The Department: a podcast about trends.

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A podcast about trends, taste, brands, and products, hosted by fashion industry professionals Amanda and Kim.

Amanda McCarty + Kim Christenson


    • Dec 16, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 22m AVG DURATION
    • 64 EPISODES

    4.9 from 71 ratings Listeners of The Department: a podcast about trends. that love the show mention: department, fashion, like sitting, nostalgia, well researched, industry, relevant, light, working, humor, friends, hosts, new, fun, recommend, informative, good, topics, listening, best.



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    Latest episodes from The Department: a podcast about trends.

    Episode 64: The Holiday Trend-tacular Part 1: The Hallmark Holiday Movie Recipe

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 68:58


    IT'S A HOLIDAY MIRACLE! Kim and Amanda are back with a two-part holiday trend-tacular!!! In this episode, we'll pour some eggnog over ice, put on our Christmas teddies (jk, no way), and settle in with a nice Hallmark movie.  Get all the details about this episode at the thedepartment.world

    Episode 63: The Checkerboard Chronicles: The Avant Basic Trend, Lisa Says Gah and The Sustainability of Trend

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 67:26


    Kim and Amanda take a cow print, checkerboard odyssey through the Avant Basic trend, with stops along the way at SHEIN and the natural deodorant aisle.Find the full show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 62: Everything New Is Old Again (part 2): 2000s Hipsters are Making a Comeback -Indie Sleaze vs. Twee

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 72:29


    Have you ever touched up your black jeans with a Sharpie? Exclusively owned shirts with Peter Pan collars?  Get ready for some nostalgia (or a refreshing style shift), because two of the most iconic 2000s aesthetics are back: twee and indie sleaze.  Note: Amanda's audio is a little weird in this episode. Dustin did everything he could to fix it.  Find the full show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 61: Everything New Is Old Again (part 1): Time Traveling, And Just Like That...., Snark Attack

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 67:29


    And just like that...the 2000s were back again. In part one of two, Amanda + Kim talk about how 2022 is looking a lot like 2002, with the return of Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda.  And we'll talk about the newest social media trend: snarking the snarkers.  See the full show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 60: Crime Curious (part 2): The True Crime Female Paradigm, Paranoia and Amateur Hour

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 71:19


    Neil Blakemore joins Amanda + Kim for the second half of our conversation about the true crime trend. See the full episode notes at thedepartment.world.

    Crime Curious (part 1): The Trend of True Crime + The Staircase Exposed

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2021 73:35


    Episode 58: We couldn't help but wonder....what trends came out of Sex in the City?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2021 77:37


    Grab a Cosmo, put on some totally unwalkable shoes, and join us on a journey to uncover all of the fashion, food, and social trends created by a single HBO show: Sex and the City.  Find the full show notes here.

    Episode 57: The Super Story behind Superfoods: Kale Tales, Pom Promises and Going Bananas for Bananas

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2021 86:19


    Why eat ordinary food when you could have...SUPERFOOD!  Kim + Amanda unpack the trendiness and marketing genius of so-called "superfoods."Find the full show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 56: Cultured Content: The Fro-11 on Fro-Yo, Food Trends through the Years and Rich White Guys with Dumb Opinions

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2021 75:59


    Amanda + Kim continue their odyssey into "health food" trends with a special focus on fro-yo and rich white dudes with loud, dumb opinions.Find the full show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 55: Drinking the Kool Aid: The Cult of Juicing

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 81:56


    Open a fresh bottle of Clamato and join Amanda and Kim on a centuries-spanning journey through the cyclical trend of juicing.Find our full show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 54: “That Girl” Trend is Poison: #Girlboss Reinvented, Sweetgreen and the Ideal Woman

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2021 69:17


    Grab a green juice, pour it into your #girlboss mug, and join Kim + Amanda for part II of their dissection of the "That Girl" trend.Find our full show notes at thedepartment.world.TW: this episode does discuss eating disorders and social media phenomena related to eating disorders. If you or someone you love is dealing with an eating disorder, please visit The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).  They provide free and low cost support for individuals with eating disorders.

