Well, it happened. At long last, Jonathan Anderson showed his first Dior women’s collection. Is everyone happy now? Well, not really. Read this story in Back Row and see the images discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m Amy Odell. You may know me from writing New York Times best-selling biographies of Anna Wintour and Gwyneth Paltrow. Or my first book, Tales from the Back Row: An Outsiders View from Inside the Fashion Industry. I'm turning my popular Back Row newsletter into a podcast, covering everything from what's happening at luxury brands like Dior and Loro Piana, to trends in athleisure, to pop culture phenomenons like Emily in Paris or the Barbie movie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy reviews designer Matthieu Blazy's historic debut collection for Chanel. This podcast is based on this issue of her Back Row newsletter. Also referenced: this "Retail Confessions" column where a former Chanel sales person talks about what it was really like working in the store selling to some of the world's wealthiest people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy is joined by Dana Thomas, fashion journalist and New York Times bestselling author of Deluxe, to pick spring 2026 Fashion Month Awards. Categories include: Most Baffling Success; Best Debut; Most Polarizing Collection; and more. For more stories like this, subscribe to the Back Row newsletter and Amy's YouTube channel. Get more from Dana Thomas in her Style Files newsletter. Books referenced: Amy's Anna: The Biography; Dana's Gods & Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy reviews Victoria Beckham's new Netflix documentary, which sheds light on how she went from maligned tabloid star to the founder of her own fashion brand — and how she made over her image to earn the industry's respect. Plus, "Loose Threads" about Anna Wintour, Victoria's Secret, and more. This episode originally ran in the Back Row newsletter. Subscribe to Back Row on YouTube for more stories like this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Odell (author of Gwyneth: The Biography) interviews Linus Karp and Joseph Martin, stars and creators of the hit play with music, Gwyneth Goes Skiing — a send-up of the 2023 trial involving Gwyneth Paltrow and retired optometrist Terry Sanderson. Amy talks about her interview with Terry Sanderson for her book; Linus and Joseph talk about their research process for the play; props (yes, they visited the Goop store); and why this viral courtroom moment translated so well to the stage. Gwyneth recently discussed Amy's book in British Vogue, and the three discuss that, too. Guests: Linus Karp & Joseph Martin 🔗 Links & Resources • Buy Gwyneth: The Biography • Listen to Gwyneth: The Biography in Spotify • Gwyneth Goes Skiing tickets / info (NYC → Aspen → LA) Support the Show • Follow Back Row: https://amyodell.substack.com/ https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell/ • Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amy_odell 00:00 — Intro: 'Gwyneth: The Biography' + 'Gwyneth Goes Skiing' 00:29 — How Gwyneth and Terry Sanderson ended up in court 01:40 — A preview of 'Gwyneth Goes Skiing' 03:30 — Research: the play and the book 09:00 — Portraying Terry Sanderson & Gwyneth Paltrow 18:00 — Goop store visit & props 22:00 — Amy recalls interviewing Terry Sanderson 28:00 — Discussing Gwyneth's response to 'Gwyneth' in British 'Vogue' 31:00 — Closing thoughts Credits Host and producer: Amy Odell Editing: Amy Odell and Jonathan Voytko Recorded October 17, 2025 Photos: Anna Clare (Courtesy of Awkward Productions) Video: Courtesy of Awkward Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Avery Trufelman, the host of the Articles of Interest podcast, talks to Amy about her new season, how the military influenced gorpcore and modern preppy clothing, Greta Lee's new Vogue cover, and more. This is an extended version of the Back Row newsletter that published on October 21. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Row's sample sale just wrapped in New York City. The slew of haul vlogs fans of the brand posted after pillaging the sale resulted in some of the best content involving influencers since the Fyre Festival. What do these tell us about the brand and the current state of shopping culture? Amy explores. This story originally appeared in the Back Row newsletter. Also discussed in the show: The only The Row haul parody you need. Amy's earlier reporting on The Row from Back Row: Can the Olsens Make The Row the Next Hermès? Banana Republic is GOOD, friends. Check out this shirt dress and this button-down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy sits down with Ryan Bailey, host of So Bad It's Good, to analyze Victoria Beckham's Netflix docu-series. They discuss how it compared to David Beckham's docuseries and RJ Cutler's docs about Martha Stewart and Anna Wintour; what makes Victoria so appealing; what the show blatantly left out; and how the Victoria Beckham fashion line is actually performing as a business. For more, follow So Bad It's Good with Ryan Bailey. Follow Ryan on Instagram and YouTube. Read Amy's earlier review of Victoria Beckham in Back Row. Time stamps: (00:00) Introduction to Ryan Bailey and His Podcast (01:09) Exploring the Beckham Docu-Series (04:36) Family Dynamics and Tabloid Drama (06:42) Victoria Beckham's Media Presence (08:26) Victoria Beckham's Fashion Journey (12:00) Insecurities in Celebrity Culture (15:53) Business Success and Challenges (21:17) Victoria Beckham's Fashion Brand and Industry Respect (22:51) Target Audience and Market Positioning (25:13) Body Image and Fashion Industry Challenges (27:03) The Pressure of Being a Nepo Baby (29:43) Owning Privilege and Public Perception (30:48) The Future of Celebrity Brands (34:24) Comparative Analysis of Celebrity Documentaries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy interviews Marisa Meltzer, author of It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin, about how Birkin became one of the most famous fashion icons of the sixties. Marisa talks about how she became the inspiration and namesake for the Hermès Birkin bag, and whether or not she was ever paid for this distinction. She also reveals how Birkin really felt about the Birkin bag becoming more famous than her — and much more. (1:19) An excerpt from the audiobook of Amy's latest book, Gwyneth: The Biography (2:52) Jane Birkin's early life and upbringing, including how she met her husband John Barry when she was 17; and how she ended up moving from London to Paris and meeting Serge Gainsbourg (6:55) Birkin's significance as an icon of Swinging 1960s London (8:28) Birkin was an It girl in the pre-tech age. Can you reverse-engineer being an It girl today? Or does the algorithm sap people of the required mystery? (12:09) How romantic relationships vault It girls like Birkin and Gwyneth Paltrow. (14:14) The Birkin bag origin story. (18:57) Did Hermès unfairly co-opt Birkin's name for a massively profitable bag? How did she feel about it? (22:16) How much Hermès paid Birkin for use of her name. (25:57) How Birkin handled aging out of her It girl status. (Or did she become an It dame?) (31:00) Was Jane Birkin ambitious? (32:34) Amy and Marisa play a game: It girl or not an It girl? Featuring: Alix Earle, Lauren Sánchez, Anna Wintour, Apple Martin, and more. Links & resources: Amy Odell's Back Row newsletter It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin, by Marisa Meltzer Listen to Amy's book Gwyneth: The Biography in Apple, Spotify, and Audible. Check out Amy's biography of Anna Wintour, Anna: The Biography. Credits: Produced by Amy Odell. Edited by Amy Odell and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of Anna Wintour's last Vogue cover as editor-in-chief, featuring Timothée Chalamet, Amy counts down her top 10 most influential covers from over the course of her career. Which ones would you add to the list? (0:23) Why Timothée's cover was a big surprise (1:18) What the social media commenters said about the cover (3:01) The cover countdown begins (6:08) Countdown halfway point (9:14) Anna's number-one most influential cover (10:08) Back Row commenters weigh in on Amy's list and make their picks (12:20) Loose Threads (fashion news highlights) featuring All's Fair's terrible reviews, Kris Jenner's birthday party, and more. This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published November 11, 2025. Links & resources: • Amy Odell's Back Row newsletter • Anna: The Biography, by Amy Odell • "Ugly clothes for ugly times" by Raquel Laneri Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Atlantic staff writer and Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves author Sophie Gilbert joins Amy to talk about All's Fair. The new Ryan Murphy show starring Kim Kardashian has received uniformly dire reviews — yet has triumphed in the face of its badness with pretty respectable ratings. Is this the end of competency in culture? Did All's Fair's creators intend for this show to be so terrible? Plus what Kardashian's captivating blankness, on unflinching view in All's Fair, says about the state of culture today. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: All's Fair and its reception 02:27 The show's themes and stars 05:02 Why the Kardashians took off as reality stars 06:53 All's Fair's depictions of plastic surgery and the Kardashian-Jenner influence on plastic surgery more broadly 11:54 Kris Jenner's 70th birthday party and depictions of extreme wealth in popular culture 20:02 Are we reaching the end of competence in culture, as we are in politics? 24:15 Why girlbossing is back 29:07 Comparing All's Fair's fashion to And Just Like That's 32:32 What does Ryan Murphy really think of women? 37:21 How Kim Kardashian is handling the show's scathing reviews 41:16 Sophie on the most surprising thing she found when researching her book 'Girl on Girl' 46:49 Sophie's thoughts on Lily Allen's astonishing new album about the dissolution of her marriage Links and resources: Get Sophie's book: Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves Read Sophie's All's Fair review in The Atlantic. Read Sophie's essay about how money is ruining television in The Atlantic. Read Jill Filipovic's essay, "The End of Competence." Read Amy's All's Fair fashion review or listen to it as a podcast in Spotify or Apple. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brown may be the new black — but brands are the new cults. Amy talks to CUNY professor, author, and ex-marketing executive Dr. Mara Einstein about how brands exploit cult-like marketing tactics to get us to buy, particularly during events like Black Friday. They discuss the real reason brands pushed Christmas shopping before Halloween (!) this year; how brands get us to buy in a world where we're increasingly disconnected from each other; why the "attention economy" is really the "anxiety economy"; and more. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro to Dr. Mara Einstein and her research 00:52 - How brands are like cults 04:43 - How the luxury industry employs scarcity marketing to get people to buy things like Birkin bags 06:59 - The power of scarcity marketing 09:52 - How the economic blackout might affect retailers on Black Friday in 2025 12:45 - How brands like Lululemon and Cos harvest your data 16:54 - Why the "attention economy" is really the "anxiety economy" 19:47 - How brands "rage bait" 28:32 - How fashion marketing got people to buy Lucky Strike cigarettes in 1934 35:03 - Dr. Einstein weighs in on the de-influencing trend Links & resources: • Amy Odell's Back Row newsletter — • Get Dr. Mara Einstein's book: ⁠Hoodwinked⁠ How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults • Listen to Dr. Einstein's podcast, Hoodwinked in Apple: Or Spotify Credits: Produced by Amy Odell. Edited by Amy Odell and Jonathan Voytko. #FashionPodcast #BackRow #fashion #blackfriday #shopping Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And a bunch of other pieces from her clothing line. This is my story. Check out the photos in the Back Row story. 2:16 - Trying the gray T-shirt and jeans 4:23 - Trying the legendary black pants 5:10 - The oversized gray suit 6:13 - The Blair midi dress (one with the rouching) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hype for The Devil Wears Prada 2 (out May 2, 2026) is already off the charts. In this special holiday episode, listen to an excerpt from Amy's book Anna: The Biography about how The Devil Wears Prada book and film came to be — and how Anna Wintour really felt about all of it. Listen to the Anna audiobook on: Spotify, Apple, or Audible. Or get the book in print here. Amy's latest book Gwyneth: The Biography is also available in audio on: Spotify, Apple, or Audible. You can get the book in print here. Audio excerpt courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio from Anna by Amy Odell, read by Imogen Church. Copyright © 2022 by Amy Odell. Used with permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fashion critic Rachel Tashjian joins Amy Odell to unpack the biggest shifts happening right now in fashion media. From Vogue’s future to the creator vs. critic debate, AI-generated fashion models, $26,000 Versace dresses, and why fashion discourse seems to be getting meaner. Rachel, formerly the Fashion Critic at the Washington Post and now Senior Style Reporter for CNN, breaks down: Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Amy Odell welcomes Rachel Tashjian 00:21 – Rachel’s new role at CNN 02:34 – Why video matters in fashion journalism 03:54 – Are people still reading? Changing media habits 04:22 – Amy on books, audiobooks, and audience shifts 05:49 – The rising tension in fashion discourse online 07:16 – When commentary overshadows the clothes 08:22 – Algorithms flatten expertise in fashion 09:29 – Creators vs. traditional editors: a 15-year evolution 10:43 – Substack, TikTok, and where fashion criticism lives now 11:35 – Access, honesty, and the cost of true criticism 12:46 – Do creators need editors? The “no safety net” problem 13:19 – Dior controversy: when brands exclude influencers 14:31 – Should influencers follow critic standards? 15:35 – Does Vogue still matter in 2025? 17:06 – Why Vogue covers still trigger huge reactions 18:33 – Anna Wintour’s influence across culture 19:32 – How AI is about to transform fashion media 20:55 – Performative fashion vs. post-Instagram design 22:33 – Can AI replace fashion creators? 23:54 – AI’s role in fashion advertising and image-making 24:43 – Will AI replace human fashion voices? 25:31 – The future: will Vogue become just covers? 27:14 – The price conundrum: $26,000 dresses and who they’re for 28:55 – What fashion brands really want from the public 30:49 – TikTok’s misinformation problem in fashion 31:49 – The Vogue rumor and how fake fashion news spreads 31:57 – Three fashion creators Rachel loves 33:29 – Three fashion creators Amy loves Links & resources: Back Row newsletter https://amyodell.substack.com Amy Odell Instagram https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell/ Rachel Tashjian CNN announcement: https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2025/10/07/rachel-tashjian-joins-cnn-as-senior-style-reporter/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprophetpizza/ Creators mentioned Kim Russell @TheKimbino: https://www.instagram.com/thekimbino/ Jay Tibbits: https://www.instagram.com/jaytibbitts/ Rashida Renée @:howtobeafuckinglady: https://www.instagram.com/howtobeafuckinglady/ Mandy Lee @OldLoserinBrooklyn: https://www.instagram.com/oldloserinbrooklyn/ Timothy Chernyaev @relaxitsonlyfashion on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@relaxitsonlyfashion?lang=en Fashion Roadman: https://www.youtube.com/@FashionRoadman/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tech journalist and creator​ ⁨@TaylorLorenz⁩ joins Amy Odell on the Back Row podcast to explain how social media has completely reshaped fashion. From the backlash against fashion creators to why facts barely matter online, they dive into Vogue World, The Row's viral sample sale, and more. Taylor, formerly at The Atlantic, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, now runs her own newsletter, podcast, and YouTube channel covering the creator economy. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Amy Odell welcomes Taylor Lorenz 00:53 – Why fashion people are frustrated with social media 01:49 – Why audiences trust creators more than experts 02:42 – How algorithms reward outrage 03:36 – Why being first beats being accurate 04:25 – “Facts don’t matter”: the validation economy 05:55 – Platforms secretly boost and suppress creators 06:41 – Why follower count no longer matters 07:29 – The death of critics (and why creators can’t be honest) 08:15 – Will AI actually help creators? 11:40 – How creators really make money in 2025 12:38 – Advent calendars, meme marketing, and virality 14:23 – The Row sample sale goes viral 16:55 – Can fashion brands control their image? (No.) 18:36 – The famous "Open letter to The Row" 19:32 – Brands vs creators: a toxic relationship 20:20 – Why brands can’t stop creators from posting 22:05 – Why chasing access will break your heart 22:49 – Anna Wintour’s decline and cultural relevance 25:08 – Vogue World and the struggle for relevance 26:41 – The Met Gala red carpet isn’t what it used to be 29:46 – The Devil Wears Prada prequel problem 30:38 – What it takes to survive online long-term 32:13 – Why Becca Bloom fascinates people 33:15 – The obsession with “capitalism slop” 34:07 – Hustle culture and the fantasy of success Links & Resources: Back Row newsletter https://amyodell.substack.com Amy Odell Instagram https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell/ Taylor Lorenz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorLorenz User Mag (Newsletter): https://www.usermag.co/ Power User (Podcast): https://open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taylor-lorenzs-power-user/id1733535260 Creators / links mentioned "Open Letter to The Row" (Neelam Noted): https://neelamahooja.substack.com/p/open-letter-to-the-row-we-need-to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Hermès playing cards are my go-to." Chapters: 01:35 - VIC no. 1: The Expat Living in Dubai 03:10 - VIC no. 2: The Personal Shopper for Upper East Siders 03:32 - VIC no. 3: The expat living in Hong Kong 05:31 - VIC no. 4: The New Yorker who's feeling uninspired 06:42 - VIC no. 5: The Personal Stylist to Upper East Side Billionaires and Centi-Millionaires Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published December 9, 2025. 0:16 - Fashion enters its "great unsettling" 1:47 - Prada Group acquires Versace 2:24 - Broader instability across the fashion industry 4:00 - Loose Threads news roundup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

World-renowned Real Housewives expert Dame Brian Moylan joins Amy Odell on the Back Row podcast to talk about Rachel Zoe's debut on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills! They analyze what Rachel and Bravo gain from her joining the cast and why fashion people are so eager to get on this show. Then they recap all of Rachel's scenes in the first two episodes of season 15, and do some investigative journalism on Mauricio "Mo" Umansky's disturbing Chanel couch. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro to Dame Brian Moylan 02:41 - Why did Rachel join the cast? 07:26 - Why fashion people are joining Real Housewives 11:09 - Recapping Rachel's scenes in episode 1 12:38 - DOES MAURICIO HAVE A CHANEL COUCH? 13:28 - Why are all the Birkins unclasped? 27:11 - Rachel and Roger's shocking split 33:22 - Rachel cooks bacon and eggs 36:00 - What is Rachel implying about Roger's girlfriend?! FOR PART TWO OF THIS PODCAST, sign up for Back Row Premium in ⁠Apple⁠ or ⁠Spotify⁠. In part two, Brian and Amy recap RHOBH season 15 episode 2 and play the game "Cast or Pass," in which Amy gives Brian a fashion person and he decides whether or not to fantasy cast them as Real Housewives. Links & Resources: Back Row newsletter Follow Amy on Instagram Brian Moylan Instagram RHOBH Vulture recaps The Housewives: The Real Story Behind the Real Housewives Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can a 2.5-hour artsy, originally scripted film open at the box office? The Marty Supreme cast is so determined to get us to the theater for this movie that they're wearing full monochromatic orange for promotional appearances. Gwyneth Paltrow is being strategic with her fashion choices in other ways, and helping daughter Apple's prospects in the process. This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published Thursday, December 18, 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can we glean about Condé Nast's politics from recent current events? Teen Vogue has been shuttered, but Vanity Fair's Trump 2.0 package was a journalistic achievement of the sort rarely seen these days. Anna Wintour is a known Democratic supporter and fundraiser, yet she's been cozying up to the Trump-supporting Bezoses for Met Gala money. Amy Odell is joined by comedians and cultural critics Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton, who host the highly addictive and excellent Good Noticings podcast, to figure out what this all says about Condé Nast right now. Plus, Melania Trump’s $40 million documentary, and how it ties back to all of this. Chapters: 0:00 – Welcoming the Good Noticings podcast 0:37 – Vanity Fair’s major Trump 2.0 article and what it says about Condé Nast 4:42 – Anna Wintour is leaning into controversy 6:30 – Why did the Trump team do the Vanity Fair story? 