Every Outfit - Episode 245: On Lily Allen, Vogue World, Grace Wales Bonner

October 31, 2025

Overview

In episode 245, hosts Chelsea Fairless and Lauren Garroni dive into the week’s most talked-about fashion and pop-culture happenings. The main event: a spirited, in-depth review of Lily Allen’s surprise album West End Girl and its highly personal, gossipy content. Other major segments include a breakdown of the Vogue World Hollywood event, thoughts on Grace Wales Bonner’s historic appointment at Hermès, estate sale scores, and the latest in fashion industry power moves. The pair’s signature witty, irreverent tone is on full display.

Fashion & Social Recap (00:35 – 13:21)

• Event-Hopping in LA:
  Chelsea and Lauren recap a week packed with glitzy events: Genghis Cohen restaurant’s reopening, the Women in Film Vogue 100 dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and Swarovski’s crystal-centric fashion & film exhibit.

  • Chelsea gushes about the “memphis maximalist” redux of Genghis Cohen. Lauren notes its influence on both the LA social and food scene.
  • Lauren recounts her post-baby wardrobe panic before the Vogue dinner:

    “I truly had a menti be getting dressed…my body is completely different…nothing fits at all.” (04:30)

  • Chelsea shares a fangirl moment with Britney Snow over the Hunting Wives SNL sketch.

    “I usually try not to corner celebrities, but Britney Snow was not so lucky.” (05:16)

• Swarovski Crystal Exhibit:
  Highlights include Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress, Greta Garbo’s Adrienne gown, and Cher’s Bob Mackie look.

  • Cher’s dazzling, ageless presence stuns both:

    “She had, like, little crystal, like, wallet chains happening. Really good. Very like, Lady Marmalade.” (08:14, Chelsea)

• A-List Sightings:

  • Dita Von Teese: “She’s just so perfect in every way, so glamorous.” (08:27)
  • Jeff Goldblum: “He looks like he would be very, very tall in person…he’s not six-five.” (10:22)
  • Costume designers Ariane Phillips, Sandy Powell, and Catherine Martin attended.

Main Topic: LILY ALLEN’s West End Girl (13:21 – 48:07)

The Album Lands: Context and Praise

• Album surprise-dropped with little fanfare and rapidly became a sensation for its candid, narrative structure:

  “It is so refreshing to listen to an album that was designed to be listened to in its entirety, in sequence. That in and of itself is subversive these days.” (13:45, Chelsea)

Themes & Backstory

• West End Girl is an “auto fiction” breakup album, largely about Allen’s open marriage and divorce from David Harbour.
• Reported to be written and recorded in just 10 days. Released ahead of Harbour’s Stranger Things press tour, possibly intentionally.

  “I was surprised to learn that she wrote this album and recorded it in 10 days last December.” (14:48, Lauren)

Track-by-Track Highlights

1. West End Girl

• Sets the stage with references to the infamous Architectural Digest tour of Allen and Harbour’s Brooklyn brownstone.
• Juicy specifics (interior designer Billy Cotton gets namedropped; cover art by Nieves Gonzalez and styled by Leith Clark).
• Reveals Allen’s perspective on the financial and emotional stakes of their relationship.
• Notable quote:

  “He’s really telling on himself with that.” (Lauren on David Harbour’s passive-aggressive opening night flowers, 21:34)

2. Ruminating, Tennis, Madeline

• Details Allen’s spiral over non-monogamy, referencing open relationship anxieties and jealousy.
• Identifies “Madeline” as a likely stand-in for real-life figure Natalie Tippett (a costume designer).

  “Anyone that's ever been cheated on, I think can relate to the kind of mental spiraling…” (27:45, Chelsea)

• The hosts dissect the boundaries set by Allen and Harbour—“payment,” “strangers,” “be discreet”—and Harbour’s failure to honor them.

3. Relapse

• A raw look at sobriety anxieties post-breakup.
• Lauren relays Harbour’s sweet anecdote about Allen’s daughters that made their relationship seem “parasocially” invested for fans. (31:10)

4. Pussy Palace

• The “centerpiece” of the album.
• Features razor-sharp, literal lyricism:

  “A Duane Reade bag with the handles tied. Sex toys, butt plugs, lube inside.” (40:25, Chelsea recounting Allen’s lyric)

• The bag image becomes a podcast meme.
  • “It’s too specific to not be real.”
• The hosts riff on whether David Harbour is a “sex addict” (consensus: no, just a late-to-fame, opportunistic dude).

5. Non Monogamummy, Just Enough, Dallas Major, Beg for Me, Let You Win, Fruity Loop

• Connects the album’s themes to broader pop culture (Beyoncé’s Lemonade, Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill).
• Allen’s brutal honesty—calling out her own mistakes, open marriage fallout, and celebrity breakup culture.

Reception, Impact, and Gossip

• The record’s popularity grows daily, defying expectations for Allen’s stateside fame.
• Swift but frank rebuttal to online backlash—Lily Allen’s “cancelable” behavior is almost entirely self-reported, i.e., “she nakedly confessed in her memoir.” (25:42)
• The album is declared a “no skips” entry and a prime Album of the Year contender.

Hot Topics & Quick Debates (48:08 – 55:11)

• Estate Sale Adventures (51:39):

  • Chelsea scores rare finds from model Peggy Moffat’s house, reawakening her “estate sale girl” ambitions.
  • TikTok estate-sale influencers and mid-century home preservation chat.

• Versace & Bottega Visits (56:03):

  • Chelsea attends an exclusive Dario Vitali Versace collection preview (“even gayer in person... rings held the pants together”). (57:04)
  • Louise Trotter’s Bottega and astronomical pricing (“a coat that was $350,000 just casually on the rack”).

