Fashion People Podcast Summary: "How She Spends It"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Fashion People
• Host/Author: Audacy | Puck, hosted by Lauren Sherman
• Guest: Morgan Stewart McGraw, Founder of Wrangly
• Episode: How She Spends It
• Release Date: January 31, 2025

Introduction and Personal Background

Lauren Sherman opens the episode with her signature humor and personal anecdotes, setting a relaxed tone for the conversation. She introduces Morgan Stewart McGraw, founder of the fashion brand Wrangly, highlighting Morgan’s journey from reality TV to fashion entrepreneurship.

[00:30 – 03:09] Lauren Sherman: "Welcome to Fashion People. I'm Lauren Sherman... today with me on the show is Morgan Stewart McGraw, founder of Wrangly."

Morgan shares her upbringing in Los Angeles, growing up in Beverly Hills, and the influence of her Swiss mother on her fashion sensibilities.

[12:31 – 12:50] Morgan Stewart McGraw: "My mom is Swiss... growing up, we were going to Barney's, Etro, Crease, like all of these sort of different Chanel pieces sprinkled in."

Personal Life and Lifestyle Changes

The conversation transitions to their personal lives, focusing on morning routines and how parenthood has altered their daily habits. Morgan discusses the challenges of maintaining a balanced diet while raising young children.

[05:40 – 07:02] Morgan Stewart McGraw: "If I don't eat breakfast, the ambulance is being called by 11:00. Like, I cannot function without food... She's gonna be four in February and Gray is gonna be three in February."

Lauren and Morgan laugh over their synchronized family dynamics, emphasizing the balance they strive for in meal times to keep their children happy and healthy.

Fashion Collecting and Hermes Obsession

A significant portion of the discussion delves into Morgan’s passion for luxury fashion, particularly Hermes bags. She elaborates on her collection, the emotional and investment value of these pieces, and the challenges of navigating a saturated luxury market.

[09:09 – 11:19] Morgan Stewart McGraw: "I have a Kelly, though. It's not a Burton... I feel like I love them, I'm emotional about them... I'm not like, these... if somebody brings something out and I like it... I am not like, things aren't in the box..."

Lauren appreciates Morgan’s approach, likening it to art connoisseurship where personal preference drives collection rather than market trends.

Transition to Fashion Entrepreneurship

Morgan recounts her transition from reality TV star on "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills" to launching her own activewear line. She discusses the initial success of her seamless leggings and the eventual challenges that led her to found Wrangly.

[17:52 – 21:03] Morgan Stewart McGraw: "I did a reality show in 2014 called Rich Kids of Beverly Hills... I was doing seamless leggings... We had some unbelievable pieces... It was just sort of time to move on... Wrangly always existed in my brain."

Lauren probes deeper into the inspiration and mission behind Wrangly, focusing on creating wearable, versatile clothing that fills gaps in her wardrobe.

[21:03 – 24:28] Morgan Stewart McGraw: "I wanted to make wearable clothing that was my exact taste... like the black sweater we talked about... paying attention and creating the sort of detail in clothing that I was lacking was really important."

Challenges in the Luxury Fashion Industry

The dialogue shifts to Morgan’s critique of the current luxury fashion landscape. She highlights the lack of genuine multi-brand stores and the superficial selection of influencers invited to fashion shows.

[22:14 – 38:32] Morgan Stewart McGraw: "There's no multi-brand store anymore that I can walk into and find or discover like a lesser-known brand... People are betting that people don't have taste... They need to shake out the dusty Rolodex and invite new, genuine voices."

Lauren echoes Morgan’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for brands to evolve and recognize the value of authentic influencers who possess true taste and influence.

[38:14 – 42:42] Lauren Sherman: "It's very... I feel like you said... the industry is changing, but there's a lot of ways to go."

Future Plans and Business Growth

Looking ahead, Morgan shares exciting developments for Wrangly, including the launch of holiday sweaters, expansion into new designs, and the introduction of organza fabrics. She hints at significant growth and diversification in the coming year.

[42:51 – 43:24] Morgan Stewart McGraw: "We just launched holiday sweaters... spring is a delight... we're just expanding in terms of design range... it's just going to get bigger and better."

Balancing Family and Business

The conversation wraps up with Morgan reflecting on balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship. She shares wisdom from her father-in-law about integrating children into her life without compromising her personal and professional identities.

[43:48 – 44:02] Morgan Stewart McGraw: "Your children are joining your life, you're not joining theirs... they have learned to walk around my gro table... playroom and he can draw on the walls if he wants."

Lauren and Morgan exchange light-hearted remarks about parenting, underscoring the importance of maintaining a harmonious household while pursuing business ambitions.

[44:05 – 45:41] Lauren Sherman: "This idea of like, this is our life and you're here for a while... My husband's there this week... We're lucky."

Conclusion

Lauren wraps up the episode by congratulating Morgan on her successful ventures and expressing eagerness for future collaborations. Morgan reciprocates the gratitude, inviting Lauren to visit her home, highlighting the strong rapport between the host and guest.

[45:33 – End] Lauren Sherman: "Morgan, this was so great. Congratulations on being a great person and interesting and having a successful business." Morgan Stewart McGraw: "Thank you so much for having me. And just come over anytime you want next week."

Notable Quotes:

• Morgan Stewart McGraw [12:31]: "Clothes have always been really important. They've always been a priority..."

• Lauren Sherman [09:09]: "It's like you're supposed to just buy the stuff you like and not worry about what the value is or what the context."

• Morgan Stewart McGraw [22:14]: "There's no multi-brand store anymore that I can walk into and find or discover like a lesser-known brand... It's kind of sad."

• Morgan Stewart McGraw [38:32]: "I have shivers, like chills on the body because it's so well said... People have had a really hard time... I'm selling out all of these different Chanel flats and like, I don't obviously get a dime from that."

Insights and Conclusions:

• Authenticity in Fashion: Morgan emphasizes the importance of genuine influence over superficial endorsements, advocating for brands to engage with authentic voices who truly appreciate and wear their products.

• Entrepreneurial Journey: Transitioning from reality TV to entrepreneurship, Morgan’s story underscores the significance of passion and filling personal gaps in the market to build a successful brand.

• State of LA Fashion: Both Lauren and Morgan express concerns over the declining fashion standards in Los Angeles, highlighting a yearning for the glamour and presentation that once defined the city’s style scene.

• Future of Wrangly: With plans to expand design ranges and incorporate new fabrics, Wrangly is poised for significant growth, reflecting Morgan’s commitment to creating versatile, wearable fashion.

Conclusion:

This episode of Fashion People offers an in-depth look into Morgan Stewart McGraw’s journey from a fashion enthusiast to a successful entrepreneur. Through candid conversations, Morgan shares her insights on the luxury fashion industry, the importance of authenticity, and the challenges of balancing family life with business ambitions. Listeners gain valuable perspectives on the evolving fashion landscape and the driving forces behind a contemporary fashion brand.