The Girlboss Discourse - Fashion People

Transcript

Lauren Sherman (0:00)

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Marissa Meltzer (1:28)

You mean finance?

Lauren Sherman (1:29)

Yeah, finance. Got pre qualified for a Carvana auto.

Marissa Meltzer (1:31)

Loan, entered my terms and shot from.

Lauren Sherman (1:33)

Thousands of great car options, all within my budget. That's cool. But financing through Carvana was so easy. Financed, done. And I get to pick up my car from their Carvana vending machine tomorrow. Financed, right? That's what they said.

Marissa Meltzer (1:44)

You can spend time trying to pronounce financing or. Or you can actually finance and buy your car Today on car finance financing subject to credit approval. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

Lauren Sherman (1:57)

Hello and welcome to Fashion People. I'm Lauren Sherman, writer of Puck's fashion and beauty memo line sheet. And today with me on the show is Marissa Meltzer, author of It Girl the Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin. We're talking outdoor voices, Gwyneth Paltrow, Copenhagen Fashion Week, the girlboss discourse, and so much more. Happy Tuesday, everyone. Hope you're enjoying tomato season, which is obviously not a thing on the west coast, but definitely is a thing on the East Coast. We always have nice tomatoes here. So if you're acting like it's tomato season on the west coast, it's really not. But I do love tomatoes. Anyway, lots of goodies for you this week. On Line Cheat. On Monday, a triumvirate of Conde Nast. Related news from first up, Vogue head of US Content speculation. And we do a one month check in on Mark Guiducci at Vanity Fair where he is making some interesting changes. Actually, I think you should check it out and learn more. And I've also got some color on an old Conde Nast executive who left a while back, but Susan Plageman who was at WME Fashion, left at the end of last week. It was sort of expected. I've been writing a lot about her tenure there since I've been at Puck, which was a little bit, a little shorter of an amount of time, but it's been interesting. Says a lot about state of fashion industry, about the state of the representation industry, et cetera, et cetera. So I have some color on why she's leaving. Plus, the stylist Lar Roach is looking to buy a famous fashion house, which is very fascinating. I hope he pulls it off because I can't wait to see how it all unfolds. But more on that in line sheet and also make sure to check out today's because Sarah Shapiro is getting into the business of Kate. You'll recall that the VCPE firm Stripes invested in Kate a few years back and I had a big story on it right after the deal went through. And we're doing a check in and Sarah's kind of looking at how the brand is merchandised at this point, what sells, what doesn't. And it's fascinating. I mean, if you go to any wealthy neighborhood and everyone's wearing Kate shoes, Kate jeans, Kate knits, Kate dresses, maybe carrying a Kate bag. But it's a really important brand in the US Market in particular. And Sarah puts her buyer's eye on the whole thing and explains why it's working. So I hope you enjoy it and I hope you enjoyed this interview with Marissa. Marissa Meltzer, welcome back to Fashion People.

Summary

Podcast Summary: Fashion People – Episode: "The Girlboss Discourse"

Released on August 12, 2025

Hosts:
Lauren Sherman (Puck Correspondent)
Marissa Meltzer (Author of It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin)

1. Introduction and Episode Overview

Timestamp: [00:57] - [04:47]

Lauren Sherman kicks off the episode by introducing herself and her co-host, Marissa Meltzer. She outlines the key topics for the episode, including:

The Outdoor Voices relaunch and audience feedback.
Speculation around Vogue's head of US Content position.
A one-month check-in on Mark Guiducci's changes at Vanity Fair.
The departure of Susan Plageman from WME Fashion.
Stylist Lar Roach's ambition to purchase a renowned fashion house.
An upcoming deep dive with Sarah Shapiro on the merchandising strategies of Kate.

Lauren Sherman:
"We're talking outdoor voices, Gwyneth Paltrow, Copenhagen Fashion Week, the girlboss discourse, and so much more."
[00:57]

2. Outdoor Voices Relaunch Feedback

Timestamp: [12:43] - [19:14]

Lauren and Marissa delve into the recent relaunch of Outdoor Voices (OV), discussing its shift in target demographics and product offerings. Marissa reflects on the brand's evolution from its 2015-2016 peak, emphasizing the changes in style and audience.

Marissa Meltzer:
"It's very much like a younger, maybe even younger demographic than the initial Outdoor Voices drop because that was way more sort of age and color neutral."
[16:55]

Lauren shares her interest in the new materials and color palettes introduced by OV, noting the brand's strategic merchandising decisions.

Lauren Sherman:
"I thought generally, I thought the colors were really good. And I thought I... the thing I was interested in was like, why she put a banker shirt in there, why she used these specific colors... it's interesting."
[19:02]

3. The Return of the Girlboss Discourse

Timestamp: [22:00] - [32:00]

The conversation shifts to the resurgence of the "Girlboss" narrative, sparked by a Bloomberg article that critiqued the movement. Lauren expresses her concerns about the backlash faced by female entrepreneurs who were part of the original Girlboss cohort.

Lauren Sherman:
"The reason I wanted to talk about this with you is you wrote a book about Emily Weiss, one of the kind of OG girl bosses... The thing that bothered me... they were held accountable for work environments that a lot of places have."
[27:17]

Marissa adds that these women were unfairly targeted for systemic issues within their companies, highlighting the lack of nuanced discourse in public perceptions.

Marissa Meltzer:
"They were blamed for work environments that a lot of places have. And they were really targeted and sort of people really, you know, there was a little bit of a burn the witch relish in their downfall."
[25:47]

They discuss the broader implications of cancel culture and the challenges of moving forward post-cancellation, advocating for more balanced and thoughtful conversations.

4. Copenhagen Fashion Week Street Style Critique

Timestamp: [32:00] - [40:56]

Lauren and Marissa critique the street style observed at Copenhagen Fashion Week, describing it as monotonous and lacking originality. They lament the overuse of certain trends and the homogenized appearance of attendees.

Marissa Meltzer:
"It's just so the same. The big oversized sort of, you know, bonson style dresses, the bright colors, the flip flops... it's all just so the same."
[37:12]

Lauren concurs, pointing out the influence of social media and the pressure to replicate influencer styles, which leads to a lack of personal expression.

Lauren Sherman:
"It's so overwhelmed. There was one Skull Studio pink sweater and pink trousers that I will get."
[38:32]

They express a desire for more individuality and creativity in fashion showcases, suggesting that fashion weeks may need to evolve to foster genuine innovation.

5. Food52 Scammer Incident

Timestamp: [43:19] - [47:07]

The hosts discuss a recent scandal involving a Food52 employee who misused company funds for personal expenses, including high-end purchases and luxurious trips. They examine the implications of such behavior on company culture and oversight.

Lauren Sherman:
"The main issue with it for me is who was approving these because I don't buy the thing about how she was coding it to the photo shoots."
[43:29]

Marissa highlights the audacity of the misuse, likening it to blatant extravagance without regard for ethical considerations.

Marissa Meltzer:
"She was literally buying sofas... trips on Delta and other people's plane tickets... it's pretty wild what she got away with."
[45:02]

They conclude that this incident underscores a need for stricter oversight and accountability within companies to prevent future misconduct.

6. Amy Odell's Biography on Gwyneth Paltrow & Goop Kitchen Discussion

Timestamp: [47:07] - [62:53]

Lauren and Marissa delve into Amy Odell's highly acclaimed biography of Gwyneth Paltrow, praising its thoroughness and insightful revelations. They discuss Gwyneth's complex persona, her management of public image, and the internal dynamics within her brand, Goop.

Marissa Meltzer:
"I devoured the book. It was like, you know, Amy Odell is a really good reporter. Like, this is a book that you read and you can tell that she is leaving no stone unturned."
[48:41]

They explore the ongoing "cold war" between Gwyneth and Estee Lauder, as detailed in the book, and express interest in further exploring these professional rivalries.

Marissa Meltzer:
"The one thing that has not been explored that Odell talks about that I thought was so fascinating is this sort of ongoing cold war between Aaron Lauder and Gwyneth."
[52:49]

Transitioning to Goop Kitchen, the hosts share their experiences and opinions on the brand's expansion into the culinary space. While praising its concept, Lauren expresses concerns about the declining quality and menu changes.

Lauren Sherman:
"Goop Kitchen is a different cap table, so it has a different set of investors. I truly believe that this concept can be scaled and is brilliant."
[57:12]

Marissa reveals her enthusiasm for the healthy yet comforting menu offerings, contrasting it with Lauren's mixed reviews on specific menu items like pizza and chicken.

Marissa Meltzer:
"I am so excited. It's more significant to me than if an Erewhon opened. I could eat every meal there."
[57:47]

They conclude by encouraging listeners to support Goop Kitchen while acknowledging the challenges of maintaining quality during rapid expansion.

Conclusion

Lauren Sherman and Marissa Meltzer provide a nuanced and engaging discussion on the current state of the fashion industry, dissecting both emerging trends and longstanding issues. From the evolution of activewear brands like Outdoor Voices to the complex dynamics of the Girlboss movement and the scrutiny of influential figures like Gwyneth Paltrow, the episode offers deep insights into the multifaceted world of fashion. Their candid conversation, enriched with personal anecdotes and critical perspectives, makes this episode a comprehensive guide for listeners seeking to understand the undercurrents shaping the industry today.

Notable Quotes:

Marissa Meltzer:
"I don't want to be the person that speaks in aphorisms, but it is kind of... You can never go home again."
[13:19]
Lauren Sherman:
"I think that people shouldn't really be wearing these sets as an outfit that they wear during the day type vibe."
[17:54]
Marissa Meltzer:
"There's something about them that really brings it out in people. It's like the popular girl that you want to be nice to you and friends with, but then you also want her downfall."
[31:05]
Lauren Sherman:
"Everything is binary. There's no critical thinking. And the world is doomed."
[32:06]
Marissa Meltzer:
"They need to go touch silk. Please go touch silk."
[41:24]

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions between the hosts.