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Fashion Month Awards Part One: Chanel’s New Era & Tech Billionaires in the Front Row (with Dana Thomas)
12 maart 2026 · 43 min
Paris Fashion Week wrapped up the Fall 2026 shows, so Amy Odell and New York Times bestselling author Dana Thomas are handing out the Fashion Month Awards. Lees meer
Together they break down the biggest moments from New York, Milan, and Paris Fashion Week, including:
• Prada’s viral runway stunt
• Marc Jacobs’ comeback in New York
• The rise of fashion watch parties bringing fans into the shows
• Why tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg are suddenly sitting front row
• The best trends and the weirdest trends of the season
• What Chanel’s new era could mean for fashionThey also talk about how fashion shows—and fashion media—are changing as creators, newsletters, and independent platforms reshape the industry.
Part two of the Fashion Month Awards is available to Back Row Premium subscribers. Sign up at BackRow.net to get newsletter access and more exclusive fashion reporting included with your subscription, or in Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Chapters:
00:00 — Introducing Dana Thomas and the Fashion Month awards
01:25 — Is fashion entering a new generational era?
04:10 — The shift from magazines to creators and newsletters
06:40 — Loudest viral stunt: Prada’s layered runway trick
10:15 — Fashion watch parties and opening shows to the public
15:35 — Why fashion shows might become spectator events
20:55 — Sleeper hit of the season
24:30 — Most awkward front row celebrity
28:00 — Tech billionaires invade fashion week
31:50 — Hardest-working front row celebrity
34:20 — Best trend of the season
36:40 — Weirdest trend: the return of tailsLinks and Resources:
Amy Odell - Instagram
Back Row newsletterDana Thomas
Instagram
Deluxe (book)
Gods & Kings (book)
Fashionopolis (book)
Style Files (newsletter)Credits:
Produced by Amy Odell. Audio editing by Joyce Ciesel, video by Jonathan Voytko.
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The Real Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette
9 maart 2026 · 42 min
Amy Odell sits down with Liz McNeil and RoseMarie Terenzio, authors of JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography, to discuss the real romance between Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr. that inspired the FX show Love Story, executive-produced by Ryan Murphy. Lees meer
Terenzio assisted JFK Jr. in the 90s at George magazine, and McNeil covered him as an editor for People. For their book, they interviewed more than 150 people who knew him. They share personal encounters with the couple and people in their inner circle, talk about what John would have made of the frenzy over his style today, and explain what in 'Love Story' is pure fiction.
PART TWO, including discussion of how the Kennedy family deals with relentless press and the REAL reason for that famous fight in the park, is available to Premium subscribers of Back Row. Sign up at backrow.net for full podcast and newsletter access, or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Why everyone is talking about JFK Jr. and Carolyn again
01:25 What the FX show “Love Story” gets right (and wrong)
06:10 Why Gen Z is suddenly obsessed with them
07:10 The truth about JFK Jr.’s style
12:10 What drew John and Carolyn together
21:00 What Carolyn Bessette was really like
29:30 Carolyn’s struggle with paparazzi
35:30 The iconic wedding dress
39:15 What the show said about the famous park fightLinks & Resources:
Partner message: Go to beehiiv and use the code AMY30 to get 30 percent off a subscription.
Get RoseMarie and Liz's book: JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography
Sign up for the Back Row newsletter
Follow Amy Odell on Instagram
Follow Liz McNeil on Instagram
Follow Rosemarie Terenzio on InstagramThis episode was produced by Amy Odell, with audio editing by Joyce Ciesil and video editing by Jonathan Voytko.
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Dior Review: Can Jonathan Anderson Cure the 'Luxury Ick'?
6 maart 2026 · 10 min
Paris Fashion Week is off and running. Jonathan Anderson's fall 2026 Dior show kicked off the week — and Amy liked it a lot more than she expected! She reads her review of the show from the Back Row newsletter, which discusses how fashion has become mass culture and why designers like Anderson need to reach aspirational shoppers. She ends with the "Loose Threads" news roundup, featuring Condé Nast offloading 'Them,' and more. Lees meer
PLUS, a teaser from Monday's interview with JFK Jr.'s biographers (8:45), inspired by the FX show Love Story.
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The Secret Rules of the Hermès Game: Who Actually Gets a Birkin?
2 maart 2026 · 32 min
Amy sits down with Noëmie Leclercq of luxury news outlet Glitz Paris to debate the "Hermès game" (aka everything customers allegedly have to do in order for boutiques to offer them the chance to purchase a Birkin or Kelly bag). They discuss pre-spends, background checks, and Hermès’ apparent alliance with Lauren Sánchez Bezos. Noëmie also talks about why superfakes have become a big problem; how the class action lawsuit in the U.S. has affected Hermès sales practices; and the secret “grey market” where billionaires buy the most exclusive bags. Lees meer
In Part 2, Noëmie and Amy discuss whether or not the Birkin bubble has popped, why the market for "superfakes" is booming, and the (grim) outlook for Birkins on the secondhand market.
