The New Garde with Alyssa Vingan

It’s not your imagination: The Kennedys dominated the collective consciousness this year, and the pull was particularly strong within the fashion industry. This week, I sit down with writer, strategist, and Kennedy scholar Maura Brannigan to discuss the myriad ways that the American political family has permeated the zeitgeist recently, and how they represent politics as pop culture in a very palatable way — especially during this disturbing time in our country. Tune in for Maura’s take on Carolyn Bessette Kennedy as a moodboard muse and a rare example of true personal style, as well as why minimalism and old money restraint feel so aspirational right now; JFK Jr. as the poster boy for yuppie style that’s driving the prep revival seen at brands like J.Crew and Dior Men’s; CBK and JFK Jr.’s couple style, as well as our thoughts on the Ryan Murphy series costume design discourse; Sarah Staudinger’s purchase of three iconic CBK pieces at Sotheby’s auction for $177K (while Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s violet wool coat, worn on the night of John F. Kennedy’s election to the presidency, just sold for $50,800 this week); Julia Fox’s bloody Jackie Kennedy Halloween costume at this moment of political violence being back in the cultural conversation; Jack Schlossberg’s political trajectory, from brain rot content to Vogue correspondent to congressional candidate; RFK Jr.’s MAHA rhetoric affecting the beauty and wellness industry; Olivia Nuzzi’s aesthetic transformation in the lead up to American Canto and leaning into the “I had an affair with a Kennedy” look, and so much more. 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

The second part of TNG’s look back at 2016 (don’t miss part one here!) digs into the massive, enduring influence that year had on the fashion industry. This week, I sit down with Jian DeLeon, the men’s fashion director at Nordstrom who was steeped in menswear media at the time, to discuss the year’s lasting impact on clothing and culture. Tune in to hear how Jian made the transition from editorial to retail — or, how he went from indirectly selling things to directly selling things — as well as how 2016 marked the apex of meme and algorithm fashion; why it was the last year that people felt something of a monoculture, as well as the final moment of Kanye West’s domination of the zeitgeist where fashion and culture intertwined; how fashion and streetwear weren’t as muddled yet, the last days of knowing who the gatekeepers were; the year responsible for the pop-up and why everything is an “activation” now; New York Fashion Week: Men’s (RIP), the Raf Simons Calvin Klein debut, and a formative time for menswear; the merch-ification of fashion thanks to Kanye, Justin Bieber, Frank Ocean, Drake, etc.; whether designers were “trolling” or actually subverting how we think about fashion and design; the resale market boom and bust, and much more. 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

In this engaging discussion, Jessica DeFino, writer and founder of Flesh World, shares her experiences creating beauty standards while working on the Kardashian apps in 2016. They dive into the impact of Kylie Cosmetics, the paradox of 'Republican makeup,' and social media's role in democratizing beauty. Jessica critiques the rise of 'get ready with me' content and highlights the growing prevalence of cosmetic procedures amid newfound self-scrutiny influenced by filters and video calls. Nostalgia for 2016 unfolds as they examine lasting cultural shifts.

Been gone for a minute now we’re back! To celebrate the year coming to a close — and to officially kick off Season 2 of TNG — Alyssa sat down with Emily Kirkpatrick, Nicolaia Rips, and Taylore Scarabelli to discuss the highs and lows of 2025 in fashion, plus what to expect in 2026. The esteemed panel goes deep on the year in brands, content, trends, red carpets, runways, and more, touching on everything from the unspoken rules of party reporting to the potential for a runway show in space (see: that Timothée Vogue cover, Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel debut set, and the Jeff Bezos/Lauren Sánchez Bezos sponsored Met Gala).Special thanks to our presenting partner sex happens, and to Hudson Square Properties for the venue. Brand new episodes will resume next week! 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

