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Style POVAuthor: Gabrielle Arruda
We are here to examine our relationships with style and aesthetics. The goal is to learn to trust our fashion instincts, develop a unique style POV, and find strength through style. Language: en-us Genres: Arts, Fashion & Beauty Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Fashion Is Not Frivolous: Identity, Power & Psychology with Dr. Valerie Steele
Episode 6
Tuesday, 25 November, 2025
In this episode of Style POV, I’m joined by Dr. Valerie Steele, fashion historian, author, and director of The Museum at FIT. Dr. Steele has shaped the way the world understands fashion. Her work examines the cultural, psychological, and emotional forces behind what we wear and why it matters.We talk about her latest exhibition, Dress, Dreams and Desire: Fashion and Psychoanalysis, and explore how clothing reflects fantasy, identity, memory, and the unconscious. If you’ve ever felt that what you wear holds meaning beyond the outfit, this conversation will affirm it.In this episode, you’ll learn:How fashion became her lifelong pursuit and why it is never frivolousWhether corsets were oppressive or empoweringThe psychological connection between clothing, identity, and desireHow style can be armor, transformation, and storytellingWhy fashion is a "deep surface" with layers of meaningIf you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to follow the show and leave a rating. It helps more listeners discover Style POV.More about Dr. Valerie Steele:Website: The Museum at FITInstragram: @valerie_steele_fashionDress, Dreams, & Desire: A History of Fashion and Psychoanalysis, find it here. (highly recommend!!)FIT Exhibit: https: //www.fitnyc.edu/museum/exhibitions/dress-dreams-desireDr. Valerie Steele Photo Credit: Smiljana PerosTimestamps01:01 – Discovering fashion as more than ‘frivolous’03:31 – The corset: Liberating or restricting?05:59 – Clothing as parts of history09:48 – Pacing of fashion evolution14:27 – Traditional psychoanalytic fashion ideas17:07 – Gender fluidity in fashion22:51 – Identification and fashion30:33 – Clothes as armor35:29 – Dreams, Desires, and Psychoanalysis Exhibit42:03 – The idea of a deep surface46:20 – Major fashion influence47:38 – What’s next for Dr. Valerie SteeleFollow me❤️ blog → https://gabriellearruda.com/ podcast → https://www.stylepovpodcast.com youtube → https://www.youtube.com/@Gabriellearrudadesign facebook group→ https://www.facebook.com/groups/gabriellearruda instagram→ https://www.instagram.com/gabriellearrudadesign/ tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriellearrudadesign? pinterest → https://www.pinterest.com/gabriellearrudadesign/ email → gabrielle@gabriellearruda.com Disclaimer: The Style POV Podcast content is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. The views expressed by hosts and guests are their own. Gabrielle Arruda is not liable for any errors or omissions, and listeners use the information at their own risk.
