Style for Life

Almost every client I work with struggles in way or another to find jeans that work for them that they feel good in. This podcast unpacks body shapes and jeans styles and how to marry them together. if you have always found buying jeans a struggle for whatever reason then have a listen and head out this weekend to source your best jeans. Check out my blog for all of the images and details about what is best for who. As always a big thank you to Clare from Image Innovators for her sponsorship: https://imageinnovators.com/ For styling services check out: https://www.brightred.co.nz/styling  

Diabetes is rife in New Zealand and with so many people presenting with it I thought it was time to chat to an expert on this and fill in the gaps.    Clara Fergus is a dietitian who has embarked on a PhD looking at the efficacy of continuous glucose monitors and other diabetes-management strategies such as insulin pumps. She shared some very enlightening insights on diabetes and also some great tips and tricks to give yourself the best possible chance to prevent it happening to you.    If you want to contact her for a consultation or for more advice she can be reached by email on:  info.thenutritionspecialist@gmail.com    Massive thank you to our sponsor Clare Maxfield from Image Innovators  https://imageinnovators.com/ You will find me on the following:   https://www.brightred.co.nz/  

In this episode I interview my husband David Rumble about his experience of marriage and being married for 30years and I share my thoughts.   We lament on the challenges and highs of being together so long and we both offer some insights that have worked for us.   This episode is dedicated to him and the life we have created.     Many thanks to our premium sponsor Clare from Image Innovators https://imageinnovators.com/   https://www.brightred.co.nz/  

This week I interviewed Maxene London.  She is an expert in all things podcasting and I wanted to share  how the journey and business of podcasting  has evolved over time.  Maxene is only 29 and has worked in some really interesting places and has so many insights that open up the discussion about podcasting and also help dispel  any myths.  She is a podcast consultant and has also been a judge at the New Zealand podcast awards.    I interviewed her because many of you have been curious about why I do this podcast and what is in it for me.  Maxene and I explain the altruistic nature of podcasting and how we both see it as a very progressive and fast moving industry with so much potential to grow and expand.      As a thank you for listening, you can get 10% off any of Maxene’s podcasting resources using the code STEPH10 at checkout: https://www.maxenelondoncreative.co.nz/shop-resources.   As always thank you to our major sponsor Image Innovators https://imageinnovators.com/   Thank you for listening every week.  It really means so much.   https://www.brightred.co.nz/  

Sometimes I find that clients are not sure which fashion brands will suit their life,  body and even personal preferences.   In this episode I unpack what to look for in a fashion brand,  how to choose a fashion designer (brand) that you you resonate with and give you some industry insights into our New Zealand fashion industry.    Please note that I have done my best to mention all the brands I have come across and worked with in some capacity.  I acknowledge that I may have left someone out.  I also want to say how much respect and love I have for our New Zealand designers.   We are a tough market and they all strive to provide excellent and beautiful choices for everyone.  Please do support them.   I also want to correct my error as Trelise Cooper has four brands and I said she had three.   The four brands are:   1.  Trelise Cooper  2. Cooper  3.  COOP and  4..  Curate  I mixed this up in the podcast and want to apologise.   Designers are discussed are: Karen Walker Zambesi World Nom*D Sylvester Huffer Juliette Hogan Taylor  Trelise Cooper and associated brands KowTow Saben YuMei Twenty Seven Names Standard Issue Penny Sage Untouched World Maggie Marilyn Tuesday the Label Workshop Denim Campbell Luke Swanndri Sills and Co Max Ruby Caitlin Crisp Knewe Briarwood Check out the podcast to hear all you need to know about our fantastic designers and how they can be a part of your wardrobe.     I also mention style personalities so please feel free to click this link for more info: https://brightred.myprivatestylist.com/your-style-expression/   Thank you to Clare from Image Innovators for her ongoing sponsorship. https://imageinnovators.com/ Check out my webpage for all services: https://www.brightred.co.nz/   Thank you for listening.    

