BILFPOD - Styled for Stardom: Pol & Patrik on Confidence, Couture & Living Out Loud

Episode Date: June 5, 2025

This episode is giving couture, charisma, and confidence. Mara sits down with fashion power couple Pol’ Atteu and Patrik Simpson—the iconic duo behind Gown and Out in Beverly Hills—to talk about their journey, personal branding, navigating fame, and showing up unapologetically bold in every room you enter.From designing haute couture for A-listers to standing for authenticity in a filtered world, this conversation unpacks the realities of being seen, heard, and respected in industries that don’t always celebrate individuality.With honors like Outstanding Digital Reality Series, Golden Wings Award for Reality TV Show of the Year, plus their award-winning podcast Undressed with Pol’ & Patrik, this dynamic duo brings a signature mix of style and strategy that’s impossible to ignore.Listen In For:How Pol & Patrik turned their passion for fashion into a global brandLessons in resilience, reinvention, and building your communityOwning your identity in business, fashion, and lifeWhy confidence is the ultimate style statementGet ready for stories, laughs, and  insight from two pros who’ve built their empire with vision, voice, and fearless flair.Connect with Pol’ & PatrikInstagram: @polatteu | @patriksimpsonPodcast: @undressedpodcastWatch: Gown and Out in Beverly Hills on Amazon PrimeWebsites: polatteu.com | patriksimpson.com Connect with MaraInstagram: @maradorneBusiness & Coaching: maradorne.comPodcast Community: @BILFpod#BILFpod #PolAtteu #PatrikSimpson #StyledForStardom #WomenInBusiness #MindsetMatters #BossEnergy #MaraDorne #PRIDE #MillionaireMindset #AuthenticityWins #GownAndOut #FashionBosses #RedCarpetReady #UndressedPodcast #BILFENERGY

In television or the media is not the only thing you should strive for. There's a world out there that without that, you should be able to live comfortably and realize your fullest potential every day. Welcome back to the Bill's Pod for Authenticity, Trump's Authority. I am here today with, I can't stop. I can't even get it out. They crack me. I just like look at them. They fucking crack me. I cannot. I'm here with Paul A 2 and Patrick Simpson. These guys are, they have become my near and dear family and friends, but they really are BILFs. You guys know what Bills are. You know what a BILF is? Boss, I like to follow, bitch. But she forgot to mention a little Snow White 9 or 2. Why now?

Because she's a real bitch in the house. I am, I can't, you guys, are you guys like this all the time? Yeah. Just fucking funny. Life has got to be about fun or else why the fuck are we living it? You mean our authentic self? I love it. Yeah. You mean like people hopefully don't know who we are. Yeah.

I cannot. I can't. So not only are these guys my friends, but they really are built. They do, well, I know Paul does, has a clothing store on Rodeo Drive. Yep. I know, I can't, you also teach. Remember last time you were giving you shit about that? Love it.

Yeah. I don't know what you're teaching. I would never fucking be a teacher. It's a worst job. I can't. I was a teacher. You know what? Yeah, I was a teacher.

What grade? I did sixth grade social studies. It was horrible. I do high school. Oh, my God. The high school is better, but I was a sixth grade social studies teacher. Can you believe that?

For one year. Were the kids me? Oh, and what did you do? You just decided like, screw this. I'm not doing it anymore. Yes, exactly. Yes. Oh, no.

They need you. No, no, they don't need me. No, no. Bless the teacher's hearts. I can't. I bless their hearts because there's no way. The first paycheck that came into the account. he like called me up and goes and I didn't know what my job are.

I'm like, what is this small little amount? He calls me up and he goes, there's this random number that just got deposited into the account. Like, what is this? So I'm like, I don't know, I had no idea. So it took me two days and I started asking the other teachers because we had a meeting. I'm like, when do we get paid? Like is that like, they're like, oh, we just got paid for all. I'm like, babe, that's my paycheck.