Part 2 is available to paid subscribers of backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Chapters
00:00 — Introducing Noëmie Leclercq of Glitz Paris
01:10 — Is Hermès really stalking their clients?
03:00 — Breaking down the Hermès game
05:40 — Hermès locations: US vs. France
06:00 — Who is the ideal Hermès customer?
07:40 — This French law requires Hermès to background check clients
12:10 — The pre-spend: does Hermès really need to sell furniture?
19:00 — What is the grey market for Hermès products?
24:40 — The Hermès lawsuit: how did it change the game?
28:40 — Can the Birkin be overexposed?
30:20 — Listen to part 2 for Noëmie’s take on if the Birkin bubble has poppedLinks & Resources:
Back Row newsletter
Amy Odell — Instagram
Noëmie Leclercq — Glitz Paris
This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell, Joyce Ciesel, and Jonathan Voytko.
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Marina Larroudé on Anna Wintour, Barneys, and Building a Multi-Million Dollar Brand
23 februari 2026 · 40 min
Amy Odell talks with fashion director-turned-entrepreneur Marina Larroudé about why she left Teen Vogue for Barneys -- and then started her own brand. Marina recalls Style.com's earliest days; how top brands really weren't on board with the internet; what it was really like to work for Anna Wintour; and what she saw from inside the industry that convinced her there was a big business opportunity in footwear. Lees meer
Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at BackRow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In Part 2, Marina talks about how she makes walkable heels; what it was like for Taylor Swift to wear her shoes on the Eras tour; and her plans for the future of Larroudé.
Products mentioned in this episode:
Boat shoes
Fuzzy lined ballet flat
Dolly platform sandal (the same style Taylor Swift wore):
Stella sneaker
CHAPTERS:
00:00 — Introducing Marina Larroudé
03:00 — Why are people so fascinated by Anna Wintour and the Condé Nast world?
05:30 — What does the fashion director at Teen Vogue do?
09:00 — Marina's experience at Style.com
13:30 — The Bella Thorne photoshoot disaster
16:30 — Marina's experience working with Anna Wintour
18:40 — Why Marina left fashion media to work at Barneys
25:10 — On founding Larroudé: "No one was making high-quality shoes for drop-off"
35:00 — How Marina makes Larroudé's shoes comfortable
38:30 — Listen to part 2 for Marina's take on what makes a walkable heel
Back Row newsletter
Amy Odell - Instagram
Marina Larroudé:
Instagram
Larroudé:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell, Jonathan Voytko, and Joyce Ciesel.
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Why Big Fashion Doesn’t Dress Olympic Figure Skaters
19 februari 2026 · 9 min
This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published February 17, 2026. Lees meer
Why don't fashion designers view Olympic figure skating the way they do red carpets — as a forum to exploit for brand impressions? The sport is fabulous, glamorous, and awe-inspiring, after all. Amy digs into how figure skating costumes are made and why the world's top ready-to-wear designers generally don't want anything to do with making them — and why the athletes also aren't clamoring for brands to step in.
Plus, a special New York Fashion Week report (6:00).
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Confessions of a Luxury Sale Whisperer (with Madison Avenue Spy)
16 februari 2026 · 46 min
Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Lees meer
In Part 2, Amy and Lila debate the Saks Fifth Avenue bankruptcy — detailing the brand's fraught relationship with Amazon, the possibility of government intervention, and what it all means for the future of the department store.
On this episode of the Back Row Podcast, Amy talks with Lila Delilah, THE Madison Avenue Spy, about the current unhinged state of luxury retail — from the "Very Important Client" system to how luxury brands deal with all-out frenzies over once-secret sales. They also discuss the Hermès game, brands that have threatened to sue Lila, and more.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 – Introducing Madison Avenue Spy
5:10 – Were there VICs in 2010?
7:00 – How have luxury sales evolved?
13:10 – The lines are getting out of control
15:00 – What are the most legendary sales right now?
16:10 – Will The Row do invitation-only sales?
20:00 – Hermès shoppers are begging for appointments
27:00 – The brands that threatened to sue Madison Avenue Spy
31:10 – The bag-buying experience at Chanel vs. Hermès
34:40 – Reacting to the “Great Reset”
37:45 – Was Hermès ever really a fashion brand?
41:00 – What could break the spell Hermès has on shoppers?
Links & Resources:
Back Row Newsletter
Amy Odell - Instagram
Madison Avenue Spy:
Substack
Website
Instagram
TikTok
Telegram
This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Joyce Ciesil and Jonathan Voytko.
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Are Awards Shows Just Luxury Marketing Now?
9 februari 2026 · 39 min
Are awards shows still about movies — or are they now luxury fashion marketing disguised as cultural prestige? And who’s actually funding all these celeb red-carpet appearances — the studios, the stars, or the brands? Lees meer
Amy Odell is joined by Debra Birnbaum, Editor-in-Chief of awards season news outlet Gold Derby, to break down how modern awards campaigns actually work and why the fashion is so important. Amy and Debra talk Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme press tour and if it was too annoying to win (23:10); who really pays for all the glam (14:30); and how the Met Gala came to overshadow the Oscars (33:30).
