Explore every episode of the podcast Pair of Kings: A Fashion and Culture Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Sonya Abrego (@sonyaabrego) on Men's Westernwear, The History of American Denim, and Where to Buy Vintage Jeans | 13.8 | 25 Nov 2025 | 01:15:16 | |
Where DO you find the best vintage jeans? This week, Dr. Sonya Abrego, the world's preeminent Westernwear historian joins Sol and Michael to talk about vintage jeans, American-made denim, the Cone Mills Corporation, Lee Jeans (and why pocket designs matter!), what IS selvedge denim, (and what is raw denim), her greatest finds from her days as a picker, the modern landscape of denim, how to date levis, what is so special about raw denim (especially if it's made in the US), some myths about denim production, the craziest denim/workwear brand you've never heard of (not a joke, Sonya blew my mind), her newest research, and so much more! Thank you so much to Dr. Abrego - we hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed chatting with her! Lots of love! Sol --- 0:00 Dr. Sonya Abrego - Western Wear Expert & Fashion Historian Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 13.7 - The Rick Owens Retrospective, Stone Island and CP Company's Fabric Development, and Modern Italian Fashion | 03 Nov 2025 | 01:23:21 | |
You could hear episode early and get access to our Rick Owens "Temple of Love" Giveaway by subscribing to our HeroHero! -- Ignore these tags: streetwear, men’s streetwear, urban fashion, hypebeast, sneaker culture, sneakerhead, men’s outfits, outfit inspiration, vintage streetwear, thrifted fashion, street style, fashion trends, TikTok fashion, Instagram fashion, Gen Z style, capsule wardrobe, men’s accessories, unisex fashion, oversized clothing, logo tees, baggy jeans, statement sneakers, graphic hoodies, layering, street fashion brands, everyday streetwear, athleisure, skate style, music and fashion, street culture, global menswear, Rick Owens, Maison Margiela, Balenciaga, Vetements, Chrome Hearts, Vivienne Westwood, Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake, Givenchy, Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Junya Watanabe, Undercover, Kapital, Salomon, geobaskets, gorpcore, techwear, streetwear, athleisure, haute couture, archive fashion, thrifted, grailed, legit check, Carti aesthetic, opium style, Rick Owens reps, DHgate haul, Pandabuy Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 12.19 - Discovering the Lost Art of Tailoring with Chloe Boxer (@chl0e.box) | 24 Jun 2025 | 01:38:06 | |
This week, Sol and Michael sit down with on-set tailor and clothing wizard Chloe Boxer to learn about her practice, work, and about her takes on clothing in general! Join the trio as they chart Chloe's introduction to and growth in the fashion world, historic clothing trends, her senior thesis (where she proved that a certain item of clothing was completely misinterpreted by historians!), what's changing in garment construction, which brands today are consistently impressing her (and which ones aren't), and some on-set stories from her incredibly dynamic and immensely interesting job! We hope you enjoy as much as we did recording the episode, and a huge thanks to Chloe! Lots of Love! Sol Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 8.4 - I Got Run Over By A Car, Can I Get Backstage Passes? with Jesse Baez (@jessebaez) | 02 Feb 2023 | 01:15:22 | |
Guest Episode. Jesse Baez. Instant Classic. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 8.3 - Pieces and Garments and Discourse and Juxtaposition and Interplay | 26 Jan 2023 | 01:14:07 | |
It's time for some very highbrow, analytical, probing fashion talk using everyone's favorite words. Just kidding. Had you going, didn't I? Join Sol, John, and Michael and they discuss cool clothes and accessories that they've found recently, tiktok and instagram fashion, and investing (literally) into some Rick boots. It's a classic boys episode, so tune in, hang out, and enjoy! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 8.2 - Keeping It 💯 with @bobbyhundreds | 19 Jan 2023 | 00:54:43 | |
It's time for the first guest episode of the season, and we're joined by a pioneer in the streetwear game - literally. Join Sol (@solthompson) and Michael (@_smithstagram) as they chat with Bobby Hundreds (@bobbyhundreds) about the landscape of streetwear in the early 2000's, the 'holy shit' moment, and finding the next Virgil. Streetwear is older than some of you, so tune in, learn something, and have a blast! We're very happy to present this episode, and we hope you tune in! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 8.1 - Pair of Kings 8: The Fourth Law of Thermodynamics | 12 Jan 2023 | 01:13:12 | |
