A teenage girl’s love for her best friend is loyal, passionate, dizzying, all-consuming. It’s blood pacts and closely guarded secrets, shared knowledge and unspoken devotion; its totems are friendship bracelets, matching outfits, and private languages. I have fond memories of teaming up with my best friend to crash college parties and sneak out of the house, riding bikes and making forts, tie-dyeing our underwear, spur-of-the-moment day trips to the beach, and pretending to be twins on my birthday at TGI Fridays so they’d have to give us two cakes.
This shoot is about that feeling. It’s an homage to some of the great BFFs in TV and movie history: Enid and Rebecca, Daria and Jane, Cher and Dionne, Rory and Lane. I wanted to capture that unique experience known as BFF-ship. We’ll have all kinds of love in our lives to come—hopefully some epic ones—but nothing will be like this again.
Thanks to Nao Koyabu for styling, to Julia and Desiree for modeling, and to Warby Parker for supplying the eyewear. All glasses from Warby Parker’s collaborations with Leith Clark and Beck.
This post was generously sponsored by Warby Parker. The content was produced by Rookie. This holiday season, treat a loved one to a gift card (and a little something extra). Every Warby Parker physical gift card comes with a Make-a-Snowman kit.
On Desiree (left): Julia’s Topshop x Meadham Kirchhoff heart top, Nao’s lip-print dress, Tabio tights, and Warby Parker’s Greta frames in Crystal. On Julia: Vintage heart skirt from Beyond Retro, her own vintage bear sweater, and Wednesday frames in Noir.
Frames on the left: Willow in Aldabra. On the right: Carmichael in Root Beer. Socks from Topshop.
On Julia (left): Her own vintage blouse, pleated shorts from the Pocket Library, London; and Marva glasses frames in Colbalt Leaf. On Desiree: Her own blouse, vintage pleated skirt from Beyond Retro, and Aurora frames in Daughter of Pearl.
On Julia (left): Vintage bow-tie blouse from Beyond Retro, her own vintage dress, and Willow frames in Aldabra. On Desiree: Vintage dress from Beyond Retro, Nao’s vintage sweater, and Carmichael frames in Root Beer.
Frame styles, left to right: Marva in Colbalt Leaf, Carmichael in Root Beer.
Julia’s own vintage Miu Miu kitty shoes, Willow frames in Aldabra.
On Desiree (left): Greta frames in Crystal. Julia’s frames: Willow in Aldabra. Vintage dresses and sandals, Julia’s own.
On Desiree (left): Sunglasses with Carmichael frames in Crystal. On Julia: Sunnies with Willow frames in Aldabra.
Left: Willow frames in Aldabra Right: Carmichael frames in Crystal.
Sunglasses on Desiree (left): Carmichael frames in Root Beer. On Julia: Wednesday frames in Noir. Vintage dresses and shoes, Julia’s own.
This post was generously sponsored by Warby Parker. The content was produced by Rookie. This holiday season, treat a loved one to a gift card (and a little something extra). Every Warby Parker physical gift card comes with a Make-a-Snowman kit.
30 Comments
perfect!!!
Log in to replyThese photos are very pretty but maybe be a little more discreet with the product placement next time? We don’t want Rookie turning into this:
Log in to replyHey Ludo! I actually think that Wayne’s World clip was one of the greatest subversions of product placement in history. I think the products in this post were shown tastefully/subtly in a way that is true to Rookie’s aesthetic and feeling, which I think is preferable to trying to conceal the fact that sometimes we do sponsored posts. That would be condescending to you guys, who are obviously smart as all get-out and would rightfully call us on it immediately. If something is being done in conjunction with a company, we think it’s important that that’s transparent to Rookie’s readers, and that we respond to your questions about it when you have them.
Log in to replyI totally agree, Amy Rose! especially because the product is very cool.
Log in to replyI think it was very well done and I appreciate that it wasn’t concealed.
I have the same opinion like you! Great eye candy!!! But please be not a place for product placement!
Log in to replyriotgirlpower.blogspot.com
Dying to get my hands on some of the Meadham Kirchhoff for topshop collection. These pictures really capture some of the signature moments you have with a best friend.
Log in to replyThis is so LUSH. It hurts my soul that that topshop and meadham kirchoff collection is nowhere in the vicinity of my body.
Log in to replyI love this. Collaborations are fab – I love to see what my favourite photographers and artists can do with the brands on sale at the moment. These photos are glorious and so gorgeous and have got me all excited about fall <3
Log in to replyLoved this! My favorite pic was #11 <3
Log in to replyim kinda in love with this and all the clothes in it
Log in to replyI think the photos are lovely, but I wonder (in general) if Rookie is staying to a trope that is starting to feel stale? Retro and vintage is all good but where is the relevancy to girl’s lives today? It seems that Rookie is really stuck in a certain style and as time goes by it risks being left behind. How much longer can there continue to be references to The Virgin Suicides, Twin Peaks, 70’s, Americana, etc. without it becoming irrelevant? I’d like to see Rookie go forward with their aesthetic and be more risk-taking.
Log in to replyThis month, Forever, is about nostalgia, as explained in the editor’s letter. Next month’s theme, Vision, may feel more updated to you. Every month on Rookie is different for this reason. I want to note, though, that while stuff like the Virgin Suicides, Twin Peaks, etc. may be common references for me or for a kind of Rookie-inspired Tumblr community/style, we don’t actually reference that stuff that much anymore? Last June’s theme, “Longing,” was purposefully TVS-inspired (as in, we actually explained the connection there — it wasn’t just a visual reference). Same with March’s “Mystery” and Twin Peaks. Last month’s moodboard had a lot of 70s because if we want to continue Rookie for a long time, we have to continue to make each month feel very different from one another, which means delving back into many different references. If we looked only at more recent music/movies/etc., we’d be limited. The actual photo stories last month were of real girls and their lives today, like Sandy’s photo diary and Maria’s recording of her portraits of her friends, even if we were inspired by stuff like the Jackson 5 and old sitcoms. If it comes down to it, maybe we are just more for readers whose tastes and references span decades. I’m okay with that.
