In this episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde is joined by Bridget Bell, celebrity stylist, personal stylist, and founder of Style Ambition, for a warm and honest conversation about confidence, identity, and the emotional side of getting dressed.

With more than two decades in the fashion and television industry and over 150 celebrity shoots behind her, Bridget brings deep experience and relatability to the topic of personal style. Her work goes far beyond clothes. It’s about helping women feel seen, comfortable, and confident in who they are right now.

Julie and Bridget explore how style often becomes tangled with self-doubt, body changes, and life transitions. They talk about why so many women hide behind “safe” outfits, hold onto clothes that no longer fit their lives, and delay investing in themselves until they feel “ready”.

This conversation unpacks how thoughtful dressing can become a form of self-leadership. From capsule wardrobes and proportion to fit, colour, and illusion dressing, Bridget shares practical insight alongside deeply human reflections on ageing, weight fluctuation, and visibility.

If you’ve ever stood in front of your wardrobe feeling frustrated, disconnected, or unsure of yourself, this episode will help you rethink style as a source of ease, confidence, and self-respect.

Conversation Talking Points

• Why style feels emotionally vulnerable for many women
• Moving from fashion design into personal and TV styling
• The psychology of “safe” clothes and hiding in black
• Dressing the body you have, not the one you’re waiting for
• How wardrobes reflect identity and self-belief
• Capsule wardrobes that actually work in real life
• Proportion, fit, and illusion dressing
• Vulnerability, social media, and building confidence publicly
• Style as an expression of self-leadership

Time Stamps

00:00 Welcome and introduction
01:10 Meet Bridget Bell
03:00 From fashion design to styling
06:40 Television and celebrity work
09:20 Style and vulnerability in leadership
12:15 Creating a safe styling experience
14:40 The “when I lose weight” mindset
17:30 Dressing the body you have today
19:50 Confidence and transformation
22:30 Vulnerability on Instagram
25:15 Proportion and illusion dressing
28:40 Why clothes go unworn
30:10 Building a functional capsule wardrobe
33:20 Sizing, tailoring, and fit
35:40 Celebrating 20 years in styling
38:10 Final reflections
39:30 Closing

Links
Learn more about my group coaching program here

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

Connect with Bridget:
Website: https://styleambition.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbellstylist/