Brenda Song has held a special place in my heart for more than two decades, and, clearly, in the hearts of the rest of the world, too. She's been on our mood boards as a Y2K style icon, our beloved London Tipton, the queen of sports knowledge, and most recently, Ali from Running Point. Now she's the face of Marshalls' Fall Fashion Field Guide (aka the retailer's new curated lookbook where they worked with Brenda to create five aesthetics to choose from based on your personal style), which couldn't be more perfect for someone who can pull off so many different looks so well.
The Cosmo cover star and actress is more than ready for cooler temperatures and has teamed up with one of the most iconic one-stop shops to help inspire the variety of vibes you wanna channel this season. I got to talk with Brenda about how she's dressing for the months ahead, the one Marshalls shopping hack that's never let her down (that I'll definitely be using ASAP), and her love for accessories, including the one she's worn all summer and is taking with her into the new season. We also chatted about the Y2K fashion comeback and her thoughts on some of her most iconic red carpet looks from years past.
So many people have a nostalgic memory tied to Marshalls. What’s your relationship with Marshalls been like over the years, and what’s your very first memory of shopping there?
I have gone to Marshalls my entire life, so I don't really have a first memory, because I genuinely shop there. My memories of Marshalls are me and my mom going after school, like, going, “Oh, we're gonna run in for one thing,” and we come out with, like, two carts later, with a whole new wardrobe and a redecorated house.
Describe the kind of shopper you are when it comes to clothes. Are you someone who goes in with a plan, or do you like to see what you discover?
I like to see what I discover, because that's what, to me, is so much fun. That's what I miss about in-store shopping: just going in with no idea, and just starting on a rack, going to your size, and just starting to flip through and seeing what inspires you. Because I am a try-everything-on kind of girl, I don't know if it's gonna look good until I put it on my body. I'm a browser. I love going in, and I love trying on all the things. Oh, and I absolutely love accessories.
Bailey 44 Long Sleeve Crew Neck Cropped Rugby Top With Interior Placket
Angel Alarcon Made In Spain Leather High Shaft Wrapped Heeled Boots
I'm obsessed! Accessories oftentimes tie everything together.
Totally. You can make a jean-and-T-shirt look completely different with just the
accessories. Whether that be with jewelry, with a jacket, with a scarf, with a hat—it changes the vibe completely, and that's what I love about them!
Do you have any Marshalls shopping hacks or tricks you swear by?
I go for the rack where people put the stuff they don’t want after they try things on. I always tend to go to where the fitting rooms are because I’m hoping maybe they just haven’t put things back yet. I’m not someone who just looks for my size; I look through the entire rack because I could discover pieces that could work for an oversized moment.
We've seen you in so many different styles, from glam red-carpet looks to casual and sporty moments. How would you describe your personal style today, and what
kind of looks make you feel the most confident?
I'm using an archetype, not what I would call myself, but I love the Off-Duty Icon, which is very relaxed: jeans, sneakers, kind of oversized, and a little sporty. People don't realize how much effort goes into these effortless looks. That's all; I feel like the Off-Duty Icon is sort of, like, my everyday me running around.
But it really depends. I feel like for Running Point, because Ali is such a polished powerhouse, I feel like I've drawn that into a lot of my everyday life. I've worn more tailored trousers and blazers since playing her. Also, sometimes when I go out, I want to be the Vibe Curator. I want animal print. I want fun. I want what's on my Instagram feed/on my social media feed, you know what I mean?
Speaking of, I was just going to ask you... Out of the five styles in the Fall Fashion Field Guide, which one do you resonate with the most? You’d say the Off-Duty Icon and the Vibe Curator?
Very much so. And this is the first time I've ever been able to curate a field guide, so it was really fun to break down these looks, which are all me. But I also feel like people can really resonate with them, and it’ll help guide them and inspire them. Because that's what all this is, just hopefully inspiring people to find their own versions of these.
What are some trends or pieces you see transitioning from summer into fall that you're excited to keep wearing?
I've been loving long-sleeve striped polos. I'm always cold, and now I can actually start layering them for the fall. And you know what I'm really excited about?
Tell me!
Seeing scarves back. I love a scarf. Mac [her husband, actor Macaulay Culkin] laughs at me because I have a summer scarf, a sheer scarf. I've been wearing my summer scarf, and so I'm excited to transition that into fall. If I'm in a tank or, like, a tube top, I’ll throw it over my shoulders, like when I’m inside because it can get so cold when you go in somewhere, and the AC is blasting and it’s freezing. It's very versatile. You throw it in your bag; you can wear it as a top, you can wear it as a scarf, you can wear it as a belt. I like a multitasker.
There's no denying that Gen Z and Gen Alpha are obsessed with Y2K, and you're obviously a Y2K icon. What are some Y2K trends you loved back then and that you're still wearing or loving now?
Scarves and leather jackets. For me, motorbike jackets never went away. It's really fun to see them restyled in a modern way. That's the thing about fashion: everything comes back with a modern twist.
I'm not really big into always following the trends. I find inspiration in them, but I don't think you always need to go out and find a completely new wardrobe. I think it's about being able to make it your own, whatever that is. But you know what trend that I have been kind of scared of that's coming back?
What?!
That everything is low-rise? I'm a little triggered by it. I lived when the zippers were tiny, okay, guys?
If you could give your younger self in the early 2000s one piece of fashion advice today, what would you tell her?
Take one thing off. I feel like the 2000s were all about over-accessorizing, and don't get me wrong, that’s where my love for accessories comes from. But Brenda, you could have taken off one belt. You didn't need six necklaces; you didn’t need the earrings, the necklace, the bracelet stack, and the belt.
But you know what, though? I felt confident, I loved my outlook, and that's all that matters. So, younger Brenda was living her best life; to her, she was living her best life.
Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
