Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the vibrant wardrobe of Sydney-based creative, Connor McWhinnie
IMAGE VIA @CONNORXEL/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“Colourful, flamboyant and reminiscent of past fashion waves.”
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 narratives behind our wardrobes, exploring how people develop their unique personal styles. 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 Sydney-based creative, Connor McWhinnie. A streetwear enthusiast, self-taught designer and “part-time Skittles imitator”, Connor is loved for his kaleidoscopic outfit homages to the ’90s and early 2000s. His wardrobe staples? Extra-wide jeans, colourful sneakers and tongue-in-cheek baby tees. Read on for his style journey.
Who are you and what do you like to wear?
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My name is Connor. I love to wear anything that embarrasses me and makes me look like a cartoon character.
What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?
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It went from Napoleon Dynamite to a JoJo Bizarre character. There was a lot of experimenting to see what I liked, hated and felt ridiculous in. Shake all that up and spit it out and you have my personal style today. Colourful, flamboyant and reminiscent of past fashion waves (’90s and 2000s fashion). With this, my confidence has grown.
Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
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I think I had my struggles with how people used to perceive me, based on what I wore. It was difficult to cope with the idea that someone could perceive my personality and character completely different from how I viewed myself – and I’d let it get to me. So, this didn’t fit me into a box particularly, but it did put more constraints on how I expressed myself.
Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
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I don’t think I do. I’m sure if I look back on certain past outfits, I would cringe. With cringing, it shows how much your style has grown and developed. Although, I’ve looked back on some of the past outfits I’ve worn and had a lot of questions… what was I going through that morning when I decided to wear an abomination of an outfit? Although, I certainly don’t regret it.
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
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I don’t know about value, but I definitely have pieces that are super rare and would go for a lot of money now. An example would be my Vetements and Champion sweatshirt. It’s super rare and you don’t see it often. So that’s probably the most expensive. For the least expensive, I would say some DIY items I made from past clothing items that my family and I don’t wear anymore.
Upcycling, if you will (even though I can’t sew to save a rat from drowning). An example would be denim strips I created from my mum’s jeans, which I… stuck on my outfits – particularly leg/arm warmers to create more depth and texture… those cost nothing.
What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
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My Vivienne Westwood necklace. It has become a central part of my brand and dress identity.
What’s in your cart at the moment?
A carton of eggs, avocado, almond milk and a can of John West tuna.
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What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
I’m not saving for anything. Sorry to be boring. If I was to save for something, it would probably be vintage Bapestas. They’re very me and I love them.
What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
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Anything that’s reminiscent of ’90s and early 2000s fashion in my wardrobe. An example of this would be my JNCO jeans that are ridiculously wide, any bright-coloured Bapestas or any sassy tank tops with provocative slogans on them.
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As far as basics go, you can’t go wrong with vintage designer items that have longevity and class, regardless of what year it is. An example of this would be my Issey Miyake bags or D&G jeans. I also love parachute pants. I think I answered that in a very roundabout way.
Who are your favourite local designers?
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Dyspnea is my favourite Australian brand. Their designs are not only gorgeous, unique and provocative, but when I walked in their show last year at AAFW, they represent a large variety of different bodies, ethnicities, gender and sizes. You can tell representation is a priority within their approach to their designs and designer ethos, and it’s the furthest thing from being tokenistic. I love this approach and as a designer, I appreciate the use of diversity in a way that is genuine, whilst doing it flawlessly.
Follow Connor for more outfits here.
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