But I'm thinking, okay, okay, you got paid, right? But that's for a week. It was for a month. Yeah, I know. That's probably why I really. really left online. So this is him. He's like, I'm coming to pick your ass up or going back to the store. You're not doing this for another 30 days. He goes, but I love the kids and it's all about charity. Oh, yeah. Yeah, he's online. You are doing it. So what are you teaching? I'm teaching podcasting because

we have the number one fashion podcast. They asked him. I'm dressed with Paul and Patrick. And I'm teaching journalism so that they can understand and how to be able to put together the entire scenario about who to interview, what the interview should be, the who and when, when, where, why. It is important. You know what, the way the world is turning in all seriousness, but it really is important to have teachers that are authentic, but more importantly, teachers that know what they're doing. Well, besides the fact that I'm not textbook,

I'm more real life experience. And because I have the experience and I can back it up, it's learned things versus than just textbook where they tell you do it this way. Yeah. Maybe that's not the only way. But now he's doing it virtual, which is great, because before he was going into campus and doing it, or like there's no fucking time to go into campus.

So now he does a virtual. So wherever we are in the world, he just put his computer. I was in a limo yesterday. Being transported from one place to another one. I was on the computer just doing my thing. Do the kids love you? Like I don't, I hope so.

I'm hoping they do. Do they watch your podcast? I don't tell them to, but. They know. But there's a couple of students that in the very beginning when I, you know, I tell them what my name is and all this other stuff. They're like, mister, you look familiar. Wait, wait, wait.

And then the next time they come in, one student was like, I watch a show with my aunt. And it's like, you're down and out in Beverly Hills. You remind me, you've got the same vibe. And I'm like, I'm like, they're fucking with you.

They know you're on TV. They know who you are. But that's, like, let's, like, let's, so not only are you doing this, okay? Yeah. You also do tea readings, Armenian tea. Coffee. Coffee.

Coffee. I mean a coffee ground greeting. I know you do that. I mean, what is it that you don't do? Do you do everything? So we do the store. So I make gowns. Beautiful gowns.

All day, all night. I've been there for 35 years. Do you love that? Is that your passion? Well, I'm part of American history. I made the First Lady gowns and then it travels the First Lady Museum across the country. There are celebrities that are buried in my dress. And there are regular people that are buried in my dress at this point because they

They wanted to take me on a journey that they were on, and they felt most comfortable with me. And it's like going to the Academy Awards with each one of them and walked into red carpet. And then their final destination. I mean, he's done everybody. He's done Anna Nicole is buried. Anna Nicole Smith is buried in his dress.

He did the most famous dress for Betty White, the blue dress, the slit all the way up to the top. And 92 years old, she wore that dress. Wow. He's done Bella Thorne, Ariel Winter. I mean. Wow. Yeah.

Like, they're all my friends. Yeah, it's crazy. I just did Bella's birthday. Cynthia Bailey's worn his gown. Now you have to do one for me. Yeah. Now you have to. Yeah.

And what about you? Get on the list, bitch. Get on the list. And Petcher, what about you? You were a model. Yeah, I was. He was a Versaqi model. What are you talking about?

A runway. He's, he's got up. I modeled down the runway. In the aisle? He gets so mad at me. He goes, babe, will you get the milk? So I'm walking. I'm doing my dumb.

He goes, when you stop fucking modeling down the aisle? Just get the mill. How do you got to go? Five years. Wow. I modeled in Europe. I modeled in Japan. I modeled in Osaka when there was no market for modeling in Japan.

I was a model in Japan. He was a Versace model. He was one of the ones that started the colors campaign. I did Janera. I did some stuff for Gucci. Like all kinds of stuff years ago. So where did you guys meet? In New York.

Wow. Mercedes-Benz. I have to hear this. I have to hear the story. Well, I was there because I was opening, not opening, but I was part of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week segment in New York at Bryant Park. And then I was at my friend's loft doing the interviews with style and all the different outlets about my inspiration, the colors, all the clothes. He's so funny. He's like my friend. One of the most famous fashion photographer is Joe Lance. Yeah. Oh, she's my friend. So. So, okay, so go ahead. You're there.

And then when we, when I was there and the models, were there all naked, the boys, the girls were doing a photo shoot at the same time. You know, we're celebrating Fashion Week. It's like an after-party kind of like an intimate whole thing. And it was on his loft at Bryant Park. And he showed up. Then he was wearing a trench coat, a suit, a tie. This was 21 years ago.

He was a president of the Models Association of America. And he was the youngest president of the Models Association of America. It was. So he walked in from the corner of my eye. When I saw him, I was like, what happened to those naked people that were here? I just lost sight. And that was it?

That was it? I think. He just kept staring at me all night. So I'm like, okay, I'm putting an end to this. I grabbed him, pulled him in the bathroom, pushed him against the wall, gave him a kiss. And then when we came out of the bathroom and the bathroom, when you think it's a bathroom, it's really not a bathroom.

It looks like a set. So it looks like you're in the Amazon, jungle, because you don't even see the bathroom. Because every part ruined. We were in the studio. So when we came out of the bathroom, he's like, let's go hang out in, you know, New York City. Like, it's 1 a.m. This is when everybody goes out. And I looked at him and I said, first, you took advantages and privileges that, you know,

wasn't even like right and there a minute ago. So I'm not ready to go anywhere. So I asked him, I said, where are you staying? What hotel? He goes, we're not going to go back to the hotel. Right. I said, but it doesn't matter. I want to know where you're staying.

I want to know who you are. Like, I don't even know your name. And I'm thinking, like, why does this guy need to know what hotel I'm staying? saying at. He said I was a hoochie. He was like, we're not going back to the hotel. I actually, we're not, of course we're not going to the hotel. Honestly, ma'er, actually when I met him, and after I kissed him, I said to myself, fuck, I think I'm in love with this guy. I really did think that. And I'm like, I thought it was a broke designer. I didn't know he was like this famous fashion designer because we didn't have like, honey, Google back then. Honey. Google people. And I was

like, fuck, another broke person I'm going to be in love with. Honey. I'm still broke. So that's 21 years ago. 21 years. But here's what happened, really. This was the key. And I know in the very beginning, it must have been really awkward because when I asked him,

what hotel are you staying at? And he goes, we're not going to go back to the hotel. It doesn't really matter. I said, but I need to know because I want to make sure you're not an axed murderer. He goes, I'm not a fucking murderer.

I'm not a serial killer. And what does it matter what hotel? Anybody in a hotel could be an ex-murder. So when he told me He thought Oh, I'm going to be so impressed Because his ego was in the way a little bit So he goes

Wouldn't you? I was stinging at the Walbur You'd be like, okay, let's go I don't know I like Not this bitch, you know what he said? What did he say? What did he say? Unimpressed? I go, are you thinking the regular section or into towers?

That's what you said? Yes And then So then what happened then? I was staying the towers of course. Let me tell you. You should have just said that you're seeing at Motel 6.

That's what you should have said. At that point, he stood up six two and a half. That's funny. He had this real elegant demeanor about him. And then the switch went on and he goes, I have my own key card, the one bedroom suite in the towers. Would you like to go somewhere and hang out? I go, sure.

And we did. We've been together ever since. And that was it. Because he realized, because that was a deal breaker. You're either going to want to go with me or you're going to be like, you know what, fuck this. I'm not doing this with this guy. But he realized I was worth the company. And it didn't matter that I know about the one bedroom suite or I know about the regular sexual. It didn't matter.

It mattered that he felt good about knowing that he was going to do. go with someone of quality. Yeah. And then, I mean, look at you guys. And together, you guys really are a power couple. 21 years. It's really, that's, I mean, that's a lot to be said, 21 years. Yeah.

And you guys, I mean, you also have a store, you have the store together that you run. Now you're doing the podcast. Yeah. I mean, that's it. That really true. We have the TV show on Amazon, season five coming out. Wow. Gowning out in Beverly Hills, Prime Video.

Last year, I'm really proud because we won four tele awards. The year before that, we won the American Reality Television Award. Whop-bop! Wow. And season. five is coming out in like two months, three months. And we shot three episodes in Dubai. So that's going to be really kind of fun.

I got international designer de year war at Virch Khalifa at the Armani Hotel. So I have a question for you guys because I, my husband and I, we work together also all the time. What is, I mean, that's hard. It's really hard to work with your spouse. So how do you guys do it? You manage your own relationship. Then you have all of your businesses together. How do you guys do it without getting on each other's nerves?

I think you make it work. You love each other and you know that you're building this life together and you are, I think a lot of times that people that have been in relationships for a long time, they grow apart, but they're purposely growing apart. You need to purposely make the intention and the effort every day to get up and say, I love you and I want to spend this day with you and continue spending the rest of my life with you, which means I have to make the right choices and decisions that are going to make that possible and make us to continue to grow together, and we do.

We choose each other every day, because no legal document can make you do that. No, absolutely not. You file that away, you're done, you don't even know what's happening, and then life happens, circumstances, and everything that's in between. So we choose each other every day,

and we go, you know what, it's another 24 hours, how can we make this as good as it can be for both of us? And respect. I respect what he does immensely. He respects what I do. I mean, I produce our TV show, I produce the podcast, I bring all the celebrities.

Let's talk about you again. Let's talk about you again. Oh, bitch. I just said. Oh, it's all about him again. Oh, you know, he's just crazy. Well, you guys compliment each other. Really, you do.

And I'm sure that's what happens at work, too. Like my husband and I, my husband is more of like the techie person. He's the one that, you know, is always dotting the eyes, crossing the T's. He's more analytical. I'm just in your face. I'm flying by the seat of your pants. But he's the one that grounds me. Is that I'm assured that's, you know, that's how it works with both of you.

Absolutely. You know, we realized early on that we should celebrate each other's differences and play off of our strengths and weaknesses. And it doesn't make you a weak person. It just means I got to carry a heavier load because you're not equipped to know how to do this. Or you didn't have the experience that I may have brought to this relationship. So I try to balance it the way he does. There's a lot of things. I wouldn't want to get up out of bed if it wasn't for him.

I would be a hermit and I told him that this morning I know it's funny he said that if it wasn't for you I would not want to go I just want to curl up look at the weather I just want to come like you know I'll go out every night

I'll like we were in Dallas and Jeff with Jeff Lewis because we do the show on Radio Andy Jeff Lewis live and we were there and he was doing his show live in Dallas and so the night before they were going to the Roundup

which is Gay Bar real famous in Dallas and he's like oh my God you're going to drag me out You're going to drag me out six-dirty this morning. And I'm there with Jeff Lewis, and every five minutes, Jeff Lewis is throwing me a jello shot. I think I had like 12 jello shots.

The hottest, the hottest guy. Okay, the hottest guy was in the bar was talking to him. And I'm just like, okay. I was like, and then we're talking about it yesterday. I go, should we be talking about this in front of my husband? I don't feel comfortable discussing this right now. I said to him,

I said, do you want to go home with that guy? that's fine. No, you did not. No, you did not. I mean, make your choices, but if you're going to do that, I want to turn it into an only fans and at least monetize it.

No. He was in the back, he was in the back and going, I was just like, I think he was jealous. I think he was getting on him. No. I can hit on all the time.

You do? Oh, yeah. Oh, my God. By men, women, all the time. People walk in front of the store all day. And they're like, oh, Paul's not here. And they're a good time to be able to get nab patriced.

I'm like, what fuck's wrong with you? That's true. Oh, my God. You know what they want? This. Let me see. How big is that? Oh, you know, I'm a gay boy.

I like a big girl. Oh, I like them big, too. 22 carrots total, but it's 11 carrots from the top. That is huge. It's a beautiful ring, right? I'm going to take a picture. That's what I see when I, you know. It's called a mistress.

Why are you guys? Are you guys like this all the time? That's what I think. You guys kill me. You're so funny. That's what I mean. I think we're just authentically. We're not trying to be funny.

We're not. We're authentically ourselves. Like sometimes people will be different they are on TV than they are on the radio. We're the same on the radio, on TV, in person. It's just us. You know, the key is if you can be yourself and feel comfortable being yourself, then you don't have to try to be something you don't know how to. And it just makes it easy.

