Second Life

Monica Padman is the cocreator, cohost, and producer of Armchair Expert. In her first Second Life episode in 2021, Padman chatted about her early dreams of being an actress and how she transitioned from nanny to creative partner to Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard. Since her last episode, Padman has grown in her role as host and producer. She and Shepard continue to cohost Armchair Expert, and they were even nominated at the 2026 Golden Globes in the inaugural Best Podcast category. Padman has also been instrumental in adding numerous shows under the Armchair Umbrella, and she's even branched out into the true crime space with her podcast Beth's Dead, which is starting production for season 2. We recorded this special conversation in the studio, so if you'd like to watch this episode, make sure to check out the video version on Spotify.

This month marks Who What Wear's 20th anniversary! To celebrate, we're spending all of October with guests who have left an indelible mark on the fashion-and-beauty world and grown up alongside us over the past two decades.

This week, Hillary is joined by one of the most influential celebrity stylists working today: Jason Bolden. Bolden actually started styling "accidentally" back in 2011 after his good friend Gabrielle Union asked for help finding a look for an event. Today, he is a widely celebrated celebrity stylist who works with A-listers such as Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo, Michael B. Jordan, and many more. He chats all about crafting his buzziest looks—from Kidman at the 2026 Met Gala to Erivo's jaw-dropping Wicked press-tour wardrobe. Plus, he shares his dream styling clients.

Watch this episode on our new⁠ YouTube channel⁠, and be sure to subscribe!

Kristina Blahnik is the CEO of Manolo Blahnik. As the niece of acclaimed designer Manolo Blahnik, she grew up in the family business but never intended to work in it. Instead, Kristina studied architecture at the University of Cambridge and eventually had a practice of her own, where she worked for just under 10 years. In 2009 when her uncle Manolo Blahnik couldn't travel to the factories to develop the brand's new collection, Kristina stepped in and joined the family business full time. In 2013, she assumed the role of CEO, a position that she maintains to this day—although she prefers the title of "creative strategist." Since coming on board, she has expanded the business from two boutiques to 20, grown the Manolo Blahnik team from 26 people to over 250, and spearheaded major collaborations with brands such as Birkenstock and Balenciaga.

This month marks Who What Wear's 20th anniversary! To celebrate, we're spending all of October with guests who have left an indelible mark on the fashion-and-beauty world and grown up alongside us over the past two decades.

This week, Hillary sits down in studio with iconic actress and singer Mandy Moore. Moore has been in the spotlight for over 20 years, from releasing her hit 1999 song "Candy" to starring in A Walk to Remember and This Is Us. Today, she reflects on getting her start as a teen pop star, her outstanding acting career, and her most memorable fashion moments from the past 20 years. Plus, she shares everything you need to know about her highly anticipated new show: The Land. 

Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe!

Danielle Pheloung is a content creator and cofounder of the fashion brand Phe Phe. Before amassing a following on social media and starting her own clothing company, Pheloung worked in finance. She started her career as an analyst at Morgan Stanley and later transitioned to working for Goldman Sachs as a private wealth management associate. Meanwhile, her sister Brigette McHale, otherwise known as Acquired Style online, was experiencing immense success on social media. Encouraged by her sister's success, Pheloung decided to start posting on TikTok. She showcased her corporate style and daily life while working a demanding job. Eventually, Pheloung made the decision to pursue content creation full time, leaving her position at Goldman Sachs. She continued to grow on social media, and with her sister, she launched Phe Phe in 2025. Today, Pheloung continues to make content and run Phe Phe, which recently launched its workwear line, inspired in part by Pheloung's first life in the corporate world.

This month marks Who What Wear's 20th anniversary! To celebrate, we're spending all of October with guests who have left an indelible mark on the fashion-and-beauty world and grown up alongside us over the past two decades.

To kick things off, Hillary sits down with Chriselle Lim, one of the original fashion content creators. Lim began her career as a fashion blogger and YouTuber in the late 2000s, and over time, she paved the way for creators like herself to become a respected part of the fashion industry. In this episode, she looks back on the last 20 years of her life and career, shares what it takes to have longevity as a creator, and explains how her dedication to storytelling in all forms has taken her from blogger to creator to founder and creative director of Phlur. 

Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe!

Rickie De Sole is the editor of Air Mail’s style-and-fashion publication, Dress Code. De Sole started her career as a fashion assistant at Vanity Fair. After that, she moved into public relations at Prada, where she worked from 2007 to 2010. De Sole then returned to the world of fashion media at Vogue as a market editor, working her way up to accessories director. After, De Sole went to W Magazine, eventually becoming the fashion director before transitioning back to Vogue. There, she eventually gained the title of executive fashion director of Vogue.com. De Sole later pivoted to retail at Nordstrom, ending her time there as the VP fashion director. Throughout her career, she has also served on the board of companies such as Rent the Runway and Vestiaire Collective. Today, she leads Air Mail’s style publication, Dress Code, and serves as a senior adviser at Sandbridge Capital.

This week, Hillary sits down in studio with denim expert Benjamin Talley Smith. Talley Smith  is a denim designer and consultant who works with the designers at your favorite brands—such as Khaite, Reformation, and J.Crew—to develop their denim lines. Today, he's chatting all about the new denim line he worked on for Gigi Hadid's brand, Guest in Residence, and his top trend predictions to look out for this fall. 

Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠, and be sure to subscribe!

Casey Lewis is the creator of the Substack newsletter After School. However, before she was writing to an audience of tens of thousands, Lewis was writing about youth trends on her blog Teen Fashionista. Later on, she started at Teen Vogue as an intern, and over the course of her time there, she worked her way up to senior digital editor. She left Teen Vogue to create Clover Letter, a daily newsletter for teen girls, which gained traction quickly and eventually got acquired by AwesomenessTV. Lewis then transitioned to a senior editor role at New York magazine, but she missed writing. So in 2021, she put in her notice and started her youth-trend Substack publication, After School. Today, she continues to write her newsletter to dedicated readers, makes accompanying content on Instagram and TikTok, and uses her expertise in youth trends to consult businesses, from early-age startups to Fortune 500 companies. 

This week, Hillary chats with designer Christian Cowan about his buzzy spring/summer 2027 collection and showing at New York Fashion Week. They discuss his biggest inspirations, the brand's evolution over the past few seasons, and the countless celebrities who can't get enough of his designs. Plus, he shares whether or not bridal is on the horizon. 

Watch this episode on our new YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠, and be sure to subscribe!