‘Millions in debt’: How Victoria Beckham clawed her way back

Summary

Style-ish Podcast Summary

Episode: 'Millions in debt’: How Victoria Beckham clawed her way back

Date: October 14, 2025
Hosts: Madison Sullivan Thorpe, Joanna Fleming, Rhiannon Joyce
Special Contributors: Annika (Trend Report from Paris Fashion Week)
Podcast by: Shameless Media

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the unlikely but inspiring comeback of Victoria Beckham, focusing on how her fashion and beauty brand turned around from being millions in debt to profitability. Along with a deep-dive into her new documentary and the imminent Australian launch of Victoria Beckham Beauty at Mecca, the hosts provide a firsthand Paris Fashion Week trend report, discuss Nicole Kidman’s appointment as Chanel’s new ambassador, and reflect on friendship, “girlhood” moments, and the changing face of fashion icons.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Cultural Girlhood & Community Moments

[03:04–05:32]

• The conversation opens with a heartfelt discussion about "girlhood" and the innate camaraderie among women, sparked by personal anecdotes from the hosts (helping a stranger with a lost dog, sharing essentials in bathroom moments, etc.).
• Joanna Fleming: "If anyone sees me in public and you need a Band Aid, come to me. I've got some in my bag." (05:32)
• The hosts highlight how small acts of kindness and mutual support are emblematic of "girlhood," setting a collaborative and supportive tone for the episode.

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2. Swap Segment: What’s In, What’s Out

[05:32–11:09]

• Rhiannon Joyce recommends The Business of Fashion's podcast episode “Who's Really Winning?” on the intersection of sports and fashion collaborations.
  "25 minute episode, babes. I've had voice notes longer than this. But it was worth it. Really bite sized content." (06:41)
• Madison Sullivan Thorpe brings back “Best Friend Jewelry,” advocating for the experience and bonding over shared, meaningful accessories—regardless of price point.
  "I'm all for just...Whether it's a $50 ring or a $500 ring or a $5,000 ring, go get something matching with your bestie." (09:04)
• Joanna Fleming spotlights bridal accessories, naming brands like Tendra Studios and Cult Gaia, with the anecdote that Cult Gaia’s founder's father created Bratz dolls.
  "But when you go back and look at her inspiration and a lot of her pieces, they are giving Bratz Stolts especially..." (10:31 — R.Joyce)

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3. Annika’s Trend Report from Paris Fashion Week

[12:13–13:41]; Hosts’ reactions [13:42–16:34]

• Annika delivers a lively, on-the-ground trend dispatch, highlighting:
  • Chanel’s energetic debut under Matthew Blasey—reinvigorated with red, texture, and new movement.
  • Dior’s youthful, reinvented hallmarks under Jonathan Anderson.
  • Schiaparelli’s wearable art—sheer dresses, bold silhouettes.
  • Zimmerman’s psychedelic florals.
• Key takeaways: Invest in shirting, tailoring, volume, sensual silhouettes, and, especially, red.
  • "Fashion should be playful, innovative, and fun. So, ladies... going into Spring Summer 2026, my motto is: be daring and take more risks." – Annika (13:37)
• Hosts reflect on their favorite trends:
  • Joanna loves glitzy, statement “show pony” items.
    “I think I could get around like a show pony item...a glitzy kind of...statement piece.” (14:09)
  • Madison is obsessed with androgynous shirting:
    "For me, I cannot go past the shirting, the utilitarian shirting at Chanel, you guys." (14:25)
  • Rhiannon highlights Loewe’s bold color play and structural innovation:
    “A really beautiful yellow and red combination...slouchy, sporty, preppy look...juxtaposition structurally, some really ... laser cut styles.” (15:14)

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4. Victoria Beckham’s Business Turnaround & Beauty Launch at Mecca

[16:34–32:24]

a. Victoria Beckham’s Brand Journey:

• The hosts discuss Beckham’s journey—her fashion house’s long-term struggle, recent turnaround to profit after 17 years, and the remarkable transparency in her new docuseries.
  • “In 2023, there were a lot of press articles celebrating the fact that their losses were down to £200,000 from the £900,000 in 2022...” (25:15 — M.S.T)
• Beckham and husband David's financial commitment—and strain—to keep the brand afloat is candidly discussed.
  • "Victoria said, 'We were tens of millions in the red. I'm going home to my husband and my business partner. Like, that would have been so hard for them.'" (23:55 — R.Joyce)

b. The Power of Timely Storytelling & “The Doco”

• The docuseries launches just as her beauty brand is set for release at Mecca—called “perfect timing” by the hosts.
  • "Literally. Victoria Beckham, I would say, never left the cultural zeitgeist. She has just catapulted herself forward with the launch of this doco." (17:31 — M.S.T)
• The storytelling format allows broader appeal—whether invested in the business or just cultural nostalgia.
  • "She led with Victoria Beckham the person and the personal brand. So...even if you're not really interested...you could still enjoy it." (25:44 — M.S.T)

c. Victoria Beckham Beauty at Mecca

• Hosts express excitement about the new launch, review their experiences with the products, and compare/contrast with brands like Hourglass.
  • "Have you used anything?"
  • "I only had one lipstick." — J.F. (19:58)
  • Madison emphatically endorses the eyeliners:
    "I had a 40% off staff discount at Mecca and was still buying her eyeliners full price and paying for shipping to Australia." (20:09)
  • Rhiannon shares hands-on testing:
    “We're actually going to be trialing the eyeliners. I think we can all agree we know what Mads is going to say, but I'm actually testing this product at the moment...” (20:16)
• The hosts debate whether VBB can fill the Hourglass gap at Mecca:
  • “Do you think if it fills the Hourglass void...?” (29:44 — R.Joyce)
  • “No... the product offering…is not the same lineup or...breadth as Hourglass. Do I think that it will be eventually? Yes.” (29:56 — M.S.T)
  • Comparison with Westman Atelier for luxury positioning.

d. Industry & Audience Appetite

• The group discusses the pent-up Australian demand, given VBB’s previous inaccessibility—and their anticipation for in-store retail sampling.
  • "There's definitely a major appetite for it, but was that because we couldn't get it? It's like you want things that you can't have." (28:40 — J.Fleming)
  • Host consensus: super excited for fragrance, eyeliners, and new launches—especially experiencing the brand in person at Mecca.