Weddings in any culture are fun and a great celebration for everyone involved.   Much of my work as a stylist leading into wedding season is helping guests and parents of the bridal party select clothes that are appropriate and feel right for the wearer.   This podcast unpacks how to navigate the journey of dressing for a wedding.  Dress codes are covered and key points include:   Wearing white? What does the invite state How to be comfortable and stylish What is to much  What is being overdressed and does it matter?  Should I wear a hat?  Mother of bride or groom   - what to wear?  Bridal party colours  Seasonal considerations - beach, summer,  winter etc, What is inappropriate for a wedding How to choose shoes strategically Mostly - enjoy the occasion.     Thank you so much to Image Innovators for their great support of this podcast  - check them out below:  https://imageinnovators.com/ If you want some styling advice or help with your wedding outfit then click on the link below:   https://www.brightred.co.nz/      

For the past two years my husband David has been attending a mens walking group on a Sunday morning.  As well as being a good physical challenge it has also been a very positive experience for connecting with other men from all different walks of life.   This group was started 10years ago by Rev Paul Morrow who has invited men who in turn have invited other men.  On the last count when he looked at the total number of people he has had attend the walk over the 10year period there were close to 250.  On a weekly basis the numbers fluctuate but there is always a good group.  On occasion one of the wives, partners or friends will walk too but it is typically for the men to connect.   This week I interviewed Paul Morrow about his views, lived experience and concerns about men having meaningful and fulfilling friendships with other men.  Paul is an interesting man with a kind and balanced view of the way we connect.   Enjoy this podcast and thank you for listening.     Thank you to Image Innovators our premium sponsor for your support.   https://imageinnovators.com/ Feel free to check out our blog for a written view of this podcast  https://www.brightred.co.nz/post/need-and-benefits-of-human-connection And if you want any Bright Red Services  https://www.brightred.co.nz/    

In this episode Stephanie explores the basis and need for human connection.  She covers off what it is and how we can improve our relationships by being better connected to each other.  In a world where much of our connection has moved online the way we connect has changed and there is an impact.    This episode also discusses loneliness which can be the end result of no connection.  Sometimes loneliness can lead to poor mental health.  If you feel at risk please see some of the links below that point you to areas of support.   https://www.lifeline.org.nz/ As always a big thank you to Clare and the team from Image Innovators for their sponsorship of this podcast.  https://imageinnovators.com/ If you want to read more about this topic feel free to check out Stephanie's blog. https://www.brightred.co.nz/blog      

In this episode as the summer here in New Zealand is (mostly lol) in full swing Stephanie unpacks what she is seeing the the shops that you can buy now.   Stephanie explains how to wear these trends and also how things can be recycled from years gone by...   The trends explored in this issue are:  1. Chocolate brown  2. Long full skirts  3. Co-ords - this is matching tops and bottoms  4. The Pantone colour of the year - 'Cloud dancer’ which is just white  5. Low rise wider legged jeans 6. Low rise longer shorts 7. Some shorter shorts low rise  8. 90's slip dresses and camisole tops 9. One shouldered and asymmetric tops  10. Chunky necklaces and jewellery 11. Birkenstocks and lattice footwear A big thank you to our sponsor Image Innovators.  https://imageinnovators.com/ Feel free to contact me if you some help with your style.   https://www.brightred.co.nz/ Have a great week...     

At this busy time of the year, it is really challenging to find time to prioritise self-care.  In this episode, Stephanie discusses the stats around exercise adherence and reiterates the recommended guidelines for exercise.  She also covers the common barriers to exercise and what the health impacts are of not exercising.    She then gives some top tips to get you moving at this time of the year:    Make it enjoyable.  Pair up with others/buddy system  Start small and build habits  Schedule exercise  Set goals  Track progress  Give yourself a non-food reward  Know your ‘why’ and let it motivate you Focus on how it makes you feel  Stay consistent    She troubleshoots all the issues that can get in the way and provides practical tips to help you navigate the challenges that inevitably come up.     For help with all things motivation and exercise, please contact Steph    https://www.brightred.co.nz/accountability-coaching   Thank you to Image Innovators for their amazing sponsorship of this podcast.     https://imageinnovators.com/

