Closet Philosophy

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Latest Episodes:

Ep. 9: Style, status, and self-love: A Conversation with stylist, designer, and closet philosopher Wale Sanni Jun 09, 2025

In this episode of Closet Philosophy, we talk to stylist and luxury handbag designer Wale Sanni about what personal style really means—and it has little to do with what we wear. Wale shares how he went from sneakerhead to Saks stylist, why timeless style is about emotional connection, and how status, self-worth, and fashion are always intertwined.

We also dive deep into:

Why people say they don’t care about status but they usually do
Why quality isn’t just about fabric—it’s about how you care for your clothes
The deeper meaning of the Walmart Birkin
How self-love is the foundation of great style

Plus, Walle shares his take on what three things are actually worth investing in if you want a wardrobe that works andfeels meaningful.

Find Wale:

Stylist & co-founder of Nero Chicago
Follow him on Instagram & TikTok: @stylebywale

Fear less: Style, strength, and joy with Manny Martins Carmen Jun 02, 2025

This week, we sit down with the joyful and unapologetically bold influencer Manny Martins Carmen—a 61-year-old model, weightlifter, painter, and accidental content creator who encourages her followers to “age like a rebel.” What started as a creative outlet during COVID has become a movement of radical self-expression, vibrant style, and fearless aging.

We talk about dressing up for joy (even if you're just going to the optometrist), the healing power of movement, and how style can shift your mood and the energy of a whole room. Manny also opens up about recovering from a cancer diagnosis, competing in powerlifting, and applying for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue at 60+. Her message? Your joy is contagious—and it's never too late to be fully, loudly, you.

Topics We Cover:

Why dressing up when you don’t feel like it is a powerful move
How creative disciplines (like graphic design and abstract art) can shape personal style
Using fashion as a form of emotional regulation
What powerlifting taught Manny after cancer and injury
Midlife confidence, visibility, and pushing back against patriarchal beauty standards
The design principles behind good outfits—and good paintings
The real reason she applied to the Sports Illustrated model search
Why wearing a bigger size might be the most liberating thing you do all year

Follow Manny:

Instagram: @mannyfashionstylist
Art account: @mannymartinscarmen
TikTok & YouTube: @mannymartinscarmen

💌 Subscribe to our Substack for deeper dives, style essays, and behind-the-scenes content!

#ClosetPhilosophy #AgeLikeARebel #MannyMartinsCarmen #MidlifeStyle #PowerLiftingOver60 #StyleIsNotNeutral #AgingOutLoud #StyleAsJoy #NotYourDaughterStyle #WearTheSequins

Is personal style ever truly personal? A deep dive with author and Elle editor Véronique Hyland May 26, 2025

In this mind-opening conversation, Véronique Hyland—features director at Elle magazine and author of the acclaimed book Dress Code: Unlocking Fashion from the New Look to Millennial Pink—helps us unpack the hidden forces shaping how we dress. From the myth of the “female gaze” to the politics of effortlessness, this episode asks big questions about power, gender, class, and whether we can ever truly dress just for ourselves.

We explore fashion as communication, resistance, and identity—and why “I don’t care what I wear” is almost always a lie. Plus, we get personal about aging, influence, cringe, and what it means to keep evolving your style in a culture that worships youth.

If you've ever stood in front of your closet wondering who you're getting dressed for—this one’s for you.

Topics We Cover:

How she coined the term “Millennial pink”
The commercialization of the female gaze
Why effortlessness is its own kind of performance
How personal style can be armor—and storytelling
The privilege of “not caring” about fashion
Why influencers burn out—and what’s changing in that world
What fashion can learn from sports
The difference between authentic style and aesthetic conformity
Her journey from Juicy Couture to ELLE editor—and everything in between

Follow Véronique:

Instagram: @veroniquehyland
Column: Style Points on ELLE.com
Book: Dress Code (available now)

💌 Subscribe to our Substack for deeper dives, style essays, and behind-the-scenes content.

#ClosetPhilosophy #DressCodeBook #VeroniqueHyland #PersonalStyle #FashionPolitics #FemaleGaze #EffortlessStyle #MidlifeFashion #NotInvisible #AgingOutLoud #StyleAsResistance

Ep. 6: Authenticity as armor: Style, confidence, and career with marketing maven Erin Wallace May 19, 2025

In this deeply honest and empowering episode, we talk to Erin Wallace, head of marketing at ModeSens, and formerly of ThredUp and Crossroads Trading. She’s a fashion marketing powerhouse, creative leader, and style icon in her own right. Erin shares how her personal style became her superpower in the workplace, why she didn’t truly find “her look” until her late 30s, and how fashion helped her step into leadership after a major life transition.

We also get real about what happens when your body changes in midlife, why some outfits feel like home and others feel like costumes, and what it means to truly feel like yourself in your clothes.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you can be taken seriously while dressing boldly—or felt like your closet was full of pieces for someone you used to be—this one’s for you.

We talk about:

How style can be a “positive weapon” in your career
The link between confidence, clothing, and authenticity
What to do when your go-to jeans stop fitting during peri- and post- menopause
The internal feeling of knowing when an outfit is “you”
Erin’s advice for anyone second-guessing their bold style in a boardroom
Her go-to styling tricks (hint: it starts with rolling up your sleeves)
Why you should find your own pink plaid suit

💌 Subscribe to our Substack for deeper dives, style essays, and behind-the-scenes content.

#ClosetPhilosophy #AuthenticStyle #MidlifeStyle #FashionAndLeadership #MenopauseStyle #SustainableStyle #AgingOutLoud

Ep. 5: Shira Gill on minimalist style, body changes, and the power of now May 12, 2025

Bestselling author and organizing expert Shira Gill joins us this week. Her work goes far beyond decluttering—Shira believes that organizing is not about perfection, it's about creating space for what actually matters.