First a blog, then a pod, then fashion world domination. This week, Alyssa sits down with Liv Perez, a fashion journalist, TODAY Show correspondent, and host of the Let’s Get Dressed podcast, to discuss how she’s building a one-woman fashion media empire for the next generation. Tune in to hear how Liv’s time as a college student in New York during the earliest days of Instagram and digital media kicked off her career, including a stint at Teen Vogue; her time as one of the earliest Glossier shop girls; why she started her original recommendations blog, Friend of a Friend, and how she organically built an audience; why she pivoted to audio before the podcasting industry exploded; how she started creating content for brands and how she decides who to partner with; how to know when it’s time for a rebrand; why having a very specific point of view is crucial in a crowded space like podcasting; whether everyone making things online needs to be on video; how being an early adopter has been a key to her success, and much more.Quick programming note: TNG is taking a brief hiatus — we’ll be back with new episodes in the fall! 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

The Spring 2026 season of Men’s Fashion Week in Paris is well underway, and to celebrate, we’re catching up with one of the most respected (and loudest) voices in menswear: Lawrence Schlossman, co-host of Throwing Fits, as well as the former editor-in-chief of Four Pins (RIP), brand director of Grailed, author of F**k Yeah Menswear, and overall industry authority for more than a decade. In a supersized episode, Lawrence breaks down his illustrious career that all started with a fashion blog, and anonymous Tumblr account, a healthy sense of humor, and a dream. Plus, he shares a wealth of insights on the current state of the menswear space: what’s most interesting to him right now, his thoughts on what’s happening (and what’s not) in men’s lifestyle media, the tedium of recycled references, the hyperspeed of the trend cycle and which trends have surprising staying power, the overconsumption conundrum, his take on the personal style discourse, the fine line between being in on the joke and being the joke in the starter pack age, how menswear enthusiasts can set themselves apart when it comes to style, 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

Gia Kuan, founder of Gia Kuan Consulting, is a sought-after publicist known for her work with disruptive New York brands. In the podcast, she discusses her international upbringing and how it influenced her unique fashion perspective. Gia dives into her early experiences in mall culture and how that shaped her style. She explains her agency's matchmaking approach in PR, highlights the joy of collaborating with emerging brands, and shares insights on navigating chaotic events, demonstrating grace under pressure.

Clare Moore, an influencer marketing consultant and author of Following Up, joins to discuss the evolution of brand trips in the fashion and beauty industries. She explores how these trips began as organized content shoots and highlights Revolve's role in shaping influencer travel culture. Clare addresses the challenges influencers face with strict deliverables and how brands must adapt to remain relevant, especially in today's economic climate. Together with Alyssa, they examine the balance between aspirational marketing and authenticity, emphasizing the need for brands to connect meaningfully with their communities.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thenewgarde.substack.comIt’s been a huge month for red carpets, with events like the Met Gala and the Cannes Film Festival serving as season closers where celebrities and stylists really bring their A game. This week, Alyssa is joined by Eliza Brooke to really nerd out about the stylist, talent, and brand partnerships that fuel the red carpet machine. This is our version of sports, and while some of you are locked into the NBA Playoffs, we’re focused on a different kind of bracket: which star has a contract with which luxury brand, what celebrity quietly traded their stylist for another, which stylist stole an MVP client from a peer, and so on. Tune in to hear their thoughts on the most exciting talent and stylist pairings in the game right now; what it takes for a duo to really make magic on the red carpet; the behind-the-scenes sponsorships and brand deals that are required to pay the bills; the magazine editor to celebrity stylist pipeline; YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok as the new launching pads for stylists’ careers; the intimacy of a stylist/client relationship; what happens when there’s a public falling out or switch-up in the styling world; how celebrities decide on a new aesthetic direction when they’re entering a new era; the tragedy of a brand ambassadorship that’s a bad fit; the rising stars on the styling scene to keep an eye on, and much more.This episode was recorded in the podcast studio at The SQ @ 205 Hudson.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thenewgarde.substack.comThis week’s episode is all stars, stripes, and style. Alyssa is joined by Biz Sherbert, the brilliant writer behind American Style on Substack and co-host of the podcast Nymphet Alumni, to go deep on how young people in our country are getting dressed and thinking about fashion. Tune in to hear Biz’s insights about how what people are wearing in real life is influenced by what people are wear…