White Fox and the case of the copycat dress

Summary

Style-ish Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: White Fox and the Case of the Copycat Dress
Date: February 17, 2026
Hosts: Madison Sullivan Thorpe, Joanna Fleming, Arnica Joshi Smith
Podcast: Style-ish by Shameless Media

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Episode Overview

This week on Style-ish, hosts Madison, Joanna, and Arnica dive into a major instance of alleged "copycat" fashion—where Australian fast fashion giant White Fox is accused of ripping off a local designer's bespoke dress. They unpack the ethics and cultural impact of dupe culture and fast fashion, discuss Anna Wintour's viral interview with Vogue's new editor-in-chief, and explore the "ear seeds" wellness trend that's taking over social media. The tone is candid, funny, and insightful, with analysis rooted in both industry experience and personal conviction.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Case of the Copycat Dress: White Fox vs. Local Designer (18:26–28:53)

• Background:
  White Fox, a major Australian fast fashion brand, is accused of copying a couture dress originally designed for AFL WAG Annaliese Dallin by Melbourne designer Sam Oleoloro (Ollioro Couture) for the 2025 Brownlow red carpet.
• The Accusation:
  • Sam, the designer, expressed shock seeing influencers wear a remarkably similar turquoise gown, even down to the same color lining, promoted by White Fox.
  • "I know I'm supposed to be flattered, but come on. It's a little disappointing when they don't acknowledge— they've even used the same color lining." – Sam Oleoloro [20:14]
  • Co-stylist Paul Versace noted the ethical difference between inspiration and direct replication.
  • Annaliese Dallin, original wearer: "Inspiration will always be a big part of fashion, but there's a clear difference between inspiration and duplication. I really feel for Sam as situations like this genuinely impact the designer's livelihood." [21:01]
• Host Reactions:
  • Madison: “This is a control C, control V if ever I’ve seen it.” [21:20]
  • Arnica: “It’s so hard when you are an independent designer and your livelihood is backed by your creativity... That dress was divine.” [22:22]
  • Joanna: “This is just the bread and butter of fast fashion, isn’t it? ...Taking something else and going, ‘How can we make this in a cheaper fabric and make it look exactly the same?’” [24:23]
• Broader Issues:
  • The group considers if the practice is punching up (inspiring from bigger houses) or down (undercutting small local talent), and why the power dynamic matters.
  • Cost/access is acknowledged: “I’m not getting a designer dress made for a friend’s wedding. $100 looks a hell of a lot more appealing.” – Madison [25:28]
  • Conversation expands to fast/ultra-fast fashion’s sustainability and ethics (worker conditions, quality, pace of production).
  • Recurring issue: White Fox previously called out for similar practices with Mr. Winston, another Melbourne brand.
  • “It just doesn’t feel like they’re trying. ...You’ve done it in the sea foam, you’ve used the same hemming fabric, you’ve dropped it within very close proximity to the Brownlow last year.” – Madison [28:03]
• On Response:
  • Madison applauds Sam’s public clapback and visibility for original design.
  • Consensus: The outrage is not aimed at individual creators or those seeking affordable options, but at multi-billion-dollar brands copying from much smaller, local talent.

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2. Recap: Fashion Week, Swaps, and Style Trends (05:26–18:18)

• Marc Jacobs’ Latest Show:
  The team discusses the surprising, wearable “Memory Loss” collection—a departure from Jacobs’ usual maximalism, referencing Prada, Calvin Klein, and ’90s clean tailoring.

  • “It was so inclusive and so relevant to everyone, which I loved.” – Arnica [07:17]

• Beauty News:
  Anticipation over relaunch of Marc Jacobs Beauty, and speculation on how it fits with the brand’s new direction.

• Seven For All Mankind Show:
  Messy-chic, “indie sleaze” vibes hit the runway—bubble hem dresses, club wristbands, and styling reminiscent of Gossip Girl’s wildest nights.

  • “Millennials are cool again. Guys, we never left. We can literally dress like this again.” – Arnica [09:53]

• Product, Book, and Photo Tool Swaps:

  • Eye paint rec (Violette “To Do” Eye Paint), high praise for the book “Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life,” and a clever iPhone photo “cleanup” tool.
  • Discussion of positive self-talk and manifestation, with anecdotes on how the hosts try to affirm themselves and others.
    • “We’re good people and good things always happen to us.” – Joanna [14:17]

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3. Anna Wintour & Chloe Mal’s Viral Vogue Interview (29:39–37:21)

• The Interview:
  Anna Wintour (longtime Vogue EIC) and her newly appointed successor, Chloe Mal, sat down with The New York Times in a widely discussed, awkward video.
  • Anna’s body language was cold and defensive despite ostensibly warm responses.
• Key Moment:
  On the question of what she’d do with a 1990s-size budget, Chloe said she’d hire and pay staff better. Anna instantly interrupted to assert, “Vogue has a very healthy budget. How we use our resources is constantly changing depending on the moment.” [31:23]
• Reactions:
  • The panel debates whether Anna was defending staff, herself, or the publication’s image.
  • Arnica: “I kind of viewed it as two very different approaches to leadership.” [32:25]
  • Madison likens the dynamic to “a millennial boss and a boomer”—Missed opportunity for warmth and public mentorship. [34:19]
  • Sassy moment: When asked about nerves, Chloe admits she felt nervous before the interview. Anna snaps, “I don’t get nervous.” [35:08]
• Industry Reflection:
  • Chloe’s approach: vision, team investment, experience “in the trenches.”
  • Anna’s: Mystique, legacy, guarding Vogue’s old-guard image.
  • Debate: Will the culture change with shared leadership, or does Anna’s icy influence continue?

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4. Ear Seeds: Are They the Next Wellness Craze? (37:22–46:35)

• Trend Explosion:
  Ear seeds (acupressure tools based in traditional Chinese medicine) are everywhere online, with claims of benefits for stress, insomnia, migraines, and even appearance.
  • “Proponents claim they can reduce stress, anxiety, and insomnia...even cosmetic benefits.” – Arnica [37:56]
• How They Work:
  Small metal pellets adhere to pressure points on the ear, meant to be worn for days for ongoing nerve stimulation.
  • Not acupuncture, but use similar pressure locale theory.
• Personal Experiences:
  • Neither host team has tried them, but listeners shared stories—especially those relating to fertility and pregnancy.
  • “They find them very calming and grounding… helped to limit jaw tension and teeth grinding, which I thought was really interesting.” – Joanna [40:41]
• Cultural Caution:
  • Wellness “optimization” is trending, but hosts note the risk of flattening or commodifying Chinese culture for IG/TikTok trends.
    • “Cultural heritage is being memefied, and the origins flattened, which really resonated with me.” – Madison [45:00, quoting The Cut]
  • Worry over before/after content reducing a nuanced practice to “jawline snatching.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fast Fashion Copying:
  • “This is a control C, control V if ever I’ve seen it.” – Madison [21:20]
  • “I think what it just kind of then stems into ... is how sustainable is this model?” – Arnica [25:53]
  • “It’s the no shame, it’s the not even trying to look like it.” – Madison [27:02]
• Anna Wintour Interview:
  • “Anna’s number one priority is keeping the mystique of Anna Wintour.” – Madison [35:53]
  • “I don’t get nervous.” – Anna Wintour, quoted by Joanna [35:08]
• On Ear Seeds and TikTok Trends:
  • “Chinese wellness traditions ... are increasingly reframed on TikTok as aesthetic routines ... Cultural heritage is being memified and the origins flattened.” – Madison, quoting Arabel Sicardi [45:00]

