Are Nepo Babies Ruining Fashion? 

Fun fact: the origin of the term "nepotism" was because Popes traditionally named a nephew of theirs to super high-ranking positions within the Vatican. As in, it was a tradition. So Catholic officials are the OG nepo babies

As much as we all hate on Nepo babies if I was in Anna Wintour’s position I would probably give my kids jobs in Vogue if they wanted to work in fashion. They would have to actually be qualified for the jobs though, but that’s still a huge leg-up versus the average person. It’s hard for me to be annoyed at Nepo babies when a normal human response is to want to help your kids anyway you can. For me it just gets annoying when Nepo babies act as if they to got where they got to “solely” because of their hard work as if mummy and daddy didn’t literally just open the floodgates to accelerate their careers. It’s not all of them that behave this way though.

I think that the nepo thing becomes an issue when they overshadow talented models/people while not being very good themselves A LOT

The nepo baby conversation is interesting, because it is everywhere. In college, half of the people in a premedical course are children of doctors and then that only increases in medical school. So, to me, children if models and fashion people wanting enter that field is natural. You grow up in that environment and it is what you want to do because yiu understand it and know someone who can help. There is a disadvantage problem, but unless we ban wealthy people from procreating, it can't be helped. Nepotism in politics, definitely an issue tho.

Bliss-hearing that your parents aren’t into fashion makes you all that more interesting. You really have blossomed into this shining jewel of a fashion media personality. I’m glad to have found your channel, keep up to great work bliss

7:51 For those interested in the BTS of runway shows, there are two leading roles behind the scenes of a runway show: the production company and the public relations agency. These are the two that are directly hired by a fashion house. The production company manage everything "inside the house". This means that they're the ones responsible for every that you see during a runway show, except the clothes themselves. After receiving a rough concept from the creative director, this is what they do: • scout a location for the show or presentation • design and build the setup (seating, flooring, backdrop, lighting) or outsource the work if anything specific is needed • scout the casting director, music producer, and hair and makeup artists (the stylist is often hired directly by the creative director) • coordinate the cheorography to the soundtrack of the show (speed, spacing, poses, turns, second laps) • direct the livestreaming and videography of the show (if they haven't outsourced that) • taking down the set at the end • ensuring that all of the above goes smoothly before and during the show The public relations agency does everything "outside the house". They're the ones making sure that the show's efforts reach people. They often work with the brand all-year-round, but for fashion week specifically, this is what they do: • send invites and gifts to X, Y and Z depending on the creative director's desires • decide on the seating charts • share awareness of the show online and offline • welcome and serving the guests at the show The companies behind most European shows (London, Milan, Paris) are split between these companies: Back of the House (production) Bureau Betak (production, set design) Bureau Future (video) Daniel Hettman (production) Eyesight (production) Gainsbourg & Whiting (production, set design) Karla Otto (PR) La Mode en Images (production, set design, video) Lucien Pages (PR) OBO Global (production) Studio Prémices (video) Station Service (PR) Titre Provisoire (video) Walter Films (video) Without Production (production, set design) Videopolis (video) Villa Eugénie (production, set design) New-York is a bit more islandic in its resources due to the distance, so the overwhelming majority is produced internally by NYFW's production company IMG Focus. Other designers may hire an independent or will try to ship a European producer over.

You could make your parents nepo-parents by helping them get on RU-vid and do renovation/DIY videos 👀

Your parents are brilliant - I grew up going to auctions with my parents back in the 70's & 80's out and about in the Ottawa Valley. Which is probably why I eventually fell down the vintage/historic fashion rabbit hole... Nothing will give you a better study of material culture than to weed through it surviving remnants in anticipation of the Sunday afternoon auction. LOVING the call out to Loic! You two are my basis for learning the in's & out's of the modern fashion world. Nepo babies happen. Meh. They have the most important thing - the budget; which buys you the time you need to figure things out. The connections are kind of a given. The door gets opened. Whether or not that door stays open... - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

the amount of joy, serotonin, and excitement i get every time I see your videos is INSAAANNEEE. you are a LEGEND!!!