    Episode 53: “That Girl” Trend is Poison: Wack Wellness Culture & Orthorexia

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2021 62:37


    Kim tells us all about the "That Girl" trend sweeping social media and Amanda wonders "how many salad ingredients is too many?"Find our the full show notes at thedepartment.world.TW: this episode does discuss eating disorders and social media phenomena related to eating disorders. If you or someone you love is dealing with an eating disorder, please visit The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).  They provide free and low cost support for individuals with eating disorders.

    Episode 52: Nostalgic Food Trends: As American as Mac & Cheese, Hamburger Helper and Hungry Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2021 84:48


    Amanda + Kim are still recovering from the Jell-O-sode, so why not take a deep dive into some classic "American" comfort foods?!See the full show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 51: Nostalgic Food Trends...Getting Jiggly With It

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 74:25


    Amanda + Kim explore the trendiest food of all:  Jell-O/gelatin.  And they take a hotline call about gender reveal parties.  Find the show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 50: From Bubbles to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, The Social Science of The Baby Name Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2021 67:06


    Your name is a pretty big deal! By listener request, Kim and Amanda break down the trends and history involved in baby names.See the full show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 49: The Troll Trend (pt 2): How to Feed the Trolls

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 87:16


    “To feed the trolls or not feed the trolls?” This is something the entire internet is debating (when they aren't debating whether or not Crocs are cute).  In part two of our troll-travaganza, Amanda + Kim discuss troll feeding and how to avoid becoming trolls ourselves.See the full show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 48: The Troll Trend (pt 1): The who, what, where, why and how of the troll epidemic.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2021 97:32


    TREND ALERT! Beach brawls, bad behavior on airplanes, and being a jerk on the internet are more popular than ever! In this episode, Amanda + Kim break down the who/what/where/why of trolling and snarking.See the full show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 47: Those CraZy KidZ: The Gen Z Aesthetics (pt 2) - Rare Aesthetics, Y2K and 2014 Nostalgia, Skinny Jeans vs The Masochist Aesthetic, War of #Adulting and The Great Shunning of

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 64:41


    Episode 46: Those CraZy KidZ: The Gen Z Aesthetics (pt 1) - Uglycore, Normcore, Authenticity and Perfection Fatigue

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2021 79:16


    CH-CH-CH-CHEUGY! (pt 2): We might never know why lasagna is cheugy.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 61:32


    Amanda and Kim slice and dice (and fricassee) the internet's latest thinkpiece and quiz obsession:  cheugy.  Find our full show notes at thedepartment.world. 

    CH-CH-CH-CHEUGY! (pt 1): The basic origins of the latest aesthetic trend

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 58:59


    This is part one of our ultra miniseries on "cheugy," the internet's current favorite source of think pieces and quizzes.  But to understand cheugy, we have to travel back to 2014.  So throw on your scarf, grab your PSL, and get ready to dissect the term "basic."See the full show notes at thedepartment.world.

    Episode 43: That Value of Our Values (part II)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2021 68:06


    In last week's episode, we talked about how our concept of value has changed.  This week we'll breakdown the values we want from brands!

    Episode 42: The Value of Our Values (part I)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2021 80:02


    The pandemic re-centered what "value" means to us, as we also began to demand more "values" from the companies selling to us.  In this episode, we break down the ways in which our feelings about the value of items are changing. Also:  a wild Grub Hub dating story.

    ︎︎︎Episode 41: Hotline Special: Online Dating Stories Ft., Pre-Date Google Stalking, Painful First Dates, OKStupid, Couchsurfing + Microdestinations

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 74:10


    The Ethan Hawke Effect: the Gen X Slacker Archetype and the subconscious conditioning of accepting substandard relationships.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 84:58


    Nostalgia collides with our dating series as we discuss why cool girls have been making allowances for such lousy behavior from dudes since the aughts. We call it the Ethan Hawke Effect. Get ready for a stroll down slacker heartthrob memory lane!