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Important Timestamps

• Designer Copycat Case Dives In: [18:26]
• Host Reactions – Morality in Fashion: [21:20]
• Fast Fashion & Sustainability: [25:53]
• Recap of Anna Wintour x Vogue Interview: [29:39]
• Body Language and Leadership Styles: [32:25 – 34:19]
• Wellness Trend: Ear Seeds: [37:22]
• Discussion on Cultural Appropriation Online: [44:56]

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Final Thoughts & Tone

The episode is a sharp, warm, and honest look at trends in fashion—from industry gossip to philosophical and ethical debates about creativity, ownership, and cultural respect. The hosts are loyal to small designers and mindful of how fast fashion impacts the industry. Wellness trends are taken seriously, but not without caveats about cultural origins and social media’s tendency to commodify everything.

Ending Note:
The trio vow to try ear seeds for themselves (“$45, money well spent. Sign us up!” [47:56]), sign off with thanks to their production team, and tease their next appearance.

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For listeners who missed the episode, this summary covers the full spectrum of topics and commentary, capturing both the factual reporting and the hosts’ distinct, conversational style.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

This episode of Stylish is brought to you by Bridgerton. Part one of the masquerade event of the year is streaming now. And part two arrives on February 26th, only on Netflix.

[A]

This is Stylish, the podcast for all things fashion, lifestyle, brand and beauty. My name is Madison Sullivan Thorpe. I am joined. I was going to say, as always, but I guess we have a little bit of an update. Just a temporary update before anyone panics. I am joined today, as always, by Joanna Fleming and Arnica Joshi Smith.

[C]

Hi.

[B]

But not for long.

[C]

Dun, dun, dun.

[A]

Look, as we know, Annika is having a little baby.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And rightfully so. She's going to take some time off to spend time with baby Plowman.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Who we are so excited to meet.

[C]

I thought I was in labor last night, you guys. Like, I literally thought she was, like, coming last night.

[B]

I know. And it's very hot in this room today. And Annika just asked if she had a sweat moustache before we started recording.

[C]

I'm glistening.

[A]

That is called a sula, a sweaty upper lip area. Dangerously close to Sullivan, which I don't love. I love that.

[B]

Well, I wanted to ask you guys a question because I think that you two will sympathize with this and I also think some of our audience will sympathize with this.

[C]

Will hit me.

[B]

What is the maximum that you guys have ever been charged for excess luggage?

[C]

Oh, you're going to die at this. I just. I have to go last.

[A]

I don't want to talk about it. Look, I had used all of my Qantas frequent flyer points to upgrade my flight, so I was not packing. Thinking about the internal economy flights I would be taking throughout Europe, I was just like, yeah, baby, let's go. That'll get you bougie yet. Not so bougie on the internal. And they do very much not smile and wave when you are not not turning left on the plane. So, yeah, I think it might have been. I think from memory it was €380.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

What was yours, Annika? Was yours business write off because it was for Sage or was it just you?

[C]

It was a business write off. Thank God it was not for me. Everyone would just be, like, sickened if they thought it was for me. But this has happened to me twice now and it's actually the point where it's like, sometimes I think I'm cursed, but. But every time I flow into Paris for work, I have been charged the most excessive charges when it comes to baggage. First charge $21,000. I know. Aud, because they charge my Amex twice, I was able to actually get half of it refunded. I know, I know. Like, just. If I.

[A]

That's like a flight to Paris.

[C]

I know. If I reacted right now, I'd actually probably give birth. I could have. No, I was flying business.

[A]

But, oh, my God, it's so hot that my brain has just actually started in my head. I'm like, she's saying 12,100. You're saying 21,000.

[C]

21,000. But I got half of it back.

[A]

Oh, great. So it was only 10 and a half thousand now.

[C]

Yeah. And then the second time was last year again, on my way to Paris for work. $12,000.

[A]

You could have taken me business class. And I could have carried that luggage.

[C]

I know. Do you know what the most ridiculous thing was? So I was with my full SAGE team, and I was like, can I just upgr the entire team to business? And then everyone's baggage gets lifted. Like, we all get more weight. And they were like, no.

[A]

Do you think that's because they had no seats or. Cause they were, like, chiching away.

[C]

They definitely had seats. Cause I was up the front while the girls were in cattle, and I was like, oh, my God, they could have sat here.

[A]

Oh, that's not a great recruitment strategy for you. But you know what? Mama's gonna eat.

[C]

Mama was pregnant. Mama was very pregnant. Mama was swollen. Mama has needs.

[B]

Yeah, fair enough.

[A]

Also, Mama's business.

[C]

Sorry, there's that turn.

[B]

Well, this conversation made me feel a fuckload better about what happened to me on Friday. Then. Oh, my God.

[A]

What happened? Pray, do, too.

[B]

Well, I decided that Adrian and I would share a large suitcase to go to Hobart.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And, well, I've done it on occasion, and it seems to work well for me. But I didn't really think it through that I was really overpacking for the trip. Like, it was.

[C]

But it was your birthday, baby.

[B]

And I really went overboard with the amount of outfits. And we got to the airport, and it was five kilos over. And so when we went to do the bag drop, I then had to pay 65 bucks for my extra five kilos. And I was like, that is an absolute rip. But now that I'm hearing that, honestly, they can take my money.

[A]

And in total contrast, I was on a Qantas flight on Saturday coming home from Sydney. And the most beautifully put together cabin crew member. She just looked absolutely beautiful. Her makeup and hair was, like, so gorgeous. And just the best part was that she just had the personality to match. She was so happy to be there, so helpful. And everyone else is, like, grumpy on their flight home. Cause they're leaving sunny Sydney for hot, stifling Melbourne. And I said to her, you just look amazing. And she was like, you have made my whole day. And I said, oh, well, happy Valentine's Day. You know, spreading love. She came back and she gave me a little bottle of bubbles. Oh, we love that. And said, well, happy Valentine's Day for you. And I was like, qantas, despite the fact that I'm on a delayed flight because you couldn't get me off the night before, just know I'm back with my ample loyalty now thanks to your cabin crew on the flight from Sydney.

