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Joanna Fleming
Foreign.
Sponsor
This episode of Stylish is brought to you by the New Balance 471. Available in store at selected JD Sports stores soon.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
This is Stylish, the podcast for all things fashion, brand, business and beauty. My name is Madison Sullivan Thorpe. I am of course joined by my co host Joanna Fleming. Hello. And this week we welco Annika Dottie Smith.
Joanna Fleming
Hi guys. Missed ya.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
We missed you.
Joanna Fleming
So happy to have you back. We love having RI on but we did miss you.
Annika Dottie Smith
I know we love RiRi, but I missed you both so much and I love tuning in. I feel like Jo looked like me last week.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
But anyway, she did fully. She walked in and the first thing I said was, hi Hanukkah. How was being at home?
Annika Dottie Smith
It was so nice. I just love spending time with my family and giving my mum the biggest hug. And we got the best news. My brother and his partner Jaz are expecting their first baby. So first grandchild which we are so excited about. I've already kitted out the proud as you do. So anyway, I feel like there would.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Be some really chic like little Prada shoes or something in there for that baby.
Joanna Fleming
There's just a few cute little things knowing an. Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Joe, you have been very hot on TikTok this morning. I feel like I woke up and I had messages from you.
Joanna Fleming
I was deep in Chinese manufacturer TikTok this morning. I don't know if this has been on your algorithms or it's on yours now, Mads, because I sent you videos, but it's going off on TikTok because what has happened is that all of these Chinese manufacturers have jumped on TikTok. They're like fashion and luxury goods manufacturers in China. And in response largely to the tariffs and the looming trade war that's happening with the US they're now claiming to out brands for marking up their prices. So for example, one video said that a Birkin costs $1,300 to make when they retail for like what, 40,000 USD.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Depending on the luxury.
Joanna Fleming
But another video said that most luxury bags are made in China and then shipped to Italy or France for the finishing touches, just so they can say made in Italy or made in France on it. So it might be like a tag that they add or like an embellishment.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
They add or the final assembling.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah, okay, so you already knew that, Mads.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
It's been widely speculated working in beauty, there's a lot of synergies alongside fashion. And I'd heard it a lot in the fashion space of you know, garments being 70, 25, 80% produced and then taken over to the country that they will say it's been manufactured there.
Annika Dottie Smith
Oh, okay.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
And it's not illegal either. I think a lot of people will be seeing this going. Is that illegal? No, they are allowed to have a portion of manufacturing done there.
Joanna Fleming
Okay, interesting. But if you want to end up on this side of TikTok, if you aren't already, we're recording this Monday, so I think by Wednesday it'll probably be on everyone's feeds. If they do consume fashion related content.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
It'Ll have made it to Instagram reels by Wednesday. Sorry, if you only watch reels don't come for me.
Joanna Fleming
You can check out account send bags luxe bag 68 and is chow Barn is there handles. Even Bethany Frankel, the American TVA personality, has chimed in. We love her opinion.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah, she's also like a massive Birkin lover. So this is big.
Joanna Fleming
Very interesting. And there have also been suggestions that after a Chinese State council meeting that if the tariffs are imposed, they're just going to open the floodgates with IP and copyrights and trademarks and just copy American products like for like. And sell them for cheaper.
Annika Dottie Smith
Here we go.
Joanna Fleming
So, yeah, it's going to be very interesting.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I thought the Walmart Birkin was going to be the start and stop of the Hermes ripoffs. And here we are.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah. Well, is it a ripoff if it's real?
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Oh, she's asking the hard hitting questions and we haven't even got into the episode.
Joanna Fleming
We've got a good one today.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
We do. Because on the back of our myth busting hair rules, you guys loved it so much. We had such great feedback, so we thought we might keep the rules theme going. Except this time we're going to discuss eight rules that can extend the life of your clothes, which I think Jo's palms are sweaty with excitement.
Joanna Fleming
This is technically cleaning content, guys. It's happening.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
But before we do that, we wanted to do a little bit of a swap, which are obviously our favorite recommendations and we know you guys love these. So, Annika, why don't you kick us off? Because I feel like Joe will be spending a lot of time talking during the cleaning.
Annika Dottie Smith
My absolute pleasure. So I always get asked for trade secrets and I feel like we get such a glimpse into all the trends coming up for the season ahead. We're generally selling products that will deliver in six months from now. So if you guys just want a little bit of inspiration or you want to kind of see what is trending for the next season. My secret is mode operandi trunk shows. So a trunk show is essentially a sneak peek into a season that's coming up. Historically speaking, would be kind of like you would invite prestigious people to a trunk show and they'll kind of show you what they've got coming, and they'll be specifically made to order for those people. And so now what you can do on Mode, and it's free to view, it's free to access, you can look at all incredible designers from Christopher Isbel all the way through to, like, Danielle Frankel for our bridal content. And you can see everything that's coming out in six months time. So it's a really good little tidbit if you want to have a little look at what's coming out for the next season.
