The New Garde with Alyssa Vingan

It’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 public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewgarde.substack.com/subscribe

This 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 wearing online, and it’s not a binary; how Clean Girl is probably the most influential trend across the globe; the evolution of the Y2K mall goth; why style-obsessed girls and boys are all up on Pinterest; the beautiful offline ecosystem of sharing clothing and the social connection it can bring; why cool young women in America are flocking to Disney World and Dollywood in droves; 2hollis and Playboi Carti fans are the real dressers at shows; why everyone is looking to homegrown American aesthetics right now; cowboy boots as a symbol of girlhood; Addison Rae and Bella Hadid as the best American style exports we have (and what people might wear to Addison’s first tour); what reality star and influencer style say about American culture; influencers on college campuses and what’s going on fashion-wise at sorority houses; manifesting American Style reporting trips to Charleston and Calabasas, 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

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

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

Rachel Tashjian, fashion critic at The Washington Post and creator of the popular newsletter Opulent Tips, shares her journey from blogging to influential journalism. She discusses the evolution of fashion media, emphasizing the value of unique storytelling and originality. Tashjian reflects on the contrasting dynamics between men's and women's fashion and how integrity plays a crucial role in her recommendations. With insights on navigating the industry and embracing change, she inspires listeners to stay authentic and adaptable in their careers.

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

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.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thenewgarde.substack.comYou’ve likely noticed lot of talk about media’s “good ol’ days” bubbling up recently: Two of the most buzzed about books in New York’s literary circles are “When the Going Was Good,” Graydon Carter’s dishy memoir on the industry’s heyday, and the upcoming “Empire of the Elite,” a look back at Condé Nast’s golden age. Last week, Radhika Jones — one of the last remaining American editors (reportedly) to pull a seven-figure salary — announced her departure from Vanity Fair, where she’s been at the helm since 2017. This all begs the question: What lies ahead for magazines, and what power do legendary titles hold in 2025? This week, Alyssa is joined by Samantha Leach, associate director of special projects at Bustle and NYLON (and author of “The Elissas”), to discuss the state of both print and digital media in depth. Tune in to hear their insights about cover booking, as well as the politics and strategies behind it; the shift from journalists to creators when it comes to interviewing celebrities; how scrappiness in editorial can breed creativity and yield great results; the tricky topic of access to talent and dealing with increasing demands from publicists; how publishers can stay relevant during this time of major change; stealth sponsored content; why events are crucial for any media brand; why print is neither back nor dead, but a secret third thing, and so much more.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thenewgarde.substack.comYou’ve likely heard that the fragrance business is booming, and this week, Alyssa sits down with one of the newest perfumers on the scene: Trey Taylor, founder of Serviette, which launched earlier this year. Trey began his career by climbing the ranks in independent fashion media and earning a masters in fashion journalism at Central Saint Martins — complete with stints at Dazed, Fantastic Man, Interview, and The Face — before pivoting into beauty, building his brand as a side project while keeping a full time job. Tune in for some incredible tales from Trey’s time in editorial (and when he heard the death knell for his magazine career), as well as how his interest in fragrance piqued after writing an article about how celebrities smell; the challenges of being a niche brand in a massive market; what it was like learning the fragrance ropes from the legendary Marissa Zappas; the culture of Fragrantica and online perfume fandom; the process behind formulating the first four fragrances in his line, as well as its visual identity; why cultural curiosity is the driving force behind Serviette; why being delusional is important for success, 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.comIf there’s a girl in your Instagram feed whose unique style strikes you — and who wears brands you hadn’t heard of before she posted them — chances are high that she shops at Maimoun. This week, Alyssa sits down with Mina Alyeshmerni, the store’s owner and curator, to talk all things retail, particularly the challenges that come with championing young, niche designers. Tune in to hear about Mina’s journey pursuing fashion in a first-generation Iranian family, as well as her experience training under Julie Gilhart and Tomoko Ogura at Barneys as a first foray into working with emerging designers, sometimes while they were still in school; what it was like working in the personal shopping department at Barneys in its heyday with high-profile clientele (and some personal shopping blind items); being an early proponent of mixing new and vintage at retail; digging deep into fashion forums online and surfing Tumblr to find design talent; building an audience and community on Instagram before opening her store by posting her fashion illustrations; starting an online business by herself; the risks and rewards that come with taking chances on unknown design talent; opening a permanent brick-and-mortar location in Williamsburg; the supportive, mentor-like relationships buyers can have with the designers they carry; how to build a curation; why POV is so important in every aspect of retail; why sometimes as an entrepreneur, ignorance is bliss, and much more.