Fashion People — “We’ll Always Have Paris”

Host: Lauren Sherman
Guests: Jason Stewart (How Long Gone), Derek Blasberg
Date: March 10, 2026
Theme: A deep dive into the personalities, shows, and undercurrents of Paris Fashion Week 2026, with sharp industry commentary, candid reflections, and fashionable wit.

Episode Overview

This episode offers a vibrant, behind-the-scenes recap of Paris Fashion Week’s closing days through the eyes of host Lauren Sherman and her guests. Lauren hits the hot spots with Jason Stewart, fresh from his Loewe debut, and pivots into an incisive, banter-filled discussion with industry insider Derek Blasberg. Together, they break down the energy of the shows, interesting fashion week trends, and the cultural shifts shaping the industry — with signature candor, critique, and humor.

1. Jason Stewart’s First Paris Fashion Week

Segment: [01:03–14:18]

- Paris Initiation & Adventures

• Jason describes his whirlwind first trip: “Just showed up, sat in our hotel lobby for three or four hours, recorded a podcast, went to dinner with you, edited the podcast, went to bed, went to Loewe show, and then… rode a bicycle around until it was time to go to the after party.” (03:07)
• Admits to not having a real Parisian meal, despite being a self-proclaimed “foodie.” (04:13)
• Lauren claims London is now her favorite food city, given its diversity and quality—a sentiment not universally shared. (04:30)

- Fashion Week Food & Social Scene

• The two riff on the social circuit: Japanese food is “the only place that fashion industry people eat during fashion week.” (03:07)
• Lauren talks about being jealous of Jason’s podcasting with the River Cafe’s Ruthie. (05:08)

- At the Loewe Show

• Jason unexpectedly landed a coveted seat:
  • “I don’t know for certain why exactly I was invited to Paris Fashion Week… I guess we got called up to the big leagues.” (06:00)
• Honesty about fashion show casting: “Brands… have their standard demographic covered with K-pop idols... the standard fashion people, [so] throw in some random stuff. We appeal to a different market.” (06:46)
• Unconventional audience mix—stuffed animals in the front row:
  • “There were stuffed lobsters and other sea creatures in the front row taking front row seats from humans, which I thought was extremely funny.” (07:11)
• Jason’s review:
  • “It felt like I was going to Buckingham Palace... very exciting… [there was] bad but perfectly awful techno music playing… the tempo… was perfect for all these models to walk in their cunti way. And I felt like I was at the future of fashion, the future of fashion shows.” (09:31)
• Lauren on music at shows: “I either like something like boom, boom, boom or I like some music that I know... but it is risky.” [11:11–12:35]
• Jason didn’t buy a Charvet shirt (“unfortunately did not have time”, 13:29) but plans to return.

2. Derek Blasberg Recaps Paris: Banter & Backstage

Segment: [14:20–end (~1:15:00)]

- On Being a Polarizing Guest

• Lauren: “Some people were like, you are so mean to Derek. Other people were like, Derek hates you. It was awesome.” (14:39)
• Derek: “I agree with both responses.” (14:46)

- Paris vs Milan & Salone Design Fair

• Derek skipped Milan to attend Salone for the first time:
  • “I sat out Milan… [for Salone,] told the best part is that it's much more democratic than fashion week… not all velvet rope exclusive.” (15:49–16:29)

2.1 Show Highlights and Industry Commentary

- Dior & Saint Laurent

• Derek:
  • Dior: “Sunny and tropical… collection inspired by water lilies and that incredible fountain in the middle of the Tuileries… big productions, booming soundtracks, lots of looks.” (17:42)
  • Saint Laurent: “Shows in the Trocadero… a sexy, clean, minimal glass box... built an oversized bust at the runway’s end.” (18:28)
• Lauren:
  • “Jonathan Anderson is doing an incredible job… women my friends of all ages are really—some were skeptical. It felt … so dimensional and the fabrics were beautiful. It looked better in person.” (19:07–21:00)
  • Saint Laurent “so influential on how women dress today… opportunity in home as well.” (21:00)

