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Welcome to Working It, where Racked follows street style into the office. Forget pedestrian khakis and button-downs—these fashionable professionals take dress codes to a whole new dimension. Quick, somebody call HR!
Cosmo Editor Amy Odell is wearing a MLLE Mademoiselle jacket, Club Monaco cami, Alice + Olivia pants, Tibi shoes, Lauren Klassen necklace, and Made Her Think bracelets. Photos by Driely S.
Cosmopolitan is one of the most successful lady journals out there. Since feminist Helen Gurley Brown led the magazine in the 1960s, the publication has been known as the bible for "fun, fearless females." Keeping up with the Internet age, Cosmo recently redid their website and revamped their digital team, which now consists of all-star writers and editors. The site covers various topics on fashion, beauty— and of course, sex.
Racked paid a visit to Cosmo's digital team last week in New York City's Columbus Circle to get a glimpse of what they sport to the office and hear about the sex secrets they've learned on the job.
Amy Odell, Editor
Who are some of your favorite labels?
"A.L.C, Helmut Lang, Zara."
Who is one person in fashion industry you wish you could interview?
"John Galliano."
What's one splurge purchase you feel good about?
"My wedding dress. I'm getting married in June. My dress is Reem Acra. I'm really excited about it."
What's one thing about sex or relationships you've learned while at Cosmo?
"That people are really interested in reading about them and I didn't expect that to be the case. Once you reach a certain age it's hard to learn anything new about sex but there is a big interest people have in sex. That surprised me."
Alie Martell, Managing Editor
Alie is wearing a BCBG jacket, Gap shirt, Rebecca Minkoff pants, and Zara shoes.
What's a splurge purchase you feel good about?
"Probably these pants. I didn't know if leather pants were for me and I tried on a few pairs at Zara. Then I came in and told our style editor and he told me I have to own leather pants. So I bought these and I love them. I get a lot of compliments out of them."
What are your go-to stores?
"Madewell and Zara."
Who's your favorite fashion designer?
"I like everything from Alice + Olivia."
What's something you've learned about sex while at Cosmo?
"Well, one time someone asked our one straight guy here about boners, and then we all started asking questions about penises and boners that we'd always wondered. We turned it into a hashtag on Twitter so he could write a story about it and it ended up trending. I feel like I've learned a lot about the male anatomy."
Charles Manning, Style Editor
Charles is wearing a Shipley & Halmos jacket, Gant Rugger sweater, J. Crew shirt, Evisu jeans, Warby Parker glasses, and Saint Laurent shoes.
What's your go-to store?
"I have an inappropriate amount of Club Monaco clothing in my wardrobe. For men, you almost never hit it wrong."
What's one item of clothing you never want to see your boyfriend wear?
"Probably leather pants. Also, he had this sheer, bat-wing t-shirt. It's like a gay thing with sheer slut-shirts. I always think they are the worst. Also, vests. I don't know why men insist on wearing vests. They should just wear a jacket, or choose between jacket or no jacket. Don't do the middle thing."
What's a trend you've tried and failed at?
"I've tried neon a few times on me and it always washes me out. I always just look a little bit crazy."
Who is one person in fashion industry you wish you could interview?
"I feel like Anna Dello Russo would be the most fun to interview, especially if I could get her drunk first. Because you know with a few drinks in her, those outfits come to life."
Carly Cardellino, Online Beauty Editor
Carly is wearing a Zara dress, Victoria's Secret shoes, Cartier watch, Armani #300 lipstick, earrings from the Brooklyn Flea market and nails by Miss Pop.
What are your favorite makeup brands?
"Giorgio Armani. I think their lipstick is amazing. Maybelline, and Drew Barrymore's new makeup line, called Flower. Her stuff is amazing."
What's one splurge purchase you feel good about?
"My Chanel bag! I bought it for myself. I love it. I never use it because I'm too scared to mess it up. But it's amazing."
What's one thing you've learned about the beauty industry from your job that you wouldn't know otherwise?
"I feel like there's a common misconception that prestige make-up versus drug store make is better but that's not always the case. I have access to all make-up, prestige and mass, and I've learned that a lot of the drugstore products are just as good as the more expensive brand."
Emma Barker, Sex and Relationships Editor
Emma is wearing a J.Crew sweater, J.Crew skirt, vintage YSL shoes, and Stila lipstick in Petunia.
What's one splurge purchase you'll forever regret?
"I bought a pair of Dolce and Gabbana shoes I bought on Yoox because I was like, "Oh, they are 40% off so that's a deal!" even though I'm still spending $600. I've worn them once. They are just the most uncomfortable things. I got a million compliments but I don't think I can walk more than five feet in them."
What's one unsexy trend you've tried to wear?
"Peplum, failed at that. Also, leather pants."
What's one thing you've learned about sex at Cosmo?
"People are more willing to do an interview about sex than they are to do an interview about money."
Brooke Shunatona, Fashion and Beauty Assistant
Brooke is wearing an Urban Outfitters jacket, Nasty Gal top, BCBG skirt, Zara necklace, Steve Madden shoes, and ring by Madewell.
What's one trend you tried and failed?
"In high school, goucho pants. I thought I succeeded then, but now I say I failed because everyone who wore them failed."
One item of clothing you never want to see your boyfriend wear?
"Cargo shorts. Those are pretty bad."
Who are your favorite designers?
"I'm obsessed with Tom Ford because he's from Austin Texas and I'm from Dallas. And everything he does is cool. I also love everything from ASOS and Nasty Gal."
Lori Fradkin, Executive Features editor
Lori is wearing a Maje dress, Michael Kors boots, Urban Outfitters tights, David Yurman ring, and Movado watch.
Which store do you swear by?
"Anthropologie."
What was your best splurge purchase?
"A couple of years ago I bought a Tory Burch brown leather jacket and I've worn it for years. So I feel good about that one. Also, I bought a Burberry gray middleweight jacket. I wear it a lot so that was worth it."
Who is one person in the fashion industry you wish you could interview?
"My favorite designer is Marc Jacobs, but I would also love to talk to Jenna Lyons."
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