WE ARE FINALLY BACK, EVERYONE! Welcome to a new season, where the boys are back and badder than ever (that's Ice Spice/Michael Jackson bad, not first-episode-of-hell's-kitchen-dish bad). Join Sol (@solthompson), Michael (@_smithstagram), and John (@johnhogeboom) as they discuss holiday pickups, 2023 fashion bingo, a ill-fated bet that's most likely involving Long John Silver's, and so much more! We hope you enjoy the new season and the new episode! Lots of love! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.22 - Is There Any Culture That Hasn't Been Appropriated By Marc Jacobs? | 18 Nov 2022 | 01:14:04 | |
The title is sort of a joke, I guess. We cover this topic at some point. Anyway, join Sol (@solthompson), John (@johnhogeboom), and Michael (@_smithstagram) as they talk about everything from how to make a streetwear brand distinct, Marc Jacobs becoming the Drake (insultingly) of fashion, and Raf Calvin (among other topics). Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.21 - Reading The Descriptions Of Brands On The SSENSE Website And Sol And John Try To See If They Can Guess Anything About The Brand At All: The Game | 03 Nov 2022 | 01:17:23 | |
That's right - after a short hiatus, the boys are back with the classic "Reading The Descriptions Of Brands On The SSENSE Website And Sol And John Try To See If They Can Guess Anything About The Brand At All: The Game". We're pretty sure the game originated in 14th Century Poland, so we're glad to be carrying on the tradition. The rules are simple: Michael reads the description of a brand on SSENSE (with obvious details like the name edited out), and John and Sol try and figure out who the hell he's talking about. Points are awarded on accuracy, obviously. Play along at home, award yourself points, and laugh at the fact that Sol starts naming brands that aren't listed on SSENSE. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.20 - Hating on Every Single SSENSE Brand (No, Really) Pt. 1 | 20 Oct 2022 | 01:03:08 | |
So we lied a little bit. We only go from A to E on this pod, but can you blame us? With SSENSE having over 300 men's brands, there was so way that we could be angry or vindictive enough to hate on every brand in one episode. That being said, join Sol (@solthompson) and Michael (@bassproshops) as they work their way through SSENSE, hating on everything from Dr. Pibb techwear to the French (need we say more?) 032c 1017 ALYX 9SM 11 by Boris Bidjan Saberi 132 5. ISSEY MIYAKE 3.1 Phillip Lim 3MAN 424 44 Label Group 4SDESIGNS 7 DAYS Active 99% IS A BETTER FEELING A PERSONAL NOTE 73 A-COLD-WALL* A. A. Spectrum A.P.C. AAPE by A Bathing Ape AARON ESH Acne Studios ACRONYM ADER error adidas Originals adidas x Human Made adidas x Humanrace by Pharrell Williams adidas x IVY PARK Adieu ADISH Adsum Advisory Board Crystals ADYAR ænrmòus AFFXWRKS Afield Out Agnona AGR Ahluwalia Ahluwalia &PaulSmith AïE AIREI Aitor Throup’s TheDSA AKILA Akoni Alan Crocetti Alchemist Alexander McQueen Alled-Martinez Alo AMBUSH AMI Alexandre Mattiussi AMIRI AMOMENTO and wander Andersson Bell ANDREĀDAMO Ann Demeulemeester Anna Sui Another Aspect APPLIED ART FORMS ARC'TERYX System A Archival Reinvent Aries Arnar Már Jónsson ARTURO OBEGERO Ashley Williams Asics ASPESI AURALEE Awake NY Axel Arigato Aztech Mountain Baffin Balenciaga Bally Hike Balmain BAPE Barbour Barena Bather BEAMS PLUS Billionaire Boys Club Birkenstock Blackmerle Bless Bleue Burnham BLK DNM Bode BONNIE CLYDE Boramy Viguier Boris Bidjan Saberi both Bottega Veneta Botter Brain Dead Brioni Brunello Cucinelli BRYAN JIMENÈZ Burberry By Walid BYBORRE C.P. Company C2H4 CALVINLUO Camber USA Camiel Fortgens CamperLab Canada Goose Carhartt Work In Progress Carlota Barrera Carne Bollente Cartier Casablanca Castañer CAYL CCP CDLP CFCL Charles Jeffrey Loverboy Chemist Creations Chen Peng Chet Lo Children of the Discordance CHIMI Chin Teo Chopova Lowena Christian Louboutin Clarks Originals Clot CMMN SWDN Coach 1941 Collina Strada Come Back as a Flower COMMAS Commission Completedworks Connor McKnight Converse Coperni Cormio Cornerstone Corridor Côte&Ciel COTTON CITIZEN Craig Green Crocs Cutler And Gross D'heygere Daniel W. Fletcher Danner De Bonne Facture Dear Letterman Descente ALLTERRAIN DEVÁ STATES DEVEAUX NEW YORK Diemme Diesel Dime Dion Lee District Vision Dita Double Rainbouu Doublet Dr. Martens DRAE Drake's drew house Dries Van Noten Drôle De Monsieur Dsquared2 Dunhill Eastwood Danso Eckhaus Latta EDEN power corp Edward Cuming EGONlab ekn éliou Enfants Riches Déprimés Engineered Garments Entire Studios Erdem ERL Essentials Études Evisu Eytys Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.19 - Lying For Fun (In A Joyous Chaotic Way) with Alexandra Hildreth (@alexandra.hildreth/@guyfieri.superfan) | 13 Oct 2022 | 01:09:04 | |
