In the corner of the internet, far from prying eyes and the judgment of the male gaze, a secret sisterhood thrives on calling each other bitches. It’s not just an insulting term here; it’s a badge of belonging, tossed around with ease in a forum where women ask for the best shoes to wear to the office and where to take your parents out to dinner. If you’re a woman, you’ve likely been called a bitch at some point—maybe by a smug frat boy in college or in the office behind your back. In the age of “girl’s girl” politics, the sting of that five-letter insult rooted in misogyny cuts a little deeper when it’s thrown by someone who should be in your corner. From the 81,000 anonymous strangers in Reddit’s New York City Bitches With Taste forum, however, there’s a certain camaraderie that flips the script on what it means to be a woman and to support each other.
“Hey bitches! I’m not looking for Mr. Right. I’m looking for Mr. Right Tonight. I’m on UES. Where should I go?” read one post. Dozens of comments throw out places to head to in search of a free drink and male company sans judgement. Another said, “Hi bitches! I’m sooo curious to know what your thoughts are around preventative botox. Is it a scam? Will it be a game changer? How early is [too] early?” That post is filled with detailed answers about estheticians, injectors, and influencers. (If you’re wondering about the majority consensus, one user put it bluntly: “Waste of fucking money, and the beauty industry gets you hooked.” Noted!)
There’s no question too stupid for this community. Thousands of queries have been asked and answered since the subreddit’s inception in July 2023, and there’s a dedicated master list filled with detailed recommendations on the best hairdressers and the best fertility doctors and tips for how to stay safe as a single female—all vetted firsthand by the subreddit’s tight-knit community of stylish women who live throughout New York City’s five boroughs. J, a 34-year-old finance professional, was one of them. Her thorough, glowing review of the Mario Badescu spa in Manhattan is one of the most upvoted posts in the forum.
“I wrote the same way I’d tell a friend at a cocktail party about my experience,” J, who declined to use her full name, told Who What Wear in an email interview. After seeing consistent recommendations about the spa from other women in the community, she decided to pop in for a service. “It’s important to me that I note this. I didn’t want to gatekeep my ‘find’ after visiting the Mario Badescu spa. I’ve gained so much from the community—who am I to hold back blessings for other glowy-skinned bitches who don’t want to break the bank?” she added.
J originally joined the community in 2024 after looking for local shopping recommendations, and it’s since evolved into an A-to-Z lifestyle guide. “For me, being part of this Reddit community is less about where to shop and more about how to live,” she explained. “[Women] come here to make friends when they’re feeling lonely. They come here to find winter-ready trousers, the best workhorse handbags, and the best gift ideas for a friend who just got promoted or flowers and houseplants for one who got laid off. So many of the requests and valuable moments in the community are about celebrating others.”
NYC Bitches With Taste’s shopping recommendations revolve around finding your personal style while being mindful of your consumption. Dozens of women in the community swear by their capsule wardrobes, incorporating pieces from contemporary brands such as Madewell, Sam Edelman, and Vince for dinner dates, office meetings, and group chat–sponsored happy hours. Of course, there’s a slew of luxury brands these women swear by. Think Khaite, The Row, and Toteme—all staples our editors love too.
The subreddit, often referred to as NYCBWT, has spawned its own IRL version, r/NYCBitchesWhoHangOut. The community’s Discord chat is brimming with women making plans. Although our parents warned us not to talk to strangers, much less meet up with them, J says she’s never felt more in community than with the women she’s hung out with off of the platform.
“There was one woman who was a leader in fintech, another woman who was literally a stripper in Midtown, and there was a doctor and a housewife who drove in from Stamford, Connecticut. … On the surface, we have nothing in common, but when else are you going to have all these people in one room, sharing little inside jokes and chatting for hours?” J said. “You never know who you’re going to meet. It’s like a blind date.”
J’s insight is simple: Everyone wants to feel like they have something to offer—be it career advice or the secret spot for designer shoes on the low. We all crave validation and a sense of belonging. In the wake of the pandemic, much has been said about America’s growing loneliness epidemic, an affliction that’s only deepened as social norms continue to unravel and screen times rise. Young, single women have been hit hard by this crisis, according to The Guardian. Add the stress of life in one of the world’s largest metropolises, and it’s no wonder NYC Bitches With Taste has taken off. People are searching for authentic connection, friendships that feel real, and someone to yap with. This yearning for female friendship is more than just a desire—it’s a primal need.
