Fashion Neurosis with Alessandro Michele

Alessandro Michele, creative director of Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer. He is widely regarded as one of the most visionary and transformative figures in contemporary fashion. He came to prominence with his groundbreaking tenure as Creative Director of Gucci from 2015 to 2022, redefining the brand with his romantic, and gender-fluid aesthetic. Blending poetic historical references with radical reinvention, his designs both seduced and challenged conventional notions of beauty and luxury, making Gucci a symbol of artistic freedom and cultural commentary. Born in Rome in the 70's, he spent time at Fendi under Karl Lagerfeld and the Fendi sisters, and later at Gucci, where he worked for over a decade before taking the helm. Under his leadership, Gucci saw unprecedented creative and commercial success, sparking a new era of expressive, maximalist fashion. Beyond clothing, Alessandro Michele's impact extended into art, film, and social commentary, using fashion as a platform for self-expression and expanding horizons. His designs often explore identity, queerness, and beauty, earning him global acclaim as one of the most important designers of the 21st century. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis Bella Freud and Alessandro Michele discuss going to the same fashion school in Rome, the chic in making a wrong choice, and meeting the best people in the loos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lorde is a New Zealand singer and songwriter. She is a Grammy-winning artist and cultural force, known for her genre-defying sound, introspective lyricism, and striking creative vision. She gained recognition at the age of 16 with her breakthrough album Pure Heroine and the hugely successful single 'Royals'. She has redefined the contours of modern pop - merging poetic storytelling with minimalist, emotionally resonant production. To date, she has amassed over 18 billion global streams and 18 million album sales worldwide. She is a thoughtful and impressive presence in the world of music, experimenting with all aspects of identity and creativity including what she wears - and why.  In this episode of Fashion Neurosis Bella Freud and Lorde discuss the purity of David Byrne, the guises of feeling feminine or masculine, a wearing matching Saint Laurent with Charli XCX. TW: This content may contain themes or material that some viewers may find sensitive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Haim is an American rock band made up of three sisters: Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim. Hailing from Los Angeles, the siblings grew up in a musical household, playing in a family band before forming HAIM in 2007. Their unique sound blends elements of classic rock, R&B, folk, and '90s pop, creating a genre-defying style that feels exciting, nostalgic and modern. The band gained major attention with their 2013 debut album Days Are Gone, and their album ‘Women in Music Pt. III’ (2020) was nominated for Album of the Year Grammy and compounded their status as one of the most innovative acts in contemporary music.  Known for their dynamic live performances and sibling chemistry, Haim has become a powerful presence in both indie and mainstream music scenes. They’ve collaborated with artists Taylor Swift, Kid Cudi, and Charli XCX. They have collaborated on 10 of their music videos with the legendary film director Paul Thomas Anderson; Alana Haim has also performed leading roles in two of his films. Their new album ‘I Quit’ launches on June 20th 2025. In this episode, Bella Freud and Haim discuss being obsessed with Phoebe Philo, the roles of sisterhood, and making music videos with Paul Thomas Anderson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Courtney Love is an American singer, songwriter and actress, who rose to prominence as the lead singer of Hole, which she formed in 1989. Her life has been subject of intense media scrutiny, particularly her marriage to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain from whom she has a daughter Frances Bean, and her candid battles with addiction and personal loss. Among her distinguished acting roles, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her exceptionally brilliant performance in Milos Foreman's 'The People VS Larry Flynt. Courtney Love has continued her creative trajectory, challenging industry norms and championing female empowerment in rock. With decades of artistic influence and an enduring legacy of rebellion and resilience, she remains one of the most provocative, talented and influential women in modern music. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Courtney Love discuss pole dancing, freedom from addiction, and being asked to change the music by next door neighbour David Bowie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel Jones is a multidisciplinary artist working with painting, installation, sound and performance. Jones explores a sense of self as a visual and visceral experience, using motifs and abstraction to grapple with the intangible emotional and psychological truths of being. Jones completed her BA Fine Art at Glasgow School of Art in 2013 and an MA Fine Art at the Royal Academy Schools, London, in 2019. Recent solo exhibitions include the Museum of African Diaspora, San Francisco, (2024), the Long Museum, Shanghai, China (2023) and the Chisenhale Gallery, London (2022). She was included in Mixing It Up: Painting Today at the Hayward Gallery, London (2021), followed by other institutional group exhibitions at the Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D.C., Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Arizona (2022) and others. She was an artist in residence at The Chinati Foundation, Marfa, Texas in 2019 and the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art in 2016. Jones’s work is housed in prominent institutional collections, including those of the Long Museum, Shanghai; Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam; Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles; Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York; and Tate, London, where her piece 'lick your teeth, they so clutch' (2021) is currently on display as part of the Tate Britain's rehang. Alongside her painting and performance practice, Jones also designed the BRIT Awards 2024 trophy, which was presented to all winners. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Rachel Jones discuss Karaoke in art, the allure and threat of the colour red, and appearing in a Loewe campaign shot by Juergen Teller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Consani is an American model. She is also a social media star - performing brilliant and hilarious skits on tiktok, garnering her millions of followers and fans. A fearless advocate for trans visibility, Alex Consani is redefining beauty standards and electrifying the fashion industry. She burst onto the scene at just 12 years old and has since established herself as one of the top models in the world. She has walked for global fashion powerhouses including Tom Ford, Versace, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and many others. In 2024, she made history as the first openly transgender woman to win the British Fashion Council’s Model of the Year award. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Alex Consani discuss being Trans in the fashion industry, what makes for an obsession, and great British slang. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Graydon Carter is a celebrated Canadian journalist, editor, and cultural commentator best known for his 25 years as the Editor of Vanity Fair. Born in Toronto, Graydon Carter began his career in journalism in Canada where he co-founded Spy magazine in 1986. The satirical monthly became famous for its sharp, irreverent take on media, politics, and celebrity culture, establishing him as a critical voice in American media. In 1992, Graydon Carter became the editor at Vanity Fair, transforming the magazine into a powerhouse of long-form journalism, celebrity profiles, and cultural commentary. Under his leadership Vanity Fair became known for its investigative reporting - breaking a number of key political scandals; also the much anticipated photographic spreads and covers featuring Hollywood stars, shot by the legendary photographer Annie Liebovitz. Graydon Carter stepped down from Vanity Fair in 2017, founding Air Mail, a digital weekly aimed at worldly readers interested in culture, politics, and style. With his signature wit and curatorial flair, he has published his memoir 'When The Going Was Good' with author James Fox. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Graydon Carter discuss the joys of ironing, creating desirable trinkets for people to 'take home' from the Vanity Fair party, and whether it was Aerosmith's Steve Tyler, or Kate Moss who actually said 'nothing tastes like skinny feels.' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bethann Hardison is a pioneering force in fashion and activism in a career spanning over five decades. Emerging from Brooklyn in the late 1960s, she became one of the first Black models to gain prominence in both New York and European fashion scenes. Her runway appearances for designers Willi Smith, Calvin Klein, and Oscar de la Renta were groundbreaking, culminating in her legendary performance in the 1973 'Battle of Versailles' fashion show - an event which showcased five french and five American designers. Transitioning from modeling, Hardison founded Bethann Management in 1984, one of the first Black-owned agencies, where she mentored trailblazers Tyson Beckford, Nick Kamen, and Iman. In 1988, she co-founded the Black Girls Coalition with Iman, advocating for equitable representation and pay for models of colour. Hardison's activism continued with the launch of the Diversity Coalition in 2013, prompting global fashion houses to confront racial disparities. In 2019, she joined Gucci as Executive Advisor for Global Equity and Cultural Engagement. Hardison remains a revered mentor and advocate, co-directing the documentary Invisible Beauty, which reflects on her legacy and ongoing impact on the fashion industry. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Bethann Hardison discuss her first shoots with Bruce Weber, forming the Black Girls Coalition with Iman, and how she approached Brides Magazine about including Black, Asian and Latino women in their campaigns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam McKnight is one of the most celebrated hairstylists in the world. His career has spanned more than 40 years at the forefront of cutting edge fashion, beauty, and pop culture. Known for his creative vision, Sam McKnight has collaborated with top designers including Chanel, Fendi, Vivienne Westwood, and Balmain, and worked with all the legendary models and photographers including Patrick Demarchelier, Nick Knight, and Mario Testino. He has more Vogue covers than Kate Moss (200 globally) and he is a key force behind countless runway shows and advertising campaigns. He was famously the stylist behind Princess Diana’s iconic short hairstyle—an enduring image of elegance and modernity. In 2016, his exhibition Hair by Sam McKnight at Somerset House in London offered a rare look at the role of hair in fashion and culture. That same creative spirit lives on in his bestselling haircare line, Hair by Sam McKnight, designed to bring editorial styling to everyday routines. With a blend of artistry, innovation, and wit, Sam McKnight continues to influence the fashion industry while inspiring a new generation of creatives to think beyond trends and embrace the power of personal style. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Sam McKnight discuss Lady Gaga's wigs, how a haircut can make homelessness more bearable, and the moment Princess Diana asked him to cut all her hair off - and how it changed her life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marina Abramović is one of the most influential and groundbreaking performance artists of our time. Born in Belgrade, Serbia, she has spent over five decades pushing the limits of the mind, body, and spirit through art. Known for her extreme and often controversial performances, Abramović uses endurance, pain, vulnerability, and direct audience interaction to explore themes of identity. During her most celebrated artistic performance 'The Artist Is Present' at the Museum of Modern Art in 2010, she sat silently across from museum visitors for over 700 hours, creating powerful, wordless connections with almost a million strangers. Marina Abramović has also worked extensively to preserve and teach performance art, founding the Marina Abramović Institute, which focuses on long-durational performance and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her legacy continues to influence artists, thinkers, and audiences worldwide.  In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Marina Abramović discuss how happiness is not conducive to making great art; climaxing as a required element of a performance; and how 80 is too young for her to make a documentary about her life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices