Is Stone Island actually worth the price? What lifestyle requires techwear? Is Timothee Chalamet overrated? Why does Lady Gaga feel less authentic than Charli XCX? What is gooning, and how did it end up in Harper's Bazaar? 

This week, Sol and Michael sit down with Shane O'Neill, writer for The Washington Post's twice-weekly pop culture newsletter "Seriously?," to unpack the weirdest corners of the internet and how they intersect with fashion, music, and modern masculinity.

The trio explore the techwear vs. lifestyle debate, why Stone Island might be "a little more serious" than necessary, the complicated appeal of Timothee Chalamet vs. Pedro Pascal, and whether Madonna's Celebration Tour was genius or needed a creative director. Shane defends his take on why Charli XCX feels more genuine than Lady Gaga, the overlooked brilliance of the Blue Man Group's first album, and how his job at the Washington Post lets him explore everything from competitive Excel spreadsheet championships to extremely niche fetish communities on TikTok.

The conversation goes off the deep end: gooning culture and how Shane learned about it years before it hit mainstream media, why Jeremy Scott is "the Taco Bell of fashion" (complimentary), the NFL's official stylist whose college thesis connected SpongeBob SquarePants to the Arab Spring uprisings (not a joke), and why most luxury fashion houses are actually perfume or shoe companies pretending to sell clothes. They also discuss the Ice Spice SpongeBob movie premiere outfit controversy, why people pay to stand motionless at techno clubs, and Warped Tour nostalgia.

Other topics include: Devoa, the Saint Laurent SS16 Surf Sound collection, ASICS x Comme des Garçons sneakers, the oura ring and Palantir data concerns, extreme fitness culture and dissociation, Russian seal best friends named Kroshik and Shlissik, and competitive Excel spreadsheet merch.

We hope you enjoy!

Lots of love!

Sol

---

Episode Tags: Shane O'Neill, Washington Post Seriously, fashion podcast 2026, gooning explained, gooning Harper's Bazaar, Jeremy Scott fashion, menswear podcast, streetwear podcast, archive fashion, internet subcultures, TikTok algorithm, competitive Excel spreadsheets, niche communities, oura ring review, Ice Spice stylist, men's fashion trends 2026, Kyle Smith NFL stylist, Alexander McQueen shoes 

Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.

Message us with Business Inquiries at [email protected]

Subscribe to get early access to podcasts and videos, and participate in exclusive giveaways for $4 a month

Links:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter/X

Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All)

Sol’s Instagram

Michael’s Instagram

Michael’s TikTok

Did Rick Owens really design leather jackets for Ghost of Mars? Is Timothee Chalamet running the exact same PR playbook as Jack Harlow? What the hell is Goouch, and can a goose be a Muppet?

Sol and Michael are back! They sit down to break down Rick Owens' early Hollywood costume design work (Ghost of Mars, Tank Girl, Otto; or Up with Dead People), the sock-heel technique that created the iconic pagoda shoulders, and Bailey Goldberg's knitwear producers. The pair then dives into the Timothee Chalamet Marty Supreme PR playbook—from Druski collabs and Chrome Hearts red carpet fits to basketball clout and cultural co-opting—and asks why Hollywood can't let a good actor just act. Finally, a full-blown rant about Front General Store's refusal to stock size Large, a $800 "Viet Cong Hunting Club" military liner, and the ethics of selling Vietnam-era militaria in 2025.

They also cover: Lower East Side store tours (Self Edge, Desert Vintage, Commune, Copy, Brute Archives), why Orchard Street is still the fashion capital of New York, Japanese 90s rave culture photography books, the Fear of God represent era fashion time capsule, fake Chrome Hearts dunks, fake Geos flooding the market, Supreme box logo nostalgia, ins and outs list criticism, late 90s and early 2000s horror movie promo tees (House of 1000 Corpses, Flatliners, The Faculty, Planet Terror), why Good Art should make Birkenstock buckles, a heated Muppets debate (what qualifies as a Muppet?), Nine Inch Snails lore, Nicholas Cage movie quotes, Absolute Batman and Doomsday Clock, Happy Gilmore 2 and the nostalgia sequel problem, joggers vs boot cuts, long line tees vs cropped silhouettes, and much more.

Big Announcement: The Pair of Kings Podcast turns 6 years old! Join us for the birthday party on Friday, January 16th—free entry, cake, music, and community vibes. Plus: Enter our military surplus giveaway (combat boots + milsurp jacket) through Hero at hero.co/pok.

Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.

Message us with Business Inquiries at [email protected]

Subscribe to get early access to podcasts and videos, and participate in exclusive giveaways for $4 a month

Links:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter/X

Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All)

Sol’s Instagram

Michael’s Instagram

Michael’s TikTok

Where does your field jacket actually come from? Were WWII soldiers the original hypebeasts? What is the M-43 jacket? 

Sol and Michael sit down with Avery Trufelman, host of Articles of Interest and 99% Invisible veteran, to break down the military origins of menswear and why everyone's suddenly obsessed with gorpcore. The trio dive deep into the history of the M-65 field jacket, how World War II military surplus shaped American fashion, the invention of layering (yes, someone had to invent it), why Special Forces operators became fashion influencers, and the complicated ethics of wearing military aesthetics as civilians. Further, Avery shares insights from her latest podcast season "Gear," explaining the connection between outdoor brands and military contracts, the decline of army surplus stores, why The Row is making combat boots now, and how Buck Mason's militaria collection tells the story of American style. They also discuss Vivienne Westwood's punk legacy, the upcoming Antwerp Six book, athleisure as health signifier, Rick Owens' influence on tactical fashion, women's gear and the "pink it and shrink it" problem, plus whether military fashion makes you complicit in something larger. Other topics include: the Parsons jacket and Supreme-style military drops, George Doria inventing venture capital AND the field jacket, challenge coins and PowerPoint patch design, Americana Pipe Dream's hunt for rare surplus, Cher and the Armenian diaspora (a future episode?), and why fashion never really goes away — it just cycles back.

Want to support the podcast? Subscribe to our HeroHero for giveaways, extra episodes, and more!

We hope you enjoy just as much as we did recording!

Lots of love!

Sol

---

Episode Tags: Avery Trufelman, Articles of Interest, military fashion, field jacket history, M-65 jacket, gorpcore 2025, menswear history, military surplus, tactical fashion, outdoor gear fashion, American style origins, 99% Invisible, fashion podcast, cargo pants history, Special Forces fashion, athleisure, Rick Owens menswear, The Row combat boots, Vivienne Westwood, punk fashion origins, Antwerp Six, Buck Mason, vintage military clothing, workwear fashion, heritage menswear, Americana Pipe Dream, OG-107 pants, archival fashion, techwear, Stone Island, CP Company, Helmut Lang, fashion trend forecasting, militaria collection, Patagonia military, Arc'teryx fashion, North Face history, functional fashion 2026

Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.

Message us with Business Inquiries at [email protected]

Subscribe to get early access to podcasts and videos, and participate in exclusive giveaways for $4 a month

Links:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter/X

Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All)

Sol’s Instagram

Michael’s Instagram

Michael’s TikTok

Is that Chrome Hearts real or fake? Should guys actually use skincare? Why are "stylists" wearing head-to-toe counterfeit on the subway?

Sol and Michael are back for a boys episode as they chat about spotting fake Chrome Hearts (and why people can't dress when they wear fakes), the perfume habits of Albanian men in the club, men's skincare routines that actually work (CeraVe, The Ordinary, La Roche-Posay) from an unsponsored viewpoint, men's skincare mistakes (and why Neutrogena face wash is apparently destroying everyone's face), the best affordable skincare products for guys, putting sports stylists getting in fashion jail, how Telfar bags are priced, the best fashion Black Friday sales, how to tell if designer fashion is counterfeit, Philadelphia sports culture (Go Birds), AI-generated restaurant menus (?!), people designing merch on Canva, why fashion people need to touch grass,  andtheir massive skincare giveaway (you could win everything). 

