Ep. 134: Fashion and Psychoanalysis w/ Dr. Valerie Steele
In this episode, we welcome back none other than the “Freud of Fashion” herself, Dr. Valerie Steele, to discuss the Museum at FIT’s latest exhibition, Dress, Dreams, and Desire: Fashion and Psychoanalysis. Dr. Steele walks us through central theories on mirrors, masquerade, and eroticism, exploring the deep-seated fears and fantasies that drive what we wear. We dissect how the theories of Lacan and Freud play out on the bodies dressed by Schiaparelli, McQueen, Versace, and many more fashion history greats. Links: Visit Dress, Dreams, and Desire: Fashion and Psychoanalysis at the Museum at FIT (up until January 4, 2026)!Register for the Fashion and Psychoanalysis Symposium at the Museum at FIT, Friday November 14th!Audio Analysis for Dress, Dreams, and Desire (four items) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
--------
1:02:25
--------
1:02:25
Ep. 133: Clown Town (Emergency Roundtable)
In this emergency roundtable report, we discuss how clownery has become a dominant mode of aesthetic and ideological expression, perhaps symbolizing the defeat of authenticity. Recent carnivalesque incidents include the chaotic spectacle of this year’s VMAs, the meteoric rise of the Savannah Bananas, Jay Guapo’s Italian Brainrot Block Party, the political role reversal of the troll and the triggered, Audrey Hobert’s debut album Who’s the Clown, and more. Links: Top Clown Town outfits at the VMAs: Conan Gray in Erik Charlotte, Megan Stalter as hot dog vendor, Doja Cat in Balmain, Ariana Grande’s outfit changes, Sabrina Carpenter in ValentinoSabrina Carpenter Performs “Tears” | 2025 Video Music Awards“I need to see you spin first, sista” from Sex and the City S4 E18Chappell Roan Performs “Pink Pony Club” (Live From The 67th Grammy Awards)“Chappell Roan on the Queer Origins of her Signature Makeup Look” – Gay TimesFlash Mob! The Savannah Bananas Crash The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon“As Savannah Bananas ursue ‘a billion fans,’ are they real competition for MLB?” – The New York TimesJay Guapo’s Brainrot Block PartyTyler Robinson’s bullet casing inscription breakdown – PBS News HourThe story behind FBI Director Kash Patel’s seemingly random ‘Valhalla’ referenceTrump’s presidential portraits from 2017 to 2025“What Is ‘Dark Woke’?” – The New York Times“Why has Gavin Newsom gone ‘dark woke’?” – BBCMexican influencer Marian Izaguerre dies after posting goodbye video in clown makeupAudrey Hobert Who’s the Clown interview in Teen Vogue“The Clown at Midnight: Coulrophobia, Counterculture, and the Decadent Pierrot Mask” by Samuel Love – Sequitur Passages from Mikhail Bakhtin on the grotesque body and the carnivalesque sense of the world This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
--------
1:02:25
--------
1:02:25
Ep. 130: Magazine Girl
This week, we discuss the glamorous world of the Magazine Girl, dissecting the real and fictional lives of women who worked at glossy magazines during their heyday. Through profiles of icons including Diana Vreeland, Anna Wintour, Franca Sozzani, Carine Roitfeld, and Plum Sykes, we distill the shared qualities that made these women so foundational to high fashion media. Inspired by Anna Wintour’s recent resignation and the buzz around The Devil Wears Prada sequel, we also ponder who, if anyone, carries on the Magazine Girl legacy today. Links: Image board“The Divine Mrs. V” by Eleanor Dwight for New York“Who is Plum Sykes?” by Taylore Scarabelli for Interview“The Plum and Lucy Show” by Bob Morris for The New York TimesThe Price of Illusion: A Memoir by Joan Juliet BuckAssorted costumes from The Devil Wear Prada 2 in Dazed“Anna Wintour: Behind the Shades” interview for CBS Controversial Plum Sykes clipCarine Roitfeld interview for The Guardian “Could You Have Landed a Job at Vogue in the ‘90s?” Quiz in The New York TimesAnna: The Biography by Amy OdellInterview with Anna Wintour biographer Amy Odell in HungerA Dash of Daring: Carmel Snow and Her Life In Fashion, Art, and Letters by Penelope RowlandsExcerpts from Diana Vreeland’s Why Don’t You column in British VogueFranca Sozzani obituary in Vogue“The Condé Empire Was One Big Beautiful Grift” by Emilia Petrarca on Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
--------
1:15:35
--------
1:15:35
Ep. 129: The Jeans of it All | Study Break
In this edition of Study Break, we discuss the suspiciously overblown controversy of Sydney Sweeney’s AE ad spot, our box office takes on Ari Aster’s Black Lives Matter COVID Western and the new Superman, fascinating late night musical debuts from Pinkpantheress and Jessie Murph, the summer of female sexual aggression, our love of senior dating and romance, and more. Links: Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans – American EagleBrooke Shields Calvin Klein Jeans Commercial (1980) Biz on the genes/jeans of it all Sydney Sweeney as Lacanian super predator tweet@default_friend on AE’s busted copy“The Disembodied Body of Marilyn Monroe” by Wendy LesserThere You Are: Brad Pitt for Chanel No. 5 CommercialPamela Anderson and Liam Neeson editorial for You magazine Liam Neeson racism backlash“Sex After 60 in Sag Harbor” by Candace Bushnell for New York magazineA24’s Eddington dir. Ari Aster – Official Trailer “Everyone Wants a Piece of Pedro Pascal” – Vanity Fair cover story“Can David Corenswet Save Superman?” – GQ cover storyRyan Murphy Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy styling backlash“Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters hits No. 1 on BillboardPinkPantheress: Illegal/Girl Like Me/Tonight Medley on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonRhythm Heaven music edits by @therealstoinkle Jessie Murph: 1965 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonChappell Roan - The Subway (Official Music Video)Sabrina Carpenter brings out Earth, Wind & Fire at LollapaloozaManon and Lara of KATSEYE lez out on stage at LollapaloozaRachel Zegler’s gratitude surge at Evita curtain callRFK Jr. launches federal crackdown on 7-OHLola Young - One Thing (Official Music Video) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
--------
1:04:22
--------
1:04:22
Ep. 128: Hamptons Face w/ Emily Sundberg
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.nymphetalumni.comThis week on Nymphet Alumni, Biz interviews New York newsletter phenom and Feed Me founder Emily Sundberg. They discuss the West Village-ification of America, the curious case of Hamptons face and what’s aspirational to young people in New York in 2025. Plus, Emily shares her advice on how to find your voice and how to protect your digital soul.
Colombia