October 28, 2025 • 33 mins
Want to know what you’ll actually be wearing this summer? Tam and Lucinda are chatting with Lia Georgantis, the owner of Girls With Gems and Sneaky Link Label and breaking down her trend spotting secrets. She reveals how she figures out what's next (hint: it involves "trolling" TikTok for international street style) and why texture, lace, and monochrome are about to be everywhere.
Plus, she explains how the internets shifting the wholesaler game - she's out here finds cool new brands by sliding into their DMs no fashion showings necessary!
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CREDITS:
Host: Leigh Campbell
Guest: Lia Georgantis
Audio Producer: Tina Matolov
Video Producer: Artemi Kokkaris
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
You're listening to Amma Mia podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Mamma Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters
that this podcast is recorded on.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Whoever said orange is a new pink with seriously.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Disturbed laurels spraying groundbreaking.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Oh my god, you have to do it.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
You live for fashion.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Hello and welcome to Nothing to Wear, the podcast that
solves fashion problems and levels up your wardrobe. I'm Tamara Holland.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
And I'm Licinder Pickett. Today on the podcast, we are
joined with Leah Jordantis. She's the creative director and CEO
of Girls with Gems, the cult Australian fashion boutique that
stops all our favorite fashion brands, including her very own
Sneaky Link. Leah has built more than just a store
and a fashion brand. She's created a community and a
platform that champions size inclusivity, celebrates individuality and defines what
(01:02):
it means to shop with personality.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Leah.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Welcome to the post.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Welcome, Thank you. That was such a nice introduction, Leah.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Each of our guests this very important question. Can you
describe your style for us in three words?
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Are you up to the le I'm up to the challenge.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
Interchangeable because I think in summer and winter I have
quite a different style. And then if I'm gonna give
you two more words, I'll give you my winter style
and my summer style.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
I think winter style is like chic, effortless, okay, and
summer is colorful.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
That's just one word, all right, don't give you three jerking,
I'm not knowing these are great like that you have
different words for different seasons.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
Yeah, because I think in winter I really like wearing
like a pair of jeans, a nice top, a knit
a trench, like you know, really simple pieces that look
really good together and paired differently. But then in summer
I love doing like different colors, like sarongs with little
tank I really like to like mix my textures and everything,
very different style.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Yeah, absolutely, resort were in vacation as well. Yeah, I
love being experimental with color.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Yeah, me too.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
But then in winter, like you won't really catch me
in cold Leah. We have lots more questions to ask,
so we're going to get started, amazing. You're obviously a
known entrepreneur in the fashion space, but that's not actually
where your career journey started. You were studying law and
as I understand you were pretty much like at the
pointy end of your studies.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
I was done.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
You were done. I finished, So the path was law.
Where were you going to go before you pivoted into fashion?
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I had a job, yeah, at a corporate law firm.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Wow, I didn't realize that you graduated.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
I graduated.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Yeah, okay, yeah, it was right at the end. It was.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
I finished my law degree and I went to Europe,
and I went to Europe for three months.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
It was so it was after five and a half.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Years of studying, and I remember being in a taxi
with my mom because she was also in Europe, and
she's like, I'm not doing it anymore, Like I'm moving
to Greece, So you need to decide if you're going
to sign the lease or not, and you have to
do it, Like she was like, you have to do
it in like forty eight hours.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
I was like, let's just rewind a little bit for
anyone who doesn't know. Your mum owned the business Girls
with my Right and that was a boutique, like already
very established. And then she was like exiting out to
go and chase her dreams in Greece to open a hotel.
And then that was like the point in time where
it was like take the lease, as you said, take
(03:21):
over the business or not. And it was like a
fork in the road for you. Yeah, because I.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Had to make a decision.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
I was like, I actually have to make this decision,
Like I actually have to sign a lease.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
My job had already been physically things.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Had you been thinking about it already? Was it in
the back of your mind a little voice saying fashion, fashion,
or like how were you how to go with germs?
Speaker 5 (03:41):
It was always like my fun and I worked with
my mum for the whole time that I was studying,
so it wasn't off the cards like I was involved,
but it was for fun while I was.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Studying law, and I was definitely going to be a lawyer.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Have you seen the movie My Oxford Year?
Speaker 1 (03:56):
No?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Have you seen it?
Speaker 1 (03:58):
No?
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Damn?
Speaker 3 (03:58):
It is it?
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Like I really.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Just watch it.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Go and watch it on Netflix, because this is literally
the same She goes to like study at Oxford, but
she's you know, done, a done degree and she has
this same sort of thing. Anyway, nice little romantic comedy
segue for you there. But that's amazing. So I guess
I'd like to sort of take a little bit from that.
You made a big, bold, risky decision. You're already on
(04:23):
this path, and then you diverted and chose another one.
For any of our listeners who might be kind of
facing a similar decision or considering a pivot a career change,
what would your advice for them be? Oh my god,
I have so much. There's so many things that come
to my mind.
Speaker 5 (04:37):
Like during that time, I guess you can't take everyone's
opinion on because everyone's going to have an opinion.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
I had so many people being like, you study for
so long?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Are you going to take over a retail shop? Like seriously?
And I was like, oh my god, what am I doing?
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Like am I making the wrong move?
Speaker 5 (04:50):
And I was obviously speaking to people and open, but
I always know at the end of the day, like
I'm making the decision. But I had spoken to like
my ADHD therapist. I was there to get medication, and
then I was like, I don't know what to do.
He was like, well, I just want you to think
about one thing because I'm clearly not gonna make the decision.
(05:10):
Are you going to sit at your law job and
wonder what could have been of girls with gems or
you're gonna sit at girls with gems and wonder what
could have been of your law career? And like instantly
I was like, I'm never gonna sit at girls with
gems and wonder what would have been my law creed.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I can easily just go do.
Speaker 5 (05:22):
That, but I will definitely sit at my law job
and wonder what could have been of my life if
I had taken over girls with gems.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
So I was like, I'm going to do it.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
I'm going to tell everyone that I am just doing
it for a year because I don't want to hear everyone,
but I hope I never have to go back to law.
And the only person that I told that to was
my now husband and my mom.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
I was like, I hope I never have.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
To see you. It's like the plot of my Oxford year,
because that's a year as well just telling you.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So I was like, I'm literally just doing it for
a year.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
And everyone was like cool, googol And now everyone's like
best decision you ever made.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
I'm like, yeah, you told me not to make it.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Do you ever use your law degree in day to
day with girls with gems or sneaking link?
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (05:58):
I think yes, yeah, like not just the law that
I learned, because like not really now I would have
to refresh myself whenever I'm looking for something, but like
in terms of reading contracts, but more than that, Like
I studied for and half years and I studied so
hard in my law degree. So I just feel like
it taught me the work ethic that I have taught
me resilience. I missed out on so much when I
(06:18):
was studying because I needed to study for so many hours.
So I missed out on fun and so I just
got used to that and I didn't care. When I
took over. I was like, I don't care if I
miss out in fun, Like I want.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
To do this.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
So I think it taught me a good work ethic
and like I bought that into the business.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Love that. And your husband's now working for the business
as well.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yeah, when did he join?
Speaker 4 (06:36):
I want to say two and a half years ago.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Okay, yeah, so somewhat recently.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
It feels like a lifetime. He was always he was
always helping in the background from the day we met.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
You know, we would talk about girls with gems all
the time, and then when I took over, he was.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Very much helping me with like Facebook ads and.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
HR and operations, and then it got to the point
where I was like, hey, you have to quit your job.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
I literally can't do this anymore without.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Yeah, anyone listening who's unfamiliar with Girls with Gems or
Sneaky Link, can you just give us a quick synopsis
on what both are?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Absolutely so.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
Girls with Gems is a high end multi brand boutique
based in Double Bay in Sydney, and Sneaky Link is
I guess our in house brand, but it really is.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Standing on its own two feet at the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I would say it's one of Australia's leading brands right now.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
And it stopped exclusively at it is stopped exclusively Girls
with Gems.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
And you've got the app as well, which is pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Yeah, the aff is really fun and I'd love to
know where did the name Sneaky Link come from?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Yes, me too.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
Okay, So we have lots of young girls that work
in our boutique and my mum would always come in
and she always like chats with them and she's like,
teach me words young people say, so I can say
them to my friend.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
And then they were like okay, sneaky link.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
It's like the person you're seeing on the side, like
it's You're like, yeah, oh.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
My gosh, that's so different to what I thought. I
thought it was like when you send a sneaky link
of something you like to someone and they're like, here's no, that's.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
No unless you like it.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
So my mom like learned this word and she would
always say like, sneakling, sneaklin, sneakling. I'm like okay.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
And then when we were starting the brand, it was
quite different to what it is now. It's like exclusive prints,
and she's like, I think you should call it sneaky link.
Like everyone's like it's like a secret brand. It's like
your secret and I was like, I really like that,
and I love the idea of the sneaky link and
like this, like we did a snake emoji as our
kind of like icon, and I.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Was like, I love this. This is so cool. So
that's what it actually means.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
It's different.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Yeah, it's very different.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
It's not trying to be like it's just it's obviously
unique to your story. It's a big part of your story,
and I love that it came from that relationship with
your mum, Yeah, yeah, that's amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
I love that with Sneaky Away.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
But with Girls with Gems you've got so many cool
brands on there as well, so not just your own,
but how do you choose what brands you stock on
Girls with Gems.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
I think when you have a multi brand boutique, like
it changes and you go through different stages and you
pick up different brands. I think right now is our
best brand mix that we've ever had. We have a
really nice mix of Australian designers, but then we also
have international designers that people would never have heard of
before until we stop them, like Baal Bab, Miguel Coronell.
And then we like pick up little brands that we
(09:09):
find on Instagram and I'll just DM them and be like, Hi,
I love your brand, can we house it? And they're like,
we haven't done wholesale yet, and it's.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Like, let's do it.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
It's very different to like the old model maybe of
like doing buying trips or sourcing going out to the
international market, but now you're just dming them directly. Are
they responsive in that way?
Speaker 5 (09:25):
I think also now, given like we have a lot
of followers and people will often have come across us before,
so when we do d and they're like, oh my god, yeah,
let's chat.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Amazing. Yeah yeah, that's really unique.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
But even with Aussie brands like Benny, one of our
biggest brands, they were not in wholesale and we.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Were like, let's chat and they were like oh nah.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
We were like no, no, no, no, we think you
need to speak to us, and then we jumped on
a call and like by the end of the call,
we were.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Like done deal.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
So you help develop that relationship with them and introduce
them to the world.
Speaker 5 (09:54):
Who we are their only stockist now still, but yes,
we we kind of help brands come into the wholesale market.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Yeah. Yeah. You sound like the kind of woman who
in business and in life, you know, really follows your gut.
An example being obviously changing career paths to follow any
little voice inside your head that said I need to
do this. So in business you need to make difficult
decisions all the time. Maybe say no to opportunities that
are presented to you because you are trying to stick
(10:24):
to a different plan. Potentially, can you tell us about
a time when maybe you've had to say no to
something that might have been appealing to you, but you
knew it wasn't right for you.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
Yeah, I feel like that's probably come about now more.
I feel like at the start, I said yes to everything,
and I'm so glad I did, because you can't find
exactly who and what your business is meant to be
if you don't throw yourself at everything. It takes a
lot more time. Rather, I was just like doing everything.
I was like, struck every band, let's just work this
(10:54):
out as we go. Now more, because I know exactly
who we are and who we want to be, I
say no now yeah, And it's a lot easier because
I'm just so busy, Like I really have to think
is this at the time, and if it's not, then
I have to say no.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
That's a testament where you've got to really with your business,
Like you know, you're looking for those opportunities.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Yes, yes, yes, at the beginning.
Speaker 5 (11:19):
But I was always like hunting down those opportunities and
like reaching out to people and like always coming up
with like ideas where I could pull other people in.
So I was also part of wanting more and more
and more. But then I think you get to a
point where you're like, Okay, this is who we are.
Anything beyond this is a flying pig and we're not
We're not doing that. Yeah, it just doesn't make sense.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
A flying pee.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
That's what my husband calls them about flying peak and
I'm like, yeah, He's like, then we're not doing it.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
How can we use that? Like, how can we apply that?
Speaker 5 (11:45):
Okay, say, like an offer came through for a brand
that was similar to sneaky link, like a flying peak,
Like it just doesn't make sense. I can be really
good brand, but like it's a flying peak.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Let's just focus on sneaking that terminology.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah, yeah, so you're business Ira. I member seeing girls
with gems on TikTok during COVID and it was the
same same but different sizes. Ye.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
Someone was wearing size eight, someone was wearing size twelve.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
And it's so funny hearing your voice now because it's
just so familiar with me seeing.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
You come up on my TikTok feed.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Talk to us about the growth on social media because
it's been such a big part of your brand.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
And I guess any advice for our listeners.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Firstly, actually just starting with you're very confident, you're great
in front of the camera. Anyone listening who maybe has
their own business and isn't as confident, hates talking on camera.
Do you have any advice for them? Do you think
it's how important is social media for their business? Any
tips on how to get in front of the camera.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Yeah. I am very extroverted, but.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Like I'm extroverted when you put me in a social
situation where I'm comfortable, but on camera, I'm actually I
wasn't comfortable. I didn't like it, but I knew that
when I would meet people and have interactions, they would
like the interaction.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
They would laugh.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
I had really good rapport with customers in store who
wanted my styling advice. So like, I obviously knew I
could be good on camera, but I didn't like it,
but I knew it could work. So one day I
was just like to one of the girls, just film me.
Don't make it so serious, but just film me. And
she's like, okay. So we filmed this video, and I
told like ten of my friends, I'm gonna start posting
these videos. I think I'm weird and awkward in them,
(13:30):
but I'm doing it and letting you know because that
will hold me responsible to keep doing it.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
That's so idea.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
Yeses, so I'm doing it and I know it might
be really weird, but I don't care. And they were
like cool, good, and obviously it took off.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
People loved it.
Speaker 5 (13:42):
And obviously because people loved it, then I like doing it.
So yeah, that just continued. I think you just need
to like do it.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Yeah, and is that a big part of your job now?
Like are you on camera daily? Are you posting? Are
you filming daily?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
It's changed.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Last year we were filming like every single day, but
like it killed me and I can't do that anymore.
So no, we're not filming every day anymore. But last
year we were filming like ten to twenty hours a week.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Yeah, that's a big burning time commitment. It's like you're
the talent, You're worth it.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
But then it got to a point where like it
just like I physically couldn't do it anymore. But I
think for people who aren't doing it but think they
want to, your first video is always going to be awkward,
it's not going to be perfect. I think people also
want to make it all perfect and like edit, they're
real so perfectly. My first video was like a bloopers
weird thing of me showing how to wear this outfit
(14:35):
and it was such a bad video.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
It doesn't matter.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
You just need to post the video.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
See this is my problem. I overthink over the editing
and then by the time you've labored over the editing,
like Instagram like bugs out and you lose your work,
you know, and overly edited video. They just want they
don't just have to post it. That's what works better, right,
And it's like you said, I think you said before,
don't be so serious, like you know, and you're doing
(15:00):
these videos, it's going to be awkward, and it's like
you almost need to have that disclosure with them and
with yourself that it's like I can do this. It
doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be right.
I'm just going to put it out there because I
keep trying to remind myself. It might be like a
few seconds that someone comes across it, and.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
Then it's like no one cares about what you're doing,
not just you everything, No one cares. No one cares
about No one cares about what I'm doing. Like they
might for like one.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
Second be like.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
She's not cool in that video, but like once you
start getting lots of viewser I think you're cool, but
so you.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Just like can't care.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
You just have to like keep making the videos and
just it doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
I heard a little tidbit the other day on social
media someone I follow an actor, and he said, like
everything good is on the other side of cringe, and
I was like, oh, so true, Like it has to
be cringe because you're trying, and it has to be
trying is cool, right, Like it's it's you know, to
make the effort, right, Like there's there's something in that
that shows you're making an effort and you want to succeed.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
I think, okay, telling people that's something I've done in
business so much. I said, I'm making a brand. I
had no idea how I was going to make a brand.
I had literally less than an idea. But I started
telling all my friends I'm making a brand, and then
they'd be like, tell us about it, and I'm like,
I can't because I have no idea yet. But it's
(16:19):
going to happen, so you have to keep asking me
about it, so then I make sure that I do it.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Wow, and then comes your identity as well, like you've
become the fashion go to or like it is who
you are?
Speaker 4 (16:28):
Yeah, fail yourself.
Speaker 5 (16:30):
That's also like just a tip if anyone here's this,
don't just start saying you're going to do things you're
not going to do it like I was to do it.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
Yeah, don't. Don't just say you're going to do things
if you're not going to do them.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
So you've currently got a collection out at the moment
with Jazz hand yep. Is she the first influencer that
you've done a collection with? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Awesome?