I think it’s good to distinguish between “nepo babies” that become great because of the mentorship their parents provide and nepo babies that just jump into high level positions without any qualifications or talent just because of their rich/famous parents.

The contouring question might have been about “contour fashion” which is about the making of tight fitting garments like lingerie. I’ve heard of people studying “contour fashion” in fashion school

Loved the "yelling in french" bit. I actually scold my kids in french and, you're right, no need to raise my voice, they are shocked into submission.

New sub here! LOVE when you said “if you’re rewatching the same seinfield episodes you could be bettering your time” such good advice ! Love your input on all questions that were asked! Awesome video :)

Fun to have followed your growth for a few years (and learn little details about you as a human along the way) Your videos are always anticipated! A fashion perspective that is insightful, educational and contemporary.

Loic sighting + "moodbooooard" sent me 😆 Not to mention, "Just lovers, my sweet boy." Thanks for the best vibes mixed with great info, as always!

Always love your down to earth perspective… How to help ourselves rather than getting too caught up in things outside of our control. Also about the constant nostalgia… we need to respect the past while appreciating the present and pushing things forward. So only not do I appreciate you being down to earth but also optimistic.

Everytime i get a notification, i get happy. I started knowing nothing about fashion and now i still don't know much but i enjoy your passion Bliss. Keep the great work, man.

I always thought because of the living room setting being so nice that you had means. Wow. Nice to know your family is thrifty ♥️

finally i find out where isaac fits into the picture! you two are a d o r a b l e i am melting bliss as always your energy is an inspiration. role model for tryna be chill & seek beauty in life

the last thing you talked about with watching consumption really struck a cord with me. for a while now i feel like i’ve been consuming general slop. tiktok, youtube shorts all that. and i felt like i knew that i should watch what i consume but i never could point to why, so i just kept consuming. but what you said was very moving and helped me come to the realization i do need to watch what i consume, i need to find media that will help my internal library which’ll improve my creative vision for my future, thank you for helping me come to that. and also thank you for talking about also needing a break, so now I don’t have to figure that out for myself😂, this has been an amazing video

This was mint, I am SO happy your channel came up on my feed and I am so excited to watch the rest of your videos!

Great topic!!!!!!! As a society we must keep fighting to abolish nepotism and fight for a merit based system, in all facets of life.

It is so refreshing to see fashion content that is self-aware, meta and ego free.

For a quick eye look a lot of people will put on a single shimmer eyeshadow all over the eyelid because shimmers have more dimension on the eye than a matte shadow. Multichromes are also really fun to use for single eyeshadow looks because they shift to multiple colors. I think something really easy for you would be to get an eye pencil and apply it to your waterline along your lower lash line. I like using neon colors for that and it's really easy to fix if you mess up.

One of my favorite quotes is “Nepobabies are with us always even until the end of the age” -Oscar Wylde probably

Your videos always help me procrastinate thanks king

Expanding on the question "What kind of things can help improve your fashion sense?" You said something clever about being thoughtful about your media diet. I often use a metaphor that your mind is like a garden. You need to work on that garden to grow the things you would like to have in your mind. When you focus your interactions on the things you want in your garden it will fit better to your person, be mindful about what media consume, what kind of people you encounter, what you can and can't influence, and should I care about my own opinions in matters that are beyond my control. etc. etc. But there are also outside factors having influence on your garden, the people you grow up with influence the soil, the society you live in effects the weather. So you have to take that into account when you want to change your outlook you have to work within the context that you live in.

re: the 'how many people are involved in a show' question: in short, hundreds. I just did a PR internship at a house that shows at PFW and was heavily involved in making the show happen. there's so many people that go unseen: the production company that executes the runway itself. a 100-strong hair and makeup team back stage, the atelier team that comes to Paris to do last minute finishings and alterations of garments, the casting team, the pr team, members of the design team who are assisting the stylist and CD in putting together looks, I'm probably forgetting people but yeah. the week before the show was the most exhausted i have been in my entire life!!!!

thanks for your content, this is so valuable!

wow, thank you for letting us know about the logistics of fashion shows

good video bliss. glad I subscribed; your answers were insightful and informative. many of these ideas can be applied to not just fashion, but other facets of life also. I'll definitely be spending time consuming media more purposefully; while I feel I already knew this, it was an important reminder. looking forward to more content, and random thought, but curious to know what artistic movies were visually / culturally meaningful to you. thank you always.

