Sustain This! Podcast Episode 100 Summary: "Is 'I Can’t Pull That Off' a Style Lie We Should Believe?"
Release Date: June 10, 2025
Hosts: Alyssa Beltempo, Christina Mychas, & Signe Hansen
Description: In this milestone 100th episode of Sustain This!, hosts Alyssa, Christina, and Signe delve deep into the concept of styles and outfits they feel they "can’t pull off." They explore whether these beliefs are genuine limitations or socially constructed myths, offering personal insights and practical advice for embracing a more authentic and intentional wardrobe.
1. Introduction
The episode kicks off with a warm welcome from Alyssa, Christina, and Sina (Signe), the podcast's color consultant and slow fashion style coach. Amid light-hearted banter and a humorous exchange about cookies, the hosts set the stage for today’s topic: exploring the idea of certain clothing items or styles that they believe they cannot successfully wear.
Alyssa [00:00]: "Welcome to Sustain this, a podcast where we discuss mindful consumption, personal style, and the quest for living a more intentional life."
2. Defining "Pulling Off" Styles
The central theme revolves around the notion of "pulling off" specific styles. Christina suggests reframing this idea from an inability to a matter of personal preference and suitability.
Christina [03:03]: "I want to say it's more of a. It doesn't feel right and it never has felt right. So it's like this is just more. I love it, I'm attracted to it, but it's not for me."
Alyssa concurs, emphasizing that the phrase "I can't pull that off" may undermine personal agency and choice.
Alyssa [03:16]: "It's not that we can't. Yeah, it's not yet. Because I don't like that verbiage either."
3. Romantic Fashion and Personal Limits
Alyssa shares her love for romantic styles—frilly, flowy, and sheer garments—and discusses her journey to finding a balance that feels authentic to her.
Alyssa [01:45]: "I love a really romantic look. Like, I just love it. I think it's beautiful."
However, she acknowledges her limits in embracing overly embellished or embroidered pieces, selecting simpler items to maintain comfort and personal integrity.
Alyssa [02:56]: "It has to go or if it's like, I have this in yellow... I can't go full on frilly or even things that are embroidered or overly embellished."
4. Balancing Style with Personality Traits
The conversation shifts to how personal personality traits influence style choices. Alyssa reflects on her engaging and vibrant personality clashing with more embellished clothing, leading her to prefer minimalist and structured pieces.
Alyssa [11:20]: "When I'm in these equally loud and interesting pieces, I feel like a clown. And I think they clash with my personality."
Christina relates by discussing her straightforward and direct nature, which aligns more with solid, structured outfits rather than busy patterns or designs.
Christina [12:42]: "I think that's part of my personality. A lot of me is like very... I think I'm Very direct."
5. Understanding Proportions and Patterns
A significant portion of the discussion centers on body proportions and how they affect the ability to wear certain patterns and styles. Christina shares her struggles with high-waisted jeans, preferring mid-rise options that better suit her proportions.
Christina [17:19]: "I need a mid rise. I am a mid rise girly."
Alyssa adds insights on how different patterns and silhouettes can complement or detract from one’s body shape, highlighting the importance of understanding personal proportions.
Alyssa [15:10]: "There's a name for it. So we'll. I'll try and find."
6. The Concept of Flattering
The hosts delve into the multifaceted concept of what it means for clothing to be "flattering." They distinguish between societal standards of flattering—often tied to achieving a particular body shape—and personal definitions that prioritize comfort and fit.
Christina [31:22]: "There's a few different interpretations of it. There's one flattering where it's like, okay, I gotta look as skinny and my boobs have to look as big as possible... And then there's flattering where it's like, oh, this just looks right on me."
Alyssa echoes this sentiment, stressing that true flattering comes from how a person feels in their clothes rather than conforming to external expectations.
Alyssa [32:08]: "We carry ourselves differently in our clothes. Like, you can just tell when someone's more comfortable in their... what they're wearing."
7. Personal Experiences and Insights
Christina shares specific experiences with clothing items she once desired but found unflattering, such as a milky white dress that felt overly conservative and did not complement her body.
Christina [08:13]: "It just felt like I was gonna go milk a cow. Like it was just not."
Alyssa discusses her own journey with square necklines, acknowledging that while others admire them, she personally doesn’t feel aligned with that style despite its aesthetic appeal.
Alyssa [21:06]: "I can pull them off. They look great for... everyone’s like, oh, it looks so good. But it's not my most... I don't like myself in it as much."
They both highlight the importance of experimenting with different styles to discover what genuinely resonates and feels comfortable.
8. Conclusion and Takeaways
As the episode wraps up, Christina emphasizes the importance of abandoning limiting beliefs and embracing personal preferences without self-deprecation.
Christina [33:32]: "It's just more. I've tried this and it didn't, I just didn't like it. It didn't feel great. It didn't feel good."
Alyssa reinforces the message that understanding and honoring one's own style preferences leads to greater confidence and satisfaction with one’s wardrobe.
Alyssa [31:22]: "It's just about understanding and knowing what you like best and what resonates with you most."
The hosts encourage listeners to reflect on their own style choices, challenging societal norms and embracing what truly makes them feel empowered and authentic.
Christina [33:59]: "It's just more... I think that's, I think that's an important distinction."
Key Quotes
- Christina [03:03]: "It's not that we can't. Yeah, it's not yet."
- Alyssa [01:45]: "I love a really romantic look. Like, I just love it."
- Alyssa [15:35]: "We wear the same things and I feel really good."
- Christina [31:39]: "There's... there’s... it just lands in the correct place in the sense of, like, these jeans look like they fit me."
- Alyssa [32:08]: "We carry ourselves differently in our clothes."
Final Thoughts:
Episode 100 of Sustain This! serves as a thoughtful exploration of personal style boundaries and the societal myths surrounding what can or cannot be worn by certain individuals. Through candid conversations and relatable anecdotes, Alyssa and Christina encourage listeners to redefine their style narratives, prioritize personal comfort, and cultivate a wardrobe that truly reflects their authentic selves.