ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Was Dave Macklovitch right about the Hedi Boy revival? Is Hedi Slimane’s skinny-jeans-and-leather-jacket universe bigger than fashion? And what happens to musicians when AI can make the record but not the room?
Sol and Michael sit down with the podcast's favorite well-dressed unc, Dave Macklovitch of Chromeo, for his second episode and a proper apology tour after the 2025 Hedi Slimane craze proved him right. The trio explore the Hedi Boy phenomenon, Celine skinny jeans, Dior Homme codes, Saint Laurent leather jackets, indie sleaze, Grailed resellers, archive fashion, and why the looks that last are never just clothes—they come with music, photography, nightlife, diet, attitude, community, and a whole lifestyle system.
Further, Dave connects that idea to Chromeo, explaining how the band built an 80s funk world through contrast rather than costume, why charisma still matters in the age of Suno AI and AI-generated music, and how the “human avatar” may become even more important as the back end gets automated.
They also discuss Kid Cudi’s “Day ’N’ Nite,” Fool’s Gold Records, the birth of modern emo rap, Lil Peep, Yung Lean, Clams Casino, Lil Uzi Vert, Geese, DJ Sneak, Daft Punk, Radiohead, Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, and the strange grace we give artists after their best albums.
On the fashion side, they talk Aimé Leon Dore as integrated fashion, Supreme and Dior Homme coffee machines, Rick Owens lifers, Tom Ford’s symbolic universe, Haider Ackermann, Berluti cowboy boots, Soshiotsuki, Anthony Vaccarello, Demna at Gucci, Kozaburo, how to interact with Thom Browne on a budget, Balmain by Christophe Decarnin, moto denim, Saint Laurent patina, eBay archive finds, vintage Abercrombie, CDLP, DEVOA, Issey Miyake, and why brands that sell a world—not just a garment—keep winning. We hope you enjoy this one as much as we did.
Questions answered in this episode:
- Why is Hedi Slimane influential?
- What is a Hedi Boy?
- Are skinny jeans coming back?
- Why are Celine skinny jeans popular again?
- What is integrated fashion?
- Why do fashion brands sell lifestyle now?
- What makes a brand universe successful?
- How do music and fashion influence each other?
- Why do Supreme, CELINE, Dior Homme, Saint Laurent, Rick Owens, and Tom Ford create such strong cultural identities?
- How will AI music change musicians?
- Will AI replace artists?
- Why does charisma matter in live performance?
- Why was Kid Cudi’s “Day ’n’ Nite” important?
- Why is A$AP Rocky considered a fashion artist?
- What makes archive fashion valuable?
- How do Grailed, eBay, and Discogs shape taste?
- What brands are exciting right now?
Lots of love!
Sol
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Episode Tags: Dave Macklovitch, Dave 1, Chromeo, Pair of Kings, Hedi Slimane, Hedi Boys, Celine, Dior Homme, Saint Laurent, integrated fashion, fashion podcast, menswear podcast, archive fashion, indie sleaze, AI music, Suno AI, Kid Cudi, Day N Nite, Fool’s Gold Records, A$AP Rocky, Rick Owens, Tom Ford, Haider Ackermann, Demna Gucci, Kozaburo, Soshiotsuki, Thom Browne, Balmain Decarnin, Grailed, vintage menswear
#fashionpodcast #chromeo #hedislimane #celine #saintlaurent #dior
Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.
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