Features Champagne Cork Heels, Tapas Dresses, and More Ways to Wear Your Favorite Foods No matter what your favorite food is, you can probably find an article of clothing or accessory inspired by it. By Merlyn Miller Merlyn Miller Title: Social Media Editor, Food & WineLocation: New York, New YorkEducation: Merlyn graduated with a bachelor's in anthropology from Cornell University. While at Cornell, she centered her studies on the role that food plays in human culture and archaeology.Expertise: sustainable food systems, food history, Southern and Cajun cuisines, food media trends.Merlyn Miller is a social media editor and writer with a love for the ever-changing modern food culture. She curates visual directions for social media, identifies topics and content that appeal to a brand's audience, and follows new trends in food media.Experience: Merlyn Miller began her tenure in food media by working with Mold, a publication about the future of food. She developed a social media strategy for Mold, wrote about food design and sustainability, and edited the work of others. After her stint there, Merlyn moved over to Cook Space Brooklyn, a cooking studio that hosted recreational cooking classes. She was responsible for keeping tabs on food trends, managing the brand's Instagram, and curating classes for students. Merlyn subsequently worked with cast iron cookware brand Field Company, where she managed the company's social media accounts, wrote about cast iron care, and even developed a few recipes. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on September 26, 2023 We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Food & Wine / Courtesy of Rachel Antonoff, Kate Spade, Lisa Says Gah, At The Moment, Coach / Photo Illustration by Alexis Camarena-Anderson I’m always thinking about the foods I want to eat, but lately I’ve found I’m also daydreaming of the foods I want to wear. This morning I saved a photo of an omelet t-shirt on Instagram. Earlier this week, I threw on my bow-tie pasta earrings before heading to work, and anytime I decide to skip spending money on an iced coffee, I tell myself I’m saving up to buy this carrot sweater. As someone who loves food and dabbles in fashion, it seems as if there’s never been an easier time to merge my two interests. If I want to wear something emblazoned with a specific ingredient or dish I can almost certainly find it, and it’s rare that I spend a week online without seeing an influencer sporting a piece of food-centric attire. Culinary motifs have been present in fashion for decades, but social media has helped them become increasingly popular in recent years, with people voraciously attaching to micro trends like the viral strawberry dress or this year’s “tomato girl summer” (which is more about a breezy aesthetic where everyone looks like they’ve just come from the farmers market). Whether you’re looking at haute couture, commercial clothing, or influencer-approved outfits, you’ll likely see food in every part of the fashion world today. View the intersection of food and fashion throughout the decades at MFIT's new exhibit. The Museum at FIT A new exhibit, Food & Fashion, at the Museum at FIT (MFIT) is a well-timed reflection on the relationship between the clothes we’ve worn and what we’ve eaten throughout history, and why these two worlds are so innately connected. When I spoke with the exhibit’s co-curators Melissa Marra-Alvarez and Elizabeth Way, they pointed out that food and fashion are both means for expressing identity, so their connection is not a new one. Each of these categories fulfill a basic human need — clothing and sustenance — but they also present creative opportunities for communicating culture, commentary on body politics, luxury, sustainability, and more. Walking through Food & Fashion you can see evidence of this historical relationship and the different ways it has manifested, from Moschino’s vibrant red and yellow McDonald’s-inspired pieces that sported those famous arches in 2014, to a candy-pink damask gown from 1765. Marra-Alvarez and Way came up with the idea for this exhibit in 2018, but since then, they’ve seen culinary themes become more and more present in what people are wearing. They noted that in the post-pandemic world, people are looking to recapture more whimsy and humor. And if people are seeking out more playful ways of expressing themselves, then I think the inherent fun of food and its use in fashion are a great way to live life more whimsically. Now more than ever, there’s an endless amount of food-themed clothing for you to browse through. Rachel Antonoff Buy on Rachelantonoff.com High-end designer Rachel Antonoff is responsible for that famous pasta puffer, but she also has dresses and knits in her “Edibles” collection, like this cute Black & White Cookie Sweater, or that carrot one I’m currently coveting. Kate Spade Buy on Katespade.com Consider pairing that cookie sweater with a pair of Kate Spade heels made either from champagne corks or sporting faux cocktail garnishes. Collin Astrada Buy on Ssense.com If you’re in the market for some produce, snag broccoli earrings from eco-conscious fashion designer Hillary Taymour's brand Collin Astrada. Made with sterling silver and sparkling green crystals, they’re the perfect way to share your love of vegetables. Coach Buy on Coach.com Coach’s apple-shaped bag is ideal for either strolling through an orchard or heading out to dinner; either way you’ll be sporting fall’s favorite fruit. Lisa Says Gah Buy on Lisasaysgah.com Independent boutique Lisa Says Gah is known for its not-too-self-serious aesthetic, which lends itself to the use of colorful food prints and lines of clothing that embrace entire foodscapes. I’m partial to the manchego and prawn-printed dresses in this summer’s tapas collection. Susan Alexandra Buy on Susanalexandra.com In a similar vein, Susan Alexandra uses beads and charms to feature food in her light-hearted jewelry. Show your log of lox and bagels with this delicatessen-inspired necklace. ASOS Buy on Asos If you, like most people, are shopping from larger, more affordable commercial retailers, you can often find colorful fruit prints at ASOS. I’m eyeing this citrusy short set for lounging around my apartment. Aritzia Buy on Aritzia.com For the minimalist food lover, Aritzia often carries more subtle fruit-themed t-shirts that are great for layering under an oversized blazer or cardigan when it’s cold out. All of these pieces show something edible, but they also show a little bit of the personality of whoever is wearing them. Food feels personal, in many different ways, and so revealing your food taste through your attire can feel like you're sharing something about yourself, whether you simply like the taste and appearance of a certain ingredient or that you have a deeper, nostalgic connection to a dish. This is why social media and food-themed fashion have become intertwined; when you’re displaying that OOTD (Outfit of the Day), you don’t just want to be wearing something stylish, you also want to be wearing something with personality that helps shape your online identity. Luckily, we can all benefit from the ways that social media supports food-themed fashion, as more brands respond to the trend by creating quirky, culinary clothes and accessories. So if you’re craving a hamburger hat or cucumber-printed cocktail dress, keep your eye out, we’re in a world primed for the creation of every food fashion you can imagine. Personally, I’m always scanning the internet for more egg-centric articles of clothing. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit