Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the ever-changing wardrobe of model Sophie Barbour
image via @sophie_barbourr/instagram
as told to daisy henry
“Ever since I was little, I’ve been obsessed with playing dress-up.”
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 taking a look inside the wardrobe of Australian model Sophie Barbour, whose home base jumps between Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
Sophie’s personal style is hard to summarise – some days she might be wearing a classic white shirt and jeans, other times she can be found in a two-piece polka dot set or magenta funnel-neck dress. “The way I dress often feels like stepping into a different character, much like modelling.” She describes it as a pendulum, changing based on her mood, schedule and general vibe.
As a model who travels frequently, Sophie’s also had the luck of being exposed to countless fashion brands. “I also really value the role I play in representing a brand. Especially for smaller labels, the pieces they create can take months, sometimes years, to develop.”
Although her treasured vintage Prada bag is no longer in her possession (“a reminder not to leave valuables in your car!”), Sophie’s wardrobe today is an enviable mix of secondhand finds, Szade sunglasses and high heels (“the higher the better”).
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Fashion Journal: Hey Sophie! Tell me about yourself and what you like to wear.
Sophie: Hi! I’m 25 and work as a model and content creator. I love wearing clothes that bring me joy. I’m especially drawn to vintage and secondhand pieces, and I’m also inspired by the brands I work with in the industry, both Australian and international. The way I dress often feels like stepping into a different character, much like modelling. Wearing a colourful outfit can completely shift my mood. It adds a sense of fun and a little extra energy to my day.
Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
Some of my earliest memories of my love for style came from going to the op shop after school with my mum in primary school. We had a deal that if I finished my homework, she would let me run free to dig for treasure. To this day, it’s still one of my favourite things to do, and whenever I am in a new city, it’s always at the top of my list. That feeling of searching, finding something unexpected and making it your own has shaped the way I approach fashion.
Travel has also been a huge part of that journey. I was lucky to travel quite a bit growing up through my dad’s work, and I was always completely fascinated by what people wore and why they wore it. It opened my eyes to how personal and expressive style can be, and it also gave me the chance to dig into new places, which I loved.
There have definitely been moments where I felt like I needed to fit into a certain fashion box. When I first moved to Melbourne in my early twenties, I felt a bit lost. It was right on the brink of Covid, and I hadn’t quite figured out how to navigate that cool, no-cares-given style that everyone seemed to have mastered. Over time, I became more confident in myself, and that naturally translated into my style. I’ve always been drawn to colour, and embracing that has been a big part of finding my own identity within fashion.
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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?
In my teenage years, I spent more time focusing on formal outfits than I did studying. I remember many late nights I stayed up with my mum into the early hours of the morning, when she would be pinning, sewing pieces together and fitting fabric on me to make outfits from clothes I’d thrifted the day before.
There are definitely a few looks I still think about and would wear today. One that stands out is a skirt I wore to a formal that I found in a little shop in Greece while on a family holiday. I absolutely loved it. It felt so special and unique.
Where do you sit on the minimalist-to-maximalist spectrum?
Honestly, it moves like a pendulum every day, depending on my mood, my schedule and my vibe. I love both sides for different reasons. When I wake up in the morning, I give myself a level of ‘ready’ I need to be, depending on my schedule. Luckily, I love both being in my pjs and wearing a ball gown.
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You work as a model as well. How does your job inform or influence your personal style?
Working in the industry has exposed me to so many incredible Australian brands that I truly love and admire today. Ever since I was little, I’ve been obsessed with playing dress-up, so the fact that it’s now part of my job is something my younger self would have thought was pretty cool.
I also really value the role I play in representing a brand. Especially for smaller labels, the pieces they create can take months, sometimes years, to develop. Being the person who gets to wear and showcase that work feels like a huge honour. Connecting with people through fashion is incredibly special to me and brings me a lot of joy.
What are some of the ‘investment pieces’ in your wardrobe, or items that have stood the test of time?
My favourite piece in my wardrobe is my brown leather duffle bag that I take everywhere. It’s almost an extension of my personality. Since I use it so much, I refuse to get rid of it whenever a zip here or a strap there breaks. I’ve had it fixed three times: in Bali, in Sri Lanka and here in Melbourne. I’m always travelling for work, and it’s constantly by my side. It somehow makes me feel like everything is going to be okay. I rarely unpack it. A needle, a thread, a face mask, a pair of socks – it always has my essentials ready to go.
In terms of investment pieces, everything I own and love is valuable because of the story attached to it. Often bought at flea markets or given as gifts by friends, they’re the pieces I treasure most. Pieces from brands I have worked with also hold a huge value for me, as they remind me of a particular milestone.
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What’s your favourite secondhand find?
My favourite find is one I sadly no longer have, as it was stolen (a reminder not to leave valuables in your car!). It was a vintage Prada bag I found in Japan. I spent two days dragging my little cousin around Tokyo searching for the perfect one, and we finally did. I like to think it’s out there being loved by someone else now. If that’s the case, I hope they adore it as much as I did.
Who or what influences your style today?
Honestly, my biggest inspiration comes from where I am. I love being in new places, and that constantly shapes the way I dress and what inspires me. Not to sound cliché but the people closest to me also play a big role. I’m lucky to not only work in a creative industry but also to have incredibly inspiring friends, and that naturally influences my style.
Whose wardrobe would you steal if you could and why?
Dua Lipa. I love how effortlessly cool she looks all the time. It’s almost like she stumbled into an outfit. But I don’t know if that’s just her clothes or her natural je ne sais quoi. I guess you can’t steal someone’s swag.
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What fashion piece are you keeping in your closet despite it being ‘out of trend’?
Honestly, everything. I’m a bit of a hoarder, and it’s a constant battle between me, my family and my friends. I live between Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, so I have multiple wardrobes across different cities. I tend to hold onto pieces I love a little longer than I probably should, but nothing brings me more joy than rediscovering something in my own wardrobe and falling in love with it all over again.
What pieces do you currently have on repeat?
On repeat at the moment is a furry Michael Kors bag. It fits so much and instantly makes any outfit feel more fun. I’m also always wearing my Szade sunglasses. I keep breaking or losing them, so I’m constantly replacing them.
Lately, I’ve been really into wearing high heels. The higher, the better.
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Who are your favourite local designers?
Wow, okay, where do I even start? I have to begin with my friends at The Wolf Gang. Their pieces are inspired by travel and colour, two things that are very close to my heart. They were also the first brand I shot with while wearing my natural curly hair. This was a big catalyst for me, leading to so many amazing opportunities. It gave me a lot of confidence having the natural version of me embraced by the industry, which felt really empowering.
The designers I love most are the ones I have had the opportunity to build genuine connections with. I love Nagnata for its commitment to sustainability. I adore Lovaan for pieces that make me feel like a real woman. Ena Pelly makes outerwear feel as effortless as making your morning coffee.
With Consideration and Capiaghi Summer are both run by young women. LMS makes shoes that balance fun and comfort.
Follow along with Sophie here.
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