Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Melbourne florist and creative, Kayla Moon
IMAGE VIA @ANGELBABY_WORLDWIDE/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“My style reflects the little femme-boy I have become. I have arrived.”
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 delving into the personal style journey of Naarm-based florist artist and creative, Kayla Moon. With their days spent running two businesses, Xxflos and Stay Soft Studio, Kayla’s personal style has a strong sense of duality. Moving between “sexy femme and hot teenage boy”, Kayla’s wardrobe is an androgynous collection of recycled vintage, local labels and colourful impulse buys. Read on for their style journey.
Who are you and what do you like to wear?
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I am Kayos (I created this nickname for myself as an evolution that suits the end of the world), otherwise known as Kayla Moon, Xxflos mama bear or Stay Soft Studio co-parent. Choose your fighter. I do every day. That’s how I like to dress – it’s mood-based. Generally speaking, I go between sexy femme and hot teenage boy. I like to wear things that match my mood – be it soft, fierce, fuckable or hella bro-y.
What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?
My style evolution has been a bloody thick ol’ history. I have already been many versions of myself at the ripe age of almost 28. When I was a little person, my sister’s dad would reiterate to me “It’s not a fashion show Kayla”. I assured him, it was – and still very much is. Baii bish.
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From a young age, I was heavily influenced by pop culture, musicians and films. I am a very cinematically-inspired type and I spent a lot of years obsessing over certain characters and movies [like] Amelie, Eminem, Aqua, Gwen Stefani, Jim Morrison, Moulin Rouge, 13, Audrey Hepburn and Blink 182.
High school saw me change from subculture to subculture like a tadpole, from pop-punk scene kid to barefoot-hippie Janis Joplin to classic ’50s film star – I wanted to try it all on. I go through periods of obsessing over one statement as well – from lipstick to beauty spots, to glasses to caps, there was always an aesthetic anchor that would act as a foundation of my ever-changing look.
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As I got older and my body issues become more prevalent, I noticed a lot of what I wore was postured to the male gaze, my eating disorder and my internalised homophobia. There was a period of time there when I truly dressed for other people and external gratification. I found it hard to look in the mirror and see the reflection staring back not be how I felt inside. It was deeply discombobulating.
As I began to understand my queerness and gender and got therapy for my ED, fashion slowly but surely become something that made me feel strong again; it was mine again. I reclaimed the fuck out of it. The full security in playing with gender has given me the playfulness I now feel comes out in my style expression.
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I wear things that are comfortable, colourful and might start a conversation. I love feeling like a little action figure or cartoon character. I am obsessed with recycled designer, sunglasses and layers. My style reflects the little femme-boy I have become. I have arrived.
Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
Absolutely. I have always wanted to belong to someone, to some sub-culture, some scene – anything. A lot of my metamorphosis can be directly tracked back to whatever it was I wanted to be a part of at the time… a relationship I was in, a music scene I liked or a group of artists I wanted to hang out with. I’ve been full punk to ‘Gorman stockings and front fringes’ [to the] tight-dress girl.
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Before my last hetero relationship, I was deep in my single/queer lifestyle and for the first time, I really felt like I knew exactly what I wanted to wear and how it would make me feel. These periods of security have come in waves and have finally settled into the calm and expressive ocean that is now my gay and happy as fuck style. I feel as though I do belong now, to myself, to the queers, to my mates. I’m working on becoming an icon. You?
Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
I don’t regret anything. I think it’s a waste of time and we hate shame. So I can tell you some hot messes I made that we look back on adoringly. [Firstly,] a skull and cross beanie that I wore over a full half-face of a side fringe… every day. Number two, prayer beads over a burnt orange Indian smock with a bindi on.
We live and we learn, this problematic young and White Byron hippie had no education around this type of thing yet. Lastly, the little indie bowler hat that I wore with a leotard and a maroon high-waisted skirt… I hope they’re resting in peace.
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
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The most expensive item I own is a Comme De Garçons piece I actually only got last week. I usually buy recycled or local which are upwards of $25 and under $450 per item. This piece is a sexy gentlemen’s shirt in blue-and-white pinstripe with stitched tartan in the letters three, seven and five.
The least expensive… [is] difficult, as I’m a bargain hunter on the recycled vintage/recycled train. But for interest’s sake, let’s go with the cute shit I get for free from local labels to post about. Time is valuable, but I love taking pictures of myself so… that shit is cheap on time and rich in value.
What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
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My step mama recently gifted me my first recycled Prada bag. It belonged to one of her dear friends from her younger years. It’s beautiful shiny leather in a deep eggplant and ash black with green stitching. Her friend was also a gay woman and unfortunately passed away some years ago – leaving my step mama the Prada bag. As I recently properly came out to my rents, Lizzie gifted this to me as a sign of recognition in more ways than one. Honestly, so special.
What’s in your cart at the moment?
Something from Krystal Deans, pink Etnies sneakers and period undies.
What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
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I’m an impulse buyer and never save for fashion – I’m more ‘whoops I just spent $300 at Goodbyes on Friday afternoon because my gender expression and mood changed and now I need to feel different’. But I do want to buy my first Gucci suit ahead of a big event I have next year. So who knows, maybe I’ll save for one. More likely I’ll just go buy it on a whim.
What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
Parachute pants, knee-high black boots, basketball shorts and my square orange-tinted shades.
Who are your favourite local designers?
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I love love love Oats the Label’s comfortable, easy-wear, sexy and androgynous seams collection. I wear the pieces A LOT. Another [label] is Ka-He, [made by] the owner of Error404 Store – their pieces are always so slick, upmarket and unique. My slacks from there are a statement and a staple in my wardrobe. Lastly, I’d go to my recent favourite, Posture Studio. The angels there make the sexiest pieces. I have a jumper and a T-shirt that I could wear daily… their patterns and gothic designs [printed] onto sexy rave T-shirts are hot AF.
For more of Kayla’s looks, head here.
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