Stressed But Well Dressed

Dahlia is joined by Carla Buzasi, CEO of WGSN to discuss what the word 'trends' mean, why certain products or concepts gain interest and popularity and how we stay unique in a world of content that is ever increasingly dictated to us through algorithms.

Carla shares her view on the trends that are sticking, explaining trend is more about societal shifts than about fads that come and go. The conversation looks into why we love to follow trends and how to retain our own taste, judgement and curiosity in today's world.

As CEO of WGSN, the world’s leading trend forecasting company, Carla leads a global team of specialists, delivering insight, data analysis and consultancy services, predicting the future for the world’s most successful brands. 

Since being acquired by Apax Partners in 2024, WGSN has expanded its offering into new industries and sectors, including the acquisition of global bev/alc data business IWSR.

When not advising business leaders on future trends, she is also a commentator for TV and radio shows, a regular keynote speaker at events, including SXSW, Cannes Lions and Web Summit, and the podcast host of Lives of Tomorrow.

Find out more about Stressed But Well Dressed by following the show and checking out the behind the scenes on instagram @stressedbutwelldressed_podcast

Dahlia is joined by Samantha Harman journalist, author and stylist to discuss why we all deserve to 'get dressed' in a way that represents how we want to be seen.

Samantha reflects on the influence that demographics and social mobility can have a style, drawing on her own experience and the influence it has had on how she now sees herself.

Samantha Harman is a stylist, editor and founder of The Style Editor. Samantha specialises in helping women step into their confidence, dress for the lives they’ve built, and feel comfortable being seen. Her work blends practical wardrobe strategy with mindset coaching, supporting women to let go of old narratives and dress in a way that reflects their current identity.

A former award‑winning newspaper editor, Samantha now works with clients across industries who want to elevate their style without losing themselves. She’s known for her straight‑talking, compassionate approach and her belief that clothes are not superficial — they’re a tool for confidence, visibility and self‑worth.

Samantha has recently published the book 'Just Get Dressed' sharing practical advice on the topic of dress, clothes and building your confidence and identity.

Dahlia joins Style Arcades podcast for a conversation on the new rules of personal styling asking

What does it really mean to be well dressed?

Whose wardrobe would you raid?

If you could only wear one colour for a year which would you choose?

In this episode of the Style Arcades Podcast, host Michelle Eagleton is joined by personal stylist Anna Mewes  and DahliaStroud , host of the Stressed But Well Dressed podcast, for an inspiring conversation about fashion, confidence and finding your authentic style.

Together, they explore the connection between what we wear and how we feel, discussing everything from fashion "rules" and capsule wardrobes to dressing with confidence at different stages of life. The conversation takes a thoughtful look at style after pregnancy and the challenges many women face when reconnecting with their wardrobes as theirbodies, lifestyles and priorities evolve. Anna shares practical styling advice for navigating these changes, while Dahlia reflects on the powerful role clothing can play in rebuilding confidence. They also discuss how fashion can be a tool for empowerment in the workplace, helping us show up with confidence, express our individuality and feel our best in professional settings.

Filmed at Jigsaw, Victoria Leeds, with both guests dressed by the brand, this episode is packed with honest insights, practical advice and plenty of inspiration for anyone looking to feel more confident in their clothes. 

Dahlia collaborates with Style Arcades to share the Stressed But Well Dressed insights on the show. Style Arcades is Victoria Leeds' podcast exploring fashion, beauty, lifestyle and the people shaping the industries we love.

Dahlia is joined by Minoti Parikh to explore how culture is really built inside organisations and how it shifts in a world increasingly shaped by AI. Minoti shares how technology is already influencing behaviour, communication and expectations, and why the human foundations of culture matter more than ever.

The conversation moves into her past life as a Master of Ceremonies, where she talks about how she dressed for the role, how performance shaped her confidence, and what it meant to hold space in male‑dominated environments.

Minoti also reflects on her move from India to the UK — how she was seen, how she adapted, and how those experiences shaped her understanding of identity, belonging and visibility.

