11 Comments
User's avatar
Sheryl's avatar

These outfits are all so good but Wednesday’s is STUNNING! I remember reading that the magazine has been digitized but I haven’t looked to confirm. Not the same as an actual physical magazine though.

Maia's avatar

Someone in my neighborhood left their magazine in a free to take box.... best thing that's ever happened to me

Michelle Norris's avatar

How fun! I am obsessed with the Friday look

Hey Mrs. Solomon on Style's avatar

This is so creative and inspiring and so you. I love to come here and be inspired -- not just in the outfits but in remembering who I am and finding ways to bring that to life! Thank you! XX

ateliertovar's avatar

I discovered fruits thru a teen people street style issue in 1998 (mar 98 with drew barrymore cover to be exact lmao!) & it left a lasting impression on my personal style and my weeb-itis. 😶‍🌫️

Zeke D.'s avatar

Anna Sui polka dot top I top tier!!!

Sophia's avatar

I loved your takes on the outfits! You really captured the vibe

Robin Cannon's avatar

This piece sent me off down a fun little rabbit hole.

I've always half-remembered a photobook of Ayumi Hamasaki as Joan of Arc (for her 2002 single Free and Easy). I lived in Yokohama 1999-2002 and I can distinctly remember *not* buying it. Totally unremarkable decision in a convenience store, but it's stuck in my head on and off ever since.

The article sent me off looking again. Someone scanned the entire issue at the Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/free-easy-hamasaki-republic-page-012). It's there, I can look at it. There's an OK-ish quality copy available on eBay for $80.

But that also clarified your point. The scan is real, but that convenience store moment isn't recoverable. I was there when it was ordinary, and not cultural artifact for archiving. And I think that's what you're naming when you say you can dress like a FRUiTS girl but not be one. There's a distance that's uncrossable - even if you were there at the time.

Andrea Donovan's avatar

FRUITS was the best! In the early noughties I was gifted a pink, clear plastic box of FRUITS postcards that I took inspiration from and sent out to people for years. Loved your take on that era.

Tara Maria Gonzalez's avatar

This is truly the inspiration I need to get out of my outfit rut. Thank you Viv! Every look is so good

Stephanie Smith's avatar

This is IT. Wow. I am truly impressed. As DMX once said "Yo, it's the real shit, shit to make you feel shit / Thump 'em in the club shit, have you wildin' out when you bump this"