It makes it effortless. There's so many other things that you can accomplish. What's the point? Like, I got to figure out how I'm supposed to be. deal and pretend like I'm better than you girl and that's why we have so many long-term friendships and relationships in this industry for 20 you know a year i mean Bella thorn is now in a trip like 20 he did her very first dress when she was 12 years old when she won her first youth Oscar yeah and wearing a i mean it's just it's the relationships you cultivate

the friendships but you have to stay the course and you have to be authentic and be yourself yeah all the time i agree and i think it takes people a lot of learning to get there. And I'm not saying you have to be nice specifically. If you're a bitch, be your organic, authentic bitch. Exactly. That's it. But I know what I'm dealing with.

Yeah, I agree. I agree with you. I don't like them. But that's okay. But look, I'll respect somebody more if they're just authentic. And I'd rather someone say fuck you to me than just smile in my face.

But look at the world we come from. I mean, we're part of the real world. But then in this industry, what maybe you're not familiar with yet is the fact that people are trying to be something that they're not and it's very difficult to yeah yeah imposter it's it just it just rugs you the wrong way it's uncomfortable and you're just like what just happened got i'm gonna go take shower yeah you could smell it i mean i come from sales so when people know that you're not authentic or they feel like you know you're trying to put one over on people could feel it that's the

that's the whole thing about relationships in general people know when you're not authentic you can smell it you can feel it you know right away i mean we're not just saying that we've been together 21 years we're together 21 years. It's important for us. Every day is important. We work together. We live together. Do you guys get sick of each other ever? Having the TV show is important to both of us. It's what he does. Except he's not the easiest person to produce on a TV show. Why? I just don't like it. I think it's I think it's not my comfort space. You know, some people some people thrive in that space. I don't. I'd rather be behind my sewing machine. I've got my fabrics. I'm designing. I'm creating. I'm creating and I'm doing it for you.

Yeah. That's where I thrive the best. I don't want to talk about myself. It makes me uncomfortable. I don't want to tell you that my gown is in the First Lady Museum traveling across the country. I don't want to tell you that. That's so important.

That's who you are. I know, but it just, it's, I don't want to say it because I feel like I'm trying to impress on you that I've accomplished certain things. But that just comes with the territory of what I built. Yeah, of course. Those are all your accolades. Own it. Own it.

Of course. Tell people who you are. Like when people walk into the boutique, they're like, oh my God, where's all the pictures and all the newspaper articles? I have a garage full. I'm on the cover of WWD. I'm on the cover of L. I'm on the cover of town and country.

Like, I've got magazine articles that are from glamour days and vobes and articles. I mean, for so many years before, when we were first together and, you know, the website, he didn't even have one celebrity that he's dressed on his website. until I took it over and I'm like, what the fuck? You dress all these celebrities and you're not even showing it. But it's because for me, it's creating the gown for the woman. And I don't care if you're a celebrity, if you're not. If you're, you just want a beautiful gown.

And I want to, I want to facilitate that for you. You're so accomplished. All the things that you both have done. I mean, you deserve your flowers. Is she calling me old when she says you're so. No. No, no, not at all. Stop it.

Season, I wouldn't say old. I say seasons, stop it. Okay, as we wrap up, though, I want you to give some advice to somebody that is just starting to go into their new venture or somebody that wants to do something maybe outside of the box that they're not comfortable. What would you tell somebody? I'd say be your own boss. Be yourself. Be a bill. Be a bill.

Be a bill because you are the only one. I've learned a long time ago. You're the only one that can control your own destiny. Yeah. Things happen. I agree with you. Things get in the way. Things push you down.

But just get back up by your bootstraps and just continue because you never, you're the only one. Everyone says that, oh, in Hollywood and industry, other people can open the doors for you. That's not true. You have to open the doors for yourself. That's anything in life too. But if you always have to remember, you have to be your authentic self. And a lot of people don't even know what that really means. Right.

Because you can't sustain anything, whether it's a sales job, being at Starbucks, working behind a counter, being a grocer, you can't sustain and maintain anything if you're not your authentic self. And people smell it, people know it. They may not say it to your face, but it's an uncomfortable feeling to know. And for me, I've always lived my truth. I'm gay. I'm proud of being gay.