Subscribe to Amy's Back Row newsletter: https://www.backrow.net/
Follow Amy on Instagram
Follow Debra Birnbaum on Instagram
Check out Gold Derby for more awards season predictions.
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How the Bravo Look Took Over Fashion and Beauty (with Watch What Crappens)
2 februari 2026 · 52 min
Part 2 of this episode is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Lees meer
After years of quiet luxury, opulence is back in fashion.
In this episode of the Back Row podcast, Amy traces the origins of fashion’s current obsession with excess — all the way back to… Bravo?
Joined by Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam of the wildly popular Watch What Crappens podcast, they discuss how Real Housewives culture shaped today’s luxury landscape, even as the fashion world distanced itself from reality stars. Lauren Sánchez may be one of the most talked-about attendees at couture week — but Bravo stars have been doing her look for 20 years! They also talk about how much Bravo helped get Gigi and Bella Hadid's careers going, Rachel Zoe's debut on RHOBH, and more.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introducing Ben & Ronnie of ‘Watch What Crappens’
01:20 – Lauren Sanchez’s style is just the Bravo look
05:00 – Breaking down the Bravo aesthetic
10:40 – Are Sky tops coming back?
16:50 – Will fashion ever accept the Real Housewives?
24:30 – Would the Hadids have happened without Bravo?
27:30 – What’s up with Mauricio’s Chanel blanket?
30:40 – Is Rachel Zoe too confident for the Real Housewives?
37:10 – Bravo misidentified a Kelly bag
40:20 – The Birkin that costs $1,000,000 (before you can buy it!)
44:30 – Is plastic surgery the new Birkin?Links & Resources:
Back Row newsletterBack Row Podcast:
Apple
SpotifyYouTube
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Celebrity Brands: What Works, What Doesn’t (Goop, Rhode & More)
26 januari 2026 · 38 min
In Part 2, Ana Andjelic and Amy Odell break down Meghan Markle’s new brand As Ever, how The Row quietly built one of the most powerful luxury brands in fashion, and what's next for Chiara Ferragni after her acquittal. Lees meer
Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Celebrity brands are everywhere—but what separates the ones that thrive from those that fail? Can fame alone turn a celebrity idea into a lucrative enterprise?
In this episode of the Back Row Podcast, Amy Odell sits down with branding expert Ana Andjelic (former Chief Brand Officer of Esprit & Banana Republic, author, and the voice behind the newsletter The Sociology of Business) to break down the secret formula behind the most successful celebrity businesses.
From Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop to Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty and Hailey Bieber’s billion-dollar sale of Rhode, they explore why fame alone isn’t enough, how authenticity clashes with marketing hype, and what it really takes to turn star-power into a lasting cultural phenomenon.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction: Why some celebrity brands succeed while others fail
03:20 – What is Gwyneth Paltrow even selling at Goop? And with the relaunched Gwyn clothing line?
09:10 – The death of quiet luxury: where does Gwyn fit?
10:50 – Apple Martin and Gwyneth’s viral Calvin Klein moment
11:30 – What’s kept audiences captivated by Gwyneth for 30 years
18:00 – Predicting the future of Gwyneth’s brands
21:10 – Alex Cooper and Unwell Hydration is more than just trendy water
29:00 – The key to Hailey Bieber’s $1 billion brand deal
32:45 – Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty is playing the long game
35:00 – Shay Mitchell and Toddler Face Masks: rage bait or reputation ruin
36:00 – Meghan Markle’s brand As Ever: “Last time I talked about her, I got raked over the coals”Links & Resources
Back Row NewsletterAmy Odell - Instagram
Ana Andjelic:
Instagram
The Sociology of Business (Newsletter)
T… -
Retail Confessions: Inside Harrods — Demanding Shoppers and the Rules of the Ultra-Rich
19 januari 2026 · 11 min
On this holiday episode of The Back Row Podcast, Amy Odell shares a special installment of Retail Confessions, featuring an anonymous interview with a former Harrods sales associate. Lees meer
The interviewee discussed what it was really like working on the shop floor at one of the world’s most famous luxury department stores — from intense sales pressure and demanding clients to the unspoken rules of the über-rich. To preserve anonymity, the interviewee’s responses are read by Amy’s husband, Rick.
Sign up for Back Row Premium to hear more episodes like this.
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The Recession of Size Inclusion in Fashion (with Lauren Chan)
12 januari 2026 · 35 min
Amy Odell talks with model and writer Lauren Chan about what she calls a "recession of size inclusion" in fashion. After years of progress, brands are reverting back to casting “straight size” models by default —and the consequences go far beyond aesthetics. Lees meer
Lauren shares a fashion week story that captures the problem perfectly: a major entertainment cover shoot featuring a size-12/14 talent had no designer samples available, Amy and Lauren discuss why it matters when the fashion industry ignores bigger bodies; how AI will affect body diversity in fashion; the impact of GLP-1s; and more.