Fashion Headline: Grace Wales Bonner at Hermès (58:27 – 63:21)

• Historic Appointment:

  • Wales Bonner becomes the first Black woman to helm a major luxury brand (as Hermès’ menswear designer). (58:35)
  • Praise for her unique “Afro-Caribbean” tailoring and innovative silhouettes.

    “She sort of came out like putting guys in these very tailored, skinny, high waisted pants... just so chic.” (58:45, Chelsea)

• Expectations:

  • Hosts eagerly anticipate her impact on Hermès, especially since the brand’s menswear lacks a clear identity.
  • Wales Bonner’s Adidas collab and career trajectory lauded.

    “It’s fate. Also… her ongoing collaboration with Adidas is one of the best.” (61:31, Chelsea)

Fashion Event Analysis: Vogue World Hollywood (63:30 – 85:12)

“What is Vogue World?” The Eternal Question

• Chelsea and Lauren join the New York Times, Mindy Kaling, and much of fashion media in asking what Vogue World actually is.
  • “Vogue World is a money making event for Vogue… they raised $30 million overall.” (66:41, Lauren)
  • Charity proceeds support the Entertainment Community Fund and Costume Designers Guild ($4.5 million).

The Show: Format, Choreography, Critiques

• Livestream Coverage

  • Difficult to follow individual looks due to chaotic choreography and camera work.

    “This might be the first fashion show that it’s actually better to ingest via photographs than through video.” (68:17, Chelsea)

• Segment Highlights

  • Themed "acts" curated by fashion and costume heavyweights (e.g., Catherine Martin & Miuccia Prada; Colleen Atwood & Sean McGirr; Sandy Powell & Alessandro Michele).
  • Standout moments: Shirley Kurata’s inspired costume recreations with playful props (Starbucks cups, scripts), Diane Keaton’s emotional Annie Hall tribute.

    “It does present like a hologram or like the ghost of Annie Hall just appeared…” (81:00, Lauren)

• Production & Music Choices

  • Odd musical pairings: Nicole Kidman channeling Gilda, but Kendall Jenner walking in Kidman’s Moulin Rouge costume to an Eyes Wide Shut soundtrack.
  • Doja Cat delivers energy; confusion reigns over her Mad Max/Tina Turner look.
  • General consensus: Production was a massive feat, but communication and cohesion needed work.

    “The messaging is murky. It doesn’t feel timely in the way that the Met Gala feels…” (83:45, Chelsea)

• Vision for Improvement

  • Vogue should compel designers to create new, themed looks—like legendary fashion anniversary shows.
  • The hosts call for more exhibition opportunities for the public post-show.

Industry & Pop Culture News (86:34 – 93:00)

• Marc Jacobs Acquired

  • Authentic Brands Group (which owns estates of major celebs and Barneys NY) buys the brand from LVMH.
  • Lauren notes, “You can get a Barneys New York Tulum apartment,” casting skepticism on ABG’s fashion instincts. (88:14)
  • Hopeful Heaven sub-line will endure; worry about runway show funding.

• Tom Ford’s Third Movie

  • Announced adaptation of Anne Rice’s Cry to Heaven, expected to film in London in 2026.

    “We're off to a great start, but the question remains, which red headed woman will he find to star in this film?” (92:16, Chelsea)

  • Guesses: Julianne Moore, Amy Adams, Sadie Sink.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On David Harbour’s “support”:

  “Your loving husband, he’s really telling on himself with that.” (21:34, Chelsea)

• On Bowie-level glamour:

  “She [Alex Kasani] has a glow from within... like when I saw Tilda Swinton at a dance after a David Bowie concert…” (08:53, Lauren)

• On pop stars and personal growth:

  “Lily Allen somehow actually figured out, like, what makes her different from other artists, what is unique and good about her, and she went hard with that.” (22:37, Chelsea)

• On the purse discovery in ‘Pussy Palace’:

  “It’s too specific to not be real.” (41:01, Chelsea)
  “But there were butt plugs in a Duane Reade bag that you found. Hundred percent.” (41:18, Chelsea)

• On the endless cycle of ‘Vogue World’:

  “You never run out of cities… at some point, you do end up in Texas.” (85:34, Chelsea)

• On the Diane Keaton Annie Hall moment:

  “It does present like a hologram or like the ghost of Annie Hall just appeared…” (81:00, Lauren)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Banter & LA Fashion Events: 00:35 – 13:21
• Lily Allen Album Deep-Dive: 13:21 – 48:07
• Vogue World Hollywood Analysis: 63:30 – 85:12
• Grace Wales Bonner at Hermès: 58:27 – 63:21
• Tom Ford’s New Movie: 90:13 – 92:56
• Marc Jacobs Acquisition: 86:34 – 90:13

Episode Summary

From a playful, candid look at their own fashion choices, to a forensic pop cultural analysis of Lily Allen’s “auto-fiction” album, Chelsea and Lauren deliver equal parts gossip, critique, and fashion history. Their engagements with LA’s thriving scene and their takes on industry news (from Heritage luxury house appointments to designer musical chairs) reinforce their well-earned voice of authority—and irreverent best-friend banter. Whether drooling over estate sale finds, musing on the “sex addict” trope, or playfully roasting Vogue World, the pair balance caustic wit with genuine cultural insight.

For listeners: If you want a breezy but well-informed take on the best in today’s fashion/celebrity news—with all the bitchy asides, memorable one-liners, and juicy inside baseball you could wish for—this episode is quintessential Every Outfit.