Listen to and follow ‘The Debrief’: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | OvercastBackground:In nearly two decades since the first “Real Housewives” franchise debuted, reality TV has moved from the fringes of entertainment to become a major cultural force. Even when the fashion industry hesitated publicly, its insiders were already hooked privately. Real Housewives.“ “The Kardashians, for a long time, were not embraced by the fashion industry, and then in the 2010s that started to change,” says Pearl. Even when the fashion industry hesitated publicly, its insiders were already hooked privately. “The Real Housewives is a very American show.