7 Australian creatives style their clothing ‘incorrectly’
Photography by Magnolia Minton Sparke
WORDS BY RUBY STALEY
“You can really create a whole world with your clothes if you’re down to try new things.”
There should be no right or wrong when it comes to fashion, but there are often societal expectations placed on how garments should be worn. Skirts are for the bottom half, scarves are for around the neck and bras are for under the shirt. But, it doesn’t have to be this way; all it takes is a little bit of imagination.
Restyling your much-loved pieces and pushing against the original constraints of a piece of clothing can be as easy as tying, wrapping, zipping or flipping it in a way that was not initially intended by the designer.
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Doing this and viewing clothing simply as pieces of fabric essentially strips it of all binary meaning. Better yet, ignoring the restrictions placed on garments means they can be worn more frequently, minimising the need to buy new things. Rewearing what you already own in different ways not only has the potential to up your sustainable fashion game but it also helps to degender fashion.
Currently, I’m trying to re-train my brain to see clothing beyond the binary and re-appropriate some of my favourite pieces in ways they weren’t originally intended. For me, this looks like transforming a black dress into ten different types of garments, turning a pair of tights into a top, a scarf into a halter top, a boob tube into a skirt and a pair of bikini bottoms into a belt.
To help convince you of your existing wardrobe’s potential for endless styling, I enlisted some of my favourite creatives and stylists to show you how they like to re-appropriate a piece of clothing at their disposal.
Jess Seeto, she/her, model
I have been loving how boleros have been hitting the scene recently, ‘cause it’s such a fun way to add different colours and textures to your outfit! I saw on TikTok someone using their jeans as a bolero, and it immediately made me want to try it with these amazing cargo pants I have. The wide legs made the perfect sleeves for this look, and not only does the vest match the green khaki perfectly, but it also hides all the bunching around my shoulders where extra material gathered.
To top it all off, the waistband fit perfectly around my neck for the coolest choker moment, and I tied the drawstrings into a little bow as a final touch. I also have been obsessed with using leg warmers as sleeves to add another cool layering piece. It’s the perfect Melbourne spring getup with a cute little mini skirt underneath, sunnies and earmuffs to complete the look!
Meg Wilcher, she/her, designer and founder of Après Studio
These are a sample pair of my recycled stockings. I decided to cut the toes out and a hole in the crotch so I could wear it as a top. It’s now become my go-to layer one for any ’fits that require a black-coloured bottom or some blue denim too. I like reworking existing pieces, just because I’m sick of wearing them in the prescribed way, doesn’t mean they don’t still have plenty of life left to give. If I have a spare 10 mins here or there, I love being playful with my outfit choices. It’s really fun to be able to dress with my mood.
Minimal effort, maximum effect. No ironing, no fuss, no bra, no thoughts required – just [a] big slay. I love reimagining things and the ways we can use or reuse them. This mentality might stop you in your tracks when you’re about to purchase another non-essential wardrobe (or in this case top drawer) dust collector.
Humza Syed, he/him, content creator
I remember going to the thrift store with the intent of getting out of my comfort zone. At the time, I was looking for dresses and I found this beautiful floral piece that fit me perfectly. When I was styling the dress, I really wanted to mess with people’s brains and wear it in a way that would seem odd, so I tucked the dress into my red pants, and it ended up looking like a shirt…
Styling pieces in unconventional ways has always been so amusing because I see fashion as art. There are no rules to fashion. It’s an expression of one’s being so everyone can be unique in their own way… I love finding new ways to style clothes because I just want to inspire others and show them that it’s okay to wear things differently. It’s okay to be expressive and be yourself.
Cat Gu, she/her, freelance stylist and student
Photography by Magnolia Minton Sparke
She woke up and chose a scarf as a halter top… Dressing garments in non-traditional ways is how we play dress-up and come up with new silhouettes and patterns. Scarfs are a favourite piece in my wardrobe to add colour and to keep my neck warm on cold Sydney mornings. I definitely felt very at home playing with different ways I could transform this fluffy fabric into a wearable top that still rocked with a skirt.
Sydney is becoming more accustomed to interesting and unique designs in ready-to-wear clothing – it’s an exciting direction to not have fabrics limited to certain uses if they don’t have to be. Also big shoutout to my friend Maggie for capturing this outfit in all its beauty.
Jude Millis, they/them, artist and designer
To create my look, I sewed five pairs of lace dead-stock undies to create a tiered body con dress. I accessorized with a Maroske Peech Demi belt, and a micro mini skirt. I loved creating a look that plays with layering and pre existing ideas of dress. A lot of what I do is experimental and intentionally playful. I use my practice as a method to take the pressure off the body and express my inner worlds.
Alongside my fashion practice I have a tattoo practice, that means the two often influence each other and create new relationships between garment and body. I use secondhand fabrics I source from charity shops to up-cycle into expressive, fun, versatile garments. I choose to use second hand materials to create “new” life with its new owner. I believe fashion and fashion making should be enjoyed by everyone. Every garment is one of a kind and made with love. Garments deserve interesting lives, let the underwear be outerwear for a day!
Rory Giezekamp, he/they, artist
For my look, I have styled Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp’s Strawberry Yummy Mummy Tracksuit Pants as hair extensions. Drawing inspiration from Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp’s Butterfly Pea Flower Tea collection, my friends helped me weave lace, ribbon, keyrings and charms into the pants to bring them to life! I think it’s extremely important to push the boundaries of garments when styling as it unlocks a realm of fantasy.
In this outfit, I felt like an intricate porcelain doll misplaced in Barbie’s Dreamhouse. You can really create a whole world with your clothes if you’re down to try new things; I don’t think there is such a thing as wearing something ‘wrong’.
For more on reappropriating clothing, try this.
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