Style-ish Podcast Summary

Episode: Help! I hate my boyfriend’s style
Date: December 9, 2025
Hosts: Madison Solomon Thorpe, Arnica Joshi Smith, Joanna Fleming Coucher (Jo)
Produced by: Shameless Media

Episode Overview

This lively episode of Style-ish weaves together personal anecdotes, wedding stories, and hotly debated fashion and beauty trends. The main thread ties the listeners from Jo’s recent wedding reflections into a rundown of 2025’s most definitive “it” fashion items (per Vogue), the boom of supermarket “convenience beauty” in Australia, and culminates in genuine, practical advice for a listener who needs help with her boyfriend’s questionable fashion sense.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jo’s Wedding Deep Dive

(00:49 – 06:19)

• The trio celebrates Jo’s recent wedding, sharing behind-the-scenes moments, anxieties about the weather, and personal highlights.
• Fashion touches at the wedding: wedding favors of infused olive oils and daily sunscreens at every table.
• Memorable moments include unintentionally matching outfits and their emotional roles as "proud moms" of the bride.
• Jo’s favorite wedding moment: The dance floor, being able to relax and celebrate with loved ones.
• A standout “best man” speech by Ash, focusing humorously on Adrian’s personal transformation.

Notable Quote:
“It was very nice to see a little bit faces when I turned at the ceremony and you two were just there, like, basically linked arms, like two little proud moms.”
– Jo (01:20)

2. Fashion “Swap-Ins” of the Week

(06:19 – 15:04)

Each co-host shares what item or idea they’re “swapping in” to their style routine:

• Annika: The power of a simple diamond earring to instantly elevate a look.
  “All of us simultaneously said a simple diamond earring... it’s just like such an investment that you can pass on to other generations.” (07:07)

• Madison: Advocates for finding secondhand jewelry on Invaluable, dubbing them “triple D diamonds” (diamonds acquired through “death, debt or divorce”). (08:55)

• Jo: Endorses the “Etsy Witch” as a wedding weather hack—her wedding day spell was credited for perfect weather.
  “$22.50. Best fucking $22.50 I think she's ever spent.” (12:24)

• Madison: Mini disposable toothbrushes for freshness on-the-go, inspired by Hailey Bieber.
  “They are called Colgate Max Fresh Wisp Disposable mini toothbrush. Peppermint. There’s 24 in a pack. You’re welcome.” (14:19)

3. Vogue's “It” Fashion Items of 2025

(16:18 – 25:42)

Taking Vogue’s 15-item list, the hosts select and dissect five trends most symbolic of 2025, discussing their staying power:

Top Five Trends:

1. Flip-Flops/Thongs/Jandals:
   Universally worn in the studio, seen as an enduring Australian staple, though the fashionable twist (leather, platform, designer variations) defines the 2025 moment.
   “I think in Australia, we can confidently say that the thong is staying around.” – Jo (18:19)

2. Toe Rings & Anklets:
   Toe rings seen as more of a passing or “hippie” trend; anklets get more approval for being chic.
   “I feel like anklets are sexy because we all know about my bunions. I don’t want to draw too much attention to those things...” – Annika (18:55)

3. Labubu Bags:
   Once omnipresent, their popularity is already waning.
   “I can’t say that I think I’m going to see them in 2026 though.” – Jo (20:00)

4. Oasis Merch:
   Surge in nostalgia-driven merch due to the band’s reunion tour, with a collab with Adidas making it extra cool.
   “There’s something nostalgic, I think, about the Oasis merch too, because it’s from an era that we all grew up in.” – Jo (21:40)

5. Silk Scarves:
   Rebranded as a multipurpose chic staple—wearable art that cycles in and out of fashion but always in style in some form.
   “If you buy one really beautiful silk scarf, you kind of have endless opportunity... I don’t know if I look at silk scarf as a trend rather than just an item.” – Madison (23:50)

Bonus: Hallmark/style-defining looks

• Baggy t-shirt + lace skirt, lace camisoles, layering dresses over pants, 2000s/Y2K, and whispers of 70s/80s comebacks.

