Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of New Zealand designer and artist, Kristine Crabb
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLE BRANNEN
WORDS BY CAIT EMMA BURKE
“I’m really driven by thoughts, feelings and practicality when it comes to my style and making clothes.”
We know personal style is a journey (I’m looking at you, Tumblr years), so 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.
This week, we’re taking a step inside the wardrobe of Kristine Crabb, a New Zealand-based designer and artist. The designer and founder behind Gloria (and previously the much-adored Miss Crabb), Kristine is known for creating body-positive pieces that effortlessly fuse minimalist elegance with bold, gothic glamour.
She’s always had an experimental approach to her style and “a subversive way of doing things”, which explains why her designs and her approach to dressing feel so one-of-a-kind. Below, she shares what her style journey has been like so far.
Who are you and what do you like to wear?
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Hello, my name is Kristine Crabb. I’m an artist and designer making clothes and imagery. For the last few years, my preference has been for beautiful intimates and a kind of simple way of wearing! Stuff that I can be active in (yoga, running etc) and also feel hot and put-together in. I’ve been slowly working away and testing my own pieces also.
What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?
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Yes! So much. While I was having my three children I needed quite fluid pieces for my changing body and dynamic role as a mom and creative director. I wanted my clothes to feel beautiful and practical.. these days as my kids are older, life feels more manageable in some ways and I’ve found I want to wear refined, closer fitting clothes, and really easy, care-easy wear. To me, that feels glamorous and chic.
Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
Never! Quite the opposite. I’ve always had a bit of a subversive way of doing things. My evolution is probably to refine more and fly the flag for my own unique personal style! My work has always been body-positive, enduring and classic and can transform and transcend moods and constructs.
Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
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I wouldn’t say I regret [but I] definitely cringe. I’ve been pretty experimental with bold style over the years. My hair turned curly around 13 – the most painful stage – so it was just an embarrassing frizzy mop for a time. I discovered leaving in the conditioner, which I still do, which moisturises the curls. It’s my hair care regime for the whole week so it’s pretty low maintenance!
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
I bought some knee-high Margiela boots and Vivienne Westwood boots in 2006 from the London boutiques. I remember thinking it was a little over the top but I still have them almost 20 years later and have worn them throughout the years. They have given me the most pleasure to wear and to covet.
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Least expensive? Ooh, that is hard. I tend to invest in quality pieces that I have for a really long time! I have been borrowing my 16-year-old’s little stretch tops occasionally, which has been kinda inspiring. It’s fast fashion, of course, so a little hard to get my head around but I love the idea of wearing other brands/clothes.
What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
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I look back on my archive of work and have my favourite pieces which are like artworks from the time they were made. They harbour the energies from that time in my life. They are special to me as they supported my family over the years they were in production and I still feel like they are relevant in a contemporary sense.
I’ve always wanted to create pieces that transcend time. Styles like Witches, Summertime, World Record, Dreams Top Rock, Paris Texas are all such hard-working styles, and still so contemporary and beautiful to me.
Who or what influences your style?
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I’m really driven by thoughts, feelings and practicality when it comes to my style and making clothes. I want to feel empowered and very much myself when I get dressed and I need a sense of simplicity and effortlessness and also kinda dynamic and flow. I’m technically driven – I make all of our blocks for our styles and refine the samples so that there is an heirloom quality to everything we make.
What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
I really would love the Saint Laurent Diamond Sunglasses.
What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
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My tights/catsuit combos, knee-high boots or mules worn with either our new Suiting blazer or iconic Modern Times coat (as it’s winter here in Aotearoa).
Who are your favourite local designers?
I love Underlena for all my favourite handmade smalls, sourced from around the world. I also love Otsu, [it has] a beautiful dream-like approach to making clothes, and I’ve been a long-time admirer of Penny Sage [for its] playful minimalism and stunning colours and textures.
For more of Kristine’s outfits, head here.
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