlight, whether a font feels “too much”—we ask one question:

Would Jane do this?

If the answer’s no, we don’t do it. Even if one of us personally loves it.

This isn’t about stripping away personality. It’s about protecting the brand from our own whims. As co-founders and best friends, we have plenty of opinions (trust us). But Jane’s opinion is the only one that matters here.

The magic of a persona like Jane is that she keeps the brand consistent. It’s easier to tell a photographer, a social media manager, or a partner “this feels like Jane” than it is to explain the messy overlap of our personal styles and preferences.

Jane is timeless, approachable, and just a little witty. She’s the friend who always looks good but never looks like she tried too hard. She’s the voice we write in, the style we shoot in, and the energy we want you to feel when you wear one of our tees.

Why this works for founders

Having a “fake muse” or brand persona is one of the smartest tools you can give yourself—especially in the chaos of building something new. It removes ego and personal taste from decision-making, which is crucial when you’re navigating a thousand little choices a week.

As co-founders (and friends), our styles, moods, and preferences can pull in different directions without us even realizing it. A persona acts as a neutral third party—she always chooses what serves the brand, not what serves today’s fleeting obsession.

That means your visual identity, tone, and product choices stay consistent, onboarding new team members becomes effortless, and your vision is clear without a ten-minute TED Talk.

In other words, it’s a shortcut to clarity. And clarity is gold when you’re building from scratch.

So when in doubt—ask your own “Jane” what she would do. She’ll keep you honest. And stylish.

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Hey friends,

It’s summer. It’s hot. It’s white tee season.

And we’ve got a challenge for you.

We're calling on creators, stylists, DIYers, thrift flippers, and anyone with a pair of scissors and a vision to take part in our very first #PJNYRemix.

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What is it?

A chance to transform, style, or totally remix a plain white t-shirt—any white tee you already own.

Crop it, tie-dye it, layer it, bleach it, embroider it, bedazzle it... you do you.

This isn’t about having the fanciest gear or the trendiest brand. It’s about creativity, personality, and the joy of turning something simple into something totally you.

And yes, there’s a prize 👇

🏆 The Prize: Plain Janes for Life

One winner will receive a three-pack of our signature Plain Jane tees every quarter—forever.

That’s a fresh set of perfect white tees, shipped to your door four times a year. For life.

Why? Because we believe one great tee is all you need. (And because we’re obsessed with how creative you all are.)

How to Enter the #PJNYRemix Challenge:

1. Grab a white tee: Any white t-shirt will do—doesn’t have to be ours, but extra points for using one of our tees as your blank canvas.

2. Transform it: DIY, upcycle, style, cut, dye, accessorize, layer, or transform the tee however you want.

3. Film it/Photograph it: Before ➡️ process ➡️ final look. Make it fun. Make it yours. Here’s an example.

4. Post it: Share on TikTok or Instagram with the hashtag #PJNYRemix and tag us! Make sure you’re also following us on TikTok and Instagram! (P.S. You can email your entry to jane@plainjanenewyork.com if your profile is private)

5. Deadline: Submissions close August 31. Winner announced Labor Day (Sept 2). Terms & Conditions in caption.

🧵 What We’re Looking For:

• Creativity & originality

• Effort & transformation

• Sustainable or upcycled materials? Even better.

We’ll be sharing our favorite entries throughout the month, so keep an eye on our TikTok and IG. And yes, we’ll be hyping up your genius every step of the way.

Whether you thrift it, flip it, or just make it work with a safety pin and a dream—we can’t wait to see what you create.

Let’s take the plain white tee to unexpected places.

Love,
Plain Jane

P.S. Got questions or need inspo? We’re dropping our own #PJNYRemix challenge videos all month.

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P.S.S. Terms & Conditions apply (see full terms & conditions below)!

#PJNYRemix Challenge – Terms and Conditions

Effective Date: Monday, August 4, 2025

By participating in the #PJNYRemix Challenge (“Challenge”), you agree to be bound by the following Terms and Conditions:

1. Eligibility

• The Challenge is open to individuals aged 18 years or older at the time of entry.

• Participants under 18 must have parental or guardian consent.

• The #PJNYremix Challenge is void where prohibited by law.

2. How to Enter

• To enter, participants must follow all posted instructions, including:

  • Creating and posting original DIY content that features a "remix" of a white t-shirt

  • Using the hashtag #PJNYRemix in the post.

  • Tagging Plain Jane New York in the caption or media.

• Multiple entries allowed, but each must be unique.

3. Entry Guidelines

• Content must be original, owned by the participant, and not infringe on any third-party rights.

• No offensive, defamatory, unlawful, or inappropriate content will be accepted.

• Entries must comply with the platform’s terms of service (e.g., Instagram, TikTok, etc.).

