Ep. 162: Crayola Casual

In this episode, we kick off the summer by denominating a colorful attitude toward dress manifesting bicoastally. Epitomized by brands like Emily Dawn Long, Brooke Callahan, and Cleo Camp, Crayola Casual is the funky counterpart to freaky minimalism— accessory agnostic, anti-synthetic, built around hot saturated colors and the art of the easy-on easy-off. We review this aesthetic’s historical antecedents, from fluid disco formalwear of the 70s (Halston, Stephen Burrows) to globalist chic sportswear of the 80s (Esprit, United Colors of Benetton). We also discuss Downtown New York’s Maryam Nassir Zadeh as the missing link, classics of rainbow urbanism including Sesame Street and the Vignelli Subway Map, our predictions for an aerobics renaissance, and the creative exuberance of a season of parades, pop-ups, and pennants.Links: Image boardCleo CampBrooke CallahanEmily Dawn LongRummage Stretch“Vintage Sportswear Will Crush Your Alo Yoga Sets” by Liana Satenstein for NeverwornsAllegra Samsen on InstagramVentriloquist Sophie Becker for Paloma Wool“The Accidental Trendsetter” by Emilia Petrarca in The New York Times (Emily Dawn Long profile)“The Sisterhood of the Unraveling Pants” by Sarah Shapiro in Puck (on the rise of the easy pant)“The Sexy Sincerity of Maryam Nassir Zadeh” by Rachel Tashjian in Harper’s Bazaar“How Does Maryam Nassir Zadeh Stay in Business?” by Madeline Leung Coleman in The Cut“1970–1979” from FIT’s Fashion History Timeline“A 1970s Fashion History Lesson: Disco, Designer Denim, and the Liberated Woman” by Lilah Ramzi in Vogue“The Halstonettes” by The Museum at FIT from the 2015 exhibit Yves Saint Laurent + Halston: Fashioning the 70s“Stephen Burrows, the CFDA’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Winner, in the Words of 7 of His Closest Collaborators” by Laird Borrelli-Persson in Vogue“The Radical History of Sesame Street” by Figgy Guyver in Frieze“The Quintessential Urban Design of Sesame Street” by Anna Kodé in The New York Times“Towards a Better Way: The “Vignelli” Map at 50” (Digital Exhibit) – New York Transit MuseumSupergraphic Ultramodern – Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute“The rise and fall of Esprit, San Francisco’s coolest clothing brand” by Joshua Bote in SFGATE“opening ceremony’s founders on how esprit changed fashion (and the world)” – i-D “Esprit’s Brand Books” by Jill Singer in Sight Unseen (on Esprit: The Comprehensive Design Principle from 1989)“From Plain Jane to Esprit: The Making of a California Icon” by Bertrand Pellegrin“Benetton: Celebrating a Colorful History” by Amanda Kaiser in WWD“History” – Gap, Inc.“Khaki Swing” – 1998 Gap Commercial on YouTubeSomething Wild (1986) dir. Jonathan Demme – Official TrailerExcerpt from Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There by David Brooks“Everything You Need to Know About the Battle of Versailles on the 50th Anniversary of the Event” by Laird Borrelli-Persson in Vogue“Fashion” - The 1973 World Book Year Book“Yanks Pull Off Paris Fashion Heist” by Eugenia Sheppard in The Los Angeles TimesBig Bad Wolf workout class on TikTokAerobics by Kenneth H. Cooperエアロピクルス｜Aeropickles on YouTube“1988 Crystal Light National Aerobic Championship Opening” on YouTubeAudrey Hobert live performances: trenchcoat reveal, mini trampolineAudrey Hobert x Fishwife Tinned Fish Bundle“Forget Euro Summer. Brands Are Having a Wet, Hot American Summer” by Madeleine Schulz in Vogue (pop-up economy write-up) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe