Tech journalist and creator @TaylorLorenz joins Amy Odell on the Back Row podcast to explain how social media has completely reshaped fashion. From the backlash against fashion creators to why facts barely matter online, they dive into Vogue World, The Row's viral sample sale, and more.
Tayl...
Tech journalist and creator @TaylorLorenz joins Amy Odell on the Back Row podcast to explain how social media has completely reshaped fashion. From the backlash against fashion creators to why facts barely matter online, they dive into Vogue World, The Row's viral sample sale, and more.
Taylor, formerly at The Atlantic, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, now runs her own newsletter, podcast, and YouTube channel covering the creator economy.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: Amy Odell welcomes Taylor Lorenz
00:53 – Why fashion people are frustrated with social media
01:49 – Why audiences trust creators more than experts
02:42 – How algorithms reward outrage
03:36 – Why being first beats being accurate
04:25 – “Facts don’t matter”: the validation economy
05:55 – Platforms secretly boost and suppress creators
06:41 – Why follower count no longer matters
07:29 – The death of critics (and why creators can’t be honest)
08:15 – Will AI actually help creators?
11:40 – How creators really make money in 2025
12:38 – Advent calendars, meme marketing, and virality
14:23 – The Row sample sale goes viral
16:55 – Can fashion brands control their image? (No.)
18:36 – The famous "Open letter to The Row"
19:32 – Brands vs creators: a toxic relationship
20:20 – Why brands can’t stop creators from posting
22:05 – Why chasing access will break your heart
22:49 – Anna Wintour’s decline and cultural relevance
25:08 – Vogue World and the struggle for relevance
26:41 – The Met Gala red carpet isn’t what it used to be
29:46 – The Devil Wears Prada prequel problem
30:38 – What it takes to survive online long-term
32:13 – Why Becca Bloom fascinates people
33:15 – The obsession with “capitalism slop”
34:07 – Hustle culture and the fantasy of success
Links & Resources:
Back Row newsletter
https://amyodell.substack.com
Amy Odell Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/instamyodell/
Taylor Lorenz
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorLorenz
User Mag (Newsletter): https://www.usermag.co/
Power User (Podcast): https://open.spotify.com/show/5iganPXXEoTDB9lIQzY7Fh
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taylor-lorenzs-power-user/id1733535260
Creators / links mentioned
"Open Letter to The Row" (Neelam Noted): https://neelamahooja.substack.com/p/open-letter-to-the-row-we-need-to
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