Met Gala Co-Chairs Pharrell, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, and Lewis Hamilton are Vogue’s May Cover Stars!

Summary

The Run-Through with Vogue: Episode Summary

Episode Title: Met Gala Co-Chairs Pharrell, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, and Lewis Hamilton are Vogue’s May Cover Stars!
Release Date: April 17, 2025
Hosts: Chioma Nnadi, Chloe Mao, Nicole Phelps
Guests: Marlee Marius (Features Editor), Leah Faye Cooper (Style Director)

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Introduction

In this vibrant episode of The Run-Through with Vogue, hosts Chioma Nnadi and Chloe Mao delve into the excitement surrounding Vogue's May issue, which features a rare quartet of cover stars tied to the upcoming Met Gala. The episode not only highlights the distinguished personalities gracing the covers—Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, and Lewis Hamilton—but also explores exclusive behind-the-scenes stories from Vogue editors Marlee Marius and Leah Faye Cooper.

Billie Eilish Cover Highlight

Before diving into the main topic, Chloe and Chioma reminisce about the recent coverage of Billie Eilish, who graced the cover of Vogue.
Chioma Nnadi shares, “We had the divine Billie Eilish on our cover shot by Johnny Defore. It was a really fun shoot with her friends like Ariana Grande, SZA, and Nicki Minaj submitting questions.”
A memorable moment was when Michaela Cole asked Billie about her dental hygiene routine:
Leah Faye Cooper remarks at [01:46], “Michaela Cole was asking whether she flosses or uses mouthwash first or something. It was so interesting.”

WNBA Draft Insights

Marlee Marius provides a detailed overview of the recent WNBA draft, highlighting star player Paige Beckers’ journey from UConn to the national championship and her standout performance at the draft event.
Marlee Marius states at [02:15], “Paige wore a black Louis Vuitton suit with a bunch of diamond necklaces, which looked really elegant. There was a lot of cool suiting moments.”

Coachella Chronicles

The conversation shifts to the vibrant atmosphere of Coachella, where Chioma recounts her first experience attending the festival. The hosts discuss celebrity sightings and memorable performances, including Pharrell’s historic show at Louis Vuitton HQ.
Chloe Mao shares at [04:07], “I'm excited to see what weekend two will bring, especially with Timothee Chalamet’s unique style choices like a trucker hat and an enormous travel backpack.”

May Issue: Met Gala Cover Stars

The core of the episode revolves around Vogue’s May issue, celebrating four influential Met Gala co-chairs:

1. Pharrell Williams
2. A$AP Rocky
3. Colman Domingo
4. Lewis Hamilton

Pharrell Williams: Chioma provides an intimate glimpse into Pharrell’s creative world.
Chioma Nnadi shares at [09:49], “I walked into his office and heard him composing a song for John Legend. It was incredible to see his everyday life and how he balances music with his creative endeavors.”

A notable quote from Pharrell during their interview:
Pharrell Williams [10:16]: “I need to give my kids constructive struggle so they understand the value of hard work.”

A$AP Rocky: Marlee narrates her engaging encounter with A$AP Rocky during a photoshoot at Langston Hughes' former residence. The anecdote includes playful interactions and a spontaneous game of Krazy Eights, showcasing Rocky’s personable nature.
Marlee Marius recounts at [14:22], “We ended up playing Krazy Eights on the pool table, and it was amazing to see how relaxed and friendly he is.”

Colman Domingo: Leah Faye Cooper discusses her enriching lunch interview with Colman Domingo at the Chelsea Hotel. The conversation highlighted Domingo’s comedic talents and his heartfelt reflections on his career and personal life.
Leah Faye Cooper mentions at [23:31], “He was extremely funny and really carried himself with a purposeful energy. It felt more like hanging out with a friend than a formal interview.”

Lewis Hamilton: Marlee shares her insightful Zoom conversation with Lewis Hamilton, delving into his journey in Formula 1 racing and his influence on fashion within the sport.
Marlee Marius explains at [29:01], “He talked about his humble beginnings and how he pushed against the strict F1 dress codes to bring personal style to the forefront, positively impacting the sport’s culture.”

Behind the Scenes: Personal Anecdotes

The episode is rich with personal stories that humanize these high-profile figures:

• A$AP Rocky's fondness for his grandmother, Kathy, and his playful nature at public events.
• Colman Domingo's close relationship with his late mother and his thoughtful approach to fatherhood.
• Lewis Hamilton's dedication to maintaining his authentic style despite the rigid norms of Formula 1.

Chioma Nnadi shares a touching moment where A$AP Rocky reflects on past Fashion Week parties and his enduring friendships:
“At [34:26], Marlee narrates, ‘A$AP Rocky reminded me of a party we attended during Fashion Week. It was wild to realize how connected we've been all along.’”

Fashion Trends and eBay Finds

Interspersed throughout the episode, Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue's Beauty Editor at Large, discusses the resurgence of 80s opulence and glamour, emphasizing the allure of vintage fashion finds on eBay.
Arden Fanning Andrews comments at [38:56], “There’s a huge push for 80s glamour returning, and finding pieces like a Chloe blazer from the 80s or Dior boots on eBay feels like tapping into timeless elegance.”

