Podcast
Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud
Hosted by Bella Freud · EN
Each week join the renowned fashion designer Bella Freud as she invites a special guest to lie on the couch and explore the connection between fashion and identity. Bella’s conversations begin with questions about style: what we reveal and hide through the clothes we wear. Bella also shares her own anecdotes and the conversations expand into deeper discussions on life’s universal themes - love, identity, culture, anxiousness, and even politics.
Through a series of tailored questions, Bella creates a relaxed, intimate atmosphere where her guests - ranging from fashion icons to cultural figures in sport, art, music, film, and literature - reveal more about themselves than they might expect. Fashion is often dismissed as surface, but in this podcast it becomes the lens through which we examine our inner lives, relationships, and society.
Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud offers a unique, thoughtful, and engaging conversation that goes far beyond what we wear, diving into the unspoken language of clothing and the ways in which we use style to navigate and communicate in the world.
Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
www.fashionneurosis.com
www.fashionneurosis.substack.com
@fashioneurosis_bellafreud
89episodes
Episodes
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Fashion Neurosis with Marina Abramović
Apr 29, 202500:58:13Summary readyMarina Abramović is one of the most influential and groundbreaking performance artists of our time. Born in Belgrade, Serbia, she has spent over five decades pushing the limits of the mind, body, and spirit through art. Known for her extreme and often controversial performances, Abramović uses endurance, pain, vulnerability, and direct audience interaction to explore themes of identity. During her most celebrated artistic performance 'The Artist Is Present' at the Museum of Modern Art in 2010, she sat silently across from museum visitors for over 700 hours, creating powerful, wordless connections with almost a million strangers. Marina Abramović has also worked extensively to preserve and teach performance art, founding the Marina Abramović Institute, which focuses on long-durational performance and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her legacy continues to influence artists, thinkers, and audiences worldwide. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Marina Abramović discuss how happiness is not conducive to making great art; climaxing as a required element of a performance; and how 80 is too young for her to make a documentary about her life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Fashion Neurosis with Es Devlin
Apr 22, 202501:02:44Summary readyEs Devlin is a British artist and stage designer celebrated for creating large-scale, emotionally resonant installations and performances that fuse light, music, language, and space. Her work has shaped the visual identity of global tours for artists including Beyoncé, Adele, The Weeknd and U2, while also redefining the theatrical landscape through her work with the Royal Opera House, National Theatre, and the Metropolitan Opera. Es Devlin brings a poetic sensibility to her immersive environments. Her public art installations—such as Forest for Change at Somerset House and Poem Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai—invite audiences to reflect, explore, and engage with urgent global themes. In October 2024 she unveiled CONGREGATION, a large-scale choral installation created in partnership with UK for UNHCR, The Courtauld and King's College London. Es Devlin’s designs have been exhibited at major institutions including the V&A, the Serpentine Gallery, and the Venice Biennale. She is a Royal Academician, the recipient of numerous awards, and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to stage design. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Es Devlin discuss the logistics of raising a steel orb out of the sand in the Moroccan desert for the St Laurent menswear show; seeking out jumble sales in Time Out magazine when she was 11; and making a collage for her bedroom from a catalogue of Japanese art that turned out to be full of pornographic illustrations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Fashion Neurosis with Hanif Kureishi
