The Run-Through with Vogue

Episode: "How Tracee Ellis Ross Packed For Dior (and PFW!)"

Release Date: October 3, 2025
Hosts: Chloe Malle (Vogue U.S.), Chioma Nnadi (British Vogue)
Featured Guest: Tracee Ellis Ross

Episode Overview

This episode features an insightful conversation with Tracee Ellis Ross, touching on her experience at Dior and Paris Fashion Week (PFW), her unique packing philosophy, memorable fashion moments, and behind-the-scenes chats with Vogue editors and contributors. The episode moves between show discussions, fashion insights, and intimate reflections on solo travel, style, and well-being. It also includes lively recaps with Hamish Bowles, Tiziana Cardini, and Amy Verner, providing a real-time sense of the PFW whirlwind.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Paris Fashion Week Scene Setting

• The hosts, along with Tracee and Hamish Bowles, describe the atmosphere in Paris and detail their visits to major fashion shows including The Row, Tom Ford, Mugler, Rick Owens, and Schiaparelli.
• The beauty and exclusivity of The Row show is highlighted, especially the mystique and focus on physical notetaking rather than social media.
  • “It feels almost like going into the fashion Vatican” — Alex DePalma [02:13]

2. The Row Show Recap

• Discussion centered on The Row’s combination of texture, minimal color palette, eveningwear focus, and signature styling touches.

• Special attention is given to the elaborate updos and decorative combs, adding a “whimsical, Japanese-esque” touch.

  • “Three decorative combs...almost Japanese, in an esque curved shape. It completely transformed each girl’s look.” — Choma Nnadi [03:24]

• Hamish Bowles praises the show’s modern elegance and references to fashion history.

  • “There was an evening dress that was draped just like a Madame Grès.” — Hamish Bowles [04:16]

3. Tom Ford’s Dramatic Turn

• The episode celebrates Tom Ford’s runway energy, contemporary reinterpretations of the house codes, and the seductive staging.
• The creative director’s ability to balance homage to Ford with forward-thinking design is lauded.
  • “He manages to take all of those codes of Tom Ford and bring them forward… That’s the secret sauce.” — Choma Nnadi [07:26]

4. Rick Owens and Schiaparelli: Performance as Fashion

• Amy Verner and Tiziana Cardini elaborate on Rick Owens’ water-extravaganza at Palais de Tokyo, noting the demanding environment for models, the astrological chart prints, and the high energy music.
  • “The music was a remix of ‘Don’t You Want Somebody to Love’, and the repetition became a mantra.” — Amy Verner [13:38]

5. Tracee Ellis Ross — Fashion, Packing, and Traveling Solo

Dior Show Experience

• Tracee describes her Dior outfit: layered shorts in “washed chambray” (actually heavy twill), a tweed jacket, and a tux/riding jacket with “grosgrain collar.”

  • “I was wearing those shorts that are an ode to the old layered dress… with a tweed jacket with the grosgrain collar.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [16:01]

• The look was delivered by stylist Carla Welch, without a traditional fitting.

• Tracee and the hosts marvel at the balance of wearability and extravagance in the Dior collection, highlighting lace veils, inventive bustles, playful tricorn hats, and “exploding rose” shoes.

  • “His clothes have this unpreciousness...they’re both beyond and also just wearable.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [17:03]

Packing Philosophy

• Tracee candidly discusses her signature “Bring It All” approach to packing — rooted in maximization, creative joy, and preparedness for any occasion or “disaster.”

  • “I have made it to the other side of having tons of shame around how much I pack. The reason that I pack as much as I do—some of it is that in my life, I don't really get to wear my beautiful clothes. But I love clothes, and I've always loved clothes.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [31:23]

• She emphasizes that packing is about creating looks and feeling ready for both beauty and unpredictability.

  • “I pack for beauty and disaster. So it's a combination of satisfying the anxiety of what might happen… and then there's also just like, making outfits.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [32:15]

• Tracee details her meticulous sorting and editing process, including racks at home, outfit coordination, shoe choice, and lessons learned from lost luggage as a child.

  • “If there's a pair of shoes that's only getting worn once, it's out. And that means that look's gotta go.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [35:18]

Personal Style as Play

• Tracee and the hosts discuss the importance of play, authenticity, and self-expression in fashion.
  • “I love that part of my life. It just brings me tons of joy. It is one of the ways that I wear my insides on the outside.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [34:40]

6. Tracee’s Paris “Musts” and Favorite Experiences

• Dining at Paul Bert, “wearing” the steak, and point-of-view on merging into Parisian life with museum visits and cultural stops.
• Visiting exhibits, including the Tadao Andao/Pinault Collection and the Virgil Abloh exhibition.

7. Solo Travel as Self-Care and Revolution

• Tracee reflects on the public’s perception of women (and Black women) traveling solo, the politics of safety, and the broader purpose of her show.

  • “What are the areas that might be the most beautiful part of you, but might leave you vulnerable somewhere else in the world?...I think it's more about the relationship with self than the adventure or things I'm experiencing.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [44:03]

• Hosts and Tracee agree that solo travel is often met with surprise, and affirm the value of loving one’s own company.

  • “People are shocked. ‘Oh, it’s just you?’ Yes, it’s just me. I’m good.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [45:48]

8. Behind-the-Scenes Stories from Fashion Past

• Tracee’s memories of her runway debut at Mugler (with her mother, Diana Ross) and a hilarious anecdote about being asked to wear rhinestone dollar signs — with Naomi Campbell goading her on.

  • “Naomi said, ‘Do you want to be a model or not?’ And I said, ‘I want to be a model.’ So I showed my babies. And here we are.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [28:39]

• Reflections on confidence, the historicity of fashion, and the “Brown to magazine pipeline” between her and Samira Nasr.

9. Beauty Rituals & Product Talk

• Tracee shares beauty packing strategies, including “pattern body” products.

  • “It’s outfit with the shoes that go with it all go in one bag — so if a bag gets lost, I can still live and be fine.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [40:25]

• Cautions against over-consolidating essentials—her own lost luggage trauma is recounted with wit and nostalgia.

10. Books and Next Destinations

• Teases reading material: an unpublished novel recommended by a friend, and “Sisters” by Jonas Hasan Khemiri.
• For her next season of solo travel, Tracee voices dreams of going to Australia, Japan, Switzerland, or the south of France, always driven by curiosity for new places rather than adventure for adventure’s sake.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On playing with fashion:
  “My favorite time of day is the morning for dress up… I can tell when I get a good outfit because I literally, out loud in my mirror, I'm like, ‘Yeah, yeah, you are cute.’” — Tracee Ellis Ross [34:08]

• On solo dining:
  “It is my greatest luxury to go to a restaurant by myself and just watch. Heaven.” — Alex DePalma [46:06]

• On history and design reverence:
  “I love people that have a sense of history and are willing to nod to it while still leaning towards the future.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [25:00]

• On her friendship with Samira Nasr and the "Brown to magazine pipeline":
  “That’s my best friend. So it’s been almost 30 years now. Jesus.” — Tracee Ellis Ross [31:03]

• On losing luggage as a formative packing experience:
  “It all started at 12 years old when we went on a trip and my luggage got lost. I still have not seen… my yellow Guess Velcro oversized shirt…” — Tracee Ellis Ross [40:34]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:26–06:14: The Row Show deep-dive with Hamish Bowles
• 06:14–08:14: Tom Ford show recap and analysis
• 09:44–14:16: Rick Owens and the power of performance in fashion
• 16:01–19:11: Tracee on Dior, personal style, and fitting process
• 28:13–30:33: Tracee’s Mugler runway story and memories of modeling with her mother
• 31:23–36:15: Tracee’s packing process and fashion editor insights
• 43:41–45:15: On solo travel, safety, and self-care as a Black woman
• 45:51–47:03: On solo dining and being at ease with oneself
• 47:32–48:25: Switzerland, birthdays, and living in the moment
• 48:39–49:45: What Tracee is reading/watching while traveling
• 49:44–end: Episode wrap-up and credits

Concluding Tone & Takeaways

This episode encapsulates the exuberance, intellect, and humor of Tracee Ellis Ross, as well as the insider excitement and camaraderie of Vogue’s editorial team during Paris Fashion Week. With frank, funny, and empowering reflections on style, travel, and packing, listeners are left with both actionable inspiration and a sense of the creative, communal magic of fashion’s biggest week.