Second Life

Irene Chen is the cofounder of the functional luxury brand Parker Thatch. Before founding her own brand, Chen graduated from UCLA with a degree in political science and began her career in financial consulting. After a couple years in this field, she decided to pivot to fashion, an industry she'd always been drawn to. She first worked for Calvin Klein in its licensing department before transitioning to Donna Karan, where she worked her way up to become the director of product development. Upon meeting, she and her business partner and husband Matthew Grenby decided to start a business of their own, an e-stationery brand called iomoi. This brand went through multiple iterations—from e-stationery to physical stationery to homeware—before they landed on something that stuck. After the success of their first bag, Chen and Grenby decided to focus on functional luxury handbags and rebrand the company to what it's known as today: Parker Thatch.

This week, Amy Smilovic, founder and creative director of Tibi, returns to speak with Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings about her new book, Almost Reckless. The last time Smilovic joined the pod in 2024, she gave us a guide to her design philosophy: creative pragmatism. This time, she's here to share the "almost reckless" framework that helped her uncover creative pragmatism and how you can use this framework for your own creative pursuits. They discuss everything from how to make sense of your current closet to taking fashion risks that pay off, and Smilovic gives us a BTS look at her design process at Tibi. Plus, learn how to make the most of your suitcase space when packing. 

Watch this episode ⁠⁠here on our new YouTube channel⁠⁠, and be sure to subscribe! Listen to Smilovic's previous episode here!

Rose Previte is the restaurateur and entrepreneur behind acclaimed DC restaurants and bars such as Maydan, Medina, and Sook as well as a new food concept in Los Angeles. However, Previte started her career in local government after graduating with a master's degree in public policy. Her first life was interrupted when her husband became NPR's Moscow correspondent, and they moved across the world, visiting over 30 countries in three years. Inspired by her travels, she decided to open a restaurant in DC, and in 2014, her first restaurant, Compass Rose, opened to much success. She then went on to open additional restaurants and a bar in DC, and she recently expanded to L.A. with a food hall, Maydan Market. Previte has also written a cookbook, launched a CPG brand, started a wine company, and founded the restaurant group No White Plates.

This week, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings sits down in studio with Executive Editorial and Style Director Lauren Eggertsen and shopping editor Chichi Offor to give you the rundown of the best pieces, trends, and brands to shop in summer 2026. They discuss staples that never go out of style and how trends from last summer have evolved (is taffeta the new linen?) and name-drop the exact pieces to snag to update your wardrobe. 

Watch this episode on our new ⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠, and be sure to subscribe!

To shop products mentioned in this episode, click here!

Lauren Harwell Godfrey is a jewelry designer and the founder of the brand Harwell Godfrey. But before she started her own jewelry brand, she began her career in advertising. Her advertising career spanned 15 years, working with clients like Adidas, Levi’s, and Ray-Ban. However, she didn’t feel artistically fulfilled and decided to enroll in culinary school. After graduating, she worked in Bay Area restaurants Chez Panisse and Bar Tartine. She also contributed to cookbooks and started her own vegan food blog. Ultimately, she decided that the culinary world was not the right fit and pivoted back to designing jewelry. She started making jewelry for herself and her friends before launching her fine jewelry brand in 2017. Today, she remains the sole designer, and her pieces have been worn by everyone from Kamala Harris to Rihanna.