Apr 15, 202501:00:21Summary readyHanif Kureishi is a British author, playwright, and screenwriter, widely regarded for his exploration of identity, race, and multiculturalism. Born in 1954 in South London, to a Pakistani father and an English mother, his major breakthrough came with his 1990 novel The Buddha of Suburbia, a semi-autobiographical story of a young man navigating life in 1970s London. The novel, celebrated for its wit and social critique, was later adapted into a BAFTA-winning TV series with a soundtrack especially written by David Bowie. In addition to his novels, Kureishi has written plays, essays, and short stories, and a number of award winning films including Intimacy directed by Patrice Chéreau, and the Oscar nominated screenplay, My Beautiful Laundrette, directed by Stephen Frears and starring a young Daniel Day Lewis. Kureishi’s work often reflects his candid approach to cultural integration, sexuality and societal norms, all of which have made him a distinctive and relished voice in British literature. On 26 December 2022, while staying at the home of his partner Isabella D'Amico, Hanif fainted and woke up paralysed from the neck downwards. He thought he was going to die, crediting Isabella for keeping him calm and saving his life. He has written about the accident and his recovery process on social media and in his Substack blog 'The Kureishi Chronicles'. His brilliant and compelling memoir Shattered was published in 2024, and in September that year the BBC released a biographical documentary 'In My Own Words' directed by Nigel Williams. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Hanif Kureishi discuss Hanif's love of Tesco; developing a new method of writing with his son Carlo; and analysing his psychiatrist's dreams during his year long rehabilitation in hospital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Fashion Neurosis with Susie Cave
Apr 8, 202501:03:03Summary readySusie Cave is a British model and fashion designer. Her career started when she was scouted on holiday in New York by the famous model agent Bethann Hardison, who immediately sent her to Steven Meisel - his advice being to go back to school as she was only 14 years old. Her striking beauty and ethereal presence quickly earned her a place in high fashion campaigns and on magazine covers including more recently a Gucci perfume campaign and the cover of Another Magazine in 2020. In 2015 Susie launched her fashion brand The Vampire's Wife which became known for its blend of gothic and romantic aesthetics. Vogue described her immediately recognisable dress as the 'It dress' and The Vampire's Wife quickly gained a devoted following, attracting celebrities from Florence Welch, Cate Blanchett, and Kate, Princess of Wales among its clientele. Susie’s designs are a reflection of her own personal style—romantic, mysterious, and deeply artistic—cementing her as a distinctive voice in the fashion industry. She is married to Nick Cave, the lead singer of The Bad Seeds.In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Susie Cave and Bella Freud discuss how she was talent scouted by the legendary Bethann Hardison and her meeting with Steven Meisel age 14; the first time she saw her husband-to-be Nick Cave at one of Bella’s shows; and how grief can be channelled through creativity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Fashion Neurosis with Bobby Gillespie
Apr 1, 202500:59:16Summary readyBobby Gillespie is a Scottish musician, singer songwriter, and the lead vocalist in Primal Scream. He launched the band in 1982, at the same time as joining The Jesus and Mary Chain as their drummer, touring with both groups until he left a few years later to focus on the burgeoning success of Primal Scream. Bobby has the looks, talent and glamour of the archetypal rockstar - he wears his clothes with infinite style, and his onstage looks are part of his musical identity. He is married to the highly regarded stylist, Katy England, and is a regular in fashion circles - Primal Scream even recorded a song with supermodel, Kate Moss in 2011, called, 'Some Velvet Morning'. Bobby Gillespie published his memoir 'Tenement Kid' in 2021, describing his life growing up in a working class family in Glasgow, tracking his journey to fame, including his experiences of drug addiction - and how he overcame it.In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Bobby Gillespie talk about their shared gratitude for the Punk era, how a pink jacket provided focus after falling off the stage in Italy and breaking his back, and the influence of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on his road to sobriety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Fashion Neurosis with Christian Louboutin
Mar 26, 202501:19:50Summary readyChristian Louboutin is a French shoe designer. His signature red sole has become synonymous with glamour and sensuality, referenced constantly in popular culture by international superstars including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez and Cardi B as the shoes women aspire to own. Christian Louboutin was born and raised in Paris, with his parents and three older sisters. In 2014 he discovered that his biological father was of Egyptian heritage - the result of a clandestine love affair between his mother and a young Egyptian man. This revelation recontextualized many of his formative experiences growing up, wondering why he appeared different to his blonde, fair-haired siblings. Today, Christian Louboutin is considered to be the most famous high fashion shoe brand in the world. The word 'Loutoutin' has become an adjective - immediately denoting a classification of intense sexuality and classiness. The company has successfully branched out into men's luxury footwear, handbags, fragrances, and makeup. Christian remains at the helm of the business and its entire design process - a rarity in the fashion industry and for an empire of his size. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Christian Louboutin and Bella Freud discuss the story behind his iconic red soles; the meaningfulness of his creative collaboration with David Lynch; and his ability to wake up happy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Fashion Neurosis with John Cooper Clarke