- Alaïa & Peter Mulier’s Exit

• Derek:
  • “Very emotional… Peter invited a lot of students… so much enthusiasm in the air… everyone was very emotional at his bow.” (23:10–23:57)
• Lauren:
  • “Stuff also runs its course, and sometimes, like, he was there for four years. It's kind of a nice capsule of a time in fashion… he's capable of so much, and I'm excited to see what he can do at Versace.” (24:29)
• Notable Debate:
  • Derek: “I think we have to push back on saying that four years is an acceptable tenure for a designer… I always admire designer appointments that stand the test of time.” (25:32)
  • Lauren: “Sometimes TV shows last too long and sometimes they end early… just be happy that it existed in this capsule of time.” (26:10)

- Chloe & The Oprah Effect

• Derek:
  • “I love what Shamina does… Oprah’s actually a big Chloe customer…” (29:36–29:59)
  • Lauren predicts “She’ll be at Chanel.” (30:07)
• Increasingly visible celebrities at shows and the “clientele” impact. (29:59–30:44)

- Givenchy, Celine and the Brand Proposition

• Lauren:
  • “Givenchy… best red carpet that’s going on right now... Something that Jonathan [Anderson] said…was trying to find the why of why something should exist... That’s something these brands need to be asking.” (32:00)
  • “Celine … are making a softer bag … their shoes are the exact right shape..." (32:55)

- Loewe, Front Row Dynamics, and Retail

• Derek on Loewe (“sea creatures”):
  • “Kassimo Von Boonen created those stuffed animals… First time [the brand] showed menswear.” (36:44)
  • Enthuses about his long friendship with the designers (Jack & Lazaro), the show’s environment, and the “nautical appendage” theme. (35:26)
• Lauren:
  • “Front row … was so great. They really mixed people up… I thought the show was great.” (37:03–38:28)
  • "The product just looked so good from the first collection. Like, I wanted to buy a jacket, a skirt..." (37:03–38:28)

2.2 Fashion Dollars, Shopping Habits, and Chanel Mania

• Lauren on shopping:

  • “My seasonal shopping budget is whatever I can do and not be in debt... The jacket I wanted from Chanel... is less than half of what I thought it would be... I am going to get it for myself.” (38:43–39:26)

• Derek teases: “I love hearing my girlfriends rationalize and itemize their fashion purchases.” (39:26)

• Chanel Mania:

  • “It feels like everybody bought something the last few days... there was a line outside.” (41:16–41:56)
  • “As a business reporter, I am sad that the numbers are not going to be published until 2027.” (41:56)
  • Lauren scores a coveted jacket: “It’s my second… first thing I bought full price from Chanel since 2010.” (42:28)

2.3 Industry Gatekeeping & Press

• Bans from shows:
  • Lauren: “If I’m not banned from one show every fashion week, something’s wrong. I’m not doing my job.” (43:36)
  • Derek: “There’s no freedom of the press in the fashion industry.” (44:05)
  • Lauren: “The press is freer this season, that’s for sure… I got to go to all the shows I wanted.” (44:12)

2.4 More Show Highlights & Fashion Philosophy

- Tom Ford & Heider Ackermann

• Lauren:
  • “I think people want great clothes they can wear… what Heider Ackermann is doing—still specific but more in the conversation of how real people dress… there was something very editorial, like I could see all the Tom Ford stuff on the cover of Elle in 1999.” (45:46–48:55)
• Derek:
  • “I loved the presentation, the casting, I'm such a sucker for 90s era model formations... I’d like to make this a call to arms for all designers to get more kooky when it comes to staging your runways.” (48:55)