We talk about:

Why most people don’t have an organizing problem—they have a volume problem
What to do with clothes that no longer fit but are hard to let go of
How to make getting dressed easy and empowering
The emotional cost of hanging on to “someday” clothes
Why dressing with intention is a form of self-trust and self-respect
The myth of “effortless” style—and how to find your own version of it

Plus, Shira shares her go-to closet edit tip, how she broke up with uncomfortable jeans, and why your clothes might be saying more than you think.

🎧 Tune in and learn how editing your closet can help you edit your life!

Ep 4: Making good with Sophia Hall — Thrifting, style, and taking up space Apr 12, 2025

In this episode of Closet Philosophy, we meet Sophia Hall, the vibrant force behind @makegood on Instagram. Sophia is a secondhand style expert who turned childhood thrift store adventures into a thriving online business serving women of all sizes—especially those who often feel ignored by the fashion industry.

We talk about:

Growing up as the youngest of eight and learning to dress for survival, identity, and joy
Why the fashion industry still isn’t cutting it for plus-size folks—and how secondhand can offer freedom and power
Sophia’s honest, empathetic approach to styling clients, from measurements to mindset shifts
The magic of her Instagram Live sales, where community, confidence, and clothes come together
How women of all ages and sizes can reclaim comfort, color, and self-expression—even in a world that tells us to shrink

Plus: unexpected styling hacks, Billie Eilish shoutouts, the secret weapon of the men’s section, and why one of her customers once watched a live sale from the front row of a Botticelli concert (yes, really).

✨ Subscribe now so you don’t miss next week’s episode—because we’re just getting started unpacking what style can really do.

💚 Find Sophia on Instagram: @makegood

💚 Follow us on Substack: Closet Philosophy

💚 Join the conversation on Instagram: @closet.philosophy

Ep 3: Healing, beauty, and taking up space — Jenn Harper of Cheekbone Beauty on building a brand with a soul Apr 12, 2025

What if lipstick could change more than your look—what if it could change the narrative?

This week on Closet Philosophy, we’re joined by powerhouse founder Jenn Harper, the visionary behind Cheekbone Beauty—one of the first Indigenous-owned beauty brands in North America. Jenn shares how a dream in early sobriety led to a mission-driven brand that’s redefining what beauty means, who it’s for, and what it’s made of.

We dive into:

The dream that started it all: three laughing Native girls with lip gloss and a spark of possibility
How generational trauma—and healing—shaped Jenn’s identity, sobriety, and purpose
The power of representation for Indigenous people in the beauty industry
Why not knowing your full history doesn’t mean you don’t belong
Sustainability beyond buzzwords—what it really means to build a brand with the next seven generations in mind
Veganism, cultural nuance, and honoring traditional lifeways
The story behind Cheekbone’s stunning lipstick names (spoiler: every shade is a language lesson)
And a sneak peek at a powerful red lipstick collab you’ll definitely want on your lips—and in your life

Jenn also shares how her Indigenous values shape every decision—from the supply chain to the pigments—and why sustainability, transparency, and community care are non-negotiables.

If you’ve ever wondered how to live your values out loud, or how to turn personal pain into world-shifting power, this episode is your roadmap.

✨ Subscribe now so you don’t miss upcoming episodes—and keep an eye out for that red lipstick drop.

💚 Find Cheekbone Beauty on Instagram: @cheekbonebeauty

💚 Follow us on Substack: Closet Philosophy

💚 Join the conversation on Instagram: @closet.philosophy

Ep 2: Dressing like you mean it — Heidi Clements (AKA @WelcomeToHeidi) on authenticity, aging, and not giving a damn Apr 12, 2025

What if the coolest girl in the room was 64 and completely unbothered?

This week on Closet Philosophy, we’re talking with the one and only Heidi Clements—a writer, content creator, and style icon with 1.8 million followers who has become a voice of radical authenticity for women of every age.

Heidi shares how she went from TV writer to unexpected TikTok star in her 60s, why getting dressed is both a political act and a personal therapy session, and how to finally stop dressing for the male gaze—or anyone else’s expectations.

We get into:

Heidi’s surprising path to online influence (spoiler: it starts with pizza 🍕)
Dressing without shame, rules, or apology
The myth of the “cool girl” and why being unbothered is the new sexy
Why your neck, your stomach rolls, and your closet are not problems to fix
Finding your power in midlife—and giving yourself permission to be loud, visible, and real
The magic of saying “f*ck off” (lovingly)

This is a conversation about more than personal style—it’s about personal freedom. Whether you’re navigating midlife, recovering from people-pleasing, or just want to feel a little braver in your own skin, this episode is for you.

📌 Plus: Heidi’s best accidental outfit formulas, why she films in her bathroom, and what happens when you accidentally flash your... well, just listen.

✨ Subscribe now so you don’t miss next week’s episode—because we’re just getting started unpacking what style can really do.

💚 Find Heidi on Instagram: @welcometoheidi

💚 Find Heidi on TikTok: @welcometoheidi

💚 Follow us on Substack: Closet Philosophy

💚 Join the conversation on Instagram: @closet.philosophy

Ep 1: Dressing for power, not permission — Why your closet is a political statement Apr 12, 2025

Welcome to Closet Philosophy, the podcast that believes what you wear is never just about clothes.

In our preview episode, personal stylist Jennine and fashion writer Kristen share how this podcast was born—from a serendipitous interview to an ongoing conversation about the power of personal style. Together, they unpack why midlife is a moment of transformation, not disappearance—and how clothing can be a tool for confidence, self-expression, and resistance.

We dive into: