Fashion & Founders The Podcast

What business school won’t teach you about luxury. How do you work in luxury fashion? This is inside LVMH's playbook. 
This week, I'm joined by Pauline Brown, former Chairwoman of LVMH North America, Harvard Business School professor, and author of Aesthetic Intelligence. Pauline shares the lessons she learned leading some of the world's most iconic luxury brands. We cover a lot, from why climbing the corporate ladder doesn't always bring more freedom, to the mistake most people make when planning their careers, and why she believes taste will become one of the most valuable skills in the future of work. We also dive into what luxury brands understand about consumer psychology, how Dior and Chanel think differently from startups, what it really takes to break into companies like LVMH, and why Pauline convinced Harvard Business School to create a course on The Business of Aesthetics. Whether you're building a brand, growing your career, or simply trying to develop better taste, this episode is packed with frameworks you'll think about long after listening.
In this episode, we cover:
Navigating a career pivot
How she transitioned from consulting to fashion and beauty
The biggest career mistakes young professionals make
Why taste matters more in the age of AI
How to stand out when applying to luxury brands
The psychology behind iconic brands like Dior and Chanel
Why attention doesn't always lead to sales
Three questions to ask before starting your own company

Follow Fashion & Founders:
Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders
Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders
Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com
Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders
Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders
Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders
Podcast Links: Shop My

Follow Pauline Brown:
IG: @paulinegarrisbrown
Book HERE

Brunello: The Gracious Visionary
Watch the documentary film HERE
IG: @brunelloilvisionariogarbato
Thank you to this episodes's sponsor Blue Fox Entertainment!

Thanks for listening!

What does a creative director in fashion do? How do I get a job in fashion? What is fashion school actually like? Hear from Michelle Ochs, the Creative Director at Hervé Léger. 
In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to build a career in fashion from landing an internship at Marc Jacobs before even starting Parsons to navigating the job market during the 2008 financial crisis. After co-founding Cushnie et Ochs and spending more than a decade building the brand, Michelle made the decision to close that chapter of her career. Today, she's the Creative Director of Hervé Léger, where she's reimagining one of fashion's most recognizable brands for a new generation. Michelle also shares the strategy behind Hervé Léger's resurgence, why runway shows aren't always worth the investment, how Gen Z is rediscovering the brand, what she actually looks for when hiring designers, and why she still wants candidates to bring a printed portfolio to interviews. Whether you're hoping to work in fashion, build your own brand, or simply love hearing the stories behind iconic fashion houses, this episode is full of practical advice and an honest look at what it takes to evolve throughout your career.
In this episode, we discuss:
What fashion school is really like
Getting her first fashion internship
Navigating the fashion hiring landscape
Starting a fashion brand
Becoming a creative director
Fashion marketing
Rebuilding an iconic fashion brand for a new generation
What fashion hiring managers actually want to see in interviews

Follow Fashion & Founders:
Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders
Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders
Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com
Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders
Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders
Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders
Podcast Links: Shop My

Follow Hervé Léger:
IG: @herveleger
Rihanna’s Iconic Dress

Follow Michelle:
IG: @ochsmichelle
TikTok: @mrsmichelleochs

Rent the Runway:
Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!

Glamsquad:
Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off

Thanks for listening!

This week on Fashion and Founders, I'm joined by Morgan Riddle and Cherry Beagles, co-founders of The 400 Club, a community redefining sports through the lens of fashion, culture, and female fandom.
Morgan Riddle was called “The Most Famous Woman in Mens Tennis” by the New York Times and now she is moving her focus to female fans in all of sports. Cherry Beagles founded The 400 Club in 2024, a community reimagining what sports fandom looks like for women, gaining recognition and named Forbes 30 Under 30. Together, they're building one of the most exciting brands at the intersection of fashion, sports, culture, and community. We discuss their experiences at F1, Wimbledon, the US Open, the Super Bowl and more. At The 400 Club they’re brining women together for the biggest live sporting event watch parties and industry events. 
We talk about why women's sports is far bigger than a trend, how social media has transformed the fan experience, why brands are still missing the mark with female consumers, and the enormous opportunity at the intersection of sports, fashion, and community. If you've ever wondered where the future of sports is headed or why fashion brands, founders, and creators are paying so much attention this episode is for you. Female sports fans aren't new. They're finally being seen.