Log in to replyI think Rookie strives to remain relevant.
I love that every month has a different theme, as it definitely leads to a variety of inspiring, not-always-talked about stuff that I remember as a teen dealing with, and even today as a young 20 something female. I mean, that’s as relevant as it gets if you ask me.
And, I know that I (as well as other readers) embrace cultures of all different decades, because it’s always fun and interesting to look back at how some of this stuff even existed (I mean the background photo for instance. What is that? I love whatever that is.)
And back to the topic of relevance, when my friends and I get together we are more likely to reference our thrift shoes we picked up that are “so 90’s” or Twin Peaks and even Bob’s Burgers and Arrested Development all in one conversation. This is wayyy more relevant than the latest technology we can’t afford or even the latest gossip/scandal involving Kanye Cyrus Gaga whatever.. (But we still do like to be in the know… That’s what the weekend links are for anyway!)
Rookie has definitely done a great job of defining it’s own community/culture, definitely one that makes me feel (as well as other readers) very fulfilled. (The kind of fulfilled when you pick a random movie on Netflix and in the middle of it you realize it’s your favorite movie and you spend that whole week watching it every day and sobbing over the beauty.)
Love you all.
Log in to reply@Tavi I’m not saying to only look at current sources to get inspiration, but a lot of the photo stories that is put out on Rookie DO have a similar aesthetic and point of view along with the styling. For example, a lot of the photo stories are very dreamy and nostalgic. It wouldn’t hurt to bring in some new photographers or stylists who have a completely different reference point and style to those on staff.
“If it comes down to it, maybe we are just more for readers whose tastes and references span decades.”
If you look at magazines like i-D and Dazed they definitely have inspiration points from different references from all over but do have a shoots that relate to people today. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to branch out a bit and do something more provoking?
Log in to replyI get what you say. I really love aesthetic and inspiration that Rookie gives, because it transports you to a melancholical and oniric space. But sometimes life is not that sweet or beautiful angsty, sometimes it’s not beautiful painful like The Virgin suicides, and some girls really want to live the movie, and the fact that your life is not like that, really hurt and break some hearts.
But I love the effort of this website to give us something new and fresh, they are not perfect, but they are getting better.
So don’t take these comment as critics, but as opinions that would feed the view we have about society and girl problems. It is an opportunity.
*Sorry if I write something wrong spelled or something, but english is not my first language.
Log in to replyI love how this photo shoot is a tribute to TV/movie BFFs. Nice work, Rookie!
Log in to replyThis is beautiful!! I especially love all the clothes and colors in this spread!
Log in to replyLoved this! Really pretty and the colors are amazing :)
Log in to replyi think my grandmother would like this photo shoot!
Log in to replyI love that you guys work so much with vintage clothes; if i would only want to see modern high street Fashion i would buy GLAMOUR Magazine (which i do sometimes^,^).
Log in to replypractically crying because i’m in love with the sorts of dresses they have in #14 but those dresses never fit me because women in the fifties had no boobs and i have boobs SOMETHING FIERCE.
but other than that, yay pretty glasses, yay Nao’s crazy amazing styling, yay Eleanor’s perfect Mad Men/bored girls/grandparent’s house vibes, yay forever
Log in to replythis is perfect, thank you xxxxx
thevelvetwonder.blogspot.com-->
Log in to replyThe photos are beautiful but sometimes I wish rookie would also represent more tomboyish androgynous girls in their photos. I realize I’m in a small minority but can’t help feeling a bit left out occasionally!
Log in to replyI think it’s interesting that Rookie editors get so defensive when readers voice opinions on the content instead of taking that constructive criticism and trying to address the issues. So much for inclusivity, right? Tavi’s attitude is not only surprising but disappointing in that comment, the comment was in no way attacking the website, simply pointing out something that other outlets have said before. How about you address these issues and just try to diversify, which would actually make sense with your goal of trying to reach out to *all* teenage girls.
Log in to replyI don’t know, man, I don’t think Tavi was being defensive at all when she addressed that last comment—for real, if you look over our content en masse, especially over the last few months, I don’t really see that there’s one overarching tone/aesthetic either. What, exactly, do you think is missing? I mean, last week alone, we had a tech gift guide, a piece about fandom, photo diaries of real girls ~living in the world today~ (I’m making fun of my wording here, not yours!), a story about a girl going to her first open mic…I don’t see any of that as “nostalgic,” or whatever? I think we try to make a really concentrated effort to reach out to ALL OF Y’ALL, and we’re gonna continue to do so, and that means incorporating all kinds of different moods/looks/stories/etc. from all over the place. I’m genuinely curious as to what the issue is with that, my dude.
Log in to replyThank you @l_ala! I was in no way attacking the photo story or the website, but just stating my opinion that I did feel Rookie was starting to maintain a limited aesthetic point of view. I was surprised at Tavi’s response which was defensive and condescending. I agree with @l_ala that addressing the issues readers bring up rather than dismissing them would be beneficial.
Log in to replyThese are so cute! xx
Log in to replyBut holy fuck the styling is sooooo A+
Log in to replylove this website for the glasses btw!
aw this is so cute i wish i had a best friend sigh
Log in to replythe flowery brogues are mislabeled as the Miu Miu kitty shoes. Where are they from? They’re beautiful *_*
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