[C]

I love that. I can't fault Qantas.

[B]

If anyone saw me on the way home today with my plastic bag of shoes, you didn't.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

You didn't see me doing that.

[C]

Well, you look very sophisticated and classy now, Jojo.

[B]

Thank you. Appreciate that.

[A]

Don't know if you caught it, because as we've mentioned, Jo has just been having the time of her life on a little birthday extravaganza weekend. But Marc Jacobs showed over the weekend. And the reason that I knew Marc Jacobs showed was because I saw on Trend Mood that Marc Jacobs beauty is back. I was a big Marc Jacobs beauty fan. Those eyeliners I still stand by are some of the best, best I've used. Like, I would say they go toe to toe with Victoria Beckham then, because obviously there was backstage teasing and all of these things. I saw visuals of the Runway, and it just was very different to what we'd seen from Marc Jacobs the last few years.

[C]

It was, wasn't it?

[A]

Yeah. What did you think?

[C]

It was titled Memory Loss. And something I loved about it was how inclusive the Runway was. Like, he literally looked at all the archives. He looked at the 90s, which I personally loved. There was Helmet Lang. There were different nods as well, you know, to Helmet Lang and Prada. And so many looks that were very much achievable, I think, at home. And we talk about that a lot on the pod, how we can always look to the Runway for aspirational looks, but then make them ourselves at home. And pencil skirts were one that I loved. Like that very Prada esque vibe coming back through. And the pop colors.

[A]

Yeah, I'm so glad you referenced Prada, because I also saw a lot of Calvin Klein, and I think there's a lot of synergies with that, like, really clean, crisp Tailoring and those sort of, you know, things like shirting and a line skirts and pencil skirts, things like that. This is a stark contrast to Marc Jacobs, though, and I don't want to deepen it by bringing in the economic climate. But I can't help but because I think we're seeing such maximalism of color and print and particularly form, like, big, outlandish skirts. And it's very avant garde. Like, it's not something that you're wearing to the wine bar with the girls. Like, you're probably not even wearing it to the end of a gala. It's that kind of out there, but it's, you know, beautiful when you're seeing it on the front covers of magazines and in editorial pieces. But this is a very different paired back Marc Jacobs that does feel very wearable.

[C]

Yeah, I agree. And I think it's something that we're gonna see a lot more of. Like, I think we're heading down a maximal route, but I don't think we're there yet. I still think the looks are very achievable. Looking at the collections past and how we can incorporate those back into our wardrobing. And I think I really love as well how he actually was so playful with this. There wasn't, like, a cut copy kind of brief for the show. It was for everybody. It was so inclusive and so relevant to everyone, which I loved.

[A]

Yeah. And I'm super excited to see what they do bringing back beauty as well. It kind of feels like this new fashion direction, the beauty brand kind of coming. It really did shock the beauty community when they kind of evaporated into thin air because they did have a really healthy Instagram following. I think the account, when I checked the other day, was at 3.1 million followers.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

They've really amassed this incredible following and really loyal base, but clearly it wasn't translating enough to warrant it staying. But I do think Marc Jacobs is a really credible name. His licensing of his name in fragrance has performed incredibly well. I don't see why makeup can't come back and make its mark again.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Be interesting to see how the brand goes second time around.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Anyway, speaking of designers, that is something that we're going to be discussing today. A local designer accusing White Fox of copycat behavior, that awkward interview between Anna Wintour and Vogue's new editor, Chloe Marl, and something you've probably seen all over your TikTok feed Ear Seeds. But first, let's do our swap. Annika, your second last. But we are going to trickle in some guest appearances, you'll still be hearing from me.

[C]

I've got a lot to say.

[B]

Go on, then.

[C]

Okay, well, speaking of fashion week, this one just spoke to me on so many levels, and I have to talk about this show, you guys. Did we see the Seven for All Mankind show?

[A]

No.

[C]

Oh, my gosh. Like, honestly, you have to have a look tonight. It was literally the definition of messy chic, which I freaking love. It's kind of like if Jenny Humphreys and Georgina Sparks from Gossip Girl had a baby. Like, we're talking disheveled girls on the Runway. More is more is more. It was, like, modern indie sleighs and pure chaos, but in the best way possible. Like, think cute little bubble hem dresses, Thick black tights, pointed stilettos, sunglasses. The whole vibe was like you had just left the club in New York City. You're on your way home, but then you're like, wait, do I go home, or do I just go to work? And everyone had sunglasses on because they had a smudgy eye, obviously.

[A]

Do I go to Joe's P Pizza before going to work?

[C]

Absolutely.

[A]

Obviously, the answer is always yes.

[C]

And even, like, the best accessory. The girls had, like, gloves on, and then they had, like, their club bands over the top.

[A]

Oh, my God, stop.

[C]

I have such a vibe. Like, it took me back, and it's like, millennials are cool again. Guys, we never left. We can literally dress like this again. Like, Gossip Girl was, like, my heyday. I've watched that show so many times. But my favorite look from the Runway was actually one of the models. Her name is Summer Dirks, and she brought so much attitude to the Runway. Like, she just kind of pulled the whole thing together. She strutted. This wasn' like, a really, like, stunning catwalk. It was like, a strut. And she had so much attitude. You guys have to take a look, because millennials are absolutely cool again. We. We never left the building. We're so back.

[A]

I love a club wristband. Like, I loved them when I was, like, 18. I was like, yeah, I went there, like, didn't want to wash the stamp.

[C]

I would never wash the stamp off. I was that girl.

[A]

I also was 18, very early in year 12. So I was like, oh, you bitches don't have your ID and aren't overage yet. Sorry. Don't mind me On a Monday. Still got it on my.

[B]

I was the opposite to you.

[A]

I was.

[C]

Oh, my God. I thought you were about to say I was a goody good. And I was like, I'm not surprised.

[A]

I mean, I was a goody two shoes. I was going to the clubs when I was 18.

[C]

Oh, my God, I was so late.

[B]

I was going to the clubs before I was 18, but I probably shouldn't say that on a podcast. I guess that's not really. That's kind of frowned upon yourself.

[C]

No. What do we love? We love a character arc.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

There you go.

[A]

Well, we have a new podcast producer helping us out today, Mike, who's sitting to the left of us. I'm, like, so excited to have someone new in the room. We love fresh blood. But I'm also like, you don't know what our favorite dinner party games are? Which is usually asking, what's your most unexpected character?

[C]

You're gonna learn a lot about us at that corner, Mike.

[A]

Do you know what, guys? I actually had three things I wanted to swap, which is so funny, cause usually on the drive here, I'm like, what am I loving this week? And I'm like, so greedy. I don't know which one I want to do. So I'm like, I'll ask you guys, do you want a book? Do you want an article that I read and loved? Or would you like a product?

[C]

I'd like a product, please.