Follow Lauren Chan on Instagram.
Follow Amy Odell on Instagram.
Subscribe to the Back Row newsletter.
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Emily in Paris vs. Real French Style
5 januari 2026 · 32 min
FOR PART TWO OF THIS PODCAST, sign up for Back Row Premium in Apple
or Spotify. In part two, Amy gets Dana Thomas's thoughts on Emily in Paris after watching it for the first time; how French attitudes toward plastic surgery compare to those in America; and how the French feel about the Bezos billionaire lifestyle. Lees meerIn this episode of the Back Row podcast, veteran fashion journalist Dana Thomas joins Amy Odell to talk about Emily in Paris! She reveals what it was really like to actually live the fantasy of moving to Paris at 18 years old to work in fashion, how it influenced her style, and how actual French fashion is so different from the show.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Why Emily in Paris works as fantasy
01:30 Dana Thomas’s real “Emily in Paris” story
03:40 Modeling and learning French beauty and style rules
06:40 French chic vs. American cool
09:50 Life as a teenage model in the 1980s
12:00 Falling in love and moving to Paris
14:00 How French women actually dress
17:20 Scarves are very important
22:30 The French style formula, explained
26:20 Handbags, pockets, and why French women don’t carry much
29:00 Men’s style in Paris vs. the "Emily in Paris" fantasyLinks & Resources:
Back Row newsletterAmy Odell - Instagram
Dana Thomas
Instagram
Deluxe (book)
Gods & Kings (book)
Fashionopolis (book)
Style Files (newsletter)This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell and Jonathan Voytko.
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How Gwyneth Paltrow's Extreme Diet Sparked a 'Detox' Craze
29 december 2025 · 29 min
Gwyneth Paltrow has long been known for promoting various wellness fads that drive experts crazy. Long before she was publicly singing the praises of raw dairy products, she would publish "detox" diets each January. These were the foundation of Goop's wellness business. In this excerpt from Amy's latest book Gwyneth: The Biography, hear about how Goop began, how its viral diet advice generated great controversy (along with invaluable notoriety) in its early days, and how health and medical experts felt about it all. Lees meer
Get the full Gwyneth audiobook here.
Get Gwyneth: The Biography in hardcover or ebook here.
Audio excerpt courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio from Gwyneth by Amy Odell, read by Chante McCormick. Copyright © 2025 by Amy Odell. Used with permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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Anna Wintour, the Bezos Met Gala, and the Politics of Condé Nast (with Good Noticings)
22 december 2025 · 38 min
What can we glean about Condé Nast's politics from recent current events? Teen Vogue has been shuttered, but Vanity Fair's Trump 2.0 package was a journalistic achievement of the sort rarely seen these days. Anna Wintour is a known Democratic supporter and fundraiser, yet she's been cozying up to the Trump-supporting Bezoses for Met Gala money. Amy Odell is joined by comedians and cultural critics Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton, who host the highly addictive and excellent Good Noticings podcast, to figure out what this all says about Condé Nast right now. Plus, Melania Trump’s $40 million documentary, and how it ties back to all of this. Lees meer
Chapters:
0:00 – Welcoming the Good Noticings podcast
0:37 – Vanity Fair’s major Trump 2.0 article and what it says about Condé Nast
4:42 – Anna Wintour is leaning into controversy
6:30 – Why did the Trump team do the Vanity Fair story?
7:15 – Christopher Anderson’s photo spread
8:53 – The discourse around Karoline Leavitt’s lip filler
15:16 – Reacting to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos sponsoring the Met Gala
25:34 – The fashion relevancy of Melania Trump’s $40 million documentary
29:26 – Would Vogue put Melania on the cover? Speculation!
33:06 – How will controversy affect the Met Gala’s future?Links & Resources:
Good Noticings PodcastApple
Spotify
TikTok: @goodnoticingspod
Instagram: @goodnoticingspodThe Olivia Nuzzi Good Noticings episodeClaire Parker Instagram: @clairethescare
Ashley Hamilton Instagram: @ashleyhammmBack Row Newsletter
YouTube
Amy Odell Instagram
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Gwyneth Paltrow's Strategic 'Marty Supreme' Fashion Game
19 december 2025 · 7 min
Can a 2.5-hour artsy, originally scripted film open at the box office? The Marty Supreme cast is so determined to get us to the theater for this movie that they're wearing full monochromatic orange for promotional appearances. Gwyneth Paltrow is being strategic with her fashion choices in other ways, and helping daughter Apple's prospects in the process. Lees meer
This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published Thursday, December 18, 2025.
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Rachel Zoe's 'Real Housewives' Debut (with Brian Moylan)
15 december 2025 · 46 min
World-renowned Real Housewives expert Dame Brian Moylan joins Amy Odell on the Back Row podcast to talk about Rachel Zoe's debut on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills! They analyze what Rachel and Bravo gain from her joining the cast and why fashion people are so eager to get on this show. Then they recap all of Rachel's scenes in the first two episodes of season 15, and do some investigative journalism on Mauricio "Mo" Umansky's disturbing Chanel couch. Lees meer
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro to Dame Brian Moylan
02:41 - Why did Rachel join the cast?
07:26 - Why fashion people are joining Real Housewives
11:09 - Recapping Rachel's scenes in episode 1
12:38 - DOES MAURICIO HAVE A CHANEL COUCH?
13:28 - Why are all the Birkins unclasped?
27:11 - Rachel and Roger's shocking split
33:22 - Rachel cooks bacon and eggs
36:00 - What is Rachel implying about Roger's girlfriend?!FOR PART TWO OF THIS PODCAST, sign up for Back Row Premium in Apple or Spotify. In part two, Brian and Amy recap RHOBH season 15 episode 2 and play the game "Cast or Pass," in which Amy gives Brian a fashion person and he decides whether or not to fantasy cast them as Real Housewives.
Links & Resources:
Back Row newsletter
Follow Amy on InstagramBrian Moylan
Instagram
RHOBH Vulture recaps
The Housewives: The Real Story Behind the Real HousewivesLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Versace's Second Shocker and Fashion's Great Unsettling
11 december 2025 · 5 min
This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published December 9, 2025. Lees meer
0:16 - Fashion enters its "great unsettling"
1:47 - Prada Group acquires Versace
2:24 - Broader instability across the fashion industry
4:00 - Loose Threads news roundup
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How Social Media Broke Fashion (and Everything Else) with Taylor Lorenz
8 december 2025 · 36 min
Tech journalist and creator @TaylorLorenz joins Amy Odell on the Back Row podcast to explain how social media has completely reshaped fashion. From the backlash against fashion creators to why facts barely matter online, they dive into Vogue World, The Row's viral sample sale, and more. Lees meer
Taylor, formerly at The Atlantic, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, now runs her own newsletter, podcast, and YouTube channel covering the creator economy.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: Amy Odell welcomes Taylor Lorenz
00:53 – Why fashion people are frustrated with social media
01:49 – Why audiences trust creators more than experts
02:42 – How algorithms reward outrage
03:36 – Why being first beats being accurate
04:25 – “Facts don’t matter”: the validation economy
05:55 – Platforms secretly boost and suppress creators
06:41 – Why follower count no longer matters
07:29 – The death of critics (and why creators can’t be honest)
08:15 – Will AI actually help creators?
11:40 – How creators really make money in 2025
12:38 – Advent calendars, meme marketing, and virality
14:23 – The Row sample sale goes viral
16:55 – Can fashion brands control their image? (No.)
18:36 – The famous "Open letter to The Row"
19:32 – Brands vs creators: a toxic relationship
20:20 – Why brands can’t stop creators from posting
22:05 – Why chasing access will break your heart
22:49 – Anna Wintour’s decline and cultural relevance
25:08 – Vogue World and the struggle for relevance
26:41 – The Met Gala red carpet isn’t what it used to be
29:46 – The Devil Wears Prada prequel problem
30:38 – What it takes to survive online long-term
32:13 – Why Becca Bloom fascinates people
33:15 – The obsession with “capitalism slop”
34:07 – Hustle culture and the fantasy of successLinks & Resources:
Back Row newsletter
https://amyodell.substack.comAmy Odell Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell/Taylor Lorenz
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorLorenz
User Mag (Newsletter): https://www.usermag.co/
Po… -
What Fashion's Wealthy 'Very Important Clients' Want and Gift for the Holidays
3 december 2025 · 9 min
"Hermès playing cards are my go-to." Lees meer
Chapters:
01:35 - VIC no. 1: The Expat Living in Dubai
03:10 - VIC no. 2: The Personal Shopper for Upper East Siders
03:32 - VIC no. 3: The expat living in Hong Kong
05:31 - VIC no. 4: The New Yorker who's feeling uninspired
06:42 - VIC no. 5: The Personal Stylist to Upper East Side Billionaires and Centi-Millionaires
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Is Vogue Still Relevant? Rachel Tashjian on Fashion’s Power Shift
1 december 2025 · 35 min
Fashion critic Rachel Tashjian joins Amy Odell to unpack the biggest shifts happening right now in fashion media. From Vogue’s future to the creator vs. critic debate, AI-generated fashion models, $26,000 Versace dresses, and why fashion discourse seems to be getting meaner. Lees meer
Rachel, formerly the Fashion Critic at the Washington Post and now Senior Style Reporter for CNN, breaks down:
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: Amy Odell welcomes Rachel Tashjian
00:21 – Rachel’s new role at CNN
02:34 – Why video matters in fashion journalism
03:54 – Are people still reading? Changing media habits
04:22 – Amy on books, audiobooks, and audience shifts
05:49 – The rising tension in fashion discourse online
07:16 – When commentary overshadows the clothes
08:22 – Algorithms flatten expertise in fashion
09:29 – Creators vs. traditional editors: a 15-year evolution
10:43 – Substack, TikTok, and where fashion criticism lives now
11:35 – Access, honesty, and the cost of true criticism
12:46 – Do creators need editors? The “no safety net” problem
13:19 – Dior controversy: when brands exclude influencers
14:31 – Should influencers follow critic standards?
15:35 – Does Vogue still matter in 2025?
17:06 – Why Vogue covers still trigger huge reactions
18:33 – Anna Wintour’s influence across culture
19:32 – How AI is about to transform fashion media
20:55 – Performative fashion vs. post-Instagram design
22:33 – Can AI replace fashion creators?
23:54 – AI’s role in fashion advertising and image-making
24:43 – Will AI replace human fashion voices?
25:31 – The future: will Vogue become just covers?
27:14 – The price conundrum: $26,000 dresses and who they’re for
28:55 – What fashion brands really want from the public
30:49 – TikTok’s misinformation problem in fashion
31:49 – The Vogue rumor and how fake fashion news spreads
31:57 – Three fashion creators Rachel loves
33:29 – Three fashion creators Amy lovesLinks & resources:
Back Row newsletter
https://amyodell.substack.comAmy Odell Instagram
htt… -
The Devil Wears Prada: Anna Wintour and the Assistant Who Started It All
28 november 2025 · 18 min
Hype for The Devil Wears Prada 2 (out May 2, 2026) is already off the charts. In this special holiday episode, listen to an excerpt from Amy's book Anna: The Biography about how The Devil Wears Prada book and film came to be — and how Anna Wintour really felt about all of it. Lees meer
Listen to the Anna audiobook on: Spotify, Apple, or Audible. Or get the book in print here.
Amy's latest book Gwyneth: The Biography is also available in audio on: Spotify, Apple, or Audible. You can get the book in print here.
Audio excerpt courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio from Anna by Amy Odell, read by Imogen Church. Copyright © 2022 by Amy Odell. Used with permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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I Tried Victoria Beckham's Gray T-Shirt
26 november 2025 · 9 min
And a bunch of other pieces from her clothing line. This is my story. Check out the photos in the Back Row story. Lees meer
2:16 - Trying the gray T-shirt and jeans
4:23 - Trying the legendary black pants
5:10 - The oversized gray suit
6:13 - The Blair midi dress (one with the rouching)
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Black Friday: How Fashion Brands Use Cult Tactics on You
24 november 2025 · 42 min
Brown may be the new black — but brands are the new cults. Amy talks to CUNY professor, author, and ex-marketing executive Dr. Mara Einstein about how brands exploit cult-like marketing tactics to get us to buy, particularly during events like Black Friday. They discuss the real reason brands pushed Christmas shopping before Halloween (!) this year; how brands get us to buy in a world where we're increasingly disconnected from each other; why the "attention economy" is really the "anxiety economy"; and more. Lees meer
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro to Dr. Mara Einstein and her research
00:52 - How brands are like cults
04:43 - How the luxury industry employs scarcity marketing to get people to buy things like Birkin bags
06:59 - The power of scarcity marketing
09:52 - How the economic blackout might affect retailers on Black Friday in 2025
12:45 - How brands like Lululemon and Cos harvest your data
16:54 - Why the "attention economy" is really the "anxiety economy"
19:47 - How brands "rage bait"
28:32 - How fashion marketing got people to buy Lucky Strike cigarettes in 1934
35:03 - Dr. Einstein weighs in on the de-influencing trendLinks & resources:
• Amy Odell's Back Row newsletter —
• Get Dr. Mara Einstein's book: Hoodwinked How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults
• Listen to Dr. Einstein's podcast, Hoodwinked in Apple:
Or SpotifyCredits:
Produced by Amy Odell. Edited by Amy Odell and Jonathan Voytko.#FashionPodcast #BackRow #fashion #blackfriday #shopping
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Kim Kardashian’s Brand Is Blankness; ‘All’s Fair’ Is a Tacky Mess
17 november 2025 · 54 min
The Atlantic staff writer and Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves author Sophie Gilbert joins Amy to talk about All's Fair. The new Ryan Murphy show starring Kim Kardashian has received uniformly dire reviews — yet has triumphed in the face of its badness with pretty respectable ratings. Is this the end of competency in culture? Did All's Fair's creators intend for this show to be so terrible? Plus what Kardashian's captivating blankness, on unflinching view in All's Fair, says about the state of culture today. Lees meer
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: All's Fair and its reception
02:27 The show's themes and stars
05:02 Why the Kardashians took off as reality stars
06:53 All's Fair's depictions of plastic surgery and the Kardashian-Jenner influence on plastic surgery more broadly
11:54 Kris Jenner's 70th birthday party and depictions of extreme wealth in popular culture
20:02 Are we reaching the end of competence in culture, as we are in politics?