    Episode 39: Online Dating Special (pt 4): Millennial Innovations & Trends; Ghosting, "Glamboozled", Penpals, Serendipidating, Fleabagging, Cuffing Season, Roaching, Sliding into DMs, Wokefishing and the New Dawn Dating

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 78:58


    Online Dating Special (pt 3): Catfishing, Racooning, Romance Scams, Red Flags and Motivating Factors

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2021 74:18


    Episode 37: Online Dating Special (pt 2): The Cheaters, Ashley Madison, AOL Screen Names, Murdering Monogamy, Pandemic Affairs, Flirty Fembots

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 65:04


    Join us as we explore how the inception of online connections changed the trends in monogamy in the 2000’s through present day. And Dani calls in with a Missed Connections story!

    Episode 36: Online Dating Special (pt 1): The Origins, Sparknotes to OK Cupid, Data Mining, Trends & Trolls, Endless Questions, Video Dating Profiles, Addiction Swiping and the Paradox of Choice.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2021 87:24


    It's the first episode in our miniseries about online dating and we are going to talk about the early years of online dating, specifically the granddaddy of them all, OKCupid.

    Episode 35: Built By Wendy Founder Wendy Mullin (pt. 2), Wranglers, Sew U, Simplicity Patterns

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 59:31


    It's part two of our conversation with Wendy Mullin, founder of the iconic brand Built By Wendy! We will talking about her collab with Wrangler, Sew U, and her Simplicity patterns (and so much more)!

    Built By Wendy Founder Wendy Mullin (pt. 1), 90’s & 2000’s Indie Fashion Dare-ling, Home Sewing & Vintage Patterns, NY Underground Scene and Pre-Internet Brand Building

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 58:43


    We have an extra special treat for you this week - Wendy Mullin from the iconic fashion label Built by Wendy is joining us for this super exciting episode!

    2000’s Trends: Movie Mania! Wes Anderson Wonderland, Sofia Coppola #aesthetics, The Sideways Effect, Napoleon Dynamite Dilemma, Amélie and the French Obsession

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2021 112:49


    Amanda and Kim reminisce about the iconic films and directors that drove trends in fashion, aesthetics, advertising, and even wine(!) well into the aughties.

    2000’s Trends: Magazine Domination, Cool Culture, Zine Machine, Bust, The Face, Jane, Nylon and the Advertising Apocalypse

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 111:40


    Kim and Amanda continue on their 2000s hipster mission, talking about the magazines that were meaningful to hipster women of the aughts.

    2000’s Trends: Hipster Scenes, Unicycles, Electroclash, Ye Oldes, DIY (aka Put A Bird On It), Freak Folks

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 129:22


    We thought this week it would be super fun to talk about some of the Hipster subcultures and the trends behind them. Specifically the Scenesters, Electroclash, Ye Oldes, DIY and Freak Folk. We also have some great messages from Dani and Kristen!

    2000’s Trends: Hipster Scams of JT Leroy & Mast Brothers, The New Sincerity, Fauxrony & Ironic History

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 114:02


    This week we continue a bit more into some 2000’s trends that not just defined that decade but offered some insight into our today. This week is a deeper look at IRONY (and misunderstandings) and some additional Scammers in the Hipster culture: JT LeRoy and The Mast Brothers.

    2000’s Trends: The Seedy Underbelly of the Hipsters: Scammers and Misogynists, The Betrayal of the Hipster Grifter, Suicide Girls + The Encyclopedia of Hipster Abusers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021 120:51


    Kim + Amanda dig into the seedy underbelly of the hipster culture of the 2000's, discussing The Hipster Grifter, "Ironic Sexism," Suicide Girls, and The Encyclopedia of Hipster Abusers. TW: This episode includes a lot of frank conversation about physical/sexual abuse and bullying.

    2000’s Trends: Signature Hipster Stuff - Nerd Elitism, "Ironic" Racism, PBR, Skinny Jeans, Scarf Scandals and the Origins of FOMO

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2021 122:38


    Amanda and Kim continue their deep dive into the hipsters of the aughts and get the conversation started with some hotline calls!

    2000’s Trends: The Hipster Empire - Vice Magazine, American Apparel, Terry Richardson, Ironic Ironies

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 118:26


    “How did the hipster burn his mouth? He ate pizza before it was cool." Amanda and Kim begin a deep dive into the hipster culture of the early aughts.

