In the final episode of the "Wear Who You Are" podcast for 2025, host Fiona Dieffenbacher, an Associate Professor of Fashion at Parsons School of Design, discusses her research that intersects dress, embodiment, and spirituality. Fiona, a former fashion designer and published author, shares insights from her key projects, including "Dress and Emotion" and "The Outlier Initiative," which explore the emotional significance of clothing and inclusivity in the fashion industry. She emphasizes how clothing choices are influenced by personal identity and cultural environments, illustrating that fashion is a profound expression of the self.

In this episode of Wear Who You Are, host Natalie Tincher talks to Becky Blank, a CEO and tech leader at Ample, a Cincinnati-based digital marketing agency. Known for her commitment to inclusivity in the tech industry, Becky shares her personal and professional experiences that have shaped her advocacy for women and people of color. Her story isn't without challenges; Becky opens up about difficult times marked by pain and alienation, which ignited her passion for fostering a more equitable environment in her industry.

Get ready to jingle all the way with Nat on this episode of the "Wear Who You Are" podcast! Nat dives into the holiday shopping season, equipping listeners with practical strategies to navigate the crowded market with style and confidence. She highlights vital sales dates, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday, while cautioning against the traps of inflated pricing often seen during these events. Of course, Natalie emphasizes the importance of creating a Strategic Shopping List to avoid impulse buys, suggesting tools like browser extensions to track item prices historically. This episode also shows a Strategic Shopping List in action, demonstrating how a stylist identifies specific items they're looking for during the holiday shopping sales. In the final notes of this solo episode, Natalie also delves a bit into the BU Style values and ethical implications of holiday consumerism, advocating for mindful purchasing that takes environmental and social factors into account. We encourage listeners to support small businesses and engage in community-building initiatives like Small Business Saturday and Giving Tuesday, and ask you to join us in being thoughtful consumers this holiday season.

In this solo episode of "Wear Who You Are," host Natalie Tincher takes listeners on a Nat Chat that blends community interaction with expert advice, all centered around the art of finding and celebrating wardrobe "hero pieces." Inspired by questions submitted via Instagram (proving that many fashion dilemmas are COMPLETELY universal), Natalie invites everyone to join her in crafting a closet that makes them feel fabulous and confident. As always, you'll learn how to apply the BU Style methodology to help distinguish between long-lasting fashion trends and those pesky microtrends that seem to pop up overnight only to fade just as quickly (remember Mob Wife?!), likening them to moments from pop culture that came and went without leaving a lasting impression. You'll learn how hero pieces are the ones that make you feel like the best version of yourself—those pieces that transform your mood and feel like a superpower. Natalie shares concrete anecdotes and examples, and even weaves in testimonials from real clients who have applied this methodology in their own lives. If you're interested in learning more about the BU Style methodology, consider a Q the Stylist one-on-one session with Natalie, or submit your questions via Instagram to be answered via the podcast!

Welcome back to Where Who You Are, the podcast where everybody has a style, and every style has a seat. In today's guest episode, Natalie chats with Karya Schanilec, a street style photographer based in New York City who has just returned from Paris Fashion Week. Karya has a unique perspective on fashion through the lens of the camera; years of work in the field have given her the ability to discern between trend and true personal expression. As for herself? As she puts it, “I really just want to be comfortable...I don’t have time for uncomfortable clothing." Amen to that. Throughout the discussion, Karya shares her experiences capturing street style from around the globe and how each fashion week offers something slightly different, but that the universal tell for personal style is “wearing who you are.” Natalie and Karya bond over their shared belief in the difference between aspiration and inspiration, examining how to translate global trends into our own wardrobes as long as it serves you. Karya also passionately notes the significance of community in fashion, stating, “It’s fun to find like-minded people.” And with that, we think we've found a like-minded person for our BU Style community! From the belief in consuming less (Karya even makes some of her own clothes), down to naturally championing the basic tenets of BU Style, this episode felt like coming home.

Go back to basics with a BU Style foundational methodology episode! This dynamic podcast episode emphasizes the importance of connecting your authenticity to your fashion choices. In this solo Style School episode, Natalie guides listeners through a framework she refers to as the BU Style Six—Relaxed, Classic, Polished, Soft, Magnetic, and Creative. With characteristic passion and a love of puns and wordplay, Natalie underscores that authentic style transcends fleeting trends and social media pressures; it’s about understanding and expressing who you genuinely are through your wardrobe. Throughout the episode, Natalie weaves together expertise and personal anecdotes to highlight how you can combine different elements of the BU Style Six. Whether you’ve got a Relaxed disposition but want to step out with more Magnetic energy at a corporate event, or if you thrive in a Creative environment yet crave Classic sophistication—there’s always room for blending styles to create looks that resonate with your personality. Natalie encourages you to rummage through your closet, pinpoint the pieces that align with your style identities, and confidently develop your own unique blend. And underscoring all of this is the importance of self-acceptance and understanding, all to help listeners step away from the distractions of mainstream fashion and societal expectations. By embracing your individuality and the diverse elements of your style, you can wield your wardrobe as a powerful tool for self-expression. This is a really foundational episode of Wear Who You Are, and there's so much to learn here in this Style School methodology episode. True style is a reflection not of what you wear, but who you are.