Alessandro Michele

Alessandro Michele

Author: Bella Freud July 2, 2025 Duration: 57:13
Alessandro Michele, creative director of Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer. He is widely regarded as one of the most visionary and transformative figures in contemporary fashion. He came to prominence with his groundbreaking tenure as Creative Director of Gucci from 2015 to 2022, redefining the brand with his romantic, and gender-fluid aesthetic. Blending poetic historical references with radical reinvention, his designs both seduced and challenged conventional notions of beauty and luxury, making Gucci a symbol of artistic freedom and cultural commentary. Born in Rome in the 70's, he spent time at Fendi under Karl Lagerfeld and the Fendi sisters, and later at Gucci, where he worked for over a decade before taking the helm. Under his leadership, Gucci saw unprecedented creative and commercial success, sparking a new era of expressive, maximalist fashion. Beyond clothing, Alessandro Michele's impact extended into art, film, and social commentary, using fashion as a platform for self-expression and expanding horizons. His designs often explore identity, queerness, and beauty, earning him global acclaim as one of the most important designers of the 21st century. In this episode of Fashion Neurosis Bella Freud and Alessandro Michele discuss going to the same fashion school in Rome, the chic in making a wrong choice, and meeting the best people in the loos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud, the iconic designer turns her studio into something closer to a therapist's office. Every episode, a guest settles in for a conversation that starts with the fabric of our lives-literally. Bella Freud guides discussions that pick apart why we wear what we do, treating a wardrobe choice not as a trivial concern but as a window into our deeper selves. These aren't typical interviews about trends; they're meandering, personal explorations. You’ll hear stories about the power of a specific scent, the armor of a well-cut jacket, or the nostalgia tied to a childhood uniform. Naturally, the dialogue in this podcast often spirals into much broader territory, touching on the anxieties, cultural shifts, and personal histories that shape us. Freud shares her own vivid anecdotes generously, creating a space where fashion becomes the starting point for talking about everything from love and politics to the very construction of identity. The result is a series of intimate, sometimes surprising dialogues that reveal how the things we put on our bodies are inextricably linked to what’s happening in our minds and in the world around us.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 68

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud
Podcast Episodes
Cate Blanchett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:02
Cate Blanchett is an Australian actor and film producer. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including two Oscars. One of the great performers of our time, Cate has the ability to both dazzle with that specific film…
Stefano Pilati [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:19
Stefano Pilati is an Italian fashion designer. His talents have been employed and celebrated by some of the most distinguished fashion houses in the industry including Cerruti, Armani and Prada. He was the Creative Direc…
Princess Julia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:36
Princess Julia is a DJ and writer who has been a dazzling staple on the London club scene since the late 1970’s. She was of the most recognisable faces of the Blitz Kids - a subculture defined by sharp dress, angular hai…
Nick Cave [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:41
Nick Cave is an Australian musician, writer, artist and rock star. He is the instantly recognisable lead singer of The Bad Seeds which he formed in 1983 after the breakup of his former band The Birthday Party. Describing…
Nicky Haslam [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:02
Nicky Haslam is an English interior designer. He is the founder of the interior design company Nicky Haslam Studio and has created homes for society figures, billionaires, and pop stars with exquisite taste including Bry…
Jonathan Anderson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:58
Jonathan Anderson is a Northern Irish designer. He founded his eponymous label JW Anderson in 2008 and has, gone on to become one of the most prolific and highly, regarded people in world of high fashion. He is the Creat…
Karl Ove Knausgaard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:47
Karl Ove Knausgaard is a Norwegian author. His autobiographical novel ‘My Struggle,’ released in six volumes, was heralded as a masterpiece all over the world. It has a huge appeal to both intellectuals and young people…
Kristin Scott Thomas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:37
Kristin Scott Thomas OBE is an English actress. Her career began with her first audition when she won the starring role in Prince’s directorial film debut ‘Under the Cherry Moon’, playing opposite him in the role of roma…
Daphne Guinness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:29
Daphne Guinness is an English singer songwriter, fashion designer, actress, film producer and muse to David LaChapelle. She is part of the aristocratic Guinness family, and she is known for her instantly recognisable sty…
Kate Moss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:19
Kate Moss is an English model. Born in Croydon, she started modelling aged 15 after she was scouted in an airport. She rose to fame in the 90’s during the era of the Supermodel, quickly becoming the most sought after of…