Fashion People Podcast: "Armani’s Baller Will and the Shocking Emmys Red Carpet"
Host: Lauren Sherman (Puck)
Guests: Mike Eckhaus & Zoe Latta (Eckhaus Latta)
Date: September 16, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the realities behind New York Fashion Week, the oddities of the 2025 Emmys red carpet, and a close look at Giorgio Armani’s will and his brand’s future. Lauren Sherman is joined by indie designers Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta of Eckhaus Latta, who share candid insights into showing at NYFW, surviving in a luxury market dominated by conglomerates, and their honest takes on celebrity fashion, the state of American fashion institutions, and the evolving landscape of fashion media. Notably, the conversation covers the potential sale of Armani, Vanity Fair’s direction under a new editor, and more.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Eckhaus Latta at New York Fashion Week
- The post-show mood: Lauren praises Eckhaus Latta's show as "the best thing at New York Fashion Week" ([04:09]).
- Selling model: Their collection is sold to stores in June, shown in September — meaning pieces are technically already accounted for before the runway presentation ([04:58]).
- Star pants: Lauren asks about the distinctive pants from the first look; Mike reveals their "double waistband and slash," designed with his brother’s wedding in mind. They're set to drop in November/December ([05:38]).
- Runway value for indie brands: For Eckhaus Latta, doing a fashion show is less about direct sales and more about community, content creation, and marketing partnerships. The show is the bulk of their marketing spend and an efficient way to gather social media content in one day ([07:31], [08:42]).
Quote:
"We are able to do a lot with barely anything. So I think it's... a demonstration in our skills of resourcefulness and, like, what we are capable of as a really small, independent fashion brand."
— Mike Eckhaus ([16:44])
2. The State & Value of New York Fashion Week
- Historical context: NYFW's value has always been debated, even back in the mid-2000s. The real value now is tailored to different participants — designers, editors, friends ([09:42]).
- Why stay in NY? Both Mike and Zoe emphasize their local roots and the community support unique to New York, making it indispensable for their brand’s operation. Zoe admits NY can feel "sleepy," but it's still home ([12:27]).
- Comparison with Paris: Mike would love to show in Paris one day but acknowledges the steep financial and logistical hurdles for small brands between the mega-brands at European fashion weeks ([13:14]).
Quote:
"I think the consolidation and homogenization of fashion... makes...there needs to be space for other voices and brands."
— Mike Eckhaus ([11:39])
3. Red Carpet Fashion & Emmys 2025
- Limited red carpet involvement: Eckhaus Latta has rarely done red-carpet or bridal looks; they avoid the ego-driven and resource-intensive world of celebrity dressing ([18:15]).
- Underwhelming Emmys: Source feedback and the group’s own take is that the Emmys offered “shocking,” lackluster red carpet moments, due to a weird position in the calendar and few dresses available ([19:19]).
- Who stood out: The panel agrees men had more fun (Colman Domingo in Valentino, Seth Rogen in Etro). Notable women: Rashida Jones (Dior), Hunter Schafer (McQueen), Meg Stalter’s political Hanes tee and Levi’s combo ([21:21]–[23:29]).
- Homogenization of celebrity style: The group bemoans the stylists’ overwhelming control, the loss of spontaneity, and how red carpet appearances have become less about individual expression, more about billboard branding ([25:40]).
Quote:
"Everyone's so anxious at that level of celebrity... I miss a bit of the way when they used to dress themselves... red carpet imagery from the '90s."
— Mike Eckhaus ([22:50])
Memorable Moment:
"Meg Stalter wore a Hanes T-shirt, Levi's jeans, and a piece of duct tape that said ‘ceasefire’ on her purse. I thought it was cool."
— Zoe Latta ([23:21])
4. Giorgio Armani’s Will & the Future of His House
- The ultimate independent: Armani’s detailed will ensures his foundation retains voting control and specifies preferred (but not compulsory) buyers, potentially including conglomerates like LVMH ([28:11]–[29:35]).
- Respect for Armani's foresight: Zoe admires how Armani managed not just the brand's present, but its future after his death, balancing independence and succession ([29:35]).
