We’re in an era of endless options, constant drops, and algorithm-driven trends…but what are people actually buying?

I sit down with retail expert and Puck writer Sarah Shapiro to do a real-time “channel check” on the fashion industry. From what’s selling in stores right now to the pieces quietly dominating across data, and the brands actually getting it right, we break down what’s working, what’s not, how to actually make sense of it all, and where you should be shopping.

In this conversation, we get into:

• What a “channel check” is and why it reveals what people are really buying
• The shift away from leggings and what’s replacing them
• The rise of the “easy pant” and why it’s everywhere right now
• The stores and brands that are actually getting it right
• Why curated retail experiences matter more than ever
• What’s not working in retail right now (and why overproduction is a problem)
• The brands quietly winning vs. the ones struggling to keep up
• What the data actually says people are buying (and the pieces that keep selling out)
• The “airplane outfit” effect and why it’s one of the most powerful drivers in fashion
• The price point people are really shopping right now
• Why resale is changing how we think about buying clothes
• How AI is starting to shape the future of shopping (and where it still falls short)
• Why personal style still matters more than trends or algorithms
• How to filter the noise and figure out what actually works for you

Timestamps

00:00 Intro, “retail whisperer” and setting up the spring channel check

02:00 What a channel check actually is and how to read a store

04:00 The rise of “easy pants” spotted IRL (channel check in the wild)

05:30 Why people are moving away from leggings (but not fully)

07:00 Girlfriend Collective leggings, High Sport pants, and the “cookie theory”

08:30 What stores are actually doing well right now (Mohawk, curated retail)

10:30 Discovery in stores vs overwhelming assortments

11:30 The problem with endless scroll and too many options

13:00 What defines a “mall brand” today and how retail categories have changed

15:00 What people are actually buying right now (ShopMy + Puck data)

17:00 Seasonal shift: what spring shopping will look like

18:30 The “airplane pant” and why product framing sells

20:00 Brands to watch right now (Still Here denim and expansion beyond hero pieces)

21:30 The $300–$800 “middle market” and how people are shopping it

22:30 Why resale is changing how we think about buying clothes

24:00 The RealReal mindset: depreciation, longevity, and wearing your clothes

25:00 Her background: from retail to Substack to Puck

27:00 AI in retail: where it works (logistics, tagging) vs where it doesn’t (taste)

29:00 Why AI styling still misses nuance and personal language

31:00 The future of retail: tech vs human experience in stores

32:00 How to filter the noise and actually figure out your personal style

33:00 “Let’s Get You Dressed” — what to wear to a big business meeting

35:00 Investment pieces, blazers, and how to shop strategically (RealReal, vintage)

Let’s Get Dressed

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Liv Perez

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