I Want Her Shoes Podcast

40s Glamour, The Chef Nicole Way

There’s something about 1940s elegance that just speaks to my soul—the velvet banquettes, the candlelight, the champagne coupes, and a sense of hospitality that made dinner feel like a true event. This is my modern take on that golden-age magic: polished, nostalgic, intentional, and designed for nights you’ll remember.

Crudités, But Make It Hollywood

My version of a glamorous cocktail-hour moment: crisp endive, watermelon radish, slender haricots verts, baby carrots, and chilled cucumbers arranged like a painter’s palette. Served with bright green goddess, caramelized shallot dip that tastes richer than it should, and a little heat for balance. Clean, chic, quietly dramatic.

Deviled Eggs That Belong on a Silver Tray

If any dish deserves a starlet comeback, it’s this one—made colorful and luxe:

• Classic Dijon with chives blended right into the filling
• Salmon roe with lemon zest & dill — that glamorous coral pop
• Beet-tinted filling with chive for the perfect vintage pink

These are the kind of bites people snatch off the platter before you even set it down.

Shrimp Cocktail, The Icon

Colossal shrimp, perfectly poached and icy cold, with bright horseradish-forward cocktail sauce.

It’s the dish that quietly whispers: “We’re not here to play.

Caesar Salad, Tableside Energy

Whole romaine leaves, anchovy-garlic emulsion, Parmigiano, egg yolk, lemon, cracked pepper, and brioche croutons — all tossed and dressed tableside with a little ceremony. Because hospitality should feel personal.

Beef Wellington

This dish always feels like sliding into a velvet booth with someone who gets you.

Center-cut filet, mushroom duxelles, prosciutto, golden puff pastry, and a glossy red wine jus.

It’s indulgent, soulful, and confidently glamorous.

Lobster Thermidor

Decadent, French, and impossible not to love. Lobster in Cognac, Dijon, and tarragon cream, finished with Parmesan gratinée and served in its shell. The kind of dish that makes people sit up straighter.

Bananas Foster

Butter, brown sugar, rum, and fire. A tableside moment that brings the entire room to attention.

The smell alone feels nostalgic.

Dark Chocolate Mousse

Silky, dark, balanced, and quietly confident. A spoonful of whipped cream and a bit of crunch make it perfection.

How to Style a 40s-Inspired Table

Elegant, Timeless, and Now — Without Spending a Fortune

Here’s the thing: glamour doesn’t require a massive budget. It requires intention.

This is exactly how I would set a supper-club-style table at home without going overboard:

Use Candles in Clusters

Tea lights, taper candles, mismatched holders — it does not matter. Low warm light is the quickest way to transform the mood.

Layer Neutrals With One Rich Accent

A cream or linen-white base with touches of black, gold, or deep ruby immediately feels 40s glam. Think napkins, a runner, or even a single bowl.

Mix Vintage Glassware With Modern Pieces

You don’t need a full set. One coupe, two cut-crystal glasses, a couple of everyday wine stems — together they create the perfect collected look.

Fresh Herbs Instead of Big Floral Arrangements

Rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley — $2 bunches that smell incredible and look chic in little glasses or bud vases. Bonus: they tie right into the food.

Elevate With Texture, Not Cost

A velvet ribbon around a napkin. A linen towel under a platter. A ceramic bowl instead of plastic.

Texture = luxury.

Serve Everything on Platters

Even simple dishes look elevated when they aren’t served in their cooking equipment. Big, small, mismatched — it all reads intentional.

The Final Touch: A Bowl of Citrus

Lemons or blood oranges in a low bowl add that old-Hollywood pop of color and cost almost nothing. It’s a trick I use constantly.

Glamour is not about perfection. It’s about atmosphere — and a table set with love, light, and good food is always elegant

Talking about fashion may be as great an idea as dancing about architecture — but apparently, that’s not the case. Fashion represents the full spectrum of human needs and social rituals: from expressing identity to making statements about the environment, from pure art and beauty to raw, Excel-oriented business.

The curated list of podcasts below guides listeners through a diverse and rich world of fashion From colors and patterns to stories carried by industry legends, to the hard business aspects and bold women who navigate the challenges of motherhood, career, and staying true to themselves.

