I keep two answers in my back pocket for the inevitable first-date question of "what do you do for fun?" strictly for emergencies. The first is thrift shopping, which always feels like a bit of a cop out and disingenuous because my thrifting is mostly via Depop and done from the comfort of my own home. The second go-to answer is reality TV, which feels like the more embarrassing answer of the two, but also helps me weed out those who would be willing to catch up on five seasons of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City before the new season premieres (my current hobby or fixation, it depends on how you look at it) from those who won’t—a true indicator of who would make a good long-term partner, for me at least.
The reality is that I don’t have a hobby and, after years of telling everyone I know that I planned on teaching myself how to knit, it feels like I should finally just do it. Or, if knitting is too slow-paced for my recently very hyperactive brain, try something else, and then something else, and then something else until a hobby sticks. Because, realistically, if Dua Lipa can make time for ceramics and Academy Award-nominated actor Mark Ruffalo for his sculpting, I can probably find the time to do something aside from shop, watch TV, or go to the occasional Pilates class.
Hobbies give adults something we often have very little of: a place to experience both play and autonomy. "So much of adult life is organized around demands: what our jobs need from us, what our families need from us, and what needs to get done next," Licensed Master Social Worker Erin Barbosa says. "A hobby gives us permission to choose something simply because we’re curious about it or because it feels good. Play allows the nervous system to be active and engaged while still feeling safe. We don’t have to be good at them, monetize them, or turn them into another self-improvement project; the freedom is part of the benefit."
So, as I continue my personal quest for a hobby and, in turn, a way of establishing the time and space to play, I tapped nine of our busy fashion friends for a little inspiration. Ahead, the hobbies that they find joy in and answers to the biggest question of all: how in the world do they find the time?
Tanner Richie & Fletcher Kasell, Designers at Tanner Fletcher
Photo: @tanner.fletcherHobby: Antiquing
"Together, it's our biggest therapeutic outlet. We’ve managed to turn it into a major pillar of Tanner Fletcher, but at its heart, it’s still very restorative for us. It’s a constant treasure hunt. Beyond the hunt itself, we are obsessed with decorating and constantly shifting our spaces. Tanner is always moving things around. Whether we’re setting up seasonal displays in our showroom with our latest antique finds, rearranging gallery walls to squeeze in one more frame, or hunting down vintage brass candleholders so our apartment can be strictly candlelit after dark. Running a fashion brand in New York can be loud and fast-paced, but taking a road trip to New England to get lost in an antique mall acts as an instant reset. It forces us to slow down, disconnect from screens, stay at historic inns, eat at old-school local spots, and just be present. It nourishes us and brings us closer together as a couple. Changing our surroundings in a thoughtful, beautiful way makes life infinitely more pleasant to live and is rewarding because it takes time to build."
Michelle Li, Stylist & Writer
Photo: @himichelleliHobby: Tennis
"I started playing tennis when I was 8 years old. My whole family plays, and it's what we spent a big part of our childhood doing. I stopped playing for a while because it was difficult to get a court in NYC, but recently I became friends with a group of tennis players, and now we play often. It reminds me that I have a life outside of my job! It reminds me that I'm capable and have things that I love just for myself. It contributes a form of exercise, being outside, which is good for my mental health, and a way to socialize."
Contessa Mills, Designer
Photo: @contessamillsnycHobby: Chess
"I probably play an average of one game a day, although some days it’s ten games and some days it’s none. I’ve gotten pretty obsessed with it. I started over New Year’s in 2024. My brother taught me some basic strategies, and I made a Chess.com account shortly after. I love that it's relatively easy to learn but incredibly difficult to be good at. There is always something new to understand, which makes it feel like an endless pursuit. If I feel like I’ve been on social media too much or need a break from work or stress, I’ll play a game or do a few chess puzzles. I still get that little mental escape, but I know I’m also improving at something I care about. It fits so easily into those small pockets of downtime, so it never feels difficult to make time for it. It makes me feel smart, challenged, and motivated. Chess is such a fascinating game, and there is something incredibly rewarding about actually noticing yourself improve over time."
Jawara, International Hairstylist
Hobby: Travel, Food, & Art
"I love to travel to waterfalls, eat at places I've done research on or heard a lot about, and I really love visiting museums and seeing exhibits. These hobbies all started around the same time about fifteen years ago. Because of my career being so fast-paced, these hobbies allow me to slow down a little bit. I specifically carve out time, especially around August and the holidays, because it gives me a sense of balance. I'm able to appreciate things that come from our land or come from an artist's mind. These things inspire my work."
Ali O'Neill, Designer at Markarian
Photo: Ali O'Neill Hobby: Conservation Work
"I am by no means close to being a conservation expert, but I feel so lucky to be able to experience some of the work my husband Brent does in South Africa and to be involved wherever I can. Sometimes that means being out in the bush, sometimes helping with an event or project, and sometimes simply listening and learning from the people who have devoted their lives to this work. Brent has a non-profit called The Conservation Coalition. It makes me feel grateful and very small in the best possible way. My everyday life is so immersed in fashion, design, and New York, and then I can suddenly find myself somewhere in South Africa surrounded by wildlife and people who have dedicated their lives to protecting it. It completely shifts my perspective. I also love being a beginner at something. I’m used to having a very specific expertise in my own work, so there’s something exciting about being in a world where I don’t have all the answers. More than anything, it has given me a much deeper appreciation for conservation and for the people doing this work every day."
Lucy Rae McFadin, Creator & Founder of Ditsy Headwear
Photo: @lucyraemcfadiHobby: DJing
"I'm grateful to be in a position where I feel like many of my hobbies have turned into my career. Content creation, DJing, and styling all started out of pure passion and slowly became a means of making a living doing the things I already so naturally loved. However, when things become monetized, they can feel a lot less like a hobby when you are being asked to do them not on your own terms. These days it's been important to me to find hobbies I keep to myself, like movies, reading, dancing, and boxing. I've been DJing for a little over two years now. To me, my hobbies are an escape from reality. They bring me back to the present moment, quiet outside thoughts, and fulfill me with a sense of purpose and inner peace. They prioritize my own fulfillment and happiness, and that is the entire foundation that upholds the rest of my life."
Alyson Eastman, Designer
Photo: @alysoneastmanHobby: Horseback Riding
"I love riding my off-the-track thoroughbred horse. I adopted him in 2020. I grew up on a farm riding horses, but lost touch for 15 years when I moved to NYC and Paris to study fashion—now, I make sure to block out two to three times per week in my schedule after work for this. It has truly become a form of therapy for me. When work is incredibly stressful, which fashion often is, I go to the barn and forget all about what is happening in real life and just focus on me and my horse. It is the best way to unplug and ground myself."
Celia Bernardo, Founder of Celia B
Photo: @celiabdesigner Hobby: Lamp Making
"I love creating them out of pieces I find in flea markets, like plates, glasses, little trinkets, and all sorts of things that catch my eye. I started about six years ago, when I opened my showroom in Oviedo. I wanted the space to feel very personal, so instead of looking for conventional lighting, I decided to make my own. I started experimenting, and it became a hobby that I really enjoy.I also make them together with my partner, who does the actual assembly, so it has become a little creative project that we share. It adds another dimension to my designs. Bringing light into the equation makes everything even more enriching and exciting. I’m always thinking about color and shape, and light adds this completely different element that can transform a space. I also really like that it has remained a hobby and has not become something I need to monetize. I can keep it just for my own enjoyment and delight, without thinking about it commercially."
Mandy Lee, Fashion Trend Forecaster & Commentator
Photo: Mandy LeeHobby: Shuffleboard
"I've been playing in a competitive shuffleboard league in Brooklyn for four years in my spare time. I originally went for a corporate outing at my 9-5 in 2019, and a second time for a friend's birthday party in 2022. The owner, Jonathan Schnapp, gave us a ten-minute explainer and told us to join the league—so we did. After games, people usually hang out, watch other people's games, and drink beer. It's genuinely the best time. It makes me feel like I have a life outside of fashion. Working in fashion can feel all-consuming, but you can't be good at it if it's all you care about. My favorite quote is from Lynn Yeager, quoting Sally Singer: 'If you're interested in fashion, learn about anything except for fashion—politics, art, painting, anything but fashion.'"