On someone’s question about fashion shows, it actually starts with the production company-then pre production then PR.

Well done for pointing out the facts about your house,because it was the first thing that went through my head,"oh look,he's doing well,young must be a rich brat ",but you laid it out .

When you said people say they think you're a nepo baby because of how cute your house is, it makes me relate cause when my friends visited me in my parents house they'd always say "oh you're rich I didn't know you were rich" but I spent my childhood watching my dad working really hard as a cameraman, at the time they would put him in helicopters and send him to film the jungle, or oil drills in the middle of the ocean, so my dad was constantly risking his life to save up money to buy a very cheap piece of land in the middle of nowhere that no one wanted then worked even harder to landscape it, he studied architecture online on his own to design his own house the way he liked it, traveled around the country in his 80s volkswagen beetle to find cheap furniture that fitted into his style, while traveling managed to get a bunch of plant sprouts from random kind people who just gave it to him, and it took years for him to build his home, just so that people say "yeah you have this nice thing because you're rich", from watching my dad I didn't learn to expect things to be handed to me because of money, I learned to be smart with my money and to work really hard to get the things I want. I know this is not really related to the meat of the video but it touched me in a way, I like seeing stories of people working hard for something they love, and it's a shame when people just boil down other's success to "nepotism" when it's not always the case.

i haven't started the video, but betteridge's law of headlines applies imo. brb. now watching.

Bliss thank you! Just thank you!

In my experience we must focus on doing what we must do to get what or where we want, there will always be some people ahead of you because connections they got, that has been since the beginig of the world. In the current time with social media we are accustom to instant recognition, the thing is that many creative people do what they do because they love it even if they get harsh critiques.

Idk. We always have the option to ignore them but the truth is people do favour people who look/sound/seem familiar. I went to a school were there were a lot of kids of semi famous people or members of various royal families. It didn’t matter who they were, or what they were like, they immediately had a ton of friends.

People waste too much time on the title of nepo-baby itself instead of actually pinpointing what is bothersome about certain specific examples, which is them being hacks. There are nepotism cases everywhere around you, but most of them are unnoticable not only because most people simply don't care about the specific field in which they evolve but mostly because they are "good" or at least decent enough at what they do ,which makes the logic of them having achieved what they have through merit agreeable. This isn't a logical or even thoughtful argument but there's nothing I despise more in fashion or modeling than cases taht were basically "built" for it. E.g. : Bella Hadid and any Kardashian to ever exist. By their biological makeup and natural features, they would've never made it anywhere near high-fashion let alone a runway.

Bliss, I love you! I follow you on IG and love your runway posts!!

I love the Q&A stuff so much, the conversation just always in line with my subject of interests and I'm learning new things everytime

Loved your Loic Prigent Easter egg! 10:07

always been curious about your beautiful house lol thanks for the info!

OMG ISAAC'S ADORABLE, KEEP HIM!!! Much respect to your parents, they did an awesome job raising awesome babies! Also, thank you for explaining about the whole repo baby issue! Frankly I don't care if some person got the privilege because their parents helped him or her out- so what, who cares, it's not going to change anything and the fact that many of these babies worked on their craft to get to where they are, regardless. So more power to them and you're right Bliss; let's focus on ourselves and on our talents, and we'll be a lot happier knowing we accomplished something and did something productive instead of wasting energy minding what others are doing with their lives.

Loved the “Moodboard” nod to Loic Prigent !

Bliss, can you curate a list of fashion publications/journals/bloggers that are relevant and provide updates about the industry. I use like vogue and its article are kind of dated for the fashion industry.