[B]

I'd like a book.

[A]

Okay, great. Ding, ding, ding. We get two out of the product. The first is Violette Eye Paints. I know that I always talk about the Mecca Max Zoom shadow stick in caramel, but I think, no, I don't think I'm going to say it with my chest. For the last six months, I have been using this product religiously and I'm obsessed with it. I think it's from Mecha Max Shadow stick. For me, it is the Violette Eye Paint. Look, it's not cheap. It is $55. So it is playing in a different price category to mechamax. But what I will say is this is showing no signs of hitting the bottom like this. I feel like this will be the beauty products. Like a lip smacker. It just, like, goes with me to the grave. Oh, it is. I'm not even going to pretend I can pronounce the name because I dropped out of French in year nine. It is T O U X space, D E U X. To do. To do.

[C]

To do.

[A]

Yeah, that sounds good. To do. To do. And let me tell you, it is easy to do do that with either a black or really dark chocolate liner, like the Victoria Beckham deep Chocolate cocoa shade. Beautiful. Or with the. You know what? I'm going to say. The Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk, eyeliner. That is it.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

You did ask for the book, so I'm going to give it to you in rapid fire way. So the book is manifest 7 Steps to Living your best life. The irony that I haven't put this book down but can't tell you the name of it is not lost on me. This was a gift from a girlfriend, Georgia, who I will say I'm a work in progress in a lot of ways. But one thing that people dearest to me have been saying to me recently is I know that self deprecating is a really big part of your DNA, but your self talk sometimes is not nice. So we don't like you talking about our friend like that. So she dropped it off at my house, just moved house, and she left at the door. And she was like, we're gonna do a manifestation mood board night. Which I've done before and actually worked really well. Most of the things on the list except Jacob Elordi came off. So you know what, there's still time. Chuck him back on 2026. Who's gonna stop me? Go on, I dare you. Anyway, she was just like, this is so that you can start speaking kinder about my friend. And I'm really enjoying the book. It's not. I'm not woo woo. I would say I'm like dabbling in woo woo. A lot of my friends are woo woo. Say woo woo one more time. But it's. It kind of measures the magic and the science, which I like.

[C]

I love this. Okay, so each week we're going to make sure we're going to check in with our friend and see some posy things that she's been saying about herself.

[A]

Yeah, like I'm not. Yeah, I'm not going to say on Mike what I said to Georgia. That obviously ignited her to buy the book, but it wasn't nice.

[B]

I am a big believer in this, like positive talk kind of manifests in two things.

[A]

You manifested Adrian?

[B]

I did, But I also have something that I do with Adrian all the time. We say it to each other. If one of us is getting like negative and we're in a situation where we need things to go our way, we'll say to each other, like, we're good people and good things always happen to us. Like anytime we're traveling, we always say that to each other throughout the trip just so that nothing goes wrong.

[A]

Oh, I really like that.

[B]

Yeah, I really try and like manifest positive vibes.

[A]

I love that a lot. And I do also think my Friends calling me out. I say it a lot to my friends, but they're reverse for ing it on me now, which I'm not loving as much, but it's, hey, don't talk about my friend like that.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, I'm here. I'm like, fiercely loyal, so I'm like, don't talk about my friend like that.

[A]

Yeah, you're like, I'm going to beat up you if you keep being mean to you, literally. Jo, what have you got for us? Not. Not how to pack tattoo.

[B]

Don't do what I did. Take your own suitcase. So I discovered this tool actually, over the weekend because Adrian took a couple of photos of me walking through a park wearing a checkered steel dress.

[C]

Oh, my God. I posted on Instagram, you look stunning.

[B]

Thank you. I loved that little dress. It was very cute.

[C]

And I love that he commented, like, we love Jojo. And red.

[B]

Maddie told me to wear more red, and so I wore more red.

[C]

I think the whole audience, like, everyone told you to wear more.

[A]

Getting into it.

[B]

Yeah, I'm. I'm down for it.

[A]

That video went off.

[B]

Yep. I'm doing it. I'm doing what I'm told.

[A]

I'm.

[B]

Anyway, so he took these couple of photos of me in the park, and we went back and looked at them as we were sitting down at dinner and noticed that his arm was, like, in the shadow. And so his arm with the phone in it is, like, in the shadow on the ground. And then there's also, like, a big bin in the background. And I was like, oh, that's a shame. That's a nice photo.

[C]

And then he's like, oh, doesn't they.

[B]

Have this, like, tool now on your phone where you can kind of, like, circle things and it gets rid of it? And I was like, I think it might be. And so we pulled it up, and it's called the cleanup tool. And so if you just go to edit, you can see the cleanup thing, and then you can just circle things.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I know that AI is, like, evil, but in this instance, it's fantastic.

[A]

In this instance, we love the robots.

[B]

So it got rid of his shadow with the phone taking the photo. And I just circled the bin, got rid of the bin.

[C]

That's amazing.

[A]

Yeah. I found out about this because a girlfriend went somewhere in Europe skiing, and she was on some deer sled. I don't know. This is getting all quite weird as I'm saying it, but they'd all peed on the snow, and she was, like, such a beautiful photo. But like there's pee and poop. Yeah, she's cleaned up. That's how I found out about it.

[B]

And so like if you had someone in the background of your photo and it was like a really beautiful photo that you wanted to frame or something, and you wanted to get rid of something ugly or, you know, inconvenient in the background.

[A]

An example. Exactly.

[B]

I'm sure it can do that. But yeah. Cleanup tool on iPhone. I don't know if this is just new phones, by the way, because I didn't know that this existed. I feel like I vaguely may have known that it existed, but I'd never used it.

[A]

I feel like it could be just new software.

[B]

Not necessarily because I have the new phone, so I didn't know if it was just me.

[C]

Okay. I'm gonna. I'm the boomer, so I've got no idea. But that sounds elite.

[A]

Yeah, I love that. That's a great hack.

[B]

Yep. So that's my spot for today.

[C]

Thanks, Jojo.

[A]

Next, we're diving into the designer who's accused whiteflox of copying. But that will be right after a word from today's sponsor.

[B]

Fashion drama and a romantic scandal it seems Bridgerton Season four has our name written all over it. Whether you're an OG Bridgerton fan or you're new to the series, let me first paint a picture of what you can expect from the latest season. This time, all eyes are on the second Bridgerton son, Benedict, who refuses to settle down until he meets a mysterious lady in silver at his mother's masquerade ball. Revealing herself as a maid, Benedict and Sophie spend the season navigating their predicament. We're here for this storyline and the costumes, obviously, but this season we can take our obsession with Bridgerton up a notch. The first installment of Bridgerton season four is currently streaming and you can catch part two on February 26th only on Netflix. A huge thank you to Netflix for making this episode of Stylish possible. So the designer behind Anneliese Dallin's Brownlow dress has accused White Fox of copycat behavior. In a Herald sun article published last week, Sam Oleoloro and Paul Versace, the designer and stylist behind model Annalise Dallin's 2025 Brownlow red carpet look, said they White Fox has copied Sam's design. Now, White Fox is an Australian fast fashion brand that's reportedly worth $2 billion, while Sam is a Melbourne based designer whose label Ollioro Couture is known for bridal couture and has made dresses for the Brownlow for the past decade. Anneliese, who is the fiance of AFL player Josh Dacos, topped many of the Brownlow best dressed lists last year, and her look received significant publicity.

[A]

And it was just one. Anneliese looks like the most angelic, beautiful thing you've ever seen that's walked this earth. Every time I interact with her, I have to remind myself to remove gaze. I'm like, stop staring at her. She really is that beautiful. She could wear a paper bag and she would look sensational. But this dress was, in my personal opinion, one of her best looks. It was a really structured sort of bodice with the boning that was visible. It was this beautiful sort of. What would I call it? Like a peppermint.

[B]

Peppermint's like seed bone.

[C]

Oh, yeah, that's nice.

[A]

It was. It was like this beautiful shade, and it was made entirely of what looked to be a tool. But they had boned the tulle, which is quite hard to do from all accounts, had a gorgeous drop waist and then sort of this pleating of the tulle that kind of just took over. Absolutely ethereal and angelic. It hugged her figure. She just looked divine. It was probably the best dress that was at the Brownload that year, and one of her best looks, in my opinion. As I said, though, she could wear the paper bag and look at. But it was the first dress of that design I'd seen from Sam. And on Annalise.

[B]

Yeah, well, Sam, the designer, told the Herald sun that he was shocked to see influencers popping up on TikTok spruking a similar turquoise strapless gown. So he called it turquoise to the one that he designed for Annalise. He told the publication, I know I'm supposed to be flattered, but come on. It's a little disappointing when they don't acknowledge they've even used the same color lining. What got my backup is another Australian company has done it to me. The quote continues, I'd never heard of White Fox. They run out of Sydney. But why would you do that to a fellow Australian? It happens around the world, and I've got no problem with people wanting to make money, but it's a lack of respect to not acknowledge the stylist. Paul told the publication, there's a clear difference between being inspired by a designer's work and directly copying it. It's not fair for Sam, who put hours and hours of work into his dress, to then see it replicated almost identically. I also reached out to Anneliese as well. To see what her thoughts were around it, given that she was the one that wore the beautiful design, the original. She said seeing the design replic duplicated so closely was definitely disheartening. Inspiration will always be a big part of fashion, but there's a clear difference between inspiration and duplication. I really feel for Sam as situations like this genuinely impact the designer's livelihood. A link for the dress is live on White Fox's website as we record. But currently all sizes are showing out of stock, so unknown whether it has sold out in all sizes or whether it has been removed from sale, essentially. Do you think this is a clear copycat scenario or just a coincidence or. I don't think it could be a.

[A]

Coincidence, personally, but I personally don't really believe in coincidences, so. No, actually, I do, just not in this regard. This is a control C, control V, if ever I've seen it. And I really liked what. And Sam said it was most disappointing because White Fox are Australian. I know we've spoken about dupe culture a lot on this podcast. We all know how I feel about dupes, particularly in beauty. But for me, I think what Zara McDonald said, it was one of our first ever episodes of Stylish. We were talking about Em Co and she said, why do you feel differently if Tony Bianco or Elias may have a shoe inspired by a Kate boot? And I said, because it doesn't feel like they're punching down.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

White Fox being worth what they're worth. And Sam working out of Toorak Road South Yarra. I have driven past that beautiful store for years. Like, he handcrafts these beautiful wedding dresses and designer gowns for these moments to, you know, survive in this industry, that is cutthroat and is hard. I was absolutely devastated for him and I was really angry at White Fox for this.

[C]

It's so frustrating, isn't it? Because I think it's so hard when you are in an independent designer and your livelihood is backed by your creativity. It's the craft, it's the time, it's the effort that goes into making these honestly, like, they're works of art. That dress was divine. Like, you summed it up so perfectly, Mads, and it was one of a kind. And the fact that White Fox literally can come along and control, copy, paste.

[A]

That piece, a Teemo version of it, let's be clear, it didn't look anywhere.

[C]

Near as good, a thousand percent. But the fact that they can go and do that, replicate it to the masses and then just put it out There. I think it's also really hard and probably quite disappointing for then Annalise to see a lot of her peers proudly supporting that same garment. Like, when I went through TikTok and had a look at the number of girls actually backing that dress, that also really upset me because I was like, guys, this is clearly a copy. Yes, it's okay. Probably a bit more affordable and whatever, but at the same time, this dress was the Annalise dress. And this dress, I think, has so much meaning because it was like a brown, though dress for her for her special occasion with her and her partner. Such a moment for this designer and. And then to see other brands, Australian brands come along and undercut that. I'm just not into it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I will say I do want to give grace to the. Some of the creators who wore it. I really do. And I know that everyone loves their pitchfork and go straight for content creators, or influencers, whatever you want to call them, influenzas, if you will. But I'm like, you know, the Brownlow is a really big thing for probably Victorians because of how many AFL teams are here. Like, no one in Queensland gives a shit about the. Bravo. Sorry. Like, there are just some states that are like nrl until we die. Like, so I'm sure there are some creators that thought it was a lovely dress that weren't thinking of that visual that we have in our mind. Because it was on the front page of the Herald Signal. Because it was on news.com.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Being served to us in Vic. So I want to give a little bit of grace to them. I'm giving no grace to White Fox.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But this is just the bread and butter of fast fashion, isn't it? Yeah. It's just taking something else and go, oh, how can we make this in a cheaper fabric and make it look exactly the same? Because if they look, a drop waist isn't groundbreaking. The drop waist is quite popular right now, but it's the fact that they've replicated it down to the finest details, aside from it being a quality fabrication. And gone. Yep. We're just gonna. We're just gonna put this up on site. You could have made it in black.

[A]

We see this play out on global stage. We see this play out in our own backyard. We see it when the punching goes down and when, you know, sometimes punching goes up more often than not. I do feel it's punching down.

[B]

Yeah. And I think we probably need to, like, put an exclamation mark on that point, because there may be some people Listening, being like, well, I can't fucking afford to have something designed from scratch to wear to my formal or to my grad ball or whatever they have on. And so they're like, well, I'm going to buy what I can afford and having something made by a designer for me is not in my price range.

[A]

Yeah, I'm not, I'm with you. I'm not getting a designer dress made for a friend's wedding. Do you know what I mean? $100 looks a hell of a lot more appealing.

[B]

Yeah. But I think the issue here, as we've said, is that in this situation a major fast fashion brand has copied an Australian designer who is much smaller and not worth $2 billion.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And that is where the issue lies essentially.