24:15 Why girlbossing is back
29:07 Comparing All's Fair's fashion to And Just Like That's
32:32 What does Ryan Murphy really think of women?
37:21 How Kim Kardashian is handling the show's scathing reviews
41:16 Sophie on the most surprising thing she found when researching her book 'Girl on Girl'
46:49 Sophie's thoughts on Lily Allen's astonishing new album about the dissolution of her marriage
Links and resources:
Get Sophie's book: Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves
Read Sophie's All's Fair review in The Atlantic.
Read Sophie's essay about how money is ruining television in The Atlantic.
Read Jill Filipovic's essay, "The End of Competence."
Read Amy's All's Fair fashion review or listen to it as a podcast in Spotify or Apple.
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Anna Wintour's 10 Most Influential Covers
13 november 2025 · 15 min
In honor of Anna Wintour's last Vogue cover as editor-in-chief, featuring Timothée Chalamet, Amy counts down her top 10 most influential covers from over the course of her career. Which ones would you add to the list? Lees meer
(0:23) Why Timothée's cover was a big surprise
(1:18) What the social media commenters said about the cover
(3:01) The cover countdown begins
(6:08) Countdown halfway point
(9:14) Anna's number-one most influential cover
(10:08) Back Row commenters weigh in on Amy's list and make their picks
(12:20) Loose Threads (fashion news highlights) featuring All's Fair's terrible reviews, Kris Jenner's birthday party, and more.
This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published November 11, 2025.
Links & resources:
• Amy Odell's Back Row newsletter
• Anna: The Biography, by Amy Odell
• "Ugly clothes for ugly times" by Raquel Laneri
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Was Jane Birkin Unfairly Commodified by Hermès?
10 november 2025 · 38 min
Amy interviews Marisa Meltzer, author of It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin, about how Birkin became one of the most famous fashion icons of the sixties. Marisa talks about how she became the inspiration and namesake for the Hermès Birkin bag, and whether or not she was ever paid for this distinction. She also reveals how Birkin really felt about the Birkin bag becoming more famous than her — and much more. Lees meer
(1:19) An excerpt from the audiobook of Amy's latest book, Gwyneth: The Biography
(2:52) Jane Birkin's early life and upbringing, including how she met her husband John Barry when she was 17; and how she ended up moving from London to Paris and meeting Serge Gainsbourg
(6:55) Birkin's significance as an icon of Swinging 1960s London
(8:28) Birkin was an It girl in the pre-tech age. Can you reverse-engineer being an It girl today? Or does the algorithm sap people of the required mystery?
(12:09) How romantic relationships vault It girls like Birkin and Gwyneth Paltrow.
(14:14) The Birkin bag origin story.
(18:57) Did Hermès unfairly co-opt Birkin's name for a massively profitable bag? How did she feel about it?
(22:16) How much Hermès paid Birkin for use of her name.
(25:57) How Birkin handled aging out of her It girl status. (Or did she become an It dame?)
(31:00) Was Jane Birkin ambitious?
(32:34) Amy and Marisa play a game: It girl or not an It girl? Featuring: Alix Earle, Lauren Sánchez, Anna Wintour, Apple Martin, and more.Links & resources:
Amy Odell's Back Row newsletter
It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin, by Marisa Meltzer
Listen to Amy's book Gwyneth: The Biography in Apple, Spotify, and Audible.
Check out Amy's biography of Anna Wintour, Anna: The Biography.
Credits: Produced by Amy Odell. Edited by Amy Odell and Jonathan Voytko.
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Victoria Beckham's Netflix Show: Infomercial or Documentary? With Ryan Bailey
3 november 2025 · 45 min
Amy sits down with Ryan Bailey, host of So Bad It's Good, to analyze Victoria Beckham's Netflix docu-series. They discuss how it compared to David Beckham's docuseries and RJ Cutler's docs about Martha Stewart and Anna Wintour; what makes Victoria so appealing; what the show blatantly left out; and how the Victoria Beckham fashion line is actually performing as a business. Lees meer
For more, follow So Bad It's Good with Ryan Bailey.
Follow Ryan on Instagram and YouTube.
Read Amy's earlier review of Victoria Beckham in Back Row.
Time stamps:
(00:00) Introduction to Ryan Bailey and His Podcast
(01:09) Exploring the Beckham Docu-Series
(04:36) Family Dynamics and Tabloid Drama
(06:42) Victoria Beckham's Media Presence
(08:26) Victoria Beckham's Fashion Journey
(12:00) Insecurities in Celebrity Culture
(15:53) Business Success and Challenges
(21:17) Victoria Beckham's Fashion Brand and Industry Respect
(22:51) Target Audience and Market Positioning
(25:13) Body Image and Fashion Industry Challenges
(27:03) The Pressure of Being a Nepo Baby
(29:43) Owning Privilege and Public Perception
(30:48) The Future of Celebrity Brands
(34:24) Comparative Analysis of Celebrity Documentaries
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The Row's Sample Was WILD
28 oktober 2025 · 9 min
The Row's sample sale just wrapped in New York City. The slew of haul vlogs fans of the brand posted after pillaging the sale resulted in some of the best content involving influencers since the Fyre Festival. What do these tell us about the brand and the current state of shopping culture? Amy explores. Lees meer
This story originally appeared in the Back Row newsletter.
