The Style Stories Podcast

Here's Lisa's edit of the most loved clothes her actual real life clients have bought this season so far. Check it out.  Stop Following Style Rules That Were Never Written for You: What if the wardrobe advice you've been following was never meant for you? Personal stylist Lisa Gillbe, who has spent 16 years dressing real people in London, takes apart generic capsule wardrobe rules and trend cycles. In their place, she gives you a way to work out what actually feels like you, with a clear process, three style words to aim for, and a fresh way to shop and get dressed.What you'll hear: Style starts with you, not the rules. Lisa argues that personal style is about knowing yourself, what feels right, and how your style evolves. Body shape and colour are useful, but secondary. Her own three style words: relaxed, feminine with edge, and vintage. A step-by-step way to find your style: collect outfit inspiration on Pinterest or in screenshots, spot the patterns, then pull out your three style words. Edit with thought, not a stopwatch. Lisa pushes back on the rigid "discard anything unworn for a year" rule. Notice instead which clothes make you feel good. The three layers of a wardrobe: practical pieces, core items, and mood shifters or statement pieces. Peace buying: buy what genuinely excites you. Peace dressing: pick a piece you love and build the outfit around it. Styling ideas to try: pair statement pieces with simple ones, play with proportion, and mix contrasts. A client story: one overwhelmed client had a packed wardrobe, and five bags of clothes were removed. Listener reviews: Lisa responds to themes including buying what you love, confidence with age, and the three-style-word workbook. She also flags comfortable, stylish shoes as a future topic. Try this: Gather outfit inspiration from Pinterest or your screenshots. Look for the patterns that keep showing up. Choose three style words. Edit your wardrobe thoughtfully, keeping what makes you feel good. Next time you shop or dress, start with what excites you. Follow Lisa on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/lisegillbestylist/?hl=en-gb Subscribe to Lisa's Substack and get the 3 word Workbook here

In this episode of The Style Stories Podcast Lisa is joined by Maxine, the vibrant voice behind @dressedtothemax for a warm and honest conversation about style, confidence, changing bodies, and dressing for yourself. Maxine shares how leaving a long career in banking during perimenopause led her to Instagram, where she found a community of women who wanted to see themselves represented in fashion. From navigating lipedema and significant weight loss to rediscovering her personal style, she talks openly about health, body image, and the freedom that comes with getting older. Together, Lisa and Maxine explore why clothes should bring joy rather than approval, how to resist trend pressure, and why the best style advice is often simply to wear what makes you feel like yourself. In this episode Finding confidence and community through personal style Perimenopause, identity shifts, and feeling unseen in fashion Maxine’s journey from banking to building Dressed to the Max Living with lipedema and choosing self-acceptance Weight loss, health, and changing how you get dressed Why body shape matters more than size labels Shopping with intention, altering clothes, and using Vinted Wearing colour, accessories, and pieces that genuinely bring joy Letting go of age-based fashion “rules” Find & follow Maxine: Dressed to the Max on Instagram, TikTok   Find & follow your host Lisa here on Instagram Book Lisa's Sixty Minute Styling Session here.   Email Lisa: [email protected]  

The Heart Flutter Wardrobe Formula Lisa Gillbe introduces a personal styling framework for rebuilding a wardrobe that feels exciting, not stressful. Drawing on 16 years as a London stylist, she explains why so many wardrobes end up full of “just in case” pieces and how to reconnect with what actually makes getting dressed feel good. In this solo episode, Lisa focuses on one central idea: your clothes should create that small spark of recognition and confidence when you look in the mirror. The episode is about tuning out wardrobe noise and finding a clearer, more joyful way to dress.   Work with Lisa Directly - media enquiries [email protected] Work with Lisa on your personal wardrobe - find out more Get Lisa's recommendations from today's podcast on her Substack here Book your Sixty Minute Styling Session with Lisa here Key points Lisa Gillbe, a personal stylist in London with 16 years of experience, frames the episode around helping people get dressed with confidence. She describes the feeling she wants listeners to reconnect with: that “flutter” moment when an outfit feels unmistakably like you. She says many wardrobes are filled with sensible buys, last-minute purchases, and items chosen for a “fantasy self” rather than real daily life. The episode’s main idea is the Heart Flutter Wardrobe Formula, a simple approach for identifying what you genuinely love to wear. Lisa positions wardrobe building as something that should feel emotionally rewarding, not confusing or dutiful. She encourages listeners to open their wardrobe while listening and use the episode as a reset for how they think about their clothes. The goal is to cut through fashion noise and make getting dressed feel good again. The episode sets up a practical, self-reflective style process rather than a trend-driven one. Timestamps 00:00 - Lisa Gillbe introduces The Style Stories and her styling background 00:30 - Why wardrobes fill up with “just in case” clothes and fantasy-self purchases 00:58 - Introducing the Heart Flutter Wardrobe Formula and the episode’s main promise