I'm feeling like breaking up the normalcy of these descriptions, so here's a haiku about this episode. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.18 - Clothing Shopping With Fashion Influencers Off 8 Benadryl In Dover Street Market (with Joe La Puma) | 06 Oct 2022 | 01:30:43 | |
Oh man, she's freakin' the allbirds man for allbirds again. Michael and Sol are back, right next door to Mr. Purple, chatting about everything from flirting with someone because they're wearing fly fishing gear to setting up a Prada Marfa but this time on the moon. This episode comes with the conception of one of the greatest ideas for a fashion game (to call this a game is a stretch) show as well: Shopping With Fashion Influencers In Dover Street Market off 8 Benadryl (with Joe La Puma). We promise, this game is a lot more interesting than you'd initially expect. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.17 - Hot Fashion Takes to the Tune of Midwest Emo | 29 Sep 2022 | 01:04:25 | |
Hey everyone, we are 6'8" All Femur, merch is in the back. Here's our first song, "Hedi Slimane is Actually Good". Shout out to our sound guy. When you're on a holiday On an island in the sun Hip-hip When you're on a golden sea On an island in the sun We'll run away together Hip-hip On an island in the sun We'll run away together Hip-hip Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 12.18 - How New EU Regulations Stand to Change Fashion | 18 Jun 2025 | 01:40:52 | |
Wow! We're doing policy analysis? Sol's putting his degree to use? Michael's talking about some of the craziest reproductions of vintage clothing? What the heck? A podcast with heavy, heavy research? What's going on? Tune in to hear the duo talk about ESPR, tariff laws, fast fashion, medium-enterprise end-of-life adjustments, fabric responsibility, 1940's denim, inadvertent eugenics in the rattlesnake population, some fun fashion insider information about Martine Rose, JW Anderson's insane commitments, digital product passports, suiting and worsted wool production, and so much more! Lots of love! Sol Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.16 - The Ultimate Modern Fashion Tier List: Definitive Edition | 22 Sep 2022 | 02:05:39 | |
Three people. 70 brands. 140 opinions. One absolutely insane collab jumpsuit during fitcheck. It's time for the definitive, correct (if you disagree, you are wrong, also you are dumb for not having the same opinion (also you should correct your own opinions)) fashion tier list that is true and not up for debate. That's right. We are right. We run the podcast. This means we are the authority. Join Michael, John, and Sol as they discuss 69 brands and 1 linkedin cover photo in the ULTIMATE modern fashion brand tier list. Let us know what you think about our rankings over on instagram. We probably won't listen. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.15 - Kantha Quilts and 8 Figure Valuations With Kartik Kumra (@karuresearch) | 15 Sep 2022 | 01:34:29 | |
I'm finally recovered from COVID! It's time for a little tête-à-tête between Sol (@solthompson) and Kartik (@karuresearch), where the guys discuss creating a brand, exploring and celebrating Indian identity, and how much they hate elite, Ivy League Universities (kidding) ((maybe not)). With a strong eye for Indian fabrics and cuts as well as modern streetwear and fashion cues, Kartik is definitely one of the more exciting designers coming up today. With an immensely interesting story and vision for a brand, this is a fantastic conversation, so tap in to an awesome episode! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.14 - They're Adding Gel Delvas to Fortnite? | 01 Sep 2022 | 01:26:31 | |
The boys - Sol (@solthompson) and John (@johnhogeboom) - are back at it and discussing real, actual, fashion news. Yep - rumors about the fashion update to Fortnite, yugioh collabs, and Kiko coming on the podcast. Join the boys in the studio for a classic episode for some laughs, stories about grailed scammers, and some good, old fashion tomfoolery! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.13 - We Polled The Instagram Community on Trends That They Either Want to Stay Dead or Come Back and Then We Will Rate Said Opinions on A Scale of How Likely or Unlikely We Are to Take Them on a Date or The Extent to Which We Would Date Said Person: The | 25 Aug 2022 | 01:08:45 | |
Sol (@solthompson) and Michael (@_smithstagram) are back with a time-honored, historic, eons-played game of We've Polled The Instagram Community on Trends That They Either Want to Stay Dead or Come Back and Then We Will Rate Said Opinions on A Scale of How Likely or Unlikely We Are to Take Them on a Date or The Extent to Which We Would Date Said Person: The Game. That's right! The same game your grandparents and grandparent's grandparents used to play! Join the boys as they judge others' opinions while being completely oblivious of the fact that they're being judged by thousands, and hear them discuss proportions, silhouettes, and more made up fashion terms that people definitely aren't just using to sound smart. It's a classic episode where talk about Rick Owens is kept to a minimum (I know, pretty huge accomplishment for Sol in particular), so tune in and let us know what you think of not only the opinions on clothes, but the proposed date ideas. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.12 - Walking the Phosphocreatine Pathway And Crushing Some Anaerobic Glycolysis with Jacob (@ecchi.chad) | 19 Aug 2022 | 02:14:49 | |
Hello, everyone! We're back with another episode this week - thank you to everyone who donated to save wild salmon in the lower snake river. It means a ton. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.11 - Nearly Dying (No, That Is Not An Exaggeration) For Vintage Levi's with Brit Eaton (@originalindianajeans) | 18 Aug 2022 | 01:06:47 | |
So, we weren't joking with the episode title. Meet one of the most important people in the world of vintage denim, Brit Eaton (@originalindianajeans). He's a Levi's collector who's made a name for himself by being just crazy enough to risk his life for some insanely rare jeans, including one of ten pairs of buckleback Levi's, a original Olympic pair of Levi's, and countless other historical finds. He's a treasure trove of good stories, conversation, and cele-brit-y shoutouts (see what I did there? I went to Yale), and we hope you enjoy this conversation with Brit, even if the conversation is mostly him talking, Michael laughing at swear words, and Sol either grunting in agreement or hanging his mouth open in shock. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.10 - The Definitive Fashion Tier List | 11 Aug 2022 | 01:29:58 | |
'ello, 'ello, loves. It's time for Sol (@solthompson) and John (@johnhogeboom) to go through a 60 brand tier listing of (most) fashion brands that exist today. We know, we know, we've missed some brands (Daiwa, Bode, Patagonia, Ann D, and the list goes on), but hey - this wasn't our list and we were too lazy to upload 100+ brand images and then go through all of them. Sorry, we're just being honest. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.9 - Unbothered. Moisturized. Happy. In My Lane. Focused. Flourishing, with Ty and Hiro of Koa (@livingkoa). | 04 Aug 2022 | 02:07:39 | |
It's. About. That. Time. Everyone. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.8 - Look at Trends From The Past 8 Or So Years And Decide If You Would Bring Them Back Or Not: The Game - Part 2 | 28 Jul 2022 | 01:21:39 | |
Aw yeah, baby. The boys are back, baby. Join Sol (@solthompson) and Michael (@_smithstagram) as they hop back into the podcasting area - nay, the thunderdome - as they tackle trends from 2019. Baby. That's right. Sol went through and edited a bunch of songs that he may get copyright struck for into the podcast after the fact, baby. Hell yeah. (baby). Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.7 - Look at Trends From The Past 8 Or So Years And Decide If You Would Bring Them Back Or Not: The Game - Part 1 | 21 Jul 2022 | 02:07:17 | |
That's right, everyone. It's time for a game of the classic game "Look at trends from the past 8 or so years and decide if you would bring them back or not: the game", developed by none other than your hosts, Sol (@SolThompson) and Michael (@_smithstagram). The boys chat about health goths, Off-White Industrial Belts, Gosha, Demna, and Chelsea Boots. Tune in to hear spirited debate, unadulterated hating, and some of the top pop songs from 2015-2018! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 12.17 - How to Host a Perfect Runway Show, The Horribly Dressed Men of New York, and The Photographer-to-Influencer Pipeline with Tanya Ravichandran (@tanyar) | 10 Jun 2025 | 01:28:14 | |
We're back this week with our wonderful friend Tanya Ravichandran! Join Michael and Sol as they discuss the incredible team at Coach, Tanya's love for Ann D., how to host the perfect runway show, why all the guys in New York dress like shit, making the Margiela 5 Zip Exodia, Lee Alexander McQueen, some grails still eluding her collection, her wonderful boyfriend Roman's style, getting hangry, the direction of high fashion today, what it was like to work as a photographer at 14, and the very simple process to blowing up on the internet! Thanks again to Tanya for an amazing episode, and we hope you enjoy! Sol Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.6 - Carpeted Sneakers with Martin Sallieres (@martzer_) | 14 Jul 2022 | 01:23:48 | |
It's time to discuss shoes with Sunnei's senior footwear designer, Martin Sallieres (@martzer_)! Join Sol (@solthompson) and Martin as they discuss everything, from Martin's background in car design, soccer (football, for literally most everyone else), love of technical fabrics, and vintage clothing to the desire to reinvent the golf shoe. It's definitely a must-listen for any sneaker fan, and we hope you enjoy! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.5 - Nation of Haters with Ark (@unownedspaces) | 07 Jul 2022 | 01:46:21 | |
It's time to get a little bit mad, a little bit salty, and hate a little bit (well, maybe a little bit more than a little bit) with Ark of @unownedspaces. Join Sol (@solthompson), Michael (@_smithstagram), and Ark as they discuss taking brand deals, the g word, and designer collabs (for better or worse). Bonus points if you keep score for the game we play during the episode. Regardless, we hope you enjoy and learn to love a little bit of hating. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.4 - The One Where The Boys Are Sad | 30 Jun 2022 | 01:36:19 | |
The podcast is back, everyone! Join Sol (@solthompson) and Michael (@_smithstagram) as they spiral into a pit of despair chatting about selling out, the future of the environment, and feeling absolutely, utterly, and completely uninspired at the moment. That being said, this is somehow a fashion podcast run by two guys - one of which is flat broke and is willingly avoiding fashion because he knows he'll spend money on new stuff - and they do have some spicy, interesting takes, especially when it comes to Balenciaga, Rick Owens, and selling out. Well, maybe interesting: that's up to you to decide. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.3 - Hallucinate It 'Til You Make It with José Criales-Unzueta (@eljosecriales) | 23 Jun 2022 | 01:48:50 | |
The boys get delusional and lie on this week's episode, featuring Vogue runway writer extraordinaire José Criales-Unzueta. We discuss everything from Random Identities (yes), wearing all black (yes), and tiktok fitpics (no). Bushwick is mentioned, yes, but we promise we aren't going to start purchasing low-income housing to build artisan, cruelty-free, custom septum piercing/gluten-free coffee shops. Tap in, learn a little something, and enjoy a wonderful episode! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.2 - The Rep Situation | 16 Jun 2022 | 01:38:39 | |
Sol and Michael are back, discussing jean alternatives, reps on Grailed, and their favorite (well, Michael's favorite) Rick runways! I'm not sure if anybody even reads these descriptions, but I hope I'm not just typing into the void. Who knows. Anyway - this marks the second episode EVER to be recorded in-person, so tune in for what may be history! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 7.1 - Pair of Kings Season 7: Life on Mars? | 09 Jun 2022 | 00:39:51 | |
The podcast returns as Sol and new host Michael get right back into the swing of things with some scintillating new topics: chafing, shorts, and Lunchbox (and more!). Join the boys as they usher in a new season of the pod and strap in for new episodes each week! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.19 - DIY Mode with @juliasilver__ | 09 Mar 2022 | 01:23:36 | |
We're BACK with a brand new guest episode! This week, we're joined by up and coming designer, Julia Silver! (@juliasilver__) Listen in as we talk with Julia about her work, celebrity clients, and much more! Thank you so much to Julia for joining us, and thank you everyone for listening! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.17 - PATREON PREVIEW: Grills to a Wedding | 02 Mar 2022 | 00:15:00 | |
We're BACK (sorry for the delay!) with a brand new Patreon King's ep! Listen in as John and Sol chop it up the only way they know how. Thank you to everyone for listening, and thank you to our patrons for their support! If you'd like to join the Patreon, head over to patreon.com/pairofkingspodcast Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.16 - Rocking the Elden Ring | 01 Mar 2022 | 01:44:15 | |
We're BACK with a classic boys ep! Listen in as we go over plenty of Q&A from our wonderful audience! Thank you so much to everyone for listening! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.15 - Blade Runner with @jonjulio of @themskates | 24 Feb 2022 | 01:13:45 | |
We're BACK with a brand new guest episode! This week, we welcome rollerblading legend and owner of @themskates, Jon Julio (@jonjulio)! Listen in as we talk with Jon about everything from his skating career to what it was like taking the plunge into his own brand. Thank you so much to Jon for joining us, and thank you everyone for listening! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 12.16 (HeroHero Preview) - Reviewing Every Single Outfit From the 2025 Met Gala (Superfine: Tailoring Black Style) | 27 May 2025 | 00:13:23 | |
It's time for Michael and Sol's favorite yearly tradition: talking shit on the celebrities who spend thousands of dollars to walk the red carpet at the largest event in fashion! Join the duo as they talk about the best (no spoilers, but it rhymes with Mom Crown) and the worst (no spoilers, but it's (not) shockingly a white girl in a durag) of the night, chat about what makes for 'guy in a suit', and take nearly three hours to postulate about what outfits make the vaunted Pair of Kings S tier. Lots of love! Sol Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.14 - PATREON PREVIEW: Flow Team Thirst Traps with @edgyalbert | 18 Feb 2022 | 00:15:00 | |
We're BACK with a brand new guest episode! This week, we welcome all around wonderful human being Albert Muzquiz (@edgyalbert) onto the pod! Listen in as we talk about pants, pants, and more pants! Thank you so much to Albert for joining us, and thank you to our wonderful patrons! If you'd like to hear more, check out patreon.com/pairofkingspodcast Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.13 - Kanye Coaching in the NFL | 15 Feb 2022 | 01:39:03 | |
We're BACK with a classic Q&A King's episode! Listen in for takes on Kanye's antics, the Super Bowl, and much, much more! Thank you so much to everyone for listening! If you like what you heard, head over to patreon.com/pairofkingspodcast for more! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.12 - For the Love of Shell Cordovan with @ethanmwong | 08 Feb 2022 | 01:19:11 | |
We're BACK with a brand new guest episode, featuring fitpic legend, blogger, and fellow podcaster Ethan Wong (@ethanmwong)! Listen in as we sit down with Ethan and talk about the intersection of menswear and streetwear, wearing a uniform all throughout school, and how to find the right menswear look for you. Thank you so much to Ethan for joining us, and thank you so much to everyone for listening! If you like what you heard, check out patreon.com/pairofkingspodcast Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.10 - Lucki Charms | 01 Feb 2022 | 02:12:10 | |
We're BACK with one of our finest banter episodes of all time! Listen in this week as we talk about the hierarchy of cereal mascots, Sol putting a giant splinter under his fingernail, deadlifting in puddle boots, and more! Thank you so much to everyone for listening! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.9 - The Puddle Boot Pipeline with @kendricky | 28 Jan 2022 | 01:51:27 | |
We're BACK with a new guest episode for the masses!! This week, we welcome style icon Kendrick (@kendricky) onto the pod! Listen in as we talk about re-lacing Rick Owens megalaces, Grailed shenanigans, and much much more! Thank you so much to Kendrick for joining us, and thank you everyone for listening! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.8 - PATREON EXCLUSIVE: PhD, Podcast having Dude | 26 Jan 2022 | 00:15:00 | |
We're back with a new Patreon exclusive boys ep! Disclaimer, John's audio gets weird around the 50 minute mark, our apologies! Thank you so much to everyone for their support! This will be fixed for the next episode. Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.7 - FREE PATREON EPISODE: The Wrath of Instagram with @fashion_wankers aka @ollivion | 21 Jan 2022 | 01:44:36 | |
