Jian Deleon on Best Dressed Men, East vs. West Shoppers & More - Canal Street Dreams

Transcript

Ed Wong (0:00)

All right, welcome back, Canal Street Dreams. Another special guest this week, the men's Director of fashion at Nordstrom and also a very illustrious fashion writer. I've been reading his stuff since the late early 2010s, I would say, for four pins. Era, right?

James Harris (0:16)

Yeah, for sure.

Ed Wong (0:17)

Jan DeLeon on the show. Welcome, brother.

James Harris (0:20)

Thanks. You know what's funny is that speaking of that, you were there for my first ever interview for Complex.

Ed Wong (0:26)

Oh, I was.

James Harris (0:27)

Remember?

Ed Wong (0:27)

Remember?

James Harris (0:28)

I think it was Phil Chang was doing that Wynn Kennedy.

Ed Wong (0:30)

Oh, the attack thing. Yeah, yeah.

James Harris (0:33)

And it's like, that's the first time I met James Harris. He was selling clay sneakers and, like, the Bergman brothers bracelets and. But I met Noah Johnson at that sale, like, for, like, an informal interview.

Ed Wong (0:43)

Oh, word.

James Harris (0:44)

I think you were. You. You had. You. You. You were slinging bouts.

Ed Wong (0:46)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And Noah's now the editor of High Snobiety, so I. I'm writing for Noah now, too. That's crazy.

James Harris (0:53)

Wow.

Ed Wong (0:53)

Everyone was there because.

Natasha (0:54)

Well, yo, you're gonna say. Wasn't Jake Wolf there as well?

Ed Wong (0:57)

Jake was at that event. Yeah. Nick Catchdubs was at that event.

James Harris (1:00)

That's wild.

Ed Wong (1:00)

You are the.

James Harris (1:01)

Yo. If there was, like, a gas leak, that would have been, like, the day, like, the blogosphere died.

Summary

Canal Street Dreams
Episode: "Jian Deleon on Best Dressed Men, East vs. West Shoppers & More"
Hosts: Eddie Huang & Natasha Perrotti
Guest: Jian DeLeon
Date: December 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively, unfiltered episode features fashion director and writer Jian DeLeon in conversation with Eddie Huang and Natasha Perrotti. Together, they explore the evolution of retail, the culture of shopping on both coasts and globally (especially East vs. West), the changing landscape of fashion, and personal style philosophies. The trio swaps stories from their fashion industry journeys, debates the cyclical nature of trends, and dig deep into what makes clothing—and the community around it—meaningful. Hilarity abounds as they reminisce, debate, and give rapid-fire takes on everything from the perfect chicken dish to the best-dressed men in media.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Fashion Industry Origins, Relationships, and Nostalgia

(00:00 - 05:30)

Eddie, Natasha, and Jian remember their entry into fashion, mentioning early-2010s blog and editorial culture—Four Pins, Complex, and landmark NYC events.
Notable figures—Noah Johnson, Phil Chang, Jake Woolf, Nick Catchdubs—pop up, underscoring the tight-knit, overlapping creative circles.
Jian describes his first staff writer interview at Complex, and the social glue that fashion industry events once provided.

"Yo. If there was, like, a gas leak, that would have been, like, the day, like, the blogosphere died." — Jian (01:01)

2. The Nordstrom Experience & Customer Loyalty

(02:00 - 05:10)

Both Natasha and Eddie glowingly review Nordstrom’s legendary customer service.
Jian reveals Nordstrom’s detailed shoe-sizing and service standards.
Discussion about careers as salespeople and building real financial stability in retail.

“We take care of people...We got that guarantee.” — Jian (02:18)

3. Retail’s Resurgence & the Experience Economy

(05:10 - 08:50)

Hosts discuss the decline of major online stores (RIP Essence) and the renewed appeal of brick-and-mortar shopping.
Jian stresses the importance of in-person experiences: tailoring, trying on clothes, building relationships with sales associates, and the nostalgia of making a whole day out of shopping.

“You can't sit down...spending a couple Gs on a nice pair of jeans, you want to be served a nice bottle of water, maybe be offered champagne. It’s the experience of being in the store that’s different.” — Jian (05:21)

4. Evolution of Shopping Habits: Online vs. In-Person

(06:10 - 08:50)

Natasha, a self-described online shopping pro, notes that the thrill of personal shopping still trumps convenience, especially for building relationships and trying on fits.
Jian champions “ship to store” options as the best of both worlds.
The group reminisces about making fashion shows out of fitting room trips and the social side of shopping.

5. Favorite Retail & Fashion Landmark Eras

(08:40 - 15:00)

Eddie gushes over the heyday of Opening Ceremony and Barneys, naming them peak retail experiences for “vibes” and community.
Natasha shares how Nordstrom shapes childhood memories, tying family and retail together.
The crew discusses the thrill of shoplifting in their youth, capturing the bad kid energy of the 2000s.

“Peg Bundy ran so Blake Lively in The Town could walk.” — Eddie (03:45)

6. Style, Collecting, and the Philosophy of Fashion

(11:40 - 18:00)

Jian distinguishes between "being in fashion" and “being in clothes”—for him, the heart is in cultural context and storytelling.
Eventually, everyone collects too much; conversations drift to purging, archiving, and the satisfaction—and burden—of procuring “grails.”
The cyclical nature of fashion is debated (Margiela Futures, Isabel Marant wedges) with a consensus: know your body type and personal silhouette; consistency matters more than trends.