4. Selection and Prizes

• Winning entries may be selected based on creativity, originality, and alignment with the brand’s aesthetic.

• Prizes (if applicable) will be announced publicly or communicated directly to winners.

• Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.

5. Rights Granted

By submitting an entry, you grant Plain Jane NY a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, repost, publish, and distribute your content for promotional purposes related to the brand and Challenge.

6. Disqualification

Plain Jane NY reserves the right to disqualify any entry that:

• Does not comply with these Terms,

• Is incomplete or late,

• Contains inappropriate content or violates intellectual property rights.

7. Limitation of Liability

Plain Jane NY is not responsible for:

• Lost, delayed, or misdirected entries;

• Technical failures of any kind;

• Any damages or losses resulting from participation in the Challenge.

8. Privacy

By entering, you consent to the collection and use of your name, username, and submitted content by Plain Jane NY for promotional purposes. Your personal data will be handled in accordance with our [Privacy Policy] (insert link).

9. Changes or Cancellation

Plain Jane NY reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the Challenge at any time without notice.

Winner Terms & Conditions

Prize Terms – “Lifetime Supply of Free T-Shirts”

The winner of the #PJNYRemix Challenge who receives the "Lifetime Supply of Free T-Shirts" prize agrees to the following terms:

1. Prize Definition

“Lifetime Supply” is defined as one (1) 3-pack of Plain Jane NY T-shirts per calendar quarter (i.e., 12 shirts per year), for up to 25 years from the prize award date.

2. Fulfillment Process

• T-shirts will be selected by Plain Jane NY or chosen from eligible collections each quarter.

• The winner will be notified via email or DM with options and must confirm delivery details within a specified timeframe.

• Shipments will be made to the address on file unless updated by the winner in advance.

3. Eligibility & Non-Transferability

• The prize is non-transferable and valid only for the original winner.

• It cannot be sold, gifted, inherited, or exchanged for cash or store credit.

• Any misuse (e.g., resale of prize shirts) may result in disqualification or prize cancellation.

4. Change of Brand or Operations

• If Plain Jane NY discontinues T-shirt production, undergoes rebranding, is acquired, or ceases operations, the prize may be altered, substituted with store credit, or terminated.

• Plain Jane NY reserves the right to substitute a comparable prize of equal value if necessary.

5. Termination Clause

Plain Jane NY reserves the right to terminate the prize if:

• The winner engages in fraudulent or abusive behavior;

• The winner violates the original contest terms or misrepresents their identity;

• The prize is deemed impractical due to extraordinary circumstances (e.g., legal changes, product unavailability).

You can now buy a single shirt. No more pack-only barrier.

Why? Because a lot of you asked for it. And because we want our shirts to be as accessible and low-commitment as possible. We really love the 3-pack model but we understand that people don’t necessarily want to commit to buying 3 shirts at once. That said, we’re not totally walking away from packs. We want to encourage pack-purchasing, but we don’t want it to be the only option, so here’s what we did:

We increased the price of the individual shirt from $38 → $42, and we made it so that when you buy 3 or more shirts, all of the shirts in your cart are discounted from $42/shirt to $38/shirt (the previous 3-pack price-per-shirt)

It’s our way of making things more accessible without losing the intention behind how we started.

You might be wondering, “so why did you only sell in packs to begin with”?

There’s a few reasons we started with this.

1. We know that staining your favorite white tee is inevitable. We wanted to create a really seamless shopping experience that ensured you’d always be stocked with white t-shirts, and make it really easy to restock when necessary. We accept the reality of pit stains, and encourage easy and responsible recycling for when it’s time to re-up.

2. To reduce overhead costs and environmental impact. In a lot of ways, it’s a smarter way to ship (more shirts per package = less packaging, less shipping, more cost-effective), and it allows us to keep quality high while keeping prices fair.

3. We want to create a differentiated shopping experience that sets us apart from all the thousands of other brands selling white t-shirts by making it as easy as possible. Just like buying a six-pack of Hanes (if Hanes actually fit well and felt amazing). Packs are just one way of accomplishing this, but we realize there are a lot more impactful things we could be doing by way of innovation (stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!)

The major realization was that we can still accomplish all these things without a 3-pack.

We’re just making it easier to start.

So go ahead—try one. Or two. Or three and save.

We feel confident that you’ll keep coming back for more :)

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Reach out if you have any comments/questions - we’d LOVE to hear from you!

No one, and I mean NO ONE, styles a t-shirt under a dress like Drew Barrymore. My Girl Crush since the movie ‘Never Been Kissed’ changed my life in middle school (Josie Grossie 4ever).

