Fashion People: "The Valentino Bump and French Twist Revolution"

Host: Lauren Sherman | Guest: Kate Young
Date: November 18, 2025

Main Theme

In this vibrant, insider-focused episode, fashion journalist Lauren Sherman and celebrity stylist Kate Young dive deep into the realities, rituals, and aesthetic current events shaping "fashion people" behind the scenes. They discuss awards season red carpet strategy, the revived significance of old-school glamour, the surprising resurgence of the Valentino Rockstud, the "French twist" hair craze, and the business and influence of Phoebe Philo. The episode combines lively banter with sharply observed analysis of the evolving luxury landscape, style cycles, and the social intricacies of getting—and giving—fashion's ultimate stamp of approval.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Awards Season: Red Carpet Rituals & Tactics

• The Governor's Awards & Event Dynamics

  • The Governor’s Ball, once the unofficial awards season kickoff, now shares the stage with newer competitors (like the Academy Gala) as a pivotal but somewhat mysterious event.

    "I don't know what it is, but I know how you do an awards campaign because that's my job." —Kate Young (06:17)

  • Celebrity stylists and actors use these events to build visibility ahead of nominations:

    "People need to see pictures of the people in order to vote for them." —Kate Young (06:54)

• Dressing Dakota Johnson in Runway Valentino

  • The process involves racing to reserve runway looks, sometimes directly after a show.

    "I held that dress right away, like when I was in the car leaving the show, because I just felt like, oh, that's a great dress. It'll look good on her." —Kate Young (07:25)

  • Intentional styling avoids clichés:

    "I don't want, like, a giant movie star diamond necklace and the earrings... because it could be like Grace Kelly drag." —Kate Young (08:27)

• Celebrity Alliances with Brands

  • Dakota Johnson as a Valentino ambassador marks a shift from her previous Gucci-centric style:

    "So much of Dakota's personal style was wrapped up in that Gucci Alessandro stuff… It's nice to have that back." —Kate Young (09:42)

  • There's continued reverence for Valentino's "capital F Fashion,” exceptional color sense, and craft.

2. The Return (and Rejection?) of the Valentino Rockstud

• The new "Devil Wears Prada" trailer—focusing on red Rockstuds—set social media alight, fueling predictions of a comeback for the once-ubiquitous shoe.
• Mixed feelings abound:

  "Oh, that horrible fake shoe." —Kate Young (11:39) "The commercialized version of that, it's a little like the YSL tribute shoe. It's just icky and commercial and the people who wear them are not cool." —Kate Young (12:25)

  • But with tongue-in-cheek optimism:

    "I'm open to it..." —Kate Young (12:39)

3. Fashion on Film: The Devil Wears Prada & Emily in Paris

• Young’s real-life connection to the "Devil Wears Prada" world (she was second assistant at Vogue) gives her a nuanced reaction:

  "A lot of what happens in the movie is factually true. Like the events... but I thought it was great." —Kate Young (13:37)

  • She feels the movie still fails to tap into real fashion, a criticism also leveled at "Emily in Paris":

    "Everybody talks about the fashion. The fashion is not good." —Kate Young (14:51)

• Sherman agrees that runway recreations in film and TV hardly ever feel authentic or cool, making the industry hard to fictionalize successfully.

4. Red Carpet Brand Strategy & Designer Debuts

• This season is marked by cautious, strategic brand participation, as many houses have new teams and ateliers post-creative director shake-ups:

  "Everybody's being more careful and strategic than usual... It's new teams doing sometimes PR. New teams making the dresses." —Kate Young (20:18)

  • Prestigious events like Governor's Ball don't always excite designers to lend pieces, given the high cost and relatively lower exposure.
• Discussion of Celine and Versace's recent collections reveals a nostalgic energy—runway clothes that reignite a desire to dress up with intention and individuality.

  "Celine made me want to dress a certain way and... go buy a new pair of shoes..." —Kate Young (21:49)

5. Personal Style, Thrifting, and the Power of "Cool Girls"

• The democratization of style continues, powered by thrifting and the internet.

  "So much of good style comes out of those girls [cool girls at cafes], not out of the actual customer." —Kate Young (24:39)

  • Many young people discover or assemble looks from thrift stores and online trends, creating a polarized environment where hyper-personal and hyper-algorithmic styles coexist.
• Both hosts yearn for the creativity and fun of "putting things together," as evoked by Celine and Versace.

6. Oscars Predictions: Old Hollywood and Brand DNA

• Anticipated trend: a return to "pretty," polished, old Hollywood glamour—heavy draping, sculpted gowns, and set-in structures.