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5. Nicole Kidman Becomes Chanel’s Ambassador

[32:24–43:08]

• Timed with her high-profile divorce, Nicole Kidman appears at Paris Fashion Week as Chanel’s new ambassador, with her daughters and niece—signaling a rebirth theme.
  • "Nicole was a smart choice for the label for many reasons, but the fact that she's going through a divorce and potentially having a bit of post breakup rebirth aligns nicely with Chanel's evolution as a label." (33:29 — R.Joyce)
• The debut Chanel collection under Matu Blasey is universally praised—seen as bringing the label back to cultural relevance and modernity.
• Hosts praise the new choice of ambassadors, noting how Kidman’s age, wealth, and global star power actually align with Chanel’s true customer demographic.
  • "Thank God they have an ambassador that is actually their customer. Nicole is 58, I believe. 57. 58. And she's rich. R is their customer." (36:26 — J.Fleming)
• Discussion expands to how female celebrities in their late 40s-60s (Kidman, Demi Moore, Victoria Beckham) are being (re)embraced as icons, reflecting a cultural shift away from youth-obsession towards venerating experience, resilience, and heritage.

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6. Chanel at Paris Fashion Week: The Show of the Season

[41:01–43:08]

• Chanel seen as the #1 show of Paris Fashion Week by both industry and public consensus.
  • "Industry sentiment agrees. So a lot of the publications I follow... all basically coined Chanel number one from Paris Fashion Week." (41:58 — R.Joyce)
• Notable outside commentary from fashion journalist Lauren Sherman:
  • "This was somehow both elegant, directional, beautiful and above all, desirable... Fashion is saved." (43:08)
• Hosts echo that Chanel has successfully reinvented itself, balancing heritage with a fresh, innovative direction.
  • “This is not your nana's Chanel. … Chanel is saying that in a much more understated, chic, cool way.” (41:36 — M.S.T)
  • “Girls don't want flowers, they want Matthew Blaisey's Chanel.” (43:24 — quoted from “Make It Fashion” via M.S.T)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Victoria Beckham’s Comeback:
  "Victoria said we were tens of millions in the red. I'm going home to my husband and my business partner. Like, that would have been so hard for them." (23:55 — R.Joyce)

• On Girlhood:
  "The girl's bathroom is where girlhood shines." (04:53 — R.Joyce)

• On Fashion’s New Era:
  "Fashion should be playful, innovative, and fun. So…my motto is: be daring and take more risks." (13:37 — Annika, from Paris)

• On Chanel’s Comeback:
  "Girls don't want flowers, they want Matthew Blaisey's Chanel." (43:24 — from “Make It Fashion” via M.S.T)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:08–05:32 — Intro, girlhood, community anecdotes
• 05:32–11:09 — Swap recommendations (podcasts, jewelry, bridal accessories)
• 12:13–13:41 — Annika’s Paris Fashion Week Trend Report
• 13:42–16:34 — Hosts' rapid-fire Paris Fashion Week trend reactions
• 16:34–32:24 — Deep dive: Victoria Beckham business/documentary/beauty launch
• 32:24–41:01 — Nicole Kidman & Chanel; fashion’s changing face
• 41:01–43:08 — Chanel as Paris Fashion Week’s winner; industry sentiment

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Tone and Language

The episode blends expertise with relatability—peppering fashion commentary and industry insights with self-aware humor, candid anecdotes, and supportive banter. Language is contemporary, chatty, and often tongue-in-cheek, consistently maintaining the authentic, warm, and incisive tone listeners love from Style-ish.

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For Listeners Who Missed The Episode...

This episode of Style-ish is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of fashion, business, brand storytelling, and beauty—with a heavy dash of pop culture analysis. Aside from recapping how Victoria Beckham turned her business around and brought her brand to Mecca, it captures the cultural energy of Paris Fashion Week, explains Chanel’s meteoric resurgence, and celebrates the enduring influence of established female icons. The hosts’ natural chemistry and blend of practical tips with high-level industry analysis make for both entertaining and informative listening—plus plenty of memorable one-liners along the way.

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Transcript

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Foreign.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

This episode of Stylish is brought to you by DoorDash. When it's a beauty or skincare emergency, get chemist warehouse delivered straight to your door.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

This is Stylish, the podcast for all things fashion, lifestyle, brand and beauty. My name is Madison Sullivan Thorpe and my co hosts today are Joanna Fleming and Rhiannon Joyce, Shame Media's head of business development and my new Friday Fortnightly co host, who we are very lucky to have filling in for us while Annika is still gallivanting around Europe.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

I'm here for the Europe content.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

I mean, she's just wrapped at Paris Fashion Week, so good for her. Now she's actually enjoying a bit of a vacay.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Yes. We're also going to be hearing from Annika later. She's sharing her trend report. I'm keen to kind of get into that. But she deserves a hard earned break, I would say.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

A hard earned break. It's kind of like a baby moon now, I guess we get to call it.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Yeah.

[Joanna Fleming]

Also, can we just acknowledge the change to the intro because I don't think we did that last week.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah.

[Joanna Fleming]

Introduction of lifestyle as well.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

One word, one word. And slipping me up every time. I'm like reading it now because I'm so conscious of messing it up. I like could have done it by the back of my hand and now I'm like fashion, lifestyle, brand, beauty.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

I feel like the lifestyle piece has really creeped in in the last few weeks with the are you well episode. A lot of the conversations we've been having, even around small, it does feel like it comes under that lifestyle, even like sociology. But that's not sexy enough to put in the title.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

No, no. And that one would be a real tongue twister for me. So big word, let's keep it out so that the, you know, intro's nice and easy for me. I do both intros of both this and our fortnightly ebb. But the reason that lifestyle, I guess, is creeping into our weekly Wednesday one is because obviously our fortnightly episode is very much about brand and campaign. So we want to make sure, like, you know, we're keeping our territories separate, but there's also synergies between the two.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

We're also making it really clear what our content promises to the listener as well. And I feel like lifestyle is creeping in more and more. So let's just call it what it is.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

If I had to put a single phrase on your grave, I don't know whether I would do content promise or if I would do Two things can be true, but they are two of your most used statements.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Yeah. Content promise has creeped in recently.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

I.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Mostly because our shameless media upfronts, which is basically an industry event where we showcase to our agency and client partners who we are we. What's coming up in the next 12 months, is actually going to be this coming Friday, so we're kicking off in Melbourne. So I feel like I have content promised front of mind because that's just constantly what I've been thinking about over the last few months.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

I'm going to ask one of the team members to, like, get one of those, like, club clickers. When you say how many people are in the door? Where they're just like. Every time Ray says content promise over the other.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Oh, God, take a shot. You'll be drunk.

[Joanna Fleming]

I love that you've got, like, a little dictionary of, like, Ray Catch cries.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Oh, my God, my dictionary is so long.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

I keep saying that I want Ri and I to do that trend where you put a phrase above your own head and the friend has to say, when we're saying, like, you know, that's right. And that's right, too. And it's like, two things can be true.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yes, you should do that.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Which feels like such a girlhood thing, which is a great segue into. I know we're not doing a what's in my algorithm today, but what has been in my algorithm at the moment, and probably just a woven thread throughout my life, is girlhood. Yeah. And I feel like I'm personally seeing a lot of displays of girlhood recently, and it will never not warm the shackles of my heart. I had a real girlhood moment the other Saturday. I was driving down a street near my house and a little puppy ran over the front of the road. And I was like, oh, my God, no, I can't. I've got to be the Good Samaritan here. Like, I'm, you know, dog person through and through. So I'm like, u turn pulled over the car, chase this puppy around this street. I'm holding this dog, which is probably about 14, 15 kilos, and my car's in the middle of the road, still running. And I'm like, I don't know what to do. I don't know how to get this dog in this car. And this lovely girl, coincidentally also called Maddie, who I think does listen to Stylish. She'd messaged me above in our subsequent Instagram messages, but she's like, how can I help? While she was holding a chemist warehouse Order. And I'm like, can you pop my boot? I'm like, I don't know this woman from Bariso, which could have stolen my car if she wanted to. And I'm like, can you just get all the parcels out of the bag? Because I still had my online shopping. I'm like, can you just put them in the backseat? She's like, opened up my car, put all my shit in the back, helped me get this puppy into George's dog bed, which was sitting in the boot for when I drive him around. And she's like, is there anything else you need? I'm like, no, I'm all good. And I was like, what a woman. Like, what a girlhood moment.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Yeah, love.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

And then also, when I was in Mykonos recently, a girl was using a very stubby lip liner. I was like, girl, I've got you. I had a little sharpener in my bag. I was like, oh, that. Like, always be the girl in the club or bar bathroom that is willing to help another.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

That was going to be my example of girlhood. Because the first thing that comes to mind is always being in, like, a club, bar or at a. Any sort of bathroom.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

And someone being like, I need a tampon. Does anyone have a lip gloss? It's like complete strangers. Here, use this, use that. Like, that is such a. The girl's bathroom is where girlhood shines.

[Joanna Fleming]

I did that recently in a bath, like a public bathroom with Band Aids, because my feet were absolutely torn to shreds with blisters. And I was like, I actually don't think I can walk any further. And I was in the middle of the cbd. I don't think I can leave this venue with these shoes on. And I'm not walking around the city barefoot. So I was asking everyone that came into the bathroom if they had a bandaid in their bag. I ended up scrounging quite a few Band Aids, to be honest.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

You're actually Band Aid rich now You've got some at home. Yeah. It's like Band Aid, pay it forward. Now you need to go and buy a pack to have in your handbag to give to someone else.

[Joanna Fleming]

If anyone sees me in public and you need a Band Aid, come to me. I've got some in my bag. Today we have a special trend report which we mentioned earlier, coming from Arnica, straight from Paris Fashion Week. Then we are talking all things Victoria Beckham, including her beauty brand launching in Temeca, and the new documentary that I think all three of us have. Binged and then we'll be discussing Nicole Kidman becoming the ambassador for Chanel. But first, what do we each want to swap in this week? I'm going to throw to you, Ray, because you're in Annika's seat.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

I love going first. I always feel like, oh, Maddie, you should go, you should go. But I'm going to go take the throne. Okay, thank you. I have a podcast recommendation. Again, I'm in a podcast mood at the moment. I'm not really reading much. I'm consuming a lot of audio. Instead. The business of Fashion. They have their podcast, which is the debrief. I I listened to an episode this week which was so good. It was actually a recount of one of their most popular articles, which was about sport and fashion, titled who's really Winning? This is like my two worlds colliding. I love sport. I love fashion. And what was so good about it is they gave a bit of a deep dive into who's doing it well and who's not. So they discussed brands that are collaborating with different sporting codes. And what I mean by sporting codes is different sporting organizations. So in the context of Australia, that could be the afl. In this episode they spoke a lot about who's doing it really well in the US and talked about the NFL, they talked about the wnba and then they spoke about who's not doing it well. So what feels like a logo slap and a really disingenuous partnership or collaboration between a fashion house and a sporting team or code. It was so good. 25 minute episode, babes. I've had voice notes longer than this episode, but it was worth it. Really bite sized content, easily digestible on your morning commute. If you're someone like me who loves fashion but also loves sport and the business of sport, I feel like you would really get around this. Mads, what's your work?

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Mine is to bring back best friend jewelry. I'm not talking like your best friend heart necklaces where you take one half and I take the other, but whatever floats your boat. If that tickles your pickle, go for it. I have been seeing some really cool concepts at the moment and love the idea of it, particularly for people who, like, don't have engagement rings and things like that. I've been seeing lots of pinky rings. There's an amazing jeweler out of the US where they've done these kind of oval diamonds that are crossed. Now that is obviously a massive expense. Where is the concept of going and getting a cool piece of jewelry that both you and Your best friend. Love getting it together. Some ideas. Sarah and Sebastian obviously do their soldiered pieces. Lucy Fogg do beautiful rings. If you want to go something a little bit more upmarket. I know that Katherine Denton did a really beautiful ring concept with a mum, a sister, and the bride, where they had their three birthstones in a little pinky ring. I'm personally still in the market for, like, my ideal signal ring. And my best friend Christina and I were like, fudge it, let's get matching one. So, yeah, bring back best friend jewelry.

[Joanna Fleming]

Lyndon Cook as well, with their impression.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Oh, my God, of course. Brilliant idea. Actually.

[Joanna Fleming]

I wear that ring of mine constantly.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Thought about getting George and I on a paw print, but I don't know.

[Joanna Fleming]

That, you know, he should.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

He can't wear one.

[Joanna Fleming]

You are best friends, though.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

He's the love of my life.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Now they sponsor the pod Full transparency. But Michael Hill as well do really cute little charm ranges as well. So if you want something that's a bit more personal in a way, like you going in, you're creating something, oh, let's pick our own charms and have them matching. That's also really cute. I would do that.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah. I actually did do some work with Michael Hill and got to loan some of their jewelry. And there was, like, this beautiful emerald cut one. I did float it with Christina, but she said on the pinky ring. So some great options, though. But I'm all for just, like, Whether it's a $50 ring or a $500 ring or a $5,000 ring, go get something matching with your bestie.

[Joanna Fleming]

Treat yourself.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Also make it an experience. Do that. Go get the matching thing, whatever you want, and then go have a little wine or a lunch after.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

And totally, just for a moment, I'm all about the experience thing. Even we were talking about you wanting golden Goose, and I was like, let's do it for your birthday.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Yeah.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Girls day out.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

I'm here for that. Happy birthday to me. Joni bought me some golden goose.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Jo, what are you thinking?

[Joanna Fleming]

So my swap is actually around bridal accessories because I'm only a few weeks out now from my wedding. And so obviously I'm now realizing all the things that I should have had organized a lot longer ago, but I'm now just getting around to sorting out now. So I had some recommendations for you. One of those is a brand called Tendra Studios, which do beautiful silk bridal bags. They also do just regular bags in other colors, but they do a lot of, like, bridal bags, which are stunning in silk and they have, like, bows or they might have some beading. So really nice options there for your hens or your actual wedding day. Colt Gaia also have amazing accessories, which I've been so tempted by, but I think just a really great way to elevate even a second look by having some kind of accessory that's just a little bit different or a bit more out there. Obviously a little bit more of an expense, but still, if you're going to be spending that kind of cash on your wedding day, why not?

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Can I give you a fun fact?

[Joanna Fleming]

Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

The founder of Cult Gaia, her dad actually created Bratz dolls.

[Joanna Fleming]

That is not an alignment I was expecting, but I love that. Fun fact.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

But when you go back and look at her inspiration and a lot of her pieces, they are giving Bratz Stolts especially. Especially the footwear and the accessories. They're really, really. I can see it. I can see how she was influenced by Bratz.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Can you imagine what her doll collection would have been like growing up?

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Oh, my God.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Insane.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yeah. Wow.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Anyway, sorry, keep going.

[Joanna Fleming]

Great fun fact. My other option is Magnolia Ave, which is a local Australian brand, but they have, like, pearl chokers, they've got little veils. Probably more for your, like, hens accessories or morning of I wore a pearl.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Ear cuff to my welcome lunch.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yep.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

And it was super cute.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yep. So great accessories options there if you're still looking for the final pieces for your own wedding. Okay, well, now that the swap is done, we've got a very special trend report from Arnica coming up, but that will be right after a word from today's sponsor.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Wardrobe malfunctions are one thing, but beauty emergencies, there's nothing scarier. Imagine you have a fake tan emergency the night before an important event. Your favorite lipstick is missing, and you're heading out in an hour. Or your fresh blow dryer gets rained on and you have zero hair products in the house. Normally, I would be in a panic, but thankfully Chemist Warehouse is now on Doordash, meaning they can come to the rescue day or night. And it's not just for the hair and makeup crisis. Maybe you're traveling interstate and can't go one night without your skincare or you run out of nappies or dummies mid meltdown. We all love strolling the aisles of Chemist Warehouse. But when it can't wait, jump on Doordash and get what you need delivered straight to your door. Thank you so much to Doordash for making this episode of Stylish possible.

[Joanna Fleming]

As we mentioned, Annika has been living it up at Paris Fashion Week, and luckily for us and for you, she sent a trend report straight from Paris Fashion Week for us. We've actually got that audio from her, so we're going to play that now.

[Annika]

Bonjour from Paris. I'm in town for Paris Fashion Week and thought I'd share my trend report for the spring summer 2026 collections and let you guys know what I've been seeing. Matthew Blasey's highly anticipated Chanel collection has been one of the biggest debuts that everyone's talking about. The house has been deemed a little sleepy, and it felt alive and reinvigorated. Pops of red, lots of texture, and a focus on movement. I. Jonathan Anderson's Dior debut was also phenomenal, Referencing and acknowledging the previous designers before him. Hallmarks were reinvented with a really youthful twist. Bows, volumes, lace pleats. House hallmarks paired with contemporary pieces and sculptural modern headpieces. Now, Scapa Rally quite literally took my breath away. The collection presented pieces of wearable art. Think sheer dresses, bold hardware, texture, and silhouettes that ooze sexiness. Louise Trotter's boutique Veneta was also a collection I deeply admired. And now we cannot forget the Aussies showing in Paris. We can always rely on Zimmerman to showcase color. And their spring summer collection was an array of psychedelic floral prints and spring tones. And if Paris Fashion Week has taught me anything, it's to invest in shirting, tailoring, texture, volume, sensual silhouettes, and the color red. It's also a reminder that fashion should be playful, innovative, and fun. So, ladies, going Into Spring Summer 2026, my motto is be daring and take more risks.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Au revoir.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Okay, well, Annika, we love you for that. We love a trend report. We love being ahead of the curve here at stylish. Ray. Jo, rapid fire. What are you taking from the Runway?

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Go, Jo.

[Joanna Fleming]

I could get around the glitz and the metallics and those kind of accents. I liked that there was a lot of, like, gold and silver hardware. I really loved the Schiaparelli show. That was, like, my favorite out of all of. So that's probably what I'm taking out. I think I could get around, like, a show pony item. Like, I could get around a glitzy kind of. Yeah, A statement piece. Even if it was, like, a really sexy top like, you guys, I could really get around that. That was my favorite kind of trend that came through on the Runway.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

What about you, Meds?

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

For me, I cannot go past the shirting, the utilitarian shirting at Chanel, you guys. I mean, evidently I'm sitting here in a shirt. I can often be found in the menswear section of the shirting department. I love a tuxedo style shirt. I like that kind of, like, androgynous dressing and menswear kind of brought into the female sphere. So Chanel was just the standout for me. But also love a little bit of embellishment mixed with that. So I love that contrast dressing, you know, the femme with the masculine. So that was mine, Ray.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

So funny you say that. I feel like there was a lot of male influence on that style because I wonder if it's because a lot of the creative directors are men.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah, yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

And that shift and would change that we're seeing is that we're seeing a more of a masculine influence on a lot of the looks on the Runway. Yeah. Stand out for me. Louisville.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Wow.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

I did not expect to love this as much as I did. Yeah. I also saw a lot of commentary online, particularly Lauren Sherman, who is a fashion journalist and also has her own newsletter called Lion Sheet. She had some interesting commentary around that. So I recommend. I actually just recommend subscribing to line sheet as a whole. But I really loved the pop of color combination. So it had this really beautiful yellow and red combination. It was like a slouchy yellow knit with the classic Loewe logo. It had this red shirt underneath. Just really cool color combination, structural mix of their pieces. A lot of that slouchy, sporty, preppy look. But then also they had bit of a juxtaposition structurally. Some really, like. I don't even know how to explain it. Like, almost like laser cut styles. Structurally, they had a lot of boning in the tops, Lots of laser cut styles. Really reminiscent of Proenza as well, which didn't surprise me, considering that they are now the new creative directors. I did see a little bit of influence from them.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Across the board. I would say some serious wins, though, for Paris Fashion Week.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

