I was on a podcast this week, during which I was asked (by Ed, from Brooklyn to Hackney) about my media diet/info diet.
Honestly Substack has become a bit of a centre of gravity for me, so I went on about that for a bit.
It made me realise that - despite the fact that in my writing I link to all sorts of Substacks (and so many books, articles, references, research studies, interviews with CEOs/designers, pretty tenuous song lyrics, memes etc) - I’ve never curated my hall of fame ‘stacks into a list.
So here it is. A diff kind of post from me.
Some of my must-haves you’ll already know and love, I’m sure. But I’ve mixed in some newer or perhaps lesser-known folks too. And for those who don’t spend a lot of time on Substack, maybe you’ll be inspired to dig in. There’s so much good stuff. Please drop comments with unmissable stuff that I’m missing!
Needless to say I already have anxiety that I’ve forgotten someone crucial.
My G.O.A.Ts
I’ll start with the Substacks I officially recommend to my own readers. Adore them all (and thank you to all the writers who recommend Pattern Recognition to their readers, too…love this feature).
Matt Klein’s Zine is just unmatched in its depth and vision.
, gah the OG - pls also read her books and historic investigative journalism inside the fashion system (and also her explainer on WTAF Vogue World’s meant to be). BlackbirdSpyPlane and 8Ball, which I’m sure need no introduction (you prob know I’m ex-VICE so my heart for these two is prob not unexpected). The mighty Andrew McLuhan, continuing his family legacy in the most epic manner. He’s Marshall McLuhan’s grandson, people. Run don’t walk, as they say. And the holy trinity: Amy Odell’s Back Row (that publishes what legacy media can’t), and “the woman the beauty industry fears” (amen)…Jessica Defino*, and Laura Reilly’s Magasin (come for the writing, stay for the crowd-sourced shopping spreadsheets).*also listen to her podcast collab with Emily I <3 Mess, specifically the one on The Fall of the House of JLo.
My Venn of interest is an overlapping of consumer culture, the fashion system, beauty industry, digital culture, sociology/anthropology, capitalism, and marketing/brand-building. Plus the history + possible futures of all that. So my picks are broken down into categories that sort of match up with that, knowing that most of them burst the bounds of any neat lil genre.
Fashion-stack
Fashion system/industry: 1 Granary,
, Fashion Roundtable, Retail Diary, also Back Row, Amy Odell, Dana Thomas. Alexandra Hildreth isn’t writing here often anymore (catch her on X) but def deserves a mention. Nor is Ryan Yip (catch him on TikTok) but he deserves a shout out for his commitment to educating folk on fashion’s real cultural history.Fashion culture/criticism/consumption:
The Love List (about the culture of shopping…like this today on dressing for Lunch Culture). (loved her piece on Shop Like A Collector). - The Cereal Aisle of course, esp her recurring How To Get Dressed feature (most recently with the Rachel Tashjian Wise, yo - btw who of you is in on Opulent Tips?). for her extremely eloquent A Sunday Journal (also catch her on TikTok). for her wonderful Slouching Towards Bethnal Green (not least bc we share a postcode, and I learned today similar emotions about Glasto). is always on-it with Earl Earl. Heather’s PIGPEN which I eat up, esp her longer-form stuff. And a clutch of intelligent and thought-provoking style newsletters that I hold dear: Anna Newton’s (I mean, why ARE we buying clothes for lives we don’t have?). - enjoyed her piece this week on the mens SS25 runways. for In Moda Veritas. The Midimalist (Kelly should win Substack for that title alone). Lucy Williams’ Remotely. Hey Mrs Solomon On Style. for her style + hot takes on issues like self-acceptance. with her sustainable-leaning POV. And my fave dopeness-addict, on menswear at Minor Genius (which he interviewed moi for recently).Culture-stack
’s (whose daily Notes I live for, don’t you?) The Molehill (try this on The Freedom To Be Ugly Online, or her v good Brat commentary). I <3 Mess, the hottest takes. Total Rec (by a recovering Marketing CEO who is done with ads…try this one on the debate re brands coming for the group chat/the feared enshittification of Substack as it evolves/resists evolving into a marketing channel). ’s totemic After School yoot-ness. - Maybe Baby. - Culture Study. - Vague Blue. - Hung Up (read her on Timberlake/Shawshank Redemption). who needs no intro. Nor does . Or for her daily (daily!) Feed Me. - Hmm That’s Interesting. - How Not To F-up Your Face (I esp. like this one: Hype in a Jar). And . And of course…the OG culture-watcher. Anthropology x business-stack
, which explains why so much is going wrong. Dr. for her sharp POV on the aspiration economy. - The Honest Broker never fails to open my mind. And anthropologist , who you might know I love, is now here, provoking thought. , Exponential View - also, read his books. Peter Spear for his very good round-ups at. And on creativity, brands and business. And
. Guys, you have to. Voice of modern girlhood. Her writing is heartrending and makes me emotional for my own youth, and for what my little daughters might experience as they grow.And the best thing I’ve read all week? This from a young female writer
. At my age I’m not sure if I’m a thought daughter or a thought mother, but it got me thinking (and laughing at myself) which the very best writing does IMO.And on that, writers, if you haven’t been to one of
’s writing rooms or tutorial group calls yet, you’re missing out. She is so excellent and generous.Anyway, that is a whole lot of links.
Thanks for reading/see you next time.
Beth :)
love this beth! cant wait to listen to the pod, downloaded it for an upcoming flight :)
epic list! I read so many you included and i'll check out the ones i'm not. thank you for including me. I love reading your Substack.