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Felipe Karr's avatar

I think Taste is simply having the awareness and deep sensitivity for quality, craftsmanship and beauty.

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Matteo Azzolini's avatar

Definitely. Sounds simple, but it’s easier said than done :)

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Alex La's avatar

Taste is social. There is an inherent relational aspect of taste.

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Felipe Karr's avatar

True. One cannot exist without the other.

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Dylan Hattem's avatar

Bingo.

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Dina Fierro's avatar

Tastemakers are the original influencer. The most relevant brands have always prioritized tastemaker engagement in their dressing, seeding, content and event strategies.

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Tatayana's avatar

I love seeing people who aren’t rich as tastemakers. Original New Yorkers. People who actually grew up in the city around different cultures. Their homes and the way they dress are always done uniquely and tastefully.

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Matteo Azzolini's avatar

Fully agree, it’s very refreshing and shows how taste is more linked to culture more than money

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Carolynne Alexander's avatar

Reminds me of early street style where thrifting and heirloom pieces were mashed together with high street brands. You couldn’t copy any of it and taste stood out.

Fab article as always 🙌🏼

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Matteo Azzolini's avatar

Thank you! And now I want to see those looks haha

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Carolynne Alexander's avatar

OMG imagine that? 😲😎

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Matteo Azzolini's avatar

That’s what Substack Notes are for :)

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genie’s writing room 🥀's avatar

Interesting…how would you recommend aspiring authors to showcase their “tastemaking” abilities on social media? I’m interested in growing my “influence” as poet and author in an authentic way.

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Matteo Azzolini's avatar

Interesting! Might sound simple but I think just sharing your work on social media, in a way that’s consistent and true to your personal taste (which is what sets a taskemaker apart in the end)

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Svatopluk Ručka's avatar

The Bourdieu reference is interesting, though for him, taste wasn’t just an empowering social currency. It was a mechanism of class distinction. The preferences we call “refined” often point out existing social hierarchies, by making them seem natural or superior. Yes, taste is powerful, but it's also important to ask who gets to be seen as a tastemaker, and why. Great work, loved reading it!

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Matteo Azzolini's avatar

Thank you! Absolutely agree, as tastemakers often have had the chance to develop such taste precisely because of their social standing/opportunities.

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Tatayana's avatar

Like Nara makes Oreos from scratch in Chanel, who wouldn’t watch that?

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Claire Pruett's avatar

Taste is such a huge factor in the rise of the the New Intelligentsia as power holders in the "influence" space. The nuance of taste as preference but also it's objectivity is fascinating. I feel like everyone keeps pulling up that clip of Andre Leon Tally talking about being in "famine of beauty" - and I think it might be related to the cheapness of the current UGC/DTC landscape. Taste is someone's secret recipe, and mystery is damn sexy. Fabuolous work!

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Karla Godinez's avatar

This piece is SO good. You absolutely hit the nail on the head!

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Matteo Azzolini's avatar

Thank you so much!

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