1. Fashion Neurosis

Each week, fashion designer Bella Freud talks with a guest about the link between fashion and identity. The conversations start with questions about style and what clothing expresses, then move into topics such as love, identity, culture, anxiety, and politics.

Through her questions, Freud encourages guests from fashion, sport, art, music, and literature to open up about their lives. The podcast uses fashion as a way to explore personal experience, relationships, and society.

Link to podcast

2. Channel Connects 

Bringing together fashion, art, and culture, Chanel Connects is a podcast from the Paris fashion house. Now in its fifth season — recorded at Coco Chanel’s former villa La Pausa on the French Riviera — past guests have included Tilda Swinton, Pharrell Williams, and Es Devlin (Season One); Emerald Fennell, Honey Dijon, and Kehinde Wiley (Season Two); Penélope Cruz, Ruthie Rogers, and Sheila Heti (Season Three); and Vicky Krieps, Irma Boom, and Sadie Coles (Season Four).

The podcast features conversations across disciplines, focused on the questions and discussions that shape and define culture. The new season features guests such as Lupita Nyong’o and Francesca Hayward, exploring themes from the philosophy of home to the art of performance.

Link to podcast

3. Dior talks 

Dior Talks, hosted by Loïc Prigent, explores fashion, art, and culture through the lens of the iconic French house. Each episode features creative voices — from artists and curators to collaborators of Dior — discussing their inspirations, craft, and the evolving relationship between fashion and art.

Link to podcast

4. Dressed: history of fashion

With more than 570 episodes, Dressed: The History of Fashion examines the social and cultural history of clothing. Hosts April Calahan of the Fashion Institute of Technology and Cassidy Zachary, a fashion historian and costume designer, describe it as exploring “the who, what, when of why we wear.”

Recent topics include Spanish fashion in the age of Velázquez, the history of fastenings and zippers, and an in-depth look at Gucci. There’s enough here to fill many hours of listening.

Link to podcast

5. I Want Her Shoes 

I Want Her Shoes blends all the themes and motifs mentioned above. Host Anna Anisin invites extraordinary women to share their thoughts and reflections on the challenges of motherhood, career, and femininity in the modern world.

The podcast is designed for women balancing career and lifestyle. Each episode explores how to dress for work, unwind at home, and move confidently through daily life. Guests share practical advice on building a wardrobe that fits every part of a busy schedule, along with conversations about success and personal style.

Link to podcast

6. Louis Vuitton [EXTENDED]

Louis Vuitton [Extended], hosted by Loïc Prigent, explores fashion, sport, gastronomy, and other fields through new voices and perspectives, sharing stories that shape culture and ideas today. Branded by one of the most iconic fashion houses, the podcast is a must-have for every fashionista wanting to stay in touch with what’s new.

Link to podcast

7. Wardrobe Crisis

WARDROBE CRISIS is a podcast about sustainability, ethical fashion and social impact. Hosted by author and journalist Clare Press, the first Vogue sustainability editor, it features weekly interviews with people driving change in fashion, including industry figures, activists, artists, designers and scientists.

Link to podcast

8. The Run-through with Vogue 

Each episode of The Run-Through with Vogue features conversations with Vogue editors, creatives, and cover stars. On Thursdays, hosts Chloe Malle, Head of Editorial Content for Vogue U.S., and Chioma Nnadi, Head of British Vogue, discuss what’s happening inside Vogue and what editors are talking about. On Tuesdays, Nicole Phelps, Director of Vogue Runway, covers the latest fashion news — from which designer might lead a major house to the trends catching Vogue’s attention.

Link to podcast

9. This Old Thing

Bay Garnett, known as the “Queen of Thrift,” talks with guests about their most memorable outfits from childhood to today, uncovering the stories behind them while sharing secondhand style and thrifting tips. Guests include Paloma Faith, Rachel Weisz, Charlotte Tilbury, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Link to podcast

10. Business of Fashion

The Business of Fashion is a global resource for fashion creatives, executives, and entrepreneurs in more than 200 countries. It offers daily insights and analysis on the industry and is widely regarded as essential listening.

Link to podcast

Summary

The list above shows the many shades and dimensions that fashion carries — whether as a tool of power or a way to find one’s identity. Each podcast is enriched by inspiring and bold women who show how fashion can support their goals and give them strength when facing the challenges of day-to-day life, whether as business owners, mothers, or community leaders.

In this episode, host Anna Anisin speaks with Dr. Bita Sarah Haynes, a clinical psychologist and executive strategist. Her work connects psychology, leadership, and sustainable performance for founders and investors.

From upheaval to purpose

Dr. Haynes traces her path back to her childhood in Iran. “Overnight women’s rights were changed,” she recalls.

Her family left during the Islamic Revolution. “Our daughter will never have a chance,” her parents said, deciding to emigrate to the United States. “They sacrificed everything to come to the United States.”

She pursued education as an obligation to that decision: “I went straight from undergrad to graduate school to get my PhD… I was a professor by the time I was 33.” At Georgetown, she completed a fellowship focused on “reducing healthcare disparities in women.”

Across academia and later work with startup ecosystems, her focus stayed on resilience. “Some people become resilient to stress and others face depression and anxiety,” she explains. “I wanted to learn about positive psychology and people’s stories from a cultural lens.”

Founder patterns under pressure

Dr. Haynes observes consistent behavioral patterns. “As women we’re often socialized to nurture others… many wear multiple hats at home and at work.” The result can be exhaustion: “The pressure of not only being excellent but going above and beyond puts us at more risk for burnout.”

One of her key observations about leadership: “We all know we have to ask for help… and as a startup you have to do that to be nimble.”

Dr. Haynes uses practical metaphors to explain balance. “When you look at a car… accelerate and then brake—does it veer right or left? That’s alignment.”

She connects this to daily life: “We make over 40,000 decisions every day.” Without reflection, people drift off course. “The air bubbles remind us how to sustain performance… go back to your breath. Fight-or-flight means I can’t make good values-based decisions.”

She urges people to define their own principles. “If I asked you today your five values, most people hesitate… and ‘respect’ can look different across cultures.”

Citing Viktor Frankl, she adds: “Between stimulus and response there is that gap… time to take the breaths.”

Her metaphor for coping mechanisms: “Your coping styles,breath work, meditation, are your inner shock absorbers.”

Using clothing as a tool

“Clothes are a way to ground before big events or high-stakes conversations,” she says. She points out that color affects perception: “People notice red and yellow first… many signs use those colors to help us see faster.”

Professional presentation also communicates boundaries. Early in her career, a structured suit helped her set tone and expectations in academia.

The conversation moves to her wardrobe. “This dress I’m wearing is what I wore during the Bolt launch,” she says. Its butterfly pattern connects to her mother, who “we lost… to cancer on December 11, 2024.” The symbol represents “rebirth and redeveloping.”

Another dress from Capri recalls a family moment with her father. Clothing, for her, becomes a “souvenir” that brings past experience into present action.

Peak performance and decision alignment

“Peak performance is when our values and our behaviors are aligned,” Dr. Haynes explains. “You go into your flow zone when you’re saying yes to things that overlap values and actions.”

She describes five pillars of her Coachera methodology: “Leadership and personal evolution; financial and career goals; health and wellness; community and network.”

She emphasizes practical measures such as rest and consistency. “We’re the only animals that cut into our sleep to meet a deadline.”

The role of AI in coaching

“There are only about 200,000 PhD-level licensed clinical psychologists in the country,” she notes. Many turn to unregulated coaching or AI tools for help.

Her solution: “We built a marketplace for vetted experts with an LMS… you can ask questions asynchronously or set up a one-on-one.” AI, she says, can assist “between sessions… to keep you motivated or remind you to stay on course.”

Her team also organizes retreats where participants “build annual goals and reverse-engineer them.”

Community and contribution

Dr. Haynes links her work to social causes. “I was on the board of The Pad Project… looking at lack of feminine products around the world.” She points out that “one week out of a month, every month, is a huge lag in learning when girls miss school.”

Through events and partnerships, she uses her role to connect leadership and community service.

Closing remarks

The episode ends on a simple point: “The most powerful thing you can wear,” Dr. Haynes concludes, “is your alignment.”

