Lipstick on the Rim

Fashion Icons, Emerging Brands & Industry Secrets with NYFW Creator Fern Mallis AKA The Godmother of Fashion

Feb 25, 2025

Fern Mallis, the Godmother of Fashion and creator of New York Fashion Week, shares her incredible journey that revolutionized the fashion world. She dives into the origins and evolution of NYFW, revealing must-know brands and insights on building a lasting fashion label today. Fern reminisces about her legendary conversations at 92NY and iconic moments backstage at major fashion shows. Plus, she discusses the industry's shift towards sustainability and what truly defines a fashion icon, all woven with rich anecdotes from her vibrant career.

49:55

Episode guests

Fern Mallis

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Fern Mallis transformed New York Fashion Week by creating a centralized venue that enhanced coordination and opportunity for designers.

The future of Fashion Week faces challenges from digital presentations, necessitating efforts to revive the excitement of live communal experiences.

Deep dives

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Intro

6min

From Brooklyn to Runway: A Fashion Journey

24min

Fashion Must-Haves, Wellness Tips, and Parenting Struggles

4min

Nostalgia and Fashion Evolution

4min

Journey Through Fashion and Influence

8min

Fashion Favorites and Personal Insights

6min

She’s been called the Godmother of Fashion for a reason—Fern Mallis is the visionary who created New York Fashion Week, forever changing the fashion industry and putting NYC on the global style map. From working with the CFDA and IMG Fashion to launching her own consulting firm, Fern has spent decades shaping the careers of iconic designers and influencing the way we experience fashion. In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of NYFW, revealing its origins, evolution, and where it’s headed next. We’re talking must-know brands, the future of fashion, and what it really takes to build a lasting label in today’s ever-changing industry. Plus, Fern shares insider stories from her legendary 92NY conversation series, her experiences backstage at the most iconic Fashion Week shows, and what truly defines a fashion icon.

Mentioned in the Episode:
www.fernmallis.com

Fern Mallis Instagram

NYFW

Mademoiselle Magazine

Vogue

Gimbels East

International Design Center of New York

Seventh on Sale

Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA)

Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)

Bryant Park

Studio 54
7th on Sixth