Every Outfit – Episode 242: On the Life of a Showgirl, Paris Fashion Week

Date: October 10, 2025
Hosts: Chelsea Fairless & Lauren Garrone

Episode Overview

In this lively and unfiltered episode, Chelsea and Lauren dive deeply into the cultural and sartorial events dominating their obsessions: Taylor Swift’s latest album Life of a Showgirl and the whirlwind that was Paris Fashion Week. The hosts dissect Taylor’s creative choices, memes, millennial cringe, and the response from fans and critics, before switching gears to offer their signature sharp, insightful fashion commentary on a landmark season of Paris’s biggest runways. With notable quotes, spicy hot takes, and their usual blend of highbrow and hilarious, the duo navigates everything from designer debuts to questionable merch strategy — and of course, the life of a modern showgirl.

Baptisms & Taylor Swift: Personal Anecdotes and Pop Dissection

Baptism, Catholic Guilt, and Dressing the Part

• [01:18–03:13]
  Lauren recounts her baby’s baptism, her conflicted relationship with the Catholic Church, and the elaborate linen outfits sourced from Florence.
  • “I have very conflicted feelings about the Catholic Church. Understandably so.” – Lauren [01:39]
  • Chelsea played along: “I wore a very large cross too. Cause I was just trying to support your culture even though you don’t actually go to church.” – Chelsea [02:57]

The Life of a Showgirl: Deep Dive Into Taylor Swift’s Latest Album

First Impressions and Reception

• [03:13–07:01]
  The hosts, especially Chelsea, are disappointed, noting the album lacks a strong pop single and fails to justify Taylor’s massive fame.
  • “Look, I think we can all agree that it is not her best work, okay?... I’ve lived with this record for a week and it’s not really holding my attention.” – Chelsea [03:56]
  • Lauren, as an “outsider but ally,” gauges that Swifties are unmoved, reflected by the lack of fandom drama.
  • Both notice the prevalence of “Internet speak” and millennial cringe in the lyrics.

Lyrical Content and Public Perception

• [05:50–07:37]
  “WOOD,” Taylor’s sexual ode to Travis Kelce, is dissected for its euphemisms and pop culture references.
  • “The song Would is my favorite song on the album, actually, even though it is about Travis’s redwood tree cock.” – Chelsea [05:51]
  • Lauren: “That song is like an intrusive thought come to life because now all I’m thinking about is Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce having sex.” [06:00]
  • Lauren calls out “millennial cringe”; Chelsea notes, “It’s Internet speak, really... keep it 100 in the lead single.” [06:22]

Fan Theories, Diss Tracks, and Homoerotic Tension

• [07:37–11:52]
  • The pair unpacks speculations about diss tracks (allegedly targeting Charli XCX), Swift’s response to conspiracies about her sexuality, and references to drugs (“coke”).
    • “She says it kind of makes me wet in the song because this whole song is about like, wow, you’re so obsessed with me.” – Chelsea [07:59]
  • Notable tweet: “Referring to yourself as an English teacher and tortured poet, yet not having the reading comprehension skills to understand the subtext and nuance of Sympathy Is a Knife.” – Read by Lauren [08:55]
  • Lauren: “It’s very Tumblr behavior.” [11:16]

Pop Stardom, Capitalism, and Merch Fatigue

• [22:05–24:36]
  The discussion broadens into Taylor’s merchandising overdrive, multiple album variants, and parallels with other pop icons.
  • “I showed you a graphic that said, in the two days this album has come out, there’s been 28 variants of this album. And... you said, it is.” – Lauren [22:29]
  • Chelsea: “At least she’s not selling us perfumes and makeup and fake Samsonite luggage.” [23:12]
  • Lauren: “Don’t put out 28 variants of an album. Let people breathe.” [24:04]

Final Swiftie Thoughts

• Both hosts agree even the most dedicated fans seem tired, suggesting the overexposure of both Taylor and her product.
• “She has released over 200 songs since the pandemic, so that is a huge amount of music.” – Chelsea [24:36]

Paris Fashion Week: A Landmark Season

Access Issues and Vogue Runway Paywall

• [27:34–29:12]
  The hosts discuss the recent paywalling of Vogue Runway, its inevitability, and nostalgic tales of early fashion internet access.
  • “We can’t have it both ways.” – Chelsea [27:38]

Major House Debuts & Runway Reviews

Chanel: Michieu Blasi’s Debut

• [29:12–31:49]
  • Chelsea finds the new direction refreshingly wearable and believes the collection “could’ve been designed by a woman—which is the highest compliment.”
  • “I aspire to own those Charvet tuxedo shirts specifically from this collection.” – Chelsea [30:44]

Dior: Jonathan Anderson’s Approach

• [31:49–36:24]
  • Anderson infuses Dior with new life, mining the house archives (especially Galliano’s era) and presenting strong separates.
  • “He put denim miniskirts back on the Runway.” – Chelsea [32:10]
  • Notable front row: Johnny Depp, but more importantly, Justin Vivian Bond (“the exact sort of person with the right kind of mid century glamour that should be representing Dior.” – Chelsea [34:28])
  • Both predict success for the new accessories, especially the “D-shaped heels” and “loafer clog.” [36:24]

Glenn Martens at Margiela

• [38:35–41:28]
  • The collection returns to Martin Margiela’s roots: “...closer to Margiela’s work in the 90s, which is still huge on the resale market.” – Chelsea [39:01]
  • Extreme mouth jewelry becomes a talking point.
  • “It was terrifying. I thought it was cool, but... every single look lost its impact by the 50th look.” – Chelsea [40:55]
  • Child orchestra in Margiela suits, referencing Margiela’s original school show [41:51].

