It isn’t easy to know what to pay attention to anymore. I write this amid the whirlwind of New York Fashion Week, against the backdrop of Trump’s chaotic overhaul of our government, all while trying to hold on to my own moments of joy, like Kendrick Lamar’s tribute to Black history at the Super Bowl. At the Cut, we strive to cover it all — from style, to pop culture, to the tumultuous political landscape, to the things you may be too afraid to talk about in your group chats. In this issue, our second solo print edition, we aimed high, hoping to make something worthy of your gaze while creating a modern fashion publication that invites you to see the world a bit differently: to find a new artist to listen to, to save a fun styling idea or a new book from an author you’re excited to try. And maybe reading about the vulnerability of others and what’s getting them through this moment will give you a dose of inspiration.
Hearing what people like to talk about and sing along to despite uncertain times led me to want to publish more on music and to be with people whose creative contributions have brought about critical conversations. When writers ask me what kinds of stories I’m drawn to, I always come back to bravery. The artists featured in this issue exemplify what I mean. They’re not seeking viral fame; they’re willing to dig into uncomfortable territory. Their music transcends trends, inviting us to explore the past and the future alongside the present.
Photographer Emmanuel Sanchez-Monsalve and our very own deputy editor, Jen Ortiz, spent time with Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico in celebration of his reggaeton (and salsa and plena and so much more) album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, a jubilant love letter to the island. In New York at the same time, we encountered Doechii just before she won Best Rap Album at the Grammys — the third woman ever, joining Cardi B and Lauryn Hill — bringing an overdue, unapologetic flair to hip-hop. Stevie Dance photographed K-pop star Rosé, who, while on hiatus from her megastar girl group, Blackpink, released her debut solo album, rosie, and is now ready to take up space as an independent artist. And for the inaugural chapter of the Cut’s new series, “Family Album,” Gillian Laub shot Jessica Simpson and Ashlee Simpson Ross at Jessica’s home, capturing the sisters at a crossroads: older, wiser, and, in Jessica’s case, returning to her country-music roots with her first record in 15 years. These genres of music are different planets — worlds unto themselves — but the work of each artist has a rawness and a progressive driving force; each seems to grapple with the need we all have to be heard, no matter what stage is available to us.
Elsewhere in the issue, features writer Chantal Fernandez takes us inside Quince, where you can buy everything from cashmere to caviar. Jennifer Swann reports on the weekslong search for Hannah Kobayashi. And in an immeasurable honor, I interview our own fashion critic-at-large, Cathy Horyn, on the musical chairs in the industry and much more. There are lighter moments, too: a “Would You Rather …” for beauty treatments and the chronicle of a wash-day routine, both part of our exciting relaunch of the Cut’s “Beauty” section.
There’s an unpretentious air to this issue, a type of fearlessness and unassailable joy, both of which we need more than ever. As I turn through each story, I see our subjects and writers reaching out, forming connections with others in the world in hopes of being heard and understood. And I hope that after you read this issue, everything ahead of us will feel a little less impossible. See you in the comments.