Minoti Parikh is the founder of TPL Consultancy, a cross‑sector strategic consultant, non‑executive director, trainer and mentor with more than 20 years of global experience in strategy, leadership, organisational development and business growth.

TPL Consultancy is a values‑led consultancy and business for good, committed to building thriving teams and communities. The organisation helps clients turn complexity into clarity, and clarity into action, through sharp thinking, energising facilitation and outcomes‑based impact.

Minoti has supported over 200 organisations across sectors including charities, arts and culture, creative industries, public sector bodies, universities, values‑led SMEs and global FTSE 100 brands. She has delivered more than 1,800 programmes across the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Her leadership has been recognised in the Top 100 #ialso Female Entrepreneurs list (2019), the Top 100 Small Businesses (2020), Business Insider’s 42 Under 42 Business Leaders list (2024) and the Northern Power Women Power List (2025).

She serves as Chair of Third Sector Leeds, an advocacy platform amplifying the voice of the third sector, and is a trustee and Business Leader in Residence at Lancaster University. Alongside her consultancy work, she is also a community artist, working with disadvantaged communities to improve health outcomes through creativity.

Earlier in her career, Minoti was a Master of Ceremonies and Sports TV Presenter, hosting national car rally and motocross championships for Star Sports.

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Rebecca Bemhena is the VP of Content for ShopTalk Luxe and joins Dahlia on the show to discuss story telling through fashion. Together they explore the idea of how pieces of clothing can collect stories across generations and the emotion around clothes.

Rebecca shares her fashion journey and talks about her role at ShopTalk and the purpose of ShopTalk luxe to create connections and bring a diverse range of fashion conversations together.

Rebecca is vice president of Content at Shoptalk Luxe. She leads the research, strategy and development ofthe Shoptalk Luxe agenda, establishing the event as the premier conference platform for global luxury and premium retail. With a background in luxury fashion retail, she has dedicated her career to shaping industry-leadingcontent.

This episode is fashion and career focused, find out more and go behind the scenes of Stressed But Well Dressed @stressedbutwelldressed_podcast

Dahlia is joined by Marina Gerner to discuss the inspiration behind her book 'The Vagina Business'.

Dahlia and Marina talk about the link between fashion, feelings and confidence and Marina explains her dress helps her get into role as an NYU professor.

Marina's shares her research on why we are so slow to develop innovation within women's healthcare and why she chose such a bold title for her book. She discusses the need to step on innovation to support childbirth and the reasons we are so unwillingly to address women's health challenges.

Included in the conversation is a reading from 'The Vagina Business' reflecting on one woman's sale strategy all based on what she wears.

Marina Gerner is an award-winning financial journalist and columnist. Her work has been published in the Economist, Wall Street Journal, the Times, Financial Times, the Guardian, and Wired.

She is an adjunct professor at the NYU Stern School of Business and has a PhD from the London School of Economics.

Her ideas and research for this book have been awarded grants from the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and The Society of Authors.

She was born in Kyiv, has lived in Frankfurt and New York, and is based in London.

'The Vagina Business: The Innovative Breakthroughs that Could Change Everything in Women's Health' is out now.

This episode was first recorded in 2024 and is a rewind republished in 2026.

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Julia Hotz is author of 'The Connection Cure' and joins Dahlia for a conversation to look at the link between stress, identity and mindset. Julia has challenged the traditional question 'What's the matter with you?' and turned it on its head to ask 'What matters to you?' to identify how social prescribing can contribute to a less stressed more well dressed mindset.

Dahlia and Julia discuss how getting really clear on what matters to you, getting in control and social prescriptions of nature, art, movement and even belonging can reduce your stress. Julia's book has been recognised in the list of 'The Next Big Idea Club' June 2024 reading list curated by Adam Grant, Daniel Pink, Susan Cain and Michael Gladwell. So what matters to you?

Julia Hotz is a solutions-focused journalist based in New York, with stories in The New York Times, WIRED, Scientific American, The Boston Globe, Time magazine, and more. She helps other journalists report on the big new ideas changing theworld at the Solutions Journalism Network. The Connection Cure is her first book.