Joanna Fleming
I like that tip, Mads.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah, I do really love that tip. I've done that before. But I tell you what the worst is when you fall in love with something that you want for an event and you're like, wait, I can't get it for an hour, five months.
Annika Dottie Smith
I need it now. And the worst thing, working in the industry, I pre order everything. So then it just kind of starts to arrive and I'm like, but that's.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Like a little present. It's like, oh, past me. Bought me something nice. How nice?
Annika Dottie Smith
Love past me.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Okay, so mine is I wear slick buns a lot. Despite going through the hair myths, still putting it up quite a bit. Although I am trying quite hard to commit to the blow wave. But mine is a pomade for slick back bun. It is the 11 slick pomade. It's $28 from Adore Beauty or Hair House Warehouse. It is such a good pomade. I think I've had my tub for maybe, I want to say, like 14 or 15 months, and I still have half to go. I'm like, it's like the Mary Poppins of hair products. I'm like, when will I get to the end of this? But it's really, really good. And it's one of the only pomades that can really hold my hair in place. So nice.
Annika Dottie Smith
That's kind of how I need. I always get shit for, like the dangly bits at the back of my hair. Or my friends are just like, just want to slip them up.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Look, I will say I do still have a full on rat's tail. I don't think there's that.
Joanna Fleming
I still get mullets too. The mullet is fine. It's business at the back of your head.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I'm gonna go mullet instead of rat's tail. That sounds much nicer.
Joanna Fleming
That's what Adrian calls it.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah. And I don't like a bobby pin, though.
Annika Dottie Smith
Yeah.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I don't love the look. I did it the other day and I felt like, yeah, yeah, get the mullet out. Jo, what have you got for us?
Joanna Fleming
I'm actually swapping in a TikTok account today. In line with the theme of today's episode. Her handle is Amelia Liddy Sudbury, who used to own a laundry business, and she now shares tips on Instagram about, like, how to remove different stains from your clothes, how to, like, wash certain things. It's actually really interesting. So if you love today's episode, you might want to go and check out her.
Annika Dottie Smith
I'll be giving her a follow.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah, I'll do that. In between looking at Chinese tariffles.
Joanna Fleming
All right, jumping into today's eight rules of making your clothes last longer. Now, the fashion industry generates roughly 92 million tonnes of textile waste every year. Brands are making more clothes than ever before, and many of us own and buy more clothes than we actually need. I'm definitely guilty of that as well. Thinking about the fashion industry's environmental impact is pretty overwhelming. So there are some simple things that we can each do in our daily life to extend the life cycle of the clothing we already own, which is exactly what we're going to be talking about today. So the way that we care for our clothes is a really big one. So how you store them, wash them, dry them, that will determine how much life you get out of them. So what is the correct way to do these things? We're going to tell you and take you through those eight rules. We've enlisted the help of Lucy Anne Tonti, a fashion editor and the author of Sundressed, a book about natural fibres and the future of fashion. She also writes the Closet Clinic series of the Guardian, where she shares her expert advice on caring for your clothes and keeping them out of landfills. So we definitely have an expert on our side here, including myself, I would say is very good in Washington, the self proclaimed expert.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I'm glad we have some experts because I think my expertise probably extends to the fact that I have sundressed Lucy Ann's book. So do you? I do. I've got the book.
Joanna Fleming
Have you read it?
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I have. I'm halfway through it. It's a little bit like when I read Marie Kondo. I appreciate it. I love the idea. I just want to be better. And I know it makes me feel like I need to be better.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah. Okay, that's fair. In general, how would you rate yourselves out of 10 when it comes to washing and storing and looking after your clothes?
Annika Dottie Smith
Okay. Past me was absolutely useless. Like, did not care for any machine setting. Shrunk so much of James's T shirts and washing that I was banned from laundry. And it wasn't until I was. Hang on a second. I need to care for my beautiful pieces as well. So I actually think I have levelled up. Not to like Lucy Anne Standard, probably in the books, but she's gonna teach me things today. But I've started using natural alternatives to, like, your supermarket brands. And I have noticed such a difference in my fabrics, especially the handle. So some of the brands I'm loving is Bondi Wash. I love Bondi Wash. Oh, my gosh. The most incredible delicate wash and wool and cashmere wash. So my pieces are just so lush at the moment.
Joanna Fleming
They've got a great bench spray as well. Oh, got it.
Annika Dottie Smith
Also, Koala Eco. I love their whole home setting. Everything is stunning. I've been using the oxygenated bleach in the wash for all my whites and girls. They are crisp and bright.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah, you miss look.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I don't think that I would be leaving the classroom with a gold star on this one. Dry, clean only items. I am so good. 10 out of 10 settings. What should I be doing? The delicate wash gets a. Gets a real run on my machine. I try and use natural where possible, but, like, I love a sad spray more than anything. Then gets 50% off at Woolies still right now because I bought about four of them on the weekend. But, yeah, I'm a complete novice. I think I'm just throwing it in and hoping for the best.
Joanna Fleming
Okay.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
And yeah, I mean. Over to the expert. Now, Jo, how would you define yourself?
