Nicole Votano comes back!

In this episode, Anna Anisin decided to invite Chef Nicole Votano, a guest known from the first episode. “Episode 1 is still the number-one downloaded episode—about 500 downloads so far!”

Nicole’s second visit was also an opportunity to talk again about fashion, style, and the role they play in a successful woman’s life.

Louis Vuitton Cafe

Anna and her guest started with their trip to the freshly opened Louis Vuitton Café atop the brand’s Fifth Avenue flagship in New York.

“We literally had the whole place to ourselves,” they recall, elaborating on how sophisticated the level of service was there, as well as how it delivers the brand’s promise of luxury.

Between sips of their coffee, they wander the multi-floor emporium, with each level representing a decade in the brand’s history. These include:

• 1900s steamer trunks re-imagined as coffee tables
• A pool table upholstered in monogram canvas
• Oversized acetate sunglasses that instantly join Anna’s wish list

Swim Week: Miami’s Summer Opener

Back in Miami, the calendar flips to Swim Week, the city’s unofficial “season starter.”

“Swim Week kind of kicks off the season of summer here in Miami,” they said in the podcast. Anna, together with Nicole, shared their remarks on trends in beach fashion visible this year in Miami.

• High-shine futurism: liquid metallic one-pieces, holographic sarongs, chrome visor shades
• Wild nostalgia: ’90s animal prints and macro-fringe that swishes like seagrass
• Mesh 2.0: laser-cut fabrics engineered for tan-through wear, blurring beachwear and skincare science

Miami’s fashion week is also an economic barometer: hotel bookings spike, beach clubs launch new menus, and emerging Latin-American designers secure global press.

Power Dressing & Body Politics

The podcast also featured a talk about how fashion becomes modern armor.

“We’re dressing business-like to lean into our power: I’m going to wear the same thing as you—and look better doing it.”

After a decade of #MeToo reckonings, women are reclaiming traditional “authority silhouettes”—broad shoulders, pressed trousers—without sacrificing sensuality.

The vibe is not just corporate; it’s boardroom-to-bar, leveraging color (bubble-gum-pink pantsuits), statement ties, and sculpted shoulders to broadcast confidence.

Fast Fashion Meets Tariffs

Anna and Nicole also talked about how tariffs are impacting the fashion market and industry.

“Prices are up about 20–25 % even at Zara. It has to be the tariffs,” they say.

Post-2024 trade policies have nudged fast-fashion giants to relocate production to Spain, Portugal, and South America. Shipping fuel surcharges and European labor costs explain the sticker shock.

Anna notes thicker linings, recycled-cotton tags, and sturdier hardware, and points out that higher margins can finance sustainability upgrades.

Nicole shared her rule of thumb: one needs to invest in timeless tailoring at luxury houses, but grab zeitgeist pieces at high-street brands that won’t outlive the trend cycle.

Conclusion

Nicole proved to be not only an expert in fashion and luxury dining, but also an alluring storyteller.