Pair of Kings
Hosted by Sol Thompson and Michael Smith, Pair of Kings is a menswear fashion podcast that explores the complex relationship we have with and through our clothing, through themes of identity, sustainability, and collective affinity. The weekly podcast highlights creatives both in New York and internationally who push the envelope with their distinctive impact on the fashion world.
12.20 - The Best Brands You've Never Heard Of
We're giving away a beautiful AV Beamon jacket on our HeroHero to celebrate the episode: subscribe to support the show, enter into the giveaway and get early access to episodes!
Sol spent a ton of time on a Substack article called Hometown Heroes; join Michael and Sol as they sit down and discuss a selection of amazing brands from around the world (including Isabella Charles, Empath LA, and Ulysse Poulin, to name a few), up-and-coming music act Sophia Stel, why Zegna suits cost >$10,000 but look terrible, the worst shoes ever created, the deep-seated terror Michael feels at...
12.19 - Discovering the Lost Art of Tailoring with Chloe Boxer (@chl0e.box)
You could hear episodes early, get access to all of our giveaways, and more over on HeroHero! Subscribe and support the show!
This week, Sol and Michael sit down with on-set tailor and clothing wizard Chloe Boxer to learn about her practice, work, and about her takes on clothing in general! Join the trio as they chart Chloe's introduction to and growth in the fashion world, historic clothing trends, her senior thesis (where she proved that a certain item of clothing was completely misinterpreted by historians!), what's changing in garment construction, which brands today are consistently impressing...
12.18 - How New EU Regulations Stand to Change Fashion
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Wow! We're doing policy analysis? Sol's putting his degree to use? Michael's talking about some of the craziest reproductions of vintage clothing? What the heck? A podcast with heavy, heavy research? What's going on?
Tune in to hear the duo talk about ESPR, tariff laws, fast fashion, medium-enterprise end-of-life adjustments, fabric responsibility, 1940's denim, inadvertent eugenics in the rattlesnake population, some fun fashion insider information about Martine Rose, JW...
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)
You can hear episodes early and get access to all of our giveaways for only $4 on HeroHero! Go support the show!
We're back this week with our wonderful friend Tanya Ravichandran! Join Michael and Sol as they discuss the incredible team at Coach, Tanya's love for Ann D., how to host the perfect runway show, why all the guys in New York dress like shit, making the Margiela 5 Zip Exodia, Lee Alexander McQueen, some grails still eluding her collection, her wonderful boyfriend Roman's style, getting hangry, the direction of high fashion today, what it was like to...
12.16 (HeroHero Preview) - Reviewing Every Single Outfit From the 2025 Met Gala (Superfine: Tailoring Black Style)
To listen to the full episode and to be automatically entered into this episode's giveaway, subscribe to the HeroHero!
It's time for Michael and Sol's favorite yearly tradition: talking shit on the celebrities who spend thousands of dollars to walk the red carpet at the largest event in fashion! Join the duo as they talk about the best (no spoilers, but it rhymes with Mom Crown) and the worst (no spoilers, but it's (not) shockingly a white girl in a durag) of the night, chat about what makes for 'guy in a suit', and take...
12.15 - River Fashion, Sol's Life Changing Experience, and Everything You Missed in April
You could have heard this episode early and had access to giveaways on our HeroHero: https://herohero.co/pok
The title isn't hyperbole: Sol's back from the wilderness! Join the intrepid duo of Sol and Michael as they discuss Kanye West somehow proving that yes, you can always lose your mind just a little bit more, the Pope dying, what gorpcore's cooler older brother looks like, some slept-on outdoor brands, a horrible new beard, how the hell you dress for the longest river trip in the world (this is a fact), Weekend Warriors, Marseille Hiking...