I think as well. Probably the most wearable I've seen Fashion.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Week look for a time. Yeah. I really thought I could see a lot of these pieces in my wardrobe if I earned way more than we currently do and could afford them. I can't wait for them to trickle down to the high street.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Okay, next up, we are talking about arguably one of my favorite people in the entire world, Victoria Beckham. And the headline is, Victoria Beckham, beauty is coming to Mecca. So talk about perfect timing in the marketing sphere. Victoria Beckham's doco came out last week and it really gave us an inside look at the evolution of Victoria Beckham's fashion and beauty business. And I would say it gave us an inside look at Victoria Beckham as a brand as well as in a personal brand. So we actually touched on this last year. We spoke about the business becoming profitable for the first time after 17 years in business. And the doco really gave us that peek behind the curtain and allowed us to see how they had turned the business around and how they've improved the business's fortunes. And last week it also came to fruition that a lot of the conversation and chatter we'd been seeing online, particularly on TikTok. I don't know if you guys saw this. There's Living Lux with Meredith, who is the Mecca Magic Circle member, who seems to be spilling all of Mecca's secrets before they probably want it out in the public sphere.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

What can they do though? She's spending so much money, is it not her?

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Right. But Meredith spoke of about the fact she'd been in her local store and that, you know, Victoria Beckham was coming, which I, as an avid Victoria Beckham fan, both from a brand and personality perspective, was tickled pink about, but also quite chuffed because we had predicted it on a stylish app. But it is official. Victoria Beckham Beauty is launching at Mecca. They teased it out on their socials last week. It is launching on October 21st. Bloody brilliant timing for me. You could not ask for better timing. Literally. Victoria Beckham, I would say, never left the cultural zeitgeist. She has just catapulted herself forward with the launch of this doco. This is the best timing. Lauren Elderman, the CEO of Victoria Beckham Beauty, said about the move that partnering with Mecca marks an exciting new chapter for us at Victoria Beckham Beauty. Their influence in shaping the Australian beauty landscape is unmatched, and their dedication to curating brands that lead with purpose and creativity deeply resonates with our brand ethos. Mecca is more than a retailer. They are a beauty destination with a fiercely loyal community and we're honored to be a part of it.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Mecca will be very happy with that quote.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Oh, Mecca couldn't have come up with a quote better than that. I don't.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Solid. Very solid.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Okay, there's so much to dissect here, but let's start with the obvious. Who here has tried Victoria Beckham Beauty?

[Joanna Fleming]

I have.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Yeah. So my best friend Jorda Cerriti actually bought me some of the products years ago and this Is so Georgia. She's a beauty fanatic, Always ahead of the game. She bought me the eye wardrobe palette and it's the mini one. Honestly, it's a pocket palette. It's tiny. It retails for $126. Great birthday gift. Not sure I'd go out and repeat purchase, but I do remember this product, even though it was years ago. Imprinted in my brain, the pigment was so good and the color combination's perfect for that in your bag palette because it's quite small. And also just the packaging. Super, super Luxe. Super Luxe has this gorgeous tortoise shell palette, the Victoria Bec name on the front and a gold trimming. Super, super Lux. Like, really loved whipping it out of my bag and touching up my face. Chic.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Have you used anything?

[Joanna Fleming]

I only had one lipstick.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah, yeah, you. The eyeliners. And I'll write it dawn for them. Yeah, I. The way that I can emphasize how great these products are is by saying that I had a 40% off staff discount at Mecca and was still buying her eyeliners full price and paying for shipping to Australia.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

It's funny you mentioned the eyeliners. We're actually doing the we tried it social series, so we're actually going to be trialing the eyeliners. I think we can all agree we know what Mads is going to say, but I'm actually testing this product at the moment. I am wearing it right now and I'm not an eyeliner girly, so I'm really keen to see how this product stacks up for me.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Anytime Ray lets me do her makeup, I attack her with liner and she needs to be tight lining immediately, if not sooner.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Guys, Girlhood.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Girlhood, Girlhood. Get the. Get the liner out. I'm like, I clean it for and everything, so no one, no one come for me. There's no style swapping here. I have to say as well, her fragrances are fucked up, beautiful and wow. Like, seriously, I got on the plane in New York and I looked at my girlfriend Beck and just went, oh, my God, I forgot to buy the fragrance. That was like, the one thing I needed to do, but transparently was so hungover on the last day, I just couldn't put the left in front of the right.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

So real.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Just for God, forgot to go back and buy it. Okay, let's get into the doco because, as I mentioned, this is Mecca's perfect storm in the best possible way for it to have launched around the same time they're launching the brand. We were all very Lucky Netflix gave us early access to the doco, which we've been unable to talk about it because it's been under embargo until the 9th, when it dropped that evening. I absolutely adored this, but I am so keen to get your thoughts because I think we can deepen it a lot before whether it was a raid.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Or hate Go, Jo.

[Joanna Fleming]

I really liked it. I mean, I liked the David Beckham doco as well because I really liked the cameos from both of them in there and kind of the, I guess the insight that we got into their family life, but also their business lives and their story up until this date. Because unlike a lot of other celebs and influencers over the last 10 years, where we really do often see that inside access because of social media, we didn't have that with them when they were at their absolute peak of their, you know, pop star and football careers.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah.

[Joanna Fleming]

So I really love seeing that insight. And I also just think she is so funny.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

She's hilarious, like unintentionally funny.

[Joanna Fleming]

She's just very authentic and she doesn't give a fuck, which I love.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

She's super dry. Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Yes.

[Joanna Fleming]

I love that about her.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Ray, what did you think?

[Rhiannon Joyce]

I adored it. I agree with you, Jo. I really, really, really loved the behind the Scenes access. I loved the Beckham documentary. Louis, my husband, actually watched it with us. He's a huge Beckham fan, so much so our dog is named Bex. So that sets the tone for you all. We loved it. What I thought was interesting was if you've watched the Beckham documentary, I'm going to be really honest, you could probably skip the first episode because I do feel like a lot of it was there was a bit of double up. I did really enjoy seeing the same sort of storyline and the history of their relationship being set up from Posh's Po. Posh from Victoria's pov. But I would say there was a lot of overlap between the first episodes of Beckham and the first episode of Victoria Beckham.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

So for me, I probably could have skipped that first episode for the purpose of this podcast. I watched it to make sure I was as informed as possible. I loved, loved, loved, loved the second episode. All about business, all about the brand. Also, one thing that I really enjoyed was they were not holding back with how hard it was on their relationship, how much money they were sinking into this brand and how much they were in the red. You could see it was palpable to me, Victoria's stress around reflecting on that time in her life. And when they were out in the cabana, when they were talking about how much the business being in red and we're talking tens of millions of pounds in the red, how much that actually impacted their relationship. Not just the business, because them as a couple, but also David specifically. They acknowledged that David had been pouring a lot of money into this brand.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Victoria said we were tens of millions in the red. I'm going home to my husband and my business partner. Like, that would have been so hard for them.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

What did you guys think of that part?

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

I thought that was incredibly raw, vulnerable and honest. Like, or say all of the above. It really was a peek behind the curtain. And I think right now, culturally, we have a real affinity for transparency and honesty. Now, caveat that with this is a Netflix doco that is produced by David's production company. So the same way that the Beckham doco was, like, they get to pick how favorably or how transparent they want to be in this. And I think Netflix as an overall organization do a pretty good job of that as well. But it was really important to me that she addressed that. I was really eager to see whether she would really lean into how much trouble that business was in. And it was widely reported. I mean, in 2023, there were a lot of press articles celebrating the fact that their losses were down to £200,000 from the £900,000 in 2022. Like, you're not often seeing a business that is having, as she spoke about in the doco, the sc, these shows and a Win tour, front row, all of the press that anyone could ever dream of, that is still in the red. And I loved that because I think applicable to Victoria Beckham as a brand, but also a lot of other businesses that look to be doing well or their sales are great, but what they're investing and spending in the business and what their EBITDA is, which is their final earnings number, can be so low. And in some instances, much like this in the red.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Can I ask a question? Take your marketing media person in the industry hat off. Do you think this would appeal to an everyday entertainment viewer, this doco?

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Absolutely.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Why do you think that is?

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Because she led. And that's why I find it interesting. You said you thought you could have skipped episode one. She led with Victoria Beckham, the person and the personal brand. So it from an entertainment perspective, whether you loved the Spice Girls or whether you loved football or whether you just loved celebrity gossip in the early 2000s and like when she had the big implants and the big hair and the tiny booty shorts. Like, she took us on this journey of like, I'll show you who I am before you have to listen to this stuff. And I felt we had enough injection of playful moments, family moments, cultural moments, that even if you're not really interested in the fact that her business was, quite frankly, up shit creek without a paddle and needed to bring in external investment that you could still enjoy that. I agree.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

I am speaking from the perspective of someone who is very familiar with Victoria Beckham when I'm talking about skipping the first episode. I do think the average person needs to watch that. If you are an average entertainment viewer who doesn't really have the context that I have of who she is. Also, all the research we've done in previous episodes and just obviously Louis Obsession, definitely watch the first episode. The one thing I think Netflix do really well is storytelling, particularly with these series. And another thing that I feel will deserve this documentary. Well, and I do think it's going to be a huge success is because the format and the way that it's structured is really similar to the Beckham docu series, which was a renowned success. So I feel like they're like, we've. We're on a good thing here.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Let's keep the recipe.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

The recipe. It's the same formula. It's just from the perspective in the context of Victoria Beckham, the brand, as you said, Mads, but also her business. Some things I found a little bit it eye rolly. And this is just like me nitpicking production stuff.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

That it.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

But a bunch one liners. I get it. Like, that's the Beckham doco series. Like with the. Your dad drove you to school in a Bentley. Like, I think they were really trying to recreate that same thing with Victoria in this. In this series. And a couple of them really landed for me. A couple of them didn't. Because I could tell, oh, we're. We're manufacturing this here.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah. One thing I loved is the fact they lifted the lid on beauty being introduced. And while I. I don't disagree or doubt that she had a passion for beauty, I also want to be really clear that the margins in beauty, particularly in makeup, are really healthy. When I say margin, I mean what it costs to make and what you sell it for. And so it's interesting that they brought that in. I also think that is very likely attributing to their recent success and turnaround because it has been widely popular. We now have it entering Mecca. We know there is A very strong rumour that Hourglass is leaving a lot of discussion online that store team members are speaking to that about this 15 year Mecca partnership being over. I said it on a previous episode. I don't think there could be a better alignment for Mecca or a better replacement for Hourglass. How do you think the Australian market and consumer will embrace Victoria Beckham Beauty?

[Joanna Fleming]

There's definitely a major appetite for it, but was that because we couldn't get it? It's like you want things that you can't have. Are people just going be like, a bit underwhelmed because it's now accessible? Like, when I was in Paris earlier this year, I was with a makeup artist called Jade Kisnorbo and Lee Campbell, who's a beauty influencer and journalist, and they were gagging to get to a department store to buy Victoria Beckham Beauty. Like, we were down at Galleries Lafayette looking for the counter and finally found it. Spent like 20 minutes there trying everything. I think Jade bought the bronzing bricks and I was trying the fragrances and I regretted not buying it. I think it was the aqua one.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah.

[Joanna Fleming]

Portofino.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yes. Yeah, it's abso. Absolutely sublime.

[Joanna Fleming]

So I think maybe I would be tempted to invest in something like that. But I will say the formulas are beautiful. I don't think it's necessarily a similar brand to Hourglass specifically, but it has a similar customer in terms of it's a luxury shopper. It is someone that doesn't mind spending money on their beauty products, especially makeup, and they want really quality, beautiful formulas.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

That's a nice segue because I was going to ask you guys, do you think if it fills the Hourglass void, if Hourglass does leave Mecca, do you feel like it fills the void?

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

No, I don't think that it fills the void, but I think that.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Does it have to, though?

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

No, I don't think it does. Two things can be true. Yeah, I don't think it fills the void because the product offering of Victoria Beckham Beauty is not the same lineup or to the same breadth as Hourglass. Do I think that it will be? Eventually, yes. And that is what you have to remember when you're working in a retailer like this and when you're signing a brand of this scale, generally speaking, you will be seeing a three to four to five year product pipeline. Mecca would be very aware of what Victoria Beckham's pipeline would be. And given the success we've seen in the last few years and the way that that brand has scaled, I would not Be at all surprised if in five years we were sitting here, hopefully this podcast is still going, talking about the size and scale of Victoria Beckham the same way we do about Hourglass. I'm so excited for this brand to launch. If I was going to give you a brand that I think it sits alongside, I wouldn't say it's Hourglass. I'd say Westman Atelier.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yes.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

I think that's a really good comparison.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

I also will still follow my Hourglass products. It's not going to stop me from buying them. I don't think it's a direct swap, but I am still really keen to try this brand and be able to experience it in a retail environment, because I'm a big, tactile person when it comes to beauty consumption. And I like to go into Mecca stores, Sephora, you know, any of the retailers, and really experience a brand firsthand before I lock in.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

But I'm keen to lock in on this one.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

I'm. I'm really keen. I was in my local Mecca recently and said to one of the girls, oh, my God, I'm so excited for Victoria Beckham coming in. Obviously, it had just been announced. Announced. And I was like, have you tried anything? Have you played? Is there any product here? She said she'd done the training, which is so exciting because I was like, okay, that means you've tried everything. The Skin Tint has recently launched, and, like, there's a lot of conversation online because it is really xy. She was saying that was her favorite product. I'm excited to try it. Even if it is in store. I don't know if I'll pull the trigger on the investment, but I'm excited for that and for the fragrances, the eyeliners. I'm just excited to be able to go in and buy them conveniently. What about you guys? What are you most excited to try?

[Joanna Fleming]

Definitely the fragrance that I sampled in Paris. I regretted not buying that, but at the time, I was like, the conversion is just not converting for me, so I'm not going to do that here. But I do really want to invest in that.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Could it be the wedding fragrance? Oh, big call.

[Joanna Fleming]

Potentially. I might need to have another sniff.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah.

[Joanna Fleming]

And then I might make a call.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

On that eye wardrobe palette that I've already tried. I definitely would repurchase. Also, my birthday's coming up, so if someone wants to buy me that, they can. Georgia, are you listening like that?

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

You looked me directly in the eye as well, just in case Georgia doesn't come through.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

All right, next we're going to discuss Nicole Kidman becoming Chanel's new ambassador. But that will be right after a word from today's sponsor. Once you find the ultimate pair of jeans for your body, your wardrobe will never be the same. And on October 16th, we're doing just that in a special event hosted by Calvin Klein, your stylish host host and our favorite stylist Elliot Garno. In this live styling session hosted at Melbourne Central, you'll learn what to look for in jeans and find your perfect pair from the 90s straight to the modern wide leg. Because no one does denim like Calvin Klein. Not heading to the event this time, you can still shop our favorite Calvin Klein pieces at the Stylish edit linked in the Episode Description thank you so much to Calvin Klein for making this episode of Stylish possible. In another instance of interesting timing, last week Nicole Kidman was announced as Chanel's new brand ambassador right in the midst of her divorce with Keith Urban going public. She's made her first public appearance post split at Chanel's Paris Fashion Week show last week, which she attended with her two daughters and her niece. She's also debuted a new fringe, something people online were quick to describe as breakup banks.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

I didn't see that.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

I love that. I would never. But yeah, yeah, Nicole was a smart choice for the label for many reasons, but the fact that she's going through a divorce and potentially having a bit of post breakup rebirth aligns nicely with Chanel's evolution as a label. Last week's Paris Fashion Week Runway featured the debut collection from the label's new creative director, Matu Blazey. There was a lot of hype around it, hype that by almost all accounts it more than lived up to, according to both critics and social media. I mean, if my social media is anything to go by, it was absolutely everywhere. In her review of the show, the New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman said, it turned out he wasn't just remaking the world of Coco, he was remaking the universe, taking Chanel down to a molecular level and recombining all those well known brand building blocks in doing so. Mr. Blasey didn't always create beauty. He did something more interesting. He brought Chanel back to life. We've actually spoken before on the podcast and just at length in the shameless media universe about all the criticism Chanel has received over the years for dressing its ambassadors in what people would describe as uninteresting and sometimes unflattering red carpet outfits. After seeing the new direction Matu is taking Chanel in, do you think this criticism could become a thing of the past? And what do you guys think about Nicole being a brand ambassador?

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

There is no way that anyone from Chanel will be dressed poorly in the next 12 months. I will go on the record. I will eat my words if I have to. I mean, we've all seen the memes of someone at Chanel hating Margot Robbie.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

That was Margot Robbie. Top of mind.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Poor Margo and Elliot Garneau and I spoke about this earlier in the year when we did Face to Face. Someone at Chanel hated Margot Robbie and I will die on that hill because she went from arguably one of the worst dressed celebrities to without a doubt, one of the best. And she looked phenomenal sitting front row at Chanel. So I think bridges are no longer burned. They're back together. The world is healing. Nicole Kidman looked unreal. And do you know what? It might not have been her walking out of a divorce office fist pumping, but it was the next best thing. And like the girls said on the Shameless ep, when women get divorced, it's like a butterfly. They just become better. Not speaking from experience personally, of course, but she just looked unreal. And what a statement to be there with her two daughters. Also in Head to Toe Chanel, that was a full family affair. I love the fact that Nicole Kidman is back.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yeah, I agree. Re I struggled to find any sentiment online that that said that the Chanel show didn't pop off. I saw a TikTok, actually, that described it as tasting something you've always known but suddenly spiced differently. Oh, I love that. I would have to agree with. I really liked that analogy because I think that's so true. It was like the modernization of Chanel. In this particular show, I loved, like, the planetarium kind of set up. And Nicole as an ambassador, I was like, thank God they have an ambassador that is actually their customer. Nicole is 58, I believe. 57. 58.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

And she's rich.

[Joanna Fleming]

And she's rich. R is their customer. Like, the three of us in this room are not going down to Chanel to buy their collection. It's just not happening. Like, the three of us are not walking into Chanel and buying the new collection. But there may be other women in their late 50s, early 60s that do have the income to do that. So having that representation for that brand I think is so incredibly important and such a great strategy from them.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

I think you bang on there, Joe. I really liked this idea and Again, we're here to deepen things. So if you look, listening to this being like, oh, this feels a bit deep, Deep. I'm taking it to this place. I also like this idea of a new iteration or a brand being reborn. I feel like we're seeing this trend with a few celebrities as well, Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore, who have really moved into this next iteration of their career and this born again phase of the type of movies and TV that they're actually doing. So I was thinking Demi Moore, the substance. Nicole Kidman, baby girl. Yeah, they're really progressing into these roles that feel quite progressive but also provocative and quite gritty. That decision to be exploring that type of creative work seems to be trickling down into the type of partnerships that they're doing as well. And I feel like Chanel is going down a similar path where it's. They're trying to revitalize the heritage of this brand, reposition it as being edgy, reposition it as being, you know, a bit more interesting. Because as we touched on earlier, historically, Chanel has been criticized quite a lot over the last few years as being a bit dull.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yeah. And stacked. Stale.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Stale. And I like that synergy.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah. And what I love about this partnership is it is the perfect embodiment of a nod to heritage and a forward facing view. And I think that whole collection symbolised that and I think that was evident in the show. I mean, even the shirting, the partnership that they've done with that shirting business is Coco Chanel's shirting favourites. Like, this is a nod to heritage, but a fresh lens forward. And I'm so excited for it to be Nicole Kidman. I think much like Mecca getting Victoria Beckham, someone in Chanel is going, oh, my God, yay, she's getting a divorce. Probably not Nicole's camp, but it's perfect timing for them. This conversation would have been going on well before the divorce news was public. And I very much doubt anyone at Chanel knew that there was trouble in the Kidman Keith household.

