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.
What if one of the coolest fashion stores in NYC was built by walking up to strangers on the street and asking, “Where’d you get that fit?”
In this episode of Through the Back Door, Claire sits down with Sophia Boli, founder of Retail Pharmacy — a cult-favorite boutique in the Lower East Side that’s become a hub for underground fashion and emerging designers. From chasing down fits on the street to curating one of the coolest stores in NYC, Sophia shares how personal taste, community, and creative grit shaped every step of her journey.
They talk about how the post-COVID era gave space for real artistic expression, the role of Dime Square in shaping a new downtown aesthetic, and what it actually takes to run a store, day in and day out.
This conversation is funny, sharp, and full of fashion deep cuts — a must-listen for anyone building something real in NYC or chasing creative freedom.
Key Takeaways:This episode dives into how self-image is shaped by our digital presence, and how Sophia turned a pop-up into a lasting retail space by staying rooted in community and personal taste. We talk about the evolution of Dime Square as a cultural force, the financial and emotional realities of running a fashion business in NYC, and how Fashion Week has shifted into a more accessible yet oversaturated space. Sophia shares why storytelling matters more than ever in a crowded industry, how authenticity cuts through the noise, and why building a career in fashion is less about virality and more about consistency, connection, and grit.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Navigating Self-Image and Media Perception
00:02:51 Sophia's Journey into Fashion
00:05:33 Influences and Inspirations in Fashion
00:08:40 The Birth of Retail Pharmacy
00:11:10 Building a Brand Identity
00:13:58 The Aesthetic of Retail Pharmacy
00:16:45 Curating Unique Fashion Pieces
00:19:49 The Challenges of Running a Store
00:22:41 The Reality of Retail Success
00:25:34 Balancing Work and Personal Life
00:28:31 Seasonal Challenges in Retail
00:30:10 The Evolution of Dime Square
00:37:53 Post-COVID Fashion Trends
00:44:57 Fashion Week Dynamics
00:58:33 The Future of Fashion Shows
00:59:18 Fashion Week Aspirations
01:00:18 Breaking into the Fashion Industry
01:03:40 Experiences at Paris Fashion Week
01:05:37 Future Plans and Community Engagement
01:14:10 Advice for Aspiring Fashion Entrepreneurs
Follow Sophia:Instagram: @retailpharmacy_
🎧 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
💌 Subscribe, rate, and share if you loved the episode — more fashion deep dives coming soon.
If you’re into fashion on social media, there’s no doubt you’ve come across @notsoquietluxury either it is the content, accent or the topics. I always find myself coming back for Nikesh’s pov becuase he isnt always pointing out the obvious—the kind of stuff you don’t see from a lot of other fashion commentators. I stumbled across NotSoQuietLuxury a few fashion weeks ago, and ever since, I’ve been following his content and knew I had to have him on the podcast.
I’m always curious how people get into the things they love in fashion—how they learn and come to really know it. To my surprise, this isn’t even Nik’s main job. He’s actually a pharmacist in real life, which I think adds to the sincerity of his fashion commentary and criticism—because he isn’t “owned” by any brands.
We talk about fashion’s intersection with social media, influencers, and how his content has gotten him into some of the hardest-to-access spaces. But it’s not always greener on the other side. I feel like having a point of view like Nik’s in the fashion world is honestly rare and lucky.
He’s been called overly critical—but in a world where it feels like everyone is a yes-man for a brand deal, we need more people like Nik. People who can speak thoughtfully and clearly about what’s really going on in fashion—who actually provoke conversation. Because isn’t that why we came to social media in the first place?
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Follow Nikesh: @notsoquietluxury
Listen to Through the Back Door on Spotify and other streaming platforms
Follow the 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.
Episode Summary:In this episode, Claire sits down with Molly Rooyakkers, the creator behind Style Analytics, a data-driven fashion account gaining traction on social media. For Molly, fashion has always been a source of confidence, and her passion for both style and analysis inspired her to start Style Analytics as a side project. Influenced by visionary designers like Alexander McQueen, Molly brings a creative yet analytical perspective to the fashion landscape—using data to understand consumer behavior and forecast trends. She shares how social media shapes the way trends evolve, why sustainability remains central to her content, and how she hopes to foster deeper conversations about fashion’s cultural relevance. Looking ahead, Molly envisions building a fashion-focused research agency that can shape the industry’s future through insight and innovation.
Follow Molly Rooyakkers / Style Analytics: Instagram: @style.analytics Substack: styleanalytics.substack.com
Find the host Claire Vastola and the podcast online:Listen to Through the Back Door on Spotify and other streaming platforms.Follow me on Instagram: @girlintofashionFor fashion networking, follow @workinginfashionRead more on Substack: https://workinginfashion.substack.com/
Subscribe, rate, and share if you loved the episode. More fashion deep dives coming soon.
