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Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Sydney-based designer and model, Vicky Chung

Photography by Joe Brennan

Words by Kate Streader

“I’m still exploring my style, but I would say that I definitely feel more confident than ever.”

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 taking a step inside the wardrobe of Sydney-based model and multidisciplinary designer, Vicky Chung. Having grown up modelling her style off how her parents dressed and stealing her brother’s clothes, Vicky’s style evolution really began when she started working in the fashion industry.

Constantly inspired by the people she works with, Vicky’s style became more adventurous and experimental as she became exposed to creatives in her industry. And while she loves to play with textures and shapes, she’ll always love a good pair of pants and some Tabis.

Who are you and what do you like to wear?

 

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Hello! My name is Vicky (sometimes Vic). I wear many hats: designer, model, and tiramisu enthusiast. I’m drawn to pieces with fun textures or silhouettes, I wear a lot of blacks – although I don’t intend to. I love pants, it’s what I feel the most comfortable in.

What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress? 

My style evolution was a rollercoaster. A lot of my fashion influences growing up were from my parents. My mum would have this effortless Jane Birkin energy with her camisoles, low-waisted jeans, kitten heels, and long hair. My dad would be in his bootcut jeans, a button-up tucked in, and some amazing pair of leather boots. So little me was very stylish, dressed in pink and blue polka dot pants, tanks, tiny sunnies, and platform sandals most of the time.

Moving to Australia, movies like The Devil Wears Prada and indie rock bands (a strange combo, I know) became huge influences. Like Devon Aoki, the first Asian actress that I identified with from watching DOA: Dead or Alive, I’ve always wanted to be cool like her and wear crop tops and low-waisted jeans and kick butt. But I don’t think my Asian parents would’ve allowed it. So I opted for a more baggy tee and jeans vibe. I don’t think I knew what my style was at the time.

Now, being in a creative industry and being surrounded by so many fashionable people inspires me to be more expressive and experimental with my clothing. Nowadays, it’s secondhand and vintage designer pieces, fun textures like Issey Miyake Pleats Please and mohair jumpers, tops that can be tied in many ways, and a new love for tabis. I’m still exploring my style, but I would say that I definitely feel more confident than ever.

Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box? 

 

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With so many trends going around growing up, it was definitely tempting to follow them. Often when I would wear pieces I bought just to follow the trends, it wouldn’t feel right, it’s not me. I would say now that I am very comfortable in my style and choose to wear pieces that I love and have collected over the years. It feels more special that way.

Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets? 

Going thrifting with my friends after school and on the weekends were the highlights of my teenage years. Thrifting by the kilo where we would have to dig through buckets of clothes and take home giant bags of it. That was so much fun! I would say the majority of the clothes that I wore were ‘vintage’ – I say vintage because that makes it sound way cooler but in reality, it was just oversized denim jackets, wide-leg jeans, and anything funky I could find.

I was also rocking a lot of my brother’s hand-me-downs, those ‘vintage’ sports branded tees that were obviously too big for me and his cargo pants that were also way too big for me. I wouldn’t say I regret any of it but it’s interesting reflecting on it now because I wore a lot of other people’s clothes and none of those fit me.

What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe? 

 

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The most expensive item is my black leather Mary Jane Tabis, I live for them. The least expensive would be a leather jacket I got for $5 at the local Salvos.

What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own? 

I’ve never owned any designer pieces until my orange suede Loewe bag that I thrifted in Japan for 4771 Yen (around $50). I felt like the luckiest girl that day. Buying that bag, in a way, was my awakening into a new world of fashion and I never looked back.

What’s in your cart at the moment? 

A bottle bag. I know I know, why would I need a bag just for my bottle? Essentially, I drink a lot of water and move around a lot and these customisable bags from local designer Amihan Aquilizan are just so adorable!

What fashion piece are you saving for right now?

 

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I’ve had this Y’s Dumpling Bag on my wishlist for a very long time and the Ssense sale happened (it really gets ya) and I also got it as a cheeky birthday gift to myself. I’m actually in need of a belt so maybe that’ll be next on the list. I’m torn between an Ann Demeulemeester black belt and a Maison Margiela belt, but they’re both quite pricey. I would love a statement belt but am not having much luck finding one, so I think I’ll just have to be more patient.

What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat? 

I wear my straight-legged Toteme jeans to death. I also recently bought a pair of Maison Margiela tailored trousers which turned out to be way too long and need to be taken to the tailor. For now, I’ve managed to do a quick at home-alteration and have been wearing them almost every day since I got them.

Who are your favourite local designers? 

 

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It is so inspiring to be surrounded by such talented creatives and designers. My friend Marlie from Vincent Jewellery in Melbourne makes amazing handmade pieces out of recycled and mindfully-sourced materials. Brands like Phoebe Culter Jewellery whose pieces are so fun. All Is A Gentle Spring, Speed, and Pach Project all have beautifully crafted pieces.

Some non-Australian smaller brands (shipping to Australia) are Nhỏ Girl, (nhỏ meaning small in Vietnamese, I’m Vietnamese and I’m a small girl, so this brand means a lot to me) based in Amsterdam with a fab collection of rare vintage and designer pieces. Lolo Crochète, [is] based in Montreal for your winter accessories. Wixii for your classics and Evade House for your unique pieces.

See more of Vicky’s killer looks here.

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