Speaker 2 (16:49):
And how do you choose who you're going to do
this with? Was it something where she approached you or
you just loved her and she was an organic Sneaky
link wearer.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Yes, she was an organic sneaky linguer. So she would
always come and be like I love this and we
would send it to her, and when it came time
to choose someone, she felt like the only person we
would do it with.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Just on that. Do you do lots of influencers sendouts
with sneaky.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Link only recently?
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Yeah? Okay, yeah, do you find they work?
Speaker 4 (17:15):
It depends?
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Yeah, it depends.
Speaker 5 (17:17):
I think you also get to a stage where it's
like the only next step.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah, you know, And if that you're choosing the right
people and it's almost like the sneaky Link news.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah it's not.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Just into sales, but it's awareness.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
I agree, yeah, yes, but with Jazz, it just felt
so aligned and I wouldn't have done it if it
didn't feel like that. I don't think I would have
been able to work with someone who wasn't as committed
and passionate and excited about this project as we were.
It wouldn't have worked because our team were like so
passionate about this, and if we had someone that didn't
(17:50):
really care, I don't think it would have worked as well.
And I think that shows in the content. You can
really feel that Jazz wanted to be there.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
It's almost like she's part of the team.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
We literally like I miss her this week that we're
not like talking, because we were talking every single day.
She helped us design the collection, like we would get it.
This this top that I'm wearing sampled like five times
and it was something Jazz really wanted us to get right.
And like in the final like the from the fourth
sample to the fifth it was literally removing three centimeters
from here so you can make sure you can wear
it like at a nice length, but like, we focused
(18:23):
on every single detail and Jazz was along that journey
with us, So she's so passionate about the clothes because
she helped design them.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Cool, but yeah, it does feel like she's part of
the team and all the content.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
It's like, I do love that your team is so involved.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Even like your campaign shots and what's on your website,
it's usually you or the team members.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Right, Yeah, it's so cool.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I love that that sort of employee first contents really
big at the moment.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
So showing your tea, you feel like we did that,
like before, we did that. Else when you're.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
Asking before about our content during COVID, we were the
only people we had. You couldn't get models during lockdown.
Of course we were going to work, so we would
just it.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Was like a product of that limitation.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Yeah, and then people would be like, you're not showing
enough size diversity. You get someone else. We're like, we can't.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Can we talk about that? Actually, can we go into that?
Because you were just talking about the level of detail
you put in your designs and that feedback from the customer,
you know, feedback with Jazz, So size inclusivity is a
really big part of what you guys offer you go
up to a size twenty, which is amazing, Like that's
real leadership in that space because as we all know, unfortunately,
(19:25):
very few Australian brands stock a full size ranger are
prepared to listen to the feedback that there's the demand
for that. Why do you think that is and how
has it kind of benefited you guys to be more
aware of that conversation and actually cater to that customer.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
I don't know why it is, and maybe I should
have a better answer because I own a multi brand boutique.
I haven't also thought too much about why no one
else is doing it. I just thought about why aren't
we doing it fair? And that's why we did it.
It is funny, though, I saw a video on TikTok
that was obviously aimed at us yesterday and it was like,
this is so ridiculous that brands are going to four excel.
(20:00):
People should consider having a healthier lifestyle. And I was like,
whoa that is? That is so tone.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Deaf, my god, But that video just came up yes.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
At obviously aimed at us because we keep going on
about four excel okay, and I was like, that's so
tone deaf.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Whoa, yeah, whoa. It's just such a layered thing, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
It is so layered, and I feel like when we
made the decision to do this, we didn't go into
such a layered conversation about the pros and cons.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
It just felt natural.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
We always went to a size sixteen from basically day one,
which was more than most brands do.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
So many Australian brands still got to size twelve.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
Stop. It was.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
Like try something on and I'm like, it doesn't fit me,
so you get away with it. Why not fit into
this Australian brand? That's so weird because like, I'm a
healthy Australian woman.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Why don't I fit in your brand?
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Average woman is a size sixteen exactly, I believe.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
So.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Yeah, was there customer feedback that they wanted that range.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Or how to save that feedback yet?
Speaker 5 (20:55):
But when we started talking to Jazz, it was already
something on our radar that we wanted to extend our
sizing eventually. And when we started speaking to Jazz, She's like,
I'd really want to make sure that you'd have like
up to a size twenty because people at the event
will be that size and we were like, perfect, let's
do it because we wanted to it. Obviously, you don't
just flick the on switch to bigger sizes that you
need to do things in design. So it's a lot
(21:17):
of people like, why didn't you do it sooner? It's like, okay,
just relax, like there's actually praise you have to consider,
and it's.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
A cost as well to you that people are unaware
of it.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Yes, exactly, but it just felt like the perfect time
and I was more than happy to invest and do it,
and it made so much sense, and going forward we
will have those sizes. Yeah, it just made sense, and
we obviously will continue to extend the sizing. But people also,
we got so much backlash the day before the event
of people being like, you think you're inclusive, You're not
inclusive at all.
Speaker 4 (21:45):
You should be going to a size twenty eight.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
And I'm like, okay, that's hard.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
All right, let's not push brands down who are trying
to make a positive impact, because we're actually trying to
make a step forward and if people trolls are going
to come online and do that, then other brands are
going to be too scared to make a change. So
let's just be nice, so true, like we're trying to
make a positive step.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Well, we commend you on that. That's great to see. Yeah,
and hopefully more brands follow your lead. Yeah, that's all
we'd like to see.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Yeah. Yeah, I love how you're in this really interesting
position where you're dealing with so many brands. You'd be
exposed to their collections, what's coming out for resorts during
summer and beyond you'd be looking next year. Can you
(22:31):
give us and our listeners any insight into any trends
that are coming out for summer in particular?
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Like what are we going to be?
Speaker 4 (22:39):
God, summer is so fun, Like I literally feel sick yesterday.
Speaker 5 (22:41):
We like printed all of our cads yesday and we're
like planning the next five months and I was like,
I feel through sick.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
I can't do this.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
There's too many queen when cats go back the little
drawings of all the pieces, Okay, there's a lot of
texture and clothing, so like heaps of lace with silk,
lots of jersey, there's color, there's lots of monochrome.
Speaker 5 (23:03):
I feel like it's all happening this summer. It's really exciting.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
And even with jazz hand the collection.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Yeah, oh my god, chocolate brown is not going anywhere.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
So how did you do you look into trend forecasts
or are you exposed to that or is it more
you gut feeling you see what other brands are doing
and you jump on trends.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
I think it's so weird because maybe a few years
ago to be like, how do all the brands know?
Speaker 4 (23:24):
Like what because we go to showing and I'm like,
they're all the same thing.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
How do they know there is a platform that tells
you what is going to be trending.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
We don't use it.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
We do so all you have to do is look
to the international market. So say, for example, it's Paris
Fashion Week, you look what's coming down the wrong way.
You then go on TikTok, see what everyone's wearing, go
on Instagram, gone Pinterest, and you basically can like formulate
what is going to be trending.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
And you do that, you enjoy that?
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Oh god, love yeah, I love it.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
I love that so much.
Speaker 5 (23:50):
Like I just troll the internet and we have a
sneakilling group on Instagram and TikTok and I'm just sending
like all day every.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Day that because it's like rather than going to Yes,
those trend or authorities are predicting things, and that's based
on data, real life data. But that's more like you
amassing your own references. Yes, exactly the point of you
and honing that and then filtering that into your brand
rather than using like the overlord that tells you it's
this color or something. You can then kind of curate,
(24:18):
you know, according it's.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
Changed so much because now like Pantone Color of the
Year is such a big thing, and like Pantone will
post it or they'll post like the colors.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
So then they went wrong.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
They were not wrong at all, but like we will
send each other all of those things, and then we
always have creative days off site where we'll go somewhere
and just like we'll often like go to my apartment
and like I make sure it's really clean, and like.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
You know, we'll have nothing on the table and we
just like talk about what we want to do.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
We start scrolling through it.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
We'll go through Instagram first and TikTok, and there's common
themes that keep coming up that all of us send
and that will be the base of our collection and
then we just like build on that and we'll be
like Hey, we need three pants?
Speaker 4 (24:55):
What pants? And we kind of go.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Through it's a conversation, a dialogue with you with your team.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
I'm not sure how the brands do it, Like I've
got to assume it's the same way because we're all
coming up like as well.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
So you can do reactive exactly, it's there and then
you can create it and like the turnarounds pretty.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Quickly these days. Yeah, somewhat, Yeah, somewhat.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
I mean this Jazz collection was in the works of
like months and months, but it really hit and we
just got it right.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Yeah, amazing because even like the jawts and the sheer
as well.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Yeah, it's beautiful on that. Like, if there's one just
talking to trends, sheer is such a dominant trend continues
to be if there's like perhaps for our listener, like,
what is the kind of key piece in shear, like
is it a skirt? Is it a top? Like if
they're just going to invest in this trend in one way,
what would you suggest because it's a bit of a
tricky trend.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
Okay, It's really funny because in the Jazz collection, we
have twenty four pieces and the top product was a
sheer top.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
And it sold out in about thirty minutes. It's amazing.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
It's a chocolate shear top.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
It's sleeveless, it's high neck, it's got a zip at
the back, cut on the shoulders, asymmetric hemline, and it's
got a string on the sides that you can tie
at the back or the front. When we got it
one week before launch, I put it on and it
was a bit tight over my bum. I have a
Greek bump. So I was like, that's not good. Because
we're extending suicide twenty. This is going to be an
(26:14):
issue for people if they have a big bum. So
I was like, to the designer, cut my top and
see if it works. So we cut the top and
like we cut it to here, and it looked really to.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Your waist, to my waist, what do you mean you
cut it? Cut it physically to create like event, I've.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
Actually got a video of us posted on TikTok.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Sure, yeah, to create like a an op an opening.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
On the side. We did that and it looked so good.
So we called the factory. Our bolk stock was about
to leave and we were like, hold the stock, you
need to fix it. And they fixed it and I'm
so glad they did because it was the best selling top.
We've now reordered so many units. But I think with
sheer it can't be all over she well, for some
people it can. We have a matching Schees skirt, so
(26:53):
some people will wear that, but I think it's like
adding one piece of sheer where you don't have to
reveal your whole body. So with that shear top, it
just so happened that the label, a lingerie brand that
we eat stock made a perfectly matched brown bra and
we have sold hundreds of this bra now because we
styled it under the top. So everyone's just buying the
bra on the top because it.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
Just perfectly matches. They don't have to think about it.
And I think when people are.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
Styling it, because we styled it with like drawts, which
makes it look elevated and cool, it doesn't.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Look trashy that it's see through.
Speaker 5 (27:22):
So I think it's the fact that we styled it
with the undergarment so people didn't have to think, and
that we styled it in a way that was very like.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
Upmarket and cheek.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Yeah, she's smart, learning so much.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
I find it really tricky with sizing and especially with
things being oversized and just knowing.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
The right size.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
What sort of tips do you have for anyone, whether
it be shopping in person or online, knowing what is
actually the right fit for you? Like is it knowing
your size or is it how it fits? How do
you know what feels right?
Speaker 5 (27:52):
Okay, So we actually have a segment on Instagram and
it's called size Matters, and I'm going to tell you why.
But what it really means is size doesn't matter. The
size on the tag doesn't matter. What matters is the
size that you're wearing flatters your body. So I can
be between like I can be like a small top
and extra large pants. I never care about the label
(28:13):
because I know I'm in fittings. I know that it's
not universal that a size medium as a size medium
in terms of measurements. So you can't worry about the
size and the tag. You actually need to put it
on and be like does this fit me the best?
Because I might put on a medium and then large
and the large looks way better on me and actually
makes me look like a medium, but I'm wearing a large,
And I think that's what why people gravitated too. Girls
with gems content so much and to the same same
(28:35):
with different size, because often when I was standing up
there on the steps, I didn't look like what people
assumed a size twelve looks like. They were always like,
you're not a twelve, and I'm like, yeah I am.
I'm actually just showing you how to dress and what's
flattering and what's flattering. And I was often wearing a
size twelve or fourteen pants and then a smaller medium top,
and I was always flattering my waist because I have
(28:56):
a small waist, and then wearing things and more oversized
around my bum.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
So, you know, grad just but a sizing up if
you're unsure online, like if you sort of I find
I'm often in between sizes.
Speaker 5 (29:08):
Which is always a half I think, always like I think,
I think that's where you need to read the product
descriptions and where brands have a duty to put more information. So,
for example, in every single video, we say our size.
So I will say I'm wearing a size twelve pants
and I'm wearing a size small top, and then you
can understand that from that why I've done that, I
(29:29):
guess if you keep watching.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I love it when brands say things like this, this
runs small.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Yeah, this runs yeah, exactly, so helpful, yes, And like
knowing what size you are in that brand versus a
different brand. It's like you said before, people treat sizing
like it's universal.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
It's not.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
And also there's something called vanity sizing where certain brands
they'll make the garments bigger, but they'll the size on
the tag will be smaller. Does that make senseity sizing right,
so that you think you're getting which is really manipulative?
Can I just say but that you know that kind
of confuses even more. So you need to know what
size you are in the particular brand, like I can.
Like there's denim brands. We're talking about denim before, Like
(30:03):
I could be a ten and a six, you know,
across different DENI But it's just.
Speaker 5 (30:08):
So hard, like being in the fittings. I'm not sure
it's always meant to manipulate. Sometimes you just get it wrong.
Like you can get a tech paccent back and you're
signing off and we've had pants come in that are
whole sized wrong and we're like, and it's can't do
anything about it, and it would look like manipulation, but
it's not.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
We've made a mistake.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
But we need to sell it like.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
And this is certainly it's just like it can be assake, insistence, resistency.
Speaker 5 (30:31):
There's no universal sizing so in terms of measurement. So
I think it's just different brands, and brands just have
a duty to give as much information as they can. Yeah,
or you just come in store and get styled and fun.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
The last time I was there, I bought yeah love
for my a girlfriend for a president. But it was
just so nice seeing the faces that you see on
social media.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
Yes, lots of fun.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Can we come in you can style?
Speaker 4 (30:58):
Yes, that was so much fun.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
I'm committing nowselves accountable.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Like you said at the start of the episode when
the Jazz ships hops in, Yeah, oh my god, yes,
in a chocolates your color?
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Oh thanks. I don't know about that, but I'm very
inspired by this top that you're wearing. Yeah, take like,
take us through the outfit. Is this all from It's
all Jazz. So I'm wearing the Jazz tea in brown
size medium, lovely. I'm wearing my Killer Marth belts. Then
I'm wearing jawts, and then I'm wearing que shoes that
match my top and they're snula shoes. So are they
from your brand? So just to like, can you explain
(31:31):
what they are? Oh, she's going to hold them up.
I love when people do this.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
That is.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
It's a suede like backless mule. Yeah, and it's so
cool and I wear them every day.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
I never thought i'd be the gal that wears heels on.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Like, I have one more pressing question for you. This
is really important to me. You were wearing Bermuda shorts. Yeah,
I know they look sick on you. Okay, they look
so good. I am still I said this is to
Lee Campbell on the podcast months and months ago. I'm
not there yet, Like I can't do it, and maybe
because you're like reasonably tall.
Speaker 4 (32:03):
I just want you to know I also hated Bermuda shorts.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
What got you there? Because I can't and you wear them,
I can't do it.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Wait.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
When we first started seeing the trend, I was like,
oh my god, I hate it, like I hate it.
Speaker 6 (32:14):
And then judges want I want, and I was like,
you make them looker shorts, and I was like okay,
and like when we're first trying them on, we're getting samples,
I was like, I hate them so much.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
Have you tried them on, and now as soon as
I put them on, when we got the size the
fit right, I was like, these are the best Bermutera
shorts I've ever tried on, and now I wear them
so much.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Well, there you go, So what's your tree come on?
So like for our audience, you know that might be
like me, that is still not yeah yet, Like, how
do you like integrate that into your daily style? Is
it as simple as just throwing on a T shirt?
Like you've really for me, You've really elevated them.
Speaker 5 (32:50):
You need to wear something tight on top, in my opinion,
okay to start. You can then go oversize, but I
feel like that could be like too overwhelming to start,
So I would start with like a white singlet and.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
Add a little bells maybe yeah, like yours are nice
and stream some that have a lot of fabric and
it's but.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
Yeah, I don't like the pleating at all because it's
too much like really straight legs like pants.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
But there you go. Yeah, you have to come from
the expert. I do I need to come in store amazed.
We're going to do that. Well, thank you so much
for coming in today. That's all we have time for.
I feel like we could talk to you for hours
and hours. That's been so much fun. So thank you
for imparting all your wisdom to us today.