But here’s the thing: when I try to recreate that combo today, it can feel… a little costume-y. A little too Y2K without the cool. And maybe that’s fine — I’ll always have love for a nostalgic fashion moment — but lately I’ve been rethinking the way I approach dresses and t-shirts. Not just to avoid the “outdated” pitfall, but to reimagine the vibe entirely. Good news? Some updated outfit formulas are out there making the whole look feel very 2025.

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Let’s break them down.

Dress over t-shirt (and jeans)

Think: ethereal meets edgy.

Layering an organza slip dress over a crisp white t-shirt — and jeans — adds structure and dimension. The sheer dress becomes a dreamy overlay rather than the main event, and the jeans bring in some effortless cool. Bonus points for pairing with square-toed heels or chunky sneakers. It’s giving “model-off-duty who maybe reads poetry in cafes.”

Dress under t-shirt, over pants.

Unexpected, but incredibly fresh.

This one's a little conceptual, but stay with me. A silky slip dress peeking out under a slouchy, semi-cropped white tee? Chef’s kiss. It breaks up a monochrome base in the most satisfying way. I recently saw this nude-pink midi slip styled under a boxy white tee and over wide-leg white denim. It felt sculptural, intentional — like minimalist art school vibes, but with more serotonin.

T-shirt over dress, full stop.

Reverse it, remix it, re-own it.

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This might be the most underrated styling move of the bunch. A loose white tee layered over a body-skimming lace or satin slip dress changes the whole narrative. Suddenly that "fancy night-out" dress becomes daywear. The tee brings a sense of effortlessness, and the contrast in textures (cotton vs. silk or lace) is key. Knot the tee at your waist or let it hang loose — either way, you’re rewriting the rules.

Bonus: The White Tee as a Blank Canvas

If you’re like me, you’ve got six (ok, twelve) white t-shirts in rotation. But rather than defaulting to the same old jeans-and-tee combo, consider this your sign to push it further. Let your white t-shirt be the glue that holds your creative chaos together. The unexpected layer. The subtle disruptor. The thing that makes an otherwise “meh” outfit feel modern, clean, and curated.

TL;DR?

The t-shirt and dress combo is not dead — it just needed a little glow-up. Channel Drew. Channel you. Mix it up. Try the formulas. And remember: style is meant to be fun. A little weird. A little nostalgic. A little "Josie Grossie goes to Paris Fashion Week."

Let me know your fave way to style a tee + dress combo — or tag me when you do. I need inspo, too. 💌

From day one at Plain Jane New York, we’ve always had one goal: make tees for real life — not for mannequins, not for highlight reels, but for people who actually live in their clothes. That’s why we’ve never shied away from the inevitable truth: when you wear 100% natural materials like cotton, stains happen. Sweat happens. Spills happen. And that’s just life.

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Introducing: Stain Proud. Not Stain Proof.

This was our dream campaign from the very beginning. It’s representative of a few major core components of our business—our recycling program, selling our tees in 3-packs, 100% cotton—no synthetic materials.

We want our customers to wear their Plain Jane tees boldly — coffee spills, mustard drips, grass stains and all. Because every stain tells a story: a summer day in Central Park, an ice cream cone melting too fast, rowing a boat under the city skyline, getting stuck to a rogue piece of gum on a park bench (it happens forreal), or that perfect slice of New York pizza that didn’t quite make it all the way to your mouth.

Our tees are designed for these moments — for living. That’s why we sell them in packs of three. When one tee gets a little too well-loved, you’ve got a fresh one ready to go—one for now, one for later, and one for when both of those are in the wash.

And when you’re ready to part ways with your most broken-in favorites, our recycling program steps in to make sure they’re responsibly retired. We want you to feel good about replacing your tees — because you’ve really lived in them.

Shot in Central Park — Because, Obviously.

For this campaign, it was only fitting to shoot in the heart of our (namesake) city: Central Park. The grass, the benches, the boats, the hotdog carts — it all feels like Plain Jane New York. We partnered with Keaton Matusich, friend of the brand and brilliant behind the lens, who captured exactly what we envisioned: real people wearing real clothes in real life.

Another important shoutout to very best friend of the brand, Hannah Bullion, for capturing brilliant behind the scenes content and camcorder footage. You’re 98% perfect.

And speaking of real people — the stars of this campaign are some of the content creators who’ve been riding with us since day one. These are women who’ve supported our brand from the very beginning. Women who’ve worn our tees through coffee dates, park picnics, sweaty workouts, and late-night pizza runs. We couldn’t imagine a better crew to bring this campaign to life.

Thank you endlessly, Ally Donofrio, Paige DuBrul, and Bria Parrish. We quite literally could not have done this without you.

Tees for Living. Stains Included.

At the end of the day, being Stain Proud isn’t about being careless — it’s about living fully. It’s about embracing the messiness that comes with a well-lived life and knowing your Plain Jane tee was right there with you.

