Clothes and Culture: An Interview with HOESFORCLOTHES founder, Sasha Tarnovsky

Interviewed and Written by Jazzi Almestica and Lucy Anderson

What started as an online thrifting venture by creator and designer Tarnovsky from her LA apartment quickly turned into an internationally loved and admired fashion capsule inspired by the early aughts and the peak of socialites in the spotlight. While Tarnovsky is still working out of her LA apartment, the brand she created, Hoes For Clothes, has grown greatly beyond that. Sasha talks with 47magazine about her experience as a creator, designer, and Gen-Z fashion icon. 

Pictured Above: Sasha Tarnovsky in Hoes For Clothes

47Magazine: You’ve cultivated such a distinctive culture and style with your clothing brand “hoesforclothes.” What was the inspiration behind your brand and its unique name?

Sasha Tarnovsky: Honestly, the name just came to me sporadically. I have had this brand since 2019, and the original name was Grinchy Vintage (like, after the Grinch, haha), and then I rebranded to Cherubs and Cherries when I switched from selling vintage to selling more of my own designs. However, it never really felt right. Then, I remember being in a section for one of my political science classes in school, and it was around the time when the expression being a “hoe for” something was popular, like “I'm a hoe for peanut butter” or something, idk, and the name hoes for clothes came to me. I remember being so excited I could barely pay attention in class because I was like.. “This is so perfect,” but I didn’t know if it was taken already or not, so I sat through the class in agony, waiting to check my phone. Then I swapped it, and the rest was history!

47: Your clothing hits a specific spot for young adults, balancing hotness and humor, setting the trend for Gen-Z culture. Where do you find your inspiration and creativity? 

ST: I get a lot of inspiration from internet culture, memes, tv-shows and stuff like that. I have always really liked the 2000s aesthetic and used to be so obsessed with Jersey Shore and Desperate Housewives growing up. Everything else just kind of comes together! I also get lots of ideas from my followers, which makes it a really fun and collaborative thing. 

47: Starting a business is one thing, but turning it into a flourishing success is another. Did you think your business was gonna reach this level of fame?

ST: Literally never did I imagine something like this would happen! I just started it to sell off some clothing out of my closet originally, and help pay off some of my loans. I actually have a degree in political science. I was originally going to go into law, but then right around when COVID started, the brand kinda took off, so I didn’t accept any law school applications, dove head first into this world, and I haven’t looked back since! But being a fashion designer, or whatever you want to call it, was always my dream.

47: Who is your personal fashion icon?

ST: I don’t really have any celebrity fashion icons (although some movie characters definitely inspire me, like Shelley from The House Bunny, Edie from Desperate Housewives, etc). Still, I do have a few girls online that I would like to shout out for sure, my two favorite fashion girlies to follow are @beanieboylston and @linmick; neither knows I exist, but I have been following them for so many years. I am always inspired by the creative and fun approach they both have to fashion. For Lindsay (@linmick), I don’t necessarily even think our fashion style is remotely similar, but something about her vibe and style is so incredible. 

Beanie Boylston (@beanieboylston)

Lindsay Vrckovnik (@linmick)

47: What is one item of clothing you couldn’t live without?

ST: This is a basic answer, but either a black mini skirt or a pair of denim cut-off shorts. I think you can style them both in so many different ways, up or down, and they are both constants in my wardrobe. I felt like there was no “perfect” black mini out there, so I designed my own. 

47: What was your “I’ve made it” moment?

ST: I bet you could ask even Christian Dior this question and he would say, “did I really make it?!” or maybe that is just my imposter syndrome talking but I guess if I had to say something, I would say when I was still pretty new to all this and Tana Mongeau wore my “DUMP HIM” hat and had some paparazzi take her photo. To this day, I always think of her so positively regarding this situation because she did not buy the hat, she gently asked me for it, and I gifted it to her, and then when people asked her about where it was from she reposted one of those “Tana Closet” accounts to her story that shared my @. I have never seen her do that before for anyone. It was a gesture she absolutely did not need to do, because influencers like her are paid so much for their tags, but it was so sweet and kind and brought so many new eyes on me. I will always be so grateful for that, and I remember freaking out that THE Tana, who I used to watch on YouTube after school for hours, wore my trucker hat and shouted me out. 

47: What’s one piece of advice you wish you could tell yourself at the beginning of your journey? And what’s something you’d want to tell future you?

ST: I would tell myself to stay true to myself and my style because when you try to be something you’re not, you won’t succeed. The phrase “they can copy the recipe, but the sauce won’t taste the same” is so true. When I try to make items that I think people “want”, they never do well. All my best-performing pieces always came from the heart, and they were items I was personally inspired by. I am so grateful for the community I’ve curated on my social media, and I believe I got there by following my heart and doing whatever the fuck I wanted!