If you'd like to support the podcast and be entered into our wonderful skincare giveaway, subscribe to our HeroHero!

We hope you enjoy :)

Lots of love!

 Sol

---

Episode tags:

Chrome Hearts fake, men's skincare routine, how to spot fake designer, CeraVe skincare, The Ordinary products, men's grooming, counterfeit fashion, Chrome Hearts legit check, affordable skincare men, fashion podcast, fake fashion culture, La Roche-Posay, skincare for guys, vitamin C serum men, designer authentication, fashion styling critique, men's face wash, beginner skincare routine, Chrome Hearts real vs fake, drugstore skincare, fashion commentary podcast, men's moisturizer, skincare products men need, fake designer problem, fashion culture discussion, Pair of Kings podcast, men's grooming essentials, budget skincare routine, counterfeit spotting guide, fashion styling mistakes 

Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.

Message us with Business Inquiries at [email protected]

Subscribe to get early access to podcasts and videos, and participate in exclusive giveaways for $4 a month

Links:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter/X

Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All)

Sol’s Instagram

Michael’s Instagram

Michael’s TikTok

Who were the best designers of Paris Fashion Week 2025?

Sol and Michael are talking the future of fashion this week! The duo sit down with Mandy Lee (aka oldloserinbrooklyn) to chat about fashion trend forecasting before TikTok existed (and TikTok fashion trends), microtrends vs macro trends (and why everyone's obsessed with ranking them), the Simone Rocha bride aesthetic, designer fashion show debuts in 2025, what it's really like being a Gen Z fashion influencer, how TikTok changed fashion predictions forever, the politics of fashion discourse (and why fashion people need to touch grass), pandemic TikTok origin stories (chainmail, anyone?), freaky shoes collections, why the fashion industry ate its own during COVID layoffs, fashion community building, Neo-punk revivalism right-wing mommy influencers (yes, that's a thing, apparently), and whether liberals are losing the culture war on the internet (among other things)!

Want to support the podcast? Subscribe to our HeroHero for giveaways, extra episodes, and more!

We hope you enjoy just as much as we did recording!

Lots of love!

Sol

---

Episode tags: trend forecasting, microtrends 2025, Simone Rocha, old loser in Brooklyn, Mandy Lee, TikTok fashion, Gen Z fashion trends, designer debuts 2025, fashion show rankings, Brooklyn fashion, pandemic TikTok, fashion predictions 2026, balletcore, coquette aesthetic, fashion industry, runway analysis, fashion podcast, fashion forecaster interview, Sandy Liang, quiet luxury, mob wife aesthetic, fashion and politics, neo-punk revival, fashion community, fashion discourse, freaky shoes, Y2K fashion, fashion career advice 

Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.

Message us with Business Inquiries at [email protected]

Subscribe to get early access to podcasts and videos, and participate in exclusive giveaways for $4 a month

Links:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter/X

Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All)

Sol’s Instagram

Michael’s Instagram

Michael’s TikTok

Is Glenn Martens a good designer? Who owns Maison Margiela (and thus, controls the brand)? Are Margiela gats, futures, tabis, and shoes enough to carry a designer through their tenure? 

Join Michael and Sol as they chat about what it means to be a designer in 2025, Maison Margiela shoes, John Galliano, Martin Margiela, Hedi Slimane Jeans, Saint Laurent's rebrand (why did YSL change to SLP), mm6 (and the connotations of the line), Margiela's Line 2, Vetements Hoodies (and how to legit check vetements hoodies (they're all fake)), how fashion changed with social media, what the connotations of a hoodie/t-shirt/sweatpants changed, Sol's weird date, if Thom Yorke is a zionist, and Dubtribe Sound System's "Do It Now" (among other things)!