Speaker 4 (33:28):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
That's all we have time for today. Thank you for
listening to Nothing to Wear. Don't forget to sign up
to our Nothing to Wear newsletter. We'll put a link
to that in the show notes.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
And don't forget to watch us on YouTube and follow
us on Instagram at Nothing to Wear Pod.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
We'll be back soon. Bye bye.
You're listening to Amma Mia podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Mamma Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters
that this podcast is recorded on.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Whoever said orange is a new pink with seriously.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Disturbed laurels spraying groundbreaking.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Oh my god, you have to do it.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
You live for fashion.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Hello and welcome to Nothing to Wear, the podcast that
solves fashion problems and levels up your wardrobe. I'm Tamara Holland.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
And I'm Licinder Pickett. Today on the podcast, we are
joined with Leah Jordantis. She's the creative director and CEO
of Girls with Gems, the cult Australian fashion boutique that
stops all our favorite fashion brands, including her very own
Sneaky Link. Leah has built more than just a store
and a fashion brand. She's created a community and a
platform that champions size inclusivity, celebrates individuality and defines what
(01:02):
it means to shop with personality.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Leah.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Welcome to the post.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Welcome, Thank you. That was such a nice introduction, Leah.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Each of our guests this very important question. Can you
describe your style for us in three words?
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Are you up to the le I'm up to the challenge.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
Interchangeable because I think in summer and winter I have
quite a different style. And then if I'm gonna give
you two more words, I'll give you my winter style
and my summer style.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
I think winter style is like chic, effortless, okay, and
summer is colorful.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
That's just one word, all right, don't give you three jerking,
I'm not knowing these are great like that you have
different words for different seasons.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
Yeah, because I think in winter I really like wearing
like a pair of jeans, a nice top, a knit
a trench, like you know, really simple pieces that look
really good together and paired differently. But then in summer
I love doing like different colors, like sarongs with little
tank I really like to like mix my textures and everything,
very different style.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Yeah, absolutely, resort were in vacation as well. Yeah, I
love being experimental with color.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Yeah, me too.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
But then in winter, like you won't really catch me
in cold Leah. We have lots more questions to ask,
so we're going to get started, amazing. You're obviously a
known entrepreneur in the fashion space, but that's not actually
where your career journey started. You were studying law and
as I understand you were pretty much like at the
pointy end of your studies.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
I was done.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
You were done. I finished, So the path was law.
Where were you going to go before you pivoted into fashion?
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I had a job, yeah, at a corporate law firm.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Wow, I didn't realize that you graduated.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
I graduated.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Yeah, okay, yeah, it was right at the end. It was.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
I finished my law degree and I went to Europe,
and I went to Europe for three months.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
It was so it was after five and a half.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Years of studying, and I remember being in a taxi
with my mom because she was also in Europe, and
she's like, I'm not doing it anymore, Like I'm moving
to Greece, So you need to decide if you're going
to sign the lease or not, and you have to
do it, Like she was like, you have to do
it in like forty eight hours.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
I was like, let's just rewind a little bit for
anyone who doesn't know. Your mum owned the business Girls
with my Right and that was a boutique, like already
very established. And then she was like exiting out to
go and chase her dreams in Greece to open a hotel.
And then that was like the point in time where
it was like take the lease, as you said, take
(03:21):
over the business or not. And it was like a
fork in the road for you. Yeah, because I.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Had to make a decision.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
I was like, I actually have to make this decision,
Like I actually have to sign a lease.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
My job had already been physically things.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Had you been thinking about it already? Was it in
the back of your mind a little voice saying fashion, fashion,
or like how were you how to go with germs?
Speaker 5 (03:41):
It was always like my fun and I worked with
my mum for the whole time that I was studying,
so it wasn't off the cards like I was involved,
but it was for fun while I was.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Studying law, and I was definitely going to be a lawyer.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Have you seen the movie My Oxford Year?
Speaker 1 (03:56):
No?
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Have you seen it?
Speaker 1 (03:58):
No?
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Damn?
Speaker 3 (03:58):
It is it?
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Like I really.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
Just watch it.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Go and watch it on Netflix, because this is literally
the same She goes to like study at Oxford, but
she's you know, done, a done degree and she has
this same sort of thing. Anyway, nice little romantic comedy
segue for you there. But that's amazing. So I guess
I'd like to sort of take a little bit from that.
You made a big, bold, risky decision. You're already on
(04:23):
this path, and then you diverted and chose another one.
For any of our listeners who might be kind of
facing a similar decision or considering a pivot a career change,
what would your advice for them be? Oh my god,
I have so much. There's so many things that come
to my mind.
Speaker 5 (04:37):
Like during that time, I guess you can't take everyone's
opinion on because everyone's going to have an opinion.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
I had so many people being like, you study for
so long?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Are you going to take over a retail shop? Like seriously?
And I was like, oh my god, what am I doing?
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Like am I making the wrong move?
Speaker 5 (04:50):
And I was obviously speaking to people and open, but
I always know at the end of the day, like
I'm making the decision. But I had spoken to like
my ADHD therapist. I was there to get medication, and
then I was like, I don't know what to do.
He was like, well, I just want you to think
about one thing because I'm clearly not gonna make the decision.
(05:10):
Are you going to sit at your law job and
wonder what could have been of girls with gems or
you're gonna sit at girls with gems and wonder what
could have been of your law career? And like instantly
I was like, I'm never gonna sit at girls with
gems and wonder what would have been my law creed.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I can easily just go do.
Speaker 5 (05:22):
That, but I will definitely sit at my law job
and wonder what could have been of my life if
I had taken over girls with gems.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
So I was like, I'm going to do it.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
I'm going to tell everyone that I am just doing
it for a year because I don't want to hear everyone,
but I hope I never have to go back to law.
And the only person that I told that to was
my now husband and my mom.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
I was like, I hope I never have.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
To see you. It's like the plot of my Oxford year,
because that's a year as well just telling you.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So I was like, I'm literally just doing it for
a year.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
And everyone was like cool, googol And now everyone's like
best decision you ever made.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
I'm like, yeah, you told me not to make it.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Do you ever use your law degree in day to
day with girls with gems or sneaking link?
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (05:58):
I think yes, yeah, like not just the law that
I learned, because like not really now I would have
to refresh myself whenever I'm looking for something, but like
in terms of reading contracts, but more than that, Like
I studied for and half years and I studied so
hard in my law degree. So I just feel like
it taught me the work ethic that I have taught
me resilience. I missed out on so much when I
(06:18):
was studying because I needed to study for so many hours.
So I missed out on fun and so I just
got used to that and I didn't care. When I
took over. I was like, I don't care if I
miss out in fun, Like I want.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
To do this.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
So I think it taught me a good work ethic
and like I bought that into the business.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Love that. And your husband's now working for the business
as well.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yeah, when did he join?
Speaker 4 (06:36):
I want to say two and a half years ago.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Okay, yeah, so somewhat recently.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
It feels like a lifetime. He was always he was
always helping in the background from the day we met.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
You know, we would talk about girls with gems all
the time, and then when I took over, he was.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Very much helping me with like Facebook ads and.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
HR and operations, and then it got to the point
where I was like, hey, you have to quit your job.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
I literally can't do this anymore without.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Yeah, anyone listening who's unfamiliar with Girls with Gems or
Sneaky Link, can you just give us a quick synopsis
on what both are?
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Absolutely so.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
Girls with Gems is a high end multi brand boutique
based in Double Bay in Sydney, and Sneaky Link is
I guess our in house brand, but it really is.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Standing on its own two feet at the moment.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I would say it's one of Australia's leading brands right now.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
And it stopped exclusively at it is stopped exclusively Girls
with Gems.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
And you've got the app as well, which is pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Yeah, the aff is really fun and I'd love to
know where did the name Sneaky Link come from?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Yes, me too.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
Okay, So we have lots of young girls that work
in our boutique and my mum would always come in
and she always like chats with them and she's like,
teach me words young people say, so I can say
them to my friend.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
And then they were like okay, sneaky link.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
It's like the person you're seeing on the side, like
it's You're like, yeah, oh.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
My gosh, that's so different to what I thought. I
thought it was like when you send a sneaky link
of something you like to someone and they're like, here's no, that's.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
No unless you like it.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
So my mom like learned this word and she would
always say like, sneakling, sneaklin, sneakling. I'm like okay.
Speaker 5 (08:07):
And then when we were starting the brand, it was
quite different to what it is now. It's like exclusive prints,
and she's like, I think you should call it sneaky link.
Like everyone's like it's like a secret brand. It's like
your secret and I was like, I really like that,
and I love the idea of the sneaky link and
like this, like we did a snake emoji as our
kind of like icon, and I.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Was like, I love this. This is so cool. So
that's what it actually means.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
It's different.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Yeah, it's very different.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
It's not trying to be like it's just it's obviously
unique to your story. It's a big part of your story,
and I love that it came from that relationship with
your mum, Yeah, yeah, that's amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
I love that with Sneaky Away.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
But with Girls with Gems you've got so many cool
brands on there as well, so not just your own,
but how do you choose what brands you stock on
Girls with Gems.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
I think when you have a multi brand boutique, like
it changes and you go through different stages and you
pick up different brands. I think right now is our
best brand mix that we've ever had. We have a
really nice mix of Australian designers, but then we also
have international designers that people would never have heard of
before until we stop them, like Baal Bab, Miguel Coronell.
And then we like pick up little brands that we
(09:09):
find on Instagram and I'll just DM them and be like, Hi,
I love your brand, can we house it? And they're like,
we haven't done wholesale yet, and it's.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Like, let's do it.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
It's very different to like the old model maybe of
like doing buying trips or sourcing going out to the
international market, but now you're just dming them directly. Are
they responsive in that way?
Speaker 5 (09:25):
I think also now, given like we have a lot
of followers and people will often have come across us before,
so when we do d and they're like, oh my god, yeah,
let's chat.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Amazing. Yeah yeah, that's really unique.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
But even with Aussie brands like Benny, one of our
biggest brands, they were not in wholesale and we.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Were like, let's chat and they were like oh nah.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
We were like no, no, no, no, we think you
need to speak to us, and then we jumped on
a call and like by the end of the call,
we were.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Like done deal.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
So you help develop that relationship with them and introduce
them to the world.
Speaker 5 (09:54):
Who we are their only stockist now still, but yes,
we we kind of help brands come into the wholesale market.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Yeah. Yeah. You sound like the kind of woman who
in business and in life, you know, really follows your gut.
An example being obviously changing career paths to follow any
little voice inside your head that said I need to
do this. So in business you need to make difficult
decisions all the time. Maybe say no to opportunities that
are presented to you because you are trying to stick
(10:24):
to a different plan. Potentially, can you tell us about
a time when maybe you've had to say no to
something that might have been appealing to you, but you
knew it wasn't right for you.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
Yeah, I feel like that's probably come about now more.
I feel like at the start, I said yes to everything,
and I'm so glad I did, because you can't find
exactly who and what your business is meant to be
if you don't throw yourself at everything. It takes a
lot more time. Rather, I was just like doing everything.
I was like, struck every band, let's just work this
(10:54):
out as we go. Now more, because I know exactly
who we are and who we want to be, I
say no now yeah, And it's a lot easier because
I'm just so busy, Like I really have to think
is this at the time, and if it's not, then
I have to say no.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
That's a testament where you've got to really with your business,
Like you know, you're looking for those opportunities.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Yes, yes, yes, at the beginning.
Speaker 5 (11:19):
But I was always like hunting down those opportunities and
like reaching out to people and like always coming up
with like ideas where I could pull other people in.
So I was also part of wanting more and more
and more. But then I think you get to a
point where you're like, Okay, this is who we are.
Anything beyond this is a flying pig and we're not
We're not doing that. Yeah, it just doesn't make sense.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
A flying pee.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
That's what my husband calls them about flying peak and
I'm like, yeah, He's like, then we're not doing it.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
How can we use that? Like, how can we apply that?
Speaker 5 (11:45):
Okay, say, like an offer came through for a brand
that was similar to sneaky link, like a flying peak,
Like it just doesn't make sense. I can be really
good brand, but like it's a flying peak.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Let's just focus on sneaking that terminology.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah, yeah, so you're business Ira. I member seeing girls
with gems on TikTok during COVID and it was the
same same but different sizes. Ye.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
Someone was wearing size eight, someone was wearing size twelve.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
And it's so funny hearing your voice now because it's
just so familiar with me seeing.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
You come up on my TikTok feed.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Talk to us about the growth on social media because
it's been such a big part of your brand.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
And I guess any advice for our listeners.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Firstly, actually just starting with you're very confident, you're great
in front of the camera. Anyone listening who maybe has
their own business and isn't as confident, hates talking on camera.
Do you have any advice for them? Do you think
it's how important is social media for their business? Any
tips on how to get in front of the camera.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Yeah. I am very extroverted, but.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Like I'm extroverted when you put me in a social
situation where I'm comfortable, but on camera, I'm actually I
wasn't comfortable. I didn't like it, but I knew that
when I would meet people and have interactions, they would
like the interaction.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
They would laugh.
Speaker 5 (13:07):
I had really good rapport with customers in store who
wanted my styling advice. So like, I obviously knew I
could be good on camera, but I didn't like it,
but I knew it could work. So one day I
was just like to one of the girls, just film me.
Don't make it so serious, but just film me. And
she's like, okay. So we filmed this video, and I
told like ten of my friends, I'm gonna start posting
these videos. I think I'm weird and awkward in them,
(13:30):
but I'm doing it and letting you know because that
will hold me responsible to keep doing it.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
That's so idea.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
Yeses, so I'm doing it and I know it might
be really weird, but I don't care. And they were
like cool, good, and obviously it took off.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
People loved it.
Speaker 5 (13:42):
And obviously because people loved it, then I like doing it.
So yeah, that just continued. I think you just need
to like do it.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Yeah, and is that a big part of your job now?
Like are you on camera daily? Are you posting? Are
you filming daily?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
It's changed.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Last year we were filming like every single day, but
like it killed me and I can't do that anymore.
So no, we're not filming every day anymore. But last
year we were filming like ten to twenty hours a week.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Yeah, that's a big burning time commitment. It's like you're
the talent, You're worth it.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
But then it got to a point where like it
just like I physically couldn't do it anymore. But I
think for people who aren't doing it but think they
want to, your first video is always going to be awkward,
it's not going to be perfect. I think people also
want to make it all perfect and like edit, they're
real so perfectly. My first video was like a bloopers
weird thing of me showing how to wear this outfit
(14:35):
and it was such a bad video.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
It doesn't matter.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
You just need to post the video.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
See this is my problem. I overthink over the editing
and then by the time you've labored over the editing,
like Instagram like bugs out and you lose your work,
you know, and overly edited video. They just want they
don't just have to post it. That's what works better, right,
And it's like you said, I think you said before,
don't be so serious, like you know, and you're doing
(15:00):
these videos, it's going to be awkward, and it's like
you almost need to have that disclosure with them and
with yourself that it's like I can do this. It
doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be right.
I'm just going to put it out there because I
keep trying to remind myself. It might be like a
few seconds that someone comes across it, and.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
Then it's like no one cares about what you're doing,
not just you everything, No one cares. No one cares
about No one cares about what I'm doing. Like they
might for like one.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
Second be like.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
She's not cool in that video, but like once you
start getting lots of viewser I think you're cool, but
so you.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Just like can't care.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
You just have to like keep making the videos and
just it doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
I heard a little tidbit the other day on social
media someone I follow an actor, and he said, like
everything good is on the other side of cringe, and
I was like, oh, so true, Like it has to
be cringe because you're trying, and it has to be
trying is cool, right, Like it's it's you know, to
make the effort, right, Like there's there's something in that
that shows you're making an effort and you want to succeed.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
I think, okay, telling people that's something I've done in
business so much. I said, I'm making a brand. I
had no idea how I was going to make a brand.
I had literally less than an idea. But I started
telling all my friends I'm making a brand, and then
they'd be like, tell us about it, and I'm like,
I can't because I have no idea yet. But it's
(16:19):
going to happen, so you have to keep asking me
about it, so then I make sure that I do it.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Wow, and then comes your identity as well, like you've
become the fashion go to or like it is who
you are?
Speaker 4 (16:28):
Yeah, fail yourself.
Speaker 5 (16:30):
That's also like just a tip if anyone here's this,
don't just start saying you're going to do things you're
not going to do it like I was to do it.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
Yeah, don't. Don't just say you're going to do things
if you're not going to do them.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
So you've currently got a collection out at the moment
with Jazz hand yep. Is she the first influencer that
you've done a collection with? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Awesome?
Speaker 2 (16:49):
And how do you choose who you're going to do
this with? Was it something where she approached you or
you just loved her and she was an organic Sneaky
link wearer.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Yes, she was an organic sneaky linguer. So she would
always come and be like I love this and we
would send it to her, and when it came time
to choose someone, she felt like the only person we
would do it with.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Just on that. Do you do lots of influencers sendouts
with sneaky.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Link only recently?
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Yeah? Okay, yeah, do you find they work?
Speaker 4 (17:15):
It depends?
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Yeah, it depends.
Speaker 5 (17:17):
I think you also get to a stage where it's
like the only next step.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah, you know, And if that you're choosing the right
people and it's almost like the sneaky Link news.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah it's not.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Just into sales, but it's awareness.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
I agree, yeah, yes, but with Jazz, it just felt
so aligned and I wouldn't have done it if it
didn't feel like that. I don't think I would have
been able to work with someone who wasn't as committed
and passionate and excited about this project as we were.
It wouldn't have worked because our team were like so
passionate about this, and if we had someone that didn't
(17:50):
really care, I don't think it would have worked as well.
And I think that shows in the content. You can
really feel that Jazz wanted to be there.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
It's almost like she's part of the team.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
We literally like I miss her this week that we're
not like talking, because we were talking every single day.
She helped us design the collection, like we would get it.
This this top that I'm wearing sampled like five times
and it was something Jazz really wanted us to get right.
And like in the final like the from the fourth
sample to the fifth it was literally removing three centimeters
from here so you can make sure you can wear
it like at a nice length, but like, we focused
(18:23):
on every single detail and Jazz was along that journey
with us, So she's so passionate about the clothes because
she helped design them.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Cool, but yeah, it does feel like she's part of
the team and all the content.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
It's like, I do love that your team is so involved.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Even like your campaign shots and what's on your website,
it's usually you or the team members.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Right, Yeah, it's so cool.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
I love that that sort of employee first contents really
big at the moment.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
So showing your tea, you feel like we did that,
like before, we did that. Else when you're.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
Asking before about our content during COVID, we were the
only people we had. You couldn't get models during lockdown.
Of course we were going to work, so we would
just it.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Was like a product of that limitation.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Yeah, and then people would be like, you're not showing
enough size diversity. You get someone else. We're like, we can't.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Can we talk about that? Actually, can we go into that?
Because you were just talking about the level of detail
you put in your designs and that feedback from the customer,
you know, feedback with Jazz, So size inclusivity is a
really big part of what you guys offer you go
up to a size twenty, which is amazing, Like that's
real leadership in that space because as we all know, unfortunately,
(19:25):
very few Australian brands stock a full size ranger are
prepared to listen to the feedback that there's the demand
for that. Why do you think that is and how
has it kind of benefited you guys to be more
aware of that conversation and actually cater to that customer.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
I don't know why it is, and maybe I should
have a better answer because I own a multi brand boutique.
I haven't also thought too much about why no one
else is doing it. I just thought about why aren't
we doing it fair? And that's why we did it.
It is funny, though, I saw a video on TikTok
that was obviously aimed at us yesterday and it was like,
this is so ridiculous that brands are going to four excel.
(20:00):
People should consider having a healthier lifestyle. And I was like,
whoa that is? That is so tone.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Deaf, my god, But that video just came up yes.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
At obviously aimed at us because we keep going on
about four excel okay, and I was like, that's so
tone deaf.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Whoa, yeah, whoa. It's just such a layered thing, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
It is so layered, and I feel like when we
made the decision to do this, we didn't go into
such a layered conversation about the pros and cons.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
It just felt natural.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
We always went to a size sixteen from basically day one,
which was more than most brands do.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
So many Australian brands still got to size twelve.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
Stop. It was.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
Like try something on and I'm like, it doesn't fit me,
so you get away with it. Why not fit into
this Australian brand? That's so weird because like, I'm a
healthy Australian woman.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Why don't I fit in your brand?
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Average woman is a size sixteen exactly, I believe.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
So.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Yeah, was there customer feedback that they wanted that range.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Or how to save that feedback yet?
Speaker 5 (20:55):
But when we started talking to Jazz, it was already
something on our radar that we wanted to extend our
sizing eventually. And when we started speaking to Jazz, She's like,
I'd really want to make sure that you'd have like
up to a size twenty because people at the event
will be that size and we were like, perfect, let's
do it because we wanted to it. Obviously, you don't
just flick the on switch to bigger sizes that you
need to do things in design. So it's a lot
(21:17):
of people like, why didn't you do it sooner? It's like, okay,
just relax, like there's actually praise you have to consider,
and it's.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
A cost as well to you that people are unaware
of it.
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Yes, exactly, but it just felt like the perfect time
and I was more than happy to invest and do it,
and it made so much sense, and going forward we
will have those sizes. Yeah, it just made sense, and
we obviously will continue to extend the sizing. But people also,
we got so much backlash the day before the event
of people being like, you think you're inclusive, You're not
inclusive at all.
Speaker 4 (21:45):
You should be going to a size twenty eight.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
And I'm like, okay, that's hard.
Speaker 5 (21:48):
All right, let's not push brands down who are trying
to make a positive impact, because we're actually trying to
make a step forward and if people trolls are going
to come online and do that, then other brands are
going to be too scared to make a change. So
let's just be nice, so true, like we're trying to
make a positive step.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Well, we commend you on that. That's great to see. Yeah,
and hopefully more brands follow your lead. Yeah, that's all
we'd like to see.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Yeah. Yeah, I love how you're in this really interesting
position where you're dealing with so many brands. You'd be
exposed to their collections, what's coming out for resorts during
summer and beyond you'd be looking next year. Can you
(22:31):
give us and our listeners any insight into any trends
that are coming out for summer in particular?
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Like what are we going to be?
Speaker 4 (22:39):
God, summer is so fun, Like I literally feel sick yesterday.
Speaker 5 (22:41):
We like printed all of our cads yesday and we're
like planning the next five months and I was like,
I feel through sick.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
I can't do this.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
There's too many queen when cats go back the little
drawings of all the pieces, Okay, there's a lot of
texture and clothing, so like heaps of lace with silk,
lots of jersey, there's color, there's lots of monochrome.
Speaker 5 (23:03):
I feel like it's all happening this summer. It's really exciting.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
And even with jazz hand the collection.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Yeah, oh my god, chocolate brown is not going anywhere.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
So how did you do you look into trend forecasts
or are you exposed to that or is it more
you gut feeling you see what other brands are doing
and you jump on trends.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
I think it's so weird because maybe a few years
ago to be like, how do all the brands know?
Speaker 4 (23:24):
Like what because we go to showing and I'm like,
they're all the same thing.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
How do they know there is a platform that tells
you what is going to be trending.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
We don't use it.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
We do so all you have to do is look
to the international market. So say, for example, it's Paris
Fashion Week, you look what's coming down the wrong way.
You then go on TikTok, see what everyone's wearing, go
on Instagram, gone Pinterest, and you basically can like formulate
what is going to be trending.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
And you do that, you enjoy that?
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Oh god, love yeah, I love it.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
I love that so much.
Speaker 5 (23:50):
Like I just troll the internet and we have a
sneakilling group on Instagram and TikTok and I'm just sending
like all day every.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Day that because it's like rather than going to Yes,
those trend or authorities are predicting things, and that's based
on data, real life data. But that's more like you
amassing your own references. Yes, exactly the point of you
and honing that and then filtering that into your brand
rather than using like the overlord that tells you it's
this color or something. You can then kind of curate,
(24:18):
you know, according it's.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
Changed so much because now like Pantone Color of the
Year is such a big thing, and like Pantone will
post it or they'll post like the colors.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
So then they went wrong.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
They were not wrong at all, but like we will
send each other all of those things, and then we
always have creative days off site where we'll go somewhere
and just like we'll often like go to my apartment
and like I make sure it's really clean, and like.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
You know, we'll have nothing on the table and we
just like talk about what we want to do.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
We start scrolling through it.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
We'll go through Instagram first and TikTok, and there's common
themes that keep coming up that all of us send
and that will be the base of our collection and
then we just like build on that and we'll be
like Hey, we need three pants?
