Beyond the Stitch

How helpful are Catholic influencers when it comes to evangelization? Are we simply shouting into an echo chamber? And are Catholic brands just profiting off of the name of Jesus? At what point does sharing your faith become a marketing tool? And what about Catholic influencer copycats? Join us for a reflective episode on this platform we exist in. 

Oh boy. This is a good one. We have the answers to questions you always wanted to ask a Catholic model! We interviewed the wonderful Colette Lanzon on everything from wearing lingerie, to refusing jobs, having her photo in Times Square, being a plus size role model, and her Catholic identity! Colette is also an author and disabilities advocate. It was truly so inspiring to hear how Colette's deep faith informs her all of decisions and pushes her to do what is good and beautiful.

If you want to go sustainable for your swimsuit this summer but don't know where to start, look no further than Siena and Co. Swimwear!

We love having Catherine on- she studied apparel design with an emphasis on construction techniques and social justice within the garment industry, in which she’s worked as a fit technician! She's got tons of expertise, and like many women she always had to compromise on the swimwear she’s worn, whether it be style, quality, amount of coverage or where and how it was made. She is passionate about reminding women of their worth by creating dignifying jobs for those in the fashion industry, and designing swimsuits women can feel confident in.

Siena and Co. now offers sizes up to 3X! You can back the Retro Collection here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catherinehuss/siena-and-co-swimwear-retro-collection?ref=bpe32q

Fashion week got crazy, and we need to talk about it. 

*Veronica mentions WWII in connection to St. JPII's life, from 34:00 to about 40:00 should you like to skip*

Some people to check out on Instagram this week:

@gabriellak_j, @luxurylaw, and @edward_enninful

TW: Discussion of Eating Disorders

The very narrow (badum tss) skinny version of femininity from the early 90s is "back in fashion," and we need to talk about it.

Veronica and Lillian are joined by Shelby Hirschman of Good Body Nutrition to discuss the trends of "body standards," why diets ain't it, how misinformation about the "obesity epidemic" perpetuates shame and keeps us from being healthy, and how to live free of fixation on how our bodies measure up to what we think they ought to.

Find Shelby at https://www.instagram.com/goodbody_nutrition/ or https://www.goodbodynutrition.com/.

Veronica chats with Udochi Ekwerike, a Catholic creative who works in fashion. Together they discuss what it looks like to work in a secular field while still growing in faith. Udochi explains that all beauty leads back to the source and that doing your job well is an act of love. Tune in for a great episode!

Remember when the Victoria's Secret runway shows reigned supreme? Unsurprisingly, the "revolutionary" lingerie brand has a sketchy past -- full of predators, scam artists, and power-hungry industry tycoons. Beyond The Stitch host, Veronica Marrinan, and co-host Lillian Fallon, dive into Hulu's most recent expose, "Victoria's Secret: Angels & Demons." Exploring the troubling history of this infamously iconic brand and it's global impact on women, Veronica and Lilly reflect on how Victoria's Secret formed the world's definition of "sexy" and "beautiful." 

Have you ever gone on a date with a guy who didn't dress for the occasion? Was it a turn off? Or did it not matter to you? Do you look to date guys who put lots of effort into how they dresses, or is it better that they don't care? Is it a no-no when guys have style preferences for their girlfriends or vice-versa? 

Veronica and Lilly dive into all things men's style when it comes to dating! Tune in for a fun episode on the style dynamics between men and women. 

This week, we chatted with swimsuit designer and founder of Siena and Co., Catherine Huss! We immediately dove into all the good stuff -- modesty culture and the age old modest swimsuit debacle most Catholic women face every summer. 

Catherine shares her story as a Catholic fashion designer and how she was inspired to create beautiful swimsuits that put the dignity of the human person first without sacrificing the beauty of the female form. We also dig into what is means to "look like" a Catholic woman and how genuine feminine expression is far from looking stereotypical. 

Find Catherine's gorgeous suits here, they just dropped this week! 

This week, host Veronica Marinnan and co-host Lillian Fallon discuss all things Met Gala! From favorite red-carpet moments to pop-culture ponderings, join them as they dive into this year’s theme “Gilded Glamour”, the fashionable rise of the Kardashians, and the history of the gala itself.