Joanna Fleming
I'd say I'm probably a nine.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's great.
Joanna Fleming
I'm feeling confident today.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
But before we jump into all of those rules, let's first jump to a word from today's sponsor.
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Joanna Fleming
Okay, rule number one is don't over wash your clothes. So I want to start off this rule with a question to you guys again. Do either of you think you over wash your clothes?
Annika Dottie Smith
Maybe. Probably. I'm one of those people that is so lazy my clothes end up in the laundry basket as a form of storage. So it's kind of like this constant rotation in my head that I'm like, that's another storage area.
Joanna Fleming
Do you have the clothes chair in your house where you just throw things that on that you've worn but probably could be worn again?
Annika Dottie Smith
I did and I had to remove the chair because it was obnoxious. Like it was not okay.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I feel like the only thing that I really truly over wash is activewear.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
But I mean I'm hot lapping and doing quite a few steps with Georgie.
Joanna Fleming
Boy every day, so you can't really be double wearing.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah, you can't really throw the leggings on again. So. Yeah. I just don't know how many times the Lulu tights are supposed to go through the wash and the dryer. So.
Joanna Fleming
Oh, and the dryer. Okay.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Oh. Everyday, all the time. I said what I said I'm not getting a gold star here today.
Joanna Fleming
Well, as you can probably guess, washing your clothes too frequently can cause the fabrics to peel, fade and in some cases tear tumbling around in the machine. Laundry powder, heat from the water or a dryer, all of these things age your clothes. Lucienne said her best advice when it comes to laundry is to do the least of everything. The shortest, coldest, wash with liquid detergent and air dry your clothes in the shade where possible is the best possible way to do it. Apparently liquid detergents are more suitable for modern washing machines because they dissolve better and they're less likely to leave a residue which I didn't actually know but I've always used used liquid detergents anyway. But apparently the powder detergents leave this residue in the drum.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah, I used to only use powder until Friday when I took my 83 year old great aunt to the supermarket to do her groceries and I was buying my four sides and she was like Absolutely not. You should not be using a powder. So I bought my first liquid. I'll have a wash. Like if it's a cashmere wool wash, I've got those.
Annika Dottie Smith
Yeah, yeah.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
But yeah, I'm fresh to this tip.
Joanna Fleming
Great Aunt knows what's up.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Oh, Auntie Faye would come in here and wipe the floor with.
Joanna Fleming
Well, different garments will need to be washed more and less regularly too. So let's start with knitwear. Apparently you can usually wear knitwear three to five times before needing to wash it. And even then you can often get away with just a spot clean instead of a full wash. I'm guilty of washing my knitwear every time I wear it. That's just because I'm paranoid of smelling, even though I know that it's not really smelly because wool and natural fibers really don't pick up as much smell as other fibres do.
Annika Dottie Smith
But.
Joanna Fleming
But I don't know, there's just something about it. I really love a wool wash. And.
Annika Dottie Smith
Do you wanna know a hot tip as well? My mum taught me that if you get a towel and you just lay your knitwear on top of a towel, it will like absorb all the excess and hold its shape so well.
Joanna Fleming
Oh, okay, great. Thanks for the tip, Mom.
Annika Dottie Smith
You're welcome.
Joanna Fleming
Silk items apparently don't need to be washed too often either. Every three to four wears will be sufficient. Again, I will sweat into that silk item.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Silk is not repelling the shooting, let me tell you.
Joanna Fleming
No, cotton clothing can usually be worn a few times before you it in the wash as well. But frequency will vary a lot depending on the item and obviously how you're wearing these things will determine that as well. T shirts and tops that make direct contact with your skin most, you know, under your arms might need washing everywhere or two. But an item like a sweater that you're not, you know, you've got a T shirt or a long sleeve top underneath it, you could probably get away with longer. That's probably one thing that I do do. I might like re wear a jumper that I've had something on underneath jeans. You can get away with not washing for long periods of time and some people say that they never need to be washed. You just need to spot clean them.
Annika Dottie Smith
That's fine.
Joanna Fleming
Sorry, I disagree with that because they're making like almost direct contact with your bits. Do you guys agree?
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah. I put mine in the freezer though, when I was like 21 and first moved out of home. I thought that was like revolutionary.
Joanna Fleming
Well, apparently that's not really a Thing. So household freezers.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Well, I don't do it any. I said 21 just turned 30. We all make mistakes.
Joanna Fleming
Apparently they're not good enough bacteria. So the smell and the dirt will still be there once you take them out, apparently. But that is a very common thing.
Annika Dottie Smith
Okay, wait, so if they can't go on household freezers, what type of freezers are we talking about and what lengths are people going?
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Well, no, it's a myth, so don't put them in the freezer. But no, I think it was an old school myth for old denim. So now there's a lot of denim blends that have a lot of give and stretch. But think like rigid old school, like spray on 70s 80s jeans, I should say.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah. And if you don't want to wash them, you can just. Just leave them to air out in the sun if you want to. Because UV is like a bacteria killer.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
Like, I'm taking on board this gardens, but a lot of our clothing is made from polyester and polyester blends. Like the top that I'm wearing today, that's absolutely going to have to go in the wash because polyester can attract bacteria.