[C]

And I think as well it's what's quite disheartening is because at the end of the day this isn't going to be the first or the last time we're going to say this happen. I would actually class White Fox as ultra fast fashion because their whole business model is reactive. Right. Their goal is to put out as many products as possible. We're talking thousands if not hundreds of thousands monthly because they demand newness for that customer. So there's clearly demand there. She exists for a reason. It's such a commercial business. And I think what it just kind of then stems into a conversation I know we've had before as well is how sustainable is this model? Like we've got to think about the workers, the living wages that are applied to like these types of products, how much it even costs to make these products and what you are getting is that compromise quality. So I think unfortunately it is a harsh reality of the industry we're in. I see it happen to some of my designers at work all the time and it's so disheartening because even with one of our brands, like we see them put so much effort into their prints. They bespoke prints, they are made like the centimeters of a stripe. Like literally everything is so perfectly measured and then these big fast chains will just come along and rip them off and they have no shame.

[A]

I think that for me is probably the closing point on this. It's the no shame, it's the not even trying to look like it. This is not the first time White Fox have done it. They've done it to a local Melbourne brand, Mr. Winston A Lot, who became really, really popular with these hoodies and these were like a cultural cult like phenomenon. They dropped like sneaker drops. Everyone ran to get them. They have totally sort of pivoted their entire business model now that they're not just doing sweatshirts, which you can sit in your ivory tower and say, well, a business can't, you know, just survive on sweatshirts. Sure. I'll play the devil's advocate seat for you here. But they've pivoted and White Fox is still copying them. And I'm like, this is so disappointing. It just doesn't feel like they're trying. You know, the text is in the same bubble font. It was in the same direction. The colourways weren't in exact, but they were definitely lending from palettes of other pieces and bringing them together. It just. It's where, much to your point, you're like, a drop waist isn't new, tulle isn't new. A maxi dress in that format isn't new. But you've done it in the sea foam. You've used the same hemming fabric.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You've dropped it within very close proximity to the brownlow last year. And when is it? September, October. You know, it's not.

[C]

It's hard.

[B]

What do we think about Sam and Paul and Annalise's response? Because they've come out and said, you know, we can see you, we know what you're doing.

[A]

I think I commented on every single one of these videos, so you could probably just go and visit and see my comment. But I think I was most excited by Sam's. I actually didn't realize the dress had been ripped off. And I saw Annalise had uploaded and I thought, God, I'd be throwing that back every month if I looked that good, too. I'd be like, I'm, like, looking at things. She's ethereal. And then when I went into the comments, I was like, oh. And then sort of fell down the rabbit hole. But I actually love Sam's when he put it in his window. And I think I just replied, like, I couldn't love this. Clap back more like, what a beautiful dress you've designed as an original creator of it.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

All right, well, next we're discussing the Anna Wintour and Chloe Marle interview that's got everybody talking, but that's right after a word from today's sponsor.

[C]

From baking powders to brow gels, makeup products come and go, but if we had a ride or die, it would have to be mascara. It's the step we never skip. And we've all got a favorite product or two. Wow. M is inviting you to celebrate this makeup bag icon because it's, wait for it. National Lash Day Shop One Day only offers and upgrade your mascara with big brands like Mac, Benefit, Revlon, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Clinique, YSL and more. It's going down on February 19th in store and online and only at MIA. A huge thank you to MHI' Ya for making this episode of Stylish possible.

[A]

Okay, well if you missed this one, I think maybe you weren't online this week because I felt like this was also on my feed everywhere and it feels like everyone is talking about the Anna Wintour and Chloe Mahle interview in case you did miss it. Last week, Anna Wintour and her newly appointed Vogue successor Chloe Mahle sat down for their first ever joint interview with the New York Times. In it, the pair discussed Chloe's debut Vogue issue, which will be released later this month. The interview quickly sparked a lot of discussion online, with many commenters saying the interview was awkward and fashion journalist Amy Odell describing it as one big power move. What were your initial thoughts? Before I go into this, I thought.

[B]

It had awkward moments and Anna's body language said a lot because she actually came across quite warm in some of the things that she did say in that interview. But her body language was giving a whole different vibe.

[A]

Yeah, what you say and what you do.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

I just felt so awkward. Like I had a sense of discomfort watching the whole thing and I was just like the memes that are about to come out of this are just gonna be unreal. Like the Internet is gonn thoughts.

[A]

The Internet definitely had thoughts. And one of my favorite Instagram accounts, Diet Prada, who I would liken to a fashion watchdog, said the five minute video is a fascinating study on the state of American fashion as the old guard is handing off the reins to the new guard. Don't know that I'd love to be reading that as Anna win. They also pinpointed what they and many commenters online saw as the most telling moment of the interview, writing when New York Times asks Mull how she imagines utilizing a 1990s size Vogue budget, Mal explains clearly and precisely how she'd empower her employees by paying them higher wages and staffing up overworked teams. Anna, though, quickly cuts in to say that Vogue has a very healthy budget. How we use our resources is constantly changing depending on the moment, she says. Diet Prada continued. It contrasts Mal's statement in that Mal was fantasizing about a more functional industry, whereas Anna was defending her role in the industry's dysfunction.

[B]

See, I don't know about that particular comment, that last comment there, because I almost think that Anna's defense of that comment was more around like, oh, we don't want it to seem like we underpay our staff now.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And that things are in disarray and that we now no longer are the leading, you know, publication in fashion. I think she was trying to save her ass a little bit. Yeah, yeah, that was my take.

[A]

Probably saving content asses. Us.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Who is she is now working for? She's not just overseeing Vogue publications.

[C]

Yeah, totally. I kind of viewed it as two very different approaches to leadership. Something that I love about Chloe is the fact that she has more recently been in the trenches. She's been with her team, she's worked from the ground up. So has Anna, obviously. But she has actually done the work. She knows what the cogs are. That has the Vogue machine in motion. And she was very specific about what she would use that budget towards, where she sees opportunity and just having like, I guess a bit of a visionary approach for the future. Whereas compared to Anna, in stark contrast, I did find it was intentionally vague for a reason. And I think just working in the industry, sometimes you sit in meetings and you can always see it as that kind of like top down approach where they know what they said, they're saying that for a reason.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And I definitely think that it did in a way come off quite dismissive because she was kind of still putting her stamp of approval on the fact that, no, this is fine. We have healthy budgets. Don't you worry about that? We know how we spend the money and it's like all very fine.