Also discussed in the show:
The only The Row haul parody you need.
Amy's earlier reporting on The Row from Back Row: Can the Olsens Make The Row the Next Hermès?
Banana Republic is GOOD, friends. Check out this shirt dress and this button-down.
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Avery Trufelman on the Origins of Modern Menswear and Gorpcore
27 oktober 2025 · 36 min
Avery Trufelman, the host of the Articles of Interest podcast, talks to Amy about her new season, how the military influenced gorpcore and modern preppy clothing, Greta Lee's new Vogue cover, and more. Lees meer
This is an extended version of the Back Row newsletter that published on October 21.
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Does Gwyneth Paltrow Wish Me Well?
20 oktober 2025 · 36 min
Amy Odell (author of Gwyneth: The Biography) interviews Linus Karp and Joseph Martin, stars and creators of the hit play with music, Gwyneth Goes Skiing — a send-up of the 2023 trial involving Gwyneth Paltrow and retired optometrist Terry Sanderson. Lees meer
Amy talks about her interview with Terry Sanderson for her book; Linus and Joseph talk about their research process for the play; props (yes, they visited the Goop store); and why this viral courtroom moment translated so well to the stage. Gwyneth recently discussed Amy's book in British Vogue, and the three discuss that, too.
Guests: Linus Karp & Joseph Martin
🔗 Links & Resources
• Buy Gwyneth: The Biography• Listen to Gwyneth: The Biography in Spotify
• Gwyneth Goes Skiing tickets / info (NYC → Aspen → LA)Support the Show
• Follow Back Row: https://amyodell.substack.com/
https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell/
• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amy_odell00:00 — Intro: 'Gwyneth: The Biography' + 'Gwyneth Goes Skiing'
00:29 — How Gwyneth and Terry Sanderson ended up in court
01:40 — A preview of 'Gwyneth Goes Skiing'
03:30 — Research: the play and the book
09:00 — Portraying Terry Sanderson & Gwyneth Paltrow
18:00 — Goop store visit & props
22:00 — Amy recalls interviewing Terry Sanderson
28:00 — Discussing Gwyneth's response to 'Gwyneth' in British 'Vogue'
31:00 — Closing thoughtsCredits
Host and producer: Amy Odell
Editing: Amy Odell and Jonathan Voytko
Recorded October 17, 2025
Photos: Anna Clare (Courtesy of Awkward Productions)
Video: Courtesy of Awkward Productions
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The Untold Story of Victoria Beckham's Brand
14 oktober 2025 · 10 min
Amy reviews Victoria Beckham's new Netflix documentary, which sheds light on how she went from maligned tabloid star to the founder of her own fashion brand — and how she made over her image to earn the industry's respect. Plus, "Loose Threads" about Anna Wintour, Victoria's Secret, and more. Lees meer
This episode originally ran in the Back Row newsletter.
Subscribe to Back Row on YouTube for more stories like this.
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Fashion Month Awards: Spring 2026
13 oktober 2025 · 36 min
Amy is joined by Dana Thomas, fashion journalist and New York Times bestselling author of Deluxe, to pick spring 2026 Fashion Month Awards. Categories include: Most Baffling Success; Best Debut; Most Polarizing Collection; and more. Lees meer
For more stories like this, subscribe to the Back Row newsletter and Amy's YouTube channel.
Get more from Dana Thomas in her Style Files newsletter.
Books referenced: Amy's Anna: The Biography; Dana's Gods & Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano
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The Verdict on Chanel!
8 oktober 2025 · 8 min
Amy reviews designer Matthieu Blazy's historic debut collection for Chanel. Lees meer
This podcast is based on this issue of her Back Row newsletter.
Also referenced: this "Retail Confessions" column where a former Chanel sales person talks about what it was really like working in the store selling to some of the world's wealthiest people.
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Jonathan Anderson's Dior Debut: The Response!
2 oktober 2025 · 8 min
Well, it happened. At long last, Jonathan Anderson showed his first Dior women’s collection. Lees meer
Is everyone happy now? Well, not really.
Read this story in Back Row and see the images discussed.
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Introducing Back Row with Amy Odell
1 oktober 2025 · 2 min
I’m Amy Odell. You may know me from writing New York Times best-selling biographies of Anna Wintour and Gwyneth Paltrow. Or my first book, Tales from the Back Row: An Outsiders View from Inside the Fashion Industry. Lees meer
I'm turning my popular Back Row newsletter into a podcast, covering everything from what's happening at luxury brands like Dior and Loro Piana, to trends in athleisure, to pop culture phenomenons like Emily in Paris or the Barbie movie.
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