Fashion People — "Life After LVMH & Chanel Males"

Host: Lauren Sherman
Guest: Carolyn Faux (Stylist)
Date: March 24, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Lauren Sherman is joined by returning guest Carolyn Faux to unpack a week heavy with industry news and insider gossip. The discussion touches on creative director shakeups, designer/commercial brand collaborations, the nuances of designer "life after" luxury conglomerates, the global dynamics of luxury consumerism (with special attention on China), the infiltration of men into Chanel’s world, and the evolving roles of fashion magazines. The conversation is candid, full of personality, and offers behind-the-scenes takes on standout stories and trends.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lauren’s Paris Update and Shopping Malaise

• Lauren describes her recent visit to the Phoebe Philo store at Galeries Lafayette (02:00), observing expansion and the magnetic allure of Philo’s designs.
• Reflects on how a single designer can render competing commercial products "irrelevant."
  • Quote: “It’s just funny how, like, one designer can render everything else irrelevant, or at least all the commercial product irrelevant.” — Lauren Sherman (03:23)

2. Catching Up: LA Food, Nightlife, and Bar Di Bello

• Carolyn recaps her weekend: Palm Springs escape, the opening of Bar Di Bello, and a party at Los Globos. (04:22–05:59)
• Lauren wonders about the evolution of restaurant and nightlife culture in Silver Lake, LA:
  • Quote: “Do you think this is, like, an indication of Silver Lake growing up? It feels like it’ll be a destination for real.” — Lauren Sherman (06:44)
• They reflect on the “Horses” LA restaurant scandal, discussing the Air Mail exposé and the surprising resilience of investor confidence in turbulent restaurant partnerships. (07:59–09:07)
  • Quote: “It is crazy to me that people are like, I’ll give you two money.” — Lauren Sherman (09:03)

3. On Michelin Dining & Tasting Menu Fatigue

• Both hosts express fatigue with multi-hour tasting menus, referencing Noma’s global reputation as “not yummy,” and the memorable bread from Noma’s family-style offering. (09:33–11:14)
  • Quote: “Tasting menus are the worst. Stop tasting menus.” — Lauren Sherman (09:43)
  • Quote: “After an hour and a half, I need to get paid to be there. This is crazy.” — Carolyn Faux (09:57)

4. Fashion Headlines: Galliano x Zara Collaboration (12:11–16:27)

• John Galliano’s two-year partnership with Zara**
  • New collections won’t draw from his iconic Dior archive (owned by LVMH), but will be all new, using Zara’s materials and history.
  • Carolyn expresses excitement about Galliano’s accessibility and doesn’t mind the designer going commercial. (13:05)
  • Lauren contextualizes criticism: consumers want luxury, but can’t always access it; there’s little vintage Galliano in circulation, so a Zara collab is an equitable outcome.
  • Quote: “All anyone talks about is how expensive clothes are ... people who can’t fit into a Galliano size 6 from 1997 or just don’t have that kind of understanding of how to search for that stuff was [should] be able to access something he created. I think it’s great.” — Lauren Sherman (14:07)
  • Quote: “He could also just coast off into the sunset right now and, like, not give us anything at all. So the fact that he’s kind of like, ‘well, this tickles me. I’ll do Zara.’ Let’s just see what this is about.” — Carolyn Faux (15:57)

5. Designer Exits: Kim Jones & Global Brand Partnerships (16:27–19:11)

• Kim Jones’ post-LVMH project with Bosideng (Bose Dang), a Chinese outerwear giant.
  • Lauren calls Bosideng the “upscale Uniqlo of China” (17:16) and compares its ambition to that of Moncler, Canada Goose, and Patagonia.
  • Kim Jones’ separate luxury collaboration for Aman Essentials (from Aman Resorts).
  • Carolyn observes Jones’ Bosideng collection as “cool” and affordable, comparing its looks to designer Craig Green (18:49)
  • Quote: “Are you kidding me? … It reminds me of him. It has like a Craig Green feel to it.” — Carolyn Faux (18:50)

6. Luxury’s China Dilemma and Globalization (20:21–25:11)

• Lauren analyzes luxury’s former overreliance on Chinese consumers—now increasingly sophisticated and brand-selective, especially leaning toward Hermès. (21:00)
• In-depth about Bosideng’s global brand ambitions and their investment in Canadian “Moose Knuckles”—with some wordplay hilarity about names. (21:38)
• Carolyn: For Chinese luxury brands to break the West, leveraging Western designers (like Kim Jones) is still necessary until “their pop culture becomes something that we all look towards.”
  • Quote: “It all starts with just, like, pop culture … I think for Chinese brands, like, until their pop culture becomes something that we all look towards as, like, ‘oh, that’s cool,’ … they’re going to have to continue bringing in … these European names.” — Carolyn Faux (22:36)
• Lauren notes Kim Jones’ “value” to LVMH was his appeal to the Chinese market, but the Bose Dang collab marks a reversal: a Chinese brand using a Western designer for Western awareness.

