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The SSENSE Editors Distill Their Best Stories of 2018
As the leaves turn from yellow to brown, and the decorations turn from orange to red, the SSENSE editors offer up a year-end holiday gift-guide. Each of our five guides is curated around one of our favorite editorial stories of 2018, so you can now take home a piece of the Yoon Anh interview you loved, or read about the history behind your Fendi fanny pack.
Bbymutha by Ruth Gebreyesus
“I like the fact Aretha had big long titties and she ain't give a fuck. That's fashion to me. Just rocking your titties the way they are, not trying to make them look no certain kind of way, and wearing whatever the fuck you want to wear with them titties.”
Pill Yellow by Sarah Nicole Prickett
“I call it ‘pill yellow.’ My grandmother’s aspirin was this yellow. My aunt’s diazepam. My lowish dose of lisdexamfetamine, a subtle varietal of upper that I had to have after a friend, citing his psychiatrist, called it ‘the Rolls-Royce of amphetamines.’”
Umbro’s New Luxury by Rebecca Storm
“Now, bigger brands are diversifying, holistically expanding their channels of distribution, manufacturing techniques, and branding. Instead of just contending with competitors, there is now exclusivity within a brand—you can buy Nike walking shoes in a watermelon colorway for $39.99 at Winners, or Virgil Abloh Prestos at SSENSE for five times the price. Brands have begun to compete with themselves.”
From West Coast Grunge to Shibuya to Dior: Yoon Ahn’s World Takeover by Romany Williams
“Sometimes, when people don't know you, they judge you by what you post, and how you seem to appear. That's why you also need to understand that surface is surface. Once someone opens that lid, they're going to be seeking depth. I might look a certain way on social media. I'm a girl, at the end of the day, and I like to have long weaves and wear lipstick, but I make sure I work my ass off, and my results are there. Everything in life is a balance. Especially as a creator, you need to lead with results.”
All in The Family: Why Heritage Logos are Back After Having Never Left by Haley Mlotek
“Logos, whether made of symbols or letters, are complete texts. We learn how to read them. They’re often found in family lore and other forms of fiction. Some luxury brands have had centuries to accumulate meaning: Louis Vuitton, Hermès, and Cartier, for example, were all founded between the 18th and 19th century by skilled craftsmen who produced goods for royalty. Their logos are not like family crests—they are exactly that.”
More Context Your Resource for the Stories Behind Some of Fall/Winter 2018’s Best Pieces E-commerce is fast and convenient. That’s why we’re all addicted to shopping online. But in order for something to become super-fast, it’s got to shed some layers. Oftentimes, the first thing to go is the history. A garment's raison d'être. In More Context, the SSENSE editors select six Fall/Winter 2018 pieces that deserve a little extra explanation. From an illegal keychain to a notable reissue or a unique collaboration, there’s a lot more behind the seams than you’d think—call it the SSENSE Wikipedia. 
Market Research: Kenzo Chris Black is Really, Really Sensitive About Brands I suffer from a chronic condition that affects my everyday life in incalculable ways. I have been self-diagnosed as “brand sensitive.” Unfortunately, this condition has affected almost every facet of my life. The era of vintage Levi’s I buy, the Juice Press Greenlight smoothie I add almond butter to, the white Hanes socks with a hidden red logo, the macro plate from Souen that I subtract steamed kale from and add extra steamed carrots to. I cannot simply buy a pair of white sneakers, get a salad, or book a flight. 
Feel Yourself and the Rest Will Follow Selfies in Southern California with Mowgli Surf Founders Philip and Alex Seastrom “I don’t even like looking at black-and-white photos,” Philip Seastrom says, who started the fashion label Mowgli Surf with his twin brother Alex. Dedicated to tie-dye and the aesthetics of late 90s surfwear, the Seastroms are big proponents of bright colors, eternal summer, and the potential of a suburbanite who dreams. Snapping pics in South Santa Monica, they have an urgent message for those who are interested in liberating their latent male sexual energy: Think before you put on that black shirt!In a selfie stick story for SSENSE, Philip and Alex Seastrom donned pieces by Vetements , Raf Simons , and Off-White and spoke with Zoma Crum-Tesfa about the limitations of skateboard apparel and the “glass ceiling” on menswear.