Let's Get Dressed

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy is everywhere again but the conversation around her style often misses what actually made it so compelling in the first place.I sit down with writer and repeat guest Larissa Mills to talk about the frenzy surrounding CBK right now, from the new Love Story series on FX and Hulu to the endless stream of content promising you can dress like her if you just buy the right boots, coat, or sunglasses. Together, we unpack what people are getting wrong about Carolyn’s style, and why it was never really just about the clothes.In this conversation, we get into:The Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy style revival happening right nowWhat people are getting wrong when they try to copy CBK’s lookWhat it was actually like to live in New York during the Carolyn eraWhether Carolyn was seen as a style icon in real time — or became one laterWhy her style felt powerful because of her aura, confidence, and restraintHow social media and overconsumption have changed the way we approach personal styleThe difference between being inspired by someone’s wardrobe and replicating itWhy repetition, discernment, and editing are the real keys to great personal styleHow to take inspiration from Carolyn’s wardrobe without losing your own point of viewThe brands, silhouettes, and styling tools we’d use to channel the spirit of CBK in a more personal wayTimestamps 05:00  CBK resurgence, Love Story and the social media frenzy07:00  Why “dressing like Carolyn” misses the point of her style09:00  Larissa Mills on personal style and impenetrable taste10:00  What women were actually wearing in NYC during the CBK era12:00  90s minimalism, Calvin Klein, and the “uniform” of the time14:00  Was Carolyn a style icon in real time—or did that come later?17:00  The role of aura, presence, and her relationship with JFK Jr.20:00  Why CBK’s style felt powerful beyond just the clothes23:00  The difference between copying vs. embodying personal style26:00  Overconsumption, the internet, and losing individuality in fashion29:00  How to build personal style through repetition and restraint32:00  Tailoring, fit, and the reality of making clothes work for you34:00  Heels vs. flats and the practicality of everyday dressing36:00  Breaking fashion “rules” and wearing what you actually love38:00  Editing your wardrobe and developing discernment40:00  Signature pieces, silhouettes, and building a personal uniform42:00  Why you’ll never be CBK and why that’s the point43:00  Introducing “Let’s Get You Dressed” (listener styling segment)Follow Larissa on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/larissamills/

Before she was even 30 years old, Willa Bennett took over not one, but two of the most iconic magazines in media: Cosmopolitan and Seventeen.In this episode, I sit down with Willa to talk about what it actually takes to run a legacy magazine in 2026 — in a culture driven by viral discourse, instant backlash, and internet-speed opinions.In this conversation, we get into:What it felt like to take over Cosmopolitan at 29What an Editor-in-Chief actually does day-to-dayHow she decides who and what gets visibilityWhy story matters more than star powerThe Sydney Sweeney cover and how she thinks about controversyWhether editorial “rage bait” is realHow viral culture and engagement metrics shape modern mediaWhat Gen Z readers are actually curious aboutAnd why “taste” might be the most important skill in journalism right nowTimestamps01:30 Growing up with magazines & coming full circle04:30 Getting the Cosmopolitan job — the emotional moment07:30 Running a legacy brand in a digital-first industry10:30 What an Editor-in-Chief actually does in 202615:30 Instinct vs analytics — how editorial decisions are made20:00 AI, dating culture & what young readers want23:30 Story over star power & viral visibility27:30 The Sydney Sweeney cover & navigating backlash32:00 Is editorial rage bait real?35:00 Celebrity culture, controversy & documenting the moment37:30 Are we still in the Gen Z era?40:00 The future of media & why taste mattersFollow Willa on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/willahbennett/?hl=enThanks to Banana Republic for my favorite pieces from the spring collection. Shop their new arrivals at www.bananarepublic.com #BananaRepublicPartner

At 22-years-old, Madison Dowd bought Ludivine, a long-standing Upper East Side boutique, through BizBuySell.com. Instead of starting a brand from scratch, she stepped into an existing business with loyal customers, real inventory, a balance sheet, and an unwavering belief in the future of retail.This conversation gets into what it actually looks like to run a multi-brand fashion boutique today — from buying decisions and trade shows to navigating instinct versus data. We also talk about learning a customer and buying patterns, what makes the Upper East Side the most valuable retail landscape, and the brands flying off her shelves. Timestamps:01:30 — Buying Ludivine at 22: Why she chose to purchase instead of start from scratch05:45 — Finding the business on BizBuySell and stepping into an existing P&L10:00 — Learning before changing: understanding a legacy customer base14:40 — The Upper East Side shopper: loyalty, psychology, and neighborhood dynamics19:15 — Buying strategy: trade shows, inventory bets, and seasonal planning23:50 — Instinct vs. data: when to trust your gut 28:00 — Social media’s role in a brick-and-mortar business30:45 — What actually makes a multi-brand boutique sustainable todayShop Ludivine https://boutiqueludivine.com/Follow Madison on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/madisondowd/Follow Madison on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@shopgirlmadison

