Is Vogue Still Relevant? Amy Odell & Rachel Tashjian on Fashion’s Power Shift

Fashion critic Rachel Tashjian joins Amy Odell on the Back Row podcast to unpack the biggest shifts happening right now in fashion media. From Vogue’s future to the creator vs. critic debate, AI-generated fashion models, $26,000 Versace dresses, and why fashion discourse seems to be getting meaner — this conversation goes deep into what’s changing (and why). Rachel, formerly the Fashion Critic at The Washington Post and now Senior Style Reporter for CNN, breaks down: Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Amy Odell welcomes Rachel Tashjian 00:21 – Rachel’s new role at CNN 02:34 – Why video matters in fashion journalism 03:54 – Are people still reading? Changing media habits 04:22 – Amy on books, audiobooks, and audience shifts 05:49 – The rising tension in fashion discourse online 07:16 – When commentary overshadows the clothes 08:22 – Algorithms flatten expertise in fashion 09:29 – Creators vs. traditional editors: a 15-year evolution 10:43 – Substack, TikTok, and where fashion criticism lives now 11:35 – Access, honesty, and the cost of true criticism 12:46 – Do creators need editors? The “no safety net” problem 13:19 – Dior controversy: when brands exclude influencers 14:31 – Should influencers follow critic standards? 15:35 – Does Vogue still matter in 2025? 17:06 – Why Vogue covers still trigger huge reactions 18:33 – Anna Wintour’s influence across culture 19:32 – How AI is about to transform fashion media 20:55 – Performative fashion vs. post-Instagram design 22:33 – Can AI replac