- Non-traditional Runways: McQueen & More

• Lauren:
  • “What I thought was really pretty was McQueen… swirling sort of maze of a box…” (50:11)
• Derek:
  • Admission: “I didn’t stay up as late this Fashion Week… maybe I’m making peace with my middle aged gay dad era.” (50:41–51:12)

2.5 Partying, Social Media, & Changing Industry Culture

• The culture of going out is changing:
  • Derek: “Nowadays, when someone asks me if I’m in my right seat… I still have this PTSD... In the early days I’d be that crasher.” (52:06–56:02)
  • Reflection on measuring fun via likes instead of “broken shoes and blisters.” (52:43–54:07)
  • Lauren: "You really have to watch every single thing you say and do... going out and partying is part of that... people go to wine bars now... not going to clubs at 3am." (54:07–55:52)

2.6 Community, Life in Paris, and Gagosian Event

• Derek plugs his Wes Anderson-curated Joseph Cornell show at Gagosian Paris:
  • “Wes recreated the entire basement in that house in Queens inside the gallery… if you are here tomorrow… it’s kid friendly.” (57:42–58:42)
• Lauren reveals she’ll be living in Paris for four months:
  • Derek: “Solicit some activities from your listeners… Luxembourg Gardens for kids?” (60:31)
  • Lauren: “We’re very busy.” (60:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fashion Show Music:
  • Jason: “I like it when a fashion show just says, fuck it, let’s just play, you know, what you would expect to hear when you’re watching Zoolander or something. Just give me some dumb, cheesy techno and let’s really do this thing, you know?” [10:31]
• On Front Row Dynamics:
  • Lauren: “All the celebs were… Has she ever been on your podcast? She’s pretty funny.” [08:34]
  • Derek: “Eva Chen and I are always seated together because...we’re sort of lone wolves.” [07:11]
• On Changing Industry Socializing:
  • Derek: “We now live in an era when people measure fun in likes and Instagram…in the early 2000s, you really measured fun in broken shoes and blisters in your heels.” (52:43)
• On Lauren’s Fashion Reporting:
  • Lauren: “If I'm not banned from one show every fashion week, something's wrong. I'm not doing my job.” [43:36]
  • Derek: “There’s no freedom of the press in the fashion industry.” [44:05]
• On Rationalizing Purchases:
  • Derek: “I love hearing my girlfriends rationalize and itemize their fashion purchases...It’s half as much as I thought it would be. And with the VAT…” [39:26]
• On Paris vs Milan vs the Future:
  • Derek: “The best part of Salone is that it’s much more democratic feeling than Fashion Week.” [15:49]
• On Capsule Design Eras:
  • Lauren: “Sometimes TV shows last too long and sometimes they end early and you’re sort of like, sad… but maybe it shouldn’t be so focused on the designer themselves and more on the sort of architecture of the brand.” [26:10]

Key Timestamps

| Topic / Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------|------------| | Jason Stewart’s Paris Week Recap | 01:03–14:18| | Derek Blasberg’s Paris Overview | 14:20–end | | Food, Social Circuit | 04:13–05:08| | Loewe Show, Mixed Audience, Music | 06:31–11:11| | Dior & Saint Laurent | 17:42–22:09| | Peter Mulier’s Alaïa Exit | 23:10–25:32| | Shopping Budgets/Chanel Mania | 38:28–43:12| | Industry Press, Access & Bans | 43:28–44:31| | Tom Ford/Heider Ackermann Review | 45:19–49:41| | Changing Fashion Socializing | 50:41–54:07| | Gagosian Event, Lauren’s Paris Move | 57:28–60:54|

Final Thoughts

This episode balances wit, sharp industry insight, and flying gossip, perfectly channeling the blend of insider access and candid attitude that makes “Fashion People” essential listening for anyone serious about fashion’s present and future. The hosts and guests aren’t afraid to challenge received wisdom — or tease each other ruthlessly — but always with an eye toward what’s next and who’s (really) shaping the narrative. Fashion Week, Paris, and the business of style have rarely sounded more fun or more real.