If you'd like to support the podcast and be entered into our wonderful Toskovat fragrance giveaway, subscribe to our HeroHero!

We hope you enjoy :)

Lots of love!

Sol

---

mens fashion podcast, margiela 2026, demna balenciaga, glenn martens designer, y project fashion, diesel fashion brand, gucci flip flops, streetwear trends 2026, luxury fashion for men, designer fashion explained, north face style guide, mens style tips, fashion podcast recommendations, balenciaga worth it, margiela review, streetwear essentials, mens fashion trends, designer sneakers 2026, hypebeast fashion, fashion for guys, mens streetwear guide, luxury streetwear brands, demna gvasalia designs, is balenciaga overrated, gucci slides styling, mens fashion advice, ski jacket streetwear, designer hoodies men, fashion podcast spotify, mens style 2026, streetwear fit check, designer brand tier list, margiela vs balenciaga, mens fashion basics, streetwear on budget, fashion trends explained, mens wardrobe essentials, designer fashion worth it, streetwear outfit ideas, fashion for young men, luxury fashion guide, street style men, fashion podcast youtube, mens fashion mistakes, designer clothing review, fashion trends tiktok, streetwear brands 2026, mens style evolution, fashion content creators, pair of kings podcast 

Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.

Message us with Business Inquiries at [email protected]

Subscribe to get early access to podcasts and videos, and participate in exclusive giveaways for $4 a month

Links:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter/X

Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All)

Sol’s Instagram

Michael’s Instagram

Michael’s TikTok

Where DO you find the best vintage jeans? This week, Dr. Sonya Abrego, the world's preeminent Westernwear historian joins Sol and Michael to talk about vintage jeans, American-made denim, the Cone Mills Corporation, Lee Jeans (and why pocket designs matter!), what IS selvedge denim, (and what is raw denim), her greatest finds from her days as a picker, the modern landscape of denim, how to date levis, what is so special about raw denim (especially if it's made in the US), some myths about denim production, the craziest denim/workwear brand you've never heard of (not a joke, Sonya blew my mind), her newest research, and so much more!

If you want to hear episodes early, support the podcast, and be included in all of our giveaways, subscribe to our HeroHero!

Thank you so much to Dr. Abrego - we hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed chatting with her!

Lots of love!

Sol

---

0:00 Dr. Sonya Abrego - Western Wear Expert & Fashion Historian
0:35 What makes vintage Levi's valuable? 
2:02 What is selvedge denim? 
4:04 How to date vintage Levi's jeans 
5:52 Where to find vintage Western wear
7:14 Why is Western wear popular?
11:52 What is raw denim?
14:37 Best vintage clothing stores 
18:20 How to authenticate vintage denim 
22:45 Cone Mills denim? 
28:30 Japanese selvedge denim brands
35:15 Kapital clothing brand guide
42:00 How to identify vintage cowboy shirts
48:25 Western wear trends 2025
53:40 Where to buy vintage jeans online
58:10 How to care for raw denim 
1:02:35 Is vintage clothing sustainable? 
1:06:20 Ranch wear vs Western wear difference 
1:09:09 Spaghetti Western fashion influence
1:12:59 Best Western wear brands today 

Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.

Message us with Business Inquiries at [email protected]

Subscribe to get early access to podcasts and videos, and participate in exclusive giveaways for $4 a month

Links:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter/X

Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All)

Sol’s Instagram

Michael’s Instagram

Michael’s TikTok

You could hear episode early and get access to our Rick Owens "Temple of Love" Giveaway by subscribing to our HeroHero! 