“It’s about the cultural context... what clothing and what designers and brands say about the zeitgeist. It’s just another way of viewing culture.” — Jian (11:45)

7. Designers & Brands: Personal Icons

(16:44 - 19:04)

Jian and Natasha praise Ralph Lauren (“the GOAT”) for making classic menswear fun and transgressive.
Natasha expresses devotion to Alaïa—calling it her dream brand—while also admiring Schiaparelli for sheer artistry, though she feels it “wears” her rather than the reverse.
Jian shares details about Rick Owens collaborations and Japanese denim that fly under the radar: “Nobody knows I’m wearing Rick.”

8. State of Fashion: Big Brands vs. Independent Labels

(19:04 - 24:15)

Conversation turns to Balenciaga’s youth-oriented ads, the evolution of high fashion, and the creative potential of smaller, independent, community-based brands (Kozaburo, Stofa, Ludon, Ven Space, Colbo, Commune).
Jian laments the “budget inequality gap” that consolidated big brands have created, while praising the creative energy of Japan’s retail scene for specificity and subculture.

“The monoculture of streetwear and fashion is, you know, beginning to break down. And...the new subculture is supporting your homie making five pairs of pants a month in his Bushwick studio.” — Jian (22:08)

9. Vintage Shopping & East vs. West Differences

(24:15 - 29:02)

Vintage has boomed, but Jian notes Japan’s dominance—you can find stores for every aesthetic, and the culture of “drop day” drives true excitement.
Western shoppers start to imitate the hyper-specific, collector-driven habits of Eastern shoppers.
Natasha confesses her heartache over lost eBay grails, detailing the emotional stakes of the hunt.

“Saturday in Japan is release day for everybody...People want to be able to buy...they want to see what’s new.” — Jian (26:02)

10. Social Media’s Impact on Style

(28:09 - 29:14)

Constant surveillance and social archiving (photos, TikTok, etc.) intensify self-presentation and create pressure to always look unique.
Natasha: “There is a digital archive of everything you’ve ever worn, so I think people are much more inclined to care about...how they’re presenting.”

11. The Collector’s Void: When You've Owned Everything

(29:14 - 33:04)

Eddie shares how having every “grail” left him exhausted and forced him to stop collecting.
The transition from clothing to other luxury collectibles (watches, furniture, art).
Natasha and Jian discuss the merits of archiving favorite pieces for children or for personal history.

12. Rapid Fire: Ultimate Chicken & Winter Footwear

(34:04 - 39:13)

Rapid-fire elimination rounds on favorite chicken dishes. Cantonese Soy Sauce Chicken wins, with cross-cultural loyalty debated.
Second round: New York winter footwear. Jian stays loyal to Nike ACG boots over many others, with X Alp and Timbs as strong contenders.

13. Rapid Fire: Best-Dressed Men Internet Showdown

(39:17 - 42:48)

A hilarious, ultra-niche, meta debate: Jian is challenged to choose between a list of well-known media/fashion guys (Lauren Schlossman, James Harris, Jake Woolf, Chris Black, Them Jeans, Jeremy Kirkland, Noah Thomas, China, etc.).
Jian ultimately shouts out “Noah Thomas” but reserves special praise for “silent killers” like China—those behind-the-scenes style legends.

“China to me is the one dude I know in America in 2025 that could be in like an Edward Yang film. You know what I’m saying?” — Eddie (41:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Blog Era:
"If there was, like, a gas leak, that would have been, like, the day, like, the blogosphere died." — Jian (01:01)
On the Return of In-Person Shopping:
"You can't sit down...spending a couple Gs on a nice pair of jeans, you want to be served a nice bottle of water, maybe be offered champagne." — Jian (05:21)
On Personal Style Philosophy:
“It’s about the cultural context... what clothing and what designers and brands say about the zeitgeist.” — Jian (11:45)
On Archiving:
"Keep them like in a part of your closet forever, because it’s for you, a time capsule." — Natasha (32:33)
On Footwear:
“ACG. I mean, go, go with domes, whatever.” — Jian (38:01)
On Best-Dressed Peers:
"China to me is the one dude I know in America in 2025 that could be in like an Edward Yang film." — Eddie (41:39)

Segment Timestamps

00:00 – 05:30: Fashion career beginnings & blog era nostalgia
05:10 – 08:50: Nordstrom, customer care, resurgence of physical retail
08:40 – 15:00: Shopping experiences, shoplifting tales, the glory days of OC & Barneys
11:40 – 18:00: Why fashion matters, personal collecting, style over trends
19:04 – 24:15: High fashion’s future, indie brands, Japan’s scene
24:15 – 29:14: Vintage markets, East & West shopping cultures, the eBay heartbreak
28:09 – 29:14: The age of surveillance and style
29:14 – 33:04: Archiving, collecting grails, closing the loop
34:04 – 39:13: Chicken dish and winter footwear rapid-fire
39:17 – 42:48: Best-dressed men in the fashion world, shout outs to unsung style heroes

Tone:
Conversational, witty, irreverent, self-deprecating, and deeply knowledgeable about fashion and culture.

This episode is a vibrant, wide-ranging look at how retail, personal style, and fashion culture continue to evolve. For listeners, it’s a masterclass in how style is personal, communal, and always a little bit about the story behind the clothes.