
Fashion & Founders The Podcast
Hervé Léger Creative Director Michelle Ochs: How She's Bringing the Brand Into a New Era
Sonntag, 12. Juli 2026 · 51 min
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What does a creative director in fashion do? How do I get a job in fashion? What is fashion school actually like? Hear from Michelle Ochs, the Creative Director at Hervé Léger.
In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to build a career in fashion from landing an internship at Marc Jacobs before even starting Parsons to navigating the job market during the 2008 financial crisis. After co-founding Cushnie et Ochs and spending more than a decade building the brand, Michelle made the decision to close that chapter of her career. Today, she's the Creative Director of Hervé Léger, where she's reimagining one of fashion's most recognizable brands for a new generation. Michelle also shares the strategy behind Hervé Léger's resurgence, why runway shows aren't always worth the investment, how Gen Z is rediscovering the brand, what she actually looks for when hiring designers, and why she still wants candidates to bring a printed portfolio to interviews. Whether you're hoping to work in fashion, build your own brand, or simply love hearing the stories behind iconic fashion houses, this episode is full of practical advice and an honest look at what it takes to evolve throughout your career.
In this episode, we discuss:
• What fashion school is really like
• Getting her first fashion internship
• Navigating the fashion hiring landscape
• Starting a fashion brand
• Becoming a creative director
• Fashion marketing
• Rebuilding an iconic fashion brand for a new generation
• What fashion hiring managers actually want to see in interviews
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Follow Hervé Léger:
IG: @instagram.com/herveleger/?hl=en#
Rihanna’s Iconic Dress (go.shopmy.us/p-70914295)
Follow Michelle:
IG: @instagram.com/ochsmichelle/?hl=en#
TikTok: @tiktok.com/@mrsmichelleochs
Rent the Runway:
Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 (renttherunway.com/?utm_source=affiliate&ut…) and get 50% off your first month!
Glamsquad:
Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS (go.shopmy.us/p-42615984)for $20 off
Thanks for listening!