Too Young To Be Old with Diane Gilman, The Queen of Jeans

Diane Gilman, longtime designer and fashion insider, uses Chanel as the ultimate case study in how fashion can shape real life—and how today’s luxury world is squandering that legacy. From Coco Chanel’s orphanage roots and her “inventions” (pockets in women’s clothes, knit dressing, the little black dress, costume jewelry, the 2.55 bag, and named perfume) to Karl Lagerfeld’s supermodel-filled, high-energy reinvention in the 80s and 90s, Diane traces how the brand once defined comfort, minimalism, and modern womanhood.She contrasts that golden history with a recent Chanel show staged in a dingy, deserted subway station, questioning whether “clever” concepts and $50,000 jackets in grim settings count as creativity—or just proof the industry is tired and out of touch. Along the way, Diane talks about vintage Chanel, the magic of Paris’s Palais Royal Chanel resale boutiques, her own DG2 jeans + “Chanel-style” blazer uniform, and why she still dreams of owning the perfect real Chanel jacket. The episode ends with a call for a new visionary who can honor Coco and Karl while making Chanel electric, wearable, and relevant again.Key themesCoco Chanel as an inventor: pockets, knit dressing, the little black dress, costume jewelry, ballerina flats, the boy bag, shoulder-strap handbags, named perfume, and the cardigan suit.Karl Lagerfeld’s era: supermodels, maximal costume jewelry, color, monotone looks, and jackets that felt both strong and easy.The problem with “subway station chic”: concept over clothes, tired ideas, and a lack of truly covetable pieces.Why real fashion should be: understandable, foundational, energizing, and easy to plug into real life.The power of vintage: why Diane prefers hunting for “the real thing” over buying today’s runway.Special Offers & Resources Mentioned:✨ Use the code 'DIANEG' to receive a discount on Mito Red Light products! Visit https://mitoredlight.com/?afmc=DIANEG to learn more!Connect with Diane Gilman:YouTube: @thedianegilmanFacebook: TheDianeGilmanInstagram: @thedianegilmanTikTok: @thedianegilmanWebsite & Mailing List: TheDianeGilman.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with friends! Remember: age is just a number. Together, we’ll prove that we’re all Too Young to Be Old.

Guest: Lisa Haynes – Former CFO, retirement strategist, and author of Retired and Killing It, available on Amazon.Lisa Haynes’ book, Retired and Killing It: Retired and Killing It by Lisa Haynes on AmazonThis episode centers on redefining retirement as an exciting “next chapter” rather than an ending, with a big focus on planning, purpose, and identity in later life. Lisa Haynes shares the key ideas behind her “Retired and Killing It” formula, while Diane Gilman adds real-world perspective as a late-career retiree navigating money, meaning, and reinvention.Episode overviewDiane Gilman, host of Too Young to Be Old, sits down with Lisa Haynes, former CFO turned retirement strategist and author of Retired and Killing It, to talk about what really happens after you stop working full-time. They dig into the emotional and psychological side of retirement that no one warns you about—identity loss, income shifts, social changes—and how to design a life you’re genuinely excited to wake up to.What you’ll hearWhy “pre-tirement” planning matters just as much as financial planning, and what most people overlook in the years leading up to retirement.Lisa’s “killing it” framework: eight key elements that help you move from “from what” (your old career) to “to what” (your next purpose), instead of drifting or feeling blindsided.How to rethink work in retirement: side hustles, consulting, part-time income, and passion projects that protect your savings and your sense of self.The identity shift no one talks about—who are you when you’re no longer your job title?—and how to find a new definition of worth and contribution.The mental side of longevity: if you might live to 90, 100, or beyond, how do you fund it, and what will make those decades meaningful?Why multi-generational friendships, staying curious, and “keeping your mind moving” are as important as staying physically active.Key themes and takeawaysRetirement is not just “stopping work”; it’s a transition into something new that needs a real plan, not just a savings number.You are good at more than one thing: the skills from your first career can become a new business, a second career, or meaningful volunteer work.Purpose and passion are non-negotiable: they fuel energy, protect against depression, and make longer lives worth living.Avoid the “age ghetto”: surround yourself with multiple generations and new ideas so you don’t mentally retire from life.Your retirement should not look like anyone else’s—not your parents’, not your peers’—and that’s a good thing.Special Offers & Resources Mentioned:✨Use code "THEDIANEGILMAN" at checkout to receive 10% off your order — http://www.primeprometics.com/THEDIANEGILMANConnect with Diane Gilman:YouTube: @thedianegilmanFacebook: TheDianeGilmanInstagram: @thedianegilmanTikTok: @thedianegilmanWebsite & Mailing List: TheDianeGilman.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with friends! Remember: age is just a number. Together, we’ll prove that we’re all Too Young to Be Old.

Fashion Thursdays: The Color of Money—Met Gala, Lauren Sanchez, and the State of Fashion
Host: Diane GilmanDiane Gilman kicks off this episode by asking whether fashion is still creative—or if it’s stuck in a rut. She dives into the Met Gala’s 2026 theme, “The Color of Money,” and how Lauren Sanchez’s funding of the event has sparked debate. Diane reflects on the spectacle of wealth, celebrity, and the pressure to be seen, while also questioning if fashion is still about whimsy, invention, and self-expression—or if it’s become a platform for flexing financial muscle. She shares her take on the Met Gala’s transformation, the public’s reaction to Lauren Sanchez’s rise, and what it means for the future of fashion and philanthropy.What You’ll HearDiane’s critique of the Met Gala’s direction and the role of money in fashionThe story behind Lauren Sanchez’s funding of the 2026 Met Gala and the public’s reactionHow celebrity, wealth, and power intersect at the Met GalaDiane’s thoughts on fashion’s current lack of inventiveness and creativityReflections on what it means to be a “self-made” woman versus marrying into wealthDiane’s personal journey and her perspective on success, talent, and fulfillmentBig TakeawaysFashion should be whimsical, creative, and expressive—but is it still?The Met Gala is now a showcase of wealth and celebrity, not just fashion.Money is power, but it can’t buy authenticity or lasting respect.True fulfillment comes from pursuing your own talent and dreams, not just wealth.Diane’s personal journey: talent, hard work, and a life enriched by passion, not just money.Special Offers & Resources Mentioned:✨AMRA Supplements – Diane shares her discovery of this "miracle" supplement containing collagen, peptides, vitamins, and minerals that helps combat age-related nutrient absorption issues. It tastes like butterscotch and provides noticeable results in energy, skin, and hair health.Special Offer: Get 15% off your first purchase with code DIANEGILMAN at tryarmra.com/DIANEGILMANConnect with Diane Gilman:YouTube: @thedianegilmanFacebook: TheDianeGilmanInstagram: @thedianegilmanTikTok: @thedianegilmanWebsite & Mailing List: TheDianeGilman.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with friends! Remember: age is just a number. Together, we’ll prove that we’re all Too Young to Be Old.

🎙️ The 80-40 Factor: Instagram Face, Filters, and the Future of “Looking Younger” Hosts: Diane Gilman & Nyna GilpinThis episode of The 80-40 Factor tackles “Instagram face,” the rise of filters, Botox, fillers, and the pressure to look perfect at every age. Nyna Gilpin brings the social media perspective, while Diane Gilman shares what it feels like to navigate beauty standards at 80—post-breast cancer, post-chemo, and still very much in the public eye. Together they question why women are chasing one homogenized look, how filters are warping self-image, and whether AI “perfect” versions of celebrities like Kim Kardashian are the future of entertainment.What You’ll HearWhat “Instagram face” is and why so many women now look the sameTeenagers starting Botox, longevity culture, and the false promise of a “fountain of youth”How filters and wigs can quietly erode self-esteem—and why Nyna gave up wigsDiane’s honest account of losing brows, lashes, and hair during chemo, and relearning how to feel beautifulKris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, All’s Fair, and whether an AI Kim could act better than the real oneDating apps, filters, and why people are craving real, current photos and real faces againThe rise of AI “stars” like Tilly Norwood and what it means when you can’t tell what’s realA pro-aging stance: embracing enhancement without erasing who you truly areSpecial Offers & Resources Mentioned:✨Use code "THEDIANEGILMAN" at checkout to receive 10% off your order — http://www.primeprometics.com/THEDIANEGILMANConnect with Diane Gilman:YouTube: @thedianegilmanFacebook: TheDianeGilmanInstagram: @thedianegilmanTikTok: @thedianegilmanWebsite & Mailing List: TheDianeGilman.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with friends! Remember: age is just a number. Together, we’ll prove that we’re all Too Young to Be Old.

🎙️ Closet Confidential: The Luxury Of Fur (Real, Faux & Fun Fur) Host: Diane GilmanThis Fashion Thursday, Diane Gilman—formerly the Queen of Jeans and now the self-proclaimed Countess of Closet Confidential—dives into the emotional, ethical, and aesthetic world of fur. From childhood memories in Beverly Hills fur salons to modern faux pieces that rival the real thing, Diane walks through the coats, ponchos, hoodies, and hats that define her “luxury girl” style. She shares why some real furs feel justifiable, why today’s faux fur is both magical and problematic, and how statement pieces can flatter an older face, body, and spirit.What you’ll hear:Diane’s take on real vs faux: pollution, ethics, multi-purpose hides, and personal guilt vs pleasureThe Veronica Beard calfskin “retro leopard” that makes her feel like a 70s queenHow childhood Saturdays at a Beverly Hills furrier shaped her lifelong love of minkWhy Adrienne Landau’s faux ponchos and faux fox hoodies are her go-to “hero pieces”Sportmax drama: the big-lapel neutral faux coat that makes strangers stop her on Madison AvenueThe sentimental Mongolian lamb and ranch-mink-look pieces that carry memories, not just warmthWhy high-quality faux fur is a dream for older women: no moths, forgiving silhouettes, and instant glamourDiane’s new obsession with “fun fur” and the $30–$50 snow-leopard coat that proves faux can be playfulThe ultimate statement: a faux black fox “Zarina hat” that keeps her dry, warm, and feeling like Russian royaltyStyle takeaways:Treat fur (real or faux) as a statement: one strong piece can carry an entire outfit.For faux, go either hyper-realistic or unapologetically dramatic.Big lapels, oversized cuts, and rich textures are incredibly kind to an older face and body.Quality faux fur is long-lasting, moth-resistant, and perfect for city winters.Your closet can hold history—some pieces are worth keeping for the memories alone.