  "To me, the Dior dresses are all really heavy... molded... like 1940s movie star gowns." —Kate Young (29:18)

  • Critique of modern red carpet: Brands, especially for megastars, now create custom dresses that can stray far from their runway DNA, making predictions and brand identity weaker.

    "Designers are making dresses... unrelated to the show DNA that like, it's hard." —Kate Young (27:10)

  • Both feel fatigue with "aggressive nudity" and suspect a swing toward subtler, crafted statements—dependent on the recently-announced body-focused Met Gala theme.

7. The Viral French Twist and The Power of Hair

• Kate Young describes her viral French twist moment at the MoMA/Sofia Coppola benefit:

  "I think the row hair really inspired me. I was like, that's really chic and cool... that French twist with a bow on the side, I have been doing that for, like, 30 years." —Kate Young (31:26)

  • Her approach is both nostalgic and personal, inspired by fashion classics (the Row, Chanel) and a practical life moment (her hair's awkward length).
  • The styling—sleek updos, hair clips, bows—is emblematic of a growing trend toward society-hair and understated glamour.

    "I'm just kind of into this kind of old New York society hair. It's like, appealing to me." —Kate Young (33:58)

8. Phoebe Philo: Influence & Retail Strategy

• The arrival of Philo's brand in stores—at last—marks a shift in consumer excitement and accessibility ("the gig bag" as the new It).

  "Their visual identity is incredible... as important as any show... But I think in my, the real women I know who shop, the difference is really them getting to try it on and touch it." —Kate Young (39:07)

  • The thrill of buying Philo in person overrides e-comm fatigue, where luxury and high street can appear indistinguishable online.
• Shopping culture is shifting too: Niche, local boutiques that offer exclusivity and discovery are thriving (e.g. Ruby Rosa during Paris Fashion Week), while major online luxury is flattening out.

9. Chanel, Vintage, and the Coats Conundrum

• Both hosts discuss the enduring investment value and emotional resonance of Chanel pieces—jackets and bags as cross-generational treasures.

  "I have my grandmother's Chanel bag." —Kate Young (44:32)

• The "What Winter Coat Should I Buy?" Debate:
  Sherman seeks advice; Young offers a hot take:

  "Hopefully they stop listening by this point. Yeah, I love fur. So I'm like, buy a vintage fur. It's totally cheap...It's eco. It's a used fur coat. It will degrade. It's like not a man made microplastic. They're warmer...and so glamorous." —Kate Young (47:30)

• Discussion of navy versus black, proportion trends (the cropped Chanel/Michelle Obama jacket silhouette), and the pleasures of vintage shopping.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the fashion industry's DNA and trend cycles:

  "I love fashion and it is like a capital F. Fashion." —Kate Young (10:30)

• On stylizing a would-be cliché:

  "…could be like Grace Kelly drag." —Kate Young (08:27)

• On the Rockstud comeback:

  "I'm open to it. I'm sort of...Devil Wears Prada is not a good conversation for me. I did that job..." —Kate Young (12:39)

• On the real "fashion people" influence:

  "So much of good style comes out of those girls—not out of the actual customer." —Kate Young (24:39)

• On the thrill (and agony) of shopping and exclusivity:

  "Ruby Rosa during Paris Fashion Week was, like—it was like trying to get into the Alaia show." —Kate Young (41:00)

• On the allure of old Chanel:

  "That stuff is precious. I mean, that's where Chanel is so genius because it does function a little bit more like an investment or jewelry." —Kate Young (44:18)

• On vintage fur coats:

  "Buy a vintage fur. It's totally cheap. They have no value in resale... It's eco... and so glamorous." —Kate Young (47:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Awards Season Overview: 04:07 – 08:11
• Styling Dakota Johnson & Valentino: 07:00 – 09:42
• Valentino Rockstud/Devil Wears Prada: 11:39 – 13:37
• Fashion in Film/TV (Emily in Paris): 14:37 – 15:07
• Brand Strategy & New Designer Debuts: 20:18 – 22:58
• Personal Style & Thrifting: 24:39 – 27:10
• Oscars Predictions: 27:10 – 29:24
• French Twist Hair Craze: 30:42 – 33:58
• Phoebe Philo, Retail, Shopping Culture: 37:19 – 43:37
• Chanel & Vintage Coat Chat: 43:37 – 47:30
• Style Advice & Coats: 47:30 – 50:25

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is candid, sophisticated, and peppered with both nostalgia and sharp critique. Sherman and Young balance industry savvy with wit, tackling both granular celebrity dressing details and high-level shifts in fashion commerce and culture. Their openness about both the business and personal sides of fashion makes for an episode that’s simultaneously instructive, relatable, and fun—a perfect resource for listeners wanting a real insider’s view of the endless, evolving runway that is “Fashion People.”