4. The Rise of Convenience (“Supermarket”) Beauty

(26:27 – 36:34)

Prompted by Celeste Barber’s Buoy Beauty launching in Woolworths, the team unpacks why supermarket beauty is booming:

• Key Drivers: Accessibility, expanding brand ranges, and economic pressures.
• Luxurious-feeling and trendy brands (Soma, Monday) are now side-by-side with legacy staples (Nivea, Palmer’s, Dermal Therapy) at national grocers.
• Hosts discuss their own supermarket staples—Cetaphil, Dermal Therapy, Oral-B, Nivea, and affordable hair color.
• Cautions are raised about “impulse buying” potent actives (like retinol) without guidance.
• The line between “cool” and “uncool” brands is blurring, fueled by social media-driven nostalgia and viral trends.
• International comparison: US supermarket Erwhan’s luxury beauty aisle.

Notable Quote:
“Skincare in particular, obviously we’ve got em co being a little bit more makeup focused... now, there's just so many, and I think it's overwhelming to people.” – Jo (29:52)

5. Listener Dilemma: “Help! I hate my boyfriend’s style”

(36:34 – 47:45)

Listener Email from Lucinda:
Falling for a new boyfriend whose lack of style does not match her or her friends’ “fashion girlie” energy. He’s meeting her friends for the first time at Christmas drinks, and she needs advice on how to help him dress better—without offending him.

The Team’s Top Advice:

• Be Patient & Gradual: Wait until the relationship foundation is strong, then ease into small updates—“it was probably about six months before I started to transition Adrian’s wardrobe.” – Jo (38:28)
• Positive Reinforcement: Use encouragement, not criticism, and highlight the things he does well.
  “His love language is words of affirmation, so I was just gassing him.” – Jo (40:53)
• Don’t Project Friend Anxiety: Real friends care about kindness, compatibility, and how he treats you more than his shoes or shirt.
• Unobtrusive Upgrades: Suggest shopping together for fun, or gently gift some nicer basics for the holidays.
• Frame as Connection, Not Correction:
  “I think it's framing it as compliment and connection, not correction.” – Madison (43:07)
• Leverage Male Style Basics: Good jeans, clean sneakers, crisp white T-shirt = instant glow-up.
• Accept Some Evolution: Allow his style to be personal and unique; don’t try for a total overhaul overnight.
• Leverage Christmas: Use Secret Santa, gifts, or event prep as an organic opportunity for style upgrades.

Memorable Moment:
“If a man walked into my wardrobe and said, ‘You’re not wearing that,’ I’d be like, get out. We ain’t flipping this wardrobe unless you’re paying for it.” – Madison (43:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “$22.50. Best fucking $22.50 I think she’s ever spent.” – Jo, on the Etsy Witch’s weather spell (12:24)
• “I describe them as triple D diamonds, which means that they went onto that site through either death, debt or divorce.” – Madison (08:56)
• “Let’s get a few outfits for Christmas events. You’ve got your family thing, I’ve got my family thing. Let’s, like, get a few things, build out your wardrobe a little bit more, do it softly like that.” – Jo (46:32)
• “Style is something we can change. It’s not a deal breaker.” – Annika (47:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jo’s Wedding Recap: 00:49 – 06:19
• Style “Swap-Ins”: 06:19 – 15:04
• Vogue’s “It” Items Analysis: 16:18 – 25:42
• Convenience/Supermarket Beauty: 26:27 – 36:34
• Listener Dilemma – Boyfriend’s Style: 36:34 – 47:45

Tone & Language

The episode is buoyant, candid, and peppered with in-jokes, casual Aussie slang, gentle roasting, and practical wisdom. All hosts keep the conversation friendly, fashion-nerdy, supportive, and inclusive to listeners of every style background.

Final Takeaway

Style is cyclical and highly personal, but a little encouragement, a few thoughtful upgrades, and some shared laughs can bring confidence to anyone’s wardrobe—be it your own, your partner’s, or even your Secret Santa’s.