Annika Dottie Smith
Stunning.
Joanna Fleming
And so it creates more of a smell. Have you ever noticed the BO smell when you wear polyester? Yeah.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
It's also hot as shit. In this studio. I think we need to wash every single item that's been in here today.
Joanna Fleming
That is absolutely true. But they trap crap odour causing bacteria. And so that's why you can get a bit stinkier wearing polyester. So I tend to put a laundry sanitizer in with polyester clothes because I just feel like it kills the bacteria a little bit more so that I don't get the clothes out and they still are stinky. Yeah. Okay.
Annika Dottie Smith
I love that.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I think I'm generally speaking pretty good with these, so maybe like, I'm not gonna get a gold star, but maybe, like, I'm not getting the wooden spoon today. I have gentle setting on my washing machine and that honestly changed my life about five years ago when I got that. Because if anything's kind of a little bit more delicate, I feel like it's a little bit more gentle to throw in there.
Joanna Fleming
A hundred percent.
Annika Dottie Smith
Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
My delicate cycle gets a workout.
Annika Dottie Smith
Yeah, I would say that's probably like mainly the only setting I use. And then everything else is like, for bedding and sheets, I actually have like a bedding setting and like all of the extra, extra dirty stuff.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Fancy washing machine.
Joanna Fleming
Fisher and Piker, new sponsor of the show.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah. All right. Number two is all about storing your clothing correctly. Who's gonna get a gold star? Now, this second rule is one that many of us will struggle with at times. It's about storing our clothing correctly. So on a scale of 1 to 10, how happy are each of you with the way that you're storing your clothing at the moment? Do you think you're doing it in the correct way?
Joanna Fleming
Aside from my wardrobe being ridiculously overcrowded and everything being jammed in there, I think so.
Annika Dottie Smith
I reckon I'm sitting at a three.
Joanna Fleming
Really?
Annika Dottie Smith
You guys would be sickened if you saw my wardrobes and my drawers. Like, you can't even, like, really navigate through my drawers. My, like, wardrobe, it's organized. Like, I know where things are and I've got sections for things, but it's like pure chaos. Multiple things on one coat hanger. Like, you can't even, like, navigate your way through it.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
It's just organised for your brain, not.
Annika Dottie Smith
For a. Yeah, that makes perfect sense to me. No one else.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah. Well, Lucianne says to think of storage as a barometer of how you treat your clothes. So your clothes want to feel comfortable and safe. Yours may not feel comfortable and safe. Try not to overcrowd racks and drawers. That three's really warming up. Never hang anything knitted as it will stretch. If you put silk away dir after dancing in it, sweat stains will appear over time. So where you store your clothes is really important. So you need to opt for cool, dark and dry storage areas and closets where possible. And avoid attics or basements as the temperature can fluctuate a lot more in these spaces. She also says ventilation is key, so you need good airflow in your storage area so the moisture doesn't build up.
Joanna Fleming
One of my tips is actually moisture absorbers. So they're these little plastic containers and they have. I don't know what's in them. I can't really describe it. I'm not an expert in that. But they absorb the moisture and then the bottom of the little container fills up with water and so it seems. Yeah. So I use them in my house for during winter when the windows get really, like, get a lot of tiny. I feel like maybe I mentioned on this podcast at some point. I think I've talked about it with you.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
But I get them from Amazon, maybe. I posted on my story, actually. Yeah, I think I've mentioned it on Instagram.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I'm a super fan.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah. Really good memory. But I get mine from Amazon and you can just put them in Your wardrobe because they're so small, so you can just put them in the bottom and they'll absorb excess mo if you live in a more humid climate. I know that a lot of people in Sydney and Queensland deal with mold issues in their wardrobes, so that could be a way around it, because you can't run a dehumidifier humidifier in a wardrobe 24 7, you know, but these are a good way to weed out the excess moisture.
Annika Dottie Smith
And, Teresa, I feel like you need.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
One of those, like, Amazon shop fronts, like those American mums.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah, I actually might do that before Wednesday just in case some orders come through.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Annika, what are you doing?
Annika Dottie Smith
Honestly, the only thing I'm doing well right now is my dry cleaning has its own storage, like, its own wardrobe. Everything stays in plastic in that wardrobe, and it's beautiful, and it's all, like, you know, safe.
Joanna Fleming
Go you.
Annika Dottie Smith
Other than that, I'm doing sweet. Fck all.
Joanna Fleming
Mads, do you think that you're doing the right thing with storing your clothes? How overcrowded are your wardrobes?
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I'm not gonna get an A.
Joanna Fleming
Okay.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
My knitwear would get an A. Plus, it's all folded. I never hang anything that's made from crepe material or knit. But, yeah, overcrowding. Yeah. It's like a New York City loft in there. It's tight, it's crammed. Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
I honestly, it was a struggle for me when Adrian moved in, having to find space for him to also have part of the wardrobe. So he has half of the second wardrobe, and I have one and a half wardrobes. Yeah, that's how it should be. Yeah, absolutely.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I think if a man ever moved in, I'd be like, I could probably give you a draw.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
And maybe. What?