Thank you for clarifying your own not-Nepo Baby status, tbh I caught myself assuming some financial ease because of the setting, now I might become a Patreon. Bcs only you two cover the really good stuff that satisfies my desire for getting in touch with the Contemporary Art of Cloths

advice for new people: no matter how early you are, there’s always someone saying ‘it was better before’/‘you just missed it’. i’m old enough to know this isn’t true: you will often and almost always arrive exactly on time. assume you arrived exactly on time

Literally its everywhere in real estate, banking, fashion, home building etc etc

Yes, nepotism has been around for centuries... hence lies the problem. Nepo babies aren’t necessarily lacking talent or merit, but failing to recognise how systemic inequalities exclude other talented, perhaps more deserving, people is a way to preserve the status quo. Lots of big words here, but as a middle-aged teacher whose father was a respected professor I know that I had a leg up, and I’ve come to realise the privilege I enjoyed and the responsibility that places on me now. I have worked and studied really hard to live up to his name, but I got my first job purely because the people interviewing were predisposed to think I acquired his expertise simply by osmosis. That was low level nepotism that I cannot deny.

I love Bliss. So well named.

Nepotism makes me consider "what if I make it in my field, what if I have this knowledge/opportunity I want to share to the next generation?" Neoptism is all bad until it's Dave Jr fixing your leaky sink. it's all around, celebrities are just the richest example at the top we see

On the makeup note… Lisa Eldridges’ book Face Paint is a newer, wonderful, resource. It’s is no where near the only one of its kind but it’s one of my favorite coffee table books. Lisa is a professional makeup artist from the 🇬🇧. She has been working since the late 1980s I believe and was there for most things fashion from the1990s - today. She has also had a RU-vid channel for over a decade. She absolutely adores the history of makeup and has been studying it for years. She is also an avid collector and has a few videos on her channel that show parts of her collection. I find makeup history as fascinating as fashion history, especially when it comes to ideology & politics of the day. Lisa has a few videos where she recreates makeup trends during certain periods and discusses ways women worked around them. She also has a few videos where she looks at “recipe books” women used during periods where makeup was forbidden. They were full of secret recipes for lightly tinted lip balms that could also be used on the cheeks. The number of pieces of jewelry or other items that contained secret compacts for face powder is fascinating!

I think the first question on nepo babes is interestingly linked with the second question on innovation in fashion. When it comes down to it, it's a question of privilege, some of us are in the 90%, some of us are in the 10%, and some are in the 1%. We're complaining "Nepotism babies have it so easy", while we (I'm counting the people from this channel) are usually in the 10% already just by being able to discuss fashion and have the background education necessary to engage in this kind of dialogue. You might like fashion, but if you're not speaking French, Italian, English or Japanese, you're out of the fashion loop. And even if you do speak one of those languages, you might have to move out of your country to pursue a career or education in the field. Not everyone is born in Paris. So we all have our hurdles, but we often forget our privileges. The issue there is the question of what is done with this privilege. And that's where nepo babz hurt the most, it's that it often feels like they're wasting the opportunity ("if I was the one designing clothes at Stella McCartney, I would be doing such a better job..."). And that's kind of why Margiela or McQueen were heroes, because they didn't come from nepotism, and yet they seized power in a way that commended attention, and they questioned fashion's own sense of being. So why don't nepotism bebehs who have it easy don't do it the same? After all, they know the establishment better than no other. But again, it's a question of privilege, maybe since our 2 M heroes did not have privilege, they couldn't lose it, and so they were free to do whatever they wanted. But if you're a nepotistic infant, why would you saw the branch you're standing on? But to go back to the first question, it might be frustrating, but I think it's often jealousy, because let's be honest, we'd all want to be Paul McCartney's child, or at least in Stella's position. And we'd do it for our kids too. But in the end, the only nepobs who have staying power are the ones who actually have something to bring to the table (good or Kardashian). And I think your analysis on the 5 years of poetry is great, because I think as humanity we gain from having individuals who have such privileged lifestyles that they can just develop amazing abilities in their domain. Think Lord Byron for instance. Just as we gain from having individuals who had to fight tooth and nail to become the artists/businessperson/humanitarian/etc. they desperately needed to be. It just also makes for incredible individuals (think Maya Angelou)