Speaker 4 (24:55):
What pants? And we kind of go.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Through it's a conversation, a dialogue with you with your team.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
I'm not sure how the brands do it, Like I've
got to assume it's the same way because we're all
coming up like as well.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
So you can do reactive exactly, it's there and then
you can create it and like the turnarounds pretty.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Quickly these days. Yeah, somewhat, Yeah, somewhat.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
I mean this Jazz collection was in the works of
like months and months, but it really hit and we
just got it right.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Yeah, amazing because even like the jawts and the sheer
as well.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Yeah, it's beautiful on that. Like, if there's one just
talking to trends, sheer is such a dominant trend continues
to be if there's like perhaps for our listener, like,
what is the kind of key piece in shear, like
is it a skirt? Is it a top? Like if
they're just going to invest in this trend in one way,
what would you suggest because it's a bit of a
tricky trend.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
Okay, It's really funny because in the Jazz collection, we
have twenty four pieces and the top product was a
sheer top.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
And it sold out in about thirty minutes. It's amazing.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
It's a chocolate shear top.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
It's sleeveless, it's high neck, it's got a zip at
the back, cut on the shoulders, asymmetric hemline, and it's
got a string on the sides that you can tie
at the back or the front. When we got it
one week before launch, I put it on and it
was a bit tight over my bum. I have a
Greek bump. So I was like, that's not good. Because
we're extending suicide twenty. This is going to be an
(26:14):
issue for people if they have a big bum. So
I was like, to the designer, cut my top and
see if it works. So we cut the top and
like we cut it to here, and it looked really to.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Your waist, to my waist, what do you mean you
cut it? Cut it physically to create like event, I've.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
Actually got a video of us posted on TikTok.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Sure, yeah, to create like a an op an opening.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
On the side. We did that and it looked so good.
So we called the factory. Our bolk stock was about
to leave and we were like, hold the stock, you
need to fix it. And they fixed it and I'm
so glad they did because it was the best selling top.
We've now reordered so many units. But I think with
sheer it can't be all over she well, for some
people it can. We have a matching Schees skirt, so
(26:53):
some people will wear that, but I think it's like
adding one piece of sheer where you don't have to
reveal your whole body. So with that shear top, it
just so happened that the label, a lingerie brand that
we eat stock made a perfectly matched brown bra and
we have sold hundreds of this bra now because we
styled it under the top. So everyone's just buying the
bra on the top because it.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
Just perfectly matches. They don't have to think about it.
And I think when people are.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
Styling it, because we styled it with like drawts, which
makes it look elevated and cool, it doesn't.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Look trashy that it's see through.
Speaker 5 (27:22):
So I think it's the fact that we styled it
with the undergarment so people didn't have to think, and
that we styled it in a way that was very like.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
Upmarket and cheek.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Yeah, she's smart, learning so much.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
I find it really tricky with sizing and especially with
things being oversized and just knowing.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
The right size.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
What sort of tips do you have for anyone, whether
it be shopping in person or online, knowing what is
actually the right fit for you? Like is it knowing
your size or is it how it fits? How do
you know what feels right?
Speaker 5 (27:52):
Okay, So we actually have a segment on Instagram and
it's called size Matters, and I'm going to tell you why.
But what it really means is size doesn't matter. The
size on the tag doesn't matter. What matters is the
size that you're wearing flatters your body. So I can
be between like I can be like a small top
and extra large pants. I never care about the label
(28:13):
because I know I'm in fittings. I know that it's
not universal that a size medium as a size medium
in terms of measurements. So you can't worry about the
size and the tag. You actually need to put it
on and be like does this fit me the best?
Because I might put on a medium and then large
and the large looks way better on me and actually
makes me look like a medium, but I'm wearing a large,
And I think that's what why people gravitated too. Girls
with gems content so much and to the same same
(28:35):
with different size, because often when I was standing up
there on the steps, I didn't look like what people
assumed a size twelve looks like. They were always like,
you're not a twelve, and I'm like, yeah I am.
I'm actually just showing you how to dress and what's
flattering and what's flattering. And I was often wearing a
size twelve or fourteen pants and then a smaller medium top,
and I was always flattering my waist because I have
(28:56):
a small waist, and then wearing things and more oversized
around my bum.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
So, you know, grad just but a sizing up if
you're unsure online, like if you sort of I find
I'm often in between sizes.
Speaker 5 (29:08):
Which is always a half I think, always like I think,
I think that's where you need to read the product
descriptions and where brands have a duty to put more information. So,
for example, in every single video, we say our size.
So I will say I'm wearing a size twelve pants
and I'm wearing a size small top, and then you
can understand that from that why I've done that, I
(29:29):
guess if you keep watching.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I love it when brands say things like this, this
runs small.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Yeah, this runs yeah, exactly, so helpful, yes, And like
knowing what size you are in that brand versus a
different brand. It's like you said before, people treat sizing
like it's universal.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
It's not.
Speaker 3 (29:41):
And also there's something called vanity sizing where certain brands
they'll make the garments bigger, but they'll the size on
the tag will be smaller. Does that make senseity sizing right,
so that you think you're getting which is really manipulative?
Can I just say but that you know that kind
of confuses even more. So you need to know what
size you are in the particular brand, like I can.
Like there's denim brands. We're talking about denim before, Like
(30:03):
I could be a ten and a six, you know,
across different DENI But it's just.
Speaker 5 (30:08):
So hard, like being in the fittings. I'm not sure
it's always meant to manipulate. Sometimes you just get it wrong.
Like you can get a tech paccent back and you're
signing off and we've had pants come in that are
whole sized wrong and we're like, and it's can't do
anything about it, and it would look like manipulation, but
it's not.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
We've made a mistake.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
But we need to sell it like.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
And this is certainly it's just like it can be assake, insistence, resistency.
Speaker 5 (30:31):
There's no universal sizing so in terms of measurement. So
I think it's just different brands, and brands just have
a duty to give as much information as they can. Yeah,
or you just come in store and get styled and fun.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
The last time I was there, I bought yeah love
for my a girlfriend for a president. But it was
just so nice seeing the faces that you see on
social media.
Speaker 4 (30:55):
Yes, lots of fun.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
Can we come in you can style?
Speaker 4 (30:58):
Yes, that was so much fun.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
I'm committing nowselves accountable.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Like you said at the start of the episode when
the Jazz ships hops in, Yeah, oh my god, yes,
in a chocolates your color?
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Oh thanks. I don't know about that, but I'm very
inspired by this top that you're wearing. Yeah, take like,
take us through the outfit. Is this all from It's
all Jazz. So I'm wearing the Jazz tea in brown
size medium, lovely. I'm wearing my Killer Marth belts. Then
I'm wearing jawts, and then I'm wearing que shoes that
match my top and they're snula shoes. So are they
from your brand? So just to like, can you explain
(31:31):
what they are? Oh, she's going to hold them up.
I love when people do this.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
That is.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
It's a suede like backless mule. Yeah, and it's so
cool and I wear them every day.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
I never thought i'd be the gal that wears heels on.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Like, I have one more pressing question for you. This
is really important to me. You were wearing Bermuda shorts. Yeah,
I know they look sick on you. Okay, they look
so good. I am still I said this is to
Lee Campbell on the podcast months and months ago. I'm
not there yet, Like I can't do it, and maybe
because you're like reasonably tall.
Speaker 4 (32:03):
I just want you to know I also hated Bermuda shorts.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
What got you there? Because I can't and you wear them,
I can't do it.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Wait.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
When we first started seeing the trend, I was like,
oh my god, I hate it, like I hate it.
Speaker 6 (32:14):
And then judges want I want, and I was like,
you make them looker shorts, and I was like okay,
and like when we're first trying them on, we're getting samples,
I was like, I hate them so much.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
Have you tried them on, and now as soon as
I put them on, when we got the size the
fit right, I was like, these are the best Bermutera
shorts I've ever tried on, and now I wear them
so much.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Well, there you go, So what's your tree come on?
So like for our audience, you know that might be
like me, that is still not yeah yet, Like, how
do you like integrate that into your daily style? Is
it as simple as just throwing on a T shirt?
Like you've really for me, You've really elevated them.
Speaker 5 (32:50):
You need to wear something tight on top, in my opinion,
okay to start. You can then go oversize, but I
feel like that could be like too overwhelming to start,
So I would start with like a white singlet and.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
Add a little bells maybe yeah, like yours are nice
and stream some that have a lot of fabric and
it's but.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
Yeah, I don't like the pleating at all because it's
too much like really straight legs like pants.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
But there you go. Yeah, you have to come from
the expert. I do I need to come in store amazed.
We're going to do that. Well, thank you so much
for coming in today. That's all we have time for.
I feel like we could talk to you for hours
and hours. That's been so much fun. So thank you
for imparting all your wisdom to us today.
Speaker 4 (33:28):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
That's all we have time for today. Thank you for
listening to Nothing to Wear. Don't forget to sign up
to our Nothing to Wear newsletter. We'll put a link
to that in the show notes.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
And don't forget to watch us on YouTube and follow
us on Instagram at Nothing to Wear Pod.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
We'll be back soon. Bye bye.
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