7:15 – Christopher Anderson’s photo spread 8:53 – The discourse around Karoline Leavitt’s lip filler 15:16 – Reacting to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos sponsoring the Met Gala 25:34 – The fashion relevancy of Melania Trump’s $40 million documentary 29:26 – Would Vogue put Melania on the cover? Speculation! 33:06 – How will controversy affect the Met Gala’s future? Links & Resources: Good Noticings Podcast Apple⁠⁠ Spotify TikTok: @goodnoticingspod Instagram: @goodnoticingspodThe Olivia Nuzzi Good Noticings episode Claire Parker Instagram: @clairethescare Ashley Hamilton Instagram: @ashleyhammm Back Row Newsletter ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Amy Odell Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gwyneth Paltrow has long been known for promoting various wellness fads that drive experts crazy. Long before she was publicly singing the praises of raw dairy products, she would publish "detox" diets each January. These were the foundation of Goop's wellness business. In this excerpt from Amy's latest book Gwyneth: The Biography, hear about how Goop began, how its viral diet advice generated great controversy (along with invaluable notoriety) in its early days, and how health and medical experts felt about it all. Get the full Gwyneth audiobook here. Get Gwyneth: The Biography in hardcover or ebook here. Audio excerpt courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio from Gwyneth by Amy Odell, read by Chante McCormick. Copyright © 2025 by Amy Odell. Used with permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOR PART TWO OF THIS PODCAST, sign up for Back Row Premium in Apple or Spotify. In part two, Amy gets Dana Thomas's thoughts on Emily in Paris after watching it for the first time; how French attitudes toward plastic surgery compare to those in America; and how the French feel about the Bezos billionaire lifestyle. In this episode of the Back Row podcast, veteran fashion journalist Dana Thomas joins Amy Odell to talk about Emily in Paris! She reveals what it was really like to actually live the fantasy of moving to Paris at 18 years old to work in fashion, how it influenced her style, and how actual French fashion is so different from the show. CHAPTERS 00:00 Why Emily in Paris works as fantasy 01:30 Dana Thomas’s real “Emily in Paris” story 03:40 Modeling and learning French beauty and style rules 06:40 French chic vs. American cool 09:50 Life as a teenage model in the 1980s 12:00 Falling in love and moving to Paris 14:00 How French women actually dress 17:20 Scarves are very important 22:30 The French style formula, explained 26:20 Handbags, pockets, and why French women don’t carry much 29:00 Men’s style in Paris vs. the "Emily in Paris" fantasy Links & Resources: Back Row newsletter Amy Odell - Instagram Dana Thomas Instagram Deluxe (book) Gods & Kings (book) Fashionopolis (book) Style Files (newsletter) This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Odell talks with model and writer Lauren Chan about what she calls a "recession of size inclusion" in fashion. After years of progress, brands are reverting back to casting “straight size” models by default —and the consequences go far beyond aesthetics. Lauren shares a fashion week story that captures the problem perfectly: a major entertainment cover shoot featuring a size-12/14 talent had no designer samples available, Amy and Lauren discuss why it matters when the fashion industry ignores bigger bodies; how AI will affect body diversity in fashion; the impact of GLP-1s; and more. Follow Lauren Chan on Instagram. Follow Amy Odell on Instagram. Subscribe to the Back Row newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this holiday episode of The Back Row Podcast, Amy Odell shares a special installment of Retail Confessions, featuring an anonymous interview with a former Harrods sales associate. The interviewee discussed what it was really like working on the shop floor at one of the world’s most famous luxury department stores — from intense sales pressure and demanding clients to the unspoken rules of the über-rich. To preserve anonymity, the interviewee’s responses are read by Amy’s husband, Rick. Sign up for Back Row Premium to hear more episodes like this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 2, Ana Andjelic and Amy Odell break down Meghan Markle’s new brand As Ever, how The Row quietly built one of the most powerful luxury brands in fashion, and what's next for Chiara Ferragni after her acquittal. Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Celebrity brands are everywhere—but what separates the ones that thrive from those that fail? Can fame alone turn a celebrity idea into a lucrative enterprise? In this episode of the Back Row Podcast, Amy Odell sits down with branding expert Ana Andjelic (former Chief Brand Officer of Esprit & Banana Republic, author, and the voice behind the newsletter The Sociology of Business) to break down the secret formula behind the most successful celebrity businesses. From Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop to Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty and Hailey Bieber’s billion-dollar sale of Rhode, they explore why fame alone isn’t enough, how authenticity clashes with marketing hype, and what it really takes to turn star-power into a lasting cultural phenomenon. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction: Why some celebrity brands succeed while others fail 03:20 – What is Gwyneth Paltrow even selling at Goop? And with the relaunched Gwyn clothing line? 09:10 – The death of quiet luxury: where does Gwyn fit? 10:50 – Apple Martin and Gwyneth’s viral Calvin Klein moment 11:30 – What’s kept audiences captivated by Gwyneth for 30 years 18:00 – Predicting the future of Gwyneth’s brands 21:10 – Alex Cooper and Unwell Hydration is more than just trendy water 29:00 – The key to Hailey Bieber’s $1 billion brand deal 32:45 – Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty is playing the long game 35:00 – Shay Mitchell and Toddler Face Masks: rage bait or reputation ruin 36:00 – Meghan Markle’s brand As Ever: “Last time I talked about her, I got raked over the coals” Links & Resources Back Row Newsletter Amy Odell - Instagram Ana Andjelic: Instagram The Sociology of Business (Newsletter) The Business of Aspiration (Book) Hitmakers (Book) This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 2 of this episode is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. After years of quiet luxury, opulence is back in fashion. In this episode of the Back Row podcast, Amy traces the origins of fashion’s current obsession with excess — all the way back to… Bravo? Joined by Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam of the wildly popular Watch What Crappens podcast, they discuss how Real Housewives culture shaped today’s luxury landscape, even as the fashion world distanced itself from reality stars. Lauren Sánchez may be one of the most talked-about attendees at couture week — but Bravo stars have been doing her look for 20 years! They also talk about how much Bravo helped get Gigi and Bella Hadid's careers going, Rachel Zoe's debut on RHOBH, and more. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introducing Ben & Ronnie of ‘Watch What Crappens’ 01:20 – Lauren Sanchez’s style is just the Bravo look 05:00 – Breaking down the Bravo aesthetic 10:40 – Are Sky tops coming back? 16:50 – Will fashion ever accept the Real Housewives? 24:30 – Would the Hadids have happened without Bravo? 27:30 – What’s up with Mauricio’s Chanel blanket? 30:40 – Is Rachel Zoe too confident for the Real Housewives? 37:10 – Bravo misidentified a Kelly bag 40:20 – The Birkin that costs $1,000,000 (before you can buy it!) 44:30 – Is plastic surgery the new Birkin? Links & Resources: Back Row newsletter Back Row Podcast: Apple Spotify YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are awards shows still about movies — or are they now luxury fashion marketing disguised as cultural prestige? And who’s actually funding all these celeb red-carpet appearances — the studios, the stars, or the brands? Amy Odell is joined by Debra Birnbaum, Editor-in-Chief of awards season news outlet Gold Derby, to break down how modern awards campaigns actually work and why the fashion is so important. Amy and Debra talk Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme press tour and if it was too annoying to win (23:10); who really pays for all the glam (14:30); and how the Met Gala came to overshadow the Oscars (33:30). Subscribe to Amy's Back Row newsletter: https://www.backrow.net/ Follow Amy on Instagram Follow Debra Birnbaum on Instagram Check out Gold Derby for more awards season predictions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In Part 2, Amy and Lila debate the Saks Fifth Avenue bankruptcy — detailing the brand's fraught relationship with Amazon, the possibility of government intervention, and what it all means for the future of the department store. On this episode of the Back Row Podcast, Amy talks with Lila Delilah, THE Madison Avenue Spy, about the current unhinged state of luxury retail — from the "Very Important Client" system to how luxury brands deal with all-out frenzies over once-secret sales. They also discuss the Hermès game, brands that have threatened to sue Lila, and more. CHAPTERS: 0:00 – Introducing Madison Avenue Spy 5:10 – Were there VICs in 2010? 7:00 – How have luxury sales evolved? 13:10 – The lines are getting out of control 15:00 – What are the most legendary sales right now? 16:10 – Will The Row do invitation-only sales? 20:00 – Hermès shoppers are begging for appointments 27:00 – The brands that threatened to sue Madison Avenue Spy 31:10 – The bag-buying experience at Chanel vs. Hermès 34:40 – Reacting to the “Great Reset” 37:45 – Was Hermès ever really a fashion brand? 41:00 – What could break the spell Hermès has on shoppers? Links & Resources: Back Row Newsletter Amy Odell - Instagram Madison Avenue Spy: Substack Website Instagram TikTok Telegram This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Joyce Ciesil and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published February 17, 2026. Why don't fashion designers view Olympic figure skating the way they do red carpets — as a forum to exploit for brand impressions? The sport is fabulous, glamorous, and awe-inspiring, after all. Amy digs into how figure skating costumes are made and why the world's top ready-to-wear designers generally don't want anything to do with making them — and why the athletes also aren't clamoring for brands to step in. Plus, a special New York Fashion Week report (6:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Odell talks with fashion director-turned-entrepreneur Marina Larroudé about why she left Teen Vogue for Barneys -- and then started her own brand. Marina recalls Style.com's earliest days; how top brands really weren't on board with the internet; what it was really like to work for Anna Wintour; and what she saw from inside the industry that convinced her there was a big business opportunity in footwear. Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at BackRow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In Part 2, Marina talks about how she makes walkable heels; what it was like for Taylor Swift to wear her shoes on the Eras tour; and her plans for the future of Larroudé. Products mentioned in this episode: ⁠Boat shoes⁠ ⁠Fuzzy lined ballet flat⁠ ⁠Dolly platform sandal⁠ (the same style Taylor Swift wore): ⁠Stella sneaker⁠ CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Introducing Marina Larroudé 03:00 — Why are people so fascinated by Anna Wintour and the Condé Nast world? 05:30 — What does the fashion director at Teen Vogue do? 09:00 — Marina's experience at Style.com 13:30 — The Bella Thorne photoshoot disaster 16:30 — Marina's experience working with Anna Wintour 18:40 — Why Marina left fashion media to work at Barneys 25:10 — On founding Larroudé: "No one was making high-quality shoes for drop-off" 35:00 — How Marina makes Larroudé's shoes comfortable 38:30 — Listen to part 2 for Marina's take on what makes a walkable heel Back Row newsletter Amy Odell - Instagram Marina Larroudé: Instagram Larroudé: Website Instagram TikTok This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell, Jonathan Voytko, and Joyce Ciesel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy sits down with Noëmie Leclercq of luxury news outlet Glitz Paris to debate the "Hermès game" (aka everything customers allegedly have to do in order for boutiques to offer them the chance to purchase a Birkin or Kelly bag). They discuss pre-spends, background checks, and Hermès’ apparent alliance with Lauren Sánchez Bezos. Noëmie also talks about why superfakes have become a big problem; how the class action lawsuit in the U.S. has affected Hermès sales practices; and the secret “grey market” where billionaires buy the most exclusive bags. In Part 2, Noëmie and Amy discuss whether or not the Birkin bubble has popped, why the market for "superfakes" is booming, and the (grim) outlook for Birkins on the secondhand market. Part 2 is available to paid subscribers of backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Chapters 00:00 — Introducing Noëmie Leclercq of Glitz Paris 01:10 — Is Hermès really stalking their clients? 03:00 — Breaking down the Hermès game 05:40 — Hermès locations: US vs. France 06:00 — Who is the ideal Hermès customer? 07:40 — This French law requires Hermès to background check clients 12:10 — The pre-spend: does Hermès really need to sell furniture? 19:00 — What is the grey market for Hermès products? 24:40 — The Hermès lawsuit: how did it change the game? 28:40 — Can the Birkin be overexposed? 30:20 — Listen to part 2 for Noëmie’s take on if the Birkin bubble has popped Links & Resources: Back Row newsletter Amy Odell — Instagram Noëmie Leclercq — Glitz Paris This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell, Joyce Ciesel, and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paris Fashion Week is off and running. Jonathan Anderson's fall 2026 Dior show kicked off the week — and Amy liked it a lot more than she expected! She reads her review of the show from the Back Row newsletter, which discusses how fashion has become mass culture and why designers like Anderson need to reach aspirational shoppers. She ends with the "Loose Threads" news roundup, featuring Condé Nast offloading 'Them,' and more. PLUS, a teaser from Monday's interview with JFK Jr.'s biographers (8:45), inspired by the FX show Love Story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Odell sits down with Liz McNeil and RoseMarie Terenzio, authors of JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography, to discuss the real romance between Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr. that inspired the FX show Love Story, executive-produced by Ryan Murphy. Terenzio assisted JFK Jr. in the 90s at George magazine, and McNeil covered him as an editor for People. For their book, they interviewed more than 150 people who knew him. They share personal encounters with the couple and people in their inner circle, talk about what John would have made of the frenzy over his style today, and explain what in 'Love Story' is pure fiction. PART TWO, including discussion of how the Kennedy family deals with relentless press and the REAL reason for that famous fight in the park, is available to Premium subscribers of ⁠Back Row. Sign up at backrow.net for full podcast and newsletter access, or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. CHAPTERS 00:00 Why everyone is talking about JFK Jr. and Carolyn again 01:25 What the FX show “Love Story” gets right (and wrong) 06:10 Why Gen Z is suddenly obsessed with them 07:10 The truth about JFK Jr.’s style 12:10 What drew John and Carolyn together 21:00 What Carolyn Bessette was really like 29:30 Carolyn’s struggle with paparazzi 35:30 The iconic wedding dress 39:15 What the show said about the famous park fight Links & Resources: Partner message: Go to beehiiv and use the code AMY30 to get 30 percent off a subscription. Get RoseMarie and Liz's book: JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography Sign up for the Back Row newsletter Follow Amy Odell on Instagram Follow Liz McNeil on Instagram Follow Rosemarie Terenzio on Instagram This episode was produced by Amy Odell, with audio editing by Joyce Ciesil and video editing by Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paris Fashion Week wrapped up the Fall 2026 shows, so Amy Odell and New York Times bestselling author Dana Thomas are handing out the Fashion Month Awards. Together they break down the biggest moments from New York, Milan, and Paris Fashion Week, including: • Prada’s viral runway stunt • Marc Jacobs’ comeback in New York • The rise of fashion watch parties bringing fans into the shows • Why tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg are suddenly sitting front row • The best trends and the weirdest trends of the season • What Chanel’s new era could mean for fashion They also talk about how fashion shows—and fashion media—are changing as creators, newsletters, and independent platforms reshape the industry. Part two of the Fashion Month Awards is available to Back Row Premium subscribers. Sign up at BackRow.net to get newsletter access and more exclusive fashion reporting included with your subscription, or in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Chapters: 00:00 — Introducing Dana Thomas and the Fashion Month awards 01:25 — Is fashion entering a new generational era? 04:10 — The shift from magazines to creators and newsletters 06:40 — Loudest viral stunt: Prada’s layered runway trick 10:15 — Fashion watch parties and opening shows to the public 15:35 — Why fashion shows might become spectator events 20:55 — Sleeper hit of the season 24:30 — Most awkward front row celebrity 28:00 — Tech billionaires invade fashion week 31:50 — Hardest-working front row celebrity 34:20 — Best trend of the season 36:40 — Weirdest trend: the return of tails Links and Resources: Amy Odell - Instagram Back Row newsletter Dana Thomas Instagram Deluxe (book) Gods & Kings (book) Fashionopolis (book) Style Files (newsletter) Credits: Produced by Amy Odell. Audio editing by Joyce Ciesel, video by Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Odell is joined by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan of ⁠Go Fug Yourself⁠ and the ⁠Drinks With Broads⁠ newsletter to break down the biggest fashion stories from Oscars night—and what they reveal about Hollywood right now. They discuss Anna Wintour’s surprise appearance (and why she’s leaning into The Devil Wears Prada 2), the backlash against Timothée Chalamet and what it says about celebrity culture, and the ongoing dominance of luxury brands like Chanel and Dior on the red carpet. Plus: the state of red carpet coverage, why it feels increasingly sanitized, and the looks that worked—and didn’t. In part two, we get into the media’s Ozempic discourse, Chanel vs. Dior, and why the K-pop Demon Hunters cast didn’t get the attention they deserved. CHAPTERS 00:00 The Oscars as luxury marketing 05:00 Why everything in Hollywood is too long 09:30 The biggest fashion stories 10:30 The problem with red carpet coverage 19:00 The Timothée backlash 26:00 Kylie Jenner and celebrity optics 29:00 Anna Wintour at the Oscars 35:00 Chanel vs. Dior 40:00 The best (and safest) looks Don't forget to ⁠sign up for the Back Row newsletter.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published Tuesday, March 17. After waiting two years for John Galliano's next move, we finally know he's going to Zara. In this analysis, Amy talks about why fashion people have forgiven him for his antisemitic and racist tirades that became public in 2011 and led to him losing his job at Dior — and why this move is a risk for Zara. Amy finishes with the "Loose Threads" news roundup, featuring Adrien Grenier's Devil Wears Prada 2 laments and a funny update about Gwyenth's clothing auction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What did Love Story get wrong about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette? Amy Odell sits down with Kate Storey, author of White House by the Sea, to break down what really happened inside the Kennedy compound — and how the show fictionalizes their lives, relationship, and famous Cape Cod summers. And she answers the urgent question: was there really a breakfast board?! Kate spent years reporting on the Kennedy family and shares what the show gets right, what it gets completely wrong, and what their real lives were actually like behind the scenes. Sign up for a Premium subscription to Back Row to hear Part 2. Go to BackRow.net to get newsletter access included with your subscription. Or sign up in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. CHAPTERS 01:06 why everyone is watching “love story” 03:00 inside the real Kennedy compound 06:00 how the show fictionalizes Hyannis Port 08:20 how John and Carolyn really started dating 12:10 when the paparazzi began 13:00 JFK Jr.’s Cape Cod childhood 15:40 the treasure diving story 17:50 the infamous boat moment 19:20 the “breakfast board” truth 21:00 Carolyn vs the Kennedy family (real story) 23:30 what Carolyn was actually like 27:00 their dinner parties and private life 28:30 how they really got engaged 30:00 iconic photos vs reality 31:00 how accurate is the show overall? 