7. Chanel’s ‘Stealth Menswear’ Strategy (25:11–29:15)

• Chanel has embraced dressing male celebrities (Oscar looks for Pedro Pascal, partnerships with Harry Styles and Timothée Chalamet) but publicly refuses to launch a menswear line.
  • Carolyn wishes Chanel would expand sizing to suit mens styling needs, especially for taller frame editorial shoots.
    • Quote: “I wish they would do menswear simply for the inseam and, like, the arm length.” — Carolyn Faux (26:19)
  • Lauren echoes the logistical headaches of sample management and the broader editorial challenge.
  • Hopeful speculation about automation/AI fixing sample logistics; Amazon analogy for fashion sample distribution. (29:15)

8. Fashion Magazine Leadership Talk: The Future of T Magazine & GQ (31:05–34:27)

• Hanya Yanagihara’s departure from T Magazine for novelist pursuits; Lauren expects T to stay afloat due to its value to NYT luxury advertisers. (31:05)
• Carolyn suggests Chris Black as an ideal future editor for T (“He reads more than any person we know.” 33:34), laughs at how this would shake up the title.
• Lauren breaks down what makes a good magazine leader, reflecting on Will Welch’s GQ era and the promising new EIC Adam (surname unmentioned), and the importance of vision over brand maintenance.

9. The Rise of Editorial Press Trips & New Brand Events (35:44–39:13)

• Recap of a recent, creative Highsnobiety press trip in ski resort Samurai with a diverse edit of interesting guests, multiple sponsors, and an organic vibe.
• Lauren: These editorial-led trips feel “less icky” and more compelling than brand-only influencer junkets.
  • Quote: “But for some reason with a magazine, it feels less icky.” — Carolyn Faux (37:48)
  • Noting Will Welch’s talent for sponsorship-driven parties and the likelihood of more creative, media-driven events in fashion’s future.

10. Latest Fashion Purchases and Indie Underwear Gems (39:20–41:44)

• Carolyn’s latest buys: a “minty” vintage Chanel jacket, a Gucci bag and sunglasses, and a rave for Cuckoo Intimates (noting artisanal lace, British roots, and trending feminine details).
• Lauren notes a surge in pretty lingerie/pointelle knits across brands; Cuckoo’s pointelle underwear and “very special kind of lace” sourced from France.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Phoebe Philo store trip:
  “It is just funny how, like, one designer can render everything else irrelevant, or at least all the commercial product irrelevant.” — Lauren Sherman (03:23)

• Restaurant investing madness:
  “It is crazy to me that people are like, I'll give you two money.” — Lauren Sherman (09:03)

• On tasting menus:
  “After an hour and a half, I need to get paid to be there. This is crazy.” — Carolyn Faux (09:57)

• Galliano-Zara collab accessibility:
  “People who ... don’t have that kind of understanding of how to search for that stuff [should] be able to access something he created. I think it’s great.” — Lauren Sherman (14:07)

• Chanel on men, fit & size:
  “I wish they would do menswear simply for the inseam and, like, the arm length.” — Carolyn Faux (26:19)

• Global luxury market wisdom:
  “For Chinese brands, ... until their pop culture becomes something that we all look towards ... they’re going to have to continue bringing in ... European names.” — Carolyn Faux (22:36)

• Sample wrangling headaches:
  “The wrangling of the samples, to me, I just don’t—I will never be able to understand.” — Carolyn Faux (27:54)

• On Chris Black for T:
  “He reads more than any person we know.” — Lauren Sherman (33:34)

• Why magazine press trips are less awkward:
  “But for some reason with a magazine, it feels less icky.” — Carolyn Faux (37:48)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:23] — Lauren reflects on the power of Phoebe Philo’s designs
• [06:44] — Lauren asks if fancy Silver Lake restaurants mark a neighborhood shift
• [09:57] — Carolyn on hating marathon tasting menus
• [12:13] — Galliano x Zara collaboration announced/discussed
• [17:16] — The rise of Bosideng (Bose Dang) and Kim Jones’s partnerships
• [21:00] — Lauren analyzes China’s luxury consumer landscape
• [26:19] — Carolyn craves Chanel menswear for proper fit
• [33:34] — Lauren and Carolyn talk future T Magazine editors
• [37:48] — Carolyn on why magazine press trips feel better than influencer junkets
• [39:33] — Carolyn’s purchase: vintage Chanel jacket
• [41:44] — Carolyn’s Cuckoo Intimates recommendation

Summary Takeaway

This episode delivers a true insider’s look at fashion’s current moment—a swirl of designer reinventions, cross-cultural collaborations, editorial intent, and the messy, human reality behind the industry’s glossy image. From the real-world economics guiding designer exits (and “third acts”) to the subtle guerilla marketing of luxury houses in new markets, Lauren and Carolyn break down what matters (and what doesn’t) in fashion now, with wit, candor, and plenty of off-the-cuff joy.

Fashion is more global, more complicated, yet somehow more niche and nuanced than ever—and these are the conversations “fashion people” are really having.