Conclusion

The episode culminates with reflections on the cohesive theme of the May issue, celebrating the Met Gala and black excellence through its diverse and influential cover stars. The hosts express their excitement for the upcoming Met Gala and anticipate the impactful contributions of Pharrell, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, and Lewis Hamilton to this iconic fashion event.

Chloe Mao wraps up at [38:56], “Mazel Tov on four fantastic cover stories. The Run Through will be back in a moment.”

Notable Quotes

• Leah Faye Cooper [01:46]: “Michaela Cole was asking whether she flosses or uses mouthwash first or something. It was so interesting.”
• Marlee Marius [14:22]: “We ended up playing Krazy Eights on the pool table, and it was amazing to see how relaxed and friendly he is.”
• Pharrell Williams [10:16]: “I need to give my kids constructive struggle so they understand the value of hard work.”
• Chloe Mao [38:56]: “Mazel Tov on four fantastic cover stories.”

Key Takeaways

• Vogue’s May Issue: A landmark edition featuring four Met Gala co-chairs as cover stars, each bringing a unique influence to the fashion and cultural landscape.
• Behind-the-Scenes Insights: Personal anecdotes from Vogue editors showcase the multifaceted personalities of the cover stars, highlighting their dedication, creativity, and authenticity.
• Fashion Trends: A spotlight on the comeback of 80s opulence and the role of vintage fashion in contemporary trend forecasting.
• Celebrating Diversity: Emphasis on black excellence and the significant contributions of the cover stars to their respective fields and the broader cultural dialogue.

This episode of The Run-Through with Vogue offers an enriching exploration of fashion, culture, and the personal narratives that shape iconic figures, making it an essential listen for fashion enthusiasts and Vogue readers alike.

Transcript

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

This episode of the Run through is brought to you by ebay. I'm Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue's beauty editor at large. Everyone's talking about tassels right now, and that's the moment that I end up typing it into ebay. I found the perfect vintage triple chain belt with golden tassels, and it just looks so elegant, timeless. And it's on the way in the mail to me, thanks to ebay.

[Chloe Mao]

This is the Run Through. I'm Chloe Mao.

[Choma Nadi]

And I'm Choma Nadi.

[Chloe Mao]

And this week, US Vogue's May issue came out, and it is a extremely special issue for us because there are four covers, which is something we very rarely do. And they are all tied to the Met gala coming up very shortly, famously, first Monday in May. Today, to talk about our May covers, we are joined by features editor Marlee Marius and style director Leah Faye Cooper. And Choma Marley and Leah are scribes of this month's cover article. So we are very excited to get into it. But first, before I even tell you who the covers are, Choma, I wanna talk about your new cover that dropped yesterday.

[Choma Nadi]

Yeah, we had the divine Billie Eilish on our cover shot by Johnny Defore. It was. It was a really, really fun shoot. And we actually invited a ton of, like, her friends, like, mostly famous, to interview her, to submit questions. Oh, that's cute. Yes. You had Ariana Grande Sza. Nicki Minaj. It was like a whole.

[Chloe Mao]

What was the best question?

[Choma Nadi]

Oh, that's a tough one.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Michaela Cole was, like, asking, like, whether she flosses or uses mouthwash first or something. And it was so interesting. I was like, I never thought to ask a celebrity that. But it's a great question.

[Chloe Mao]

It is a great.

[Marlee Marius]

How do you do it?

[Chloe Mao]

Give us your dental hygiene routine.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Literally. There's good stuff in there.

[Chloe Mao]

Leah, you went to the WNBA draft, which has become a big moment.

[Marlee Marius]

Yes.

[Chloe Mao]

What set the scene? I feel like Choma has no idea what we're talking about.

[Marlee Marius]

Okay. It was really fun. So the WNBA draft is when, you know, college players get selected by teams in the wnba. There's been a lot of buzz and hype around Paige Beckers, who had a really phenomenal career at UConn, which has long been a women's basketball powerhouse. Her time there was really up and down because she had a lot of injuries, but she capped it off by winning the national championship with her team last Sunday, which was exciting. So fast forward to yesterday, and she was there. All of her teammates came to support everyone Looked great. There was a lot of suiting, a lot of spark on the orange carpet. They do an orange carpet because the basketball is orange. You know, I never thought of that, but probably.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Oh, I was thinking serious. Oh, I was thinking.

[Marlee Marius]

But it was fun. It was great. And it was, you know, the younger.

[Chloe Mao]

What was your top outfit?

[Marlee Marius]

Ooh, my top outfit. Paige wore two in her second. She wore this, like, black Louis Vuitton suit, and she just wore the blazer with the pants and, like, a bunch of diamond necklaces, which I thought looked really. And then there was another player who I'm drawing a blank on her name, but she had, like. She had, like, culottes, like, really big black shorts, and then, like, a blazer that kind of had some threads hanging off of it. I really liked the suiting. There was a lot of cool suit moments.

[Chloe Mao]

Oh, getting ready for. Tailored for you.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Yes.

[Chloe Mao]

Excellent. We also are in the throes of Coachella, which Choma told us all about her first trip to Coachella last week, which I was delighted to be seated for that trip down memory lane.