In an episode of I Want Her Shoes, host Anna Anisin talks with entrepreneur and investor Divya Gugnani about building brands from personal experience, evaluating business opportunities, and how work and style intersect.

Gugnani describes a career that began in Springfield, Illinois, and developed through New York, Menlo Park, and Boston. After years in finance and venture work, she relocated to Miami during the pandemic.

“The moment I land in Miami… the stress of New York melts off my body pretty much instantly” she says. The move, she says, provided a practical environment for both work and family.

Solving Personal Problems as a Business Model

Her approach to entrepreneurship is consistent: identify problems that are personal and solve them directly. “I see problems that are very personal to my life, and I solve them in my unique way” she says. 

With Wander Beauty, the idea came from daily routines that demanded simplicity and portability.

“So many women were living their lives in motion and they needed fuss-free, foolproof, do-it-yourself skincare and makeup essentials that they could take wherever they wander” she says. Five Sense, her fragrance brand, grew from her own experience of wearing perfume from an early age and later facing health restrictions. “Fragrance became my DNA, my form of expression” she comments. 

Becoming an “Accidental Entrepreneur”

“I never thought I would be an entrepreneur” she says. Her first venture came from a collaborative project that turned into a business and was later sold. “When you taste a little bit of success, you just keep going” she adds. 

Selling a company, she explains, brings mixed feelings. “It’s incredibly bittersweet” she says. “You feel validation… relief… and a little bit of grief.”

She prefers the building phase but recognizes the operational challenges of scaling.

Style and Work as the Same Practice

Gagnani’s personal style aligns with how she builds brands: simple, practical, and repeatable.

“My style and image mirrors my actual life… There’s nothing fussy”. She identifies one “power piece” that she wears often – her Valentino shoes. For her, clothing and beauty products serve the same purpose — they must fit multiple roles in daily life.

Investing with a Framework

Gagnani outlines a straightforward method for evaluating businesses.

• Early stage – People, idea, opportunity
• Later stage – People, product or service, and distribution

She notes a recurring pattern among strong founders.

“Some of my best founders… are athletes… team players… leaders… and coachable” she shares. 

Before advising any founder, she applies what she calls the “New York to Tokyo test.”

“Do I want to sit on a plane from New York to Tokyo with this person?”

Blending Work and Family

Her work and personal life overlap, though she reserves focused time for each child.

“My life is entirely blended… I do try and compartmentalize time with my family.” She refers to family travel as “trips” rather than vacations, acknowledging that work continues wherever she is.

Gagnani’s message to new founders is direct.

“Nike said it best. Just do it” she says. She recommends breaking complex goals into smaller steps. “Break it down to a series of lots smaller problems and tasks and then just start solving them.”

She views adaptability as essential. “The only constant is change” she concludes.

Anna and guest Ella Muradyan reflect on how New York Fashion Week has faded from prominence.

“What happened to New York fashion week? I feel like it disappeared” says Ella. They note that activity and prestige have shifted toward Europe, particularly Paris, which they call “the main attraction for fashion.” 

American and European Designers

The hosts acknowledge major American names such as Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, and Coach. Both, however, prefer French and Italian design traditions. The conversation then moves to Chanel, where most of the discussion centers.

Chanel disappointment

Ella describes her reaction to Chanel’s new collection:

“I watched the show and I cried at the end of it” she said. “I think Matthew Blas… he was not the right choice for Chanel”

Her argument is that Chanel’s presentation no longer reflected the house’s long-declared values. “All Chanel says is we are classic. We create elegance.  None of that came out from Blazes show” she added.

Ella lists examples: manly suits, external collaborations on shirts, and accessories such as an earring “with a little chick on it,” which she felt “didn’t even look like Chanel.” She criticizes handbags that look “like my kid took it and twisted it”, framing them as collector pieces rather than usable designs.

Both agree that some customers might now be buying older Chanel pieces out of concern for where the brand is heading.

The Move Toward Vintage

The discussion turns to how consumer behavior is shifting. “Next year 80% of what people purchase is going to be like resold vintage” said Ella. Anna lists platforms such as Poshmark, The RealReal, and eBay

They interpret the resale trend as both economic and aesthetic. Buyers seeking stability and longevity in uncertain markets.

