Pair of Kings: A Fashion and Culture Podcast
Pair of Kings is the men's fashion and culture podcast for the next generation of style. Hosted by Sol Thompson and Michael Smith in New York City, each weekly episode breaks down what's actually happening in menswear—from streetwear to archive fashion—and the trends reshaping how men dress in 2026 and beyond.
We cover the full spectrum of current men's fashion: emerging designer brands and Grailed finds, vintage menswear, sneaker culture, and luxury collaborations, Japanese denim, and the Lower East Side revival we called before anyone else.
Our interviews spotlight the creators, stylists, editors, and industry insiders pushing fashion forward—the new vanguard building culture from the ground up.
While Pair of Kings is a fashion podcast, we're also a window into the NYC scene—the Lower East Side resurgence, downtown nightlife, art world crossovers, and the community energy driving Gen-Z and millennial style culture.
If you care about gorpcore, workwear, Salomon sneakers, Rick Owens, Stone Island, Demna's Gucci, runway breakdowns, or just building a personal style that actually means something—this is your show.
Think of us as the bridge between legacy fashion media and the new wave: less gatekeeping, more real talk about streetwear outfits, designer pieces, sustainable fashion, and the relationship between clothing, identity, and community. New episodes every other week.
Topics we cover: men's fashion trends, streetwear culture, archive fashion, menswear podcast, NYC fashion, emerging designers, Grailed, vintage clothing, sneaker releases, luxury menswear, personal style, fashion interviews, Gen-Z style, contemporary menswear, fashion community, trend forecasting, indie sleaze, quiet luxury, relaxed tailoring, New York City culture
Episodes
Born DuBois on Viral Murder Mystery Parties, Vaquera's Paris Runway, Rick Owens Auditions, and What It Takes to Make It in Fashion | 13.18
Paris Fashion Week FW26 Review: Is Raf Simons Back? Rick Owens, Dior, Dsquared2 & More | 13.17
Paul Heavener on What a Creative Director Does at Hypebeast, Vintage Bape, Archive Fashion as a Trend & the Future of Streetwear | 13.16
The Best Fragrances for Men, The Modern Master of Perfume, and Honestly Reviewing the Hottest Niche Fragrances of 2026: The PoK Scentacular | 13.15
Shane O'Neill (@shaneisland) Explains Gooning, Jeremy Scott's Legacy & the NFL's Link to the Arab Spring's Love of SpongeBob | 13.14
Rare Rick Owens Jackets, the Marty Supreme Jacket PR Machine, and the Muppets | 13.13
Avery Trufelman on Why We Wear Military Clothes, M-65 Field Jackets, and how Military Surplus Shaped Modern Fashion History | 13.12
Men's Skincare Routines, Chrome Hearts Jewelry, and Trying to Buy the Sauce | 13.11
Mandy Lee (@oldloserinbrooklyn) on 2026 Fashion Trend Predictions, Freaky Shoes, and Embodying the Old Loser in Brooklyn | 13.10
Glenn Martens' Margiela, Balenciaga Hoodies, Hedi Slimane Jeans, and How Sweatshirts Changed Forever | 13.9
Dr. Sonya Abrego (@sonyaabrego) on Men's Westernwear, The History of American Denim, and Where to Buy Vintage Jeans | 13.8
13.7 - The Rick Owens Retrospective, Stone Island and CP Company's Fabric Development, and Modern Italian Fashion
13.6 - International Tours, Object Permanence, and How to Win at Solitaire with Sophia Stel (@insignificantfunds)
13.5 - Rating and Reviewing Every Paris Fashion Week Debut with Sol (@ellaemhoff) and Michael (@hot_vodkaa)
13.4 - Inventing Health Goths (not a joke), Partying in New York Fashion Week, and Professional Basketball with Caitlin Cunningham (@caitlepillar)
13.3 - How We Fix the Fashion Industry, NYFW Notes, and the Friends of Pair of Kings Live Show!
13.2 - Why Shit Not Working and How Do We Fix New York City with Chi Ossé (@chiosse)
13.1 — Our Upcoming Popup, the Lower East Side Fashion Scene Update, and Sol's Shopping Mega-List
12.21 - The Great Big Berlin Fashion Week Wrap-Up
12.20 - The Best Brands You've Never Heard Of
12.19 - Discovering the Lost Art of Tailoring with Chloe Boxer (@chl0e.box)
12.18 - How New EU Regulations Stand to Change Fashion
12.17 - How to Host a Perfect Runway Show, The Horribly Dressed Men of New York, and The Photographer-to-Influencer Pipeline with Tanya Ravichandran (@tanyar)
12.16 (HeroHero Preview) - Reviewing Every Single Outfit From the 2025 Met Gala (Superfine: Tailoring Black Style)
12.15 - River Fashion, Sol's Life Changing Experience, and Everything You Missed in April