12.14 - The Pair of Kings Official Rap Snacks Taste Test
You could have heard this episode early and had access to giveaways on our HeroHero: https://herohero.co/pok
Hello my dear friends! In this episode Sol and Michael eat way too many lil baby themed potato chips. We also discuss the Thom Browne employee uniform guidelines, the difference between "vintage" and "archive," the bible (again somehow), Alfargo's marketplace, military surplus (again somehow) and Sol's absolutely diabolical plan to undermine the fashion communities most prolific gatekeepers.
Thanks as always for supporting us!
This is likely our last episode for a week or two...
12.13 - Chrome Hearts Rocket Launcher with Luke Fracher
You could have heard this episode early and had access to giveaways on our HeroHero: https://herohero.co/pok
Hello Everyone! On this Episode Sol and Michael sit down with Luke of Lukes NYC. We talk about being an unc, scaling a business, getting tricked into tattooing a very large garfield on your head, rocket launchers, how much Luke really loves and respects Rick Owens and wants to wear it all the time, the largest prime number Sol can think of, and much more!We had a lot of fun recording this one and I'm sure you'll...
12.12 - Saint Mike, The Karen Signoff, and Military Surplus that isn't Military or Surplus
You could have heard this episode early and had access to giveaways on our HeroHero!
Hey Everybody! Sol has run off to the grand canyon for the next 3 weeks and left me alone, afraid, and in charge of uploading the episodes. He has no phone and I am scared. But! there was a time that I was not scared and Sol was by my side and we recorded this episode for all of you. In this episode we discuss biblical names, that guy on instagram who does an incredible job of making bad hats, and how a...
12.11 - Arts and Crafts and Modeling and DSquared2 FW25 with Ella Emhoff (@ellaemhoff)
You could have heard this episode early and been entered into all of our giveaways on HeroHero! Subscribe and support the show!
On this episode, Sol and Michael sit down with their good friend Ella to chat about the long-awaited comeback of Soft Hands Knit Club, Ella's career as a model, DSquared FW25 (and their unfortunate gap between what they show on the runway and what they sell through sites like SSENSE), the "White Boy of the Month" phenomenon of the Lower East Side, environmental sustainability as it relates to fashion, steroid gut, Calvin Klein underwear ads, "...
12.10 - The Most Memorable Fashion Campaigns of the Last Decade and Jonathan Anderson's Legacy at Loewe
One big announcement!
We're organizing a pop-up at Komune (our favorite NYC boutique) with Kozaburo on April 11th! Swing by for a chance to win a free hat, say hi to the boys, and shop some of the Phantom Ranch goodies!
You could have heard this episode early and been entered into all of our giveaways on HeroHero! Subscribe and support the show!
This week, listen in as Sol and Michael discuss Jonathan Anderson leaving Loewe, being a vindictive ex-boyfriend, the l...
12.9 - Fancy Footwork and Full Hedi Slimane with Dave Macklovitch (@dave1)
One big announcement!
We're organizing a pop-up at Komune (our favorite NYC boutique) with Kozaburo on April 11th! Swing by for a chance to win a free hat, say hi to the boys, and shop some of the Phantom Ranch goodies!
You could have heard this episode early and been entered into all of our giveaways on HeroHero! Subscribe and support the show!
The boys are back - and just in time! This week, Michael and Sol sit down with musical l...
12.8 - Was Demna's Run at Balenciaga Good?
Two big things!
1. Don't forget! We're organizing a pop-up at Komune (our favorite NYC boutique) with Kozaburo on April 11th! Swing by for a chance to win a free hat, say hi to the boys, and shop some of the Phantom Ranch goodies!
2. We're doing a giveaway for this episode! All HeroHero subscribers will be automatically entered into a drawing for a Bryan Jimenez logo tee - we'll select two winners on the Monday a...
12.7 - Helmut Lang's Spiritual Successor with Bryan Jimenèz (@bryanjimeneznyc)
You could have heard this episode early and had access to giveaways on our HeroHero!