- Will it go to LVMH? Lauren notes that Armani’s is a massive clothing-focused maison, and high-margin handbags (the cornerstone of conglomerate M&A) are not its mainstay. She doubts LVMH will find it strategic, despite the mutual respect ([31:43]–[34:04]).
- Armani’s cultural cachet: Mike notes that for many creative professionals, especially in art and adjacent worlds, Armani has a unique enduring prestige ([35:31]).
Quote:
"The guy that retained independence this whole time had a plan to sell it after he died...how he navigated decade over decade this way and into after his death."
— Zoe Latta ([29:35])
Quote:
"I think the more things...become siloed, I think is a bit depressing."
— Mike Eckhaus ([31:32])
Memorable Moment:
"Noah Wyle...this very handsome man...I need someone to reach out to Noah Wyle, immediately. We need to do an intervention... You wore Figs because Figs is a very cool scrubs brand and he was trying to be cute...but please do not wear a Figs tuxedo. This is your moment and you’re wearing a Figs tuxedo. I’m very upset."
— Lauren Sherman ([36:28])
5. The Future of Vanity Fair & Editorial Shifts
- Hollywood Issue scoop: Lauren shares insider news that Mark Guiducci's first major issue as head of Vanity Fair will feature only men, engaging with masculinity post-#MeToo ([39:31]).
- Changing tone: Both guests express hope that under Mark, Vanity Fair will shift toward quicker, more relevant, playful coverage, less focused on old tropes and more in tune with broader, culturally savvy audiences ([42:50]–[44:56]).
- Sense of generational shift: The panel sees young editors like Mark and Chloe (Sevigny) as potentially able to inject more liveliness and insight, moving away from passive, staid features ([44:56]).
Quote:
"For this, like, honestly, my relationship with Vanity Fair is like airplane beach read. Like I’m not going too hard on it. And I think he'll just make the conversation more relevant..."
— Zoe Latta ([43:49])
Notable Quotes by Timestamp
- On NYFW's Value:
"The majority of our marketing budget is our shows...capturing a lot of our social media content in one day."
— Zoe Latta ([07:31]) - On Spectacle vs. Reality:
"It’s not our bag to make people feel like dolls and then involve their ego. I’ve never really understood it."
— Zoe Latta ([18:15]) - On Red Carpet Homogenization:
"It’s all homogenized, and it’s all a billboard, and people are just getting paid too much to make choices rather than have opinions."
— Zoe Latta ([25:40]) - On Armani’s Will:
"He really got it like the goat. The guy that retained independence this whole time had a plan to sell it after he died."
— Zoe Latta ([29:35]) - On Menswear Brand Power:
"Giorgio Armani has some sort of caliber of importance and expertise."
— Mike Eckhaus ([35:31])
Key Timestamps for Topics
- 04:07 — Introduction of Mike Eckhaus & Zoe Latta; NYFW show discussion begins
- 07:31 — Value of shows for indie brands; content and marketing
- 11:07 — Value of NYFW, then & now; why independents show
- 13:14 — NYFW vs. Paris/Europe; community roots
- 18:14 — Red carpet aversion, wedding-dress anecdote
- 19:19 — Emmys fashion debrief
- 22:47 — Notable (or failed) Emmys looks; loss of spontaneity
- 28:11 — Armani's legacy and will
- 31:43 — Speculation over sale; LVMH fit
- 36:28 — Gucci suit problem: Noah Wyle in Figs
- 39:31 — Vanity Fair’s male-only cover scoop
- 42:40 — What do designers want from the new Vanity Fair?
Takeaways
- Eckhaus Latta thrives on community and resourcefulness, making NYFW work on their terms.
- Red carpet dressing is increasingly an ad campaign; genuine moments are rare but appreciated.
- Armani’s will is a masterclass in controlling legacy, though questions linger about independence vs. conglomerate fate.
- There’s cautious optimism for a new generation of magazine leadership, emphasizing relevance and zest.
This summary captures the tone, frankness, and behind-the-scenes flavor that “Fashion People” aims for, ensuring listeners who missed this episode won’t feel left out of the industry’s inner conversations.