In this episode, Anna Anisin decided to invite Chef Nicole Votano, a guest known from the first episode. โEpisode 1 is still the number-one downloaded episodeโabout 500 downloads so far!โ
Nicoleโs second visit was also an opportunity to talk again about fashion, style, and the role they play in a successful womanโs life.
Louis Vuitton Cafe
Anna and her guest started with their trip to the freshly opened Louis Vuitton Cafรฉ atop the brandโs Fifth Avenue flagship in New York.
โWe literally had the whole place to ourselves,โ they recall, elaborating on how sophisticated the level of service was there, as well as how it delivers the brandโs promise of luxury.
Between sips of their coffee, they wander the multi-floor emporium, with each level representing a decade in the brandโs history. These include:
- 1900s steamer trunks re-imagined as coffee tables
- A pool table upholstered in monogram canvas
- Oversized acetate sunglasses that instantly join Annaโs wish list
Swim Week: Miamiโs Summer Opener
Back in Miami, the calendar flips to Swim Week, the cityโs unofficial โseason starter.โ
โSwim Week kind of kicks off the season of summer here in Miami,โ 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: โ90s 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
Miamiโs 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.
โWeโre dressing business-like to lean into our power: Iโm going to wear the same thing as youโand look better doing it.โ
After a decade of #MeToo reckonings, women are reclaiming traditional โauthority silhouettesโโbroad shoulders, pressed trousersโwithout sacrificing sensuality.
The vibe is not just corporate; itโs 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.
โPrices are up about 20โ25 % even at Zara. It has to be the tariffs,โ 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 wonโt outlive the trend cycle.
Conclusion
Nicole proved to be not only an expert in fashion and luxury dining, but also an alluring storyteller.
