It’s TNG’s first birthday! To celebrate, Alyssa called in the big guns: James Harris, co-host of Throwing Fits, came by for a rare one-on-one interview about his massive success in podcasting and beyond. Tune in for two straight hours of wisdom, as well as to hear how James fell into a fashion industry career by accident; what it was like navigating (and thriving in) the glory days of digital media; getting a web show with his co-host Larry at Complex a decade ago, and why “Fashion Bros” was ahead of its time; insights from his pivots to both tech and music; a fun recounting of the Throwing Fits origin story; figuring out how the hell you can make money in media these days; real talk about how hard and expensive it is to make clothes; how he decides what aspects of his life are fair game for content and what to keep private; a peek inside the TF meme machine; why you can absolutely never burn a bridge in this business; getting taken seriously in a notoriously self-serious industry; building and nurturing a community (shout-out Throw Gang!) both on and offline; an exclusive preview of the intro Pusha T would get if he goes on Throwing Fits, and much more.This episode was recorded in the podcast studio at The SQ @ 205 Hudson. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewgarde.substack.com/subscribe
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1:55:07
Met Gala Postgame (w/ Jalil Johnson)
It’s the first Wednesday in May, which means it’s time to unpack this year’s Met Gala, celebrating the Costume Institute’s new exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” To help break it all down, Alyssa is joined by Jalil Johnson — the stylish mind behind Consider Yourself Cultured on Substack, as well as a general man about town — who shares a wealth of insights about Black dandyism, the menswear and artwork on display inside the exhibit, the work of Monica L. Miller, the legacies of the late André Leon Talley and Virgil Abloh, and much more. Plus, a discussion about the evening’s best dressed, honest thoughts on the content ecosystem surrounding the red carpet, and Alyssa recaps her chaotic Monday night in the Louis Vuitton suite at the Mark Hotel with Pharrell and co. Til next year!This episode was recorded in the podcast studio at The SQ @ 205 Hudson. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewgarde.substack.com/subscribe
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1:00:38
Let's Get Critical (w/ Rachel Tashjian)
This episode is for the REAL fashion heads and critical thinkers. This week, Alyssa sits down with the esteemed Rachel Tashjian, fashion critic at the Washington Post and the brains behind the cult-favorite, invite-only newsletter Opulent Tips, for a fascinating discussion about the state of fashion media and the industry at large. Tune in to hear about Rachel’s origin story as a blogger, plus her ascent up the masthead with stints at Vanity Fair (as a publicist!), Garage, GQ, and Harper’s Bazaar; what she learned studying the work of critics like Cathy Horyn and Robin Givhan; figuring out how to find the fashion angle in non-fashion stories, because that’s how so much of the world thinks; the value of having a good (and scrappy) attitude, as well as of asking for what you want; how to find your voice and your unique point of view, and why both are crucial to success; paying attention to what makes you a person and letting people see that; how working in men’s fashion differs from working in women’s fashion; writing for a magazine vs. a newspaper vs. your own audience; how her best bosses always led with integrity; looking at advertiser relationships as an interesting puzzle to solve, rather than a limitation; whether it’s easier or harder than ever to be a fashion journalist now; what happens when a designer or a brand takes issue with her reviews; the importance of always staying open to the next thing; starting Opulent Tips ahead of the Substack and recommendation newsletter boom; Lorde referencing Opulent Tips in her last album cycle, and so much more.This episode was recorded in the podcast studio at The SQ @ 205 Hudson. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewgarde.substack.com/subscribe
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1:27:01
Beauty in the USA (w/ Jessica DeFino)
Beauty has always sent big political messages, and that’s perhaps never been more evident than it is today. This week, Alyssa sits down with Jessica DeFino, the brilliant mind behind The Review of Beauty newsletter, to discuss the aesthetic vibe shift she’s seen since Trump was elected for his second term — and the conservative leaning beauty trends she saw bubbling up before then that were a harbinger of things to come. Tune in to hear how Jessica’s time working for the Kardashian official apps led her to question everything she thought about beauty, as well as her insights about why the “Clean Girl” trend was a huge indicator of something shifting and cosmetic class performance hidden as self-care; the recent glorification of the time, effort, and money that goes into looking beautiful, or the Protestant work ethic for prettiness; the regressive cultural return to traditional femininity and masculinity that’s tied to what’s happening in beauty; why exercising control and autonomy through beauty and our bodies is a direct reaction to the lack of autonomy we feel elsewhere in our lives; how MAHA has bled into the beauty and wellness industries, and why we should have seen the raw milk thing coming through the lens of beauty; how Mar-a-Lago face is meant to communicate power and your status as “elite” via work you’ve had done; unpacking the “Conservative Girl” and “Republican Makeup” trends on TikTok; the consequences of beauty ideals getting ingrained younger and younger; beauty as the new American dream, and where we find the identity and drive we used to derive from jobs; why beauty TikTok is the manosphere for women, and so much more. This episode was recorded in the podcast studio at The SQ @ 205 Hudson. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewgarde.substack.com/subscribe
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1:05:39
Collaboration Nation (w/ Steve Dool)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thenewgarde.substack.comIf you follow the fashion and beauty industries closely, then you know that a week rarely goes by without a brand collaboration announcement. From mall brands like J.Crew and Gap, to sportswear giants like Nike and Adidas, to luxury powerhouses like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Versace, brands across the market spectrum have entered the collaboration game — and those that haven’t are getting left behind. This week, Alyssa is joined by Steve Dool, senior director of brand marketing at Depop, to dig deep into the world of brand collabs. Tune in to hear Steve’s insights about what collaborations can do for small brands aside from a short-term infusion of money and exposure; the benefits on both sides of a partnership; why clout is fleeting and you need to be able to follow it up with other stuff; why the content surrounding a collaboration is often more important than the product itself; a frank discussion on what makes a smart partnership versus a confusing or pandering one; their personal highs and lows of collabs from the past few years; where the role of “celebrity creative director” is heading; whether we’ll ever reach “peak collab” or if this is just how things are now, and so much more.
The New Garde is a podcast about the future of the fashion and beauty industries — and the culture surrounding them — hosted by two-time former editor-in-chief, Alyssa Vingan. thenewgarde.substack.com
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