[A]

Yeah. And a cheeky, a cheeky leading question from the New York Times. And that is the role of a journalist to ask a leading question and see, you know, where the chips will fall. But to reference, I guess, you know, the most, I would say the 80s to the 90s were the most prominent years of Vogue US. And to reference those with, I guess, an air of curiosity of how would you have changed it when it has been so applauded was very much, you know, it left the room open. I think overall for me watching the interview, I couldn't help but feel disappointed because I think it was such a great opportunity for them to show the power of uniformity and this passing of the Guardian in a way that felt really cohesive and friendly and warm and mentor like. And instead, much to your point, Joe, the body language felt cold and icy and it did feel like a millennial Boss in a boomer.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. The fact that she was still wearing her glasses, she had a big coat on, her body language, she was positioning herself away from Chloe rather than towards Chloe. So even though at times she was being warm in some of her responses and, you know, I guess quite complimentary of Chloe, she also was just giving off that she was not into this, like, interview at all. And I don't know if that's reflective of how she actually works with Chloe or whether she was just uncomfortable being interviewed altogether because she doesn't do that a whole lot. And she knew probably that she was gonna get some pointed questions thrown at her. But I thought the sassiest that she was was when the interviewer asked, when was the last time you were nervous? And Chloe said, oh, about half an hour before this interview started. And Anna just said immediately, I don't get nervous.

[A]

Yeah, it just. It felt like a moment that Anna could stop being Anna Wintour. Whether that is Anna Wintour the person or the character, I don't think we'll ever know. There is an air of mystique and elusiveness to Anna Wintour that I think she will take long after she is no longer with us.

[B]

You wanted to say to the grave.

[A]

Yeah, I did. Look, I think, yes, I did want to say to the grave, Jo. You know, I tried. I tried being polite things, but I think, you know, for Anna, she's not willing to let that go and she won't do it for the expense of Chloe. Feeling comfortable in that interview is what I got. Anna's. Anna's number one priority is keeping the mystique of Anna Wintour. And she's not about to take off her sunglasses and come across as a warm, mentor like character, no matter how she might be behind the scenes.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

I just hope this. I just hope this isn't reflective of what actually happens when the two of them are together.

[B]

Yeah, Diet Prada actually said that Anna said she never gets nervous, though she's physically crumpled in her chair, fidgety and covered in an armor like outfit. Next to her, Mal sits upright looking breezy and present, wearing a pair of brightly patterned trousers and a simple eggshell blue shirt. I wouldn't agree fully with Diet Prada there in their. In their description of Chloe because I think at times she came across quite apprehensive to answer some things. And she came across a little bit nervous.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Or, I don't know, coy in the interview. But I mean, she was definitely much more relaxed than Anna came across a much more open, I would. Banana came across.

[C]

It's so interesting because obviously when Anna took over this spot in this role, she wiped the slate clean. Like, it was like she just came in her predecessors.

[A]

She put denim on the COVID of Vogue.

[C]

Yeah. And like, but her predecessors were practically a raise. So it's really interesting just seeing this dynamic unfold and how I took it. Also as Anna really showing everyone she's not going anywhere. Like, she's still very much part of Conde Nast, very much part of Vogue, and it kind of just acted as a stark reminder as well that she is going to have prominence and going to be that figure for a long time.

[A]

What's their space?

[C]

I think we'll see what shared leadership looks like, won't we?

[B]

And we'll see what Chloe's cover looks like towards the end of the month.

[A]

Cannot wait to see that.

[C]

Okay, so our next headline, which has been actually all over my algorithm for once, you guys, I'm in the zeitgeist.

[A]

That's right. Not birthing sweets and scary, scary things that had to get you off tick.

[C]

Tock for a while, but ear seeds are having a moment. But what are they? So you might have seen something called ear seeds on your socials lately. Air seeds are acupressure tools rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and according to the New York Times, have become a trendy wearable wellness product. Have you guys seen them?

[B]

Yes, I have.

[A]

I know many people who have had them.

[C]

Oh, I was just about to ask. Have you tried them?

[A]

No. Everyone that I knew that had them had got them overseas and I didn't know where to get them locally and I was too embarrassed to ask that I wasn't cool enough to be going.

[C]

And getting them too interesting. Well, proponents of ES claim they can reduce stress, anxiety and insomnia. Sounds like I need them right now. They treat pain, help with migraines, reduce fatigue, and even some claim that they have cosmetic benefits. The New York Times writes that the alleged cosmetic benefits have helped the seeds earn buzzer new as trends like Notox, which favors natural alternatives to Botox, have taken on social media. But the article says the effectiveness of air seeds is understudied, writing the limited research on them is focused mostly on their use treating symptoms of addiction, said Sandra Chu, an acupuncturist and the founder of Lanshin, a wellness center in Brooklyn. In traditional Chinese medicine, every organ, limb and body region has a corresponding zone in the air, which I found very interesting.

[A]

Fascinating.

[C]

Air seeds work by applying gentle pressure via metal pallets A fixed fire adhesive tape to the reflex point. Air seeds are left on the air for a few days at a time. We are asked J. Dennis, a naturopath and founding director of the Melbourne Apothecary and Fertile Ground, what are the origins of this practice? And she said airseding comes from traditional Chinese medicine and the practice of auricular therapy which has been used for thousands of years. In Chinese medicine, the air is understood as a microsystem of the whole body, meaning specific points on the ear correspond with different organs and physiological systems. Modern air seating blends with this traditional wisdom with contemporary clinical understanding.

[A]

We also asked you guys whether you'd.

[B]

Had ear seeds because we haven't.

[A]

We haven't. Yeah. We were like, we are not the experts in the room. A lot of pregnancy, fertility, IVF related responses. Some saying they had tried them for fertility treatment support, had them during pregnancy, nausea, pregnancy, insomnia. Sounds like you needed to know about these. I know in the last 12 months and I probably needed them a couple of years ago I would have had an earfull of ear seeds. I'm glad I did. Didn't know about them, to be honest.

[B]

Should we do a little excursion?

[C]

I think we need to.

[B]

The Melbourne Apothecary is at Mecca Burke Street.

[A]

They are right.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Also think that is such an underexplored service that is actually at Meckerburg street and one that I was most impressed by that they offer because beauty is inside out.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It makes sense for them to be there. I remember walking through and telling me that's so random. They've got that. And I was like, well, actually if you thought about beauty holistically, it's not. Maybe.

[B]

Maybe you and I should go. You could come after you have the baby. I don't know.

[C]

I need them now. Honestly. I'm an insomniac right now. The chronic pain that I've got in my back, like the pressure.

[B]

I'll check tomorrow and we can.

[A]

I can't tomorrow. I could do Wednesday morning. What else did people say they use them for, Jo?

[B]

Other people said that they find them very calming and grounding made them feel less anxious, helped to limit jaw tension and teeth grinding, which I thought was really interesting. I always thought they were for migraine.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And I thought they had a little needle in them, but they don't. They have that little metal backing and I think you are meant to kind of push it into the pressure point, I guess you would call it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

When you have them applied.

[A]

People also said they did it as like a self care thing that it calms their nervous system and something I could do for myself to relax.