This week, Sol and Michael sit down with Bryan Jimenèz, a New York based designer whose sampling, patterning, and referencing make him one of the most exciting young designers in the city. The trio talk about Bryan's inspirations, some of the challenges of scaling a brand, boxing, the other creatives he lives and works with, creating clothes that feel authentically lived-in while still being new, attending and selling at Paris Fashion Week, being stocked at SSENSE, and so much more!
12.6 - The Problem with Raw Denim, Racism in the Archive Community, and Fitbruary Takeaways
Subscribe to our HeroHero for the full episode and a chance to win a Blackmerle field shirt!
On this HeroHero-exclusive episode of the podcast, Sol and Michael announce a giveaway, try to big dog each other over pairs of pants, talk about the variety (or lack thereof) in their wardrobes, think about their next purchases (if any), discuss the ongoing conversation regarding racism in the archive community, examine who get access to what (shocker, it's the hyper-wealthy), and, finally, pick their most and least favorite outfits from the month.
Hope you enjoy!
Sol<...
12.5 - The Blackmerle Interview with Terry and Justice (@blackmerle)
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This week, Sol and Michael are joined by the founders of Blackmerle, the South Korea-based brand making some of our favorite clothes of 2025. Tune into the podcast to hear the boys chat with Terry and Justice about how they approach design, how they choose materials, popups, their event at Komune, what they wish they could make, masculine cues in an outfit, double cuffs, color choice, rare Japanese fabrics, uniform dressing, jewelry creation, and why the brand started!
Thank you again to the...
12.4 - Listener Questions, Brooklyn's Underground Techno Raves, and the Only Clothing Worth Buying
You can get access to our Rick Owens beanie giveaway and hear episodes early at our HeroHero!
Hi everyone!
On this episode, Sol and Michael bring back the listener question format from earlier PoK seasons! Tune in as they discuss Sol's theory of the four quadrants of clothing, Discwoman, Sweat Equity, the underground warehouse raves of pre-COVID Brooklyn, fast fashion, finance bros, cabaret laws, how to get cheap raw denim, Mercari / Yahoo Japan, how clothing has changed to accommodate for a fitpic, underrated style icons, and so much more!
Hope you enjoy the...
12.3 - Art Direction in the Age of AI, Henri Alexander Levy, and Campaigns in the Influencer Era with Kevin Chen (@bagelbiteskevin)
We're starting our guest episodes of Season 12 strong with Hypebeast's Art Director, Kevin Chen! Join Sol and Michael as they chat with Kevin about his practice, what he wears on set, how Art Directors adapted to the growing field of AI, where fashion campaigns are moving, his dream campaign, ERD, elite boarding schools, how to land a fighter jet, classic photographic conventions, and his graphic design practice!
We hope you enjoy as much as we did recording!
Lots of love!
Sol
Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and...
12.2 - China's Fashion Scene, The Post-2010 Men's Fashion Timeline, and February's Ins and Outs
On this episode of Season 12, Sol and Michael sit down to discuss Michael's recent trip to China (a three week excursion which saw Michael discover what might be the best clothing store in the country), differences in the fashion scenes between the US and China, Sol's Substack, serial killers and doing thing with zeal, and the changing face of who's impacting the clothing and fashion world (hint: it's changing from Kanye/Playboi Carti/Travis Scott to people like IShowSpeed and Kai Cenat).
We hope you enjoy - I loved recording this one!
Lots of love!<...
12.1 - The Worst Fashion Show of Paris FW25, What Makes Something "Artisanal", and Is Raf Simons Washed?
Welcome to Season 12, folks! You can hear episodes early, get access to our Pearled Ivory Belt and Glove giveaway, and hear exclusive episodes over on our HeroHero.
Sol and Michael are back for a brand new season of the podcast. They're revitalized and revamped; tune in for discussion about Glenn Martens' new appointment at Margiela, Y-Project, some of the couture shows, the new Comme Des Garcons boots (that may or may not have been ripped from Rombaut, if you believe the claims), people not knowing simple references, Raf Simons being washed, and what artisanal means!
...
