I met Stacy London after being accosted by her on the street in New York 10 years ago. So began our What Not to Wear experience, which was my first foray back into the on-screen limelight after being out of it for 12 years. Stacy was wonderfully fun to work with, and I loved both the practical tips that she gave me, as well as the deeper psychological pointers about how I present myself. Those have stayed with me.

I can’t believe it’s already been 10 years (seriously! The 10 year anniversary of my episode was just at the end of May!). I caught up with Stacy to ask her 5 deep questions.

1. What makes you feel beautiful?
   Finishing a difficult task, learning a new skill, trusting in my own abilities and, sure, a great outfit.
2. What do you feel was the lasting impact of What Not to Wear? 
   For me? I think it was by having compassion for others, I gained more compassion for myself.
   For the viewers? I HOPE it was an understanding that your clothes are meant to work for you and be your best advocate. Also, I hope that people realized clothing was the smallest part of the process. It was simply the fastest way to show people that they don’t have to be stuck, that it’s okay to let go of old versions of yourself, that you can gracefully and confidently accept new ones.
3. How do you define confidence and what role does fashion play in that?
   Fashion is shorthand. The thing I love most about it is it can be your armor on a day when you don’t feel like facing the world (i.e. “fake it til you make it”), and, conversely, it can reflect your personality and make you shine even brighter when you ARE feeling yourself!
4. What do you think are the three most important items that every woman should have in her closet?
   Oh gosh, I’m not sure I can even answer that question as I evolve. But if forced? A good coat, a good bag, and a good shoe. They don’t have to be expensive. They just have to look it.
5. Do you believe in God? 
   I didn’t for a long time. I didn’t understand the concept, to be honest. I didn’t grow up with religion. But as I got older, and especially when my father fell really ill, I turned to physics and quantum mechanics as comfort. Math and science gave me faith that there is something much bigger and much smaller than we can conceive of as mere humans.