34:00 their final plans for the house 36:00 why they didn’t prioritize security Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are tech billionaires the next Kardashians? From Mark Zuckerberg sitting front row at Prada to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s Met Gala sponsorship, tech billionaires are increasingly present in the fashion world in 2026. Why is this happening? Amy invites tech journalist Taylor Lorenz back on the pod to discuss this controversial relationship between fashion and big tech. They dive into Bezos funding the Met Gala (4:30), why going to fashion shows could be a byproduct of tech backlash (07:00); Mark Zuckerberg at Prada (13:30), the future of space tourism (19:00); and whether smartglasses are fashion or surveillance (24:20).  Listen to Part 2 to hear their takes on Bryan Johnson’s ‘Don’t Die’ movement and Clavicular’s Looksmaxxing on the runway — and what these male beauty and wellness trends mean for the future of fashion. Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Kris Jenner's birthday party be immortalized on an HBO show in a hundred years? Maybe. The Gilded Age was America’s first era of extreme wealth, inequality, and loud luxury, spanning 1870 to 1900. On this episode of the Back Row podcast, which explains how fashion and culture really work, Amy talks to Gilded Age historian and author Elizabeth Block about how shockingly closely society and fashion today mirror the wealthy and luxury industries during that time period. Elizabeth is the author of the upcoming book Gilded Age Fashion: More Than 50 Iconic Looks and the Stories Behind Them. Their conversation breaks down how Kris Jenner's birthday feels straight out of the late 1880s; how sky-high luxury fashion prices are basically the same as they were back then; the most extreme luxuries of the past and present; and Vogue's Gilded Age origins. Listen to Part 2 for Elizabeth’s take on what life was like for the have-nots during the period — and why she sees parallels between Taylor Swift’s wedding and the Gilded Age. Part 2 is available to Back Row Premium subscribers. Sign up at BackRow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Introducing Dr. Elizabeth Block 01:20 — Are We Living in a New Gilded Age? 03:20 — The Gilded Age Weddings 07:40 — Kris Jenner’s Birthday Party: Gilded Age-Coded? 11:00 — How Much Did Socialites Spend on Dresses? Then vs. Now 16:30 — Gossip Columns: What Were the Faux Pas? 20:30 — Etiquette Books and the Rules of Modesty 26:20 — Vogue’s Gilded Age Origins Links & Resources: Back Row Newsletter Amy Odell — Instagram Elizabeth Block — Instagram Newsletter: Gilded Age Fashion Books: Gilded Age Fashion: More Than 50 Iconic Looks and the Stories Behind Them Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Joyce Ciesil and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much was Vogue really like The Devil Wears Prada? Amy Odell sits down with former Vanity Fair critic and the author of the Premiere Party newsletter, Richard Lawson, to rewatch The Devil Wears Prada before the sequel drops. Amy interviewed more than 250 people to write Anna: The Biography, including Anna Wintour's closest friends and collaborators. Richard worked at Condé Nast for a dozen years — and has stories. They review the movie's origin story, break down each scene, and talk about what was totally real and what was totally made up. In Part 2 for Premium subscribers, the discuss how the movie impacted Anna Wintour's public image and how she really felt about all of it. Part 2 is available to Premium subscribers. Sign up at Back Row for full newsletter access or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. CHAPTERS: 01:30 — The Devil Wears Prada Origin Story 05:50 — How the Film Elevates the Book 09:10 — Richard’s Real-life Andy Sachs Experience 17:00 — The Movie’s Opening Montage 20:10 — Miranda’s Arrival: “A Million Girls Would Kill For This Job” 24:50 — Andy’s Boring Boyfriend 31:00 — What was it Really Like for Assistants in the Aughts? 34:20 — Would Andy Have Succeeded Without Miranda? 36:50 — The Story Behind the Cerulean Monologue 42:30 — The Harry Potter Book: Did Miranda Want Andy to Fail? 45:30 — The Met Gala Scene 53:50 — Why the Costumes Worked Links & Resources: Back Row newsletter: Premiere Party newsletter Get Anna: The Biography Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published April 7, 2022. What on earth is Anna Wintour doing on the cover of Vogue?! A theory as to why she's leaning so hard into The Devil Wears Prada 2 promo — and what it all says about her legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does extreme wealth actually do to a person? Their psychology, their relationships, their behavior? New York Magazine features writer Lane Brown set out to answer that question by interviewing a dozen ultra-high net worth individuals, people worth $30 million or more. (Read his full story here.) Almost no one wanted to talk. The ones who did had never spoken about this before. Lane and Amy discuss what he found: why sudden wealth immediately isolates you, how self-made billionaires think versus inheritors, why the goalpost never stops moving no matter how much you have, and the eight-step psychological descent — mapped out by a therapist who treats the ultra-wealthy — that can turn an ordinary rich person into someone completely detached from reality. Part 2 is available to Back Row premium subscribers at backrow.net/subscribe, which includes full newsletter access. You can also subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction 01:19 — Meet Lane Brown 02:12 — What Extreme Wealth Does to a Person 03:21 — The First Thing Money Does: Isolation 06:36 — Who Counts as Ultra-Wealthy? 07:28 — How Lane Got Mark Cuban to Talk 09:31 — Why the Rich Refused to Participate 11:22 — Self-Made vs. Inherited Wealth 13:18 — Is It All Just Luck? 14:16 — The Goalpost That Never Stops Moving 17:41 — The 8-Step Descent Into Corruption 20:23 — Do Billionaires Know People Hate Them? 23:24 — When Luxury Purchases Lose Their Thrill 27:03 — Are Billionaires Actually Cheap? 29:02 — The Tax Strategy Behind the Spending This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Joyce Ciesil and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2026 Met Gala has three storylines running at once: Jeff and Lauren Bezos as lead sponsors, The Devil Wears Prada 2 opening the Friday before, and Anna Wintour doing more press than she has in years. Amy sits down with Chantal Fernandez of The Cut to break down all of it — plus predictions for the night. 