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The Insider: Edith Zimmerman
Edith…
And her infamous leggings.
When we interview people for this column, The Hairpin often comes up on the shortlist of favorite reads. (It’s on ours, too!) So to say we were excited to talk to Edith Zimmerman, who founded that witty, smart, and thoughtful site two years ago, is, well, a ginormous understatement. Here, we rack the NYer’s brain on everything Hairpin—and get a really awesome crazy-leggings story out of her, too. —jiayi
Q: How did The Hairpin come about?
A: I had been writing for The Awl, which is also a general-interest site, and when they had the opportunity to start a sister-site, they approached me about running it. I was terrified, but super excited.
Q: Where does the name come from?
A: When we were getting started, I was going through this mad race to find a relevant name that wasn’t taken or stupid. There must’ve been dozens of potentials, but I came up with The Hairpin because it was available and seemed sort of feminine but also prickly. I kept coming up with names—but when it was time to flip the switch on the site, we just went with The Hairpin, because we hadn’t come up with a better one.
Q: People point to The Hairpin as a source for really great longform writing. Did you intend for it to go that way?
A: One thing that was important for me at the beginning—and it still is—is that the balance between long and short things never be overwhelming. I like featuring longer pieces because people love to read them, and there’s been some really wonderful longform writers who we’ve featured. But if we were to run long things all day, every day, it’d probably be overwhelming. I like this idea that if you were a casual reader, you could come to the site and consume everything on it in one day without being overwhelmed or left thinking that you were supposed to be reading it in a way you’re not.
Q: Would you ever take The Hairpin print?
A: No. I think what’s made it successful so far is the interaction with readers and commenters. A lot of what people come to the site for now, aside from the content—and I’m so lucky and grateful for this—is the funny, smart, and insightful comments that appear below the pieces. Without that, it’d be much drier. There’s almost a 3D aspect to it. And I think there’d be a danger in trying to translate some of that to the page.
Q: How would you describe your clothing style?
A: I…wear the same thing a lot. I really wish uniforms were more celebrated in life. I do not relish getting dressed. I’ll wear a different shirt than I wore yesterday, but ugh. I usually go with skinny jeans, boots, and an oversized shirt or something.
Q: Do you own any Of a Kind editions?
A: I just got the Ernest Alexander bag. I’ve been using it every day, and I love it.
Q: What’s the best fashion advice anyone’s given you?
A: My friend Jane Marie, who runs The Hairpin with me, is very good at this. She encourages me to try new things, because the worst that can happen is never that bad. I was visiting her in L.A. recently—we went to this boutique, where there was this pair of leggings that I don’t even know how to describe. They’re insane. They’re in all these neon colors with this ridiculous harlequin pattern. These are neon leggings, right? Which is the last thing I’d ever buy or wear. But she told me I had to get them, because I’m usually so unadventurous, and I was like, “Ok,” because they were pretty cheap. I thought I’d never wear them, but then a month later, I was in Vegas for her bachelorette party, and I figured if I was ever going to wear these ridiculous pants, a bachelorette party in Vegas was the way to go. And I did, and they were perfect.
Portrait by Nick D’Emilio.
Get inside the minds of more witty, smart, and thoughtful people here.
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Of a Kind
I’m not daring enough to wear leggings as pants, but damn it, this pair by We Are Selectors is making a convincing case for the other team. —jiayi
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Of a Kind
The name of this line is almost—almost—as kooky as its designs: Ruffeo Hearts Lil’ Snotty. Like, whoa. —erica
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Of a Kind
Not including these in our roundup was clearly an oversight. For this, I ask for your forgiveness. —erica
Damn you Of A Kind! Your leggings post this morning inspired me to track down these Acne leggings I had tried on like a month ago at the store, but they didn’t have my size, and I decided they weren’t meant to be but then I saw your post and decided I had to have them and I found them online.
Because I mean they are sort of amazing right?
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A Case For…Insane Leggings
Claire has been wearing the same pair of leggings for the last five days. I am not exaggerating for effect. And while I don’t exactly endorse this behavior, I certainly understand it: We want to be over what we would have once called stretch pants, but they are just so ridiculously comfortable and easy. So, we’ve decided to really embrace the look. These eight options are loud in the very best way. —erica
1) Laugh Cry Repeat knee leggings: Oh, yes—those are silk patches on the knees.
2) Ostwald Helgason leggings: This pair defines successful pattern-mixing.
3) ALL Knitwear rainbow stripe leggings: Good luck finding anything in your closet as cheery as these.
4) VPL Curvate leggings: They’re gold, they’re ribbed, and they’re not messing around.
5) Stine Goya chaps leggings: Woodsy in the most sophisticated way.
6) PAM Chip printed leggings: These are just like the PJs you wanted when you were six.
7) Future Classics long placket leggings: I’m not sure why you would need buttons on your thighs, but they’re as cute as…well, you know.
8) Shabd deep kaleidoscope leggings: The Brooklyn designer hand-dyes these suckers. Rad, right?
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This is what I want to be lounging in right now: A pair of slouchy cashmere leggings. Tom Scott, you are a genius. Though I am well aware that they would look nothing like this on me, I want to own them no less—and wear them so much that my boyfriend has to force me to wash them regularly. —erica
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Of a Kind
I’m not going to pretend to fully understand these polka-dotted Carly Hunter leggings or how I would incorporate them into my wardrobe, but I do think they would make life sunnier, like having a bright-colored rain coat, a snuggly puppy, or an endless supply of Sour Patch Kids. —erica