The Style Stories Podcast: with Caleigh O'Donnell 'The Style Scientist' on the 3Cs framework for personal style. If you are feeling disconnected from your wardrobe or just interested in personal style, this one is for you! Outfits are a recipe - it's all about balance. In today's episode, we unpick the most important things to think about when it comes to building a great wardrobe. Forget all the dated style advice, add a bit of science and feeling to how you approach your style and everything will feel so much more aligned.  Follow Caleigh here: https://www.instagram.com/itscalbal/?hl=en Follow Lisa here: https://www.instagram.com/lisegillbestylist/?hl=en Lisa Gillbe talks with Caleigh O'Donnell, the style scientist, about why personal style is more than following generic rules about body shape, colour analysis, or capsule wardrobes. They explore how getting dressed can become a tool for self-knowledge, confidence, and creative expression. Caleigh explains her 3Cs framework, built around comfort, confidence, and creativity, and how it helps people audit their wardrobes, spot style patterns, and build outfits that actually feel aligned with who they are. Key topics Lisa introduces Caleigh O'Donnell and her fresh approach to personal style. Why style is not frivolous or superficial. How getting dressed with intention can help you listen to and understand yourself. Clothing as both a communication tool and a way to feel grounded, powerful, or creative. The limits of capsule wardrobes, body-shape rules, and colour analysis. Why generic style advice often misses the individual. The 3Cs framework: comfort, confidence, and creativity. How to pull out your “top 10s” from your wardrobe. Identifying the specific style elements that make you feel a certain way. Recognising wardrobe gaps and building a better mix of pieces. Why a wardrobe should be viewed as a system rather than a collection of isolated items. Whether the “if you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it” rule really works. How upbringing, geography, and personal history influence style. Caleigh’s seven-week group programme for discovering and developing personal style. Timestamps 00:00 — Why Lisa invited Caleigh O'Donnell onto the show 00:38 — The problem with generic style advice and the promise of the 3Cs 02:53 — Why style is not superficial or frivolous 04:20 — Clothing, intention, and learning to listen to yourself 06:30 — Dressing for how you want to feel in high-stakes moments 07:59 — Why Caleigh started questioning traditional style advice 09:55 — Rejecting the goal of looking richer, younger, or thinner 11:50 — Comfort, confidence, and creativity as the real anchor 14:28 — Why two people can look good in the same dress but feel different 16:20 — Starting with the desired outcome instead of the rule 17:12 — Looking backward through your wardrobe for patterns 19:34 — The first step: pulling out your top 10s 20:32 — Style elements matter more than specific garments 23:13 — Defining comfort, confidence, and creativity 24:32 — Creativity is novelty and play, not just boldness 25:29 — Creating your North Star style vision 26:24 — Thinking about wardrobe gaps like a recipe 27:52 — Why having lots of clothes is not the same as having a balanced wardrobe 30:02 — Evaluating clothes as part of a system 31:12 — The one-year rule and why context matters 34:54 — How geography and upbringing influence style 37:42 — Why Caleigh once felt embarrassed to care about clothes 39:33 — A pivotal style moment and finding yourself through clothes 41:35 — Why generic frameworks can still be useful guardrails 42:07 — Why Caleigh built her own model 42:55 — How the seven-week group programme works 44:50 — When the next cohort opens Notable quotes “What you're wearing is an element of communicating with other people, just as words are.”     “The root of what we're all trying to feel is in some way feel comfortable, feel confident, and feel creative.”

