Style Files: The Eccentric Old Lady in an English Manor

Style Files: The Eccentric Old Lady in an English Manor

Another episode of Style Files, where I talk with real listeners about their real style journeys. This time I’m talking with Valerie about how fit changed everything for her, how she built a personal style persona she calls “an eccentric old lady in an English manor,” and why personal style is often more about storytelling than rules. We also get into tailoring, thrifting, style systems, and finding what actually feels like you. Full Show Notes: https://gabriellearruda.com/style-files-the-eccentric-old-lady-in-an-english-manor Countess Image: https://www.artnet.com/artists/bruce-weber/the-duchess-of-devonshire-feeding-her-chickens-at-zvjzSVgfWXvUq7CFDKD4ig2 Follow me❤️ 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/ amazon* → https://www.amazon.com/shop/gabriellearrudadesign blog → https://gabriellearruda.com/ podcast → https://www.stylepovpodcast.com email →  gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com Follow me❤️ blog → https://gabriellearruda.com/ podcast → https://www.stylepovpodcast.com [https://www.stylepovpodcast.com] youtube → https://www.youtube.com/@Gabriellearrudadesign [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 →  gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com [gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com] 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.

Style Files: Lillian, The Artist vs. The Accountant

In this episode of Style POV’s Style Files series, I sit down with Lillian to talk about her journey from postpartum style confusion to a sense of grounded clarity. Previously, she was deep in online advice, surface-level color analysis, and style systems that promised answers but often created more noise. We talk about growing up, the impact of COVID, her first virtual analysis, and what it felt like to move through multiple systems while searching for harmony, formulas, and something that actually felt right. Lillian shares how stepping back from social media, questioning rigid rules, and listening to her intuition changed everything. We dig into playful elegance as a personal style statement, building capsule wardrobes that truly work, and the moment when rules and intuition finally aligned. This conversation is honest, thoughtful, and deeply relatable for anyone who has felt torn between structure and creativity in their style. Learn more about style statements: https://gabriellearruda.com/personal-style-building-developing-a-style-statement/ Follow me❤️ blog → https://gabriellearruda.com/ podcast → https://www.stylepovpodcast.com [https://www.stylepovpodcast.com] youtube → https://www.youtube.com/@Gabriellearrudadesign [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 →  gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com [gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com] 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.

Fashion Is Not Frivolous: Identity, Power & Psychology with Dr. Valerie Steele

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 [https://www.fitnyc.edu/museum/about/director.php] Instragram: @valerie_steele_fashion [https://www.instagram.com/valerie_steele_fashion/] Dress, Dreams, & Desire: A History of Fashion and Psychoanalysis, find it here. [https://amzn.to/48aOkmi]  (highly recommend!!) FIT Exhibit: https: //www.fitnyc.edu/museum/exhibitions/dress-dreams-desire Dr. Valerie Steele Photo Credit: Smiljana Peros [https://www.instagram.com/smiljanagram/?hl=en] 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 Follow me❤️ blog → https://gabriellearruda.com/ podcast → https://www.stylepovpodcast.com [https://www.stylepovpodcast.com] youtube → https://www.youtube.com/@Gabriellearrudadesign [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 →  gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com [gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com] 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.

April Clemmer on Style Clarity and the Old Hollywood Star System

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 [https://aprilclemmer.com/] Instagram: @aprilshollywood [https://www.instagram.com/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 [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 [https://www.stylepovpodcast.com] youtube → https://www.youtube.com/@Gabriellearrudadesign [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 →  gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com [gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com] 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.

Style Is a Skill: Evolving with Intention with Mili Velikova

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 [https://stan.store/stylewithmili] YouTube Channel: @MiliVelikova [https://www.youtube.com/c/MiliVelikova] Instagram: @milivelikova [https://www.instagram.com/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 [https://www.stylepovpodcast.com] youtube → https://www.youtube.com/@Gabriellearrudadesign [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 →  gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com [gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com] 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.