Threads of Conversation

My guest this week is Naomi Shimada. Naomi started modelling when she was 13, and later became a prominent voice advocating for size diversity in fashion. In 2019, she co-authored a book, Mixed Feelings, examining our relationship with social media. She was also a presenter on the BBC podcasts Beauty Fix and Obsessed with Killing Eve. Over the years, Naomi has become a trusted voice for honesty, care and inclusion, both inside and outside the fashion industry. She writes a newsletter, Tender Contributions, and is also trained as a somatic coach and in various healing modalities. In this conversation, we discuss five items of clothing that chart growing up in Japan, the loss of her father, her unique career trajectory, and what it takes to maintain lightness in dark times. You can also watch the video version, and see pictures of Naomi's chosen items in the accompanying newsletter. If you enjoy the episode, then don’t forget to subscribe, and follow Threads of Conversation on Instagram and TikTok. Get full access to Threads of Conversation at threadsofconversation.substack.com/subscribe

This week I meet Sonnet Stanfill, V&A Senior Curator of Fashion, and the woman behind the museum’s breathtaking Schiaparelli exhibition.In this episode, Sonnet takes us on an intimate tour of the show, choosing 5 key pieces to tell us more about Elsa Schiaparelli’s life and work. We explore Elsa’s close friendship with artists like Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau and Man Ray, and how creative director Daniel Roseberry has continued her legacy since his appointment at the house in 2019. We also discuss Sonnet’s own career, and her work at the V&A. She tells us about the process of curating a fashion exhibition, how they acquire pieces for the V&A’s collection, and why this show was such a team effort.You can also watch the video version, and see pictures of Sonnet's chosen items in the accompanying newsletter. If you enjoy the episode, then don’t forget to subscribe, and follow Threads of Conversation on Instagram and TikTok. Get full access to Threads of Conversation at threadsofconversation.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Alex Kessler, deputy editor at i-D. Alex began his career at Vogue, before moving to SSENSE, where he worked alongside Thom Bettridge and Steff Yotka, to shape the retailer’s meme-loving tone of voice. The trio then moved on to i-D, relaunching the print magazine and pioneering a new strategy on Substack.This is a great episode for anyone looking to build a career in fashion - Alex’s story is full of grit, determination and self-deprecation, plus advice on how to succeed in today’s media landscape. He also selects 5 items of clothing that have accompanied him along the way - from an overdraft-adjacent Prada shirt, to a conch bag representing his longstanding friendship with Kiko Kostadinov designer Deanna Fanning.If you enjoy the episode, then don’t forget to subscribe to the Threads of Conversation newsletter, and follow along on Instagram and TikTok. Get full access to Threads of Conversation at threadsofconversation.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Camille Bidault-Waddington, one of the most original and influential stylists working today. Born in Normandy, Camille has been part of so many pivotal fashion moments - she modelled for Martin Margiela in the 90s, spent 14 years styling Marc by Marc Jacobs in the early 2000s, and worked for The Face, Dazed and Self Service magazines at their inception.In this conversation, Camille selects 5 items of clothing that chart her creative process, her love of ‘weird’, and how coming out as a lesbian has influenced her style. These include a rare Margiela army sock jumper, a vintage Chanel couture suit, and a pair of mythical AW10 Balenciaga shoes, created during Nicolas Ghesquière’s tenure at the house.If you enjoy the episode, then don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter on Substack, and follow Threads of Conversation on Instagram and TikTok. Get full access to Threads of Conversation at threadsofconversation.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s episode is a live recording with author and cultural critic W. David Marx, best known for his books ‘Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style’ (2015), ‘Status & Culture’ (2022) and ‘Blank Space: A Cultural History of the 21st Century’ (2025).We discuss the origins of his books, his thesis on fashion, the state of culture today, and the outfits that chart his life and career thus far. You can see pictures of the looks he discusses in the accompanying newsletter.Thank you to The Groucho Club for hosting us and to Thom Browne for dressing me. If you enjoy the episode and want to hear about future live events, then subscribe to the newsletter for more Threads of Conversation. Get full access to Threads of Conversation at threadsofconversation.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s guest is Lydia Pang, a creative director who led the cultural output at companies like Nike and Refinery29, before setting up her own explosively successful creative studio, MØRNING.In the past year, Lydia has also taken on two new roles: author and mother. Her new memoir, Eat Bitter, is told through 8 recipes from her Hakka Chinese heritage. It covers growing up in Wales, meeting her husband on MySpace, forging a creative career, moving to New York and getting drunk on the American Dream. It also charts a story of failure, miscarriage, burnout and rebirth.It’s a rich and flavoursome conversation: we talk about the state of culture today, where the internet is heading next, what it takes to build a brand, write a book, and advice for building a creative career.If you enjoy the episode, then don’t forget to subscribe to the Threads of Conversation newsletter, and follow along on Instagram and TikTok. Get full access to Threads of Conversation at threadsofconversation.substack.com/subscribe

