Hey, I Like Your Style! Anita Suster on how living abroad has shaped her style
image via @anitasuster/INSTAGRAM
as told to daisy henry
“That tension between put-together and undone is what keeps style interesting to me.”
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.
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 look inside the wardrobe of Melbourne-based writer and creative, Anita Suster.
Growing up, Anita’s personal style was largely determined by the dresses her mum had sewn for her. That, and the ever-present male gaze, had a huge impact on her wardrobe. “My teens were when I first felt the friction between how I wanted to dress, what my culture expected of me and the desire to be seen as ‘hot’ by the boys around me,” she says.
It wasn’t until she moved abroad at 19 that Anita let go of this pressure and started treating her style as fluid, ever-changing and dictated by her mood. “With a limited budget, I learned to shop with intention, drawn more to whatever I found interesting than to labels,” she tells me.
Now, after 10 years living in Europe, her wardrobe is 90 per cent secondhand and inspired by the world around her. Unafraid to outfit repeat, Anita finds herself reaching for her thrifted bootleg jeans utility pants (that turn into shorts) and a pleated skirt. “The top half is normally where I experiment. I love practicality mixed with layers.”
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Fashion Journal: Who are you and what do you like to wear?
Anita: Hi FJ, I’m Anita. I’ve just moved back to Naarm after nearly ten years living in Europe (wowza, what even is time?). I’m a creative in a few different forms: I write, make content, build ceramics and sing made-up songs to my nieces and nephews (arguably some of my best work). My style is intuitive and 90 per cent secondhand. I go for pieces that feel good on and reflect where I’m at – I don’t stick to one look, I love when something makes me pause and think ‘ooh, this could be me’.
What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?
My style growing up was a world of contrasts, and my cultural roots, the male gaze and pop culture played a huge role. As a pre-teen, I oscillated between whatever my mum had sewn for me (typically frilly, velour dresses) and my love for anything sparkly, shiny and remotely resembling Lizzie-McGuire-meets-Adidas. It was a gorgeous, wholesome era.
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My teens were when I first felt the friction between how I wanted to dress, what my culture expected of me and the desire to be seen as ‘hot’ by the boys around me. I grew up in Melbourne’s western suburbs in a tight-knit Yugoslav-Slovak community, where class and culture shaped everything – from life plans to dress codes. Every girl’s outfit often drew judgement from our no-filter Slavic aunties, like a live episode of Project Runway but the judging panel was all blunt Eastern European women.
As I waded into my Tumblr-hipster era – think bowler hats, band tees, and hiking boots – I was also experimenting with American Apparel leggings, a denim corset, push-up bra and knock-off Jeffrey Campbell stilettos. A chaotic mix but each piece said something I wasn’t yet able to.
I began compartmentalising my style, shifting how I dressed depending on the scene or who I was around. It wasn’t until I moved abroad at 19 that I found the confidence to wear clothes that reflected all the multi-faceted parts of me. Fast-forward to now, my style isn’t about pleasing anyone. I’ve let go of the pressure to stick to a single look and started to embrace the fact that I dress to my mood. I like to think of personal style as something fluid – always evolving with where we’re at.
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How has living nomadically changed your relationship with how you dress?
Travel and time spent in creative subcultures have shown me just how many ways there are to be ‘cool’. With a limited budget, I learned to shop with intention, drawn more to whatever I found interesting than to labels. I’ve always admired people who dress for themselves. One day it’s full glam with trackies, the next it’s a tulle dress and bare skin. That tension between put-together and undone is what keeps style interesting to me.
My wardrobe is mostly thrifted, anchored by a few investment pieces – boots, a winter coat and a really good bag. Living simply has made versatility essential. I look for pieces I can repeat, rework and make my own.
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How does your social circle influence your style?
In every way. I’m surrounded by a beautifully mixed group of people who don’t subscribe to one aesthetic – most are arty at heart, even if they don’t work in creative fields. What unites us is a shared love of play and experimentation when it comes to style. We’re all obsessed with thrifting and DIY-ing. If one of us sees something that reminds someone of the other, we’ll grab it. It’s one of my favourite love languages.
What’s are the most meaningful items in your wardrobe?
A silk, blue pantsuit that my mum made me for my 21st. It’s very ABBA. Also, a T-shirt with my portrait on it, drawn by my genius friend and artist, Hugo Béhérégaray.
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What have you learnt about clothes while working in fashion?
It’s taught me the importance of quality cuts and fabrics and how a higher price tag doesn’t always mean it’s better. I’ve seen ‘hype’ brands sell a simple wrap skirt for $450 but it’s made from plain viscose with a super simple silhouette. Don’t be fooled by branding and trends. Educate yourself on what quality production looks like, so you can make better investments when you do choose to spend more. Also, do not think there’s something wrong with you if the clothes don’t sit right. It’s the clothes, not you
Who or what influences your style?
Shopping secondhand forces you to choose what actually speaks to you, not what’s trending. Whenever someone says, “Anitaaaa, I don’t know what my style is, help!” I tell them to walk into a second-hand store and follow their gut. Touch things. Try things on. Notice what textures, cuts, or colours feel good to you. Who cares if it doesn’t fit someone else’s version of ‘cool’? If you think it’s cool, it’s cool.
My other influences are the world around me, my gorgeous friends, music, people watching, art, the internet, film, travel, different eras and Slavic folklore. I also love looking at street style from around the world. New York, South Korea, Denmark and Paris are my favourites.
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What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
Oh, I’m a shameless outfit repeater. I have a pair of thrifted bootleg jeans, utility pants (that turn into shorts) and a pleated circle skirt that I wear on rotation as a base. The top half is normally where I experiment. I love practicality mixed with layers.
Who are your favourite local designers?
Great question. So many make my heart pop. There is Matea Gluščević, Emily Watson, Par Moi, and Arthur Apparel.
Who are your top 3 style icons online?
Ooooh! Definitely Mira Al-Momani, Jo Rosenthal and Jessica Blair.
Keep up with Anita here.
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