In May of 2025 it was my great pleasure to sign Melody up for a 6 month accountability coaching package.  She came to me feeling extremely body conscious,  exhausted and very frustrated with her health outcomes.  We had a long conversation and made a plan for her that worked with her busy family with two small children and a husband and got started.     This podcast tells Melody’s story and it really is a story of transformation,  finding herself again after babies and becoming the best version of herself.  Without giving too much away have a listen and hear for yourself how it all unfolded.  Warning you might need a tissue as things get a little emotional (in a great way)…..    Check out the link below if you want to find out more about accountability coaching or any of the services I offer.   https://www.brightred.co.nz/accountability-coaching   Many thanks to Clare Maxfield from Image Innovators for her amazing support of the podcast.  I am very grateful.     https://imageinnovators.com/

Today we’re bringing you one of our most popular episodes of 2025, a listener favourite we’re re-releasing for Boxing Day while we take a short break. I was so privileged to interview my beautiful friend Shannon-Leigh Litt who is in the middle of attempting to break the Guiness world record for the most number of consecutive ultra marathons run - this is over 51kms per day.  Today she completed ultra 382 - the current record is 200.   Listen for some super heated inspiration from this incredible athlete and human.   Thank you Shannon and best of luck with your amazing journey.  

Today we’re bringing you one of our most popular episodes of 2025, a listener favourite we’re re-releasing while we take a short break. In this episode, Stephanie shares her journey of packing light for an extended holiday. She discusses her strategies for choosing the right bags, selecting essential clothing, and organising her items using packing cells. Stephanie talks about the importance of comfort in footwear and shares her go-to travel snacks. She also covers toiletries and personal care items, and concludes with a checklist for her carry-on essentials, all while aiming to travel efficiently and avoid overpacking. For resources and information around accountability coaching and personal styling, check out: https://www.brightred.co.nz/ For info on the cotopaxi bag, check out: https://www.cotopaxi.co.nz/

Right on Christmas time, we spend weeks celebrating the end of our year.  This involves many celebrations, parties and get-togethers that almost always revolve around food and alcohol.  It’s a great thing to connect with others in this way, with food and often alcohol being a social lubricant and a common enjoyment.  Sometimes these celebrations and events do not provide options that support your health outcome, which can lead to feeling bloated,  unwell and sometimes regretful.     The top 10 tips that Stephanie discusses are below:      Ask yourself is this s 10/10 for me?  Have I pre planned how I am going to show up to this event?   How am I treating alcohol?  Am I bringing a plate or checking the menu first?  Can we make the function an ‘active’ on so the focus is on the event not drinking and eating  Are we practising mindful eating rather than mindless snacking while talking to someone.   If things get out of hand can we get back on track the next day and nourish our bodies?  Are we practising gratitude?  What’s happening with water?   Are we connecting with people not just food.    Feels free to reach out if you hold celebrations have got a little off track and you need some help to get back into focus.   https://www.brightred.co.nz/accountability-coaching   A huge thank you to Clare Maxfield at Image Innovators for her continued and generous support of the podcast.      https://imageinnovators.com/

In this episode, Stephanie explores the causes and management strategies for dealing with Christmas burnout.     Christmas burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by the stress of the holiday season, which can be triggered by financial pressures, family expectations, and packed schedules. Signs include fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, a loss of joy, and feeling overwhelmed. This often occurs in the lead-up to Christmas.     She identifies that Christmas burnout can be caused by any of the following:      Financial pressure Family expectations  A packed schedule  Comparison  Perfectionism   She also discusses some suggestions to manage it, including managing self-care, amongst others.  Tune in to learn more.     Thank you to Image Innovators for their sponsorship of Style for Life.     https://imageinnovators.com/   Thank you so much for listening.     https://www.brightred.co.nz/

