Hey, I Like Your Style! Exploring the wardrobe of Melbourne model, Brendon Mayanja
PHOTOGRAPHY BY @IGOTSHOTBYCHARLIE
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“My style evolution was directly correlated to my growth and self-acceptance as a queer person.”
We know personal style is a journey (I’m looking at you, Tumblr years), so we’ve introduced a new series Hey, I Like Your Style!, diving 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 own personal style. There’s a brilliance behind the way we choose to express ourselves and at FJ, we know every outfit has a story.
This week, we’re delving into the personal style journey of Melbourne model and creative, Brendon (aka Brie) Mayanja. As a queer person, Brie’s style journey has been closely linked with their own feelings of self-acceptance and identity. Growing up, their outfits were often an attempt to present more masculine – but these days, Brie understands the beauty of putting together a “sickening look”. Read on for their style journey.
Who are you and what do you like to wear?
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Hey! My name is Brendon Mayanja but most commonly known as Brie (yes, your favourite cheese). I’m an up-and-coming model on a steady rise to the top.
I like to wear a variety of different things, I’ve found that the beauty of fashion is being able to put together the most random items to make a sickening look. If I was to give one straightforward answer, however, I’d say anything you can see my torso in. That or anything tight and asymmetric.
What has your style evolution looked like?
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So looking back at how I used to dress in the past… I’ve found my style evolution was directly correlated to my growth and self-acceptance as a queer person. Being comfortable with myself and my identity allowed for the confidence to express it externally as well. Understanding what was going on in my head was the first step to manifesting that person in the real world.
That being said, my style when I was younger was very, very awkward. A lot of baggy T-shirts and hoodies in an attempt to present more masculine. I even wore three-quarter jeans – if you don’t know what those are, consider yourself lucky. In all honesty, the more confident I got, the less I would wear. Now we’re at the stage where a mini skirt and crop top are my go-to items of clothing.
Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
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Not so much when I was younger, I was too concerned with trying to blend in. In recent times, it has changed quite a bit. There isn’t necessarily a box to be filled, more so it’s an expectation.
An expectation to always look your best – which by no means is an experience that only I have. Subconsciously living up to those expectations can be draining, but I try my best to just give what I’m feeling. How I dress is a reflection of my mood at all times.
Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
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Oh, I have too many to mention in one answer. However, the two that grind my gears the most are flannels and fake prescription Ray-Ban glasses.
When I tell you I never left the house without my flannel tied around my waist and my ‘reading’ glasses… too tragic. I regret them now but I do appreciate the moment for what it was. It may be cringy, but it was definitely on-trend at the time!
What are the most expensive and least expensive items you own?
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Right now the most expensive item I own is my Burberry Canvas TB Bag, [but] in all fairness I did get a great discount on it. My least expensive item would have to be a flannel (ironically) that I thrifted for like two dollars.
What is the most meaningful fashion item you own?
A mustard yellow turtleneck I stole for my mom before I moved to Australia. My mom has always been a huge style inspiration for me, and the colour and fit of the turtleneck perfectly capture her fashion essence.
What’s in your cart at the moment?
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A medium black leather Vivienne Westwood handbag. It’s got silver detailing around the perimeter, smooth leather and the iconic logo in the middle. RIP to the late great, but I recently purchased two chokers from them and wasn’t obsessed with the quality. Potentially getting a bag is an attempt to re-establish my faith in the brand.
What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
I would KILL to own a Mugler bodysuit, they’re unbelievably stunning. So until I can find a kind soul to bless me with one, I have a jar on top of my bed saving ’til we get there.
What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
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One thing about me, I’m always going to be in a crop top or crop top-adjacent. When I was younger, I’d dream of all the crop top outfits I could wear but wasn’t able to. So now I make sure to wear them as much as possible to appease my inner child.
Who are your favourite local designers?
My current faves are Wackie Ju and Jules Bramley, both fashion powerhouses in their own regard. They both have such unique ways of constructing interesting pieces. They make fashion fun and creative, but still so regal and elegant. I highly recommend anyone reading this visit their respective pages.
For more of Brendon’s looks, head here.
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