Hey, I Like Your Style! Exploring the wardrobe of curve model and creative Kiara DeSimoni
IMAGE VIA @KIARADESIMONI/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY ELLY SHINKFIELD
“Societal standards of dressing only hold value if we give them value… I walk around in whatever I want and I feel good.”
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 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.
For this instalment of Hey, I Like Your Style!, we enter the wardrobe of the Melbourne-based curve model, Kiara DeSimoni. As a creative, Kiara finds fashion empowering and isn’t afraid to be the fashion representation she was missing in her teenage years. Keeping a small wardrobe of sustainably made slow fashion pieces, she “has no other option than to be creative.” Read on to find out about Kiara’s style influences, wardrobe staples and her style journey so far.
Who are you and what do you like to wear?
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I’m Kiara DeSimoni, a curve model and creative based in Melbourne. My perfect outfit consists of an elevated basic top paired with some mid-rise bottoms or skirt-over-pants combo, a sexy vintage bag and my favourite Diesel sneakers or boots. I love to be comfortable and typically stick to more neutral tones when dressing!
What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?
My style has significantly evolved over the years, from being an insecure teenager to coming into my own and being surrounded by fashion. The biggest thing for me has been the shift I made in my purchasing by choosing to only buy sustainable, slow fashion, as well as shopping more consciously.
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In high school, I would spend so much money on random things that didn’t bring me joy, and that I bought to fit in. Now my style is so distinct and cohesive… I feel as though I am always finding new and interesting ways to wear my pieces! I find that when you stop purchasing as many clothes, your brain has no other option than to be creative. You come up with some cool things this way.
My confidence has skyrocketed, especially in how I carry myself. Being curvy is tough, and dressing yourself when you’re curvy is even harder. Taking the leap and allowing myself to step outside the box and make things work for me, [it] shifted my whole perspective on myself and fashion. My style now feels so personal and special to me, rather than focused on what other people think or are doing.
Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
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Growing up as a bigger girl, fashion was daunting. I was always so intrigued by clothing but never felt like I could wear what I truly wanted. I would constantly dress up my mum and I adored it. It was weird, I felt like I would always use clothes to hide my body, not bring attention to it. It wasn’t until I graduated high school and moved to Melbourne to study fashion that I truly embraced being a curvy woman.
There are always unsaid fashion boundaries when you’re a curvy woman. You have to wear ‘flattering’ clothing that hides your stomach and ‘no-no areas’ – no crop tops, loose-fitting clothing only. God forbid you want to wear white or low-rise pants… now fashion makes me feel powerful, and I use it to my advantage.
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Being able to be that representation to other curvy women who might be afraid like I was (through my modelling and TikTok) is truly refreshing. Societal standards of dressing only hold value if we give them value. The way you glow when you’re wearing something that truly feels like you is inspiring and shines outwardly. Now, I walk around in whatever I want and I feel good.
Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
I don’t have many fashion regrets. I guess I was very young and easily influenced, however, something I do regret was always forcing myself to wear smaller-sized items. I did this all because I was too shy and embarrassed to buy my proper size. It was so ill-fitting and uncomfortable.
@kiaradesimonimy d&g corset fits me again: prepare to be SICK of me♬ master of none – ﹡
Note to readers: your clothing size does not mean anything or define you! Also, I wore some pretty horrendous fast fashion pieces and followed micro-trends I didn’t love… not my finest moment but it’s crazy to look back and see how much I’ve grown.
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
One of the most expensive items in my wardrobe is my beloved vintage Dolce & Gabbana denim corset. It was $200 from Goodbyes and I cherish it with my whole heart.
@kiaradesimoni friday night fit check @OATS THE LABEL #melbourne #fashion #fitcheck ♬ original sound – mor ❥
Honestly, I source a lot of my clothing from op shops, so the cheapest item in my wardrobe is undetermined. Some of my favourite secondhand items are my vintage black lace tops from Ganni and Guess or my vintage Just Cavalli leopard top. All three of these items were under $10.
What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
My most meaningful item would be my vintage Biba fur coat. I bought it at a vintage market in Rome with my mum. I will never get rid of this coat. It’s unbelievably soft and reminds me of such a beautiful trip with my favourite person.
Who or what influences your style?
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My style influences have shifted over the years, but I believe I am most influenced by ’90s fashion and gain a lot of inspiration from films, music and celebrities. Something that I have done since moving to Melbourne is pick up on aspects of people’s outfits that I like or am interested in when I’m out and about. Then I’ll take a mental note, go home and make it work on me with what I have. This is fun and allows you to take inspiration from real life.
What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
I am not currently saving for anything special, however, I am waiting for an item I purchased on preorder to be delivered and that is my Briar Will Denim Tracksuits Pants. This was a splurge purchase but I love statement comfy pants and supporting Melbourne-based small businesses, so naturally, I can’t wait.
What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
@kiaradesimonideeply unflattering angle but heres to 21 !!!!🍰🤭♬ original sound – Dani3l3
My friends can attest to this… I wear my Karlaidlaw Spider Pants in Black on repeat. I live in them, they’re so comfortable and of amazing quality. Otherwise, I am always wearing my Diesel vintage sneakers or my black Sexiaz Lingerie ruched top (this top is a game changer and I am convinced it looks amazing on everybody).
When it’s cooler weather, I always throw on my vintage black bomber from Retro Star, it is heavenly and made of silk! These are staples in my wardrobe and I will wear them religiously until they fall apart.
Who are your favourite local designers?
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I have so many… some that immediately come to mind would have to be Karlaidlaw, Oats the Label, Ka-He, Briar Will and Sexiaz Lingerie. Beautiful brands run by beautiful people.
For more of Kiara’s outfits, head here.
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