What do you want to know?

We sit down with Gesuina from Gal Fashion to tell the unfiltered story of building a boutique career from an unpaid internship to New York buying trips and ten years in business. We talk about what keeps a fashion boutique alive today: curated product, real relationships, and the kind of service that online shopping can’t touch. 
• starting at 18 with an unpaid boutique internship and learning every task 
• turning sales-floor insight into buying value on New York market trips 
• opening Gal Fashion with an existing clientele and early visibility 
• staying relevant through innovation, flexibility, and personal styling 
• choosing brands, learning price points, and moving to affordable luxury 
• adding niche fragrance after a men’s store experiment and research 
• using special events to bring new audiences without losing focus 
• standing out with exclusivity, limited quantities, and community support 
• choosing El Paso on purpose and building a destination shopping experience 
• advice for people entering fashion: humility, patience, and hard work 

Make sure to follow @thatsthevpodcast on all platforms for more fashion content and a big thank you to our sponsor, JAG Premier Advertising Agency
If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out the link: https://jagadvertising.com/

What do you want to know?

We’re bringing That’s the V off the screen and into a live room with The Front Row, a fashion community night built around a real conversation, real questions, and real connections. I share why I’m hosting it in El Paso, what you can expect at Hotel Indigo, and why guest designer and creative director Nabyl Zarina is the kind of voice you want to hear in person. 
• what Front Row is and why I’m hosting a live podcast-style conversation 
• why Nabyl Zarina’s Mexico City journey matters for designers and creatives 
• what attendees can expect: Q&A, networking, photo ops, goodie bags, happy hour 
• how the schedule works from 7 to 10 and why it stays interactive 
• why El Paso needs more fashion events and how community grows careers 
• where to get tickets, enter giveaways, and how to DM questions 

Nabyl Zarina: https://www.instagram.com/nabyl.zarina?igsh=aXNmYXZua2w2anpk

Make sure to follow @thatsthevpodcast on all platforms for more fashion content and a big thank you to our sponsor, JAG Premier Advertising Agency
If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out the link: https://jagadvertising.com/

What do you want to know?

We sit down with Angie, a freelance model, to talk about what a model contract really does and why so many models learn the hard lessons first. We share agency red flags, how freelance contracts set clear expectations, and why AI misuse makes image rights and consent non-negotiable now. 
• Angie’s path from a Mexico City modeling course to agency castings 
• Red flags like rushed signing, blocked second opinions, and “investment” fees 
• Why refusing exclusivity can protect your options 
• How networking drives bookings more than hype 
• Transitioning to freelance modeling in El Paso through workshops and meetups 
• What to put in a freelance model contract: payment, deliverables, usage rights, boundaries 
• AI deepfakes and unauthorized image use as a new industry risk 
• How to send a contract confidently and negotiate without dropping your standards 
• Safety basics: trust your gut, bring someone, leave if boundaries slip 

Angie’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/angelie.ad?igsh=MWViY3hrZWdqdjU4dw==

Make sure to follow @thatsthevpodcast on all platforms for more fashion content and a big thank you to our sponsor, JAG Premier Advertising Agency
If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out the link: https://jagadvertising.com/

What do you want to know?

I break down what a model workshop really is, how it differs from a year-round modeling school, and why the right structure can take you from nervous to confident fast. We also share what to look for in a legit workshop, how it can help with New York Fashion Week prep, and what you can gain even if you never plan to model professionally. 
• the difference between modeling school and a focused model workshop 
• how workshops build confidence through walking posture posing and expression work 
• what made a top-tier model camp worth the investment including legal basics 
• why networking is a hidden benefit of workshops and model camps 
• how comp cards digitals and a model walk video help with castings 
• practical New York Fashion Week planning plus red flags to avoid 
DM me at That's the V podcast or my personal at Victoria Costa0 on Instagram. 

Make sure to follow @thatsthevpodcast on all platforms for more fashion content and a big thank you to our sponsor, JAG Premier Advertising Agency
If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out the link: https://jagadvertising.com/

What do you want to know?

I sit down with Hannah, freelance model, producer, and creative director to unpack what it’s really like to make it through a massive Victoria’s Secret open casting call and still walk away with more questions than answers. We talk candidly about nerves, branding, agency power, and how to protect yourself while you chase big fashion goals. 

• how the Victoria’s Secret open casting worked from application to in-person stage 
• what the Houston mall setup felt like on the ground 
• why background checks, measurements, and height standards still shape runway outcomes 
• the difference between supportive model energy and panel pressure 
• how “authenticity” gets limited when cameras and PR are involved 
• what the post-runway confusion suggests about callbacks and marketing 
• why many agencies prioritize younger talent and what that means for safety 
• practical mindset shifts for rejection, networking, and building your own brand 

People mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/hannitchka?igsh=MXA4dTY1OTJ3enBpNw==

Make sure to follow @thatsthevpodcast on all platforms for more fashion content and a big thank you to our sponsor, JAG Premier Advertising Agency
If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out the link: https://jagadvertising.com/

What do you want to know?

