The Zoe Report

Nicole Kliest

Bio

Nicole is a New York-based freelance writer and editor who focuses on fashion, travel, and lifestyle. She studied Journalism and Creative Writing at Pepperdine University and her work has appeared on sites such as Who What Wear, Cools, Popsugar, Seventeen, and more. When she’s not writing about the latest designers to shop or destinations to adventure off to, she’s probably doing yoga or riding her bicycle (with a helmet!). You can contact her via email at nkliest@gmail.com and follow her Instagram @nickliest.

The 5 Step Closet Clean-Out To Tackle This Weekend

Back in 2011, a Princeton University study concluded that concentrating on a task can be more difficult when clutter is present. The researchers found that "multiple stimuli present in the visual field at the same time compete for neural…
By Nicole Kliest

The Only Denim Trends To Care About This Spring, According To Experts

Spring means fresh color palettes, vibrant prints, and lighter layering combinations. You're itching to put away heavy-duty gear, but with that comes the need to to re-evaluate your wardrobe. With a host of spring denim trends arriving anew for…
By Nicole Kliest

14 Ways You Should Be Wearing White Sneakers This Month

Despite the vast landscape of sneaker trends that have graced your feed, and likely your feet, over the span of the last few years, nothing can ever take the place of simple white sneakers. Sure, a pair of multicolor chunky dad sneakers makes a…
By Nicole Kliest

5 Small Brands On How Their Woven Accessories Are Slowing The Fashion Cycle

Velvet is to fall and winter what straw is to spring and summer — stylishly emblematic of the season. Lightweight woven accessories for spring from brands like Bembien and Kayu are usually one of the first warm weather trends, as straw textures…
By Nicole Kliest

This Very-'90s Sandal Trend Is Here To Stay

I've been a freelance fashion writer for a couple of years now and a valuable productivity hack I've learned working from home is the power in getting dressed up for yourself. Showering, doing your hair and makeup routine (if you have one), and…
By Nicole Kliest

16 Really Good Outfits That Are Perfect For In-Between Weather

Winter is nearing its icy end, which means you've probably exhausted all options in your closet. Sweaters are balled, coats are stained, boots are scuffed — the whole kit and caboodle. Putting together an outfit each morning is now akin to groundhog…
By Nicole Kliest

Leather Bermuda Shorts Are Going To Take Off This Spring — Here's How To Wear Them

Traditional trousers are being swapped for a cropped silhouette this season. Leather Bermuda shorts, specifically, have crept into the trend cycle in such a ubiquitous way that even friends you wouldn't have pegged as shorts-at-work types will be…
By Nicole Kliest

The Cotton Candy Color Trend Is Wildly Popular Right Now

In 2018, slime green inundated the fashion world. High-end designers incorporated it into their collections, publications examined the history of the color, celebrities even dyed their hair the eccentric hue — it was a full-on moment. But the…
By Nicole Kliest

7 Shoe Trends That Will Be Everywhere In 6 Months

When you first look at a runway collection, you might notice the colors, the shape of the coats, the cut of the dresses. But it's easy to miss the footwear. Especially if you don't happen to be sitting front row, the new It boots, flats, or loafers…
By Nicole Kliest

The Street Style Trick That Seemingly Blew Up Overnight

Every trend sits somewhere on a spectrum of wearability. On one end, there are the bold looks that usually only get test-driven by Instagram influencers with a knack for the eccentric. Bike shorts as pants, prairie dresses, animal-print tights, and…
By Nicole Kliest

This '90s Dress Trend Will Be Huge For Spring

"What we wear always reflects the times we are in," explains Merlette founder Marina Cortbawi, who views the revival of the babydoll dress trend as more than just a coincidence. The Brooklyn-based brand is well known for its voluminous multi-tiered…
By Nicole Kliest

This Boot Trend Dominated The Fall 2020 Runways

Over-the-knee boots aren't footwear for the faint of heart. This unapologetic shoe trend climbs to the top of the trend cycle every few seasons, albeit in revised iterations (though Stuart Weitzman's iconic 5050 boots remain unflappingly beloved).…
By Nicole Kliest

Small Batch Is The Future Of Sustainable Jewelry

If you've ever Googled what a landfill actually looks like, you'll know that it's a bleak snapshot of discarded, forgotten items piled high. It's a depressing image, but also serves as a reminder that cutting down on waste is a key pillar to…
By Nicole Kliest

The Blazer Trend Every Fashion Girl Is Dressed In Right Now

Despite how amusing it can be to partake in a flashy, of-the-moment trend like chainmail handbags or two-tone ankle boots, it's usually the less eye-catching trends that end up feeling far more wearable for everyday life. Take, for example,…
By Nicole Kliest

The Secret Behind Staud's Massive Success (& What To Expect Next)

Back in 2015, Sarah Staudinger acted on a simple but profound idea: Give women an elevated aesthetic and quality at an accessible price point. With this in mind, the Los Angeles native founded the now-beloved clothing and accessories brand STAUD…
By Nicole Kliest

The Retro Trend You Can Easily Try This Spring

There are certain prints that follow a seasonal pattern — floral with spring, plaid with autumn, nautical stripes with summer — and then there are prints that follow a longer trend cycle, becoming seemingly retro before coming back in again. Polka…
By Nicole Kliest

Embracing Quirky Style May Be the Secret to Reviving Your 2020 Wardrobe

In Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel, it quotes the legendary Vogue EIC making a keen observation about fashion taste. "Style — all who have it share one thing: originality." Though it's been 30 years since her passing, the sentiment couldn't…
By Nicole Kliest

9 "Boring" Fashion Items To Re-Invest In For 2020

Work harder; not smarter, they say. If you're looking to streamline and simplify in 2020, creating a capsule wardrobe of staples should be your focus this year. Which is to say: Rather than fussing with a fickle trend cycle that's not always…
By Nicole Kliest

Why "Shop Less, Collect Better" Should Be Your 2020 Style Mantra

The start of a new year serves as a time of both reflection and goal setting. Chat to your friends and you'll find this often manifests in the form of personal objectives like eating healthier or prioritizing financial stability. However, for 2020,…
By Nicole Kliest

7 Street Style Trendsetters To Watch In 2020 For Fresh Outfit Inspo

Street style as you know and consume it today hasn't actually been around that long. The Sartorialist's Scott Schuman began shooting street style back in 2006, and Bill Cunningham started shooting outside the shows — and outside of Fashion Week…
By Nicole Kliest