Back Row with Amy Odell

Amy Odell

Fashion, style, celebrity and culture. Insider knowledge. Outsider honesty. Humor included.

Listen in PodNod RSS feed Show website

67 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes67

Newest first

May 1 · 33 min
There Is No More Cerulean
I went on Sam Sanders's show on KCRW to talk all things Met Gala 2026! We get into the Bezos Met Gala sponsorship, fashion's new Gilded Age, and The Devil Wears Prada 2. We also talked about why tech money is taking over fashion, what happened to the aspirational consumer, and whether the Cerulean monologue could even exist in 2026. Sam is one of the best interviewers around — this was a really fun conversation. Thanks to the KCRW team for allowing us to share it here. Follow Sam's show here. CHAPTERS: 01:30 – Has the Met Gala Become the Tech Gala? 05:20 – Has Fashion Entered a New Gilded Age? 10:20 – The Widening Gap Between the Classes of Fashion 14:20 – What it’s Like to be a Fashion VIC 18:00 – What’s Changed in Fashion Since The (1st) Devil Wears Prada? 20:00 – Does the Cerulean Monologue Hold Up in 2026? 25:10 – Fixing the Met Gala 27:40 – Amy’s Sources of Fashion Inspo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 30 · 46 min
The Fraught History of Naming Celebrities 'World's Most Beautiful'
People magazine's "World's Most Beautiful" editor Andrea Lavinthal joins Back Row to go behind the scenes of the most coveted — and complicated — cover in celebrity journalism. Anne Hathaway talked to People about The Devil Wears Prada 2, her husband, and her haters. But handing out this prize isn't as easy as it might seem. Andrea breaks down how the "World's Most Beautiful" franchise has evolved since Michelle Pfeiffer in 1990 (3:28), why "most beautiful" is more fraught for women than "Sexiest Man Alive" is for men (1:51), and how much creative control a star like Anne Hathaway has over the shoot (9:33). Plus: why Gwyneth Paltrow's "Most Beautiful" cover made an editor think it would get her fired (25:54). Links & Resources 📰 SUBSCRIBE to the Back Row Newsletter for exclusive scoops and bonus podcast episodes: https://www.backrow.net/ 📸 Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell/ Mentioned in this episode: ↳ People's Anne Hathaway cover story, photographed by Jonny Marlow ↳ JFK Jr.'s "Sexiest Man Alive" cover story This episode was edited by Chrissi Harris. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 20 · 56 min
Met Gala 2026: The Bezos Backlash, Devil Wears Prada 2, and What It All Means for Anna Wintour
The 2026 Met Gala has three storylines running at once: Jeff and Lauren Bezos as lead sponsors, The Devil Wears Prada 2 opening the Friday before, and Anna Wintour doing more press than she has in years. Amy sits down with Chantal Fernandez of The Cut to break down all of it — plus predictions for the night. 0:00 Intro — Why This Met Gala Is Different 1:14 - Meet Chantal Fernandez 5:42 The Theme: "Costume Art" & What It Actually Means 8:01 - The Real Story Nobody's Covering: The New Costume Institute Galleries 10:17 - How Met Gala Exhibitions Became Museum Blockbusters 12:35 - How Themes Actually Get Chosen (and Who Funds Them) 14:02 - Anna's Role: Making Exhibitions Commercial 19:00 - Why the Met Gala Gets More Criticism Than the Oscars 21:14 - What Brands Actually Get Out of Spending $350K on a Table 24:26 - Can You Even Boycott the Met Gala? 28:06 - Lauren Sanchez, Schiaparelli & the New Ultra-Rich Aesthetic 30:16 - Breaking Down the NYT Lauren Sanchez Profile 32:56 - Graydon Carter's Perfect Quote 40:14 - Fashion Is Losing Power — and the Bezoses Are a Symptom 44:01 - Anna's Devil Wears Prada 2 Marketing Blitz: Smart or a Mistake? 49:19 - Predictions for Met Gala Night 52:49 - Will Devil Wears Prada 2 Be Any Good? 54:10 - Outro Partner message: Go here: https://beehiiv.link/8yrisv and use the code AMY30 to get 30 percent off a subscription to beehiiv. Links & Resources 📰 Back Row Newsletter: https://www.backrow.net/ 📸 Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell/ Mentioned in this episode: ↳ Chantal's VIC story ↳ Amy’s recent Met Gala reporting ↳ NYT profile of Lauren Sanchez by Amy Chozick ↳ Chantal’s 2024 Met Gala story ↳ Charlotte Cowles’s story asking Anna if she’s retiring Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 13 · 32 min
12 Ultra-Rich People Opened Up About What Money Did to Them
What does extreme wealth actually do to a person? Their psychology, their relationships, their behavior? New York Magazine features writer Lane Brown set out to answer that question by interviewing a dozen ultra-high net worth individuals, people worth $30 million or more. (Read his full story here.) Almost no one wanted to talk. The ones who did had never spoken about this before. Lane and Amy discuss what he found: why sudden wealth immediately isolates you, how self-made billionaires think versus inheritors, why the goalpost never stops moving no matter how much you have, and the eight-step psychological descent — mapped out by a therapist who treats the ultra-wealthy — that can turn an ordinary rich person into someone completely detached from reality. Part 2 is available to Back Row premium subscribers at backrow.net/subscribe, which includes full newsletter access. You can also subscribe through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction 01:19 — Meet Lane Brown 02:12 — What Extreme Wealth Does to a Person 03:21 — The First Thing Money Does: Isolation 06:36 — Who Counts as Ultra-Wealthy? 07:28 — How Lane Got Mark Cuban to Talk 09:31 — Why the Rich Refused to Participate 11:22 — Self-Made vs. Inherited Wealth 13:18 — Is It All Just Luck? 14:16 — The Goalpost That Never Stops Moving 17:41 — The 8-Step Descent Into Corruption 20:23 — Do Billionaires Know People Hate Them? 23:24 — When Luxury Purchases Lose Their Thrill 27:03 — Are Billionaires Actually Cheap? 29:02 — The Tax Strategy Behind the Spending This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Joyce Ciesil and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 10 · 7 min