[C]

Nice.

[B]

I actually really want to do this now.

[A]

The first time I noticed it in someone's ears, I said, oh, have you gone to Sarah and Sebastian for some more piercing? Because they kind of were sitting in different points and I thought, oh, they kind of looked quite cool.

[B]

They do.

[A]

I was told that I'm not cool enough to get my seconds done, which I had once.

[C]

Hey, don't say that about my friends. Great call. Do you know what.

[A]

I seen when I raised you? It was actually a dear friend of our podcast, Elliot Garno, and he just said to me, you're more. I was thinking Gossip Girl, because we've been talking about this, but I went to say names. He said, you're just a little more Blair Waldorf than you are. You know, three piercings on each ear.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And I accept that truth. I could be kinder and just say, it's not my look, but I think I can get some ear seeds and flow with it.

[C]

You know what? I saw Naomi Campbell wearing them and I literally thought that had just kind of like decked out her ears with like, some really cool studs because they kind of do look a bit bedazzled. So that got me. I was like, ooh, that's a cool little trend that I could get on board with.

[A]

It takes a supermodel for you to see it. And me being like, are those Sarah and Sebastian?

[C]

But no, when I did actually do, when I was going through my fertility journey and I did actually do Chinese medicine to help, I honestly rate it so highly. Like, just the benefits alone from, like, clearing your body of toxins and things like that were really beneficial. And I did find it improve my sleep. I'm actually slapping myself right now. Like, how have I not actually gotten onto the ear seeds to help with this current insomniac in me? But I definitely think it'd be something I'd be so willing to give a try and actually incorporate into my wellness routine because like you said, meds, it is very holistic and it is a very inside out approach to beauty and well being.

[B]

We also asked Charmaine how the ear seeds actually work, which I think is an important element of this conversation. We also asked Charmaine how the ear seeds actually work, and she said the ear has a rich nerve supply, including branches of the vagus nerve. Gentle sustained stimulation of specific, specific points is understood to support nervous system regulation and overall balance. Unlike acupuncture Needles, ear seeds remain in place for up to five days, offering a subtle ongoing touch point. I did think it was a form of acupuncture, so that's news to me that it's actually not acupuncture in the way that I thought it was because I really did think they had needles attached to them. Like those little micro needle pimple patches. I thought they were like that, but they're not, which I love.

[C]

I love those too.

[A]

Yeah, I'm intrigued by these because I didn't really understand them, but it makes me realise how I, I guess like submissive I can be to someone's ideas because I'm like all these like cool, knowledgeable people were telling me they were using them like two or three years ago and I was like, okay.

[B]

Does it surprise us that this is gaining a lot of popularity and that we're seeing a lot of it on socials, given the direction we're headed in as a society and our interest in wellness and like optimisation?

[A]

No, because I think we're seeing a lot about that at the moment. I mean, it's baffling to me. I'm going to go on a real tangent here. It baffles me that we can talk about peptides on the Internet right now, but we can't talk about sunscreen. Yeah, like, like. So am I surprised that we're talking about ear seeds or that we're talking about fiber maxing or how to get 120 grams of protein? No, I think ear seeds lend themselves to all of these kind of like wellness conversations. I'm like overwhelmed when I go on the Internet now because I'm like, am I having enough fiber? Oh my God. Am I eating enough protein? Am I having carbohydrates? Is pilates now bad for me? Should I be weight training? Is cardio making my face dry? Should I be doing acupuncture as a form of no talk? I'm like, I. You could mount your own little ecosystem and echo chamber of like how you're going to live your life based on an Internet algorithm alone. But I do think there is like a wider moment that's happening outside of not just health, but that is a particular interest in traditional Chinese medicines and alternative therapies at the moment. And there's a lot of people online sharing their experiences using the caption or on screen text. You've found me at a very Chinese time in my life.

[B]

I've seen this.

[A]

Not sure that that's the most appropriate sentiment or text for you to put on Your visuals and the reception of that trend certainly hasn't been positive either. In an article about it on the Cut, Arabel Sicadi writes, Chinese wellness traditions rooted in diagnostic frameworks, interdependence and care across generations are increasingly reframed on TikTok as aesthetic routines meant to be sel taught, self branded and self improving. Cultural heritage is being memified and the origins flattened, which really resonated with me and what I'd seen a lot. I do fear as well. There is a lot of before and after culture on social media and I worry that the origins of something like this, which people have said they've been using for fertility and for nervous system calming, is now like, look at how snatched this side of my jawline looks rather than this side. And Chinese medicine is beautiful. I have also worked with a doctor who was a Western doctor but had Chinese medicine background while I was doing ivf. And it's incredible. I hate to think that the origins or I guess the benefits of it are flattened because someone wants to talk about the appearance or. Or trivialize the benefits of it.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And make it into a TikTok trend. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Because you. You being fixated on getting 30,000 views of how your jawline looks great on one side with ear seeds, not the other doesn't really do anything for someone who's got anxiety or fertility issues who this may be able to help thanks to generations and generations and generations of wealth and wisdom passed down for this art form to still exist.

[C]

Yeah, that's the perfect mic drop meds.

[A]

Thanks. Do you want to end on there?

[C]

Yeah. MST out.

[A]

Well, I guess on that note, that's all for this week's episode of Stylish. We are going to go and try es. That's a great one.

[C]

We're doing it.

[B]

I'm so keen.

[C]

I'm so keen. You've got no idea.

[A]

Don't think they're overly expensive. Do you know what? Before we mic drop, let's Google in real time. How quickly do you want me to do that?

[B]

While you read that?

[A]

Yeah, perfect.

[B]

I'll look that up. I'm going to look up the cost while you segue us out, Mads.

[A]

Perfect. That's all for this week's episode of Stylish. Thank you so much for joining us. And while Jo Googles, I want to also thank Joanna Fleming and Annika Joshi.

[C]

Smith and thank you, imst and Baby.

[A]

Plowman, who is just hanging on for dear life in there, ready to come any day. Remember, you can drop us an email anytime at style-ishameless media.com or you can slide into our DMS over at Stylish Pod. And we can't forget to thank the shameless media team, head of podcast Lucy Hunt, senior podcast producer Kate Emmerburg, and Mike Liberali, who has been our special guest day. Mike, we've loved having you.

[C]

Love you, Mike.

[A]

Sorry that this has been the hottest day we've ever had in this studio. Mike had a black T shirt on when he walked in. I was like, oof. A choice for the outside weather, but probably good. It wasn't gray or white today. You will hear back from us next Wednesday. Jo, I've given you until now 45 bucks. Do you know what that's 45 bucks I'm willing to spend.

[C]

Yeah, me too. Money well spent. Sign us up. Book it in.

[A]

See you back next Wednesday. Bye.

[C]

This podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri land. Always was, always will be aboriginal land.