Debbie Gilbert hosts our latest conversation, Fashion, Confidence, and Business Success with Catherine Grout, personal stylist and colour confidence expert. Catherine is founder of style consultancy What I Am Wearing, winner of a Silver Award for Best New Business at the 2025 Best Business Women Awards.
Catherine shares how a long career in tech led to redundancy, a lockdown fashion blog, and ultimately a thriving styling business built around helping professional women look and feel brilliant. She trained at the London College of Style and now teaches there too.
In this episode she covers the three fundamentals of personal styling: colour analysis, body shape, and style personality. Furthermore, she explains why understanding these can genuinely transform how you show up in business and in life.
There is also a brilliant story behind the showstopping teal gown Catherine wore to the awards (spoiler: it cost less than a tenner from a charity shop). Plus there are some brilliant tips on sustainable fashion shopping.
Catherine also gives us a sneak peek at her exciting plans for 2026. These include a new group programme called Style and Grow, more teaching, and possibly even a book.
About Catherine
Catherine is an award-winning Personal Stylist, Colour Analyst and educator, specialising in helping mid-life women feel confident, visible and empowered through personal style. Founder of a successful styling and colour analysis business, she is particularly known for her work with women navigating menopause, career shifts and business growth. Her approach blends practical wardrobe solutions with colour psychology, body confidence and personal branding, helping clients feel more like themselves rather than following trends. In 2025, she was proud to receive Silver for Best Business at the Best Business Women Awards, recognising both her impact and her values-led approach.
Alongside her client work, Catherine is a tutor for the London College of Style. Here she teaches colour analysis to adult students, supporting the next generation of stylists to build skill, confidence and professionalism. She also delivers talks, workshops and online sessions, being passionate about making style feel accessible, joyful and supportive, not intimidating. Catherine’s mission is simple: to help women dress themselves happy, with clarity, confidence and intention at every stage of life.
{1:40} Why Catherine is so passionate about fashion.
{3:32} The thought process and experience that led to Catherine’s business.
{5:09} THe challenges of leaving corporate life.
{6:11} The work Catherine does with her customers.
{11:54} Why feeling confident in what you’re wearing is so important.
{13:57} The teal gown that was a showstopper at the 2025 BBWA Final.
{16:26} Entering the Best New Business category at the 2025 BBWAs.
{18:55} Catherine’s sustainable fashion tips.
{23:00} Big plans for the next few years.
Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk
Connect with Catherine: https://www.whatiamwearing.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/what-i-am-wearing-personal-styling/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-grout/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/What-I-am-Wearing-107516851018881/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinewhatiamwearing/
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/whatiamwearing/
