From the second she first graced the display on Laguna Seaside in 2004, Kristin Cavallari rapidly established herself as a actuality TV icon. From her mismatched bikinis to her brutal honesty and one-liners, she was a forceful presence set towards the picture-perfect backdrop of Orange County. Early on, MTV producers branded her because the sequence’ villain, specializing in a love triangle between Cavallari, her on-off boyfriend Stephen Colletti, and her alleged rival, Lauren Conrad. She gave us tons of angle, drama-filled journeys to Cabo, and, maybe most significantly, the phrase “dunzo.”
Now, 18 years after the present premiered, the mother of three and Unusual James founder is taking a cue from the present’s theme track and going again…again to the start. She’s teamed up with Colletti to relive the highs and lows of highschool for his or her new Laguna Seaside rewatch podcast, aptly titled Again to the Seaside. Along with reminiscing in regards to the themed events and teenage feuds of every episode, the exes reveal the authenticity of each scene. “It’s been actually eye-opening and therapeutic to observe the present once more and break issues down with Steven,” Cavallari tells ELLE.com. “I’ve a way more constructive outlook on it than I did again within the day, as a result of I used to be so emotionally invested in it on the time. I really feel like now I can actually shut the door on it.”
Some would possibly shudder on the considered watching a previous relationship unfold on-camera, to not point out the added layer of recapping it with the ex in query. However Cavallari isn’t fazed; actually, she will get why some followers nonetheless ship them as a pair as we speak. “We had been one another’s first loves, and we’ll all the time have that respect and admiration for each other,” she says. “We clearly nonetheless have chemistry, simply not in that approach. However I do love him, and I’m actually pleased that we’re in a position to have such a great friendship now. I feel it’s candy that individuals are rooting for us, so I hate to interrupt it to everyone, however we’re not gonna get again collectively—it’s simply not gonna occur.”
Nonetheless, Cavallari understands the general public’s continued curiosity in her relationships—a love triangle is, after all, what made her well-known within the first place. “Folks all the time have their opinions about who I ought to be relationship,” she says. “I really feel like I’m strolling a positive line between being candid and conserving issues non-public.” Two years after her cut up from ex-husband Jay Cutler, she feels extra snug opening up about her private life. “I feel the relationship stuff is humorous and relatable, as a result of it’s what I’m actually going by means of,” she says. “I really really feel like I’m in one of the best place for relationship proper now, as a result of I’ve three children and I’m profitable. I don’t want a person in my life for something aside from to carry me pleasure; I don’t have a ticking time bomb. It’s a very nice place to be in, and my life feels fairly peaceable for probably the most half.”
She could also be drama-free as of late, however whereas revisiting her teen expertise for Again to the Seaside, Cavallari has grown to understand sure facets of life because it was. “Your highschool years are so nice since you don’t have that a lot accountability but,” she says. “There’s lots of freedom, and I’m nostalgic for the simplicity of life. However at 35, I’m simply approach extra snug in my pores and skin.” She’s additionally extra assured in her vogue selections. “As a child, I didn’t actually have any fashion,” says Cavallari. “I look again at pictures and snort—I don’t cringe, as a result of everyone was carrying these things. However at 17, I didn’t care about vogue; it wasn’t even on my radar. That’s why it’s so genuine: I’ve a zit in each different scene, my hair’s a multitude. I didn’t put effort into filming in anyway, and that was the fantastic thing about it. Nobody gave a shit what we had been carrying.”
Early aughts viewers—who possible rushed to Abercrombie & Fitch en masse after every episode, within the hopes of recreating the solid’s casual-cool appears to be like—might beg to vary. Right here, Cavallari revisits 10 of her iconic outfits from Laguna Seaside.
Season 2, Episode 27: “I Noticed You Kiss Her”
“I lived in denims in a tank prime. That was my uniform. I really forgot that I used to layer the tank tops—I might often put on a white one that may cling decrease, after which have one other shade on prime of it. Couldn’t let you know why! I assume that’s simply what we did on the time. These bamboo bangles are terrible [laughs]. I don’t know the place I acquired them or what I used to be considering. After which clearly I beloved a press release earring, which is humorous, as a result of I not often will do a press release earring now.”