    2000’s Trends: The Terrible 2000’s - Reign of Raunch, Tacky, Trashy & Tattooed, Blue Collar Irony, Relentless Rhinestone, + Von Dutch, Ed Hardy, Affliction, Swarovski & Rock of Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 98:52


    We are going back in time to the 2000s again this week as the second episode in the series featuring what we like to consider The Terrible 2000’s. This week we are going to uncover some slightly different but vaguely overlapping territory and discuss Blue Collar to Bling and Raunch Culture.

    2000’s Trends: The Terrible 2000’s - Celebutante Culture, Rash of Reality TV, Juicy Couture, Uggs, Ghastly Gossip

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021 110:55


    This week Amanda + Kim polish off their Von Dutch hats, iron their velour tracksuits, and get ready to begin a several episode journey back to the early aughts. This episode covers reality tv, the celebutantes, Juice, Uggs, Kitson, and Perez Hilton.

    Color Trends (pt 2): The Passion of Millennial Pink, Gen Z Color Trends, Kindercore + Wonderful Wiggly Design

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 53:32


    Pantone Trends: Clashing Colors, Considering the Color of the Year, Pantone & Pantyhose, Calvin Klein’s Coffee + Colorstrology

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 96:14


    Amanda and Kim explore the trends in colors and the key players behind them - most importantly Pantone and their Color of the Year.

    Slumber Party Series (Ch.2): 80’s & 90’s Hair Trends, ‘The Rachel’, ‘The Demi’ ‘The Drew’, Crimping Craze & Torture tools, Herbal Essences & Salon Selectives + Much More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2020 116:05


    To coincide with our Slumber Party theme we thought that no slumber party was complete without the hair - which was such an important part of the late 80’s and 90’s. Mainly inspired by celebrities, models and musicians - hair was dramatic and a zeitgeist of the times.

    Slumber Party Series (Ch.1): Girl Talk Game Empire, Trapper Keepers, Sticker Subcultures, Lisa Frankly Speaking, Weird World of Ouija

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 109:06


    Welcome to Chapter One of our slumber party series! In this episode, we'll talk about Trapper Keepers, stickers, Lisa Frank, Ouija boards, and the Girl Talk game empire (among many other totally nostalgic topics). Put on your oversize t-shirt and get ready to get barely any sleep!

    Murder, They Wrote: Millennials Kill Everything. The Mercy Killings of Applebee’s to the American Mall, Light Yogurt to Napkins and everything in between.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 101:57


    This is not a true crime podcast, but Amanda + Kim break down the millennial legacy of "killing" everything beloved, including chain restaurants, breastaurants, the "ethnic" aisle, malls, and department stores.

    Tragic Trends Girlboss Bonus Episode: The Merch Table - Micro Trends, Schadenfreude, Swear Words, Ironic Tees

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 96:49


    Tragic Trends: Collapse of Girlboss (Part 2: The Fall) - Flaws & Claws, 2020 Reckoning, Alpha Apocalypse, FEMINI$M and RIPlease

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 85:27


    Tragic Trends: Cult of Girlboss (Part 1 The Rise) - Broken Rung, For-Profit Feminism, Role Models and The New B Word

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 74:06


    I’m with the Bland: How generics became cool again. Millennial Minimalism Movement, Naming Paradigm, History of Generics, The Great Generic Paradigm

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 90:25


    Amanda and Kim spice up the trending dialogue around Blands! A concept being gossiped about regarding VC backed disruptor brands who share monotonous san-serif “blanding” across identity, voice, naming, logo and visuals.

    Home Trends: Nesting, Homebody Economy, JOMO, Le Creuset, Girls Who Stay in Bed, Social Resale Marketplaces, Metro Moves and Homesteading

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 73:24


    Cuddle up with Kim and Amanda as we explore the nesting trends, including #JOMO, hopefully the end of #FOMO, and minimizing your consumption while making your home into a nest by buying secondhand home goods.

    Episode 14: 7 Cool Ways to Survive Winter Quarantine and Fight #cabinfever (A Listcast)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2020 58:13


    Fight the urge to #cabinfever with The Departments Listcast - Amanda and Kim spend some time getting self help guru with some great tricks to fight the winter blues during quarantine.

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