Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the effortlessly laidback wardrobe of model Maddy Barker
IMAGE VIA @maddybarker/instagram
AS TOLD TO DAISY HENRY
“I genuinely don’t go a day without some form of hoop earrings.”
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 catching up with Australian-based curve model, Maddy Barker.
If you met Maddy today, you’d assume she’s always been this self-possessed. However, getting to a place where she felt free to experiment and play with her personal style took time. “I remember being in high school and wanting so badly to fit in. From about 15 onwards, my body changed and nothing fit the way it used to,” she reflects.
Now, she’s grateful to have reached a point of self-assurance where her wardrobe is shaped by instinct, rather than expectation. “I have the confidence now to experiment and try new things and that feels really empowering,” she adds.
These days, her wardrobe is an effortless balance between comfort and polish. Rather than oscillating between extremes, she’s seemingly uncovered the perfect formula: baggy jeans paired with a tailored blazer, an asymmetric midi skirt offset by a fitted tank, or bodysuit layered under a worn-in leather jacket.
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Fashion Journal: Hi Maddy! Tell me about yourself and what you like to wear.
Maddy: I love being as comfortable as possible while still looking put together. I hate wearing bras. Think baggy jeans with a structured top or blazer and sneakers or boots. Or an asymmetric midi skirt with a fitted tank and thongs or ballet flats.
Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
Ahh yes. I remember being in high school and wanting so badly to fit in. From about 15 onwards, my body changed and nothing fit the way it used to. The clothes my friends wore so effortlessly didn’t feel comfortable on me anymore. I felt out of place and uncomfortable. I wish I could go back and give that younger version of me the biggest hug.
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Take us back to your teenage years. Who or what was influencing your style at the time, and are there any looks you still think about now?
I was obsessed with TV shows – a massive Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars fan. I definitely tried to copy the styles of my favourite characters.
How has your style evolved and how would you describe it now?
I’d say I’ve finally reached a place where I feel self-assured enough to wear whatever I like. I have the confidence now to experiment and try new things and that feels really empowering.
What’s a fashion rule you follow religiously and one you break constantly?
I’m obsessed with wearing all white – which I guess technically counts as colour blocking? It’s my favourite outfit to throw on. I feel so chic and angelic in it. And I genuinely don’t go a day without some form of hoop earrings.
A fashion rule I constantly break is “you can’t wear black and navy” or “black and brown.” Unfortunately for whoever made that rule… I wear those combinations all the time.
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What are some of the ‘investment pieces’ in your wardrobe, or items that have stood the test of time?
A beautifully tailored blazer is always worth the investment. Shona Joy makes stunning ones. Otherwise, a great pair of leather boots will never fail you. I wish I could say a pair of gorgeous, designer sunnies live in my ‘investment pieces’ category, but I simply do not trust myself enough to keep them safe.
What’s your favourite secondhand find?
I’m completely obsessed with secondhand bags. When I lived in London, I fell down a deep rabbit hole with Vinted, Europe’s answer to Depop. I’d spend hours scouring the app for my next standout piece. Safe to say, I uncovered some absolute treasures.
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What’s a fail-safe pairing of clothes you always opt for because you know it works?
Fitted bodysuit, mid low rise jeans, leather jacket, black boots and hoops.
Who or what influences your style today?
I love the ’90s supermodel vibe. That era feels like it’s come back with a vengeance and I’m so here for it. I also adore London street style – the mix of sneakers with modern and thrifted pieces is always such a vibe. I feel like I’m constantly channeling that energy.
Whose wardrobe would you steal if you could and why?
Paloma Elsesser. She’s a curve supermodel who has completely nailed the street style, model-off-duty, 90s runway look. Enough said.
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What fashion piece are you keeping in your closet despite it being ‘out of trend’?
I have a soft spot for suede, tassel bags. And no matter the trends, a few boho pieces will always have a place in my wardrobe. Anyone who’s ever been to Splendour in the Grass will know the lore.
What pieces do you currently have on repeat?
Adidas men’s basketball shorts, tank tops and havaianas.
Who are your favourite local designers?
Olga Joan, Avery James, Henne and One Mile.
Keep up with Maddy here.
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