Why Anna Wintour Did the 'Vogue' Cover
This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published April 7, 2022. What on earth is Anna Wintour doing on the cover of Vogue?! A theory as to why she's leaning so hard into The Devil Wears Prada 2 promo — and what it all says about her legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 6 · 57 min
'The Devil Wears Prada' Rewatch: Was 'Vogue' Really Like That?
How much was Vogue really like The Devil Wears Prada? Amy Odell sits down with former Vanity Fair critic and the author of the Premiere Party newsletter, Richard Lawson, to rewatch The Devil Wears Prada before the sequel drops. Amy interviewed more than 250 people to write Anna: The Biography, including Anna Wintour's closest friends and collaborators. Richard worked at Condé Nast for a dozen years — and has stories. They review the movie's origin story, break down each scene, and talk about what was totally real and what was totally made up. In Part 2 for Premium subscribers, the discuss how the movie impacted Anna Wintour's public image and how she really felt about all of it. Part 2 is available to Premium subscribers. Sign up at Back Row for full newsletter access or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. CHAPTERS: 01:30 — The Devil Wears Prada Origin Story 05:50 — How the Film Elevates the Book 09:10 — Richard’s Real-life Andy Sachs Experience 17:00 — The Movie’s Opening Montage 20:10 — Miranda’s Arrival: “A Million Girls Would Kill For This Job” 24:50 — Andy’s Boring Boyfriend 31:00 — What was it Really Like for Assistants in the Aughts? 34:20 — Would Andy Have Succeeded Without Miranda? 36:50 — The Story Behind the Cerulean Monologue 42:30 — The Harry Potter Book: Did Miranda Want Andy to Fail? 45:30 — The Met Gala Scene 53:50 — Why the Costumes Worked Links & Resources: Back Row newsletter: Premiere Party newsletter Get Anna: The Biography Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 30 · 33 min
Are We Living Through a New Gilded Age?
Will Kris Jenner's birthday party be immortalized on an HBO show in a hundred years? Maybe. The Gilded Age was America’s first era of extreme wealth, inequality, and loud luxury, spanning 1870 to 1900. On this episode of the Back Row podcast, which explains how fashion and culture really work, Amy talks to Gilded Age historian and author Elizabeth Block about how shockingly closely society and fashion today mirror the wealthy and luxury industries during that time period. Elizabeth is the author of the upcoming book Gilded Age Fashion: More Than 50 Iconic Looks and the Stories Behind Them. Their conversation breaks down how Kris Jenner's birthday feels straight out of the late 1880s; how sky-high luxury fashion prices are basically the same as they were back then; the most extreme luxuries of the past and present; and Vogue's Gilded Age origins. Listen to Part 2 for Elizabeth’s take on what life was like for the have-nots during the period — and why she sees parallels between Taylor Swift’s wedding and the Gilded Age. Part 2 is available to Back Row Premium subscribers. Sign up at BackRow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Introducing Dr. Elizabeth Block 01:20 — Are We Living in a New Gilded Age? 03:20 — The Gilded Age Weddings 07:40 — Kris Jenner’s Birthday Party: Gilded Age-Coded? 11:00 — How Much Did Socialites Spend on Dresses? Then vs. Now 16:30 — Gossip Columns: What Were the Faux Pas? 20:30 — Etiquette Books and the Rules of Modesty 26:20 — Vogue’s Gilded Age Origins Links & Resources: Back Row Newsletter Amy Odell — Instagram Elizabeth Block — Instagram Newsletter: Gilded Age Fashion Books: Gilded Age Fashion: More Than 50 Iconic Looks and the Stories Behind Them Beyond Vanity: The History and Power of Hairdressing This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Joyce Ciesil and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 27 · 39 min
Why Tech Billionaires Are Becoming Fashion’s New Kardashians
Are tech billionaires the next Kardashians? From Mark Zuckerberg sitting front row at Prada to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s Met Gala sponsorship, tech billionaires are increasingly present in the fashion world in 2026. Why is this happening? Amy invites tech journalist Taylor Lorenz back on the pod to discuss this controversial relationship between fashion and big tech. They dive into Bezos funding the Met Gala (4:30), why going to fashion shows could be a byproduct of tech backlash (07:00); Mark Zuckerberg at Prada (13:30), the future of space tourism (19:00); and whether smartglasses are fashion or surveillance (24:20). Listen to Part 2 to hear their takes on Bryan Johnson’s ‘Don’t Die’ movement and Clavicular’s Looksmaxxing on the runway — and what these male beauty and wellness trends mean for the future of fashion. Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 23 · 40 min
Inside JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’s Life on Cape Cod
