From Vogue's Legendary Closet to Styling Stardom: The Brian Coats Story

Jill welcomes the always charming Brian Coats, affectionately known as "the boy in the closet," for an intimate conversation about his remarkable journey through fashion's most prestigious corridors. Brian's fashion odyssey began in 1996 as an assistant at Vogue Magazine, where he commanded the legendary fashion closet and collaborated with the incomparable Andre Leon Talley. Together, they unpack colorful behind-the-scenes tales from those formative years, from the infamous closet smoking incident to the daily choreography of managing fashion's most coveted archive, a central hub of activity and competition for the editorial and styling teams. The story reaches back even further, to six-year-old Brian in North Carolina, mesmerized by Elsa Klensch's CNN style segments, a moment that ignited a lifelong passion. He recounts his unwavering determination to reach Parsons School of Design and the pivotal realization that his destiny lay in editorial styling rather than design. In 2000, Brian transitioned to GQ, where he honed his craft as a fashion editor for 13 years before embracing the freelance world. He candidly discusses the adjustment, from overpreparing for his first independent shoot to navigating an industry landscape without a magazine masthead behind his name. The conversation turns to Brian's current work styling high-profile magazine spreads, advertising campaigns, and celebrities, including his continued partnership with Jimmy Fallon. Jill and Brian examine the contrasts between Vogue and GQ cultures, the art of juggling competing demands and personalities, and surviving fashion's relentless pace. Follow on Instagram and Threads at @goingrogue.podcast and @jilldemling Follow on TikTok Send us your questions or comments by calling us at 518-21-ROGUE