Finding Fashion Freedom: Day-to-Day Dressing for Confidence  In this episode of Style Stories, Lisa Gillbe chats with Amy Simpson about the importance of dressing well for yourself, breaking free from ageism, and redefining confidence through fashion. They explore practical tips for elevating everyday style, challenging societal stereotypes, and embracing personal style at any age. Key Topics - 5-10 bullets: The significance of dressing for self-empowerment rather than external approval Amy’s journey from professional dance to launching Nudie Spray, a solution for patch wearers Addressing ageism in fashion and media, and how societal standards impact women's self-image The importance of practice in building confidence to wear bold outfits How casual dress can lead to clutter blindness and a disconnect from personal style The power of small daily rituals like wearing earrings or a statement outfit to boost mood and productivity Challenging outdated stereotypes about women’s fashion, arms coverage, and societal expectations The concept of the "arrival fallacy"—waiting for perfect conditions to enjoy life and style The impact of social media and street style in normalizing diverse aging looks Tips for creating a wardrobe that reflects your current style and lifestyle without spending excess Timestamps: 00:00 - Why dressing well matters for confidence and self-care 00:28 - Introducing Amy Simpson and her background in dance and pharmaceuticals 01:22 - Amy’s transformation and launching Nudie Spray for patch removal 04:32 - Amy’s professional dance career and iconic moments with Kylie Minogue 08:23 - Society's misplaced focus on women's arms and ageism in advertising 11:20 - The myth of arm coverage and body image at any age 12:26 - Why we shouldn’t aspire to Victoria Beckham arms 13:40 - The lack of representation of relatable women in fashion marketing 14:37 - Building a positive self-image and narrative around aging 16:00 - Challenging the "I don’t care" attitude and embracing self-acceptance 17:30 - The importance of small daily efforts like wearing earrings and dressing intentionally 19:33 - The influence of appearance on mood and self-trust 21:07 - Debunking the idea that caring about style is superficial or vain 22:30 - Practicing style as a form of self-therapy and confidence-building 25:43 - The impact of societal stereotypes on women’s style choices 29:09 - The rooted misogyny behind the devaluation of women’s fashion interests 34:50 - The "arrival fallacy" and why waiting for perfect moments to dress up is a trap 36:29 - Creating a special atmosphere daily with small luxurious touches 38:25 - Breaking free from the idea that only wealthy people can dress well 39:22 - Overcoming fears of standing out or being judged at social events 45:00 - Moving past the "dreadful vs. show home" outfit cycles 48:53 - Building confidence to be seen and represented at any age 50:16 - Reframing your relationship with style and self-image 52:11 - The power of bold textures, colors, and quality fabrics 54:50 - Embracing vintage and retro styles, and the influence of Parisian fashion 57:00 - The importance of setting fashion boundaries and investing wisely 58:57 - Resourcefulness in styling and the value of personal style over volume 60:02 - Practical steps to start dressing for today, not for an idealized future Resources & Links: Nudie Spray – For patch removal and skin care Amy Simpson’s Instagram – Follow her style and journey Street Style Photography Accounts – For daily style inspiration Book: Style Evolution – On developing your personal style Connect with Amy Simpson: LinkedIn Instagram Key Frameworks: The three-word style vision The "Bold One" statement rule The concept of “practice” in building style confidence The "Arrival Fallacy" in happiness and style Building personal visual narratives to reflect current self Notable Quotes: "Everyone else is so involved in their own life, they're not thinking about you." "If you build it, they will come—your style, your presence." "Put on earrings every day—transform your mood with a simple act of self-care." Action Items: Practice wearing one statement piece daily Reassess your wardrobe: remove what no longer serves your style Dress intentionally each morning, even if working from home Reframe your mindset: wear clothes you love today, not "when" Start small: add brightness, texture, or a bold accessory to elevate your look In this episode of Style Stories, Lisa Gillbe chats with Amy Simpson  Connect with Amy Simpson: Instagram;  https://www.instagram.com/nudispray/ Website: https://nudispray.com/   Connect with Lisa Gillbe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisegillbestylist/ Substack: https://lisagillbe.substack.com/ Key Frameworks: The three-word style vision The "Bold One" statement rule The concept of “practice” in building style confidence The "Arrival Fallacy" in happiness and style Building personal visual narratives to reflect current self Notable Quotes: "Everyone else is so involved in their own life, they're not thinking about you." "If you build it, they will come—your style, your presence." "Put on earrings every day—transform your mood with a simple act of self-care." Action Items: Practice wearing one statement piece daily Reassess your wardrobe: remove what no longer serves your style Dress intentionally each morning, even if working from home Reframe your mindset: wear clothes you love today, not "when" Start small: add brightness, texture, or a bold accessory to elevate your look