056. The 17 Most Interesting Fashion and Culture Stories of 2025
Episode 56 is the first solo episode of The Manic Metallic Podcast in a couple of years! In it, Liberty discusses what she sees as the seventeen most interesting fashion and culture stories of 2025.
These stories span the fashion, arts, and culture spectrum, from Ralph Lauren’s big year and 55k-Gate to the Louvre Heist and the sale of Frida Kahlo’s El sueño (La cama).
The show notes here are very detailed and list sources for the stories that are discussed, and you’re encouraged to check those out below.
Remember to subscribe to both The Manic Metallic Podcast and The Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter to keep up with our latest updates; here’s the Substack link: manicmetallic.substack.com/subscribe
RESOURCES AND REFERENCES
Ralph Lauren
- Polo Ralph Lauren's Oak Bluffs Collection https://corporate.ralphlauren.com/pr_250723_PRLOakBluffs.html
- YouTube Video | RALPH LAUREN | Polo Ralph Lauren | A Portrait of the American Dream: Oak Bluffs https://youtu.be/UOT8CUBpERE?si=AukkHbsO1-i9TP3-
- Ralph Lauren's CFDA Award https://cfda.com/news/the-2025-cfda-awards-winners-and-honorees/
- Polo Ralph Lauren x Tópa collaboration https://corporate.ralphlauren.com/pr_251118_PRLxTOPA.html
- Polo Ralph Lauren's USPS Collection https://news.usps.com/2025/11/24/ralph-lauren-to-offer-usps-inspired-collection/
Sydney Sweeney AE Ad
- American Eagle x Sydney Sweeney "Good Jeans" Ad, Explained https://www.npr.org/2025/08/01/nx-s1-5487286/sydney-sweeney-american-eagle-explained-why-controversy-racist-eugenics-trump-bathwater-ad-klein-statement
- Liberty Imhoff | TikTok Video On American Eagle x Sydney Sweeney ad https://www.tiktok.com/@libertytheaesthete/video/7532209718798880014
The Cutting Room Floor (Recho Omondi) $55k Controversy
- Liberty Imhoff | Tiktok Video On The 55k Salary Controversy https://www.tiktok.com/@libertytheaesthete/video/7543400378138725646
- Liberty Imhoff | TikTok Video On Why Businesses Should Advocate For Universal Healthcarehttps://www.tiktok.com/@libertytheaesthete/video/7543684491462593805
- A 55k-Gate Article Explainer https://www.thecut.com/article/cutting-room-floor-job-controversy-55k.html
Condé Nast's Year
- Liberty Imhoff | Tiktok Video On Teen Vogue Being Folded Into Vogue's Website https://www.tiktok.com/@libertytheaesthete/video/7568987241737981198
- Condé Union Firings https://www.semafor.com/article/11/06/2025/cond-nast-abruptly-fires-4-staffers-after-hr-confrontation
Trump Antagonizing The Worlds of Arts and Culture
- USA Today - Explainer https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/14/trump-kennedy-center-what-to-know/78618607007/
- How The Kennedy Center Takeover Has Been Going https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/06/politics/trump-kennedy-center-takeover
- Sally Mann's Censorship at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/01/09/sally-mann-photographs-seized-fort-worth-modern-art-museum
- Amy Sherald Canceling Her Show https://www.npr.org/2025/07/25/nx-s1-5479078-e1/artist-cancels-her-exhibition-after-smithsonian-wants-to-remove-a-portrait
Departures and Debuts
- The Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter | #005: In The Know - The Musical Chairs Of Fashion https://manicmetallic.substack.com/p/005-in-the-know-the-musical-chairs
- CHANEL Métiers d’art 2026 Show in New York https://www.youtube.com/live/afbCCkgVGHY?si=_vy7l7N5uDSBFhfp
The Met's "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" Exhibition at the Costume Institute
- Manic Metallic Article | Review: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” https://manicmetallic.com/exhibitions/review-superfine-tailoring-black-style/
Tariffs Rocking the Fashion Industry
- Ssense Bankruptcy https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqvg293gvpo
- Ssense Hasn't Paid Many Indie Designers https://www.gq.com/story/ssense-indie-brands-creditor-list
Frida Kahlo Painting
Puck Purchases Air Mail
- Axios Article https://www.axios.com/2025/10/30/puck-air-mail-stock-deal-graydon-carter
- The Manic Metallic Substack Newsletter | Who Actually Thinks That Condé Nast Is A Moral Company?https://manicmetallic.substack.com/p/who-actually-thinks-that-conde-nast
Sasha Suda + Philadelphia Art Museum Termination Saga
- Phillyvoice: An Explainer https://www.phillyvoice.com/sasha-suda-lawsuit-philadelphia-art-museum-firing/
- Info On The Rebrand and How People Felt About It https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-philadelphia-art-museum-rebrand-surprised-locals-and-board-members-is-it-as-bad-as-some-say/ar-AA1PN5sJ
- Manic Metallic Article | Review: "Dreamworld: Surrealism At 100" https://manicmetallic.com/reviews/review-dreamworld-surrealism-at-100/
Prada's Purchase Of Versace
- Info On the Purchase https://apnews.com/article/italy-fashion-prada-versace-62a0c62b0a5c332af996ce7ad4d548a9
- Dario Vitale's Exit https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/04/style/versace-designer-exit-dario-vitale
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Taking Over Fashion
- ArtNet Article https://news.artnet.com/art-world/jeff-bezos-lauren-sanchez-bezos-met-gala-2715793
- The Daily Beast Article https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeff-bezos-buys-lauren-sanchez-the-party-of-the-year/#user-comments
- Liberty Imhoff | Tiktok Video On The Met Gala Sponsorship https://www.tiktok.com/@libertytheaesthete/video/7574909707219995918
Significant Deaths
- Frank Gehry https://apnews.com/article/architect-frank-gehry-died-obit-guggenheim-disney-a023a30877e6e9644dd9ad8f1f4217f4
- Giorgio Armani https://apnews.com/article/italy-obit-giorgio-armani-bb4b91756214c456fd5db14216a91b75
- David Lynch https://apnews.com/article/david-lynch-dies-9107f3ce0b4dd49dbe3dc2ae3c09ed59
AI Gets Its Hands On Everything
- Manic Metallic | How To Use AI Without Selling Your Soul: A Guide For Creatives https://manicmetallic.com/product/how-to-use-ai-without-selling-your-soul-a-guide-for-creatives-product/
- Doji (AI Try-On App That Creates A Likeness Of You) https://www.doji.com/
- Daydream (AI Fashion Agent) https://daydream.ing/
- Whering (Social Wardrobe and Styling App) https://whering.co.uk/
Louvre Crown Jewels Stolen
- PBS Article - Explainer https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/crown-jewels-stolen-from-louvre-in-4-minute-operation-by-thieves-in-broad-daylight
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