The title says it all: Diana Vreeland was, in fact, that Empress of Fashion, reigning over Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute for half a century. As a result, her life story stretches the conventions of biography, which so often presents mid-century women’s lives merely as a series of relationships. Amanda MacKenzi ... Show More
May 31
Jonatan Leer and Stinne Gunder Strøm Krogager, "Food Porn: Food Aesthetics in a Digital Age" (Bristol UP, 2026)
Is food porn a vibrant and democratic new expression of modern food culture or a superficial addition to an image-saturated world? Tracing its origins from the 1970s to today, this timely book examines the evolution of food porn as a desire-inducing aesthetic practice and a visua ... Show More
40m 31s
May 30
Janani Balasubramanian and Natalie Gosnell, "Art-Science Undisciplined: A Playbook for Transformative Collaboration" (U California Press, 2026)
Art-Science Undisciplined invites us into a collaborative journey grounded in mutual exploration and transformation. Moving beyond transactional exchanges of expertise, artist Janani Balasubramanian and astrophysicist Natalie Gosnell draw on their own experiences, as well as stor ... Show More
53m 56s
May 27
Kanika Singh, "The Story of a Sikh Museum: Heritage, Politics, Popular Culture" (Cambridge UP, 2025)
The Story of a Sikh Museum: Heritage, Politics, Popular Culture, published by Cambridge University Press in July 2025, is a pioneering study on Sikh museums, a unique phenomenon of contemporary India—for their sheer numbers, distinctive display, malleability and presence in multi ... Show More
39m 38s
Jun 2013
Amanda MacKenzie Stuart, “Empress of Fashion: Diana Vreeland, A Life”
The title says it all: Diana Vreeland was, in fact, that Empress of Fashion, reigning over Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute for half a century. As a result, her life story stretches the conventions of biography, which so often present ... Show More
44m 52s
Aug 2025
Claire McCardell: The Girl Who Defied Dior, Part I
Called the "designer's designer," Claire McCardell turned the American fashion industry on its head starting in the 1930s with her fresh modern take on sportswear. This week we examine her career and legacy in a two-part episode from 2022. For additional reading, check out Elizab ... Show More
39m 50s
May 2025
Becoming the Role Model You Never Had, with Christine Smith
In this episode, Katy is joined by award-winning creative director Christine Smith to explore the topic of role models and their critical importance, particularly for women in the creative industries. Christine shares her personal journey of navigating a male-dominated field, des ... Show More
50m 55s
Jan 2024
Elizabeth Saltzman: Celebrity Stylist
Elizabeth Saltzman is the woman behind the impeccable style of some of Hollywood's most talented ladies. Think Jodie Comer, Julia Garner, and Gwyneth Paltrow. However, Saltzman initially wanted to pursue architecture and became involved in the Downtown New York nightclub and art ... Show More
53m 4s
Dec 2024
Zandra Rhodes on pattern, colour, and textiles.
Zandra Rhodes is one of the most recognisable and influential figures in fashion, as well as the founder of the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. Describing herself as both ‘chaotic’ and ‘fastidious’, she possesses a unique sense of colour and pattern. Over the years, she has ... Show More
50m 27s