J.Crew launched a campaign featuring SNL cast members Ben Marshall, Martin Herlihy, and John Higgins from the comedy group Pleasants, signaling a shift toward hiring comedians and cultural talent instead of traditional influencers, per Glossy.
ReadingThe steal: hire people your customers already follow for reasons other than product recommendations. SNL talent has a built-in audience that trusts their taste because they trust their comedy. The play: audit your ideal customer's social follows. If they follow comedians, musicians, or writers before they follow fashion creators, recruit those talent first. Offer $5-25K for 3-5 social posts or a 2-3 minute video where they style your product in their voice. The authenticity is the product.
MY STASH TAKEThis is early, but it's real. The best marketing in 2026 is moving away from 'professional influencers' toward 'people who already own an audience for unrelated reasons and now happen to like the product.' J.Crew is betting that a 60-second SNL bit featuring their jacket will outperform a 60-second influencer ad every time.
WatchWatch for more fashion and lifestyle brands to hire podcast hosts, comedians, and TikTok writers as brand ambassadors.