Joanna Fleming
You know what?
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
It depends how cute you are. Maybe you'll get a rail too. Look out.
Joanna Fleming
Whoa.
Sponsor
All right.
Joanna Fleming
Hopefully Maddie's mum's not listening. Rule number three, actually follow the care labels. So we know that care labels can be annoyingly specific, and sometimes it can just feel like too many of them. Hand wash only trying to pull it together here. Lucienne says that there is a reason for our care labels, though. So different materials behave differently when they come into contact with heat, water, and chemicals. So the instructions are there because someone has tested how the fabric fares in the wash. Her best advice is to follow the care labels closely, and when in doubt, hand wash with cold water, gently squeeze the water out, and dry flat in the shade. How closely do you guys follow the care labels on your Clothes.
Annika Dottie Smith
Okay. Now religiously.
Joanna Fleming
Oh, really?
Annika Dottie Smith
Just because I've shrunk so many things, I can, like, you know.
Joanna Fleming
Do you hand wash a lot of things?
Annika Dottie Smith
The gentle, delicate cycle does.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah. I read hand wash and I'm like, gentle.
Joanna Fleming
Super delicate. Yeah, yeah, it's going in the delicates. Absolutely. Same.
Annika Dottie Smith
Okay.
Joanna Fleming
I can't tell you the last time I hand washed something, but my mum really does do the proper hand wash. Oh, my God.
Annika Dottie Smith
So does mine.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah, I think she gets joy out of it. Maybe it's because back in their day, like, they didn't really have a lot of settings. Yeah.
Annika Dottie Smith
They had the top loader.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I also think the delicate cycle on my washing machine is far more gentle than I am in the sink hand washing.
Joanna Fleming
I agree.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
It's like just softly. I'm like, yeah.
Joanna Fleming
So in our opinions, cold, gentle hand wash also means delicate wash in the washing machine.
Annika Dottie Smith
Absolutely.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I do take note, though. Like, I'm not putting anything that says do not tumble dry or anything like that in the dryer. Yes. Just the Lululemon. They are day and night. They work like a dog in there. But in terms of dry clean only, I take note of that religiously. No dry cleaning or no tumble drying and things like that I'm taking note of. So I'm not entirely shit.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah. Okay. I would say my biggest tip here as well, girls, is get yourself some wash bags.
Annika Dottie Smith
I have.
Joanna Fleming
If you don't have them already. I've got like six of different sizes. If you feel like your item is really delicate, make sure you put it in a wash bag. You know those little mesh ones that got a zip on them.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I only put my bras and Nikki's in there.
Annika Dottie Smith
Same.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
No, you can put my underwear, Mickey's, but there you go.
Annika Dottie Smith
I literally thought that's what it was for. So whenever I travel and I hand over my laundry, I'm like, the undies and privates are in the bag.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah, no, you can definitely put your undies and bras in there, but you can also put really delicate items that you think are gonna snag on other clothes. Or like, if you're doing a delicate swash and you've got something that's really delicate and you just wanna throw it in the same cycle with the other things. I will always put it in there just in case something happens to it.
Annika Dottie Smith
Okay.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah, that's a great idea. So I love a wash bag, guys. That's my.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
All right, rule number four is to invest in good hangers. What hangers are you all using in Your wardrobes at the moment I have.
Annika Dottie Smith
The velvet ones from Kmart.
Joanna Fleming
Are they good?
Annika Dottie Smith
I've got them as well.
Joanna Fleming
I think I have the Bunnings ones, actually. Well, random.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I get best of both worlds here. I've got some from Kmart and Bunnings. Oh, I am also in the velvet gang.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah. Okay.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Also have some random hand knitted ones that my nana made for me when I was little. Can't bear to throw them out. But if anyone ever came over and asked to borrow a dress and I brought it out on that, they would think that I had small baby dolls in another room as well. They're a bit cr. Creepy. Sorry, Nan. She's no longer here. She can't be offended. Well, Lucianne says to avoid metal hangers as they'll age your clothes. So tick, tick, tick times three. They can damage delicate fabrics, stretch and crease clothes, and over time, thin wire hangers will start to bend, leading to misshapen clothes. So they can also rust or corrode, which can lead to unsightly stains on clothes, which I think it's safe to say we're all trying to avoid that. According to Lucy Ann, you need to use the appropriate hanger shape for each garment and opt for wood where possible. Oh, so that's three crosses dresses for us.
Annika Dottie Smith
Okay.
Joanna Fleming
Okay.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Clip hangers for pants and skirts, wide hangers for coats and blazers, and thin hangers for shirts, dresses, and everything else.
Annika Dottie Smith
I feel like wooden hangers is just such a luxury. Like, who has that much space? Not me.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Not me. Also, they're just more expensive than, like, I think.
Annika Dottie Smith
Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
So they do take up a lot more room. You're right, they look chic. But I've got a hanger tip for you as well.
