IN CONVERSATION WITH RO BRAHMAND
interview by JANA LETONJA
Ro Brahmand has quickly become one of fashion’s most original voices, a Substack Bestseller, viral creator, and cultural commentator redefining what it means to talk about style. Known for her sharp wit and unfiltered storytelling, Ro brings history, memory, and art into every look she curates, making her work as entertaining as it is insightful. Her cult-followed and official Bestselling newsletter ‘Fixated’ consistently lands on Substack’s “best of fashion” lists and has fostered relationships with houses like Dior, Prada, Hermes, and Chanel, as well as platforms like TheRealReal, Net-A-Porter and FarFetch. Whether front-row at Paris Fashion Week or sourcing vintage treasures for her audience, Ro isn’t just reflecting trends, she’s shaping the way fashion is discussed and lived today.
‘Fixated’ has become a Substack Bestseller and a go-to read for fashion lovers. What inspired you to start it in the first place?
I am an obsessive curator. Whether it’s fashion, homeware, or travel. If I want to buy a candle, I can’t just buy a candle. I’ll spend hours combing through every corner of the internet to find the perfect one. I’d post one of those finds on Instagram, people would ask for the link, and I’d catch myself wanting to say“Wait, but there are 4 others you’re going to be obsessed with too!”
That instinct, to over-share, to talk things through, to connect over the small details, is really what sparked ‘Fixated’. It became the space where I could channel that obsession into something bigger than a single caption or link.
Your writing balances humor, history, and personal storytelling. How did you find your voice as both a writer and a fashion creator?
I’m probably one of the most unpolished writers or commentators out there, a badge I now wear proudly but there was a time where I certainly felt the pressure to sound more refined. My personality is playful and unserious, and it always felt unnatural to speak too formally about the things I love. So much of the world I orbit — fashion, interiors, art — can feel overly serious, even intimidating. Early on, I often felt like I had to be an expert before I could join the conversation. ‘Fixated’ became my way of breaking that barrier, of creating space for curiosity, humor, and imperfection. I want anyone, at any stage of their interest, to feel like they can be part of the dialogue.
When did you realize ‘Fixated’ had turned from a passion project into a true cultural platform?
When ‘Fixated’ started charting in the Fashion & Beauty category on Substack. That was a real “Wait, people are actually reading this” moment. It also hit me when people in the industry, whose work I’ve admired for years, started following along and engaging with what I was writing. That felt surreal.
How do you decide what makes it into your ‘Fixated’ newsletter versus your social channels?
I’ll usually introduce the high-level conversation on social –a quick thought, a visual, a headline – but Substack is where we go to have the bigger conversation. It’s where ideas have the space to stretch out and actually breathe. If something feels like it needs more room, i.e 20 vintage finds on The Real Real, emerging trends from Paris fashion week, a guide to NYC, it belongs on ‘Fixated’. They’re the kinds of conversations that can feel a little long for Instagram or TikTok, but make perfect sense in a newsletter.
You’re known for your vintage eye. Do you think vintage fashion is becoming the new luxury?
Absolutely. A great vintage piece carries stories, it’s lived a life before you. What makes it so special isn’t just its rarity, but the transformation that happens when you see potential in something others might overlook. You’re giving it a new identity, a new meaning. That process, of finding, reimagining, and recontextualizing, is what makes vintage so valuable and so alive.
You’re never afraid to share bold takes. What’s a trend you think we’ll be laughing at in five years?
Every year we collectively take something too far. Polka dots this year, bows last year, and the clean girl era before that, when the world went beige. In five years, I think we’ll look back and say “Damn, we really overcommitted to that one”.
On the flip side, what’s an underrated fashion element you think deserves more love right now?
Personality. It’s the most underrated element in fashion right now. We’ve become so obsessed with algorithmic trends that we’ve stripped out anything interesting. Clothes should say something about you, your taste, your mood, your point of view.
How do you balance being a cultural critic while also celebrating the fun of fashion?
When I talk about fashion, I’m not trying to dissect it, I’m just exploring it. Fashion, to me, is about expression, interpretation, curiosity. You can take it seriously without making it serious. The playfulness for me is really the whole point.
You’re constantly on the go. What are your secrets for traveling in style without overpacking?
I am painfully type A and it's about to show. I preplan outfits, take pictures of the outfits and make a note on the photo explaining where and when I plan to wear it. It sounds like a lot of work but I promise it is the key to intentional packing.
Between fashion weeks, writing, and content creation, how do you recharge and stay grounded?
Pilates, long walks through the forest or by the ocean with my dog, who is my best friend and love of my life, Frank, and cooking healthy meals at home which I often share on TikTok. What they lack in presentation, they make up for in taste, I promise.
Beyond fashion, you’ve found ways to support causes you care about — particularly animal welfare. What inspired that?
Frank was really the catalyst. About six years ago, we started a little tradition of donating to our local SPCA in his name. Every year we get letters back about how those donations have helped the animals there, and it always makes me emotional. That’s what started it all.
Looking ahead, what’s next for you and ‘Fixated’?
There’s so much I’m excited to share, but I’m especially focused on continuing to grow ‘Fixated’s’ guides, covering everything from where to stay in new cities – always with design in mind, to my favourite vintage designer sources, restaurants – informed by local tastemaker friends, and hidden local gems. Next month, I'll be publishing my guide to London. I’m spending the next few weeks here and have been able to visit so many amazing new restaurants and galleries, as well as some amazing holiday/gifting guides.