Season 2, Episode 26: “The Finish of the Starting”
“The bamboo bracelets are again! They’re a staple. This can be a Rolling Stones T-shirt which, truthfully, I might in all probability nonetheless put on as we speak. I’m nonetheless a fan of the Rolling Stones. It’s humorous as a result of, throughout filming, we had so many scenes and all the time needed to have a brand new wardrobe. Over 9 months, that’s lots of garments that I didn’t have cash for. So any T-shirt I may get my fingers on, it was like, ‘Right here we go! That is what I’m carrying.’”
Season 2, Episode 26: “The Finish of the Starting”
“So this really was not my T-shirt; I need to say that it was Alex’s shirt. Once more, it was like, “I want one thing to put on for this scene that we’re gonna movie.” It simply so occurred to be type of a humorous saying—and for a highschool child, no much less. In order that’s nice. [Laughs.] I don’t even suppose on the time I spotted what it meant, to be trustworthy. I feel I simply put it on and didn’t even give it some thought.”
Season 1, Episode 1: “A Black & White Affair”
“I stated this on the podcast, however I might positively put on that white costume as we speak. It was timeless so, , good transfer on my half! It’s humorous as a result of that was one of many actual issues on the present, that I used to be the one one who wore a white costume to the black and white social gathering. That was not carried out by MTV—that was all me. [Laughs.] I stand by that costume. I need to say it was BCBG or one thing, and I’m positive the bag was in all probability Coach.”
Season 1, Episode 2: “The Bonfire”
“Right here’s the uniform once more: black choker, tank prime, denims. Increase! I’m additionally carrying two tank tops there—I feel I’ve a black one below the white one, really. The black choker was for positive my signature. I actually didn’t take that factor off for months. That was my factor.”
Season 1, Episode 8: “Grin & Bear It”
“We went tenting right here. We beloved our trucker hats again within the day—these could be the one factor that I wouldn’t be mad at in the event that they got here again, and I do really feel like they’re coming again somewhat bit. I might possibly put on a trucker hat right here or there. Not essentially Von Dutch. [Laughs.] God, Ed Hardy and Von Dutch are throughout Laguna Seaside. It’s so unhealthy, however it was such a time. I do nonetheless love a sweats second although, and I dwell in sweats at my home. In order that’s me proper there: sweatshirt, hat.”
Season 1, Episode 11: “Dunzo”
“I actually lived in denims. I’m positive they had been True Religions, all the time with somewhat flare on the backside, which I might by no means be caught lifeless in now. The opposite factor about denims again then was that they had been tremendous low-cut. Now you may not pay me to put on a low-cut jean—mine are all high-waisted. However this look was somewhat preppy for me, so I’m stunned I went that route. I might by no means be caught lifeless in that shirt as we speak, both. This one might be my least favourite. I simply don’t know what I used to be considering.”
Season 2, Episode 4: “Extra Than Associates”
“This sweater doesn’t look like me. I truthfully really feel prefer it was one other factor I may get my fingers on. I don’t even know if it was mine. Really, [if that’s an Abercrombie & Fitch logo,] then it was in all probability mine [laughs.]”
Season 2, Episode 5: “Winter Formal”
“What I discover much more than the costume is these godawful extensions. This isn’t my favourite costume, however it may have been worse. Somewhat silk blue second for winter formal. Not the worst. Not my greatest. I hate metallic sneakers, so it’s humorous that I’m carrying them.”
Season 2, Episode 6: “I Hate Valentine’s Day”
“This was Valentine’s Day, so clearly I used to be carrying pink to only actually do it. It’s humorous as a result of now I might do the alternative—I might by no means need to do what’s anticipated. However clearly in highschool, I did. So I wore denims and a pink prime as a result of it was Valentine’s Day. I don’t suppose I even personal any pink anymore.”
Samantha Simon
Samantha Simon is a author, editor, and popular culture fanatic dwelling in New York Metropolis.
