Podcast Summary: The Run-Through with Vogue
Episode: "Vogue Icon Candy Pratts Price On Why September Is The January of Fashion"
Date: October 30, 2025
Hosts: Chloe Malle, Chioma Nnadi, with special guest Candy Pratts Price
Episode Overview
This episode celebrates legendary fashion editor Candy Pratts Price, examining her iconic influence at Vogue, her impact on digital fashion media, and her enduring dictum: “September is the January of fashion.” The hosts and guests reminisce about career-defining moments, industry evolution, and why September’s energy still defines the fashion calendar. The conversation is rich with anecdotes about old-school Vogue, the changing face of runways, and Candy’s unique approach to trends, digital media, and, of course, shoes.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Candy Pratts Price’s Enduring Legacy
- Chioma recalls ghostwriting for Candy in Vogue’s early digital days, receiving memorable, voice-note dictation full of “urgency” (01:18).
- Candy’s phrase "September is the January of fashion" is dissected and celebrated for its cultural longevity (10:47).
Quote
"September is the January in fashion. This is when I changed. This is when I'm going to try and get back into high heels. Because that's the look. The look is sexy. The look is granny."
— Kandi Pratt's Price (11:26)
2. The Magic and Mayhem of Vogue Past
- Nostalgic recollections of Vogue World, the magazine’s grand events, and unique backstage energy (01:39–03:51).
- Iconic moments: Princess Leia’s golf cart ride on the runway, Teyana Taylor’s show-stopping performance, and heartfelt tributes (02:15, 03:20).
Quote
"I keep thinking about certain moments, like Princess Leia on the back of a golf cart zooming down the Runway."
— Chloe Malle (02:40)
3. Trend Forecasting, Merchandising, and the State of Fashion
- Candy on the shifting mood in fashion collections—more global, more wearable, less theatrical (12:13).
- The commercial/creative balance remains central: “The hard job right now is a merchant’s job...” (12:13–13:44).
- Chloe and Candy discuss which trends (Loewe bags, Dior denim midi skirts) will translate into lasting style.
Quote
"They have a very hard job to applaud what they saw because these are new young fashion designers, and they need the encouragement."
— Kandi Pratt's Price (13:44)
4. Anecdotes: The People and the Place
- Hilarious and heartfelt stories about Vogue offices, from 350 Madison and newsstand nostalgia to losing (and recovering) a diamond earring under an elevator (17:02–19:26).
- Candy’s fashion uniform: heels (“no comfort ever”) and devotion to Saint Laurent (20:21–21:32).
- The legendary Vogue closet, “every glove in every length,” and quirky characters like Phyllis Rayfeld, the ever-vigilant fact-checker (21:50–23:52).
Quote
"We were completely committed to that incredible new voyage."
— Kandi Pratt's Price (25:03)
5. Candy at the Forefront of Digital Fashion
- Instrumental role in making style.com (now Vogue Runway) more than just a digital database: “Let’s treat it like a magazine…” (36:45).
- Her visionary work: strong-arming reluctant brands into online coverage and introducing innovative features like Candy Cast—animated, magazine-style video content (36:45–42:43).
Quote
"We wanted to say in Milan, here's what happened. The walls were like this. And you had to have that kind of talent, a writer's talent, not just somebody saying it, like myself."
— Kandi Pratt's Price (38:30)
6. Behind-the-Scenes: Studio 54, Windows, and Working Style
- Early career: window displays at Charles Jourdan, commission-based shoe sales, and fashion-first customer service (30:50–32:18).
- Studio 54 stories: latex from Trash and Vaudeville, riding pants, and the practicalities of dressing for a nightlife scene (33:53–34:56).
Quote
"When the hot pants era came in, we all wore hot pants with the charger done. No. Yep, we did. It was fantastic."
— Kandi Pratt's Price (32:18)
7. Mentorship, Networking, and the Power of Relationships
- Stories about supporting young fashion professionals and maintaining deep industry relationships.
- Candy’s unique mentorship story: future Barney’s director Marina left a resume in a bouquet at Candy’s building (43:12–45:14).
Quote
"She was clever enough…that’s a go getter. I mean, really. I said, stalker—it's feeling like a stalker already."
— Kandi Pratt's Price (45:14)
8. Shoes: The Final Word
- Candy discusses her collaboration with La Roudet, her criteria for stylish-yet-practical shoes, and strong opinions on pointy toes versus “clunky” soles (43:08–46:45).
Quote
"A pointy shoe... not a clunker. Let's just go with not a clunker. Words to my boy. I wouldn't do a construction boot and cross my legs."
— Kandi Pratt's Price (46:27)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Highlight | |------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11:26 | Kandi Pratt's Price | “September is the January in fashion…” | | 13:44 | Kandi Pratt's Price | “They need the encouragement… it’s depressing to a creative person.”| | 20:43 | Kandi Pratt's Price | "No, but I have the buttons..." (on her Saint Laurent suit) | | 24:59 | Chloe Malle | “It was much more the Vogue closet of films than it is today.” | | 32:18 | Kandi Pratt's Price | “When the hot pants era came in, we all wore hot pants…” | | 36:45 | Kandi Pratt's Price | “Let's treat it like a magazine…” | | 38:30 | Kandi Pratt's Price | “We wanted to say in Milan, here's what happened…” | | 45:14 | Kandi Pratt's Price | “She was clever enough… that's a go getter…” | | 46:27 | Kandi Pratt's Price | "A pointy shoe... not a clunker. Let's just go with not a clunker." |
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:18 — Early Vogue.com era, Candy’s trend forecasting style
- 10:47 — Origin and significance of “September is the January of fashion”
- 12:13 — Candy’s read on this year’s fashion weeks
- 17:02–19:26 — Anecdotes: Diamonds, Calvin Klein, and flowers
- 21:31–23:52 — The old Vogue office: newsstands, uniforms, legendary staff
- 29:43 — Office remodeling and camaraderie with Virginia
- 30:50–32:18 — Beginnings in retail, Charles Jourdan, Jackie Kennedy as a customer
- 33:53 — Studio 54 and fashion’s party scene
- 36:45–42:43 — The evolution of style.com and the creation of Candy Cast
- 43:08–46:45 — Recent shoe collaboration and the importance of silhouette
Overall Tone & Closing
The tone is conversational, peppered with laughter, reverence, and candor. The hosts celebrate Candy’s wit, tenacity, and ability to make even the ordinary seem glamorous. Chock-full of behind-the-scenes lore and practical wisdom, the episode pays tribute to both fashion’s past and present, as seen through Candy’s singular, pointed-toe lens.