We’re not here to sell perfection (although we think our t-shirts are the perfect white tee, just to be CLEAR). We’re here to sell comfort, simplicity, and clothes that you actually want to wear. Again and again and again.

So, spilled something on your PJ tee? Own it. Tag us.

Stain Proud. Not Stain Proof. #StainProud #PlainJaneNY

1. How do we get started? (legally, website, product, brand, logistics, etc)

2. What’s important to the product? (fit, thickness, material, packaging, etc)

3. How do we scale our reach while staying true to our brand ethos? (marketing,

THIS is where we’re at now. We answered question 1+2 (arguably the two biggest barriers to entry), we’re live, we’ve got orders flowing in, but now we’re left wondering how we can make things move QUICKER!

The irony is that this is the part we’re supposed to be best at. Hally and I met at our startup marketing job, and have worked in the industry since graduating college. We know the playbook on how to launch, grow and scale businesses and could probably do it in our sleep. The difference here is the intention - we want to build a true community of brand representatives who care about the product, have a say in the brand, and have a relationship with us….all these things are in some ways the opposite of the playbooks we’ve known, built and learned in our corporate jobs.

And here’s the thing: we feel really confident in the product itself. We know what we’re making is good. We know why we’re doing it. The intention behind Plain Jane is clear to us, and the feedback we’ve gotten from early customers tells us we’re on the right track.

The challenge isn’t the product, or knowing how to get the numbers up. It’s scaling in the way we want. It's figuring out how to grow our audience in a way that doesn't feel shallow or paid. How do we build real trust, real community, and real momentum without sacrificing what makes Plain Jane feel different in the first place?

We know ads can work. We know we could start spending money right now to grow faster. But we also know that ads without community can feel hollow. We want real people who actually care about Plain Jane, who believe in it, who tell their friends because they genuinely love what we're doing - not because we paid to show up in their feed.

We’re ready to grow. And it is happening - just maybe not a the pace we’d want. We’re at that tipping point where we know something needs to click. It’ll likely be a combination of things - viral TikTok moments, influencer giftings, in-person events, etc…but who really knows at this point?

If you’re here reading this, you’re already part of this small-but-growing Plain Jane community. You’re literally shaping how we grow, and we really, really value any and all feedback. Never hesitate to reach out with ideas on how we could reach more people, get more sales, and get more attention in a really cool, chic, non-desperate way. Comment on my TikTok with your thoughts :)

Love you guys <3

Prior to embarking on our mission to create the perfect white tee, I honestly didn’t pay much attention to the material of the t-shirts I was buying. In hindsight, this was one of the larger factors prohibiting me from uncovering t-shirt greatness.

Here’s why we only use 100% cotton for every Plain Jane tee—and why we’ll never go half-blend on you:

1. It’s breathable

Cotton’s natural fiber structure is hollow and porous, which allows air to circulate through the fabric.

That means better temperature regulation, moisture absorption, and fewer sweat-induced meltdowns. Especially in NYC summers, this is supremely important.

It’s also incredibly comfortable.

2. It’s kind to your skin

Cotton is hypoallergenic, non-irritating, and free of petroleum-based synthetics that can aggravate sensitive skin. As someone who has extremely sensitive skin - I’m itchy in most clothes - but not cotton!

No weird finishes. No scratchy chemicals. Just clean, soft fiber that gets even softer over time.

Dermatologists often recommend 100% cotton clothing for people with eczema, contact dermatitis, or chronic skin sensitivity.

3. It holds up.

Cotton’s long-staple fibers give it tensile strength, meaning our tees resist stretching, warping, and thinning out over time.

That’s especially important with basics you’ll wear (and wash) weekly.

Unlike synthetic blends, cotton doesn’t become misshapen, pill, or lose its integrity with repeated use. It actually breaks in, not down.

This in particular was a big challenge for me: Once I found the perfect t-shirt, I’d get excited, then wear it constantly, wash it constantly, and after a couple weeks, it was no longer the perfect t-shirt. It would shrink in the wash, the structure wouldn’t hold, it would pill…the list goes on.

4. It’s better for the planet.

Cotton is a natural, renewable, and biodegradable material.

When untreated and undyed with harsh chemicals, it can fully decompose in just a few months—unlike polyester, which can take up to 200 years and sheds microplastics with every wash.

And because our tees are 100% cotton - no spandex, no plastic - we can recycle them responsibly - WHICH WE DO!!!! (visit plainjanenewyork.com/recycle to learn more)

5. It’s been a men’s standard for decades. It’s about time it was ours.

For some reason, men’s tees have long been made with 100% cotton by default - durable, high-quality, no-nonsense. Women’s tees? Often thinner, stretchier, and full of filler. We won’t stand for this!

For these reasons (and probably some more that I’m forgetting), we really do love cotton! And we think you should too.

STOCK UP ON COTTON