In the least dry dictionary corner you can imagine, Ali and Jo unravel the most confusing words used in sustainable fashion marketing.

They reveal the words most likely to pull wool over our eyes (wool from an unethical farm no doubt) - and greenwashing tricks to avoid.

Ali discusses the convoluted word use around pre- and made-to-order, and Jo explains why your clothes are generally not, as promised, being ‘recycled’.

Which industry words get your knickers in a twist?

Email us: questioningfashionpodcast@slogue.com.auOur social media accounts:instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcastinstagram.com/jogambaleinstagram.com/bellstreettiktok.com/@bellstreet

It’s been a while between episodes due to our holidays in Europe - so thank you for your patience!

In most cities that host a fashion week - and there are more than just the big four - there exists two layers of fashion lovers: the rich ones who buy straight off the runway and the not-so-rich, who invariably beg, borrow and thrift their way to street-style coverage, and spend all their savings on one show ticket.

We belong to the second group, except we’re also considered industry/media, meaning we got to spend our money on a pass! (which is meant to mean lots of invitations, but doesn’t always! Still, we’re not ones to give up easily, so we managed to weasel our way into a nice variety of shows.)

The intro above is an excerpt from Jo’s opinion piece about AFW, which you can read here on Substack soon (look out for another email when it’s posted). It talks about the oddity that is; most of fashion’s biggest fans worldwide feel completely excluded from their hobby’s designated festivals!

Still, Ali and Jo pushed through the insecurities for their third AFW, as you’ll hear in their audio diary, which is a warm and enthusiastic account of the week, from the perspectives of two of fashion’s biggest fans.

And because there was so much to say about this particular week, we made a little listicle featuring the best sustainable moments, to be posted along with Jo’s op ed for your viewing pleasure.

You’re welcome.

If you have anything to tell us about fashion week, or fashion in general, email us: questioningfashionpodcast@slogue.com.auOur social media accounts:instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcastinstagram.com/jogambaleinstagram.com/bellstreettiktok.com/@bellstreet

Just short of the iconic Coca-Cola sign in Sydney’s Kings Cross is a miracle of a shop that sells vintage clothes AND books.

What? You haven’t been to Grand Days? Well, come on in and enter the best idea Jo ever had.

For the first recording of Questioning Fashion in front of a live audience, Ali and Jo asked world renowned Clare Press to be their guest.

You’re welcome.

We hope the warmth and positivity that permeated the room that night can be felt through your ear holes, dear listeners.

So sit back and enjoy as we chat about Clare’s latest book Wear Next, described as a “roadmap for the fashion evolution we have all been waiting for”.

During the interview the girls mention an episode of Clare’s own podcast Wardrobe Crisis, in which she interviewed our very own Ali. Here it is.

Email us: questioningfashionpodcast@slogue.com.auOur social media accounts:instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcastinstagram.com/jogambaleinstagram.com/bellstreettiktok.com/@bellstreet

France’s exciting new anti-fast fashion bill reminds Ali of the country’s long history of protecting its fashion industry.

Just up for air from her usual deep dive, she shares some fascinating facts from Versailles and the lace-loving Louis kings to now.

Jo, meanwhile, looks at Australia’s softly-softly approach at tackling fast fashion, and wonders whether the whip will come out any time soon.

What do you think of France’s pioneering bill to penalise fast fashion importers?

Email us: questioningfashionpodcast@slogue.com.auOur social media accounts:instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcastinstagram.com/jogambaleinstagram.com/bellstreettiktok.com/@bellstreet

Once considered bottom of the stylists pile by the upper echelons of fashion, so-called 'celebrity stylists' (sometimes 'red-carpet stylists') are suddenly being given the credit they think they deserve. As Zendaya's renowned stylist Law Roach explains: “There’s been this idea that I’m supposed to be grateful [to have a celebrity client]. No. She’s supposed to be grateful that she’s working with me because I’m changing her life."

Why and how are stylists changing their celebrity clients' lives?

In this episode, Jo - herself a stylist with a couple of minor red carpets under her belt - explains the inner workings of "image strategies", and breaks down the most interesting of these at this year's Oscars.

Ali, meanwhile, shares her joy at the growing trend of "borrowed" vintage for red carpets, Sydney Sweeney's 2004 Jolie gown as a case in point.

"I imagine some giant Bell Street in Hollywood."

Oh joy.

Did you have a favourite look at this year's Oscars?

Email us: questioningfashionpodcast@slogue.com.au

Follow us here:

instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcast

instagram.com/jogambale

instagram.com/bellstreet

tiktok.com/@bellstreet

And don't forget to get yourself a ticket to our live podcast recording next week, where we interview author and journalist Clare Press of the Wardrobe Crisis podcast!!!

$20 tickets available here - see you there!!

In true Questioning Fashion style, Ali and Jo grapple between the joy of cheap and cheerful group dress-ups and the mountains of dumped plastic spangles left in their wake.

When Ali finally got her Eras tour ticket, a year after Jo overdressed for Harry Styles, it struck them both that while it isn’t a new phenomena (remember the Bay City Rollers’ tartan kick flares? Yeah, neither do we) — it has stepped up a notch thanks to online communities of mainstream stars...

Which we agree is wonderful as a concept.

But it's also a little frightening, given the sheer number of Shein sequin minis Ali spotted at one concert.

The ultra fast fashion giant is known to add between 2000 and 10,000 new styles to its website EVERY DAY.

Don’t even get Jo started on the soggy feather boa aftermath of Harry Styles’s tour. It looked like there’d been a massacre of camp cockerels.

The conversational magical mystery tour somehow landed on how the government should fund crafty mums to help everyone else with homemade book week costumes so we don’t buy so many disposable dress-ups.

hmmm

As always, they’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter. And as always, they do not judge you either way!

Email us: questioningfashionpodcast@slogue.com.au

Our Instagram accounts:

instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcast

instagram.com/jogambale

instagram.com/bellstreet

Our TikTok accounts:

tiktok.com/@bellstreet

tiktok.com/@slogue_joannegambale

Thanks for reading Questioning Fashion with Ali and Jo ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Ali and Jo go on an excursion to talk to sustainable fashion designers Gary Bigeni and Sally Jackson at Sally's Join the Dots studio in Marrickville. We discuss their approach to sustainable fashion and specifically their work with the Opera House developing upcycling workshops for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

We apologise for the very "real world" audio on this one! Maybe listen to it through speakers while you're working on something yourself! You'll feel like you're in the studio with us. See Gary's work here

And Sally's Bowerbird collection hereEmail us: questioningfashionpodcast@slogue.com.au

Subscribe to our podcast and newsletter here

Follow us on Instagram:instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcastinstagram.com/jogambaleinstagram.com/bellstreetAnd TikTok:tiktok.com/@bellstreettiktok.com/@slogue_joannegambale

This week we're talking clothing care and sharing our favourite tips for washing, repairing and storing our clothes - because true sustainable fashion isn't about only buying from ethical brands or going op shopping all the time, it's about wearing the clothes you already own forever.Email us: questioningfashionpodcast@slogue.com.auOur Instagram accounts:instagram.com/questioningfashionpodcastinstagram.com/jogambaleinstagram.com/bellstreetOur TikTok accounts:tiktok.com/@bellstreettiktok.com/@slogue_joannegambale