This week on Let’s Get Dressed, I’m sitting down with Joseph Altuzarra just days after his latest New York Fashion Week show. We talk about what 20 years in fashion really looks like when you’re running an independent brand, why people keep saying “NYFW is dead,” and what it actually costs to put on a show today.Joseph shares how he thinks about staying relevant without chasing hype, the reality of pay-to-play celebrity culture, and why he’s calling this his “year of yes.” We also get personal — from fame and comparison to what it feels like to be 42 and still building. Plus: Heated Rivalry, Wuthering Heights, whether fashion is psychic, and his best advice for anyone who wants to work in the industry.Follow Joseph on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/josephaltuzarra/Follow Altuzarra on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/altuzarra/Shop Altuzarra here https://altuzarra.comThanks to Banana Republic for my favorite pieces from the spring collection. Shop their new arrivals at www.bananarepublic.com #BananaRepublicPartner

Hi from NYC! This week, we’re debriefing NYFW — everything that happened on and off the runways that stopped us in our tracks.From Ralph Lauren’s romantic revival to the iconic wardrobe on the Wuthering Heights press tour, we unpack why fashion feels like it’s entering a new era of dressing for joy. We also dive into the power shift at Vogue, British Vogue's moving March cover, and what it signals about the future of media.Joining me is my friend Lydia Berry, co-founder of the social media agency Darlington, and our resident Gen Z eyes and ears on what’s actually driving conversation online right now. Follow Lydia on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lydberry/Thanks to Banana Republic for my favorite pieces from the spring collection. Shop their new arrivals at www.bananarepublic.com #BananaRepublicPartner

If there’s any sports bet we’re taking right now, it’s that the football field is becoming fashion’s favorite runway. On this episode of Let’s Get Dressed, I’m joined by Daniel-Yaw Miller, sports and fashion journalist, and author of the SportsVerse Substack, for a post-Super Bowl debrief on how fashion showed up all weekend long. From Bad Bunny’s halftime performance in custom Zara and Adidas, to designer activations, athlete styling, and brands finding ways in without buying a single commercial, we talk through why sports have suddenly become such a valuable cultural space for fashion.We also get into why sports feel like a kind of reset for brands — a place to reach massive audiences, soften narratives, and feel culturally relevant without over-explaining themselves. What worked, what didn’t, and why so many fashion brands seem more interested in game day than runway season.  Follow Daniel-Yaw on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/danielyaw_/Subscribe to SportsVerse https://sportsverse.substack.com

Ever wonder how celebrities are always wearing the newest, coolest brands — sometimes before you’ve even heard of them?In this episode of Let’s Get Dressed, I sit down with fashion PR and showroom powerhouse Shayna Honeyman, the founder of The Honeyman Agency, whose work has helped place brands on everyone from Hailey Bieber to Taylor Swift and Jane Fonda. Shayna represents some of the buzziest names in fashion right now — including Nour Hammour, Toteme, JUDE, Magda Butrym, Christopher Esber, and more — and has been at the center of how fashion visibility actually works today.We chat about how fashion’s gatekeepers have changed, why traditional institutions like Barneys and Fred Segal faded, and how modern showrooms became the new filters of taste, access, and celebrity placement. She also shares the brand she has her eyes on, why she says no to some brands, and why authenticity always wins. Get 20% an annual membership of our newsletter, Let's Get Dressed, here https://letsgetdressed.substack.com/lgdLove the show? Follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To watch this episode, head to YouTube.com/@LivvPerezFor more behind-the-scenes, follow Liv on Instagram, @LivvPerez, on TikTok @Livv.Perez, and shop her closet here https://shopmy.us/livvperez

In this episode of Let’s Get Dressed, I’m joined by stylist Karla Welch, one of Hollywood’s most beloved celebrity stylists, whose clients have included Justin Bieber, Olivia Wilde, Sarah Paulson, and Tracee Ellis Ross.We talk through what really goes into an award season press tour, from Cannes to the Oscars, how red carpet moments come together, and how Karla approaches custom looks, designer relationships, and individuality over trends. We also touch on the realities of award season, career-defining fashion moments, and the work Karla is doing beyond fashion with the Period Company.Follow Karla on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/karlawelchstylistLearn more about the Period Company here https://period.coGet 20% an annual membership of our newsletter, Let's Get Dressed, here https://letsgetdressed.substack.com/lgdLove the show? Follow us and leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To watch this episode, head to YouTube.com/@LivvPerezFor more behind-the-scenes, follow Liv on Instagram, @LivvPerez, on TikTok @Livv.Perez, and shop her closet here https://shopmy.us/livvperez