Advertise on podcast: You Have To Wear Something

It's a 90-degree heat wave in L.A., and Nicole is still turning up the volume on everything we moved past too quickly after NYFW. We start with a little history on Ophelia DeVore, the trailblazing model who was staging runway shows in Bryant Park decades before Fashion Week had tents. Then we give Harlem Fashion Row their flowers for 19 years of opening doors, including a $100K prize for Atelier N'Digo's Waina Chancy. We get real about Ib Kamara exiting Off-White and why so few Black creative directors lead major houses, while celebrating Maximilian Davis at Ferragamo and Rachel Scott at Proenza Schouler. Plus: Anok Yai owning every runway, Olandria Carthen's big moment, Zendaya's Halle Berry homage, Chase Infiniti's red carpet rise, Ayo Edebiri in Chanel, and Beyoncé's Elie Saab couture. Save your coins for Act 3.

Nicole is calling it  the era of the ugly wedding dress is officially over, and Black love is leading the charge. In this episode she breaks down the most stunning Black bridal moments of the past year: Temi Otedola's three-ceremony, four-country fashion triumph, Jordyn Woods' Danielle Frankel glow-up, Coco Jones and Donovan Mitchell's intentional all-Black-designer wedding, and the breathtaking lace moments from Miracle Watts and Paige Hurd. Plus the stats on Black love that will surprise you. Nicole also shares the gorgeous details of her own two looks, her Chicago reception energy, and why the most opulent color you'll ever wear is white.

Nicole is still rooting for everyone Black and she's not apologizing for it. In this episode she breaks down why the Law Roach and Zendaya era is a gift to everyone, the intentional genius of the Willi Smith Spider-Man homage, and why that Schiaparelli moment had no business hitting that hard. Then she slows it down for something sweeter, the Ralph Lauren x Gee's Bend collaboration, the four and fifth generation quilters behind it, the enslaved women who started it all out of necessity, and how you can support the community directly beyond the collab. Fashion as resistance, legacy, and art all in one episode.

Yes, it's late, but the looks that actually stay with you deserve more than a hot take. Nicole breaks down the 2026 Met Gala's "Fashion Is Art" theme with her signature unhurried eye: from Lauren Wasser's gold prosthetics to Anok Yai's Black Madonna moment, the sea of belly buttons, Paloma Elsesser's 100-vintage-dress patchwork gown, and Hailey Bieber's long-overdue redemption arc. Plus, Beyoncé channeling a Creole memento mori, Rihanna arriving as a medieval Belgian cathedral, and why the real conversation isn't about who sponsored the Gala, but what we've lost in our relationship with clothes.

Ilka Perkins was arrested at 15, sentenced to 15-to-life, and spent nearly 28 years incarcerated before her release in 2019, the same year she co-founded People's Pottery Project. PPP became a full abolitionist ceramics studio in Historic Filipinotown, L.A. employing formerly incarcerated women, trans, and nonbinary individuals. In this conversation, Ilka talks about running a business inside prison as a survival economy, why clay became an unexpected tool for trauma healing, and what it means to build something beautiful with hands the entire world wrote off.

Nicole Briggs returns after a 6-month hiatus with multidisciplinary artist ⁠Sadie Woods⁠ for a powerful conversation on art, sound, public space, & cultural memory. From global residencies and vinyl releases to public monuments & food politics, Sadie shares how creativity, lineage, & resistance shape her work & why artists must protect their voice and their time. ⁠Attend We Still Here⁠  Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 3200 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL.

In this episode of You Have to Wear Something, we dive into how Black creativity thrives even in America’s most turbulent times. From Motown in the civil rights era to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour and Kendrick Lamar’s intentional casting choices, Black artists continue to reclaim the spaces and genres they built. We unpack the revival of rap with the Clipse, the overdue celebration of dark-skinned beauty in culture and fashion, and the importance of authentic representation on screen—from The Gilded Age to British Vogue covers. It’s a celebration of resilience, artistry, and the ongoing fight against erasure.

In this episode of You Have to Wear Something, we unpack the bittersweet closure of beloved Black-owned beauty brand Ami Colé, and what it reveals about the barriers Black women entrepreneurs still face. Then, we get into Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad and its tone-deaf “great genes” message — because let’s be real, eugenics wrapped in denim isn’t the flex they think it is. Plus, we spotlight Ralph Lauren’s Oak Bluffs collection, a rare nod to Black wealth, legacy, and leisure that has us asking: is this celebration or just another sanitized version of our truth? From mitochondrial DNA to the Black origins of jeans, we cover the culture — and who gets to profit from it.

On this episode of You Have to Wear Something, Nicole sits down with John Nichols—aka LaJethroJenkins—host of the long-running Jenkins & Jonez podcast and founder of 12 on Mondays, a brand reclaiming space for Black golfers through culture, community, and unapologetic style. From his St. Louis roots to Forest Park history, John unpacks the legacy of Black golf pioneers, how fashion disrupts elitism in the sport, and why the best rounds aren’t measured by scorecards—but by vibes.

This week, Nicole chats with Christine Lindebak, the creative force behind Sewing and the City. From falling in love with sewing at age six to working the front of house at iconic fashion houses like Pucci, Christine shares her journey of pivoting from high fashion to handmade. Tune in as she talks about empowering people to reconnect with their wardrobes, embrace imperfection, and stitch their way to a more sustainable (and stylish) future. Join Christine's 16k plus community

Nicole dives into Cannes' controversial fashion bans, the power of resisting through style, and why Black women are still fighting for space—in fashion, politics, and the workplace. From Meghan Markle’s joyful defiance to the BET Awards' "Black Tie, Black Designed" statement, this episode unpacks cultural erasure by brands like Aime Leon Dore, streetwear appropriation, and why putting that shit on is more radical than ever.

Host Nicole reflects on the 2025 Met Gala as a powerful celebration of Black culture, creativity, and history. She critiques the exclusion of key Black voices, calls out performative allyship, and highlights symbolic fashion moments from stars like Taraji P. Henson and Jeremy Pope. Despite systemic issues, the Gala broke fundraising records—thanks largely to Black talent—proving that Black culture is both influential and profitable. "Slaves to Fashion"-Monica Miller

Nicole breaks down why your clothes cost more (hint: tariffs), why the Met Gala still matters, and how fashion is always political — especially when it’s Black. 👗 Fashion history, cultural truth bombs, and a PSA to support small biz (including her shop JIYU — yes, it’s on sale).Tap in. Dress up. Press play. Buy: Slaves to Fashion:Black Dandyism and the styling of Black Diasporic Identity

Nicole Hosts VFX Pro Danee Chesney for a Deep Dive on Meghan Hate, Black Women’s Rest, and the Unspoken Rules of Spades

Nicole has covered the cultural influence of Meghan Markle, now Sussex, for years. In this episode, she critiques the perceived controversy around Meghan's new lifestyle show on Netflix "With Love, Meghan" from unexplained hate to allegations of copying Pamela Anderson's show. One thing's for sure, the "92%" approves of this boring rich Black woman and views her as a symbol of a much needed rest.