“With loneliness, it’s a lot of us counting ourselves out [of the conversation] and saying, ‘I don’t have anything to offer,’ but with these communities, it’s like, ‘Nope—you are inherently enough,'” J said.
(Image credit: @balencianas; @elizagracehuber, @anna__laplaca; @thedjangonyc, @jasminefoxsuliaman)
Chic locales are at the heart of NYC Bitches With Taste. Whether you’re looking for a cozy jazz spot for post-work drinks or a hot new restaurant to take your parents to when they’re visiting the city, recommendations are never far and few between. The community loves places like The Django and the Salon 94 art gallery, high-end facialist Elizabeth Grace Hand at Ställe Studios, and elegant bars like Pebble Bar and Via Carota.
Although certain Reddit forums can act as a left-leaning respite from the red pill, alt-right-pipeline communities taking flight across the internet, there’s still large work to be done when it comes to equitable gender representation on the platform. With women comprising just 38% of users, most communities remain largely male dominated. Female-centric subreddits like r/FIREyFemmes (71,000 users) struggle to gain sitewide traction when compared to their generalized counterparts—in this case, r/Fire (638,000 users).
The “tech bro” category Reddit tends to fall into as a platform can be off-putting to women, especially Black women and women of color who are looking for wardrobe solutions and luxury lifestyle content. While it’s true that many fashion and style spaces—especially online—have historically catered to white women, NYC Bitches With Taste has made a conscious effort to break from that mold. The community has prioritized inclusivity and has numerous threads dedicated to sharing recommendations that reflect the unique needs and preferences of women of color. It’s this focus on diversity and inclusion that really makes it stand out, creating a space where women from all backgrounds can feel seen and get honest, thoughtful advice.
It’s time to get outside. NYC Bitches With Taste embrace living their lives to the fullest, whether it’s carving out time in their schedules to meet with friends, Citi-Biking in the summer to save some money (hello, congestion pricing!), or partaking in simple movement routines like going to Pilates and walking to Sheep Meadow in Central Park for some dedicated “touch grass” time.
As an avid Reddit user since my high school days, I can say with certainty that there was nothing cool, curated, or chic about the platform until NYC Bitches With Taste came along. I stumbled upon the community early in 2024, seeking unfiltered, honest opinions about where I could find an aesthetically pleasing gynecologist’s office in Manhattan. Sure, I had seen glowing reviews on TikTok about the healthcare provider I was thinking about going to, but I knew better than anyone that many of the reviews I had seen online had massive campaigns and thousands of dollars in ad revenue behind them. I was fed up with being sold a fantasy that every product, service, and upgrade would change my life—especially when the influencers hawking them were getting paid more for one post than I make in a month.
“Having a space where you’re able to receive and provide information without it being sponsored, influenced, or overhyped is really important,” explained Ashley L, an avid NYCBWT reader. The 26-year-old fashion sales marketing and advertising professional is surrounded by #ads at her job too. “I don’t think there are any spaces left like this on the internet, really,” she added.
Like most community members, she took matters into her own hands. Be the change you wish to see—Ashley’s robust “Mid-Late Twenties Master List” has been downloaded and shared thousands of times on the site. In it, there are 73 points of advice and recommendations, and before you ask, yes, she’s a Virgo.
“I’m actually surprised it garnered so much attention given how many low-effort posts were starting to pop up on the subreddit,” she admitted over email to Who What Wear. “I wished someone would course-correct and get us back on track, and I had my Apple Maps pins and my opinions ready to go. [I] figured, Why not contribute and fix what I wanted to see?” Ashley basically became the people’s princess overnight: “A girl’s girl, a woman’s woman, a queen’s queen,” one comment read. “This is an amazing list, and I am so thankful to you for sharing! As a Capricorn bitch who’s been out of her element for a few years now, I feel so confident in finding myself again and upgrading,” said another. It was clear. Ashley wasn’t just giving recommendations; she was offering a blueprint for reinvention.
The community has exponentially grown over the last few months and spawned other iterations, like r/DC Bitches and the global BWT hub. Let’s be real, though. It’s New York City or nothing. NYC Bitches With Taste is a refreshing escape from the usual online circus. There are no polished façades and no hidden agendas—just real women swapping advice like they’re texting their best friend after a long day. In a world that’s always demanding their attention, the women of NYCBWT are redefining what true connection and community look like in the digital age. Honestly, what’s bitchier than that?
