Dry Clean Only: Conversations on Fashion + Style
In this episode, fashion-insider, host Kristen Cole sits with Ken Downing, the highly-acclaimed Fashion Director turned HALSTON Creative Director at the brand's NYC office to discuss his plum new position and the heritage of the renowned American legacy brand. Ken shares his infectious love for HALSTON's history and archives, his deep knowledge on vintage and fashion history, his years leading Neiman Marcus' sartorial direction, his Seattle roots, grunge, punk and classic style, his personal sensibility, the tension he looks for in fashion, some of his favorite designers working today and the ladies who now slide into his DMs. The two also discuss HALSTON's enduring influence on fashion (seen even today on the runway), the '70s Halstonettes and iconic creatures that were Halston's circle (from Liza Minelli to Pat Cleveland and Bethann Hardison), the healthy competition between SAINT LAURENT and HALSTON, the modernity that HALSTON introduced (from casting choices to silhouette), American legacy brands (think: Perry Ellis, Stephen Burrows, Calvin Klein), and some of Ken's big plans for HALSTON, to be revealed for Fall23. He also imparts some of his best style advice for women. Kristen touches on Paris (now in full swing), fashion month, the fashion flu, Ewan McGregor, new beginnings, NYC Climate Week... and more.