11.19 - (HeroHero Exclusive) Shock Collar Fashion Trivia
To support the pod, listen to the full episode, and get access to our giveaways, subscribe to our HeroHero!
The boys are rounding out the season with their new instant classic, Shock Collar Fashion Trivia! Borne from the depths of Sol's brain at 3 AM, the game revolves around fashion history questions from our wonderful friend (who has asked to remain anonymous)!
Tune in as the boys stumble their way through questions about Rick Owens, SS/01-02 Raf Simons, the Battle of Versailles, Marc Jacobs, CP Company, grunge, Vogue, and so much more!
We...
11.18 - Fashion Versus Style, SSENSE Sale Season, and the Williamsburg Air Raid Siren
You could have heard this episode early and have a chance to win this episode's giveaway on our HeroHero!
Sol and Michael are back for a boys episode! Tune in as the duo discuss the meet me on ORCHARD popup, unique styles (big shoutout to Sol's friend Canute), the infamous H&M Margiela belt jacket, screenprinting, most of the insane Brooklyn merch flow through an older Jewish man's shop, gossip about Michele Lamy and Tyrone Dylan, style v. fashion, and so much more!
Enjoy! Lots of love! Don't forget - the giveaway closes next Monday!
11.17 - Keeping it Authentic, The Hardcore Scene, and What Matters in the Fashion Industry with Joseph Keefer (@jkeefer_collection)
You could have heard this episode early, had access to exclusive giveaways, and heard special episodes on our HeroHero!
The boys are back with friend of the podcast, hardcore scene legend, and industry giant Joseph Keefer! Join Sol and Michael as they chat with Joey about how he got his start in the fashion industry, how to build upon an existing community rather than leeching off of it, the culture around the Hardcore scene, inspirations, Robert Geller, working with Nordstrom, mormons selling illicit substances in high school, Napster, how to keep a brand successful, how to build...
11.16 - Alexander McQueen's Lasting Influence and The Reseller Epidemic That Doesn't Exist
You could have heard this episode early on our HeroHero!
Sol and Michael are back for a boys episode! Join the boys as they talk about designers as public figures, the debate over the misogyny (or lack thereof) of McQueen's work, social media causing a race to the bottom for archive resellers, the politicization of Rick Owens' work (for good reason), what the 'right' price for a t-shirt is, and the horror movies that the boys think will influence a new generation of designers!We hope you enjoy!
Lots of love,
Sol
11.15 - Meet Me on ORCHARD with Marco Giannavola (@mgiannavola)
We're doing our first in-person event! We'll be taking over 70 Hester Street on November 22nd and 23rd for 'meet me on ORCHARD', an exhibition that celebrates the vibrant cultural evolution of the Lower East Side, a neighborhood that has stood as a beacon of creativity for over 40 years. An opening will be held from 7-10PM on the 22nd with music, free refreshments, and (of course!) the wonderful art.
RSVP Here!
Join Sol and Michael and they chat with the incredibly talented photographer Marco Giannavola, who's been a part of and...
11.14 - Crystal Castles, Vintage T-Shirts, and Alpha Industries with Cody Parks (@1gwenstefani)
You could have heard this episode early on our HeroHero!
Sol and Michael are back this week with guest who can talk as much shit as he throws fits - Cody Parks, art director of Alpha Industries! Join the boys as they chat about Cody's upbringing and forays into fashion, Dance Gavin Dance, Crystal Castles, The Blair Witch Project, being Jewish, having beef, 205W39NYC, looking to magazines for inspo, what an art director actually does, having parents who actually had cool clothes, Princess Diana, and so much more! We hope you enjoy the episode as much...
11.13 - The Return of Hedi Slimane, the Impact of GLP-1s on Fashion, and Predicting the 2025 "Fashion Guy" Uniform
You can get access to our giveaways, early releases, and exclusive episodes on our HeroHero!
