Kate Moss, Rick Owens, and Courtney Cox Make Psychoanalysis Sexy in New Podcast “Fashion Neurosis With Bella Freud”

LONDON — Bella Freud follows in the footsteps of her great-grandfather, Sigmund Freud, known as the father of psychoanalysis — but adds a touch of fashion to her collection.

The new podcast, Fashion Neurosis With Bella Freud, which premieres on Apple and Spotify in October, will put the fashion designer in the spotlight alongside stars like Kate Moss, Rick Owens and Courtney Cox.

More from WWD

In each episode, her guests recline on a cream couch and delve into topics of love, identity, culture, anxiety, and politics. Listeners can also watch the podcast in video format.

Rick Owens on “Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud.”

“I’ve been thinking about stories in fashion for years — given how big of an industry fashion is and how big a role it plays in people’s lives, it seemed strange to me that it was still portrayed in such a narrow way. We’re all bitches, vain, brainless, (which) is very different from reality, which is much more interesting and exciting,” Freud said in an interview.

Initially, she wanted to take part in a talk show, but she dropped out.

Freud is an avid filmmaker and loves to have fun with it, she said. Her fall 2024 collection featured images from the film, which she worked on with Maria Harrild and Michael Clark, the famed Scottish dancer and choreographer.

“I had a clear vision of how I wanted the shoot to look. I found a great cinematographer and we worked to get the lighting just right. To attract the guests I want, the lighting has to be amazing—flattering and atmospheric,” she said.

Courtney Cox on “Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud.”

Even though she had an established career, famous friends, and a strong last name, Freud found inviting guests to join her podcast could be stressful for her.

“Everyone is at the top of their game and they tend to be quite elusive. When someone says yes, it’s like an electric charge. It’s cool,” she added.

Freud admits that she has only read fragments of her great-grandfather’s works because she finds it difficult to concentrate unless what she is reading is a story.

When her son was 11, he brought home a comic book called Introducing Freud: A Graphic Guide by Richard Appignanesi, which led the designer to delve deeper into psychoanalysis.

Bella Freud Fall 2024.

“The graphic novel explained all the theories in a condensed way, and the illustrations are very funny and memorable. One of my favorites was a drawing of Freud and Marcel Breuer eating spaghetti — (it) is so good. I started to see how much fun you could have with that,” Freud said.

“I’ve always been interested in how people choose what to reveal or hide about themselves. For years, I was incredibly shy, but I wanted attention, even though it involved feeling guilty about seeking attention. Clothes were how I started a conversation—if I was dressed well enough, someone would make a comment. And that’s how it all started,” she added.

If anyone can make psychoanalysis sexy, it’s Bella Freud and Kate Moss.

The best of WWD