[Marlee Marius]

I've never been to Coachella. I can't do.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Never even to Coachella.

[Marlee Marius]

I can't do an outdoor festival.

[Chloe Mao]

Well, a lot of people did. It had very big celeb energy at Coachella last weekend. I'm excited to see what weekend two will bring, because really, what could be better than Timothee Chalamet in a trucker hat and an enormous travel backpack? Lai Garcia Furtado said she wants a piece on what Timmy puts inside his camping backpack at Coachella.

[Marlee Marius]

See, that would be me. That's why I can't do if I. There's too many things that I need access to to be just out in the desert.

[Chloe Mao]

Yeah.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

I do wonder how they do it. We're like, where are they actually staying? One wonders. Kylie's not staying out there.

[Marlee Marius]

She's not. I think they stay in somewhere fancy, like, off site. But still while you're there, like, I need a dirt.

[Choma Nadi]

I don't know a lot, but yeah.

[Chloe Mao]

Other highlights. People were gagged for Gaga. Bernie Sanders came on stage with Claro. Which I was my personal favorite cameo.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

I know.

[Marlee Marius]

Wow.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Clara was so cool.

[Choma Nadi]

I love Bernie with me too now.

[Chloe Mao]

I love Claro.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

I know.

[Marlee Marius]

Such a great kind of a dreamy duo.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

I want what they have.

[Chloe Mao]

Literally. Choma. What is happening in London?

[Choma Nadi]

Last night we had Sarah Burton do the lightroom. Yeah, Lightroom. Conversations with Sarah Mower.

[Chloe Mao]

Sarah squared.

[Choma Nadi]

Yes, exactly. It was Sarah Squared. It was great. I mean, you know, Sarah Burton rarely does this kind of appearance, but Sarah had some wonderful stories. I mean, she talked about interviewing with Leigh McQueen in Shoreditch, when I guess it was like a tiny, tiny, tiny office. And maybe he had two employees or one employee. And the question that Lee asked was, the first question was, do you believe in UFOs? That was the kind of like, yes.

[Chloe Mao]

Oh, my God, I should start including that. To podcast guest question. Colman Domingo, do you believe in UFOs? Big news. Jean Paul Gaultier, after having a very successful rotation of designers fronting at his house, has tapped Duran Lantink as his permanent creative director, which is something that people had been whispering about. But it does feel like this exciting moment. I feel like I went to Duran's show.

[Choma Nadi]

Did you see the Bouncing Boobies?

[Chloe Mao]

I saw the Bouncing Boobies. It was one of my favorite shows because it was so creepy. It was at an actual working French office. And they had these performance artists pretending to staple, actually stapling and type things sitting at cubicles. But they were also opera singers, so they were singing in sort of low, operatic, like, Philip Glass esque tones. And then all of these subverted workwear ensembles came down these steps. And including enormous silicone breasts. And on a man. Yes, on a man. And suit pants that were assless chaps. Anyway, so excited to see what Duran will do. We are going to take a short break. We'll be back in a moment.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

The other day, I, like, went on a real ebay spree. There's this huge push for, like, 80s opulence and 80s sort of glamour, and we're going to see that returning. And so I was already kind of tapped into that just from my gorgeous ebay watch list. And I found a really beautiful Chloe blazer from the 80s and a really great Miu Miu Killed Bee's great Dior boots. And I'm combining them all together. Sometimes trend forecasting doesn't require something that's gonna be, like, produced in the future. Sometimes you can, like, tap into the past and tap into the archive as well. That's what makes ebay a fun place to actually discover things, because you're not going in with something so specific in mind, but you have an idea of what you're interested in or what you're excited about or, you know, just truly trend forecasting. And so one thing that I would say people should be watching out for is, like, very opulent 80s style.

[Chloe Mao]

All right. The main event are for May covers, which we really. The entire May issue, I thought, did a wonderful Job of having a cohesive theme being the Met issue in a way that we often try to do, but sometimes some random theater opening gets in the way and throws off a theme. And this issue, I felt like, had a really strong through line addressing the Met exhibition this year. The four cover stars are also our Met co chairs, Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, and Lewis Hamilton Choma. I read your Pharrell story this morning. It is so fun. I love the opener. Did that actually happen? I feel like that was, like, tailor made for an interview lead set the scene for us.

[Choma Nadi]

I have really good luck with these things. I don't know what it is because I am not a person. I need color. I need there to be, like. I need things to be happening. I'm not someone who can write around a story. And literally, I walked into the offices, and I hear his dulcet tones, like, floating over from where I'm sit in, like, waiting just outside the studio. He literally was there singing, like, he is incredible. Wow.

[Chloe Mao]

What was he singing?

[Choma Nadi]

He was singing a song that he was composing for John Legend. Wow. Yeah. I went to Louis Vuitton hq, which is directly opposite the Poin Neuf, where Pharrell staged his first historic show. I mean, it was basically maybe the biggest kind of fashion show Paris has ever seen, or at least there'd never been a show on the Pont Neuf. And it was quite a. It's quite an epic flex. And there was an amazing choir. And, I mean, everybody who was anybody was there. It was like, Jay Z, Beyonce, rihanna, I think A$AP Rocky, everybody was there. So it's pretty incredible to walk into his office that overlooks Upon Nerf and kind of imagine what that scene must have been like. And then his kids had their micro scooters propped up by the door, and he was like. And as I was leaving, like, he'd ordered some food too. So it was like, you know, you get to see kind of glimpses of someone's everyday life. And obviously, like, he's moved his family to Paris.

[Chloe Mao]

I know. Rocket. His son goes to the American school with my nieces.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Oh, that's so cute.

[Choma Nadi]

Oh, really?

[Leah Faye Cooper]

It's so crazy that he has a teenager.

[Chloe Mao]

Yeah, I know.

[Choma Nadi]

And then he says that they're learning French much more quickly than he is, but he's trying. And, like, I think he's get.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

He.

[Choma Nadi]

He's always seen Paris as like, a kind of a second home or a kind of, like, home away from home. And he has a big community there. And it was, it was really cool just, just hearing him talk about how he balances his day. You know, he. He basically is in the studio making music and then grabs on it, like jumps on his skateboard and, and zooms across the office and is talking to the design team and the marketing team and the merchandising. It's a huge operation. And he arrived and basically they, they sort of started remodeling the entire office to sort of suit this, this kind of work, this. His creative process and his creative flow. The fact that he balances these two very big creative pursuits at once. And they're still. So. They're about a year in, but they're still renovating the space. But it was very cool. I mean, I find he's definitely. I just find him to be so. The way that his brain works is very fascinating. I think he's probably. He even said to me, like, this is. This is Focus adhd. Because I was like, how do you do it? Like, switching from one discipline to the next. And he's just like, it's like Focus adhd. Like, I'm, I'm really. I. I'm thinking a mile a minute. But having to focus is really like having to sort of like, channel my energy is, is really how I, how I get it done. Yeah. But, yeah, it was cool that morning. He'd just come from being with the French president, being with Macron, and he was, he was dressed in, you know, the way he's always in, the flared jeans. And we talked actually a lot about the super bowl because he felt that what Kendrick did was such an agenda setting thing and such an amazing moment for the culture. And he just said, I want the Met to be on that level. Like, the Met.

[Chloe Mao]

Oh, that's cool.

[Choma Nadi]

The Met gala needs to be on that level. Yeah. And no, it didn't make it. I didn't, I didn't. Didn't make it into the piece. But we had a very interesting conversation about, about Kendrick. And obviously I had to point out that he, like, he wore those flared. He wore the flares first. Let's be honest.

[Chloe Mao]

I love the way you described his outfit for meeting President Macron, which was a blue logo Vuitton sweatshirt with tricolor embroidery and flared jeans and his rose gold aviator glasses. But then that you said it's his classic style, which speaks to an intuitive, personal style, easy American swagger laced with gall. Savoir faire, which I think really nails it to that. Did I write that?

[Marlee Marius]

Yes, I wrote that. Pop. That Prada collar Girl, sometimes I surprise myself.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

I'm not that stupid after all.

[Choma Nadi]

Leah's story, I'm like, not worth it. It was really good.

[Chloe Mao]

It was great.

[Marlee Marius]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Chloe Mao]

Leah set the scene for the ride.

[Marlee Marius]

Oh, my goodness. So, well, let me say the original plan was to go to the photo shoot towards the end, observe a bit of that. And then Rocky and I were gonna go to some restaurant or cafe that he was gonna pick in Harlem that he liked to go to. That is not what happened. I got there, it was amazing. We shot at Langston Hughes former residence. Wow.

[Chloe Mao]

What is that?

[Marlee Marius]

Now a woman lives there. This fabulous doctor lives there. She bought the house in the 80s and because it's hist, from time to time she allows people to tour and to shoot there, but it's a private residence. Wow. The base of the shoot was right across the street at a church. And there were like tons of. I mean, there were dalmatians in the shoot. So there were like dog handlers and then there was like the police there because we were shooting outside. There was lots of expensive jewelry on set. So every jewelry house had like a jewelry guard there. He had brought. He collects like vintage Louis Vuitton and Goyard trunks. So those were all there. So there were a lot. There was a lot going on, but it was a really very like upbeat atmosphere. His grandmother came towards the end of the shoot to be in some photos with him, which was just.

[Choma Nadi]

Those pictures were just so adorable.

[Marlee Marius]

So sweet. Kathy.

[Chloe Mao]

Tell us about Kathy.

[Marlee Marius]

I mean, Jessie, just a delight, Just so sweet. So proud of her grandson, loves Harlem. Refuses to leave her small Harlem apartment that she's lived in for 20 something years. You know, he was telling her, he's like, you do not have to live here. And she's like, I like it here. You know, like, why would I, Why would I spend so much, why would I spend so much more money on red? And he was like, cause your grandson's asap, Rocky. That's why. But no, grandma, you wanna stay here, it's fine. She was delight. So, yeah. So after the shoot, I guess, you know, everyone was like, okay, where are you guys going to do the interview? And he was like, oh, I had to take my grandma home, so Leah should just, you know, come with me.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

That's amazing.