Sol and Michael have heard the chatter - we know our listeners wanted us to give away even more store credit to fun, unique spots in New York. We're doing just that! Tune as the boys announce the latest giveaway, the resurgence of skinny jeans, the pass-through effect of fashion in music, the rise of GLP-1s like Ozempic and the results on the fashion world, the cultural differences of vaping versus smoking, Hedi's run at Dior, Demna's potential departure from Balenciaga...
11.12 - (HeroHero Preview) Grading and Reviewing All Runway Shows From 2024's Paris Fashion Week
Join our HeroHero to be automatically entered into all our giveaways, listen to this entire episode, and to hear episodes early!
Sol and Michael are back to review all the Paris Fashion Week shows! Well - almost all of them. Tune in as the boys discuss the consistent disappointments from Chanel and Coperni's SS25 shows, the glorious revival of Saint Laurent under Anthony Vaccarello, up-and-coming brands, trends that they're seeing for the upcoming season, the Rick Owens show, and much more!
We've also got a new giveaway - $250 in credit to our wonderful friends at...
11.11 - Runway Collections, Stolen Designs, and Changing the Perception of an Instagram Brand with Adam Small (@adam_____small)
You could have had access to this episode early and been automatically entered into our giveaways at our HeroHero!
What does it mean to be an "instagram brand" in this day and age? As brands like Adam Small's byadamsmall announce themselves to the fashion world and prove their longevity and standing through popups, runways, and cult followings, the stigma around what it means to be called an 'instagram brand' has begun to shift. Brands once thought to be insignificant or relegated to being 'internet brands' are competing with the largest names in the industry, like Balenciaga, Rick O...
11.10 - Fits Over Troubled Waters with Polo Cheng (@polo__zheng) from Troubled Waters (@troubledwaters.co)
You could have heard this episode early and had access to this season's giveaways on our HeroHero!
Sol and Michael are joined on the podcast this week by the wonderful multi-hyphenate Polo Cheng! Listen in as the trio chats about the Troubled Waters popup at Komune, their collab with Marcel Everette, Polo's work with Ken of Professor.E, working across international borders, how he got his start in fashion, differences between New York and Japanese style, what constitutes a "rockstar" brand, how the hell a brand turns a profit (and how business works), and playing basketball!
11.9 - The 2024 New York Fashion Week Wrap-Up and the Three Major New York Brands
You could have heard this episode early, gotten exclusive episodes, and had access to giveaways over on our HeroHero!
Hi, everyone! Sol and Michael are back and wrapping up our favorites and least favorite shows (I don't actually think we ever got to least favorites, but we'll talk about what Puppets and Puppets did in the future) of Fashion Week and the experience as a whole! We also chat about the 'three major New York brands' (Willy Chavarria, Telfar, and Luar), in that while there's a wealth of talent, there're three brands who are poised (or who...
11.8 - Shanghai Fashion Week, Reality Television, and A Magazine Curated By with Blake Abbie (@blakeabbie)
You could have heard this episode early and gotten access to giveaways, exclusive episodes, and more over on our HeroHero!
It's time to get real with reality show star, magazine editor in chief, and all around fashion superstar Blake Abbie! Tune in to listen as Sol and Michael chat with Blake about his work with A Magazine Curated By, working to craft narratives with designers like Glenn Martens and Peter Do, the inherent politics of the fashion industry, how to ride the line between being a personality and being beholden to brands, the impacts of and differences...
11.7 - OrchardCore and the Revival of NYC as a Fashion Epicenter
You could have heard this episode early AND can get access to our giveaway ($200+ in Komune credit!) at our HeroHero!
New York has struggled to establish a young in-person community around fashion since the 2010's. It's finally returning. Join Sol and Michael as they explore the revitalization of the NYC fashion scene, which centers around Orchard Street in the Lower East side, and the brands, people, and spaces that are powering that change. The boys also chat about brands with cult followings, the ability to sell to a customer base, the explosion of Basketcase's 'look', what the...
11.6 - It Bags, It Girls, and the Worst Handbags of 2024 with Y2KBags' Alejandro (@y2kbags)
You could have heard this episode early on our HeroHero!
