Join our host senior style icon and former mental health professional Theodora Krochman, and entrepreneur and documentarian Melissa Pierce as they interview another remarkable woman defying age-based expectations in the fashion world.

In Episode 5, Teddi and Melissa welcome Dr. Astrid Palca, a German physician who launched her modeling career in her late 40s and has since graced the covers of Harper's Bazaar US, GQ, and Forbes Canada. Born in Berlin and now based in Switzerland, Dr. Palca brings a unique perspective as both a medical professional and a fashion figure, challenging traditional narratives about age and beauty in the modeling industry.

The conversation explores how a corporate video unexpectedly launched her modeling career, leading to a substantial Instagram following and multiple magazine covers - achievements that are remarkably rare for women over 40 in the fashion industry. Dr. Palca shares her refreshing philosophy about modeling as "a celebration of all of the layers of her personality," offering insights into how professional women can embrace multiple identities without compromising their core values. The discussion naturally flows into a broader conversation about how the podcast consistently features extraordinary women over 40, suggesting that perhaps it's not these women who are rare, but rather the platforms that celebrate them.

Follow Teddi, Melissa, and the show on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@teddilovesfashion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@the.melissa.fierce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@getdressedfordinner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Astrid ⁠@astridpalca⁠

Join our host senior style icon and former mental health professional Theodora Krochman, and entrepreneur and documentarian Melissa Pierce as they continue their exploration of how media shapes our relationship with fashion and self-presentation.

In Episode 4, Teddi and Melissa dive deeper into the cultural impact of The Jerry Springer Show, examining how the normalization of public vulnerability and "worst day" behavior has influenced modern fashion choices and self-presentation. They explore the concept of "enshittification" - how making the extraordinary mundane has led to a decline in how we present ourselves to the world. The conversation weaves between cultural criticism and personal observation, examining how reality TV's exploitation of vulnerable people has gradually eroded standards of self-respect and public appearance.

The discussion takes a refreshing turn as they celebrate recent Chicago fashion moments, including former guest Scottie Eskelund's profound fashion show "What Is Love" and Teddi's delightful experience at the Kivanci boutique in Evanston with fashion designer Leen Gundogdu. These local highlights serve as a counterpoint to mass media's influence, showcasing how authentic fashion expression can elevate rather than diminish the human experience.

Follow Teddi, Melissa, and the show on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@teddilovesfashion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@the.melissa.fierce⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@getdressedfordinner⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Scotti Eskelund ⁠@scottie.bydesign⁠

Follow Kivanci⁠ @lelecouture

Join our host senior style icon and former mental health professional Theodora Krochman, and entrepreneur and documentarian Melissa Pierce as they interview Chicago's best and brightest while asking hard-hitting questions about fashion and culture.

In Episode 3, Teddi and Melissa welcome Monica Corcoran Harel, the founder of "Pretty Ripe" and a multifaceted creator dubbed the "midlife midwife" by Women's Wear Daily. As a journalist, screenwriter, and thought leader, Monica brings a fresh perspective to the conversation about women over 40, challenging societal norms around aging and visibility in both media and fashion. Her work spans from writing for prestigious publications like The New York Times to developing a Netflix feature film about body-swapping between middle-aged women and Gen Z influencers.

The discussion delves deep into the complexities of female friendship and isolation, sparked by Monica's viral essay "My Mom Has No Friends" (now being developed into a sitcom with Mandy Moore). They explore how society arbitrarily marks 40 as a turning point for women's visibility despite it often being a time of peak confidence and capability. The conversation takes particularly interesting turns when examining the language we use around aging, including whether common phrases about gray hair and stress inadvertently stigmatize natural maturation processes.

Through their exploration of fashion, friendship, and cultural expectations, the episode challenges prevailing narratives about women over 40 while celebrating the richness and complexity of this life stage. Monica's insights about casual dressing trends, personal style evolution, and her upcoming retreat provide a framework for discussing how women can embrace their age while maintaining their sense of style and adventure. Her stance on proudly loving being an older woman offers a refreshing counterpoint to society's youth-obsessed culture

Follow Teddi, Melissa, and the show on Instagram: @teddiilovesfashion, @the.melissa.fierce, @getdressedfordinner

Follow Monica @prettyripe

Join our host, senior style icon and former mental health professional Theodora Krochman, and entrepreneur and documentarian Melissa Pierce as they interview the best and brightest to ask hard-hitting questions about fashion and culture.

