Loose Threads
Well, this has been a long-fought battle by the Humane Society and anti-fur activists: Condé Nast has announced it will no longer feature fur in its “editorial content or advertising.” The Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade has been waging a campaign for nine months that involved, CNN reports, picketing the residences of Vogue editors; demonstrating outside magazine events; and protesting at the American Girl store because Condé CEO Roger Lynch is on the board.
Vogue released three November covers, featuring Nicole Kidman in brown Saint Laurent evening wear; Ayo Edebiri in brand new Matthieu Blazy Chanel (she’s a brand ambassador); and Greta Lee in costume-y men’s Dior by Jonathan Anderson (she’s also a brand ambassador). So advertisers are happy, and Vogue gets a, “We photographed this Chanel before anyone even knew it existed” flex. The covers are meant to promote this year’s Vogue World, which has a Hollywood theme.
If you’re not ready for those big Chanel statement earrings, how about $349 14K gold baby hoops?
Brands really aren’t wasting any time getting these new runway clothes out on celebs — Mia Goth wore Anderson’s spring 2026 lace armpit cutout dress to the Frankenstein premiere.
Well, it was controversial for comedians to travel to Riyadh for a comedy festival, but the fashion week beginning there October 16 doesn’t seem to be all that polarizing (yet?). Women’s Wear Daily reports Vivienne Westwood will show there for the first time.
Timothée Chalamet buzzed his hair, and fans are UPSET.
And now, today’s big story…
Retail Confessions: Selling $100,000 Brunello Cucinelli Suits to Tech Bros
Before Brunello Cucinelli became synonymous with quiet luxury, it was the go-to brand for the tech elite. Prior to his glow-up involving, as the Wall Street Journal put it, “gold chains and Gen Z curls,” Mark Zuckerberg was known for wearing gray custom Brunello Cucinelli T-shirts. When those tops had a news moment in 2018 (when Zuckerberg wore an uncharacteristic suit to testify before Congress), they cost $300. Now, one will run you $375. If Zuckerberg wanted to enter a collar-popping era (apologies for the mental image) he could get a silk Cucinelli polo for $1,400.
Today, the brand transcends the tech elite and is mostly synonymous with the elite generally (see: Succession; Gwyneth Paltrow wearing a Cucinelli suit to her ski crash trial).
For today’s “Retail Confessions,” we hear from a former employee of a Seattle area store who’d worked for other luxury brands, including Chanel. Brunello Cucinelli’s stock recently slid following reports of alleged violations of Russian sanctions. Whatever’s going on, “There’s so much oligarch money,” says the former employee. “The prices were so astronomical. I was on a call with Brunello, and he was saying, ‘Please aim to sell four pieces.’ If you could sell four pieces, it’s about $20,000.”
The brand lives up to its quiet reputation. “I have a friend who worked at the corporate office and he told me, ‘I can’t have anything on my desk. Everything is all white. You eat lunch alone at your desk, you don’t talk to anyone. It’s a very quiet office.’”
Ahead, the former employee talks about flying with clients for custom suit fittings, selling to rich teenagers, and more.
Who were the clients at Brunello Cucinelli?
A lot of tech people. Most people shopping there were over 55, 60. Surprisingly, I was also getting 18-year-olds who had made money through stocks.
Oh, like, nepo babies?
It’s a very nepo city. There’s a lot of wealth. It’s where all the Microsoft heads live. They would come in and ask, “What’s new?” And then just be like, “That one, that one, that one.” Try it on. Just in and out very quick.
They were not very social people but they would love to meet other clients. They were very like, “What did this person buy? I want what they got.” If they saw each other come in at the same time, it was a competition of like, “You have this piece on and this piece on — I have that piece too.” They didn’t want to say they were wearing Cucinelli, but they were all looking at each other like, What piece do you have on?
Were clients demanding?
Oh, yeah — they were demanding of services.
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