I find the conversation on Nepo babies from a lot of folks to be disingenuous. Like the content creator stated, you can find these babies in every industry. This is why networking is pushed heavily among those that don’t have this automatic in. All “regular” folks can do is network. If my parents were able to make a singular call to get me into a space that is very moneyed and exclusive I would definitely take advantage of that. I think some of the beef with nepo babies is that they act like they got into their position on their own merit. They pretend that their parents being powerful in their respective industries has no bearing. Folks looking to get in good with a Spielberg are going to accept his kid as an intern based on that alone. And that’s something that nepo babies deny. Whether they actually have the skill set to maintain the opportunity that was given to them is another conversation. Nepo babies are in all industries. All👏🏾of👏🏾them👏🏾. From the lucrative jobs to poor. Folks are going to give their friends and family a leg up before anyone else. We povo’s don’t think someone getting us in at a janitorial job or food service don’t see that as Nepo because it’s not a 6 or 7 figure job/career.

wonder how much stress and pressure the principals such as designers and models feel with million bucks spent on show

I dont usually mind nepo babies-some are very talented. One issue I have is that after a while, I feel like these individuals will form a echo chamber because outside of a few, the vast majority will have the same background of private school and universities, apprenticeship with parent with prominent job in semi-low position to cultivate a feel good story, then getting the keys to the kingdom. I think legitimately why the movie industry (which is laden with nepo-babies) fell so quickly.

I have a plumber. His father was a plumber and his two sons are plumbers. They’re nepo babies in my opinion because they’re riding on their father’s name and have grown up in the industry. They have a head start. One owns his own home at 25 because he’s had a jump on a well-paying career.

haileys fashion is honestly good. i think mfs who depend on random girls for fashion inspo every week are the ones ruining it. everyone just wear what you look good in.

This is such a beautiful home you have ❣️

I absolutely love your chanel

My dad sold premium cowboy boots for over 22 years before his stroke and eventual death, he had the power and the sway to get me started with my own business or actually to carry on his business, I was so sick of it by the time I got to late HS. Yes it afforded a lot of nice things and the field trips but I just so desperately wanted to go away and do my own thing. So yes I could’ve been an entrepreneur but I also saw a lot of the dark side as well so Despite the guilt of not caring on my dad‘s work, I work 9 to 5 job and I’m so happy I just have regular work stuff and not have to worry if I have to make enough money that month.

Love it. You guys sound very down to earth. So, is he your brother? I hope you succeed in the fashion industry despite these mulitple 'nepo babies'. Not their fault. I guess it's what they know.

I'm truly mesmerized by this person's beauty.

One day ill join the patreon…some day

The poetry mfa example isn't nepotism, that is privilege. Nepotism comes from family influence that gets the person's foot in the door. Being rich and not having to get a job so you can pursue a dream isn't nepotism.

00:17 Zoa Kravitz is actually a super talented actress. I loved her on Big Little Lies.

Stories of rich kids and particularly when those stories are dressed up to be some version of ‘i worked hard’ are so pervasive and so unfair, I’ve started trying to cut those voices completely.

I dont know bliss I'm going go watch and find out

So how do you know that they are talented and not just ripping off some less powerful talented person and destroying their lives so that they can’t tell anyone. Because in my experience, that is how it works.

I simultaneously resent nepo babies, people who were able to succeed on the incredible luck of having "connections", and understand why those who have the ability to bestow such gifts to someone they love would do so.

You should do eye makeup! If you need suggestions for creators to follow, seriously lmk. I used to do elaborate looks personally but now I'm in my lazy 30-something era where I can slap it on and be done in less than 15 minutes (often at my desk at work 🙃)

i think the point about Nepo Babies in fashion is that they put good, trained, talented designers out of industry. In banking? if you lose money you're out

Yes neppo babies are everywhere but there is a difference between someone getting a job in their parents shopping centre and getting a dream job making a movie.