*Social prescribing is an option to complement traditional healthcare practices and not intended to replace it.

This is a rewind recorded for the show in 2024.

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Dahlia is joined by Katie Hart to discuss the topic of Neuromarketing, what it is and how it impacts our stress levels, our decision making and our clothes.

Katie explains Neuromarketing is the place where neuroscience meets marketing helping us to make the decisions that shape who we are. She explains that 95% of our decisions are driven by our subconscious and gives some tips on how we become more self aware.

The conversation includes:

-An explanation of how stress can impact our decision making and attitude to risk

- Why we force ourselves to spend time in a 2D Digital world but our brains are not always designed for it

- Why our dopamine rush is linked to the anticipation of doing thng - and the reality can be an anti climax

- Top tips on understanding how neuromarketing can help you dress with authority

- A reflection on why our underwear can make us feel invincible!

Katie Hart has created a career out of bringing together psychology, neuroscience and marketing - disciplines which compliment each other, but are rarely used together to their full potential. Having studied and worked in this emerging field for over 15 years, she has a vast array of experience and knowledge which she confidently shares with her audiences. 

Katie is passionate about ensuring marketers understand and appreciate the critical role humans play within the marketing process, and the challenges andopportunities these provide.

Her sessions are insightful and enlightening,making potentially complex neuroscience content accessible, digestible and fun. 

In 2022, Katie completed a Masters in Applied Neuroscience, passing it with distinction. She utilises thisacademic knowledge to create innovative neuromarketing research, and identify unique opportunities on behalf of her customers (who include Unilever, Honda and Lloyds Banking Group).

As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Katie is also a tutor for the world renowned CambridgeMarketing College, specialising in Customer Insights.

Katie has delivered sessions for small and large groups, within a wide range of corporate settings, a number of schools and even as part of an ongoing programme within prisons.

This episode is a rewind from the Stressed But Well Dressed archives. Don't forget to click follow and check out the @stressedbutwelldressed_podcast on instagram

Stressed But Well Dressed REWIND!

A look into the archives with guest Daiva Byrne:

Dahlia is joined by Daiva Byrne to discuss what to wear to win at poker. Daiva shares her journey and explains how she transferred her business, strategy and psychology skills from a job in the city to play chips at the tables. The conversation includes Daiva's view on how to interpret people through their dress and their body language and how she uses this to her advantage in her play. Her focus through FLIP is to create more diversity at the table, empower women in poker and create a sense of community for female players. Listen to understand why poker is as much a mental sport as a game, how to pick up on body language in negotiations and why consistency is key to success. Daiva Byrne is a professional poker player and founder of FLIP - Fantastic Ladies in Poker - the world's largest female only poker community.
Her mission is to empower women in poker and business through learning the game, using those skills in all areas of life, and celebrating female successes.

Enjoyed this rewind? Don't forget to check out the archives and go behind the scenes of the show @stressedbutwelldressed_podcast on instagram

Dahlia is joined by Anna Berkeley, founder of ThinkShape app to discuss why we are so obsessed with our size and how often we have a distorted view of what we actually look like.

Anna explains how she works with women to help them have an 'out of body' experience, mapping out their shape and helping them to recalibrate how they see themselves.

The conversation includes a dissection of why we are fixated with sizes and finding clothes that are flattering and why we need to change our mindset rather than cut out a label when we don't see a number we feel reflects the way we see ourselves.

Anna has worked in the fashion industry for nearly 30 years, collaborating with some of the most influential brands in the world. She spent 21 years as a womenswear buyer, including seven years buying designer denim and womenswear for Selfridge’s, travelling to fashion weeks globally and working with over 130 brands.

Her career spans iconic UK retailers such as Topshop and Reiss, luxury house Prada, and an 11‑year consulting role with designer Margaret Howell. She has also supported numerous emerging brands and contributes expert commentary to The Financial Times, The Times, The Telegraph and The Mail.

In 2023, Anna launched Think Shape, an app designed to help women understand their body shape and proportions, empowering them to dress with clarity, confidence and joy.

Go behind the scenes on the show at stressedbutwelldressed_podcast to find out more!