[Marlee Marius]

So we rode to his grandmother's house and we sat in the living room for a bit and she, you know, talked about what he was like growing up. He's a self professed grandma's boy. He said that he just loved being with his grandma, so cut. Watched cartoons. That was their thing.

[Choma Nadi]

That was so sweet.

[Marlee Marius]

And he was just like, always with her. Kathy loves Rihanna, as we all do.

[Choma Nadi]

I love that. Well, they're both Beijing.

[Marlee Marius]

Yes, they are. And I noticed that when you get into. On her couch, she has, like, a Bajan flag pillow, like, right front and center. And she was like, yes. Like, I think she's a wonderful person. She's so down to earth. I'm so happy that that's who he settled down with.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Grandma's approval of everything.

[Chloe Mao]

I love it.

[Marlee Marius]

Right? It was really sweet. And he also shared that he stays there quite often, like, in the room that he used to stay in.

[Choma Nadi]

Wow.

[Marlee Marius]

So, yeah, he likes being up there, spending time with her. Took a quick stop at the bodega afterwards.

[Chloe Mao]

What was he buying?

[Marlee Marius]

He was buying a Peanut Chew and.

[Chloe Mao]

Marley's face right now.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

I mean, I am allergic to peanuts, but also. Ew.

[Marlee Marius]

And I think we. I think that he was. I think he needed a lighter refresher, maybe. But that was funny. Everyone, like, everywhere we went, people were like, yo, asap. And he was very, like, gregarious, very happy to speak to everyone, like, you know, taking pictures, really friendly. The guy in the bodega was like, wow, you look like A$AP Rocky. And he was like, I get. He's like, I get that a lot.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Oh, brother.

[Marlee Marius]

And then someone came and asked for a photo, and the guy was like, oh, wait, it is you.

[Choma Nadi]

Oh, that's hilarious.

[Marlee Marius]

So from the bodega, we went to Tyler Mitchell's exhibit, which was nice. Tyler had shot the story. And then he met us downtown in his exhibit and gave us a walkthrough, which was really stunning. And then from there, we went to Soho House, where he'd kind of set up shop to, like, work on some music. And he. When he's, you know, doing that recording someplace, he likes to kind of outfit the room, like, so that it looks like his, essentially. So he basically, like, decorated, like, this whole space in Soho House. He decorated the suite. Like, he had, like, his trunks there. He had, like, this. This furry cactus coat rack that he had designed. He has this growing collection of toys because he's constantly buying toys for his little boys.

[Choma Nadi]

Oh, okay.

[Chloe Mao]

Fair, Fair.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Yes.

[Marlee Marius]

Constantly buying toys for his sons, who he also. He talked about both Rihanna and his kids a lot. A family man, like, really, really, really loves being a dad.

[Chloe Mao]

And apparently, he dresses them all himself.

[Marlee Marius]

Well, he said that Rihanna buys most of the clothes, but she dresses them like him.

[Chloe Mao]

Oh, my God, So cute.

[Choma Nadi]

Oh, My God, that is so cute. Essentially.

[Marlee Marius]

But that also. He's like, you know, my kids. He's like, my kids are not, like, you know, wearing Fendi every day. Like, they're kids. Like, they're not, like, they're running around outside, you know, in undershirts, you know, just like other little kids. So, yeah, it was a good time. And it was one of those. He's just very, you know, I. After, we chatted for a bit, and then I was like, okay. Like, thank you so much. And he was like, what? Like, you didn't even eat dinner. Like, oh, my God, I ordered some food. And so we, like, ate. And then again, I was like, thank you so much. He was like, what? My homeboy's about to come over. You got to meet him.

[Choma Nadi]

Oh, my God.

[Marlee Marius]

There was just this, like, you know, throughout the day, like, there, you know, people who, you know, like, he really surrounds himself with, like, friends and collaborators. And so.

[Chloe Mao]

Yeah, who was he?

[Marlee Marius]

I met a lot of those people. So there was one person who's on his management team. He had a photographer with him, his assistant. And then. And then a few, like, longtime friends, like, were in and out.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

And then he was also just hanging out with, like, random Soho House people, right?

[Marlee Marius]

Yes. So this was interesting. So after we had our Italian food that he had ordered.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Amazing.

[Chloe Mao]

What was his order?

[Marlee Marius]

It was so delicious, actually. It was like, Orecchetti.

[Choma Nadi]

He's vegan, isn't he? He's totally plant based.

[Marlee Marius]

Well, he's plant based, yeah. Yeah. So it was an orecchietti and then, like, a ravioli. They were both really delicious. And then, yeah, we were upstairs just hanging out, and it was getting late, so there weren't a ton of people there. But the people who were there, you could notice everyone was like, you know, looking like, is that a dollar ap? Like, it was very obvious that people were like, is that a dollar ap, Rocky? Like, what is he doing here? What's going on? And so we migrated to the pool table, and slowly people just started to walk. Because the vibe was very inviting, I would say, like, it was very inviting. And I think everyone's intuition was correct because people walked up and he was like, hey, you wanna play pool?

[Choma Nadi]

Play goal.

