Through The Back Door

In this solo episode Claire gets honest about something a lot of people in fashion are thinking; secondhand designer isn’t always the better choice anymore.

From overpriced resale finds to pieces that fall apart after a few wears, Claire breaks down how secondhand has shifted from a “fashion hack” into a gamble. When you’re spending real money, is it still worth the risk? Or does it make more sense to save up and buy something new that actually works for your life?

She shares her own experience of ending up with a closet full of designer pieces she doesn’t even wear—and the turning point that led her back to buying basics that actually function.

She also dives into what it really takes to break into fashion today, sharing practical, advice inspired by helping her sister job hunt.

At its core, this episode is about intention; how we shop, how we participate in fashion, and how to build a wardrobe (and life) that actually makes sense.

The real question:

Are you buying something because it works for your life… or just because of the label?

Topics Covered

• The rise (and fall?) of secondhand designer
• Why resale shopping feels like a gamble now
• Price inflation on platforms like eBay & curated vintage
• Quality vs label: what are we actually paying for?
• Buying new vs secondhand: what’s more intentional?
• Building a functional wardrobe vs aesthetic closet
• NYC fashion events + entering the fashion scene
• Losing a makeup bag → Sephora reset (life moment)
• The pressure to “look the part” in fashion
• How to break into fashion (real strategies that work)
• Networking, self-advocacy, and standing out
• Finding balance between ambition and actually enjoying your life

Host Claire Vastola

Instagram: [@girlintofashion](https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion)

Instagram: [@workinginfashion](https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion)

Substack: [Working in Fashion](https://workinginfashion.substack.com)

In this episode of Through the Back Door, I sit down with stylist Mo Johnson, a creative force working behind the scenes on runway collections and brand projects.

Mo shares what it actually takes to bring a runway show together. From early fittings and concept development to the fast paced energy backstage before a show begins, we talk about the creative and logistical work that goes into building a runway moment.

We also discuss Mo’s creative influences, her mentorship with designer Jane Wade, and her work styling for Andrew Curwen. Along the way we explore how personal style evolves through experimentation, the influence of punk and vintage fashion, and how creatives learn to trust their intuition while navigating an industry that constantly demands reinvention.

This conversation is a reminder that fashion is not just clothing. It is storytelling, collaboration, and the many unseen decisions that shape what we eventually see on the runway.

Topics: runway styling, fashion week backstage, Andrew Curwen runway, fashion stylist interview, runway show preparation, fashion week production, emerging designers, fashion creative process.

Mo Johnson
NY / LA stylist and creative director

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/lilbbmomo/

Mentions:

Andrew Curwen Official Website
https://www.andrewcurwen.com/

Jane Wade Designer
https://janewade.com/

American Duchess Shoes
https://www.americanduchess.com/

Sophia Morin Corsetry and accessories collaborator
https://www.instagram.com/sofiajmorin/

F10 Casting Model casting services
https://www.f10casting.com/

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Listen on Spotify and all major platforms

Host

Claire Vastola
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion
Substack: https://workinginfashion.substack.com

In this episode, I’m talking through a rebrand—both creatively and mentally.

I share why I’m shifting some episodes away from video and back into audio, and how that change feels more aligned with where Girl Into Fashion is heading. I also reflect on this past New York Fashion Week and why it felt like a real up-level for me: attending shows I genuinely admired, being invited by PR teams for the first time, and experiencing fashion week from a place that felt earned rather than aspirational.

This episode is less about recap and more about perspective—what changed, what clicked, and how mindset plays a bigger role than we like to admit. A check-in, a reset, and a quiet marker of growth.

In the Details: Andrew Curwen’s AW26 Collection

In this episode, we get an up-close look at Andrew Curwen’s collection beyond the runway and into the details that often go unnoticed. We talk construction, garment engineering, and the small decisions that quietly define great design: from salt-spray finishes and bodice shaping to lining construction, corset boning, and how to make something look beautifully worn without losing integrity.

What stood out most was Andrew’s depth of thought and attention to detail. Every piece felt intentional — not just in how it looked, but in how it was built, how it moves, and how it lives on the body. This conversation was a reminder that real craft lives in the details, and that wearability and artistry don’t have to be at odds.

I genuinely loved being at this show and experiencing the collection in person. I’m incredibly grateful to have had a small window into Andrew Curwen’s world and process — it’s the kind of work and level of care that I truly aspire to.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube

Andrew Curwen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewcurwen
Website: https://www.andrewcurwen.com

Claire Vastola
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion
Substack: https://workinginfashion.substack.com

Watch & ListenFollow the DesignerFollow the HostFashion Networking & Resources

This episode is a little unhinged in the best way.

Claire sits down with Laura Stemmer (single mom of two, Manhattan-based, nightlife/bar owner energy, fashion background, zero fear) for a conversation that starts with chihuahuas being… chihuahuas… and ends with actual life advice that hits way harder than it should.

We get into:

• how Laura went from Parsons fashion design → nightlife survival mode → running the room

• why everyone should work service at least once (or you’re not real)

• the power dynamics of bartending, the $100 tip effect, and why “no” is weirdly profitable

• list-only, no-photos NYC nightlife lore + protecting celebrity regulars

• becoming a mom, still dressing like a menace, and your kids still rating you as “the coolest”

• mindset shifts: there are no rules, failing is learning, consistency = trust, and “hot” is a state of mind

• fashion talk: 90s mistress, vintage archives, lingerie-as-going-out, fur discourse, and why basics can still be cunty if your aura is right

It’s the kind of episode that makes you want to go do something reckless (in a productive way), text your bartender friend, and buy a turtleneck + Louboutin boot combo immediately.

