Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Melbourne-based creative Ashley Belle
image via @aaeshleyyy/instagram
as told to daisy henry
“Nothing beats the joy of telling someone, ‘Thanks, it’s thrifted’.”
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. This week, we’re taking a look inside the wardrobe of Melbourne-based partnerships manager and content creator, Ashley Belle.
Ashley is one of those people with a special knack for tracking down treasured styles secondhand. Her Miu Miu kitten heels? They were found on someone’s hard rubbish. Those Paloma Wool jeans? They’re on her wishlist, but she knows she’ll be able to find a pre-loved pair online. It’s a special talent that she’s honed over time.
One of Ashley’s favourite parts of curating a wardrobe from secondhand pieces is how it allows her to experiment with her style. “It’s given me the freedom to play around with different styles and silhouettes without breaking the bank or falling into fast fashion,” she says.
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Hey Ashley! Tell me about yourself and what you like to wear.
Oh hey! I’m a Melbourne-born and raised creative who loves clothes and is still trying to acquire a taste for coffee. If there’s one you need to know about my wardrobe it’s that it’s 90 per cent thrifted.
What has your style evolution looked like?
As someone who’s been chronically online since 2014, my fashion evolution is pretty much immortalised on the internet. While there are definitely parallels between my style back then and now, from Peter Pan collars to the more Damson Madder-esque exaggerated ones, there are also plenty of pieces I’d happily leave in the archives.
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I’ve always loved experimenting with my wardrobe and thrifting has been the perfect way to fuel this. It’s given me the freedom to play around with different styles and silhouettes without breaking the bank or falling into fast fashion. Some of my best finds have come from op shops and honestly, nothing beats the joy of telling someone, “Thanks, it’s thrifted”.
I couldn’t define my style in one word, or even a hundred. My wardrobe is far from cohesive but it’s full of pieces that bring me joy and make getting dressed each day exciting. That’s the beauty of personal style, right? It’s all about wearing what makes you happy.
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Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
Growing up on the internet has definitely influenced the pressure I’ve felt in needing to label my style and stick to that label. Trust me, the countless ‘What aesthetic are you?’ quizzes from my Tumblr days didn’t help! Back then, I felt this constant need to fit neatly into a category, whether it was clean girl, gorp-core, ballet-core or something else entirely. There was this underlying belief that if I didn’t commit to one defined aesthetic, my style somehow wouldn’t feel valid or legitimate.
Thrifting and secondhand shopping have played a huge role in helping me move past that pressure. It broadened my fashion horizons, so to speak. Unlike shopping in a curated retail store that’s often pushing a single look or trend, thrifting isn’t tied to any specific era or style. You can find anything and everything from vintage slip dresses to oversized blazers all in one place. The variety is pretty much endless and it’s not bound by the rules of what’s currently ‘in’.
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What I’ve learned over time is that fashion is incredibly fluid. Your style doesn’t need to fit in a box and it’s okay for it to change over time – or even day to day. I focus less on defining my aesthetic and more on wearing what makes me feel good because fashion should be fun!
Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
How much time do you have?! I’ve definitely made my fair share of questionable fashion choices along the way. Looking back, the outfits I’d rather keep in the archives are the ones pieced together purely based on micro-trends at the time. It’ll never again see the light of day but there is photographic evidence of me wearing that corset top.
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
The most expensive piece in my wardrobe is a fairly recent purchase. After landing a dream collaboration, I decided to treat myself and commemorate the milestone by splurging on a wishlist item: a butter-yellow Ganni bucket bag. It’s the perfect shade of yellow and I’ve already gotten so much wear out of it.
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My least expensive item was actually completely free and I can’t take any credit for how it ended up in my wardrobe. My gorgeous friend (and fellow thrifting expert), Tal, once found a pair of vintage Miu Miu kitten heels sitting out in the hard rubbish, and of course, she couldn’t leave them behind. Unfortunately, they were too small for her, but luckily for me, they fit perfectly. I treasure these shoes and knowing they didn’t cost a cent means I feel less pressure to save them for special occasions. These shoes have seen their fair share of sticky carpets and survived.
What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
While not heavy in my rotation, I feel incredibly lucky to own a small wardrobe of handmade clothing crafted by my mum when she was around my age. One of my most loved pieces is a black satin slip skirt with a small lace trim that’s reserved for special occasions. There’s something so special about wearing something she created and breathing new life into it.
Can I also say my official Eras Tour t-shirt? That’s up there too.
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Who or what influences your style?
If it isn’t obvious by now, I’m pretty chronically online, so a lot of my style inspiration comes from social media. But I’m also an avid people-watcher and find a lot of inspiration from observing what others around me are wearing. I have a list saved in my Notes app of outfit formulas I’ve seen people rocking out and about that I want to recreate with my own wardrobe.
What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
I’m not usually the type to save up for wishlist items (that Ganni bag being the exception), as I tend to shop secondhand. So I always keep an eye on Depop and Facebook Marketplace for those dream finds.
In saying that, I have been eyeing off a pair of studded jeans from Paloma Wool. As soon as I spot them on Depop, they’re coming home with me.
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What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
I’m an unashamed outfit repeater so this could take a while! But if I had to narrow it down, it would be my go-to Uniqlo baby tees. At this point, I own about 10 in the exact same colour and size (proudly, six of them were thrifted finds) and I wear them at least two or three times a week.
Who are your favourite local designers?
I recently made my first purchase from Katharina Lou during her Melbourne pop-up sale and I’m already eyeing off a second piece. I think knowing their pieces are crafted from deadstock fabrics that are being repurposed, instead of ending up in landfills, makes their pieces feel even more special and even a little one-of-a-kind.
I also have to shout out Après Studio, Kowtow (from across the pond), Elsie Jewellery, Chulle and Variety Hour to name a few.
Keep up with Ashley here.
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