[Marlee Marius]

He's playing pool with someone who just happened to be at Soho House. And then he was like, you guys wanna play Krazy Eights? We play this all the time, him and his friends. A card game. So we're playing Krazy Eights. And again, people are kind of milling over, and he's looking at them and he's like, you guys want me to deal you in? Do you know how to play Krazy Eights? You don't know how to play. I'll te. I didn't know, but he taught me. And I would stress him learning the.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Card game during an interview.

[Marlee Marius]

I would die, actually. Quite easy to learn. And I won the third hand stop, which was exciting. But, yeah, it was a good time. He's just a very open. I've been telling people he's very good at being famous. He just is himself and just people are interested in talking to him or looking at him. He kind of doesn't really let it faze him. He just goes about his day. But, yeah, it was a good time.

[Chloe Mao]

I also love that, in addition to being a fan of Rihanna, Grandma Kathy has a crush on Colman Domingo.

[Marlee Marius]

Okay. Colman Domingo. Grandma Kathy brought up Colman Domingo on several occasions.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Hysterical.

[Marlee Marius]

And yes, she is a big fan. She said she loves, loves him.

[Choma Nadi]

I hope she gets to meet him.

[Marlee Marius]

Honestly, I do, too.

[Chloe Mao]

I feel like somehow that can be arranged.

[Choma Nadi]

Yeah, that needs to happen.

[Marlee Marius]

But yes.

[Choma Nadi]

Well, Molly, you got to meet Coleman.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

I certainly did.

[Chloe Mao]

Tell us about your Coleman lunch.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Well, it's funny to hear you describe, like, yeah, asap, Rocky as, like, being good at being famous and kind of engaging people, because that's kind of the way Colman was, too. We had lunch in Chelsea because he was staying at the hotel Chelsea because he likes it. He likes how kind of, like, homey. It feels cozy, like, elegant, but, like, not sort of fussy or precious. Because that's kind of his vibe, too. Like, he lives really well, but is also, like, very friendly and down to earth. And, like, every member of the hotel staff greeted him at, like, all times. Like, it's obvious. He spent a lot of time there and is, like, really kind to people, and they love having him and he loves being there. And it was. We had. I mean, it was like we had lunch for, like, an hour. And I go into interviews feeling really nervous every single time. But literally at the end of this interview, I was like, that was fun. I was like, that's such a crazy thing to say to someone. But I was like, this was. I feel like we were just vibing. Like, we were kind of hanging out for an hour, talking about his child in Philadelphia and talking about, like, the shows and, like, movies.

[Choma Nadi]

I love that he picked out his wit. His mother's witch.

[Marlee Marius]

Okay. That was just.

[Choma Nadi]

I was like, I almost. I was inspired by it.

[Marlee Marius]

When he described it was hilarious because.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

I was like, were other siblings doing that? And he was like, no. He was like, that was a special thing between me and Eden. Like, that was like, my special treat. I was like, that's hysterically. That's hysterically funny. But, yes, he. He was really. I mean, his. I think his mother died in maybe 2006 or something, but he brings her up a lot because I think he was super. They were really close. She was so supportive of his career, kind of wanted him to do pretty much everything that he's doing now, and named his production company after her because I think he really kind of carries, like, the support that he got from her and the belief that he had from her with him all the time. Like, he's a really, like, thoughtful and sort of intentional and sort of, like, purposeful seeming person. I think he's had, like, a lot of time to, like, learn how to be a professional in this business. Like, learn how to, like, talk to people and learn how to, like, you know, enter a room with, like, a, you know, compelling energy, really. He's been, you know, he's been working since the 90s, even though he's, you know, only really become really famous over the last couple of years. And, yeah, I think he kind of wears that experience really well. And. And I mean, I feel like all kind of awards season when he was promoting Sing Sing, which is. I don't think enough people saw. It's like a really genuinely. A very, really sweet movie with, like, really amazing supporting terms from the cast, most of which were formerly incarcerated men. But he was, like, extremely charming all season. Like, his variety. Actors on Actors Interview with Kieran Culkin was like, something everyone was obsessed with because they were just vibing for an hour. Everyone was just kind of like, listening in on a hang. Them talking about astrology and, like, skincare and. Yeah, and he's, you know, incredibly well dressed, really dashing. He was wearing when I met him a, like, huge, like, oversized, like, white shirt and jewelry and a baseball cap, which, again, it was, like, obviously put together, but, like, like, cool, casual, not trying super hard. It's obvious that he just, like, knows how to, like, carry himself.

[Marlee Marius]

And he's impeccably. I mean, the haircut. Yeah.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Very precise, but also not seeming like a skin routine.

[Choma Nadi]

What is the skin routine?

[Leah Faye Cooper]

I don't feel like it's not. I feel like it's just being, like, unbothered and, like.

[Marlee Marius]

Yeah.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Moving with purpose.

[Marlee Marius]

Like gardening.

[Choma Nadi]

I know. Being in love consistently for many, many years. I mean, him and his husband are goals and then meet you. I mean, like, we're obsessed.

[Marlee Marius]

I know.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Yeah.

[Choma Nadi]

Misconnection to be heard on a future podcast.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Yeah. Okay.

[Chloe Mao]

In detail.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

There you go.

[Choma Nadi]

Yeah, I can't wait to hear that.

[Chloe Mao]

The run through will be back in a moment.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

I like ebay for one of a kind items. Things that feel limited edition or collections that can't be found in stores. And with the ebay authenticity guarantee, I know that when it arrives, it's real. It is a piece that is coming from the designer's collection, the designer's archive. One of the biggest conversation points for some of the parties that I'll go to during fashion week are the pieces that I'm getting off of ebay. Everyone's a little bit intrigued and excited whenever they hear that you were able to find something on this digital treasure hunt.

[Chloe Mao]

Liet, tell us about Lewis.

[Marlee Marius]

Yeah, well, first it was on Zoom. I was in my downtown Manhattan studio apartment, like zero natural sunlight. I looked like I was like in a. In a kidnapper's basement. And then he comes on Zoom and it's like this gleam London home. There's two basquiats in the background.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Oh, my God. Perfectly in frame.

[Marlee Marius]

That's crazy. Perfectly in frame. He looks, you know, just as, you know, dapper as he does when you see him on television. But yeah, it was a really nice conversation. I mean, he talked a lot about, you know, coming from very humble beginnings and his father being really adamant about the way he presented himself and him really having to conform to fit into this, like, world of racing. And I think one of my favorite parts was that he said, which, I mean, is a move that many of us have tried before. I certainly did when I was a teenager is leaving the house in one outfit and then changing into a different one and then having to put on the original outfit before you go back home.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

So funny.

[Marlee Marius]

So he talked a lot about that.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Kind of giving bend it like Beckham. Sorry, Please go on.

[Marlee Marius]

And you know, he spoke about how his influences were like, MTV. So the whole like MTV, NBT, just music videos in general. The TRL 106 and park era was really influential in the way that he dressed. But yeah, I mean, he's very excited about co chairing this Met Gala and obviously really, really, really loves fashion. Really loves, you know, a celebration of black excellence. And it was very delightful to speak to.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

I like the detail of him, like, washing cars in his neighborhood and using that money to like, go to thrift stores to like.

[Chloe Mao]

Yeah, me too.

[Marlee Marius]

To get Tommy Hilfiger. Yes.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

The hustle was real. It was.

[Chloe Mao]

But I also, like, very thematic, always cars indeed.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Brand consistency, vehicle consistency.

[Marlee Marius]

And he really has, like, you know, he really has changed the face of the sport in that way, because the way that he dresses was literally not allowed. Like, there was a very, very, very strict F1 dress codes when he started. And he talked a bit about kind of chipping away. Like, okay, then they said that I could, like, finally wear my own pants. Like, okay, then they said I could wear, like, my own shirt. And how he's kind of, like, going back and forth with these powers that be, being like, listen, we gotta feel good about ourselves. I need to be able to turn up the way that I want to turn up. It's important to me. And in the long run, this is gonna be good for the sport in general. And I definitely think he's proven that point.

[Chloe Mao]

Ladies, what was the most surprising thing you learned about each cover star?

[Choma Nadi]

Hmm?

[Chloe Mao]

Anything you didn't expect?

[Leah Faye Cooper]

I was kind of watching Colman's stuff in preparation for our interview, some of which I'd kind of already seen. Like, I knew that he'd been in euphoria, and I remember some of me euphoria, but I was kind of watching his more recent things. And truly, hours before I met him, I saw screeners for his new Netflix series, the Four Seasons, which is a. It's like Tina Fey has adapted this Alan Alda comedy from, like, 81 or something into a miniseries. And it's so charming. And he's like, you kind of know that he's funny. Like, you get a sense that he has a sense of humor, but this is probably his first time doing a proper comedy in quite some time. And he's, like, properly funny. Like, he. That cast has, like, Will Forte and Steve Carell and Dina Fey, and he stands up to them so easily.

[Marlee Marius]

Interesting.

[Chloe Mao]

This is.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

This is boring. But I am, like, he's. He's extremely funny. That's what I learned. He's, like, a great comedic actor besides everything else that's out in May.

[Marlee Marius]

Okay. A$AP I was really taken aback by how perceptive he is. This is a funny story. I got to the shoot, and we introduced, like, I introduced myself to him, we chatted, and then about, like, two hours later, he was like, you know, we've met before, right? And I was like, no, I don't think so. And he's like, we've met before. And I was like, I think that I would remember if we met before. And he was like, okay, okay, okay. Maybe we didn't, like, formally meet. Like, we weren't introduced, but we were definitely like, you know, we were definitely, like, partying together. Like, you don't remember? And when he said this, my mind went back to literally, I want to say, 20, 2013, New York fashion Week. There was a Donna Karan party that was downtown. This was, like, peak. This was when I was peak party girl. I was much younger. And I remember there was a performance, and afterwards, I was there with my sister, and somehow someone who worked there was like, hey, you guys want to come backstage? And we were like, yeah. And we went. And A$AP Rocky was there, but we did not speak to. We weren't. I mean, we were like. He was like, 15ft away. He was like 15ft away from us. We did not chat at all. And so when he said that, I was like, there's no way that's what he's talking about. And then immediately he goes. He's like, yeah. He was like, you don't remember? It was like a Fashion Week party. Like, Wall Street.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

That's crazy.

