Each episode of SCAD’s virtual series of conversations, Guests and Gusto, opens with the same slogan, presenting “The contemporary creators and innovators who are remaking culture.” For all the fashionistas interested in learning more about the industry, or just looking to get their ELOs done early, the Connector has compiled a list of the top ten Guests and Gusto videos to watch for fashion fanatics. This selection of “top ten” episodes is accessible through Blackboard for current SCAD students and is also available to the public via SCAD’s YouTube channel.
‘Guests and Gusto’ with Christian Siriano
In this Guests and Gusto episode from February 2021, designer Christian Siriano speaks with SCAD fashion historian Carmela Spinelli about his emergence in the industry, his subsequent story of success, and how to build a brand. From London, where Siriano interned for Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, to New York, where he became the youngest winner of Project Runway in 2008, he has always been — as Tim Gunn puts it — a “design prodigy.” Since his triumphant debut into the fashion world, he has gone on to dress modern stars like Ashley Graham, Leslie Jones, and even first ladies Michelle Obama and Jill Biden. Additionally, Siriano gives SCAD students an insight into his hiring process and what he looks for in creatives, emphasizing interesting ideas and innovation.
‘Guests and Gusto’ with Roopal Patel
Carmela Spinelli also leads this Guests and Gusto conversation with the Senior Vice President (SVP) Director of Fashion at Saks Fifth Avenue, Roopal Patel. The November 2020 episode delves into the importance of a business plan, diversity and inclusivity within luxury management, what students need to know about the luxury market, and even how to land a job at Saks. In her position at Saks, Patel is responsible for forecasting trends, articulating the luxury retailer’s seasonal fashion, and discovering emerging designers and collections. Before this, however, she founded Roopal Patel Consulting, which heavily focused on brand development, brand strategy, and trend forecasting; all of the necessary skills it took to become SVP at such an esteemed establishment.
‘Guests and Gusto’ with Vanessa and Robert Fairer
Husband-wife duo, Vanessa and Robert Fairer virtually sit down with Rafael Gomes, SCAD’s director of fashion exhibitions, prior to the opening of their showcase at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion and Film back in 2021. Robert, a notable fashion photographer who has worked with Elle, American Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar, and Vanessa, working as her husband’s agent and oftentimes editor for his photos, gave insight into their careers spotlighting fashion’s boldest and brightest. The London-based couple explores how to face rejection, with Vanessa stating, “The business is one of rejection. You have to keep going, you have to keep pushing, and you have to constantly re-energize and believe.”
‘Guests and Gusto’ with Rahul Mishra
Once again, Carmela Spinelli interviews Rahul Mishra, the first Indian designer to show at Paris Haute Couture Week, along with moderator Professor Andrew Fionda for this inspiring Guests and Gusto episode. One of the main highlights of Mishra’s discussion is the three different types of creative inspiration in a fast-paced environment. First, tertiary inspiration: the kind of inspiration creatives find on Pinterest or other digital mediums. Then there is secondary inspiration, or inspiration in the form of textbooks, magazine articles, dissertations, or anything else you can find within the walls of a library. Finally, Mishra exemplifies primary inspiration as a method where “There is no filter, there is no interpretation of anybody else between you and subject. You are experiencing yourself. It might be your emotion. It can come out of travel, where you go to a great place. Or maybe you are confined and it is just an emotion in your mind that triggers certain inspiration.”
‘Guests and Gusto’ with Stefan Beckman and Julie Mannion
In this throwback episode, SCAD fashion Professor Julie Johnson Olson introduces industry professionals Stefan Beckman, a renowned production designer and art director, and Julie Mannion, co-chairperson of the creative agency KCD Worldwide. They not only share wisdom gained from their elusive careers but also discuss the ever-evolving fashion industry. Their roles in crafting memorable shows and brand presentations, from ideation to runway, were illustrated in the Marc Jacobs Spring 2016 runway, with Mannion directing and Beckman designing the event. Their discussion underlines the significance of collaboration, creativity, and the behind-the-scenes work that drives major fashion events.
