Ep. 39: Author Christine Morrison on how style has guided her life decisions—from relationships to where she lives to her career and publishing her first book at 56
Closet Philosophy
We are so excited to welcome author Christine Morrison to the pod this week! Christine is a seasoned writer, editor, and brand builder who recenlty published her first book, a fashion essay collection entitled Clothes Minded: Fashionable Essays About Finding Yourself. As you'll hear in the conversation, the title is apt. Fashion was Christine's guiding light when it came to which boyfriends to dump and which jobs to move accross the ountry for. And style is still leading the way—she explores on her substack what it means to value personal style into your 50s and beyond. In this episode, we...
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Ep. 38: What to wear over 50—don't Google it
Closet Philosophy
This will not be a surprise to anyone who’s been following along with the pod: We think fashion rules, especially when they correspond to age, are really dumb and you should ignore them. It’s shocking to us that these rules persist, and saddens us that when a woman Google’s “how to dress after 50,” she is fed all sorts of nonsense. For this episode, we dive into those Google results. We walk you through why the results are a travesty, and what to do instead. The main takeaway? “F*ck you Lloyd.” We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you do please leave us a review....
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Ep. 37: What happens when you wear the wrong thing?
Closet Philosophy
The desire for acceptance and belonging is deeply human. And fashion is one way that we signal who we are and what group we belong to. So it's not weird to freak out a little bit if you find yourself at an event wearing something that feels way different from everyone else. In this episode, Kristen describes a recent occasion when she had exactly that experience. Even at 57 and with a lifetime of getting dressed behind her, she still freaked out a little! Jennine offers some perspective and tips on how to get dressed so that it's less likely to happen, and when it does, how to...
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Ep. 36: Your insecurity is probably your superpower
Closet Philosophy
We all can be really hard on ourselves at times. And it’s no wonder, with messages all around us about the things we should really fix on our faces and bodies. Its never-ending, espcially on social media. But what if we embraced our perceived flaws and recognized them as superpowers. Whether it’s a large, distinctive nose or earned lines on your face, letting go of the insecurities we tend to feel around these characteristics can be magical. It’s much easier said than done, of course. On this week’s episode, Jennine and Kristen talk about ways to approach embracing your...
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Ep. 35: Alicia Rose is giving menopause the punk rock treatment it needs
Closet Philosophy
Our guest this week is , who is bringing a revolution to the conversation about perimenopause and menopause with an upcoming documentary called . The film will examine the travesty of the Women’s Health Initiative through a decidedly GenX lens. In 2002, the WHI was halted with reports of increased breast cancer risk linked to hormone therapy. We know now that the analysis of the data was deeply flawed. Still, the majority of the women who at the time were reaping the benefits of HRT abruptly stopped taking it. Hormone replacement held an undeserved stigma for the next 24 (and...
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Ep. 34: Style cheerleader and Sr. UX director Asta Gaur on how to dress for the occasion, the location, and still be fully you
Closet Philosophy
Asta Gaur is a Google exec by day and your internet style cheerleader by night. On , she shares unfiltered takes on dressing in a male-dominated industry, daily GRWMs showing how she dresses intuitively, and the mindset shifts women can take to stop playing small with their style. This week on Closet Philosophy, Jennine and Kristen go deep into Asta’s styling process and what she’s learned about getting dressed by wearing what feels completely her to her job as a Sr. UX director at Google. We talk about the male gaze, the many problems with “flattering,” and how she...
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Ep. 33: Dress for the Life You're Actually Living
Closet Philosophy
In this episode, Jennine and Kristen talk about something that's often overlooked in personal style advice: how your wardrobe needs to match the life you're actually living, not just your Pinterest boards. Jennine shares her recent experience moving from San Francisco's busy Mission District to the quieter, beach-adjacent Sunset neighborhood—and how it's making her completely rethink her wardrobe. City loafers don't work on sandy beach paths, and those pristine sneakers aren't cutting it on dirt trails. Her style is evolving out of necessity, and it's raising a bigger question: are you...
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Ep. 32: What happens when you stop trying to be pretty
Closet Philosophy
In this episode of Closet Philosophy, Kristen and Jennine explore what it means to age visibly, dress authentically, and resist the pressure to always be striving for youth and prettiness. We start with a reflection on the cultural impact of Catherine O’Hara, her premature passing, and the rare visibility of older women who embrace their faces, bodies, and style without apology. From there, we dive into a wide-ranging discussion about beauty standards, midlife identity, and the complicated relationship many women have with being seen. We unpack how personal style can serve as both armor and...
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Ep. 31: From big tech and law to gold and clay: Two founders on creativity, identity, and the courage to pivot
Closet Philosophy
What does it really take to leave a prestigious, intellectually demanding career and step fully into a creative life? Two women who did exactly that join us for this episode of Closet Philosophy. Erin Hupp and Subikksha Balaje come from wildly different professional backgrounds (law and data science, respectively), yet both found their way back to creativity through clay, metal, and a pull toward working with their hands. Erin Hupp is a former child welfare and land use lawyer who now runs in the San Francisco Bay Area, creating sculptural dinnerware, lighting, and objects for restaurants and...
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Ep. 30: Less is really more: Limitations are the secret to better style
Closet Philosophy
In this episode of Closet Philosophy, Kristen and Jennine dig into a counterintuitive idea: less really can be more — especially when it comes to personal style. Jennine shares how her attempt to curb overconsumption led her to experiment with a 40-piece wardrobe ecosystem, not as a deprivation tactic, but as a creative framework. What started as a practical solution quickly became a powerful way to clarify her style, reduce spending, and build confidence. Together, Kristen and Jennine explore how creative limitations fuel innovation across disciplines—from art and graphic design to...
info_outlineThe desire for acceptance and belonging is deeply human. And fashion is one way that we signal who we are and what group we belong to. So it's not weird to freak out a little bit if you find yourself at an event wearing something that feels way different from everyone else.
In this episode, Kristen describes a recent occasion when she had exactly that experience. Even at 57 and with a lifetime of getting dressed behind her, she still freaked out a little!
Jennine offers some perspective and tips on how to get dressed so that it's less likely to happen, and when it does, how to remain calm.
We discuss:
- What Planet of the Apes can teach us about the need to feel accepted
- How to get dressed based on how you want to feel
- Internal versus external locus of control
- How to avoid the vortex of changing 25 times before you leave the house
- How trying to "dress for the occasion" can backfire
And lots more! We hope you enjoy this episode, and please leave us a review if you do!