Laura Stemmer
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/laurastemmer/?hl=en⁠

Listen to Through the Back Door on Spotify and all major platforms

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Follow the host, Claire Vastola
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion⁠

Fashion networking & resources
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion⁠
Substack: ⁠https://workinginfashion.substack.com⁠

Subscribe, rate, and share if you loved the episode — more fashion deep dives coming soon.

GUESTLISTEN + WATCHFOLLOW + RESOURCES

CONSISTENCY IS THE JOB
BUILDING A FASHION CAREER WITHOUT A ROADMAP

In this solo episode of Through the Back Door, I talk about what consistency actually looks like when you’re building a non-traditional fashion career.

After a week of being sick, exhausted, and close to skipping this recording altogether, I reflect on why showing up anyway matters, especially when you’re working inside the fashion industry while building your own brand on the side. From meeting followers who feel shut out of fashion, to navigating visibility, self-belief, and building something without permission, this episode is an honest look at the unglamorous part of building a career.

If you’re balancing a fashion job with content creation, designing your own path, or building in the dark before anyone notices, this episode is for you.

Consistency isn’t about motivation. It’s about keeping promises to yourself.

Listen to Through the Back Door on Spotify and all major platforms

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Follow the host, Claire Vastola
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion

Fashion networking & resources
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion
Substack: https://workinginfashion.substack.com

Subscribe, rate, and share if you loved the episode — more fashion deep dives coming soon.

In the first-ever solo episode of Through the Back Door, we talk ambition — what it really looks like, why it gets labeled as “cringe,” and why it’s the real engine behind success in the fashion industry.

We are celebrating episode number 20!

I reflect on my week in New York fashion, from attending the Chanel watch party to noticing how fashion culture is becoming more community-driven, creator-led, and accessible. From there, I connect pop culture, history, and real life — pulling inspiration from The Gilded Age, the rise of fashion content creators, and the relentless networking that helped figures like Kim Kardashian long before their success felt inevitable.

This episode is about owning what you want without apology, especially in fashion, where nothing is handed to you. We talk about taking up space before you’re invited, legitimizing yourself when no one gives you permission, and understanding that success is often engineered, not accidental.

I wrap with a weekly inspiration list — what I’m reading, wearing, and loving — plus a quick update on what’s coming next for the podcast.

If you’re a designer, creator, stylist, or anyone building something from the ground up, this episode is for you.

Links & Mentions

Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr Joe Dispenza
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1401938094

Mary & Shelly – Guitar Strap Bag
https://maryandshelly.com

Miista Boots
https://www.miista.com

Summer Fridays – Lip Butter Balm
https://summerfridays.com

Summer Fridays – Sheer Skin Tint
https://summerfridays.com

🎧 Listen to Through the Back Door on Spotify and all major platforms
Watch the full episode on YouTube

Follow the host, Claire Vastola
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlintofashion

Fashion networking & resources
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workinginfashion
Substack: https://workinginfashion.substack.com

Subscribe, rate, and share if you loved the episode — more fashion deep dives coming soon.

In this episode of Through the Back Door, Claire sits down with Jessie Collier, founder of Working Women Agency, to talk about personal branding, mindset shifts, and embracing nonlinear career paths in the creative world. Jessie shares how she turned confusion around traditional career advice into a mission-driven brand that helps women own their unique journeys. Together, they unpack the power of LinkedIn, the importance of soft skills, and how visibility and authenticity can open unexpected doors. The conversation dives into navigating pivots, using AI to scale creative work, and building a career that truly aligns with your values.

Connect with Working Women Agency:
Instagram: @workingwomenagency
Follow Jessie: @jessiecollier

Listen to Through the Back Door on Spotify and all major platforms
Watch the full episode on YouTube
Follow host Claire Vastola: @girlintofashion
For fashion networking: @workinginfashion
Read more on Substack: workinginfashion.substack.com

Subscribe, rate, and share if you loved the episode — more fashion deep dives coming soon.

this episode, Claire sits down once again with model Riley Woodell to talk about what it really takes to build a career in fashion in 2025. Riley is one of those rare people we get to watch evolve in real time — blending modeling, social media, and genuine support for emerging designers in a way that feels transparent and refreshing.

We talk about her experience at Paris Fashion Week this September — a pivotal moment in her career that showed how different the Paris scene is from New York. In Paris, you need representation; in New York, grit and showing up can still open doors.

Riley also shares what it means to grow with a brand, describing how working with labels like Jane Wade feels like being part of a creative family — the same people, the same energy, season after season. We get into the behind-the-scenes realities of modeling, how she balances authenticity with opportunity, and her advice for anyone trying to make it in fashion today.

🎧 Listen to Through the Back Door on Spotify + all major platforms
👀 Watch the full episode on YouTube
📡 Follow host Claire Vastola: @girlintofashion
📬 For fashion networking: @workinginfashion
📝 Read more on Substack: workinginfashion.substack.com
💫 Follow guest Riley Woodell: @rileyhundleywoodell

💌 Subscribe, rate, and share if you loved the episode — more fashion deep dives coming soon.

On this episode of Through the Back Door, I sit down with Nimay Ndolo — content creator, influencer, and all-around creative force — for a conversation that goes everywhere: fashion, social media, politics, spirituality, and even a little woo-woo. ✨ Nimay shares her unique perspective as a creator navigating today’s cultural landscape, and together we explore how style, identity, and expression collide with the digital world. It’s insightful, playful, and full of those unexpected turns that make the best conversations.

Follow Nimay: @nimayndoeaux

Listen on Spotify + all major platforms
Watch the full episode on YouTube
Follow host: @girlintofashion
For fashion networking: @workinginfashion
Read more on Substack: workinginfashion.substack.com

💌 Subscribe, rate, and share if you loved the episode — more fashion deep dives coming soon.