The Glossy Podcast

On this week’s Glossy Podcast, Scott Lux, global evp of e-commerce, technology and innovation at Esprit, discussed his role in the brand’s current attempt at a comeback in the U.S. market — Esprit had its heyday in the states in the 1980s. According to Lux, Esprit’s local strategies include getting in front of target customers, getting consumers to engage with the brand, and allowing consumers to shop wherever and whenever they’d like. But, he acknowledged, “retail is hard,” and “e-commerce is expensive.”

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, we talk about the perils of unregulated AI, the rumors of LVMH offloading Marc Jacobs and the immense growth (and pitfalls) of TikTok Shop.

Before taking the reins as creative director of Carolina Herrera in 2018, Wes Gordon had been immersed in the world of high fashion by running his own label and going to school at Central Saint Martins. After graduating, he launched his eponymous label in 2009 and quickly garnered attention for his sophisticated and vibrant aesthetic, which blends modern sensibilities with timeless elegance. Since stepping into his role at Carolina Herrera, Wes Gordon has been credited with infusing the brand with a fresh, exuberant spirit while also honoring the opulent and refined legacy of the founder, Mrs. Herrera. His collections are celebrated for their dynamic use of color, meticulous craftsmanship and playful yet sophisticated aesthetic. Under his creative guidance, the brand has continued to captivate a global audience, expand to new markets and grow its e-commerce reach. Carolina Herrera is opening multiple stores in the next couple of months, with its most recent opening being in Palm Beach. The brand is owned by Spanish conglomerate Puig, which also owns Paco Rabanne, Dries Van Noten and Jean Paul Gaultier. This week's Glossy Podcast explores Carolina Herrera's Puig ownership, Gordon's challenges while taking over Herrera's role and the the brand's Met Gala plans this year.

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. On this week’s episode, we discuss the ongoing collapse of luxury e-commerce companies like Matches Fashion, the slowdown in luxury spending in China, and the progress of the TikTok ban and its potential impacts on fashion.

Before becoming Lilly Pulitzer’s CEO eight years ago, Michelle Kelly had been with the company for 12 years. That experience helped set her up for success as the company’s leader, she said on this week’s Glossy Podcast. "I was able to develop a strong sense of how we operate,” she said. “For everything we've built over the past 20 years, I have some knowledge of how it was done and how we got there. And, of course, the functional knowledge of how different departments work has been really helpful. For one, it’s provided confidence in knowing that we can change — because we have changed, and have been successful at it.” Also on the podcast, Kelly discussed how the recent widespread move to coastal towns has affected 65-year-old Lilly Pulitzer, which specializes in resortwear. And she shared how the brand is adjusting its marketing and distribution mixes in keeping with its customer’s changing behavior. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

Digiday Media's WorkLife is proud to present season three of The Return, a podcast about the modern workforce, with this season focused on middle management. Last season, we heard what it’s like for Gen Z to enter the workforce for the first time in a post-pandemic world. We highlighted themes like why values are so important to Gen Zers, whether or not they are loyal to their employers, how they use TikTok for career advice, what it means to be a young professional who is a boss to older workers, and so much more. This time, we’re hearing from the population of workers that some argue is the backbone of a successfully-run organization: middle management. They are the ones who are navigating those RTO mandates, welcoming a new generation of workers that have a different approach than those who came before them, the rise of artificial intelligence – the list goes on. In season three of The Return, we speak to middle managers themselves to hear beyond their everyday stresses of the job, but what they need to guarantee everyone they manage has what they need to be the best at what they do. C-suite, listen up because they need your help too. We dive into how middle management stress is a decades-long issue (there are New York Times headlines dating back to 1971), how the wrong people are being chosen to be managers which is leading to the rise of “accidental managers,” what it’s like to have hard conversations and having to be a therapist at times, where people are finding support as a middle manager, and how AI is impacting the job of a middle manager. With a Q+A format, you will hear in-depth conversations with folks including Colette Stallbaumer, Microsoft’s general manager of Microsoft 365 and Future of Work Marketing, Rob Pierre, former CEO of advertising services platform Jellyfish, and Emily Field, partner at McKinsey & Company who co-authored “Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work,” to name a few. Season three of The Return is hosted by Cloey Callahan, senior reporter at Digiday Media’s WorkLife, and produced by Digiday Media’s audio producer Sara Patterson. Subscribe to the WorkLife podcast now on Apple Podcasts – or wherever you get your podcasts – to hear the first episode on Tuesday, April 23.