[Choma Nadi]

Oh, my God. That is wild.

[Marlee Marius]

I was like, are you kidding me? I was like. We didn't even. We literally did not speak. Like, we were both in the same room.

[Chloe Mao]

That is shocking. I barely remember my children's birthday.

[Marlee Marius]

I know. And he was like. He was like, you. He was like, you were there, right? And he was like, iggy was there. Rita Ora. I was like, oh, wow.

[Choma Nadi]

I have. I have a funny story about ASAP that he will never remember before. He's famous. I ran into him. Well, I was at an opening ceremony. Sample sale. Always at a sample sale, girl. I'm always at a sample sale. And I made him try on something in the men's section because he looked, like, the same size as my Ben boyfriend.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Oh, that's so funny.

[Marlee Marius]

He was, like, so kind.

[Choma Nadi]

He just did it. I don't think he was famous. Or maybe he was like, just kind.

[Chloe Mao]

Of like, ASAP as Choma's fit model is such amazing.

[Choma Nadi]

Trying this on. I doubt he will never remember this, but of course I remember this, because he's freaking famous.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

That's so funny. But so funny.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Wow.

[Marlee Marius]

Okay, Lewis. Also, this didn't make it into the story, but he told me about his first time meeting Anna at the Met Gala and how he got to the top of the stairs and was so nervous and was like, I need to kiss her hand.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

That's the property. Oh, no.

[Marlee Marius]

He's like, mind you, I literally have Never kissed anyone's hand in my life, and I don't know what came over me.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

He got down on one date.

[Marlee Marius]

Did he do it? And so he pulls her hand, and she politely. She's probably like, you know, pulling it back, but he. He succeeded in kissing her hand. And then he was mortified and continued to be mortified and continued to literally hide from her whenever he would see her moving forward until years later, he was at Wimbledon, and he realized they were sitting next to each other, and he was like, oh, gosh. Oh, gosh. Oh, gosh. But he said that they. They sat next to each other on Wimbledon. At Wimbledon and had a fantastic time.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

And now they're great friends.

[Choma Nadi]

Yeah, they're very. They're great friends. Yes, they're really great friends.

[Marlee Marius]

He said for years he. He had more. He. He avoided her because he was. He was very embarrassed about insisting on kissing her hands.

[Chloe Mao]

Oh, my God.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

That's so crazy. Oh, my God.

[Choma Nadi]

I'm trying to think of a surprise that. That tops mine, for sure. I. One thing that sort of surprised me, or I guess I've always kind of like, you know, Pharrell, among other things, is also a dad, right. And I'm always, like, curious to. But he's very private. You know, he's very private. But I think he's a very devoted father, much like asap. So we. I was trying to get him to talk about parenthood, and then I think I sort of struck a nerve because he was just basically like. Because I was like, oh, you know, tell me about it. And he's like, well. Well, he was like, you know, I need to give them constructive struggle. And I was like, what do you mean, constructive struggle? And I was like, I don't want them to be spoiled. Like, we. Like, that's. Wow.

[Chloe Mao]

I've never heard that term before.

[Marlee Marius]

Creating a box.

[Choma Nadi]

You said something, and I was like, oh, my gosh. Like, interesting. Like, constructive struggle.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Yeah.

[Choma Nadi]

All kids need constructive struggle because you can't spoil them. Like, whether you're Pharrell or whether you're just like, Joe Bloggs, like, because he was like, the way I grew up, that was like, he didn't have anything. So he. Obviously, he doesn't want. He's very. He seemed like. I was like, okay, dad.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

Child psychologist. Perfect.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

Yeah.

[Choma Nadi]

So no soft parenting here. Like, he's not making. He's like. He's making sure his kids, like, know what hard work means.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

That's amazing.

[Marlee Marius]

That is.

[Chloe Mao]

All right, thank you, everyone, for coming on this show today. And Mazel Tov on four fantastic cover stories. And that's it for the show today. See you all soon. The Run through is produced by Chelsea Daniel, Alex DePalma and Joanna Solotaroff. It's engineered by Jake Loomis, Luke Moseley and James Yost. It is mixed by Mike Kutchman. Stephanie Kariuki is our executive producer and Chris Bannon is Conde Nast's head of Global audio.

[Arden Fanning Andrews]

The other day I, like, went on a real ebay spree. There's this huge push for like, 80s opulence and 80s sort of glamour and we're going to see that returning. And so I was already kind of tapped into that just from my gorgeous ebay watch list. And I found a really beautiful Chloe blazer from the 80s and a really great Miu Miu kilt, these great Dior boots. And I'm combining them all together. Sometimes trend forecasting doesn't require something that's going to be, like, produced in the future. Sometimes you can, like, tap into the past and tap into the archive as well. That's what makes ebay a fun place to actually discover things, because you're not going in with something so specific in mind, but you have an idea of what you're interested in or what you're excited about or, you know, just truly trend forecasting. And so one thing that I would say people should be watching out for is, like, very opulent 80s style.

[Leah Faye Cooper]

From PRX.