Hey, I Like Your Style! Digital creator Joy Ben Hur on minimalism and outfit repeating
image via @joyishhhh/instagram
as told to daisy henry
“I try my best to focus on quality over quantity, whether its secondhand or not.”
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.
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 diving into the minimalist wardrobe of digital creator Joy Ben Hur.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
Joy’s approach to fashion is refreshingly self-assured. While working in the fashion space can mean you’re expected to keep up with fast-moving trends, she’s learned to shrug off the outside noise. “When I realised that so many trends are born out of marketing that subconsciously promises a body, look or lifestyle rather than the garment itself, I could recognise I didn’t actually want most of them.”
Whether it’s dressing for cold weather (something she’s had to adapt to since relocating from Byron Bay to Melbourne), or prioritising comfort, Joy is uncompromising. “I’ve never been someone who can suffer through being cold or push through wearing heels on a night out.” Now, her metric is how clothes make her feel, “whether that’s strong, free or even safe”, rather than just how they look.
High on her current rotation is a reliable collection of cashmere jumpers and cardigans, well-fitting jeans, a few basics from Permanent Vacation and CouCou Intimates.
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Fashion Journal: Hey Joy! Tell me about yourself and what you like to wear.
Joy: Hi! I guess I would introduce myself as an online content creator, which always feels a little ironic because most people know me as the girl who takes the last week of every month off social media. I’m also the founder of Humble Ego, my journal brand that I launched at the end of last year with the intention of encouraging people to return to pen and paper.
I do my best work when I wear things that make me feel at ease and free to move between the different hats I wear throughout the day. The older I get, the more I find my style prioritises comfort above all.
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Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
Definitely. I think being in the influencer and fashion space, it’s easy to feel like there’s an expectation to stay up to date with all the latest trends. It’s crazy that so many of us feel weird about repeating outfits when the whole point of having a personal style is choosing pieces that become an extension of you, pieces you’ll reach for again and again.
When I realised that so many trends are born out of marketing that subconsciously promises a body, look or lifestyle rather than the garment itself, I could recognise I didn’t actually want most of them. I started dressing for my own body and lifestyle, and suddenly style felt empowering rather than something I was constantly trying to keep up with.
I’ve never been someone who can suffer through being cold or push through wearing heels on a night out. Anytime I’ve worn an outfit that looks good in a picture but makes me suffer in some way, I’ve regretted it. I think that’s what led me on a journey of finding clothes that prioritise how they make me feel, whether that’s strong, free or even safe, rather than just how they look.
You’ll rarely catch me with a cute little bag that can’t fit my water bottle because I’ve learnt being dehydrated at the cost of looking cute is just not worth it for me.
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Take us back to your childhood and teenage years. Who or what was influencing your style at the time?
Being a 2000 baby, I’m so grateful that so much of my childhood and early teenage years still belonged to a time when social media’s influence was relatively tame. One of my first YouTube videos at fourteen was actually one where I recreated outfits from Friends.
To me, Rachel Green was the epitome of a ‘cool’ girl. The way she mixed business with casual, and masculine with feminine, made me fall in love with ’90s fashion. I loved seeing someone look so effortlessly feminine while wearing jeans and a baby T-shirt. I still love her style so much today.
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How has your style changed in the years since, and how would you describe it now?
When I was younger, I mainly shopped at op shops because it was fun, affordable and sustainable. At that point in my life, I didn’t really understand the importance of natural fabrics and timeless silhouettes, so even though my wardrobe was overflowing with clothes, I only truly loved and wore about 10 per cent of them. “This top I can only wear when it’s cold because it makes me sweat, this dress only works on holiday when I am tan, these pants would look good if I was taller, maybe I’ll magically grow?” You get the point.
Now, I try my best to focus on quality over quantity, whether it’s secondhand or not. My style might be more simple but it definitely feels more me.
Would you say you lean minimalist over maximalist then?
I would say my style definitely leans towards minimalism. I always admire people who do maximalism authentically but I find most of the time when I try to be extra, I feel like I’m trying to copy what other people do, rather than what naturally feels good for me.
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Where do you turn for fashion inspiration now?
I think inspiration never comes from one place, but I would say nothing hits more than going through a friend’s wardrobe and borrowing their clothes. It’s such a good way to discover unexpected pieces you love and realise what gaps you may have in your own wardrobe.
What local brands do you love wearing?
Growing up in Byron Bay, I think some of my favourite local brands are Little Yarn, St. Agni, and my merino wool Nagata pieces have really stood the test of time. Since moving to Melbourne, I’ve been loving Sabi the Label, Observe, and the basics I have from Permanent Vacation are also amongst some of my most worn pieces.
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What’s a fail-safe pairing you know always works?
As a short five-foot-four girl, I’ve really had to learn the power of tailoring. While it’s basic, I believe you can never go wrong with a well-fitted pair of jeans or pants paired with a tighter baby T-shirt or singlet. It’s such a simple combination, but when you’re wearing high-quality pieces that fit your body well, all you need is a cute bag and it feels effortlessly chic.
What are some of the ‘investment pieces’ in your wardrobe, or items that have stood the test of time?
I have a pair of Dico Copenhagen loafers that I love and they’ve only become more comfortable and beautiful with time. My Capture Shoulder bag from Aest Studies also deserves a shoutout – I do not travel light and that bag is Mary Poppins certified.
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What about your favourite secondhand find?
I bought a burgundy leather jacket in the most random secondhand store in Tokyo and something about it just feels so special. I’ve never seen a jacket with that silhouette and even now that one of the buttons has fallen off, I just don’t think I could ever let it go.
Whose wardrobe would you steal if you could and why?
I have a friend Nadine that I met when I lived in London and from the moment we became friends, I just wanted anything she put on. She kind of feels like the older sister I never had. An item I once overlooked instantly becomes the coolest thing as soon as she puts it on. She has such a good eye for styling and I’ve always admired how she doesn’t feel the need to dress for anyone but herself.
What pieces do you currently have on repeat?
Being new to wintry Melbourne, I’ve learnt layers are key. I have a few jumpers and cardigans that are 100 per cent cashmere and they are by far the most worn pieces in my wardrobe right now. Also, I know this is not outerwear, but CouCou Intimates 100 per cent cotton underwear is really worth the hype in my opinion.
Keep up with Joy here.
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