Pierpaolo Piccioli for Balenciaga

• [43:16–45:47]
  • Initial excitement over archival references, but reservations about the ready-to-wear detours into Valentino aesthetics.
  • Both lament the lack of innovation in accessories: “His iteration of the city bag was just doing it in suede, which I saw someone call it the suburb bag.” – Lauren [44:53]

Proenza Schouler at Louis Vuitton

• [47:25–49:49]
  • Lauren: “It comes across that these two people up and left their own label to be like, yes, give me LVMH money...and play.”
  • High praise for their rubber kitten heel boots with interchangeable socks and mollusk-inspired handbags.

Other Major Debuts and Reboots

• Mugler, Celine, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dries Van Noten
  • Mugler: “I think the tailoring was good...I was instantly repulsed by the beige, like, the neutral color palette.” – Chelsea [50:26]
  • Celine: Michael Writer “identifies the best of both Phoebe Philo and Hedi Slimane’s Celine—smart and marketable.” [51:39]
  • Jean Paul Gaultier: Duran Lantink’s collection is widely derided, sparking criticism for misogyny and missing the Gaultier DNA.
    • “This was horrible. My instant reaction was horror.” – Chelsea [53:25]
  • Dries Van Noten: Julian Klosner is received warmly, “the caftans in particular were divine.” – Chelsea [58:01]
  • Tom Ford: Heider Ackermann’s debut stuns, capturing old-school Tom Ford/Gucci “nastiness” and sex appeal: “This is clothing for a bitch with taste.” – Chelsea [59:50]

More Standouts

• Alaïa, Saint Laurent, Chloé, Valentino, Miu Miu, Gabriela Hearst, Vivienne Westwood
  • Strong individual elements discussed (e.g., Alaïa cocoon jumpsuits, Anthony Vaccarello’s consistency at Saint Laurent, 80s-floral Chloé, Alessandro Michele’s pulled-back Valentino, apron-mania at Miu Miu).
  • Surprise runway cameos: Laura Dern at Gabriela Hearst [77:17], Heidi Klum closing Vivienne Westwood as a bride [75:22].

Emerging Brands & Young Designers’ Recognitions

• [72:45–74:47]
  • Shout outs to: Abra, Hodakova, Vacara, August Baron for pushing new directions and “filling a Carrie Bradshaw-shaped hole.”

Memorable Quotes

• “If Taylor wrote these lyrics, that’s bad. If ChatGPT wrote these lyrics, that’s really bad. But if Travis wrote these lyrics, I’m kind of proud of him.” – Lauren [19:07]
• “You can put things down the Runway just for shits and giggles, just to do something extreme. But at the end of the day, almost nothing in this [Gaultier] collection was wearable.” – Chelsea [56:36]
• “This is clothing for a bitch with taste.” – Chelsea, on Tom Ford [59:50]
• “The future is apron.” – Lauren, on Miu Miu [69:11]
• “There’s always the potential for a brand to go from being tragic and stale to being the hottest brand in fashion, the most critically acclaimed, the most commercially accessible. It’s always possible.” – Chelsea [61:20]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Taylor Swift Album Discussion – [03:13–26:09]
• Vogue Runway Paywall & Early Fashion Internet – [27:34–29:12]
• Chanel, Dior, Margiela, Balenciaga Reviews – [29:12–45:47]
• Louis Vuitton, Mugler, Celine, Gaultier, Dries Van Noten, Tom Ford – [47:25–61:20]
• Saint Laurent, Chloé, Valentino, Miu Miu, Emerging Designers, Celebrity Runway Moments – [62:07–77:56]
• Episode close & next week’s tease – [77:56–end]

Final Thoughts

Chelsea and Lauren’s signature style—equal parts insider knowledge, pop culture wit, and acid-tongued honesty—make this episode a dense compendium of fashion and pop culture takeaway. Their critique of Taylor Swift’s lyrical choices, skepticism toward pop capitalist tendencies, and readiness to call both high and low fashion as they see it provide a whirlwind, unfiltered snapshot of the state of style in Fall 2025. If you crave smart cultural critique, fashion gossip, or just a wicked sense of humor, this episode delivers.

For further exploration:

• Follow @everyoutfit for visuals and referenced looks
• Check show notes for links to emerging designers and collections discussed
• Next episode: One Battle After Another & the Victoria Beckham documentary – mark your calendars!