I'm who I am. I don't know how. but I celebrate me every day knowing that I want to do right by me so that I can do right by you. Yeah, I love that. And that's it. It's the truth. I mean, I agree with you. 100% everything that you said.

If you're not authentic and if you're not living your truth, then what are you doing? Right. You know, you're spending so much time covering up this lie about who you really are. But we finally come into who you are. Be proud of it. Whatever that looks like for you. Whatever. And once and look, it took me a long time to understand what that meant.

And by the time I got into my, doesn't matter, but you know, my older years, it took me a long time. You're accomplished years. So it took me a long time to finally be comfortable with who I am. And I'm 100% comfortable. I might not be everybody's cup of tea. That's okay. But at least I'm living my truth and my authentic self. I mean, think about this.

The fact that I don't have to teach. I don't have to do half the things that we are involved in. I mean, we have a beautiful life that we. we thrive in, but doing it, that doing it, though, makes me so happy to know that you can give back to communities that don't have it, inspire a generation of students or kids that may not know what it's like. I didn't come from wealth. A lot of people don't know all the charitable stuff we do on season four of our show, an example, we did an entire charitable fashion show for Paul A2 Fashion Gives Back to Ukraine.

And we basically collected $150,000 of clothing for Ukraine refugees that we shipped to Romania and Poland. I'm embarrassed to say that I did keep some of those products and Chanel that were being delivered to the boutique that I didn't want to say. I'm like, honey, this is new season. Okay, you kept two shirts. That's it. But let me tell you. When we did this, it was funny.

I said it's not going to fit the people there. It's just not going to fit that. We're like, we're like kind of laughing because we're like, oh, my God, there's all this design or everything. And we're like, they're going to ship this to Romania and Poland and the Ukrainians are going to be fighting over who gets the designer. What? Because there's some good stuff in there. Giving back is important too. That's important that you said that. And that's the thing. It's very important. The more you get, the more you're supposed to give. Yes. You know, to whom much is given, much is expected and acquired. And that's a famous quote that I've heard a million times. I go by that. I live by that. I give back also. I think it's super important and crucial.

You have to. And listen, television or the media is not the only thing you should strive for. No. There's a world out there that without that, you should be able to live comfortably and realize your fullest potential every day. I agree. I love that. If somebody wants to find you, where would they find you both?

Come to Beverly Hills, bitches at 9-4-1-4-Dayton Way or P-O-L-A-T-E-U. On all social media. And then mine is Patrick Simpson, P-A-T-R-R. I-K-Simpson on S-I-M-P-S-O-N on all social media. Our podcast is undressed with Paul and Patrick. Every week, we drop brand new episodes and he does a coffee reading. The Army and Coffee Green.

On a celebrity that they can get and they can book a copy read at pole atu.com. It's insane. And gouting out in Beverly Hills, four seasons on prime. I love it. It's insane. If you knew the kind of people

that communicate with me and contact me, you'd be like. What are you talking about? I can't. I can only imagine what kind of people contact you. Yeah. Yeah. Emma, I just want to congratulate you on putting the podcast together because it is not an easy task. And kudos to you for following your dream and put himself together. You see all this fucking.

Here I am. There's all the people that are guys. Yeah, I just got a team. Yeah, I know. I just got a team. I wish that it was just me, but I have a team behind me. And that's important to you to know that there's, you know, I have a lot of great people in my circle. And that's how I really am able to do this.

It's not me. But it's beautiful to see that you appreciate respect and the trust is there to be able to go on the journey with you. And I think that's beautiful. Yeah. True Bills, there you have it. I mean, they gave you some good gems. These guys are really, I mean, I can't say enough about them.

They really are authentic. They act like this all the time. And that's honestly why they're so successful. So if you're, if you have imposter syndrome or you're trying to be somebody or not, obviously, that's not the, answer. We're live on location, so I apologize about all the background noise, but thank you guys. I appreciate you. Thank you for having us.

You guys are so special. It's doing what you're doing.