Annika Dottie Smith
Caught.
Joanna Fleming
I'm on fire today. The hanger tip I have for you is children's hangers for pen. So you know how you can fold your pants in half instead of using the clips? Cause I hate how the clips leave marks on my clothes and then I've got to, like, spend ages with the steamer trying to get it out. Fold your pants in half and then, like, slide it through the kids hanger and they're the perfect size so they don't slide around on the hanger and you save more space in your wardrobe. Wow.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I just have this image, though, of you being, like, spotted in Kmart buying kids hangers and someone's like, I have got hot golf for you. Jo has been fighting a six year old in her home. Actually, Jo just folding her pants and skirts Guys. Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
Just another space saving hack.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
You know what's number five for us, Jo?
Joanna Fleming
Number five is fold and de pill your knitwear. The way you look after your knitwear can make a huge difference to how long it'll last. I think we all know that already, based on probably how many items we've shrunk.
Annika Dottie Smith
Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
In our lives. When it comes to peeling on knitwear, Lucienne recommends investing in an electric garment shaver, which Maddie can attest to, and says it's one of the best investments you can make in caring for your wardrobe, especially since they're about $20. How are you feeling right now? Pretty smug.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I am feeling as smug as a pig in shit.
Joanna Fleming
There's some debate about the electric garment shavers, though. If you're not delicate, you can damage the fabric. And you should avoid using them on delicate knitwear like cashmere, because they can be too effective at removing fibres which can actually lead to holes. So don't go too nuts with it.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah. That smugness kind of retreated ever so softly, didn't it?
Joanna Fleming
I wanted to give you your moment, though.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Thank you.
Joanna Fleming
Where do you stand on garment slay?
Annika Dottie Smith
I'm. Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
So. Shit.
Annika Dottie Smith
I've tried to use lint rollers or I'll just pick them off, but. Okay. Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
No, you don't own one.
Annika Dottie Smith
No, I don't.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah, neither do I.
Annika Dottie Smith
Can I just use a razor?
Joanna Fleming
I don't think that's the same thing.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Okay. Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I get the sold out for your birthday and maybe John and I will go houses. You know, water, you are good for the $10.
Joanna Fleming
Yeah, that's fine with me. The other part of caring for your knitwear is to always fold it, which we're all doing. We've all got our knitwear folded because it prevents it from losing its shape because of the way knits are constructed. Unlike woven materials, they can stretch under their own weight. Lucianne says, I do have all my knitwear folded, thankfully. Otherwise I'd be feeling pretty ashamed right now. I really love the Bondi wash wool and cashmere detergent that you recommended. Definitely suggest that. And the wool setting on your washing machine, not the delicate setting. I mean, if you really had to and you didn't have a wool setting, you could probably get away with it. But the wool setting is best.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Feeling pretty good about this one.
Annika Dottie Smith
Yeah, I'm with you on that one.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
Okay.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
And the electric shaver, if you haven't listened to the previous episode, it's a Philips fabric shaver. It's 17 to $20. You can get it on Amazon or from Meyer or David Jones. I think for the sake of saving some knitwear that you've probably invested a little bit in. Perfect.
Joanna Fleming
I will say I don't really have a problem with my knitwear pilling. I think because I use the woolen setting and I wash it every time I wear it.
Annika Dottie Smith
I think I'm with you. That's why I think I haven't really, you know, I do.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
But I think it's got more to do with like the jewelry or in the accessories and things that I'm wearing. And I do a lot of coats and jackets over knitwear, so I think there's just a lot of rubbish.
Annika Dottie Smith
We can't forget that little red sweater they got so much wear.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Rule number six is all about keeping those pesky little moths away from your clothes. So have either of you actually ever experienced moths eating your clothing?
Annika Dottie Smith
I have not experienced that, no.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I unfortunately did once. Cause I had a bag of clothing I was storing in a storage locker.
Joanna Fleming
Locker. Oh.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Did not end well for them. I was like, oh, I don't remember this having cute little holes in it.
Joanna Fleming
Oh, no.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Pretty much had to throw out like 90 of things in there because you can't donate things that have a whole.
Joanna Fleming
Bunch of holes in them.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
But yes, I would say take this one seriously. That's why you have airflow when you're storing your clothes. But Lucianne says the best way to prevent moths is to store wool and cashmere in cotton bags, as moths don't eat through cotton. So they're kind of a bit bougie.
Joanna Fleming
Sheep.
Annika Dottie Smith
Little creatures.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
My mum used to buy us these little silver fish. I think silverfish are the same as the moss that eat your clothes. Is that the same thing? I don't know.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I don't know.
Joanna Fleming
There's. Either way, there's two types of things that'll eat your clothes. She used to get these little repellent things that hang in the. In the wardrobe. Yeah. And that was in all our bedrooms.
Annika Dottie Smith
Okay.
Joanna Fleming
Because we had an old house, so I assumed that maybe we'd had problems before. But I don't know, maybe it was a preventative thing.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Well, apparently moths only like expensive fabrication. So they don't like cotton.