Mar 19, 202500:57:50Summary readyJohn Cooper Clarke is a British poet. He rose to fame during the Punk era, touring and performing with bands across the UK in the 70's. He has collaborated with some of the most revered artists of our time including the renowned Reggae poet and musician Linton Kwesi Johnson. His distinctive appearance has remained unchanged since he first exploded on the literary scene: long, jet black hair, a newsboy cap, and black sunglasses worn at all times - paired with impeccable, skinny tailoring. John Cooper Clarke has transcended many hurdles in his life including heroin addiction, which he describes in his fascinating and upbeat memoir, ‘I Wanna Be Yours’. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, John Cooper Clarke and Bella Freud discuss their shared early influences from comic books; his relationship with the timeless fashion muse Nico; and why he still refers to James Brown for inspiration on how to look good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Fashion Neurosis with Julianne Moore
Mar 12, 202501:06:00Summary readyJulianne Moore is an American actor. She is one of the most highly revered performers of her generation, and her work has been recognized by multiple awards, including an Oscar. Her extraordinary gift for peeling back the artifice, portraying the unraveling of a beautiful, misunderstood woman is unparalleled - making her beloved by both independent directors and big studios in the film industry. Julianne is also the author of the children’s book, ‘Freckleface Strawberry’ about her experiences of establishing her identity as a young girl, eventually learning to love her pale complexion and red hair - for which she is so recognized and appreciated today.In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Julianne Moore and Bella Freud discuss her being the chosen one for Tom Ford's film directorial debut; the delicate art of falling apart; and opening her dressing room door to come face to face with David Bowie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Fashion Neurosis with Haider Ackermann
Mar 5, 202500:53:05Summary readyHaider Ackermann is a Colombian-born French fashion designer. He is the Creative Director of Canada Goose and the newly appointed Creative Director of Tom Ford. Adopted as a nine month old child by French-Alsatian parents, Haider's family traveled widely with his map-maker father, living in Algeria, Ethiopia and Iran, and eventually settling in the Netherlands when he was twelve years old. This blend of cultures that shaped him can be seen in his work, contrasting and resourcing dress-codes which incorporate flowing draped fabrics with more formal cuts. Haider Ackermann is much revered by his peers in the design industry; among many prestigious collaborations, he was also a guest designer for the Jean Paul Gaultier couture. He is sought after for special, red carpet creations by major stars including Timothée Chalamet and Tilda Swinton.On the day of his highly awaited first runway show for Tom Ford, we share a special episode of Fashion Neurosis where Haider Ackermann and Bella Freud discuss friendships and flirtations within the fashion industry, the unexpected joys of camping, and the significance of his enduring friendship with Tilda Swinton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Fashion Neurosis with Gwendoline Christie
Feb 26, 202501:12:23Summary readyGwendoline Christie is an English actor. She exploded into peoples' consciousness as Brienne of Tarth in the phenomenally successful series, Game of Thrones, going on to feature in Stars Wars: The Force Awakens, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. She has appeared in other notable drama series, and most recently joined the cast of the hit show Severance, directed by Ben Stiller. As well as being a highly regarded performer, Gwendoline is adored by the fashion world, and has modelled in numerous fashion campaigns for some of the world's greatest designers. She has walked in catwalk shows for Thom Browne, Miu Miu, and most recently, John Galliano's last show for Maison Margiela. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Gwendoline Christie talks to Bella Freud about how the job of her clothes is to be more herself; the impact of Galliano's work on her as a teenager - and how she realized a childhood dream by going on to collaborate with him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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