We're BACK with a free Patreon episode! This week, we're joined by the legendary Ollie of @fashion_wankers (hopefully still) and the new @ollivion. Listen in as Ollie talks about his account being taken down literal hours before we began recording (it's returned now so we're very thankful), starting his new brand, and all sorts of high quality fashion banter. Thank you so much to Ollie for joining us, and thank you everyone for listening! If you'd like to join the Patreon, you can go to patreon.com/pairofkingspodcast for a second episode every week, and more! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.6 - Bape or Supreme | 18 Jan 2022 | 02:09:28 | |
We're BACK in action with a classic Q & A episode! Thank you to everyone who submitted questions! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.5 - Mullet Mode with Frugal Aesthetic aka @christianvui | 13 Jan 2022 | 02:04:08 | |
We're BACK with a banger guest episode to start off the non-Patreon portion of season 6! This week, we welcome the legend himself, Christian Villanueva (@christianvui) aka Frugal Aesthetic on YouTube for some spectacular banter in a pod for the ages. You'll have to tap in to see what it's all about! Thank you so much to Christian for joining us, and thank you everyone for listening! If you like what you heard, consider joining the Patreon at patreon.com/pairofkingspodcast ! Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.4 - PATREON PREVIEW: The Pod Returns! | 12 Jan 2022 | 00:15:00 | |
Welcome back everyone! We're finally done with our holiday break, and ready to get back into the swing of things! Listen in for a classic Patreon King's episode, with banter galore. Thank you so much to everyone for listening, and thank you to our patrons for their support! If you'd like to join the Patreon, you can do so at patreon.com/pairofkingspodcast Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 12.15 - River Fashion, Sol's Life Changing Experience, and Everything You Missed in April | 20 May 2025 | 01:22:09 | |
You could have heard this episode early and had access to giveaways on our HeroHero: https://herohero.co/pok The title isn't hyperbole: Sol's back from the wilderness! Join the intrepid duo of Sol and Michael as they discuss Kanye West somehow proving that yes, you can always lose your mind just a little bit more, the Pope dying, what gorpcore's cooler older brother looks like, some slept-on outdoor brands, a horrible new beard, how the hell you dress for the longest river trip in the world (this is a fact), Weekend Warriors, Marseille Hiking boots, wearing brand new raw denim, how to look like a virgin, Kapital Century Denim and the Flare Star competition, Thom Browne suits for the low, new drinking games, and so much more! I missed you all, and I'm so glad to be back! Sol Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.3 - PATREON PREVIEW: Undercover Burger Runtz | 16 Dec 2021 | 00:15:00 | |
We're BACK with a classic banter King's episode for our patrons. Listen in for some good ol' fashioned back and forth with John and Sol as we begin to wrap up another year of the pod. Thank you so much to everyone for listening, and thank you to our patrons for their support! If you'd like to join the Patreon, head over to patreon.com/pairofkingspodcast Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.2 - PATREON PREVIEW: The Belichick Bogo | 08 Dec 2021 | 00:15:00 | |
We're BACK with a brand new Patreon episode! Listen in this week as Sol and John take the banter to its classic heights, talking about everything from the upcoming bogo drop to their love of current Balenciaga. Thank you so much to everyone for listening, and thank you to our patrons for their support! If you like what you heard, you can join the Patreon at patreon.com/pairofkingspodcast Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||
| 6.1 - PATREON PREIVEW: Jawn Stars with @mchamp_ of @hybridclothing | 02 Dec 2021 | 00:15:00 | |
We're BACK with another return episode of champions (quite literally this time) as we welcome Champ of HYBRID back onto the pod! Listen in as we catch up with Champ and see what's in the pipeline for HYBRID, who he's maining in Overwatch, and discuss the prices of TheSoloist. Thank you so much to Champ for joining us, thank you to the patrons for their support, and thank you to everyone for listening! If you like what you heard, check us out at patreon.com/pairofkingspodcast Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”. Links: Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All) | |||