‘Guests and Gusto’ with Michelle R. Cole
Michelle R. Cole, the legendary costume designer, joined Karl Rouse, the Associate Dean of the School of Entertainment Arts, for this one-on-one Guests and Gusto episode. Cole, known for her work on iconic shows like Black-ish and In Living Color, has manufactured countless culturally relevant costumes that go beyond the needle and thread. Cole discussed diversity committees in Hollywood and mentorship programs. She even shared the mysteries behind her personal workspace, which Rouse calls “The cage.” Inside the cage, Cole works with tailors and other designers to organize, manage, and create ensembles that enhance each character’s storyline.
‘Guests and Gusto’ with Ane Crabtree
Karl Rouse is back in this episode interviewing Ane Crabtree, another notable costume designer. Crabtree worked on the pilot episode of HBO’s The Sopranos, which garnered over three million views on its premiere in 1999. Since this success, Crabtree has styled for shows like Westworld on HBO and The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu, for which she received three Emmy nominations. As distinguished as these accomplishments are, she didn’t stop there, and in 2018 she received a Costume Designer’s Guild Award for her work on The Handmaid’s Tale. In her conversation, Crabtree recounts the vast amounts of “homework” it takes to “be inspired and to be educated as to what the parameters are in the script that I’m working on.” She also underscores comprehending the tone of each story she is given and how that translates into every article of clothing she makes.
‘Guests and Gusto’ with Team Christopher John Rogers
Michael Fink, Dean of the SCAD School of Fashion, presents Christopher John Rogers and his creative team of SCAD grads in this Guests and Gusto tape. Rogers graduated with a B.F.A. in fashion in 2016, working with collaborators Christina Ripley (B.F.A., fashion marketing and management), David Rivera (B.F.A., dramatic writing), and Alex Tyson (B.F.A., fashion) for his senior thesis. The collection gained major media attention after Cardi B wore one of the designs to the BET Awards. This moment catapulted the brand to be featured in Vogue, Elle, and Women’s Wear Daily, and worn by celebrities like Rihanna, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Lizzo. As a former SCAD student himself, Rogers divulged the biggest piece of advice that stuck with him since his college days: “Staying true to [yourself] and not looking to the left or the right, or what this person on Instagram is doing, or what this brand that is selling here is doing, or anything like that… It’s about what I want to do, what I stand for, and the people [who] genuinely get what I’m doing and support me, how can I best serve them? Focus on you, do you, take your time. Your trajectory and your journey is not, and should not be like anyone else’s.”
‘Guests and Gusto’ with Lauren Chan and Tyler McCall
Professor David Longshaw joins designer, Lauren Chan, and Fashionista editor-in-chief, Tyler McCall, for this one-of-a-kind Guests and Gusto. Chan began her career as a Ford model, later working as a fashion writer for Vogue and subsequently as an editor for Glamour. Following these feats, Chan created a size-inclusive and mindfully sourced luxury brand, Henning, with the goal of changing the way plus-sized women are perceived and how, in turn, they perceive themselves. McCall offers the advantages of being a student, like learning flexibility, while Chan discusses suggestions for creating a retail environment that promotes inclusivity, such as making spaces more size-friendly and creating inviting, accessible areas.
‘Guests and Gusto’ with Jim Moore and Ivan Shaw
GQ creative director, Jim Moore, and Condé Nast’s, Ivan Shaw, “demystify fashion photography” in this Guests and Gusto led by Professor, Sarah Collins. For over four decades, Moore has worked with stars from the basketball court to the White House, styling Kanye West, Drake, Kobe Bryant, Jay-Z, Beyonce, and even Barrack Obama. Moore and Shaw, the former photography director at American Vogue, deliver their valuable insights on their years of industry expertise. Besides telling about his work with Giorgio Armani, Brad Pitt, Justin Timberlake, and the aforementioned icons, Moore discloses how retouching and digital advancements have influenced his craft and who is influencing the fashion industry today.
