Closet Philosophy

Jennine Jacob and Kristen Philipkoski
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Fashion & Beauty

Think it doesn't matter what you wear? Hosts Jennine Jacob and Kristen Philipkoski uncover the ways your personal style is not just personal. What you choose to wear every day is a political act, whether you're aware of it or not. And putting thought into your personal style is not superficial, unintelligent, or a waste of time. Along with guests including bestselling authors, scientists, entrepreneurs, and more, the Closet Philosophy podcast explores how what we wear influences and reveals what's within.

  1. 3d ago

    Ep. 41: When a feminist gets a facelift, how are the other feminists supposed to feel?

    Rosie O'Donnell has been an outspoken feminist throughout her career. So, as feminists, should we be OK with her getting a facelift, or taking GLP-1 medication? In this episode, Kristen and Jennine discuss the fallout when we question the morality of other women's decisions about their own bodies. Whether it's Rosie, Ariana Grande or Demi Moore, is it useful to judge their personal choices, or is there a more productive approach to grappling with the challenges and pressures facing women today? Rosie O'Donnell's Substack

  2. Sep 6

    Everything is made up, so don't get hung up on size, beauty, or anything else

    This episode kicks off the 4th season of Closet Philosophy, so we had lots to talk about. The overarching theme is that beauty ideals are mercurial. Jennine and Kristen have lived through the whiplash of body type and beauty "trends," and they dug back further into history for even more proof that everything is made up and your best strategy for sanity is to love and accept your physical form wherever it happens to be.  That's easier said than done, no doubt, but we hope that after listening, you'll feel closer to freedom from society's fickle standards.

  3. Mar 29

    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

    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 Writing in Black and White what it means to value personal style into your 50s and beyond. In this episode, we discuss an unfortunate encounter with a orange and black windowpane suit, more than one sub-optimal boyfriend, her time at Calvin Klein (just a few years after Caroline Bessette graced the brands hallways), and more tidbits that will make you want to pick up her book to get more juicy details.  We hope you enjoy this episode and if you do, we'd be so grateful if you wrote a review!

  4. Mar 22

    Ep. 38: What to wear over 50—don't Google it

    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. We'd be so grateful!

  5. Mar 15

    Ep. 37: What happens when you wear the wrong thing?

    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 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!

  6. Mar 8

    Your insecurity is probably your superpower

    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 insecurities and all of the things that make you uniquely you.  Please let us know if you have ideas for future episodes! And if you like the podcast, we'd be super grateful for a quick review. See you next week!

  7. Mar 1

    Ep. 35: Alicia Rose is giving menopause the punk rock treatment it needs

    Our guest this week is Alicia Rose, who is bringing a revolution to the conversation about perimenopause and menopause with an upcoming documentary called Menopunks. 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 counting) years.  Jennine and Kristen talk to Alicia about how she discovered this (and more) as she researched her own symptoms and possible treatments. And how it pissed her off.  With a background in filmmaking, photography, and music, she began developing a documentary—Menopunks—to shatter the myths and defiantly shine a light on the truth. She's bringing together doctors and punk rockers for a unique look at the vilification of hormone therapy and how GenX women can reclaim our health as we age.  Also check out the Menopunks podcast!  Please let us know what you think of this episode by following and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts!

  8. Feb 22

    Ep. 34: Style cheerleader and Sr. UX director Asta Gaur on how to dress for the occasion, the location, and still be fully you

    Asta Gaur is a Google exec by day and your internet style cheerleader by night. On Instagram, 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 went from having two completely separate sets of clothing for work and the rest of her life to integrating her closet into one kickass wardrobe. Asta's confidence and presence is infectious and inspiring—we both came out of the interview ready to style the heck out of our next outfit, and feel totally OK if someone called it "interesting."  You can also find Asta on her popular Substack, Fit Happens, where she breaks down detailed frameworks and the psychology behind why outfits work—so women can dress without self-doubt, ditch the male-gaze rules we grew up with, and build a closet full of items that are uniquely them.  Join us to learn more about Asta, and get some tips to make you feel not just more stylish but more like you next time you get dressed for work!  And please like, follow, and comment if you enjoy this episode!

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About

Think it doesn't matter what you wear? Hosts Jennine Jacob and Kristen Philipkoski uncover the ways your personal style is not just personal. What you choose to wear every day is a political act, whether you're aware of it or not. And putting thought into your personal style is not superficial, unintelligent, or a waste of time. Along with guests including bestselling authors, scientists, entrepreneurs, and more, the Closet Philosophy podcast explores how what we wear influences and reveals what's within.

Information

  • Creator
    Jennine Jacob and Kristen Philipkoski
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Closet Philosophy 2025
  • Show Website
    Closet Philosophy