Today my guest is Osman Ahmed, a writer, consultant and London It-girl. For over half a decade, Osman was the Fashion Features Director at i-D magazine, where she interviewed everyone from Giorgio Armani to the Olsen twins. She now contributes to Vogue, The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and the Financial Times. She also writes a searingly witty Substack newsletter called ‘Private Parts’.Alongside writing, Osman has also walked in both of Conner Ives’ recent fashion shows, been named one of Vogue's '10 It Girls Re-energising British Cool', and recently wrote a piece for 10 Magazine, titled ‘How Change is the Only Constant', modelling for an editorial shoot alongside.In this conversation, we discuss journalism in the age of personality, tips for interviewing global talent, dancing onstage with Kylie Minogue, and using fashion as a tool for personal evolution.Read the accompanying newsletter here, and if you enjoy the episode, then don’t forget to subscribe for more Threads of Conversation. You can also follow along on Instagram and TikTok. Get full access to Threads of Conversation at threadsofconversation.substack.com/subscribe

In recent years, Lyas (born Elias Medini) has become one of the fashion industry’s most recognisable faces. The French it-boy got his start on social media, where he amassed a large audience thanks to his cheeky sense of humour, deep knowledge of fashion, and authentic point of view.This episode is one from the archive, conducted in July 2024. Since then, Lyas has become even more beloved by the fashion industry after launching La Watchparty last year. The idea happened by chance - Lyas wasn’t invited to Jonathan Anderson’s first Dior show, so he did a callout to gather fans to watch the livestream in a local Paris bar. Hundreds of people showed up, and La Watchparty was born. Now, the free, open-to-all events happen across all the fashion capitals, attracting thousands of fans and creating massive viral moments.In the midst of fashion month, I thought it would be fun to revisit this interview where we discuss the roots of Lyas’ creativity and how he built his community. Click here to see pictures of Lyas' items in the accompanying newsletter. Get full access to Threads of Conversation at threadsofconversation.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s guest is Chani Ra, also known by her TikTok username, The Fashion Nap, because she started making her videos during her newborn’s nap time. Now her child is three, and Chani has become one of fashion’s favourite social media stars.In this episode, I sit down with Chani to talk through 5 items of clothing that chart her life and career in fashion. We discuss going viral on TikTok, building a career on social media, and how she balances content creation with her most important job: motherhood.You can see pictures of Chani's items in the accompanying newsletter here. Don’t forget to subscribe below for more Threads of Conversation, and follow along on Instagram and TikTok. Get full access to Threads of Conversation at threadsofconversation.substack.com/subscribe

In recent years, Emilia Petrarca has emerged as one of fashion’s most distinctive voices. She first honed her blend of wit, obsession and journalistic rigour at The Cut, where she rose to the position of Senior Fashion Writer, before going freelance in 2023. These days, her work regularly graces heavy hitters like The New York Times, The New Yorker and the Wall Street Journal. She’s also leading the ‘new media’ charge - her newsletter Shop Rat has over 30,000 loyal subscribers. In this interview, we discuss the items of clothing (mostly Prada) that chart her career in fashion, plus her infamous disdain for flaccid totes. Find the accompanying newsletter here, and don’t forget to subscribe for more Threads of Conversation. Get full access to Threads of Conversation at threadsofconversation.substack.com/subscribe