What did Love Story get wrong about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette? Amy Odell sits down with Kate Storey, author of White House by the Sea, to break down what really happened inside the Kennedy compound — and how the show fictionalizes their lives, relationship, and famous Cape Cod summers. And she answers the urgent question: was there really a breakfast board?! Kate spent years reporting on the Kennedy family and shares what the show gets right, what it gets completely wrong, and what their real lives were actually like behind the scenes. Sign up for a Premium subscription to Back Row to hear Part 2. Go to BackRow.net to get newsletter access included with your subscription. Or sign up in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. CHAPTERS 01:06 why everyone is watching “love story” 03:00 inside the real Kennedy compound 06:00 how the show fictionalizes Hyannis Port 08:20 how John and Carolyn really started dating 12:10 when the paparazzi began 13:00 JFK Jr.’s Cape Cod childhood 15:40 the treasure diving story 17:50 the infamous boat moment 19:20 the “breakfast board” truth 21:00 Carolyn vs the Kennedy family (real story) 23:30 what Carolyn was actually like 27:00 their dinner parties and private life 28:30 how they really got engaged 30:00 iconic photos vs reality 31:00 how accurate is the show overall? 34:00 their final plans for the house 36:00 why they didn’t prioritize security Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 18 · 7 min
Joh Galliano for... Zara?!
This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published Tuesday, March 17. After waiting two years for John Galliano's next move, we finally know he's going to Zara. In this analysis, Amy talks about why fashion people have forgiven him for his antisemitic and racist tirades that became public in 2011 and led to him losing his job at Dior — and why this move is a risk for Zara. Amy finishes with the "Loose Threads" news roundup, featuring Adrien Grenier's Devil Wears Prada 2 laments and a funny update about Gwyenth's clothing auction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 17 · 50 min
The Oscars’ Biggest Fashion Stories: Anna Wintour, the Timothée Backlash, & Is Chanel Good Again?
Amy Odell is joined by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan of ⁠Go Fug Yourself⁠ and the ⁠Drinks With Broads⁠ newsletter to break down the biggest fashion stories from Oscars night—and what they reveal about Hollywood right now. They discuss Anna Wintour’s surprise appearance (and why she’s leaning into The Devil Wears Prada 2), the backlash against Timothée Chalamet and what it says about celebrity culture, and the ongoing dominance of luxury brands like Chanel and Dior on the red carpet. Plus: the state of red carpet coverage, why it feels increasingly sanitized, and the looks that worked—and didn’t. In part two, we get into the media’s Ozempic discourse, Chanel vs. Dior, and why the K-pop Demon Hunters cast didn’t get the attention they deserved. CHAPTERS 00:00 The Oscars as luxury marketing 05:00 Why everything in Hollywood is too long 09:30 The biggest fashion stories 10:30 The problem with red carpet coverage 19:00 The Timothée backlash 26:00 Kylie Jenner and celebrity optics 29:00 Anna Wintour at the Oscars 35:00 Chanel vs. Dior 40:00 The best (and safest) looks Don't forget to ⁠sign up for the Back Row newsletter.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 12 · 42 min
Fashion Month Awards Part One: Chanel’s New Era & Tech Billionaires in the Front Row (with Dana Thomas)
Paris Fashion Week wrapped up the Fall 2026 shows, so Amy Odell and New York Times bestselling author Dana Thomas are handing out the Fashion Month Awards. Together they break down the biggest moments from New York, Milan, and Paris Fashion Week, including: • Prada’s viral runway stunt • Marc Jacobs’ comeback in New York • The rise of fashion watch parties bringing fans into the shows • Why tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg are suddenly sitting front row • The best trends and the weirdest trends of the season • What Chanel’s new era could mean for fashion They also talk about how fashion shows—and fashion media—are changing as creators, newsletters, and independent platforms reshape the industry. Part two of the Fashion Month Awards is available to Back Row Premium subscribers. Sign up at BackRow.net to get newsletter access and more exclusive fashion reporting included with your subscription, or in Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Chapters: 00:00 — Introducing Dana Thomas and the Fashion Month awards 01:25 — Is fashion entering a new generational era? 04:10 — The shift from magazines to creators and newsletters 06:40 — Loudest viral stunt: Prada’s layered runway trick 10:15 — Fashion watch parties and opening shows to the public 15:35 — Why fashion shows might become spectator events 20:55 — Sleeper hit of the season 24:30 — Most awkward front row celebrity 28:00 — Tech billionaires invade fashion week 31:50 — Hardest-working front row celebrity 34:20 — Best trend of the season 36:40 — Weirdest trend: the return of tails Links and Resources: Amy Odell - Instagram Back Row newsletter Dana Thomas Instagram Deluxe (book) Gods & Kings (book) Fashionopolis (book) Style Files (newsletter) Credits: Produced by Amy Odell. Audio editing by Joyce Ciesel, video by Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 9 · 42 min
The Real Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette
Amy Odell sits down with Liz McNeil and RoseMarie Terenzio, authors of JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography, to discuss the real romance between Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr. that inspired the FX show Love Story, executive-produced by Ryan Murphy. Terenzio assisted JFK Jr. in the 90s at George magazine, and McNeil covered him as an editor for People. For their book, they interviewed more than 150 people who knew him. They share personal encounters with the couple and people in their inner circle, talk about what John would have made of the frenzy over his style today, and explain what in 'Love Story' is pure fiction. PART TWO, including discussion of how the Kennedy family deals with relentless press and the REAL reason for that famous fight in the park, is available to Premium subscribers of ⁠Back Row. Sign up at backrow.net for full podcast and newsletter access, or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. CHAPTERS 00:00 Why everyone is talking about JFK Jr. and Carolyn again 01:25 What the FX show “Love Story” gets right (and wrong) 06:10 Why Gen Z is suddenly obsessed with them 07:10 The truth about JFK Jr.’s style 12:10 What drew John and Carolyn together 21:00 What Carolyn Bessette was really like 29:30 Carolyn’s struggle with paparazzi 35:30 The iconic wedding dress 39:15 What the show said about the famous park fight Links & Resources: Partner message: Go to beehiiv and use the code AMY30 to get 30 percent off a subscription. Get RoseMarie and Liz's book: JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography Sign up for the Back Row newsletter Follow Amy Odell on Instagram Follow Liz McNeil on Instagram Follow Rosemarie Terenzio on Instagram This episode was produced by Amy Odell, with audio editing by Joyce Ciesil and video editing by Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 6 · 9 min
Dior Review: Can Jonathan Anderson Cure the 'Luxury Ick'?
Paris Fashion Week is off and running. Jonathan Anderson's fall 2026 Dior show kicked off the week — and Amy liked it a lot more than she expected! She reads her review of the show from the Back Row newsletter, which discusses how fashion has become mass culture and why designers like Anderson need to reach aspirational shoppers. She ends with the "Loose Threads" news roundup, featuring Condé Nast offloading 'Them,' and more. PLUS, a teaser from Monday's interview with JFK Jr.'s biographers (8:45), inspired by the FX show Love Story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 2 · 32 min
The Secret Rules of the Hermès Game: Who Actually Gets a Birkin?
Amy sits down with Noëmie Leclercq of luxury news outlet Glitz Paris to debate the "Hermès game" (aka everything customers allegedly have to do in order for boutiques to offer them the chance to purchase a Birkin or Kelly bag). They discuss pre-spends, background checks, and Hermès’ apparent alliance with Lauren Sánchez Bezos. Noëmie also talks about why superfakes have become a big problem; how the class action lawsuit in the U.S. has affected Hermès sales practices; and the secret “grey market” where billionaires buy the most exclusive bags. In Part 2, Noëmie and Amy discuss whether or not the Birkin bubble has popped, why the market for "superfakes" is booming, and the (grim) outlook for Birkins on the secondhand market. Part 2 is available to paid subscribers of backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Chapters 00:00 — Introducing Noëmie Leclercq of Glitz Paris 01:10 — Is Hermès really stalking their clients? 03:00 — Breaking down the Hermès game 05:40 — Hermès locations: US vs. France 06:00 — Who is the ideal Hermès customer? 07:40 — This French law requires Hermès to background check clients 12:10 — The pre-spend: does Hermès really need to sell furniture? 19:00 — What is the grey market for Hermès products? 24:40 — The Hermès lawsuit: how did it change the game? 28:40 — Can the Birkin be overexposed? 30:20 — Listen to part 2 for Noëmie’s take on if the Birkin bubble has popped Links & Resources: Back Row newsletter Amy Odell — Instagram Noëmie Leclercq — Glitz Paris This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell, Joyce Ciesel, and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
February 23 · 40 min
Marina Larroudé on Anna Wintour, Barneys, and Building a Multi-Million Dollar Brand
Amy Odell talks with fashion director-turned-entrepreneur Marina Larroudé about why she left Teen Vogue for Barneys -- and then started her own brand. Marina recalls Style.com's earliest days; how top brands really weren't on board with the internet; what it was really like to work for Anna Wintour; and what she saw from inside the industry that convinced her there was a big business opportunity in footwear. Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at BackRow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In Part 2, Marina talks about how she makes walkable heels; what it was like for Taylor Swift to wear her shoes on the Eras tour; and her plans for the future of Larroudé. Products mentioned in this episode: ⁠Boat shoes⁠ ⁠Fuzzy lined ballet flat⁠ ⁠Dolly platform sandal⁠ (the same style Taylor Swift wore): ⁠Stella sneaker⁠ CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Introducing Marina Larroudé 03:00 — Why are people so fascinated by Anna Wintour and the Condé Nast world? 05:30 — What does the fashion director at Teen Vogue do? 09:00 — Marina's experience at Style.com 13:30 — The Bella Thorne photoshoot disaster 16:30 — Marina's experience working with Anna Wintour 18:40 — Why Marina left fashion media to work at Barneys 25:10 — On founding Larroudé: "No one was making high-quality shoes for drop-off" 35:00 — How Marina makes Larroudé's shoes comfortable 38:30 — Listen to part 2 for Marina's take on what makes a walkable heel Back Row newsletter Amy Odell - Instagram Marina Larroudé: Instagram Larroudé: Website Instagram TikTok This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Amy Odell, Jonathan Voytko, and Joyce Ciesel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