Many aspects of fashion styling have seen a resurgence over the past few years  - colour analysis being the big one! Such a great service!  The other service that has risen in popularity is exploring your clothing style personality.   This is a service I have offered my clients for 20 years and I thought it may be useful to unpack it on the podcast this week so you understand the relevance and intention of discovering this fun fact about yourself.     I offer an online quiz that helps you work out where you sit.  This is super useful when you are shopping or even working out how you want to show up in the world.  The 7 clothing style personalities covered are:   Classic Creative Dramatic Elegant Feminine  Natural  Sexy    Have a listen and learn how it all works and maybe you can work out which one sounds like you?   IF you want to know for sure check out the link today to discover who you are…    https://brightred.myprivatestylist.com/your-style-expression/   If you want to know even more then check out my website for all styling options.     https://www.brightred.co.nz/   A massive thank you to our great premium who sponsor Image Innovators who offer all things style.     https://imageinnovators.com/   Until next week…

This week, Steph explores empty nest syndrome and shares her experiences.  She also discusses the challenges and positives of the children leaving home.     The challenges traversed are.     Identity crisis, as your purpose has changed  Anxiety and worry about your children away from home  Loss of control of your children’s day-to-day life  Regret and guilt about your parenting choices and behaviours.   Financial implications of supporting a child outside the home Role transformation to a supportive guide rather than a parent  Unrecognised grief from others who have not experienced this or who do not share it  Changed social interactions as your children’s friends and their parents are often no longer in your realm.     Positives of Empty Nest Syndrome  Rediscover and pursue personal interests Focus on career and preprofessional development  More time for self-care and mental well-being. A sense of accomplishment in seeing their children become successful, independent adults.  Deeper marital  / partner satisfaction New parent-child dynamic to a more mature, supportive friendship based on mutual respect and shared experiences. Stronger social connections with old and new friends  Time to spend with your aging parents    This week, we are really excited to have a premium sponsor, Image Innovators Australia, on board.  Please check out this link to see what they offer.  I am proud to be partnering with them to offer Fashion Stylist Training heading into 2026.     https://imageinnovators.com/

In this episode, Steph unpacks all there is to know about wearing prints.  She explains the difference between. Plain and printed fabric and discusses the different types of prints in 5 broad categories:   Floral  Geometric  Abstract  Animal print Ethnic print    She discusses the reasons why people may choose not to wear a print and gives some encouragement to think outside the box when it comes to print.      She also explains how print can stretch and grow your wardrobe and give you plenty of options to choose from  - it also takes the thinking out of dressing when you pair it with other solid colours.    So many tips and tricks in this podcast for everyone.   https://www.brightred.co.nz/colour-analysis-consultation

This week Steph takes a deep dive into her wardrobe to show you how to put together an outfit for Race day.  Whether you are attending for fun with a group of friends,  wanting to enter the best dressed or going with a bent for the horses there are certain things that make a race day outfit work well.   Start with one element and work the rest of your outfit around it.  In this episode Steph shares how she started with a Zambesi dress when she won Addington Cup Days Fashion in the Field in 2006.  She then styled the hat, shoes, jacket and all accessories to work with the dress.    Alternatively she explains how you can start with a hat or fascinator and then work your outfit to fit with the vibe..  Aligning colours and shapes makes your outfit look cohesive – so if your clothing has circles in the fabric emulating this in your accessories and footwear gives a ‘styled’ look.    If you want advice for racewear or any style advice links are below.    Brightred.co.nz

In this episode, Stephanie explores the concept of amygdala hijack, a term used to describe the emotional responses that occur during conflict or escalation.   She identifies three primary responses: fight, flight, and freeze, and emphasises the importance of recognising which response one is experiencing in order to manage emotions effectively during challenging conversations.   For resources and information around accountability coaching and personal styling, check out: https://www.brightred.co.nz/