Sol and Michael are back with the wonderful Ale of @y2kbags for a bag-filled episode. Join the trio as they chat about the new-age Le Labo thief, dos and don'ts for men's bags, crazy stories of wealth, who's doing it right, who's doing it wrong, the grails of the handbag world, Telfar's moment in the sun and the explosion of the 'Bushwick Birkin', and so much more!
We hope you enjoy! Lots of love!
Sol
Sol Thompson and Michael...
11.5 - Italian Craftsmanship, Sorority Rush, and the Hedi Slimane of Phoebe Philos
You could have listening to the episode early on our HeroHero!
Sol and Michael are back for a boys episode! Listen in as the pair discuss a brand that's reached out to Michael for influencer content, Sol's obsession with the cult-like sorority rush and the fashion choices associated with it, timeless Italian classics, fortnite skins, a game of analogisms (where you describe someone using contemporaries in their field), Rick Owens, Raf Simons, Calvin Klein, and so much more!
We hope you enjoy!
Sol
Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the...
11.4 - How to Buy a Birkin, New v. Old Luxury, and Ariana Grande Working TSA with Charles Gross (@charlesgross)
You could have heard this episode early on our HeroHero!
Sol and Michael are back at it with this week's very special guest, Charles Gross, to talk about what exactly luxury is. Tune in to hear this week's trio chat about Hermes, the luxury shopping experience, the Zara-fication of Prada, media training, cavity searches, how to get out of a bad date, the rise of Ozempic and the impact on the fashion and modeling industry, and so much more!
We hope you enjoy!
Sol
Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore...
11.3 - (HeroHero Preview) Rating All Olympics Sports Based on Drip
To enter the giveaway, you've just got the be signed up for our HeroHero before Monday, August 19th!
Sol and Michael are back for a HeroHero exclusive, chatting first about Emma Rogue's new song, "Jorts", and then going through every sport featured in the Paris Olympics and rating them.
We also want to announce our HeroHero giveaway for this episode: all you have to do is be signed up and you'll be automatically entered!
Best of luck!
Sol
Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of...
11.2 - The Growing Pains Tour and Getting Scammed for Space Jams with @24kGoldn
Sol and Michael are joined this week by rapper 24kGoldn - tune in to listen to the boys chat about how he packs on tour (and how many pairs of underwear Golden brings (but not in a weird way)), his burgeoning watch and car collections, vintage Supreme, Raging Bull 5s, wearing Gucci ski goggles at school, Pri Pri gang, Bay Area classics, and go-to karaoke songs.
Hope you enjoy!
Sol
Sol Thompson and Michael Smith explore the world and subcultures of fashion, interviewing creators, personalities, and industry insiders to highlight the new...
11.1 - Boat Shoes, Run Clubs, and Pickleball: The Rise of the Fashion Finance Bro?
To access the giveaway, listen to episodes early, and much more, sign up for the HeroHero!
The boys are back for a brand-new season of podcasting! Join Sol and Michael as they open up the season's first giveaway for a bunch of perfumes, chat about the resurgence of boat shoes, how hot weather is the worst for getting off fits, eating too many hot dogs, frat boy chic, and hearing the boys' predictions for the future of fashion!
Enjoy the episode! Lots of love!
Sol
S...
10.19 - We Try The World's Most Revolting Perfume (Toskovat's Inexcusable Evil)
You could have heard this episode early and gotten access to giveaways on our HeroHero!
It's the season finale! Join Sol and Michael as they struggle through Toskovat's Inexcusable Evil. We intended this to be a full podcast about fashion, but severely underestimated our ability to talk while sitting in the world's most disconcerting, off-putting, horrid, scary cologne/perfume/scent. Tune in as experience Inexcusable Evil by Toskovat and chat about trying not to throw up, rotting chicken, Lyndon B. Johnson, PYREX VISION, and other fragrances we wish we'd been able to smell like! We also do a...
