Through The Back Door

i am SO OVER second hand designer.

In this solo episode Claire gets honest about something a lot of people in fashion are thinking; secondhand designer isn’t always the better choice anymore. From overpriced resale finds to pieces that fall apart after a few wears, Claire breaks down how secondhand has shifted from a “fashion hack” into a gamble. When you’re spending real money, is it still worth the risk? Or does it make more sense to save up and buy something new that actually works for your life? She shares her own experience of ending up with a closet full of designer pieces she doesn’t even wear—and the turning point that led her back to buying basics that actually function. She also dives into what it really takes to break into fashion today, sharing practical, advice inspired by helping her sister job hunt. At its core, this episode is about intention; how we shop, how we participate in fashion, and how to build a wardrobe (and life) that actually makes sense. The real question: Are you buying something because it works for your life… or just because of the label? Topics Covered * The rise (and fall?) of secondhand designer * Why resale shopping feels like a gamble now * Price inflation on platforms like eBay & curated vintage * Quality vs label: what are we actually paying for? * Buying new vs secondhand: what’s more intentional? * Building a functional wardrobe vs aesthetic closet * NYC fashion events + entering the fashion scene * Losing a makeup bag → Sephora reset (life moment) * The pressure to “look the part” in fashion * How to break into fashion (real strategies that work) * Networking, self-advocacy, and standing out * Finding balance between ambition and actually enjoying your life Host Claire Vastola Instagram: [@girlintofashion](https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion) Instagram: [@workinginfashion](https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion) Substack: [Working in Fashion](https://workinginfashion.substack.com)

25.Inside Runway Styling: Mo Johnson on Andrew Curwen and Fashion Week Backstage

In this episode of Through the Back Door, I sit down with stylist Mo Johnson, a creative force working behind the scenes on runway collections and brand projects. Mo shares what it actually takes to bring a runway show together. From early fittings and concept development to the fast paced energy backstage before a show begins, we talk about the creative and logistical work that goes into building a runway moment. We also discuss Mo’s creative influences, her mentorship with designer Jane Wade, and her work styling for Andrew Curwen. Along the way we explore how personal style evolves through experimentation, the influence of punk and vintage fashion, and how creatives learn to trust their intuition while navigating an industry that constantly demands reinvention. This conversation is a reminder that fashion is not just clothing. It is storytelling, collaboration, and the many unseen decisions that shape what we eventually see on the runway. Topics: runway styling, fashion week backstage, Andrew Curwen runway, fashion stylist interview, runway show preparation, fashion week production, emerging designers, fashion creative process. Mo Johnson NY / LA stylist and creative director Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lilbbmomo/ [https://www.instagram.com/lilbbmomo/] Mentions: Andrew Curwen Official Website https://www.andrewcurwen.com/ [https://www.andrewcurwen.com/] Jane Wade Designer https://janewade.com/ American Duchess Shoes https://www.americanduchess.com/ [https://www.americanduchess.com/] Sophia Morin Corsetry and accessories collaborator https://www.instagram.com/sofiajmorin/ [https://www.instagram.com/sofiajmorin/] F10 Casting Model casting services https://www.f10casting.com/ Watch the full episode on YouTube Listen on Spotify and all major platforms Host Claire Vastola Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion [https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion [https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion] Substack: https://workinginfashion.substack.com [https://workinginfashion.substack.com/]

Things are changing around here

In this episode, I’m talking through a rebrand—both creatively and mentally. I share why I’m shifting some episodes away from video and back into audio, and how that change feels more aligned with where Girl Into Fashion is heading. I also reflect on this past New York Fashion Week and why it felt like a real up-level for me: attending shows I genuinely admired, being invited by PR teams for the first time, and experiencing fashion week from a place that felt earned rather than aspirational. This episode is less about recap and more about perspective—what changed, what clicked, and how mindset plays a bigger role than we like to admit. A check-in, a reset, and a quiet marker of growth.

23.Details: Andrew Curwen’s Nocturnal Conditions AW26 Collection Part 1

In the Details: Andrew Curwen’s AW26 Collection In this episode, we get an up-close look at Andrew Curwen’s collection beyond the runway and into the details that often go unnoticed. We talk construction, garment engineering, and the small decisions that quietly define great design: from salt-spray finishes and bodice shaping to lining construction, corset boning, and how to make something look beautifully worn without losing integrity. What stood out most was Andrew’s depth of thought and attention to detail. Every piece felt intentional — not just in how it looked, but in how it was built, how it moves, and how it lives on the body. This conversation was a reminder that real craft lives in the details, and that wearability and artistry don’t have to be at odds. I genuinely loved being at this show and experiencing the collection in person. I’m incredibly grateful to have had a small window into Andrew Curwen’s world and process — it’s the kind of work and level of care that I truly aspire to. 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube Andrew Curwen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewcurwen [https://www.instagram.com/andrewcurwen] Website: https://www.andrewcurwen.com [https://www.andrewcurwen.com] Claire Vastola Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion [https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion [https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion] Substack: https://workinginfashion.substack.com [https://workinginfashion.substack.com] Watch & ListenFollow the DesignerFollow the HostFashion Networking & Resources

22.Advice From a Single Mom of Two Living in Manhattan

This episode is a little unhinged in the best way. Claire sits down with Laura Stemmer (single mom of two, Manhattan-based, nightlife/bar owner energy, fashion background, zero fear) for a conversation that starts with chihuahuas being… chihuahuas… and ends with actual life advice that hits way harder than it should. We get into: * how Laura went from Parsons fashion design → nightlife survival mode → running the room * why everyone should work service at least once (or you’re not real) * the power dynamics of bartending, the $100 tip effect, and why “no” is weirdly profitable * list-only, no-photos NYC nightlife lore + protecting celebrity regulars * becoming a mom, still dressing like a menace, and your kids still rating you as “the coolest” * mindset shifts: there are no rules, failing is learning, consistency = trust, and “hot” is a state of mind * fashion talk: 90s mistress, vintage archives, lingerie-as-going-out, fur discourse, and why basics can still be cunty if your aura is right It’s the kind of episode that makes you want to go do something reckless (in a productive way), text your bartender friend, and buy a turtleneck + Louboutin boot combo immediately. Laura Stemmer Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/laurastemmer/?hl=en⁠ Listen to Through the Back Door on Spotify and all major platforms Watch the full episode on YouTube Follow the host, Claire Vastola Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion⁠ Fashion networking & resources Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion⁠ Substack: ⁠https://workinginfashion.substack.com⁠ [https://workinginfashion.substack.com%E2%81%A0] Subscribe, rate, and share if you loved the episode — more fashion deep dives coming soon. GUESTLISTEN + WATCHFOLLOW + RESOURCES