The Lipstick Effect

The hosts connect fashion shifts to wider economic conditions, referencing Louis Vuitton’s release of lipsticks. “If you think about Great Depression… What was one thing that women were able to afford? Lipstick” said Ella.  

They note that small luxury items often sell when major purchases slow, describing this as a recurring consumer pattern.

Other Houses at Paris Fashion Week

Anna favors Valentino’s block colors: “very simple, beautiful.” Both approve of Saint Laurent’s return to its classics and its show design.

They describe Balenciaga collection as resembling “really old” Balenciaga. Anna likes some items such as “crop tops” and skirts; Ella is less enthusiastic.

“Gucci looks like it’s back from the ’90s” said Ella. They describe leopard patterns, belts, fur, and reference a recent film-style campaign starring Demi Moore. The approach is viewed as effective marketing.

Vintage, Handmade, and Value

The hosts conclude that they will focus on vintage and handmade garments:

“We’re not going to buy any of it. We’re going to go vintage” said Ella. “Brands that are maybe less known and handmade… you can find a good seamstress… really create some cool stuff.”

For them, the return to individual tailoring and local production connects back to the podcast’s original question of dressing with intention.

The episode ends with the introduction of Fashion Crimes as a recurring segment:

“This is a new segment of fashion crimes… we’ll be here maybe every couple months!” they concluded

Rebecca Fishman Lipsey began her career with Teach For America, working in a public school. The experience brought her to Miami and shaped her focus on education and community development. Her path has not followed a single trajectory: teaching, policy, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy connect through purpose.

“I have loved all the jobs I’m in. I’ve never done them thinking about how it’s going to unlock the next thing… I want to look back and feel like I used my time” she comments.

Miami’s Ongoing Challenge: Local Responsibility

Miami’s diversity is extensive, but many residents still identify with other places. Lipsey views civic attachment as the core issue for the city.

“The biggest challenge… is getting people who live here to lock in and feel a sense of responsibility” she says. The foundation’s work focuses on converting that transience into shared accountability for local outcomes.

Lipsey describes The Miami Foundation as a mirror of the city’s variety and experimentation.

“We’re a really good collab… not trying to be some other community… Do not be afraid to play and to dare” she says. 

The organization’s approach is to surface existing strengths, support collaboration, and allow room for trial and change.

Give Miami Day: A Habit of Giving

Give Miami Day is a single-day appeal for donations across causes in the city. It has grown into a local practice of participation.

“Everywhere you look all you see is people being generous, getting involved, and giving back” she says. Last year, the event received 109,000 donations and raised $40 million in one day. This year’s event takes place on November 20.

Lessons from Radical Partners

Lipsey previously led Radical Partners, supporting over 150 ventures. Two lessons continue to shape her work:

• Collect feedback early and adapt before large investments.
• Accept trade-offs and direct attention where it matters most.

Integrating Life and Leadership

Motherhood informs how Lipsey evaluates community needs. She asks whether current conditions are those she would want her children to inherit. Personal balance also matters.

“You don’t give 100%. You give 95%. 5% you need for you. My music – that’s for me” she says. Music serves as her private activity for focus and recovery.

Expressing Leadership Through Style

When Lipsey arrived in Miami from New York, her clothing was mostly black and gray. A board chair advised her to consider how her presentation connected with the city. Over time, she integrated color and expression as part of leadership presence.

“As I find my own power, I allow my personality to come out of my wardrobe” she says. 

Her approach is structured simplicity—neutral clothes and distinctive shoes. The shoes, she says, are both functional and symbolic.

“I believe these are yours… I think I do need a POW rhinestone red shoe” she says. 

Equity and Local Decision-Making

Equity for Lipsey means directing resources toward people closest to the problem. Data and listening guide how the foundation invests.

“People don’t want a hero. They want to be the hero of their own story” she says. 

The goal is to support community actors rather than replace them.

Lipsey notes that women often face shifting perceptions tied to age—being seen as too young or too old. She emphasizes self-recognition rather than external approval.

“If that red carpet is not being rolled for you, you roll that carpet… You belong there and take your seat” she concludes.