Follow Fashion & Founders:
Podcast IG: @fashionandfounders
Podcast Substack: Fashion and Founders
Podcast Website: fashionandfounders.com
Podcast TikTok: @fashionandfounders
Podcast LinkedIn: Fashion and Founders
Podcast YouTube: Fashion and Founders
Podcast Links: Shop My

Follow The 400 Club:
IG: @the400club
Join the 400 Club HERE

Follow Morgan Riddle:
IG: @moorrgs

Follow Cherry Beagles:
IG: @cherry.beagles

Rent the Runway:
Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month!

Glamsquad:
Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off

Thanks for listening!

This week on Fashion and Founders Podcast, I’m joined by Caley-Rae Pavillard, VP of Partnerships & Business Development at ShopMy. If you've spent any time around creators lately, you've probably heard the same thing: "Get on ShopMy." But why has it become such a powerful platform for creators, brands, and tastemakers?
In this episode, we discuss why creators are becoming the new retailers, how affiliate marketing is reshaping the industry, and why follower count matters far less than most people think. Caley shares what brands are actually looking for, how creators can turn recommendations into recurring revenue, and why human taste may become even more valuable in an AI-driven world. Consider this your ShopMy Success Guide and Masterclass in Influencer Marketing. 
We cover: 
How creators are making millions through affiliate revenue 
The shift from attention to influence 
What brands really want from creator partnerships 
Why authenticity still wins 
The future of shopping, discovery, and personal brands
Whether you're a creator, founder, marketer, or simply curious about where commerce is headed next, this episode is packed with insights.

Follow Fashion & Founders:
Podcast IG: ⁠@fashionandfounders⁠
Podcast Substack: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠
Podcast Website: ⁠fashionandfounders.com⁠
Podcast TikTok: ⁠@⁠⁠fashionandfounders⁠
Podcast LinkedIn: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠
Podcast YouTube: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠
Podcast Links: ⁠Shop My⁠

Follow ShopMy:
IG: @⁠shopmy⁠
Join ShopMy as a creator ⁠HERE⁠
Join ShopMy as a shopper ⁠HERE
⁠
Follow Caley-Rae:
IG: @⁠heycayrae⁠
Caley’s ⁠ShopMy⁠

Rent the Runway:
Use code: ⁠RTRXVSMITH50⁠and get 50% off your first month!

Glamsquad:
Code: ⁠FASHIONANDFOUNDERS ⁠for $20 off

Thanks for listening!

This week, I’m answering your questions in a solo episode. I asked you to send in your biggest questions about working in fashion, founder tools, networking, fashion tech, and building a career you actually love, and we're covering all of it. From how to pivot into fashion from a different industry or degree, how to attend New York Fashion Week, the tools I’ve used to grow on social media, and the fashion tech companies and trends I'm watching closely right now. Whether you're trying to land your first fashion job, grow your platform, or simply understand where the industry is headed, I hope this episode gives you a few practical takeaways you can use immediately.

Follow Fashion & Founders:
Podcast IG: ⁠@fashionandfounders⁠
Podcast Substack: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠
Podcast Website: ⁠fashionandfounders.com⁠
Podcast TikTok: ⁠@⁠⁠fashionandfounders⁠
Podcast LinkedIn: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠
Podcast YouTube: ⁠Fashion and Founders⁠
Podcast Links: ⁠Shop My⁠

Links for mentioned items in the episode:
⁠Fashion Career Playbook⁠
⁠Copenhagen Fashion Brands⁠
Dressing Professionally on a Budget
⁠Flatter Blazer
No Blister Flats
Earrings

Rent the Runway:
Use code: ⁠RTRXVSMITH50⁠and get 50% off your first month!

Glamsquad:
Code: ⁠FASHIONANDFOUNDERS ⁠for $20 off

Thanks for listening!