Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Melbourne-based content creator and stylist, Annika Nielsen
INSTAGRAM VIA @WHOEVERANNIKAIS/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“If I had to pick a genre, I’d probably say my style is ‘wearable maximalist colour-blocking’.”
We know personal style is a journey (I’m looking at you, Tumblr years) and our series Hey, I Like Your Style! dives into the fashion psyche of our favourite creatives. We’re talking the good, the bad and the 2007.
While the internet has made our fashion icons feel closer than ever before, even the most effortless of outfits came from a closet with some (well-dressed) skeletons. Clickable product tags, photo archives and lives chronicled in 30-second clips just don’t tell the full story.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
These are the stories behind the wardrobes, exploring how we develop our personal style. There’s a brilliance behind the way we choose to express ourselves and at FJ, we know every outfit has a story. For this instalment of Hey, I Like Your Style!, we enter the wardrobe of Annika Neilsen.
Growing up plus-size in rural Wisconsin, Annika struggled to find clothing that didn’t make her look like a “50-year-old receptionist on casual Friday”. But when more size-inclusive options became available, she began to truly experiment with fashion, investing in colourful pieces from small, sustainable labels. Since moving to Melbourne six years ago, Annika has built a thriving career in content creation and inspired others looking for the intersection of size-inclusive and ethical fashion. Read on for her style journey.
Who are you and what do you like to wear?
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My name is Annika and I am a sustainable and size-inclusive fashion content creator and stylist. Originally from Wisconsin in the States, I moved here six years ago and never looked back! I have a very funky style that focuses on colour and fun shapes and textures.
What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?
I actually don’t think my style has been too terribly embarrassing throughout its journey – I just looked like a 50-year-old receptionist on casual Friday! My style in high school (we didn’t have school uniforms in America) wasn’t the typical Aeropostale and American Eagle layered polos, because they didn’t have my size.
I can laugh about that now but even through uni, I didn’t have options for a lot of the trends. I did love colourful skinny jeans, peplum tops and statement necklaces! I think my confidence came when I started having more options to buy things. I slowly traded my oversized sweaters for more fitted pieces, crop tops became available and I started wearing more colour instead of black.
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It’s hard to imagine for someone who has never been plus-size, but I never had the same experience of going out shopping with friends as my thin friends. I would have to watch as they tried on every piece and I got to browse through the jewellery, handbags and shoes. Especially in rural Wisconsin, we didn’t have many stores that had inclusive options – whatever we did have was geared towards a much more conservative crowd.
When I moved to Australia, I started to value investing in key pieces from smaller brands. These pieces were usually a bit more unique than what you would find in the shops. I found my favourite op shops and finally was able to truly experiment with clothing.
If I had to pick a genre, I’d probably say my style is ‘wearable maximalist colour-blocking’. I think I am currently going through a bit of a style change. None of my colourful blazers are speaking to me and I find myself now focusing on unique colour combos, interesting shapes and uncommon textures and fabric combinations.
Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
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I don’t think I put myself into a box, but brands certainly did. I grew up plus-size, and cute clothes in bigger sizes simply didn’t exist when I was in high school. Shein and FashionNova were only available when I was in uni – and before any judgment comes my way, remember we only had fast fashion or butterfly mumus available to us!
… My style throughout my teens and early twenties consisted of leggings, oversized sweaters, and band tees. We didn’t have any stylish role models and anything that was on trend didn’t fit me. But it’s not all doom and gloom! Although there is a long way to go, inclusive options (that aren’t fast fashion) and trendy clothes have become more readily available.
Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
What a question! Honestly, I did the best with what I had, but my worst fashion blunder was wearing too many colours at once. My absolute favourite outfit in high school was this button-up micro floral knee-length dress, black leggings, bright yellow ballet flats [and] purple feather earrings… then I used to do two tones of eyeshadow (usually green and purple or orange and blue) but I wouldn’t blend them. It was just half and half. How shocking.
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
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Ooh, the least expensive is actually a lace wide-leg pant and vest combination that I made with an old pair of curtains. They were from our house when we bought it, so I don’t know if that counts as being the least or most expensive! The actual most expensive thing I have is this iconic baby-pink tulle puff jacket that makes me look like a loofah, but I love it.
It is from a UK brand called Selezza, and with the exchange rate and shipping, it costs about $900 new, but I found it on Facebook Marketplace for $300. It was still a big purchase for me, but it has definitely been worth the expense!
What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
Right now, It is actually a piece I have never worn and haven’t been able to style. I know that’s ridiculous, but hear me out. My grandma sewed all of the family’s clothes (from top to bottom!) and was exceptionally talented. I have been learning how to sew to become a little closer to her.
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When I went home to America last year for her funeral, I found this orange, grey and white plaid cape that she had made in the ’60s, and I brought it home. I think it is the colour combo that is throwing me off, but having it and being able to look at it in my wardrobe reminds me of her and the talent she had.
Who or what influences your style?
I have such a beautiful group of friends I get style inspiration from… [and] I actually get a lot of colour combination inspiration from nature and architecture. I saw a red brick building, with sage green railings and blue flowers out the front and I thought it would be a really pretty combination.
What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
Everything I want is from a small business [that I] know I’ll never be able to get secondhand! There are these insane tie dresses from the American brand, Shop Berriez, that are so unique. Kai Collective in Europe makes colourful and funky staples – they have a bright orange trench that I will get my hands on one day.
What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
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I’m a big advocate for finding your ‘style equation’, which means finding out what pieces/shapes you always wear. For me, that is a wide-leg pant, a little crop top and a jacket/trench.
I usually reach for any colourful combination of this, which makes getting dressed really easy. My favourite go-to outfit is my patchwork denim pants from Sydney-based [label] Spunky Bruiser matched with a patchwork denim corset from Thrift Flip!
Who are your favourite local designers?
Australia has some insane talent and I’m so happy people are finally discovering the beauty of shopping small! My top picks have to be Erik Yvon, Sanct, Gem the Label, Patience Made, Spunky Bruiser, We Are Golden Hour, Aulieude, Variety Hour and Snake Palace.
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All of these brands have a pretty decent size range. So if any brands are reading this and wondering if you should increase your sizing, do it. I guarantee you that people of all sizes want access to cool clothing.
For more of Annika’s outfits, head here.
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