February 19 · 8 min
Why Big Fashion Doesn’t Dress Olympic Figure Skaters
This is the audio version of the Back Row newsletter published February 17, 2026. Why don't fashion designers view Olympic figure skating the way they do red carpets — as a forum to exploit for brand impressions? The sport is fabulous, glamorous, and awe-inspiring, after all. Amy digs into how figure skating costumes are made and why the world's top ready-to-wear designers generally don't want anything to do with making them — and why the athletes also aren't clamoring for brands to step in. Plus, a special New York Fashion Week report (6:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
February 16 · 45 min
Confessions of a Luxury Sale Whisperer (with Madison Avenue Spy)
Part 2 is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In Part 2, Amy and Lila debate the Saks Fifth Avenue bankruptcy — detailing the brand's fraught relationship with Amazon, the possibility of government intervention, and what it all means for the future of the department store. On this episode of the Back Row Podcast, Amy talks with Lila Delilah, THE Madison Avenue Spy, about the current unhinged state of luxury retail — from the "Very Important Client" system to how luxury brands deal with all-out frenzies over once-secret sales. They also discuss the Hermès game, brands that have threatened to sue Lila, and more. CHAPTERS: 0:00 – Introducing Madison Avenue Spy 5:10 – Were there VICs in 2010? 7:00 – How have luxury sales evolved? 13:10 – The lines are getting out of control 15:00 – What are the most legendary sales right now? 16:10 – Will The Row do invitation-only sales? 20:00 – Hermès shoppers are begging for appointments 27:00 – The brands that threatened to sue Madison Avenue Spy 31:10 – The bag-buying experience at Chanel vs. Hermès 34:40 – Reacting to the “Great Reset” 37:45 – Was Hermès ever really a fashion brand? 41:00 – What could break the spell Hermès has on shoppers? Links & Resources: Back Row Newsletter Amy Odell - Instagram Madison Avenue Spy: Substack Website Instagram TikTok Telegram This episode was produced by Amy Odell and edited by Joyce Ciesil and Jonathan Voytko. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
February 9 · 38 min
Are Awards Shows Just Luxury Marketing Now?
Are awards shows still about movies — or are they now luxury fashion marketing disguised as cultural prestige? And who’s actually funding all these celeb red-carpet appearances — the studios, the stars, or the brands? Amy Odell is joined by Debra Birnbaum, Editor-in-Chief of awards season news outlet Gold Derby, to break down how modern awards campaigns actually work and why the fashion is so important. Amy and Debra talk Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme press tour and if it was too annoying to win (23:10); who really pays for all the glam (14:30); and how the Met Gala came to overshadow the Oscars (33:30). Subscribe to Amy's Back Row newsletter: https://www.backrow.net/ Follow Amy on Instagram Follow Debra Birnbaum on Instagram Check out Gold Derby for more awards season predictions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
February 2 · 51 min
How the Bravo Look Took Over Fashion and Beauty (with Watch What Crappens)
Part 2 of this episode is available to paid subscribers at backrow.net (which includes full newsletter access) or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify. After years of quiet luxury, opulence is back in fashion. In this episode of the Back Row podcast, Amy traces the origins of fashion’s current obsession with excess — all the way back to… Bravo? Joined by Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam of the wildly popular Watch What Crappens podcast, they discuss how Real Housewives culture shaped today’s luxury landscape, even as the fashion world distanced itself from reality stars. Lauren Sánchez may be one of the most talked-about attendees at couture week — but Bravo stars have been doing her look for 20 years! They also talk about how much Bravo helped get Gigi and Bella Hadid's careers going, Rachel Zoe's debut on RHOBH, and more. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introducing Ben & Ronnie of ‘Watch What Crappens’ 01:20 – Lauren Sanchez’s style is just the Bravo look 05:00 – Breaking down the Bravo aesthetic 10:40 – Are Sky tops coming back? 16:50 – Will fashion ever accept the Real Housewives? 24:30 – Would the Hadids have happened without Bravo? 27:30 – What’s up with Mauricio’s Chanel blanket? 30:40 – Is Rachel Zoe too confident for the Real Housewives? 37:10 – Bravo misidentified a Kelly bag 40:20 – The Birkin that costs $1,000,000 (before you can buy it!) 44:30 – Is plastic surgery the new Birkin? Links & Resources: Back Row newsletter Back Row Podcast: Apple Spotify YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back Row with Amy Odell