We break down what Paris Fashion Week actually is, why it includes multiple seasons, and how men’s shows can quietly deliver some of the most creative runway moments. We also zoom in on haute couture rules, the fashion week calendar ahead, and the two menswear highlights that stayed on our minds. 
• men’s Paris Fashion Week recap and why it can feel under the radar 
• how heat waves change show schedules and runway logistics 
• why Paris hosts men’s, couture, and ready-to-wear weeks 
• what makes haute couture “couture” and why it’s treated as art 
• the upcoming fashion calendar: couture in July, Copenhagen in August, then New York, Milan, London, Paris in September 
• how social media and fashion journalists shape what you actually see 
• Louis Vuitton under Pharrell Williams, set design, accessories, and gender-fluid styling 
• Willy Chavarria’s Comunion, Chicano influences, and Latin culture on a Paris runway 

People mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/ideservecouture?igsh=MXZyZGhhOW8za3czeQ==

Make sure to follow @thatsthevpodcast on all platforms for more fashion content and a big thank you to our sponsor, JAG Premier Advertising Agency
If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out the link: https://jagadvertising.com/. 

What do you want to know?

We talk with Erin about getting started in freelance modeling, what she learned after a short and shady agency experience, and how model camp helped her come back with a clearer plan. We get practical about networking, building a portfolio with smart test shoots, and protecting ourselves with contracts, usage terms, and getting paid on time. 
• how Erin first got into modeling and why freelance fit her life as a student 
• warning signs of scammy agencies in smaller markets and why upfront fees are a red flag 
• what a strong model camp experience teaches about the business and the legal basics 
• using networking to find reputable photographers and setting up test shoots safely 
• building a portfolio with range without oversaturating your book 
• why usage rights matter and how to ask where your likeness will appear 
• writing our own freelance modeling contracts and sending invoices to get paid 

People mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/3rincday

Make sure to follow @thatsthevpodcast on all platforms for more fashion content and a big thank you to our sponsor, JAG Premier Advertising Agency
If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out the link: https://jagadvertising.com/

What do you want to know?

We record from Central Park and unpack what a fashion pop-up actually is through our first-hand visit to Prada’s Chelsea Hotel activation. We talk about why it felt more like immersive art than shopping, what surprised us about the crowd, and how you can find great pop-ups before they blow up online.
• recording on location in Central Park and what you hear in the background
• first impressions of the Prada pop-up at the Chelsea Hotel
• collaboration-first storytelling with film and video game culture
• retro futuristic set design and the three-room walkthrough
• why a pop-up can work with minimal branding
• what fashion brands gain from pop-ups during slower seasons
• how Prada’s approach compares with New York Fashion Week pop-ups
• practical ways to find pop-ups through brand accounts and local creators
• how to join Victoria’s Instagram broadcast channel for fashion opportunities

Make sure to follow @thatsthevpodcast on all platforms for more fashion content and a big thank you to our sponsor, JAG Premier Advertising Agency
If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out the link: https://jagadvertising.com/

What do you want to know?

I sit down with Alexia Maldonado, owner of I Fell in Love Here, vintage clothing boutique, to talk about what it really takes to run a curated vintage boutique in downtown El Paso. We get into sourcing 90s and Y2K pieces, helping customers find their style faster, and balancing a vintage store with an online clothing brand. 

• Alexia’s path from EPCC fashion design to opening a boutique 
• Why 90s and Y2K vintage feels personal and sells well 
• How thrifting knowledge starts with textiles, labels, and quality 
• Using stories to add meaning and value to secondhand clothing 
• Letting go of clothes with a simple one-in, one-out closet rule 
• Personal styling sessions, Pinterest mood boards, and fast try-ons 
• Why some people struggle to shop and how we guide them 
• Relocating from Horizon to downtown for access and foot traffic 
• Choosing an in-person retail experience over e-commerce for vintage 
• Building Amaldeux, pivoting from New York to LA manufacturing 
• Designing with sustainability, durability, and timeless details in mind 
• Dream cities for expansion like New York and Paris 

Names mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/alexiamaldonado

https://www.instagram.com/ifellinlovehere

https://www.instagram.com/amaldeux?igsh=eXZma201MWtqeWVt

Make sure to follow @thatsthevpodcast on all platforms for more fashion content and a big thank you to our sponsor, JAG Premier Advertising Agency
If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out the link: https://jagadvertising.com/

What do you want to know?

I break down what the Met Gala actually is, why it exists, and how it grew from a New York charity dinner into the fashion world’s most watched night. We also get into who controls the guest list, how brands use the tables, and whether “buying your way in” changes what the event stands for. 
• The Met Gala as a charity event funding the Met’s Costume Institute 
• Why costume design and fashion history deserve museum-level attention 
• How the event evolved from society tables to a global celebrity showcase 
• The jump in table prices and what that suggests about costs and demand 
• Anna Wintour’s role in shaping exclusivity and invitations 
• Brands buying tables and how guest placement can work for big vs smaller labels 
• Networking strategy, assigned seating, couples being separated, and the no-phone rule 
• The Jeff Bezos controversy and the tension between fundraising and exclusivity 

Make sure to follow @thatsthevpodcast on all platforms for more fashion content and a big thank you to our sponsor, JAG Premier Advertising Agency
If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out the link: https://jagadvertising.com/