For years the phrase “dress for the job you want, not the job you have” has been a singular source of frustration for me and my wardrobe. Sure, it’s good-ish advice if one’s aspirations are to be a TV lawyer (get some SUITS), a TV doctor (get some scrubs, take them off mid-conversation), or a postperson (get to Forever 21), but what is one to do if one’s sole aspiration in life is to become EGOT winner and daytime TV’s voice of reason, Whoopi Goldberg? I can’t dress like Whoopi, she’s one of a kind! She’s a fixture at NYFW and an all-around icon! What is a woman to do?
Luckily, Whoopi has answered my prayers, in some fashion, by releasing her own line of clothing, DUBGEE by Whoopi, launching today. It makes sense that a woman who loves fashion and has at times felt left out would craft her own line of clothing. Per her summary of the brand’s ethos: “DUBGEE has no race, creed, age or size. It’s meant to make you feel good about how you look and feel.”
Once I got my hands on the collection, flowy and soft, with a sort of wealthy urban lady aesthetic that makes you want to carry a bouquet of flowers through SoHo, I knew I was one step closer to my dream. Still, I was facing the challenge of embodying someone as multi-faceted as Whoopi (The Pagemaster? The Color Purple? The range she has…) and who has played such a monumental part in the pop-culture landscape of my young-ish life. But luckily, with a little help from MR Market Strategist Elizabeth Tamkin, I managed to craft three Whoopi-inspired looks from Whoopi’s clothes in pursuit of pure Whoopi inception. Results below.
The “I Am Not Now, Nor Have I Ever Been a Las Vegas Showgirl…….I Am a Headliner”
Joyful, joyful lord, I adore this outfit. Channeling Sister Mary Clarence never felt so right. The pants are leggings with pockets and the shirt has a Gentleman Jack-esque vibe to it that I will never not love. It was all comfort on the bottom, serious business on the top, a.k.a. ready for anything but especially inspiring a group of teens and molding them into the award-winning show choir I always knew they could be.
The “Molly You in Danger, Girl”
Full disclosure, I love every single thing Whoopi wore as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost. The caftans, her bank-errand look, even her casual ensembles mix patterns and solids, and her earring game is never not on point. This bright, striped dress from DUBGEE is caftan-like in all the right ways (it is very comfy and tells all I encounter that I am ready to chill) and, even more importantly, it has pocketsssssssssssssssssssssss. Eliz helped me toss on this blazer for a “1980s working woman who may or may not be a medium” vibe. If any hot ghosts are in need of my services, get at me.
The “Sitting Next to Joy Behar”
Look. The sweatshirt around the neck truly makes this outfit. This is the most literal Whoopi interpretation and I’ve never felt so free. The pants are comfy, the shirt is structured but roomie and somehow, I was able to use the sweatshirt as neck accessory without feeling like a douchebag banker named Chad — such is the power of Whoopi. I’m ready to listen to everyone’s nonsense, shut it down when necessary, and just generally be the voice of reason in all that I do.
Hand to my heart, DUBGEE by Whoopi was a lot of fun. An accessible capsule of menocore, it’s designed for comfort and for all bodies. I felt presentable, but also like I was in my errand clothes. And as for truly embodying Whoopi, well, that was a fool’s journey, but it was nice to try.
