What People Wore to Renell Medrano's Ice Mag Launch
Rick Owens, vintage pleats, and those toe shoes I know you're going to yell at me about
Last night I cried in FiDi. To be more specific, I attended the launch of Ice Magazine, Renell Medrano’s “coldest magazine on earth”, and there was a billboard-sized photo of my best friend occupying a wall of the room. And I may have (definitely) shed a few tears at the realized dream of a girl I’ve been giggling with since we were 11.
Medrano, a photographer, director, and Bronx-native, released the first issue of Ice Mag with Players magazine in mind. Its ability to “blend sensuality with intellectual discourse” served as inspiration.
“While Players was started by two exploitative white publicists, it was shaped by Black writers. Los Angeles Poet Laureate Wanda Coleman and writers Joseph Nazel and Emory ‘Butch’ Holmes served as editors; they featured and commissioned Black artists. Black Panther founder Huey Newton and writer Stanley Crouch cut their teeth at Players. The first issues were published in 1973, and featured teasers like ‘Check out your sex, love, and soul guide,’ alongside an interview with music legend Sammy Davis Jr, and Pam Grier on the cover.
Players operated outside the Ebony and Jet stratosphere, but it still provided intellectual discourse and cultural essays that took a more radical approach. It went beyond inspiring Black excellence and pushed something more intriguing.”
Ice Magazine “reimagines Players” through the eyes of the female gaze. “Onlookers no longer have to question who the Ice Girl is. She is relentlessly herself.”
It was clear we were celebrating — everyone in the room dressed to the nines. When I wasn’t crying or taking photos of Kylie in front of her own 12-foot tall face, I was mentally cataloging the impeccable outfits around me. I chatted with a few attendees to get the scoop on what they were wearing…
…and then promptly did hours of online hunting to find some inspired pieces. (What am I gonna do, not obsessively scroll through Vestiaire Collective? Please.)
Kylie wore a green leather set by KNWLS sourced from Emcee Studios paired with these alligator Manolo slingbacks from her bestie Anna’s closet. The leather is so scrumptious in person, and I love the choice of brass in the buckle details for a bit of contrast.
Try it at home with this Halfboy mini skirt, complete with metal hardware and a nice patina on the leather.
If you’re feeling less leprechaun-y (not deragatory), this KNWLS mini dress might satisfy you. The sweetheart necklines on both this dress and Ky’s set help the looks maintain a softness in a sea of leather.
Coco came swinging with this skirt made from repurposed sports jerseys, and I can’t get over these boots on Nina Mari who said she is often inspired by Harlem street wear and 2010s It Girls.
This list from Sustainable Baddie is the most comprehensive compilation of designers who are reworking jerseys in interesting ways. Some of my favorites…
The Manchado jersey dress, inspired by the Mexican national soccer team and the team from Medellin, Colombia.
The Hairy Mary Sporty Spice tee, which rework jerseys with ruching on each side, and the Mary Queen of Scots kilt that upcycles tartan much like Coco’s jersey skirt.
And the Recovered shirred jersey, which I especially love in this bubblegum pink.
I highly recommend that you check out the others on the list and read in more detail about each designer at Sustainable Baddie.
What’s that I spot over there? An angel in sparkly underwear? Selly picked out these sequin mini shorts at Nine Two Five in LA and competed the look with a Rick Owens leather strappy peep toe wedge.
This is the exact pair of wedges, but I am also into this tie front version. And you simply can’t wear your leather wedges without some micro sequin shorts — here’s a Claudie Pierlot pair in pewter and a navy pair from the 2000s.
What used to be your hippie uncle’s hiking shoes are now gracing the feet of NYC partygoers. One step beyond Tabis are the Vibram Fivefingers — fashion’s favorite shoe just got a few new toe slots!
Alexea told me it’s difficult to wear any other shoes now because they’re so comfortable. I have to say that’s incredibly tempting — is it just a matter of time before we all embrace the toe spread?
This pair has a trendy ballet flat profile with a lower top cut closer to the toes.
Don’t throw rocks at me when I say this but… aren’t these kind of giving Prada Sport?
Abby loves vintage Ralph Lauren Polo, big silhouettes, and lots of layering — perfectly embodied here, tied up with a silver sneaker bow. Throw on a little monogram Louis Vuitton and we’ve got ourselves an outfit.
I love a good Little Shirt Big Pants moment, and this one is made even more fun by the fact that it’s actually a Big Shirt that’s been layered and played with to make it look like a Little Shirt. That’s Shirt Science.
This is a near exact of Abby’s shirt, but I also really like this sweater version and this rugby version. Both would look equally as chic with oversized trousers.
Despite it being the smallest part of the look, Arielle’s chartreuse YSL Arty ring is the standout piece. It also holds the weight of teenage sentimentality — Arielle reblogged this ring constantly on Tumblr as a teen, and now as an adult it’s a wardrobe staple.
There are a million secondhand Arty rings on sale (though rare in this color) and I love these two: one in a deep emerald color and this vintage black and silver, both around $150.
This color blocked cardigan on @way.v_bueliano caught my eye outside the venue before the event had even started, and the Bode hat really sealed the deal.
The hat is on sale in a brown and yellow version — or chocolate and banana, as Kayla Marci of Haute Garbage has had on my mind lately.
The Three Wise Men if they slayed.
A group palette of monochrome neutrals — delicious. Symphony got the Marni capris as a birthday gift. I’m obsessing over the button fly. These sailor pants have six buttons for six times the fun. And this linen pair is under $100.
For a more typical autumnal vibe, these two wool pairs in brown and a dark heathered gray have fun button detailing too.
Nigora’s gray pleated skirt is vintage. There’s nothing I love more for fall than a vintage pleated skirt. (Especially when plaid.)
I’ve had the most success scoring vintage pleated skirts for the best prices on eBay. A huge downside with finding them vintage, however, is that they’re much easier to find in teeny tiny sizes, as a lot of those that have survived the years were school uniforms for kids and teens.
How about a business in the front, pleats in the back vintage Pendleton; a delightfully simple made-in-Paris vintage Rodier; a ‘70s Liz Claiborne with unnecessary but necessary buttons down the front; or a knee length vintage Ralph Lauren which you will have to fight me over in a bidding war.
Elizabeth added retro buttons to a black blazer, which I was immediately drawn to, and is also on Substack writing Your Little Sister.
For the punky blazer, I offer you this vintage State of Claude Montana complete with safety pin and leather trimmings and this ‘90s Cache jacket with similar corset tie detailing.
Elizabeth also had a Snoopy button, so you have to have a snoopy button too.
Which piece from these fabulous outfits is your favorite? Have you picked up a copy of Ice yet? What’s the most worn item in your closet this week? I would love to hear from you!
Loved this thank you