Hey, I Like Your Style! Exploring the wardrobe of Melbourne ballet dancer and model, Carol Green
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY SHORT
HAIR AND MAKEUP BY DEIDRE JANSZ
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“Living in London for 20 years at the rise of the punk scene, I’m a bit of a product of that time.”
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-based ballet dancer and model, Carol Green.
With her career as a ballet dancer beginning at just five years old, Carol has spent her life travelling the globe. As “a bit of a product” of the London punk scene, she’s always enjoyed experimenting with her personal style. And after falling into the Melbourne modelling scene at the age of 60, Carol is “constantly keeping my eye out” for emerging designers. Read on for her style journey.
Who are you and what do you like to wear?
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My name is Carol Green, I’ve been dancing on TV since I was five and was a ballerina with the Australian Ballet. I’ve been the white swan, the black swan, the Brunswick swan and the Ukrainian swan. I am now signed with Chadwick Models.
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I like to experiment with different styles and follow my intuition. I’m constantly keeping my eye out for new and emerging designers, and am always deriving my inspiration from others around me.
What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?
I like to take a risk – exploring fashion and my own limits. Living in London for 20 years at the rise of the punk scene, I’m a bit of a product of that time. Leaving home at 18, my style has been moulded from travelling the globe.
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As a teenager growing up in the CBD, I was always window shopping – shopping in House of Merivale and Mr John, the shop of the time, I’d never seen clothes like that before. That’s where I began my journey [in] gaining confidence in my style and fashion choices.
Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
No, I never tried to fit in. I was always seeking something different because that’s what was exciting to me. I don’t follow anyone else’s fashion trends although I am inspired, as I’m always seeking inspiration to push the boundaries. I believe clothes should bring out the best in you. Items that make you feel happy and have fun are all that’s needed.
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Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
There was a time in Dublin that my mum and I bought matching jumpers in different colours. While not regrettable as such, maybe a little bit cringe. I look back on this memory with fondness and I still have my mum’s jumper.
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
The least expensive item in my wardrobe was free, which is my beautiful leather dress made by my dear friend Lachlan Koren.
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My most expensive item, however, is my beloved Versace bag with its big safety pin on the front that I’ve been using for 10 years now… I still love it as much as the first day I saw it!
What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
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Before the war in Ukraine started, I bought this beautiful bejewelled collar-type necklace from a stunning Ukrainian designer Maryna. This piece is very near and dear to my heart, especially now as I try to help Ukraine and its people in any way I can.
What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
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Anything from Dion Lee. Specifically, a leather dress that I saw on the runway at New York Fashion Week. I had to stop and take a deep breath when I first saw it. I am always asking if it’s in store yet.
What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
Coats, coats, and more coats! You can never have enough coats, so go buy the coat! I just love the feeling of wrapping up in a coat. Living in Melbourne, it’s quite easy to use one almost every day. Coats make me feel warm, safe, and cozy.
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Who are your favourite local designers?
I have a very long, ever-growing list, as I love buying local Melbourne designers – especially students. Currently on my radar are Posture Studios, who I modelled for in Melbourne Fashion Week 2022 as their black swan, Chantelle Lucyl, whose poodle top I am wearing in the images taken by Emily Short for this article, and anything from Error 404, which is a whole shop dedicated to up-and-coming designers.
For more of Carol’s outfits, head here.
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