In this episode, Claire talks with Rebecca-Jo about her journey through the fashion world—from modeling in Asia to becoming a content creator known for her bold, unfiltered take on style. Rebecca shares how she broke into modeling in the early aughts, a completely different world from today. She lived in model houses, traveled to places like China with nothing but a flip phone, and had to quickly learn how to navigate intense and often isolating situations. Working in Asia opened up new opportunities and gave her cultural insight, but also revealed the limitations of the industry—especially when trying to move from high fashion to commercial work. The pandemic hit hard, forcing her to adapt and find new ways to express herself creatively, like self-photography and online content. Through it all, she embraced her identity as an “unhinged fashion girly,” using social media to spotlight sustainable fashion, Canadian designers, and the emotional side of style. Claire and Rebecca-Jo also dive into the differences between fashion and shopping influencers, the power of authenticity, and the need for a stronger Canadian fashion identity. They reflect on how fashion can be a political and emotional tool, pushing back against perfectionism, societal norms, and the polished "clean girl" aesthetic. Rebecca-Jo shares advice for creators trying to find their voice, emphasizing the value of community, creative growth, and being true to yourself—even in a world that rewards conformity shorten this to be a instagram post saying tht there is a new episode out add allthe call outsn the bottoms
Follow Rebecca-Jo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youthin.asia/
Find me and the podcast online:Listen to Through the Back Door on Spotify and other streaming platforms.Follow me on Instagram: @girlintofashionFor fashion networking, follow @workinginfashionRead more on 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 Amelie Stanescu, the voice behind The Fashion Archives, for an intimate and wide-ranging conversation about fashion, identity, and finding your place in a shifting industry. Amelie shares her journey from Romania to Berlin and even Paris, where she carved out a space for herself in the fashion world. She reflects on the contrasts between Berlin’s experimental, open-minded energy and Paris’s structured, legacy-driven scene, and how each city shaped her creative perspective.
Amelie opens up about how her academic background in business continues to inform her approach to content, storytelling, and entrepreneurship. Claire and Amelie dive into everything from the pressure of follower counts to the challenges of gaining access to fashion shows, and the realities of building a personal brand in the age of Instagram. They discuss the rise of fashion as entertainment, the transition from visual content to podcasting, and what it really means to create something with substance in a trend-chasing world.
Their dialogue touches on the emotional complexities of being a content creator—navigating imposter syndrome, embracing vulnerability, and learning to speak with conviction in an industry that often rewards conformity. From Copenhagen Fashion Week to the politics of invitations, to what it means to add real value as a designer or storyteller, this episode pulls back the curtain on the multifaceted realities of working in fashion today.
Follow Amelie:
YouTube: The Fashion Archives
Spotify: The Fashion Archive – The Podcast
Instagram: @chez.amelie
Follow the Host:
Instagram: @girlintofashion
Podcast IG: @throughthebackdoor.pod
Through the Back Door is an extension of Blossom Nite, our real-life space for connection, collaboration, and celebration in fashion.
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In this episode:
Mary Korlin-Downs — product designer, creative director, and founder of All Things Fashion Tech — shares her journey into the world of fashion tech, her inspirations, and her vision for the future. We dive into the intersection of fashion and technology, emerging career paths, and the role of sustainability and AI in shaping what's next. Mary also emphasizes the importance of building community and staying consistent when growing an audience, offering personal insights and real talk about navigating the fashion tech landscape.
💻 Explore All Things Fashion Tech:
Substack: allthingsfashiontech.substack.com
Website: allthingsfashiontech.com
Instagram: @allthingsfashiontech
Follow Mary:
Instagram: @marykorlindowns
TikTok: @marykorlindowns
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Through the Back Door is an extension of Blossom Nite — our real-life space for connecting, collaborating, and celebrating the creatives shaping the future.
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📲 Stay connected:
In this engaging conversation, Hanna and Claire explore the intersection of makeup artistry and photography, discussing Hanna's journey from a photographer to a beauty influencer. They delve into the impact of social media, the evolution of trends in the beauty industry, and the role of AI in creative processes. Hanna shares her experiences with viral content and the challenges of maintaining authenticity in a fast-paced digital landscape, while also reflecting on the personal growth that comes from embracing change and creativity. In this engaging conversation, Hanna shares her journey from personal struggles to launching her own lipstick line, emphasizing the importance of creativity, community, and authenticity in the beauty industry. The discussion touches on overcoming self-doubt, the significance of finding balance to avoid burnout, and the joy of creating art. Hanna expresses her desire to build a supportive community for beauty creators and highlights the transformative power of makeup as a form of self-expression.Follow them on instagram and tiktok and youtube!
https://www.instagram.com/not_another_hanna/