0:00 Intro — Why This Met Gala Is Different 1:14 - Meet Chantal Fernandez 5:42 The Theme: "Costume Art" & What It Actually Means 8:01 - The Real Story Nobody's Covering: The New Costume Institute Galleries 10:17 - How Met Gala Exhibitions Became Museum Blockbusters 12:35 - How Themes Actually Get Chosen (and Who Funds Them) 14:02 - Anna's Role: Making Exhibitions Commercial 19:00 - Why the Met Gala Gets More Criticism Than the Oscars 21:14 - What Brands Actually Get Out of Spending $350K on a Table 24:26 - Can You Even Boycott the Met Gala? 28:06 - Lauren Sanchez, Schiaparelli & the New Ultra-Rich Aesthetic 30:16 - Breaking Down the NYT Lauren Sanchez Profile 32:56 - Graydon Carter's Perfect Quote 40:14 - Fashion Is Losing Power — and the Bezoses Are a Symptom 44:01 - Anna's Devil Wears Prada 2 Marketing Blitz: Smart or a Mistake? 49:19 - Predictions for Met Gala Night 52:49 - Will Devil Wears Prada 2 Be Any Good? 54:10 - Outro Partner message: Go here: https://beehiiv.link/8yrisv and use the code AMY30 to get 30 percent off a subscription to beehiiv. Links & Resources 📰 Back Row Newsletter: https://www.backrow.net/  📸 Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell/ Mentioned in this episode:  ↳ Chantal's VIC story ↳ Amy’s recent Met Gala reporting  ↳ NYT profile of Lauren Sanchez by Amy Chozick ↳ Chantal’s 2024 Met Gala story  ↳ Charlotte Cowles’s story asking Anna if she’s retiring Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People magazine's "World's Most Beautiful" editor Andrea Lavinthal joins Back Row to go behind the scenes of the most coveted — and complicated — cover in celebrity journalism. Anne Hathaway talked to People about The Devil Wears Prada 2, her husband, and her haters. But handing out this prize isn't as easy as it might seem. Andrea breaks down how the "World's Most Beautiful" franchise has evolved since Michelle Pfeiffer in 1990 (3:28), why "most beautiful" is more fraught for women than "Sexiest Man Alive" is for men (1:51), and how much creative control a star like Anne Hathaway has over the shoot (9:33). Plus: why Gwyneth Paltrow's "Most Beautiful" cover made an editor think it would get her fired (25:54). Links & Resources 📰 SUBSCRIBE to the Back Row Newsletter for exclusive scoops and bonus podcast episodes: https://www.backrow.net/ 📸 Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell/ Mentioned in this episode: ↳ People's Anne Hathaway cover story, photographed by Jonny Marlow ↳ JFK Jr.'s "Sexiest Man Alive" cover story This episode was edited by Chrissi Harris. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I went on Sam Sanders's show on KCRW to talk all things Met Gala 2026! We get into the Bezos Met Gala sponsorship, fashion's new Gilded Age, and The Devil Wears Prada 2. We also talked about why tech money is taking over fashion, what happened to the aspirational consumer, and whether the Cerulean monologue could even exist in 2026. Sam is one of the best interviewers around — this was a really fun conversation. Thanks to the KCRW team for allowing us to share it here. Follow Sam's show here. CHAPTERS: 01:30 – Has the Met Gala Become the Tech Gala? 05:20 – Has Fashion Entered a New Gilded Age? 10:20 – The Widening Gap Between the Classes of Fashion 14:20 – What it’s Like to be a Fashion VIC 18:00 – What’s Changed in Fashion Since The (1st) Devil Wears Prada? 20:00 – Does the Cerulean Monologue Hold Up in 2026? 25:10 – Fixing the Met Gala 27:40 – Amy’s Sources of Fashion Inspo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WARNING: This episode contains SPOILERS for 'The Devil Wears Prada 2.' This is my full interview with 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna. After talking to them both when I was writing 'Anna: The Biography,' I couldn't wait to hear about how they put this movie together after TWENTY YEARS. Who and what were they skewering? Did the film get too close to its source material, Anna Wintour? How did Lady Gaga enter the picture? And... will there be a THIRD movie?! CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 2:43 How the sequel finally got made 5:17 Miranda's backlash: the fast fashion puff piece explained 8:14 How Miranda Priestly changed in 20 years 9:36 The new assistants and the new workplace 12:20 Every cameo, explained 31:43 Emily Blunt and the evolution of Emily Charlton 39:52 Will there be a third film? LINKS & RESOURCES: ▸ Subscribe to the Back Row newsletter: https://www.backrow.net/subscribe ▸ Read my book, Anna: The Biography: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Anna/Amy-Odell/9781982122638 ▸ Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Margaux. First time shoppers get 10 percent off with the code BACKROW. A few of my favorite styles: Wrap sandals Phoebe flats Downtown boot The 2026 Met Gala was the most controversial in memory — and Back Row is telling you what the fashion press won't. Amy Odell and Heather Cocks of Go Fug Yourself and Drinks With Broads break down the biggest narratives from the night: the Bezos backlash, the protests outside, why Vogue's silence was deafening, and what it actually means that tech billionaires have taken over fashion's biggest night. Plus: Beyoncé's return after 10 years, Blue Ivy's debut, the Kardashians and their nipples, Lauren Sanchez's Madame X look, why Jeff Bezos snuck in the back door, John Galliano and fashion's cancellation problem, and whether any of this controversy will actually stick. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:49 The Bezos Backlash and the protests 04:14 The Ball Without Billionaires 07:15 Vogue's silence on the controversy 10:31 Why tech billionaires are really at the Met 18:26 Lauren Sanchez's Madame X look 43:39 The Kardashians, Beyoncé, and the best and worst looks 49:15 Galliano, Anna Wintour, and fashion's cancellation problem 54:05 Will the controversy actually matter? Subscribe to the Back Row Newsletter and Back Row on YouTube. Follow Heather Cox at Drinks With Broads and Go Fug Yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The full episode is for paid Back Row subscribers: backrow.net/subscribe A note to listeners: On May 15, prices will increase to $8/month and $72/year. Upgrade to annual to lock in the lower rate. Or sign up at backrow.net/subscribe to get newsletter access included with your subscription and don't miss a single juicy story. This episode contains spoilers. We've waited 20 years for The Devil Wears Prada 2 — and it's better than expected. Rachel Tashjian of CNN joins me to break down what the sequel gets shockingly right about Anna Wintour, Vogue, and journalism's decline. We also cover Emily Blunt stealing the movie, whether the filmmakers got too close to Anna, and the billionaire character hiding in plain sight. Chapters: 00:00 Spoiler warning & intro 05:56 How accurately does the film depict journalism? 17:34 Did the filmmakers get too close to Anna Wintour? 29:07 The billionaire characters: who is Benji really? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices