Ep. 48: Shabby Chic

Wake up shabby heads! To mark the return of flowering blooms and the internet’s reckoning with Magnolia Pearl, we’re drawing back the aged lace curtains on your mom’s favorite aesthetic: shabby chic! We investigate shabby chic’s Old World origins, its popularization by Portobello Road elite Rachel Ashwell, and its various contemporary forms — from TJ Maxx faux-distressed decor to New Orleans crust-twees. Plus, we reflect on Galliano’s homeless-inspired collection, stealth wealth and recessioncore, and Grimes sailing down the Mississippi in a DIY houseboat. Wishing you all a shabby chic summer!Pinterest boardMagnolia Pearl Official WebsiteMagnolia Pearl Mom TikTokRachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic (1996)Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic TV episode on Roses (2000)Liberties; Haute Homeless via The New York TimesSubscribe to our Patreon <3 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