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi is joined by Glossy managing editor Tatiana Pile and Digiday Media audio producer Sara Patterson to break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. Viewership of women’s basketball skyrocketed last year, with the women’s NCAA championship game eclipsing the men’s counterpart. So, on this special episode, Sara and Tatiana give a report from the Orange Carpet at the WNBA Draft. We also talk about the growing popularity of women’s sports and the potential impact on fashion as these players secure major brand deals. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

In 2015, Jimmy, Lan and Conrad Sansone launched The Normal Brand, a fashion company focused on easy, comfortable clothing suitable for both workdays and weekends. In the nine years since, without outside funding, the brothers have opened 11 stores — in cities including Nashville and Indianapolis — and entered partnerships with retailers including Nordstrom and Von Maur. The Normal Brand, which is based in St. Louis, now sells in 500 stores nationwide. Among the brand’s differentiators are its proprietary ultra-soft fabric, Puremeso, and its on-call influencer network — Sansone family members, including Lan, have large social followings and are regularly featured in brand marketing. The Normal Brand has seen 40% annual revenue growth since its launch, Jimmy Sansone said on the Glossy Podcast. Also on the podcast, Jimmy and Lan Sansone discuss The Normal Brand’s strategies for fueling growth, navigating challenges and maintaining a “humble, hungry and smart” team. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, we talk about Allbirds' precarious financial situation, including how it got there; Hermès’s efforts to expand its watch business and the impact of “Cowboy Carter” on fashion's cowboy and Western aesthetics. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

In December 2020, mid-pandemic, husband-and-wife duo Ricardo and Marina Larroué combined their career experiences — his centered in the financial sector and hers including fashion director roles at Style.com and Barneys — and started the shoe brand Larroudé. Based on its unique approach to the footwear industry — namely, selling accessibly priced, luxury-quality, “it” girl-perfect shoes — it wasn’t long before consumers and retailers took notice. And it’s safe to say it’s since hit its stride. “On our own website, we've been growing 4-5X, depending on the month,” CEO Ricardo Larroudé said on this week’s episode of the Glossy Podcast. “And the percentage of [repeat customers] buying from our website alone is north of 20%.” Also on the podcast, Ricardo Larroudé discussed Larroudé’s other differentiators including its vertical production and marketing processes, its rapidly growing online marketplace, and its global workforce, which has grown from five people to 120. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, Express is reportedly on the verge of declaring bankruptcy. Meanwhile, PVH Corp and its subsidiary brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger had a tough earnings report, and Amazon laid off dozens from its physical retail technology division.

L.A.-based Elwood Clothing has had three lives. Currently a street- and loungewear brand owned by creative director Justin Saul and business director Jackson Wirht, it first launched in 1996 with different ownership and a focus on skate culture. Twelve years later, it resurfaced with styles including denim. When Saul and Wirht acquired the company in 2020, it was fueling sales with heavy discounts and had “horrible” community engagement, Saul said on the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast. According to Saul, getting the brand on track meant overhauling everything about it except for its name. On the podcast, he breaks down why he and Wirht bought into Elwood Clothing versus starting a brand from scratch. He also explains what’s driving the company’s recent growth, with sales increasing 165% In the last 12 months.

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, we talk about the swift appointment of Alessandro Michele as the new creative director of Valentino. We also talk about H&M’s strategy, following its stellar earnings announcement, and U.K.'s new guidance about greenwashing by fast fashion brands. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

Seth Weisser and Gerard Maione co-founded the luxury resale company What Goes Around Comes Around 31 years ago, starting with a single storefront in NYC’s SoHo neighborhood. In the decades since, they’ve built up a strong B2B business, with distribution partners from Dillard’s to Disney. Plus, they’ve teamed up with Amazon on e-commerce and opened two more stores, including a Beverly Hills shop and a second NYC location. In the last few years, resale has been on a hot streak, which some would consider a threat to the brands selling luxury goods on the primary market. Indeed, tensions are often high — What Goes Around Comes Around was caught up in a legal battle with Chanel just last month. On this week’s Glossy Podcast, Weisser and Maione discuss how luxury brands’ extreme exclusivity is impacting their business. They also talk about the success they’ve seen with livestream shopping since opening a dedicated studio last year and the ways they’re ensuring WGACA stands out as new competitors flood the resale category. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and editor-in-chief Jill Manoff break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, we talk about Jill’s experience at Shoptalk, with a focus on the big conversations among attending brands and retailers. We also break down the news that Nordstrom may be going private soon and discuss the new Gap x Palace collab following the appointment of Zac Posen as the company's creative director. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

In 2016, Neil Morgan discovered outdoor apparel brand Filson through a pop-up store in New York City and the fashion blog A Continuous Lean. Morgan was instantly drawn to the brand's heritage and quality, and that same year, he joined the Filson team as a part-time sales associate in Seattle. He then worked his way up into a full-time role, working in project management, operational and marketing roles. Morgan became president of the brand in 2022 before transitioning to COO and now head of strategy. Under Morgan's leadership, Filson has recently earned buzz through appearances in series like the Western drama "Yellowstone." Now, Filson is moving into womenswear and considering expanding the brand experience to hotels and cafés. Its partnership with distribution company WP Lavori has also allowed Filson to make inroads in Europe. It has 11 stores in North America, with an 80-20 DTC-to-wholesale split. It's stocked at retailers including Huckberry. On the latest Glossy Podcast, Morgan delves into Filson's growth, new fundraising and international expansion. He also shares how he intends to evolve the Filson brand while retaining its core audience. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

On this week's Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and special guest co-host Sarah Ball, editor-in-chief of Wall Street Journal Magazine, break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. They discuss the consolidation in fashion, including the potential acquisitions by Tapestry of Capri Holdings and by LVMH of Paris Match. Later, they talk about the TikTok ban and what it means for the social media landscape, and discuss a few moments in celebrity culture like the Oscars and Kate Middleton. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

Among luxury e-commerce players, which have experienced shakeups and declining sales over the last year, Germany-based Mytheresa has proven an exception — and its U.S. business is driving much of that success. On the latest Glossy Podcast, Heather Kaminetsky, president of Mytheresa North America, discusses what's driving U.S. sales, which increased 17% year-over-year in the company's most recently reported quarter. She also discusses how Mytheresa is attracting top-spending U.S. consumers — the number of those fitting the bill increased by 48% between September and December. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

On the Glossy Week in Review podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska break down some of the biggest fashion news of the week. This week, we talk about Zofia’s time at Paris Fashion Week, look at the proposed legislation in France and the U.S. targeting ultra-fast-fashion brands like Shein, and discuss Foot Locker’s poor performance last quarter and the implications for sneaker retail. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.

Cos, the H&M Group fashion label founded in 2007, is now hitting its growth stride. The London-based brand has been expanding its international storefront, with new stores in Mexico City and Stockholm plus a new outpost in New Jersey in 2023. Today, the brand has a 248-store portfolio, spanning 48 physical markets, 38 online markets and selected wholesale partners. Wholesale is a recent venture for Cos, starting in 2022 with retail partners Nordstrom in the U.S., e-commerce business Yoox, and German-based Breuninger online. Katie Reeves, managing director of Cos North America, leads the North American growth initiatives. After starting her merchandising career at H&M Group in 2003, Reeves left in 2011 before rejoining in 2021 at Cos. “The Cos brand itself has an amazing DNA, and I was excited to harness that and introduce the brand to many more consumers within the North American landscape,” she said on the latest episode of the Glossy podcast, recorded during the recent eTail West retail conference in Palm Springs, Calif. A growing roster of storefronts is just the tip of the iceberg for Cos, as the brand has sought to build on its NYFW momentum via new marketing opportunities timed to the bi-annual event, plus new store technology that can facilitate stronger customer connections and service. Speaking with Glossy, Reeves detailed where Cos is focusing its efforts, who the Cos customer is and why she thinks there is a brick-and-mortar renaissance. Get more from Glossy with the daily newsletter, sent out each weekday morning. Visit glossy.co/newsletters to sign up.