In Episode 2 of our second season, Teddi and Melissa welcome the legendary Diane Gilman, known globally as the "Queen of Jeans" and a revolutionary force in fashion for women over 50. From her early days crafting embellished denim for rock icons like Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison to becoming a billion-dollar force in tele-retail, Diane shares her remarkable journey of breaking fashion rules and creating space for mature women in an industry that often overlooks them.

The discussion deepens as they explore why the fashion industry continues to ignore women over 50 despite their significant purchasing power and how her DG2 line, launched at age 59, became a global phenomenon by addressing this overlooked demographic. Through their exploration of fashion, sustainability, and personal transformation, the episode challenges industry norms while offering practical advice for women seeking style and comfort.

Diane's story serves as a powerful reminder that innovation and success aren't bound by age and that true style should embrace both sustainability and inclusivity. Her insights on everything from fabric choices to society's shift toward casual wear provide a fascinating lens to examine our changing relationship with fashion and self-expression.

Follow Teddi, Melissa, and the show on Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠@teddilovesfashion⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠ ⁠@the.melissa.fierce⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠ ⁠@getdressedfordinner⁠⁠

Follow Diane Gilman @thedianegilman

Join our host, senior style icon Theodora Krochman, former mental health professional, and entrepreneur and documentarian Melissa Pierce as they kick off Season 2 with a provocative exploration of how 90s television shaped our relationship with fashion and self-expression.

In this season opener, Teddi and Melissa dive into the cultural impact of daytime talk shows, particularly examining how The Jerry Springer Show's parade of confrontational and exploitive practices may have unconsciously influenced an entire generation's understanding of acceptable behavior, presentation, and proclivities. Through their signature blend of cultural analysis and psychological insight, they unpack how the show's deliberate shockploitation reinforced stereotypes while creating a new visual shorthand for "trashy" versus "classy" in the American consciousness.

Their discussion reveals how what we once dismissed as mere entertainment has left an indelible mark on our collective fashion psyche, influencing how we judge ourselves and others through the lens of personal style and our choice of "feel-good" entertainment. Through this analysis, they raise important questions about class, authenticity, and the power of media to shape our self-expression and fashion choices—even decades later.

Join Teddi Krochman and Melissa Pierce as they continue their delightfully unfiltered exploration of what our clothes say about us (and what we think they're saying about others).

In Episode 17, they welcome the deliciously eclectic Delphine Pontvieux, who's managed to be an actor, scuba diver, jewelry designer, and writer - all while keeping her French accent intact. Born in France but now embracing Chicago's creative spirit, Delphine brings a refreshing perspective on what happens when personal style refuses to be boxed into cultural expectations.

The conversation dances from Delphine's adventures in Hollywood to her creation of bold, unapologetic jewelry pieces at NYET Jewelry. Things get especially interesting when Delphine confesses that while her American friends see her as the walking embodiment of French chic, her style would make her Parisian friends raise their perfectly groomed eyebrows in confusion. It's a perfect reminder that sometimes the most authentic style is the one that makes the least sense on paper - and that's exactly what makes it fabulous.

Follow Teddi, Melissa, and the show on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@teddilovesfashion⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@the.melissa.fierce⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@getdressedfordinner⁠⁠⁠

Follow Delphine ⁠@delphine.pontvieux⁠

Join host Teddi Krochman, senior style icon and former mental health professional, and Melissa Pierce, entrepreneur and documentarian, as they continue their exploration of fashion psychology and cultural dynamics.

In Episode 16, fast friends Teddi and Melissa share an intimate conversation about family holiday traditions and clothing expectations, from formal Christmas dinners to casual gatherings. The discussion takes unexpected turns as they venture into predictions for 2025, celebrating Teddi's recent 71st birthday, and engaging in a frank discussion about end-of-life preferences - including Teddi's memorable declaration that she'd rather be shot out of a cannon than have a traditional funeral, and Melissa's costume party where you dress as yourself from the future.

Through their signature blend of professional insight and personal experience, they examine how holiday dress codes reflect deeper family dynamics and cultural expectations, while their musings about the future reveal how age and experience shape our relationship with fashion and self-expression.

Follow Teddi, Melissa, and the show on Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠@teddilovesfashion⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠ ⁠@the.melissa.fierce⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠ ⁠@getdressedfordinner⁠⁠

In Episode 15 of their fashion psychology podcast, hosts Theodora Krochman and Melissa Pierce welcome avant-garde artist and designer Jordan Chavez of InBetweenBranches, whose journey from rural Ohio to Chicago's vibrant fashion scene offers a compelling lens into the psychology of creative transformation. They explore how the artist's transition from hand-sewing to machine work parallels deeper themes of overcoming creative fears and embracing growth. The conversation delves into the fascinating intersection of folk art, queer identity, and classic Americana, examining how these elements combine to create fashion that makes the familiar strange. Jordan shares insights about his evolution from his 2022 debut collection "Folk Art Fantasy" to his recent "Rural Renaissance" showcase at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, revealing how childhood imagination in rural spaces continues to influence his avant-garde designs.

As the discussion unfolds, they explore the psychological implications of blending rural and urban aesthetics, and how fashion serves as a narrative vehicle for personal transformation. The episode examines how Jordan's work challenges traditional fashion boundaries while maintaining a connection to his roots, creating pieces that are simultaneously soft and bold, classic and boundary-pushing.

Through his story of moving from fields to city streets, the conversation illuminates how location and environment shape not only our creative expression but our fundamental relationship with clothing and identity.

Follow Teddi, Melissa, and the show on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@teddilovesfashion⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@the.melissa.fierce⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@getdressedfordinner⁠⁠⁠

Follow Jordan at: ⁠@inbetweenbranches

In Episode 14 of their fashion psychology podcast, hosts Theodora Krochman and Melissa Pierce dive deep into the intricate connections between language, clothing, and human emotion. They explore the fascinating etymological links between friendship and freedom, revealing how linguistic roots can illuminate broader psychological concepts. The episode takes a provocative look at fashion as a form of resistance, examining how clothing choices can challenge totalitarian systems and serve as a powerful medium of personal and political expression.

The conversation delves into the complex psychological landscape of casual dressing and its unexpected relationship with emotional overeating, offering listeners a nuanced perspective on how our wardrobe choices reflect and potentially influence our mental and physical states. Krochman and Pierce bring their unique backgrounds in mental health and documentary filmmaking to bear, dissecting the layers of meaning behind seemingly simple fashion trends and personal style choices.

True to the podcast's mission, they go beyond surface-level fashion commentary, asking the fundamental question: not what are you wearing, but why are you wearing it?

Follow Teddi, Melissa, and the show on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@teddilovesfashion⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@the.melissa.fierce⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@getdressedfordinner⁠⁠⁠

Teddi's dress is from: @buddhatrends

In this powerful episode, host Theodora Krochman and co-host Melissa Pierce sit down with Michele Nadeem-Baker and Susan Kanoff, the dynamic duo behind Kicking Cancer in Heels podcast. These remarkable women have created a vital community supporting women living with cancer, demonstrating how fashion and personal style can serve as emotional armor during life's toughest battles.

Michele, a former broadcast journalist and Global Chief Communications Officer, and Susan, the founder of Uncommon Threads and the popular Midlife Fashionista blog, share their journey of creating not only Kicking Cancer in Heels but also CLL Women Strong, a national support group for women with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Together, they explore how fashion intersects with healing, empowerment, and community building.

Join us for an intimate conversation about how clothing choices reflect not just personal style, but also resilience, strength, and the power of community in the face of serious illness.

Links:

⁠Uncommon Threads⁠

⁠Kicking Cancer in Heels⁠

Follow Teddi, Melissa, and the show on Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠@teddilovesfashion⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠ ⁠@the.melissa.fierce⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠ ⁠@getdressedfordinner⁠⁠

Follow Kicking Cancer in Heels: ⁠@kickingcancerinheels⁠