Joanna Fleming
Cool. Or polyester, I assume.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah, I would. I mean, I assume so.
Joanna Fleming
So most of my wardrobe save.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I was about to say they're a bit like me. They love a cashmere. Lucianne also says it's important you don't store dirty nits because food and oil will attract moths. Oh, these creatures are sounding more and more like me by the minute. She says. While you can give cedar balls and hangers a try to keep moths at bay, in her experience, cotton does provide the best protection.
Joanna Fleming
Okay, interesting. If I ever have a moth problem, I'll be referring back to this episode.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Absolute. Absolutely.
Joanna Fleming
Rule number seven, Maddy, I'm looking at you. Keep dry cleaning to a minimum. Some of our listeners are going to feel alarmed when they hear this one, but if you want your clothes to last longer, you really need to keep dry cleaning to a minimum. Lucienne says this is because the chemicals dry cleaners use are harsh and can cause colours to fade or special coatings to be removed. Often garments that stipulate dry clean only can actually be hand washed, but it is risky. If a garment has lining, the water might cause the two materials to behave differently, resulting in a misshapen garment. I've experienced this before. Similarly, embroidery can bleed if washed with water and natural dyes might run. So proceed with caution. Another trick to freshen up your clothes is to take them to a dry cleaner, but only to be pressed. So that will give you the satisfaction of the sharp look and feel of a fresh shirt or dress without aging the garment. And you can achieve a refreshed look at home by using a steamer.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Okay, you know that TikTok trend that's like, God forbid I want to help hospitality or like God forbid. Yeah, God forbid I want to help small business BFFs. My old dry cleaner in my old suburb that I lived in for like seven years. I was there so frequently they actually used to drop off my dry cleaning for me.
Joanna Fleming
Really? Wow.
Sponsor
That's quite a testament.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I love dry cleaning.
Joanna Fleming
I just don't have that many dry clean items, to be honest. Like I don't wear them that frequently. You know, I wear a dry clean item to a wedding, but I'm not going to a wedding every weekend.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
So when I worked corporate, I wore a lot of shirts. So I was always dropping my shirts to the dry cleaner. Much like a finance bro. Yeah, me and the fellas just dropping off our shirts. I mean, mine was a chic little Victoria Beckham shirt, not, you know, a few P. Johnsons too. Actually, me and the palace, as I said. Yeah, no, I love dry cleaning and I need to probably have a long hard look at myself for this one.
Annika Dottie Smith
I'm with you. I got a whole closet. So you know how we talked about my storage problems? So it's kind of like I'll go to the dry cleaner Maybe once or twice a month. And when I'm going, I'm dropping off like a pile. And I mean, it's like another storage area. So it's kind of of like when I'm rotating, I'm getting things back. Oh, yeah.
Joanna Fleming
So the dry cleaner is your storage unit Kind of. Okay.
Annika Dottie Smith
Honestly, I love that crispness and like. Like, Mads, I think. Cause I wear so much tailoring at work. I'm always wearing, like, sometimes denim and a cute top, and it might be something a little bit more fabulous. So, like, a lot of the time I just. Yeah, I need that. I need dry cleaning. Yeah.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Also, the moths can't get them at the dry cleaning.
Annika Dottie Smith
Exactly.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
That's another way to put them off.
Joanna Fleming
Wouldn't that be heaven for them, though?
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I mean, listening to this advice now, I had no idea that you could over dry clean something. I just thought if it said dry clean only, that that was my only way. So I'm definitely gonna pull back now.
Annika Dottie Smith
Totally. I think so too. And I think sometimes it's, like, so easy if you're a lazy girl like me, just to think, okay, dry clean only. But I definitely think Lucy Ann said that we can do cold washes, gentle washes, and just be a little bit more mindful at home. My purse will thank me as well.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah, retweet. They'll stop dropping the dry cleaning off, though, won't they?
Joanna Fleming
All right, rule number eight. Our final rule is pay attention to hazards. So the way that some garments are secured to your body can actually wreak havoc in a washing machine. So to prevent damage to your clothes, take these tips on board with your zippers. You want to do them up because they can snag other clothes, and they can also get damaged themselves. So they can, like, pull and, you know, get misshapen buttons you want to leave undone. Buttoned up items can stretch at the seams. They can also widen the buttonhole or pop buttons off in the machine. So just leave them all unfastened and you won't be causing stress on the buttonholes. Velcro, you want to stick to itself open. Velcro is a menace in a washing machine. I'm sure we would have experienced that once or twice where everything becomes killed that it touches in the washing machine.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Do I even own Velcro?
Joanna Fleming
Probably on, like, jackets, I would have Velcro.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah.
Annika Dottie Smith
Yeah, you're a hot girl. Cap. Do you have a little Velcro strap?
Joanna Fleming
Oh, yeah.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Oh. Not a single cap has Velcro the back.
Joanna Fleming
Even with, like, kids clothing as well. Something to keep.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
Keeping that Velcro closed. Drawstrings, you want to tie them loosely. You don't want to, you know, do a really tight knot, but just a loose, you know, bunny ears will probably keep that in place. It just stops them from tangling and stretching. Especially in your hoodies and tracksuit pants. You know, sometimes when you get hoodies out of the wash and they're all.
Annika Dottie Smith
Yeah.
Joanna Fleming
How do I explain it?
Annika Dottie Smith
The hood is closed and, like, the string comes out like a chopstick to get it back through, though. Yeah.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I've never used a chopstick, but fantastic.
Joanna Fleming
Hot tea.
Annika Dottie Smith
You got it.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
And we thought the swap was at the start of this episode.
Joanna Fleming
Another little tip for me at the end is don't overload the machine. I know that it's very tempting to do, but in a front loader, you want to leave like a hand width at the top. You should be able to touch the top of the clothes.
Annika Dottie Smith
That ain't happening.
Joanna Fleming
Okay. I tried to help.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
I did what I could. I think if there's anything to take from. From this, there's quite a lot of notes on ways to improve. This has been so helpful, largely because of Lucy Ann, but also because of you, Jo.
Joanna Fleming
Thankfully, me and Lucy Ann are like two peasants.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
And Aunty Faye, let's give her the credit where she deserves. Liquid detergent, people. That's all I heard, but that is all for this week's episode of Stylish. Thank you very much for joining us. I hope you found these tips as invaluable as Annika and I have. And of course, thank you very much to Annika, Joshy Smith, and to you, Joanna Fleming, for being here today.
Joanna Fleming
Always a pleasure.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Remember, you can drop us an email email anytime at style-ishameless media.com or alternatively, you can slide in to our dmstyle_ish au. As always, we want to thank our audio engineer, Jonathan Last Shameless media team, including head of podcast Lucy Hunt and senior podcast producer Kate Emmerburg. We'll be right back next Wednesday, hopefully with my clothes washed in the right manner.
Joanna Fleming
Bye.
Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Bye.
Annika Dottie Smith
Bye. See you in the laundry. This podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri land. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
Style-ish Podcast Episode Summary: "These 8 Rules Will Make Clothes Last Longer"
Release Date: April 15, 2025
Host: Shameless Media
Episode Title: These 8 Rules Will Make Clothes Last Longer
In this enlightening episode of Style-ish, hosts Madison Sullivan Thorpe and Joanna Fleming delve into practical strategies to extend the lifespan of your wardrobe. Joined by special guest Annika Dottie Smith, the trio explores eight essential rules backed by expert insights to combat the alarming 92 million tonnes of textile waste generated annually by the fashion industry.
Lucy Anne Tonti, a renowned fashion editor and author of Sundressed, lends her expertise to guide the conversation. Her work, including the Closet Clinic series for The Guardian, provides valuable advice on sustainable fashion practices and garment care.
Overwashing accelerates fabric wear, causing peeling, fading, and even tearing. The hosts discuss their laundry habits, sharing personal anecdotes and acknowledging common oversights.
Expert Tip: Lucy Anne Tonti recommends:
Proper storage is crucial to maintain garment quality and prevent damage from environmental factors.
Expert Advice:
Care labels provide essential instructions tailored to each garment's material and construction.
Key Practices:
Choosing the right hangers can prevent fabric deformation and extend the life of your clothes.
Pro Tip: Use children's hangers for pants and skirts to save space and prevent slipping ([25:04]).
Handling knitwear with care can significantly reduce wear and maintain garment shape.
Additional Tips:
Protecting your clothes from moths ensures garments remain free from holes and damage.
Preventive Measures:
Excessive dry cleaning can degrade fabrics and shorten garment lifespan.
Expert Recommendations:
Certain garment features can cause significant damage if not properly managed during washing.
This episode of Style-ish effectively underscores the importance of mindful garment care in combating the fashion industry's environmental footprint. By adhering to these eight rules, listeners can not only extend the life of their clothes but also contribute to a more sustainable wardrobe. Hosts Madison Sullivan Thorpe, Joanna Fleming, and guest Annika Dottie Smith provide relatable insights and actionable tips, making the advice practical and easy to implement.
Key Takeaways:
For more detailed guidance, listeners are encouraged to refer to Lucy Anne Tonti's Sundressed and her Closet Clinic series. The hosts conclude by reminding everyone that small changes in how we care for our clothes can lead to significant environmental benefits.
Notable Quotes:
"Washing your clothes too frequently can cause the fabrics to peel, fade and in some cases tear tumbling around in the machine." – Joanna Fleming ([12:27])
"I feel like the only thing that I really truly over wash is activewear." – Madison Sullivan Thorpe ([12:04])
"Get yourself some wash bags... put really delicate items that you think are gonna snag on other clothes in there." – Joanna Fleming ([22:50])
"I've got some from Kmart and Bunnings. Oh, I am also in the velvet gang." – Madison Sullivan Thorpe ([23:56])
"Dry cleaning chemicals can strip colors and damage special coatings." – Joanna Fleming ([30:00])
This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting essential tips and engaging discussions to help listeners make informed decisions about their wardrobe care routines.