Style POV

In this episode of Style POV, I’m joined by Dr. Valerie Steele, fashion historian, author, and director of The Museum at FIT. Dr. Steele has shaped the way the world understands fashion. Her work examines the cultural, psychological, and emotional forces behind what we wear and why it matters.
We talk about her latest exhibition, Dress, Dreams and Desire: Fashion and Psychoanalysis, and explore how clothing reflects fantasy, identity, memory, and the unconscious. If you’ve ever felt that what you wear holds meaning beyond the outfit, this conversation will affirm it.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How fashion became her lifelong pursuit and why it is never frivolous
Whether corsets were oppressive or empowering
The psychological connection between clothing, identity, and desire
How style can be armor, transformation, and storytelling
Why fashion is a "deep surface" with layers of meaning
If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to follow the show and leave a rating. It helps more listeners discover Style POV.
More about Dr. Valerie Steele:
Website: The Museum at FIT
Instragram: @valerie_steele_fashion
Dress, Dreams, & Desire: A History of Fashion and Psychoanalysis, find it here.  (highly recommend!!)
FIT Exhibit: https: //www.fitnyc.edu/museum/exhibitions/dress-dreams-desire
Dr. Valerie Steele Photo Credit: Smiljana Peros
Timestamps
01:01 – Discovering fashion as more than ‘frivolous’
03:31 – The corset: Liberating or restricting?
05:59 – Clothing as parts of history
09:48 – Pacing of fashion evolution
14:27 – Traditional psychoanalytic fashion ideas
17:07 – Gender fluidity in fashion
22:51 – Identification and fashion
30:33 – Clothes as armor
35:29 – Dreams, Desires, and Psychoanalysis Exhibit
42:03 – The idea of a deep surface
46:20 – Major fashion influence
47:38 – What’s next for Dr. Valerie Steele

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Disclaimer: The Style POV Podcast content is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own. Gabrielle Arruda is not liable for any errors or omissions, and listeners use the information at their own risk.

In this inspiring episode of Style POV, personal stylist and fashion and film historian April Clemmer unpacks the original “style system” that Hollywood perfected. April shares how film studios engineered star power through wardrobe and image strategy, and how we can take those same timeless lessons into our everyday lives.
We explore what classic stars like Audrey Hepburn understood about clarity, identity and presence on screen and how that translates into getting dressed with intention today. From avoiding the cookie-cutter effect to knowing the difference between a look that is classic versus dated, April offers a grounded and empowering path to style evolution.
If you want to elevate your wardrobe and confidence without losing yourself in the process, this one’s for you. Watch the full episode to learn how to use Hollywood wisdom to tell your own story through style.
Where to Find April Clemmer
Website: aprilclemmer.com
Instagram: @aprilshollywood
Sign up for April's Audrey Hepburn class {free}: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/create-your-iconic-style-a-masterclass-inspired-by-audrey-hepburn-tickets-1974315208937?aff=oddtdtcreator
Follow me❤️
blog → https://gabriellearruda.com/
podcast → https://www.stylepovpodcast.com
youtube → https://www.youtube.com/@Gabriellearrudadesign
facebook group→ https://www.facebook.com/groups/gabriellearruda
instagram→ https://www.instagram.com/gabriellearrudadesign/
tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriellearrudadesign?
pinterest → https://www.pinterest.com/gabriellearrudadesign/
email → [email protected]


Disclaimer: The Style POV Podcast content is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own. Gabrielle Arruda is not liable for any errors or omissions, and listeners use the information at their own risk.

What if personal style isn’t something you’re born with but something you can learn, refine, and evolve? In this episode of Style POV, I’m joined by Mili Velikova, a style educator and YouTube creator known for her grounded, analytical, and deeply creative approach to dressing well.
Mili breaks down why “effortless style” is a myth and shows how small tweaks, intentional choices, and curiosity can completely transform the way you show up. We talk about closing the style knowledge gap, editing your closet with purpose, and learning to view style as a reflection of who you’re becoming- not just what you wear.
If you’ve ever felt like your wardrobe doesn’t quite match your identity or you’re craving a more thoughtful approach to fashion, this conversation will inspire you to see getting dressed as both a skill and a form of self-expression.
Where to Find Mili Velikova
Mili's Styling Services
YouTube Channel: @MiliVelikova
Instagram: @milivelikova
Mili's 
Timestamps
01:01 – Style is a skill that can be honed
03:40 – Bridging the style knowledge gap
07:20 – Personalizing your style
12:17 – “Effortless Style” is a lie
15:19 – Habits stacking with style systems
18:36 – Editing your closet
21:13 – The gap between online advice and real life
27:20 – Why your style is always evolving
35:54 – Where to ‘debut’ your style experiments
42:46 – Style as a powerful tool
49:34 – Thrifting as a way to experiment with trends
53:20 – Mili’s style strategy sessions
1:03:00 – Being a multidimensional person
Follow me❤️
blog → https://gabriellearruda.com/
podcast → https://www.stylepovpodcast.com
youtube → https://www.youtube.com/@Gabriellearrudadesign
facebook group→ https://www.facebook.com/groups/gabriellearruda
instagram→ https://www.instagram.com/gabriellearrudadesign/
tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriellearrudadesign?
pinterest → https://www.pinterest.com/gabriellearrudadesign/
email → [email protected]