Michael's back! Michael's back! Sit down as Sol catches up with his work husband and chat about Rick Owens, Helmut Lang, Stone Island, CP Company, Balenciaga, Adidas, Italian fashion, the downfall of tourism, Issey Miyake shirts, Margiela, Margiela Couture, Glenn Martens, Off-White hoodies, the now-defunct Pyrex vision, Virgil Abloh, LL Bean and Eddie Bauer, popular fashion trends as a result of internet engagement (Rick Owens shoes, Chrome Hearts rings, Yeezy Gap), Paris Fashion Week 2025, post-modern fashion, athleisure and the rise of synthetic fabrics, how TikTok fashion changes how we dress, The 1975, and so much more!

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Sol

--

Ignore these tags:

streetwear, men’s streetwear, urban fashion, hypebeast, sneaker culture, sneakerhead, men’s outfits, outfit inspiration, vintage streetwear, thrifted fashion, street style, fashion trends, TikTok fashion, Instagram fashion, Gen Z style, capsule wardrobe, men’s accessories, unisex fashion, oversized clothing, logo tees, baggy jeans, statement sneakers, graphic hoodies, layering, street fashion brands, everyday streetwear, athleisure, skate style, music and fashion, street culture, global menswear, Rick Owens, Maison Margiela, Balenciaga, Vetements, Chrome Hearts, Vivienne Westwood, Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake, Givenchy, Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Junya Watanabe, Undercover, Kapital, Salomon, geobaskets, gorpcore, techwear, streetwear, athleisure, haute couture, archive fashion, thrifted, grailed, legit check, Carti aesthetic, opium style, Rick Owens reps, DHgate haul, Pandabuy 

Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.

Message us with Business Inquiries at [email protected]

Subscribe to get early access to podcasts and videos, and participate in exclusive giveaways for $4 a month

Links:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter/X

Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All)

Sol’s Instagram

Michael’s Instagram

Michael’s TikTok

You could hear episodes early and get access to all of our giveaways on our HeroHero!

It's with great pleasure that I announce this week's episode with Sophia Stel, the artist/producer/singer/songwriter behind not one, but two of the year's best EPs: Object Permanence and How to Win at Solitaire. Tune in as Sol and Michael chat with Sophia about her soon-to-be international tour, finding and working with "anime baddie" opener ilykimchi, living life without a phone, thrifting in New York City, how she thinks through her music from inception to release, remixes, Young Thug, sliming out your day ones the second you blow up, being comfortable, the Great White North, learning to tailor your clothes, and so much more!

Thanks again to Sophia and her wonderful publicist Elizabeth for making this episode possible - the international leg of the tour begins on November 7th in Paris! Get tickets if you can :)

Lots of love!

Sol

Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.

Message us with Business Inquiries at [email protected]

Subscribe to get early access to podcasts and videos, and participate in exclusive giveaways for $4 a month

Links:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter/X

Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All)

Sol’s Instagram

Michael’s Instagram

Michael’s TikTok

This episode has a $250 ESSX Giveaway! All HeroHero subscribers are automatically entered.

The boys are back for a totally normal, definitely-nothing-amiss episode. Join Sol and Michael as they cover all of the recent runway debuts of Paris (J.W. Anderson's Dior, Pierpaolo Piccioli's Balenciaga, Louise Trotter's Bottega Veneta, Duran Latnik's Jean Paul Gaultier, Mathieu Blazy's Chanel, Ann Demeulemeester, Alexander McQueen, Glenn Martens' Maison Margiela, Miguel Frietas' Mugler, Loewe) and chat about what people are buying, stories of walking runways, and so much more!

Huge thanks to Fifi and Ella for stepping in for this totally normal episode (Michael is traveling).

Lots of love!

Sol

Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new vanguard of the fashion world. Subscribe for weekly uploads of the podcast, and don’t forgot to follow us on our social channels for additional content, and join our discord to access what we’ve dubbed “the happiest place in fashion”.

Message us with Business Inquiries at [email protected]

Subscribe to get early access to podcasts and videos, and participate in exclusive giveaways for $4 a month

Links:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter/X

Sol's Substack (One Size Fits All)

Sol’s Instagram

Michael’s Instagram

Michael’s TikTok