There Is No More Cerulean

The Fraught History of Naming Celebrities 'World's Most Beautiful'

Met Gala 2026: The Bezos Backlash, Devil Wears Prada 2, and What It All Means for Anna Wintour

12 Ultra-Rich People Opened Up About What Money Did to Them

Why Anna Wintour Did the 'Vogue' Cover

'The Devil Wears Prada' Rewatch: Was 'Vogue' Really Like That?

Are We Living Through a New Gilded Age?

Why Tech Billionaires Are Becoming Fashion’s New Kardashians

Inside JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’s Life on Cape Cod

Joh Galliano for... Zara?!

The Oscars’ Biggest Fashion Stories: Anna Wintour, the Timothée Backlash, & Is Chanel Good Again?

Fashion Month Awards Part One: Chanel’s New Era & Tech Billionaires in the Front Row (with Dana Thomas)

The Real Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette

Dior Review: Can Jonathan Anderson Cure the 'Luxury Ick'?

The Secret Rules of the Hermès Game: Who Actually Gets a Birkin?

Marina Larroudé on Anna Wintour, Barneys, and Building a Multi-Million Dollar Brand

Why Big Fashion Doesn’t Dress Olympic Figure Skaters

Confessions of a Luxury Sale Whisperer (with Madison Avenue Spy)

Are Awards Shows Just Luxury Marketing Now?

How the Bravo Look Took Over Fashion and Beauty (with Watch What Crappens)