Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Melbourne-based model, India Valerie
image via @indiavaleriee/instagram
as told to daisy henry
“I wasn’t dressing to fit in, I was dressing to survive.”
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 Melbourne-based model, India Valerie.
For India, fashion has long been a blend of armour, expression and freedom. “When I came out as trans, clothes became more than just outfits,” she explains. For years, her signature piece was the mini skirt. “It didn’t matter if it was raining or freezing, I’d still wear one. There was something about that silhouette that made me feel powerful and seen, even when I didn’t feel either of those things yet.”
Like many of us, she can recall a few questionable fits from her teens, but she’s far from regretful. “They were small acts of self-discovery. I wasn’t dressing to fit in; I was dressing to survive and to feel like myself in a world that didn’t always understand that.”
These days, her style lean towards ease – think clean lines, simple silhouettes or a well-cut pair of trousers. Though she still tries to bring forward that same unabashed ‘mini skirt in winter attitude’, her relationship was fashion has shifted from feeling performative, to something more inward. “It’s how I check in with myself, how I express what kind of energy I want to carry into the day.”
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Fashion Journal: Hi India! Tell us about yourself and what you like to wear.
I love wearing things that look effortless but feel intentional. My wardrobe’s mostly a mix of denim, leather and simple silhouettes that I can dress up or down. I like to keep it minimal but with attitude, a dress over pants is a staple for me because it feels a bit undone.
What has your style evolution looked like?
My style has evolved alongside my sense of self. When I was younger, I saw fashion as a way to fit in. I’d follow trends, replicate looks I saw on Instagram and try to dress like whoever seemed ‘cool’ at the time. Over the years, that changed. Now, what I wear feels like a reflection of who I actually am, rather than who I think I should be.
I’ve gone from obsessing over statement pieces to appreciating simplicity, like clean silhouettes, well-cut trousers, vintage denim and quality fabrics that feel timeless. I still love experimenting but I’m more intentional about what I choose. It’s less about being seen and more about feeling confident in my clothes.
My style sits somewhere between effortless and elevated – a mix of masculine tailoring, feminine details and casual basics. I like pieces that tell a story. Something borrowed, something found overseas or just something that reminds me of a specific moment in time. Fashion used to feel performative to me but now it’s more personal. It’s how I check in with myself, how I express what kind of energy I want to carry into the day.
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Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
Absolutely. For a long time, I felt like I needed to adhere to a specific definition of ‘fashionable’. When you’re surrounded by the industry or scrolling through perfectly curated feeds, it’s easy to start dressing for other people’s approval rather than your own. I used to feel like I had to choose a box — minimal, streetwear, Y2k, clean girl — and stick to it. But the truth is, none of those labels ever fully felt like me.
There were moments I wore things that looked great in theory but didn’t feel authentic once I stepped out the door. Over time, I’ve realised that style isn’t about fitting a category. It’s about building your own language through clothes.
Now I like the idea of existing between aesthetics — wearing something feminine one day and oversized and structured the next. I’ve stopped trying to define my style so neatly, because real style isn’t supposed to be static. It’s fluid, grows with you and it reflects your headspace as much as your wardrobe. Letting go of the idea of a “box” gave me a lot more freedom to mix, experiment and most importantly, to actually enjoy getting dressed again.
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Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Who or what was inspiring your style at the time, and do you have any fashion regrets?
My teenage years were pure chaos. I was still figuring out who I was and fashion was the one place I could experiment without saying too much. When I came out as trans, clothes became more than just outfits. They were armour, expression, and freedom all in one.
At first, I didn’t really know where I fit. Everyone else seemed to have a ‘look’, but I was still learning how to feel comfortable in my own skin. The one thing that always made me feel right was a mini skirt. It didn’t matter if it was raining or freezing, I’d still wear one. There was something about that silhouette that made me feel powerful and seen, even when I didn’t feel either of those things yet.
I think that was my way of reclaiming femininity, not in a performative way but in a way that said, ‘this is me, take it or leave it’. I’d pair those skirts with whatever I could find: chunky boots, oversized jackets, random vintage tops. It was chaotic but it was mine.
If I look back, sure, there are a few questionable outfits but I don’t regret any of them. They were small acts of self-discovery. I wasn’t dressing to fit in; I was dressing to survive and to feel like myself in a world that didn’t always understand that. Now, my style still carries that energy. It’s about confidence, comfort, and that same fearless ‘mini skirt in winter’ attitude.
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What are some of the ‘investment pieces’ in your wardrobe, or items that have stood the test of time?
My Balenciaga City bag is one of my favourite pieces. It’s one of those things that somehow goes with everything: jeans and a T-Shirt or something more dressed up. I love that it’s worn-in now, the leather’s softened and it tells a story. It’s that perfect mix of grunge and luxury. Classic, but with attitude. No matter how much my style changes, I always come back to it. It’s timeless in that effortlessly cool, “I’ve had this forever” kind of way.
What’s the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
The most meaningful pieces I own are my mum’s and grandma’s jewellery, as well as the pieces my friends have made me. They’re small things, a silver bracelet, a few old rings — but they carry so much history. I love that they’ve lived whole lives before me, they feel like little heirlooms of strength and femininity. I wear them on days when I need grounding or a reminder of where I come from. No designer piece compares. They connect me to the women who shaped me and somehow they always make any outfit feel more personal.
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Who or what influences your style today?
I’m drawn to people who dress with confidence and ease — women who make clothes look lived-in and personal. I take inspiration from street style, vintage pieces and the way off-duty models mix polish with effortlessness. I love blending something structured with something completely casual, or mixing masculine and feminine shapes. Mostly, I’m influenced by how I want to feel — strong, confident and a little unpredictable.
What fashion piece are you keeping in your closet despite being ‘out of trend’?
An item I’ll never let go of is a pair of super baggy jeans. I don’t think they’re necessarily on trend right now but I just feel so comfortable and confident. A pair of them with a little tank and some ballet flats is a perfect casual outfit for me.
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What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
My rotation is pretty consistent: vintage bootleg Diesels jeans, kitten heels and a good midi dress. The jeans are part of everyday uniform, perfectly broken in and easy to dress up or down. Kitten heels add just enough polish without losing that laid-back vibe. And a perfect midi dress makes me feel relaxed but still put together. Pair it over some pants for comfort and that’s another go-to outfit for me. I like to feel effortless but intentional, like I didn’t think too hard about it but it still works.
Who are your favourite local designers?
Melbourne has such a strong creative energy. I’s one of those cities where you can feel the talent everywhere. The fashion scene here is constantly evolving and we’re honestly spoiled with the designers coming out of it.
Karlaidlaw is one of my favourites for her individuality and edge. Every piece feels like it has its own personality and you can always tell it’s hers. Better Pieces is my go-to when I’m in the mood for something softer or more feminine. It does delicate staples really well but still keeps things feeling modern.
Find more from India here.
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