Watching a Werner Herzog documentary is a restful activity. My recommendation is Cave of Forgotten Dreams :)

I’m happy for anyone who truly enjoys and is skilled at their craft whose parents are supportive of them. It would be weird not to be lol There’s a huge difference between some with no natural skill and no drive to improve who just gets handed an opportunity, and someone who would be good at and doing the thing anyway and just happens to have wealthy/insider supportive parents. A lot of people are billboarding their insecurities over the latter

I looked you up on twitter, and all i found was a weird guy that looked like you from 2019, and he had no hair. It scared me. And the game Inscription is amazing.

Why. From all places. You chose a clip from I'm not okay music video while talking about smoky eyes. I CAME HERE FOR SOME SERIOUS FASHION CONTENT AND ALL I CAN SEE NOW IS A GERARD WAY GIF.

Any fashion channel recommendations?

Most of our favorite actors from the UK are nepo babies. No one cares because many of them are truly talented. The same goes for those in the design world.

Ok ok ok I will join the Patreon😅

Referring to Isaac as a character sent me 😂

Theres style that compliments the eye then theres style that dictates to the eye. Theres style that makes the eye doubt then theres style that repels the eye.

Idk might be unpopular but I think hood for them! Like what a blessing whatever field you’re in. If that’s not one of your blessings work to bless your own children with it 🤷🏾‍♀️

My parents were broke af and NONE of my 4 sisters OR my mother ever had any interest in fashion nor did they ever wear makeup. Somehow I became a fashion loving gay man with a huge designer handbag collection

Tbh I don’t find this nepo baby fascination that interesting or deep. It’s never been a secret people in high positions help each other out. If anything people should be realizing how important networking is and that’s how a lot of ppl get jobs, even normal middle class folk. I think pretending you come from nothing or a modest background is pretty cringey for sure, but seems people are going after anyone who has rich parents who decided to go into the same industry as their parents

I used to do a lot of sewing and fashion design, and I’d watch a lot of runway shows for inspiration. But I absolutely could not stand watching a Hadid open the show. My interest in fashion was out on hold for my day job but I so don’t miss the sight of a Hadid or a Kardashian.

I just realized the debate about nepo babies is way softer on countries with public education.

I just finished ametora and I think nepo babies can improve fashion too just like how children of wealthy japanese parents (who could afford VANS in their time) had a good sense of dressing up.. even if they didn't read those magazines ....having great taste was like an inheritance from their parents like tradition Otherwise I don't read books much cause I keep forgetting (English isn't my first language) so there's a possibility I am wrong 🙂

I really liked the story at the beginning about your family's house! totally unrelated but I found a cool luxury brand the other day called plümo, it seemed to have some japanese influences in certain pieces. check it out if anyone is interested:)

There was no reason to get that defensive about the nepo baby question

I think that the public being critical about the repo-babies issue is good. it won't solve it completely. there's always going to be privileged people taking more advantages than what they really deserve, but for sure the awareness about it does something eventually. it can balance the percentage between nepobabies and self made people in each occasion

Can anyone tell me what the show at 10:18 is?

Hi Bliss I’m an aspiring screenwriter who has written a pilot tv episode bout a privileged nepo baby in the fashion industry actually so this video is perfect timing lol. Could I send it to you and get your opinion ?😢

The problem with nepotism is not that it exists, of course most parents are going use all the resources at their disposal to help their kids succeed. The problem is more so with the kids themselves who refuse to acknowledge their privilege to insist it was all their own hard work. Even if they did truly have to work hard, by not acknowledging their privilege they act as though anyone could achieve their success, which just isn't true. And that grates on everyone that does not and will never have such a privileged position in life.

I wish I was a nepo baby! I can at least always feel the warm glow of knowing my dream school wanted me. Then again… my ideal major had no real-life job progression.

Thanks!

books recommendations?

not trying to be mean I mostly just exposing my addiction to books but I could never do 12 books a year I'm 19 and I've already read almost over 1,500 books so it's crazy to see those numbers come out of his mouth when compared to my numbers it's just such a shocker

In defense of sienfeld bingers they could be cultivating peak Americana and normcore under your nose and u wouldn't even know it. And u would only need to shop at gap or thrift stores.