Is an Open Relationship Even Possible? Actress Zoe Lister-Jones Investigates

Liana Satenstein
Updated
Open relationships sound great in theory, but what’s the reality? Actress Zoe Lister-Jones delivers some first-person perspective.
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Relationships are difficult. Open relationships? Even more so—and actress, director, and screenwriter Zoe Lister-Jones knows exactly how much. In this installment of Sad Hot Girls, Lister-Jones—who starred in the films Band Aid (2017) and Lola Versus (2012)—goes back in time to her college years and explains how exactly an open relationship begins. First, there is the “days off” stage, in which the duo ceases communication several times a week to ensure “me time.” Next? The “seeing other people” stage. This is where things get tricky. Here, Lister-Jones notes that she and her then-boyfriend had a policy where neither spoke about who they were seeing but, alas, it’s not as easy as it seems.

During Lister-Jones’s time off, she experienced plenty of bad dates. Think: drug dealers; freegans. (Never heard of a freegan? Prepare yourself.) As for the boyfriend, well, he had a stellar time. In the end, Lister-Jones realized that an open relationship was not as ideal as it seemed and attempted to close it back up. But is recovery ever possible? And what exactly happened to Lister-Jones’s college ex? Watch here to find out.

Zoe Lister-Jones in:
Rochas striped silk shirt, $520, for information: rochas.com; Hank Panky chiffon ruffle bralette, $50, hankypanky.com; Ann Mashburn liberty-print track short, $55, for information: annmashburn.com; Valentino silk drape dress, $5,600, for information: valentino.com; Hanky Panky lace racerback bralette, $59, hankypanky.com; The Row canvas slippers, $570, The Row, NYC, 212.755.2017

Martyn Thompson Studio ottoman in whitewash, $900, for information: martynthompsonstudio.com Martyn Thompson Studio ottoman in rust, $1,500, for information: martynthompsonstudio.com; MRND Anna table lamp, price upon request, for information: seletti.it; Seletti Moresque table lamp, price upon request, for information: seletti.it

Director: Mayan Toledano and Orian Barki
Fashion editor: Alexandra Gurvitch
Hair: Sabrina Szinay
Makeup: Courtney Perkins
Prop stylist: Javier Irigoyen
Manicure: Eri Handa
Sound: Jesse Stormo
Editor: Jesse Threatt

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