What If a Yellow Dress, in the Pages of Vogue, Told the Story of Your Life? Part 1

What If a Yellow Dress, in the Pages of Vogue, Told the Story of Your Life? Part 1

From Becoming You with Suzy Welch by NYU Stern Professor Suzy Welch

June 2, 2026 · 36 min

About this episode

Suzy Welch explores her family's history through a significant moment captured in Vogue involving a yellow dress.

A photo in Vogue. A 98-year-old mother's scream of joy. And a 123-year story that begins in a sulfur mine in Sicily and ends — somehow — at New York City's most glamorous luncheon. This week, your host Suzy Welch starts at the end: a yellow dress, handknit from silk ribbon by her immigrant grandmother, photographed at the Hat Luncheon and published in Vogue. But to understand why that moment meant everything, you have to go back. Way back. We're talking Caltanissetta, Sicily, in 1903, and a family shrouded in secrecy and silence. Part 1 of this two-part series sets the scene: from the dazzling spectacle of the Hat Luncheon to the gritty, industrial world Suzy's family fought to escape. Next week, the scandal that changed everything. Your own origin story might look a little different after this one. Take the Becoming You One-Day Intensive this June on NYU’s campus, here . Ready to know yourself better? Start here, with The Values Bridge .  You are always growing and evolving and so are we. Sign up for the ⁠Becoming You newsletter⁠ for fresh new content in one tidy package. PIE360 Feedback tool is available at ⁠ pie360feedback.com ⁠ Want more Becoming You? Check out the…

People in this episode

Host: Suzy Welch

Topics covered

  • family history
  • immigration
  • personal storytelling
  • fashion
  • cultural heritage

Keywords

  • yellow dress
  • Vogue
  • family history
  • Sicily
  • Hat Luncheon
  • immigrant story
  • personal narrative

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Vogue

Places: Caltanissetta, Sicily

More episodes of Becoming You with Suzy Welch

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Becoming You with Suzy Welch podcast page.