[Joanna Fleming]

Well, the rumors have been that the split happened earlier this year.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Yes.

[Joanna Fleming]

So if the conversation has been in the works, there may have been someone internally at Chanel that did know that was there. This eventually would be coming out because your PR team, from Nicole's perspective, would maybe have to flag that as a potential risk factor for them.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Can I add to this as well? And this is the skeptic in me and I've consumed a lot of shameless podcasts over the years. I. And what I'VE learned from that is not everything is a mistake.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

And that sometimes when you feel like something feels strategic or. Oh my God, that's so weird how it's all aligned. It was probably planned. I don't necessarily think the Chanel ambassadorship came off the back of Nicole's divorce. That's well earned. That collaboration makes a lot of sense because she's actually had a long standing relationship with Chanel. How could we forget the iconic Baz Luhrmann commercial of the Chanel no. 5 fragrance that Nicole Kidman debuted in? She's had a relationship with the brand. It doesn't feel like that was influenced by this. One thing I agree with you, Joe, is strategically, I do think, think Nicole's team have looked at the scenario and planted the timing.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yes.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Of these announcements really well. We also just have Nicole Kidman on the COVID of Vogue. So that recently just dropped. That is very much playing into the hands of Nicole's team and them being really strategic about this announcement.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Yeah. So in that sense, I feel like it's all perfect timing. But regardless, I'm obsessed with it. I love strategic moves and I think this is working really well for Nicole and her team. Good job.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

I also love, and I think this is the undertone of this entire episode, that these are women with children, they are families, they are older women who we are culturally obsessed with. I love that we're talking about Demi Moore. I love that we're talking about Victoria Beckham, Nicole Kidman. We're not just talking about 28 year old, you know, Sabrina Carpenter or 34 year old Taylor Swift. Like these are cultural zeitgeist women. And I love that nostalgia is back. We saw it with Victoria's Secret, Bringing back the Angels. Whether you love it or loathe it, that's a nod to nostalgia. Kim using the supermodels era for the skims campaign last year. Like, we're seeing a lot of it and I love it so much.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

So would you coin Chanel the number one show that you saw at Paris Fashion Week on socials?

[Joanna Fleming]

On socials, yes.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

What do you think in terms of the show? I would say Schiaparelli was my favourite show. But overall, branding, marketing, publicity, social media, Chanel knocked it out of the park. And I bought a Chanel bag years and years ago to mark a work occasion. Saved for like two years to buy it secondhanded auction. And let me tell you, I've never ran to pull out a handbag quicker. I was like, oh, now is a good time. To be a Chanel girl.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Yeah, yeah. So it's reinvigorated your love 1000%.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

I this is not your nana's Chanel. And much like that Tiffany campaign that was like, this is not your grandmother's Tiffany, Chanel is saying that in a much more understated chic. Yeah, cool way. But if there was ever a house that was going to cop criticism for not getting it right, it would have been Chanel. Like honestly, they must just be high fiving internally because you couldn't have asked for a better response.

[Joanna Fleming]

Yeah.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Industry sentiment agrees. So a lot of the publications I follow, business of Fashion Park News, all basically coined Chanel number one from Paris Fashion Week. Lauren Sherman, fashion journalist who I spoke about earlier, who is the host of Fashion People and has her own newsletter, line sheet, again, a must. Subscribe in a fashion industry bible hailed Chanel the winner of Paris Fashion Week. Chanel by Matuse Blezy. He nailed it. This was somehow both elegant, directional, beautiful, and above all, desirable. He paid care to the house codes without losing himself and did better than anyone could have imagined in the process. The set was amazing. The hair and makeup were great. In France, they love to say and look guys, I'm not going to say it in French because I'll absolutely butcher it, but it translates to not possible. Blasi showed the that it is possible. Fashion is saved. I mean, Lauren is notorious for being a bit of a, honestly, like a ball breaker when it comes to her reviews and her opinions. That is one of, I would say the nicest reviews I've seen her give. And I think a real, real indication of how much this has resonated with not just people in the industry, but people like us. And I'm really, really, really excited to see what he does next.

[Joanna Fleming]

Same off the back of Lauren's comments and to tie back into what you said, Mads, about getting your Chanel out of the cupboard, Dadabit Make It Fashion actually reported the popularity of Chanel has already risen 15% since the debut collection.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Yeah.

[Joanna Fleming]

Which is huge data.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

But makeup fashion had arguably my favorite quote, which sums it up perfectly. Girls don't want flowers, they want Matthew Blaisey's Chanel.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

And that is a great way to finish.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

That is all for this week's episode of Stylish. Thank you very much for joining us and of course, course, thanks very much to you, Joanna Fleming and Rhiannon Joyce and me, Madison. Remember, you can drop us an email anytime at style-ishameless media.com or you can slide into our DMS over at Stylish Pod. Please do let us know your girlhood moments. And we can't forget to thank the shameless media team. Our head of podcast, Lucy Hunt, and our senior podcast producer, Kate Emma Burke will be right back in our chairs next Wednesday. See you then. Bye.

[Rhiannon Joyce]

Bye. Ciao. This podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri land.

[Joanna Fleming]

Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

[Madison Sullivan Thorpe]

Hello, everyone. It's Jamie Lang here. Now. Can I just grab you for just one second to tell you about my podcast, Great Company? It's out every Wednesday, and I'm joined by someone I really admire for a great conversation. It's a space to share, to be inspired, to learn, to be moved, even laugh. There are so many things that I get from it, and there are no gimmicks. It's just me, great guests, and you. You are the most important person. You, the listener. Listen and subscribe to Great Company with me, Jamie Lang. New episodes out every Wednesday. Wherever you get your podcasts.