Disclaimer: The Style POV Podcast content is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own. Gabrielle Arruda is not liable for any errors or omissions, and listeners use the information at their own risk.

In this episode of Style POV, we sit down with Fatima Ess, founder of Poeticize Your Presence, to explore her signature system that fuses silhouette analysis, custom color palettes, and style energy archetypes into something deeply personal and liberating.
Fatima shares how her background as an image consultant, author, and brand storyteller shaped a philosophy that celebrates individuality rather than conformity. From challenging traditional color analysis stereotypes to introducing the concept of aesthetic bandwidth, this conversation dives into the psychology and poetry behind what we wear.
If you’ve ever felt limited by labels or rigid style “rules,” this episode will help you see fashion as a creative language of self-expression.

🎧 Tune in to hear Fatima’s approach to creating wardrobes that feel like your story: authentic, joyful, and uniquely yours.

Where to Find Fatima Ess
Website: poeticizeyourpresence.org
Facebook Group: Poeticize Your Presence
Full Story Package: The Full Story
Timestamps
01:01 – The birth of Poeticize Your Presence
03:50 – Storytelling element of personal style
08:02 – Learning the foundations but breaking the rules
13:00 – Aesthetic bandwidth
16:57 – The Poeticize Your Presence method
19:52 – Breaking color analysis stereotypes
29:38 – Understanding blends
33:57 – A system that liberates, not constricts
38:42 – Where to start exploring
41:48 – A piece that tells your story
Follow me❤️
blog → https://gabriellearruda.com/
podcast → https://www.stylepovpodcast.com
youtube → https://www.youtube.com/@Gabriellearrudadesign
facebook group→ https://www.facebook.com/groups/gabriellearruda
instagram→ https://www.instagram.com/gabriellearrudadesign/
tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriellearrudadesign?
pinterest → https://www.pinterest.com/gabriellearrudadesign/
email → [email protected]


Disclaimer: The Style POV Podcast content is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own. Gabrielle Arruda is not liable for any errors or omissions, and listeners use the information at their own risk.

What does personal style really mean, and why does it matter? In this episode, I sit down with writer and content creator Hannah Poston, known for her thoughtful, grounded approach to beauty and fashion. If you’ve watched her channel, you know she treats getting dressed as a daily practice rather than a performance, and that philosophy is at the heart of our conversation.
Together, we unpack what it means to develop a personal point of view in a world saturated with trends and aesthetics. From understanding how taste evolves over time to finding a balance between investment pieces and novelty, this episode explores both the philosophy and the practicality of style. We also dive into the “knowledge gap” that makes fashion feel inaccessible to many, how the internet shapes our perception of what’s stylish, and how to reconnect with the joy and intention of getting dressed.
Where to Find Hannah Poston
Website: hannahlouiseposton.com
YouTube: @HannahLouisePoston
Instagram: hannahlouiseposton
Hannah's trend video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ugQ1Pbp5ms
Timestamps
01:49 – Why personal style matters
04:00 – Is having style frivolous?
10:00 – Is style perfection the ultimate goal?
13:19 – Fast fashion and trends
23:00 – Knowledge gap about fashion
28:00 – The Internet as a tool for fashion
35:00 – Fantasy version of style versus the day-to-day
41:20 – Sources of style inspiration
49:50 – Rise and fall of certain aesthetics
Follow me❤️
blog → https://gabriellearruda.com/
podcast → https://www.stylepovpodcast.com
youtube → https://www.youtube.com/@Gabriellearrudadesign
facebook group→ https://www.facebook.com/groups/gabriellearruda
instagram→ https://www.instagram.com/gabriellearrudadesign/
tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriellearrudadesign?
pinterest → https://www.pinterest.com/gabriellearrudadesign/
email → [email protected]


Disclaimer: The Style POV Podcast content is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own. Gabrielle Arruda is not liable for any errors or omissions, and listeners use the information at their own risk.