Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Naarm-based stylist and model, Josaia Bruinsma

“I like to be constantly changing and try to be as uncomfortable as I can; I force my style to continue changing and evolving.”

We know personal style is a journey (I’m looking at you, Tumblr years), so we’ve introduced a new series Hey, I Like Your Style!, diving 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 talking style evolutions, fashion rebellion and Jean Paul Gaultier with Melbourne-based model, stylist and creative director, Josaia Bruinsma. While many of us love clothing (this is Fashion Journal, after all), few of us understand it as an art.

Josaia’s eye for curation and assertive-yet-delicate personal style has made him one of Melbourne’s fashion favourites and has seen him frequently working with labels like Wackie Ju, Chantelle Lucyl and Irvrsbl. When we confirmed his feature, Josaia was eager to showcase even more of his personal style via the above images. Have a flick through the gallery and then read on for his style journey.

Who are you and what do you like to wear?

My name is Josaia, I’m a stylist and model currently living in Naarm/Melbourne. I’d say my style is pretty eclectic. I like to be constantly changing and try to be as uncomfortable as I can; I force my style to continue changing and evolving. Fashion is emotional, so I like to wear garments that influence my emotions.

 

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What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?

My style evolution is very quick and erratic. I completely sell then refill my wardrobe once every two to three months. It’s the same with my bedroom, music, movies, etc… I’m always trying to have experiences I’ve never had before. Evolving my style so quickly and inorganically allows me to really engage with the clothes in a different way. It’s more based on emotion in the moment than trends or external forces.

I’m not sure if my confidence has really changed much, but I definitely place myself into outfits differently. I used to really try to exude this bad bitch confidence through my outfits – now I like to be the accessory and prefer to let the clothes wear me instead of me wearing them. I let the clothing tell a story, I leave it up to the viewer to decide whether it’s ‘confidence’ or not.

Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?

Thankfully, I’ve never fit into any of the fashion boxes; the people around me have always encouraged me to not conform to them anyway. I’ve felt pressured and have tried to squeeze into many different boxes, but I just didn’t fit [laughs]. I think fashion is inherently very serious and if I were to put my style in a category, it would be a huge mistake for my own personal evolution.

 

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I think I’ve been close to being conformed into a fashion box so many times, I now subconsciously rebel against any qualities of any box I’m being forced into. I’ve always been pushed by my friends and family to dress/be whoever I wanted, so without their support I don’t know what my style would look like… it wouldn’t be good.

Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?

My only fashion regret is spending way too much money on designer clothes. Whenever I look back at my awkward style stages, I just get angry at the amount of money I was spending on really trendy pieces I’d only ever wear a few times. I was really influenced by big names in fashion, not the good ones. I went through so many phases – I remember buying big Balenciaga or Supreme logo tees and hats that were just fast fashion with a higher price tag.

 

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What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?

I have a few items in my wardrobe I’d say are priceless to me, but I don’t really spend a lot of money on individual pieces. I buy most of my things secondhand and hardly ever buy anything brand new. I’d say the most expensive item in my wardrobe right now is my new Y-Project orchid earrings, although I received them as a gift so I don’t know if they count. The least expensive item is a hard question – most of my wardrobe was gifted, thrifted or bought for less than $30. I think I’d answer the latter question with “all of it.”

What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?

My Jean Paul Gaultier Corset top from FW 1995. It was the piece that Jean Paul Gaultier found me through – whenever I look at it or wear it, I’m reminded of a really low period of my life that was completely changed because of one opportunity I received. It gives me excitement and reminds me of how drastically life can change in a second. It’s the one garment I’ll never ever get rid of. It’s also extremely gorgeous and fits me like a glove.

What’s in your cart at the moment?

At the moment my cart is actually quite empty, I have Kiko Kostadinov trousers I’m trying to haggle to a lower price because they’re just a tiny bit too expensive right now [laughs]. I have my eye on a Y-Project twisted denim trench coat from AW 2020 that I can’t seem to get off my mind. I can only find one online in a size too small for me, so I’ll continue to search the internet for one in my size. I’m also on the hunt for some Prada FW 1999 square toe, calf-length boots… I also can’t find them in my size. My cart is a sad place full of things I want but can’t fit into.

 

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What fashion piece are you saving for right now?

I’m not currently saving for one thing in particular. I’m waiting until I come across the perfect pair of boots and perfect jacket, so I’m always saving to prepare myself for them. I hardly ever have a particular garment in mind that I save for. I just have things I’m missing in my wardrobe and usually just come across something perfect when I least expect it and splurge in the moment.

What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?

My black Urte Kat trousers, black leather ballet flats, my brown leather Tom Ford jacket and my Vivienne Westwood Yasmin bag. They all just fit me perfectly and have very feminine-yet-masculine energy about them – which is what I always look for when purchasing garments. I wear at least one of these items every single day, I’m actually wearing my ballet flats right now while I type this.

Who are your favourite local designers?

There are so many talented designers here in Melbourne; it’s so amazing to work amongst them all. Some of my all time faves have to be Wackie Ju, Jules Bramley, Sabatucci, Michelle Li, and Jarrod Reid. You should definitely check them all out if you haven’t, they’re all creating some insane work at the moment. I’m so in awe of all their talent and get so excited and inspired by them.

See more of Josaia’s killer looks here.