Meet Zan Goodman

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Zan Goodman started off in the art departments of quite a few magazines, including Nylon and Teen Vogue. She has worked on a wide range of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands like Adidas, Anthropologie, Bergdorf Goodman, Bottega Veneta, Coach, Cole Haan, Lane Crawford, The Limited, Jean Paul Gaultier, Moda Operandi, Moët Hennessy, Old Navy, Orient Express, Roxy, Target, and Williams-Sonoma. She has designed books for Rizzoli and Penguin (including the New York Times Bestseller The Teen Vogue Handbook), as well as a handful of award-winning album covers and branding projects. She graduated with a BFA in Communication Design from the Parsons School of Design, and is a native New Yorker.

on her morning routine

I wake up as late as I possibly can, look at my phone for way too long, change my outfit 10 times, mess up my eyeliner, put my headphones and a playlist on, grab a strong coffee somewhere, and fight to get on the L train.

on her stint as a dj

I DJ semi-regularly with one of my best friends, we play a mix of disco, house, soul, funk, and new wave. It’s definitely more of a selfish pursuit, we just like to play music for each other and whoever happens to be in the bar at that point.

on her education and background

My background is graphic design. Since I was little, I was always designing my own business cards for my various businesses. I originally wanted to be a fashion designer and went to Parsons to study that. But once I got there I heard a talk where Tim Gunn told everyone to give up and not even bother to become a fashion designer, so I listened. In retrospect it was totally the right call, it combined all my natural interests (typography, illustration, photography, and layout). I still loved fashion though, and got a part-time job designing at Nylon Magazine while I was in school. When I graduated, I worked as a designer at Teen Vogue. Eventually I realized I wanted to do more than magazines, and left to go work on the agency-side.

on the best part of her job

Every day is really different. Sometimes we’re working on big presentations and it’s all hands on deck. Other days I’m stopping by a shoot, reviewing and retouching designs, or interviewing new talent.

Zan's favorite records
I saw Prince in concert a few years back and he shook his head after his ovation and said, “too many hits.” Miss him everyday.
— on her favorite artist

on her projects

At Chandelier, we love to support our friends and champion causes we believe in, whether it's a charity, a brand doing good, or an up-and-coming business. Those projects are usually my favorite, and they range from small branding projects for restaurants or film companies to big events for the Democratic National Committee or the Jane Goodall Institute.

Every single project is a learning experience. Soak in as much as you can from everyone you collaborate with (always take notes and ask questions).

on her shopping style and habits

I like to mix fun, weird vintage stuff with basic staples like a black mini or high-waisted jeans. I copy my friends as much as possible because they are really stylish. My secret spots are the petite section of Asos and Wasteland in LA.

on her home decor

I love flea markets and antique stores for furniture and Etsy for fabrics and pillows, but I’ve secretly gotten good stuff at Ikea and West Elm. I love prints, mid-century modern, 3D type, neon, Memphis, weird found art, you name it. Most of the art on my walls is either found at a thrift store or flea market or made by one of my talented friends. My favorite piece of furniture is my kitchen table, which was my Dad’s as a kid and made at his family iron works business.

I just think your space should be the truest expression of yourself. I’ve always been a collector (marbles and Playbills as a kid, matchbooks and pineapples recently, though pineapples are definitely now passé). My apartment is a reflection of all that.

Outfit, Vintage

Outfit, Vintage

Chandelier Does Tokyo is a record of our company our trip to Tokyo last year. It’s really funny and engaging, with tons of information on Tokyo too. And nicely designed of course.
— on her book project
Zan's favorite makeup

on her beauty routine

I keep my beauty routine pretty natural! Liner (Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner) and mascara (Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara) and a little concealer on my skin everyday. Glitter disco eyes (Chantecaille Waterproof Brow DefinerUrban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner) if I’m going out or DJing. Sephora is one of our clients so I ask the girls that work there for their favorite products.

I recommend Lipstick Queen Saint & Sinner Lip TintMilk Makeup Lip + Cheek ColorBite Beauty Amuse Bouche LipstickMilk Makeup Matte Bronzer, and Bobbi Brown Lip Color.

Don’t fuck with your face too much. I avoid harsh products because my skin is really sensitive, that seems to work. I like Kiehl’s (Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer), Aesop (Aesop Control Anti Blemish Gel), and Nuxe (Cleansing Gel). We’ve recently started working with Elemis ('Pro-Radiance' Illuminating Flash Balm) and their stuff is great too!

My nightly routine is: gulp some seltzer, apply some serum (Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II) & moisturizer, set my alarm, and say goodnight to my group chats. I also use Caudalie Beauty Elixir and BYREDO Fleur Fantome Candle

 

Skirt, Étoile Isabel Marant ; Top & Shoes, Vintage

Skirt, Étoile Isabel Marant ; Top & Shoes, Vintage

Anna Wintour was my first real boss so that was terrifying. As anyone who’s been a designer for her knows, she likes to leave her feedback via post-it note, and it’s your job to decipher them and fix the problem. She has left me some truly excruciating ones. I still have them!
— on starting out
Dress, Vintage ; Shoes, ZARA

Dress, Vintage ; Shoes, ZARA

Skirt, Étoile Isabel Marant ; Top & Shoes, Vintage

Skirt, Étoile Isabel Marant ; Top & Shoes, Vintage

zan's favorite records

Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder, Diamond Life by Sade, Stop Making Sense by The Talking Heads, PRINCE / REVOLUTION PARADE / UNDER THE CHERRY MOON by Prince

zan's favorite books

Chandelier Does TokyoEdward Fella: Letters on America by Lewis Blackwell, The New Let There Be Neon by Rudi Stern, ESPRIT: The Making of an Image by Helie Robertson

zan's favorite movies

Paris, Texas, A Bout de Souffle, Waiting for Guffman, Clueless

zan's favorite places in nyc

Cotter Barber for coffee

Frankel's for bialys and lox

Five Leaves for a cocktail at the bar (ask for "the Zan")

Little Dokebi for a quiet perfect Korean Dinner

Mahps for vintage dresses