Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Australian creative and model, Kostantina Vlahos

“The baby anarchist in me felt the need to stick it to the man and not allow other people’s discomfort and distaste to become my own.”

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. For this instalment of Hey, I Like Your Style!, we enter the wardrobe of Kostantina Vlahos.

A self-appointed pioneer of the ‘blokette’ aesthetic, Kostantina has been pushing the boundaries of fashion since she was a teen. Throughout her style evolution as a “baby anarchist”, she’s found ways to reject the dress code expected of her as a plus-size woman. With her mum’s “Gemini fashion icon” style influencing her wardrobe, Kostantina is always searching for new ways to feel empowered through clothing. Take a peek into her style evolution below.

Who are you and what do you like to wear?

Hi, I’m Kostantina, I’m a model and creative. I love wearing clothes that push me out of my comfort zone – the typical recipe for my outfits is baggy bottoms and a super-tight top.

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

Growing up, I used to wear a lot of flowy baggy skirts as I was always told to cover up my belly (a rite of passage as a plus-sized youth). But as I entered my teenage years, I began pushing the boundaries in fashion amongst my communities. The baby anarchist in me felt the need to stick it to the man and not allow other people’s discomfort and distaste to become my own. Now I feel uncomfortable not wearing tight clothes! 

I embrace my body and specifically choose to wear things that society and people told me I couldn’t, and it’s beyond empowering. My style these days is taking that a step further and specifically selecting garments that push me out of my comfort zone!

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

My teen years actually slayed, I definitely was ahead of the curve because I was ‘blokette’ core to the T. I’d wear skirts and runners paired with soccer tees and get so many weird looks. It’s so nice to see this style come through full throttle now! My little cousin (who is a fashion icon) uses photos of my ’fits from 2013 to 2015 as her blueprint and that has truly made my life.

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

The most expensive outfit I have is a magenta and teal lehenga choli that I bought in Fiji for my cousin’s wedding. It’s completely hand-stitched and blinged out with beautiful sequins and comes straight from India.

The least expensive item would be these $4 thrifted black pinstripe suit pants that I’ve worn religiously for about six years straight. Tragically, they’re on their last legs so I’m not sure how much time we have left together.

What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?

The most meaningful piece I own is this denim trench coat I bought in Japan when I was 19. I had seen someone at a train station in Shinjuku wear it and I was so obsessed that I went up to ask her where it was from but just missed her.

I pined over it for weeks and on my last day in Japan, I was walking past this boutique store and the jacket was on display in my size and it was the last one in the whole of Tokyo! It was my first big purchase as a young adult and I’ll never, ever get rid of it.

Who or what influences your style?

My colour schemes tend to be very tied to how I’m feeling that day, which influences my ’fits. My family also impact my style heavily and are notorious hoarders, so I always raid their wardrobes. I actually only purchased clothes twice last year because of this!

My mum is a Gemini fashion icon and I’ve been wearing a lot of her vintage pieces from the early 2000s, alongside some of my brother’s 2010 pieces. My little cousin Nini has also been a huge inspiration to me and keeps me striving to impress her. I always think in the back of my head, ‘Would Nini think this is cool?’. It’s the fuel I need to keep me going!

What fashion piece are you saving for right now?

I’ve been dying to find this particular white dress I wore in a dream but it doesn’t exist in real life as far as I’m aware of. I am obsessed with getting custom dresses made, the dress styles I really love are hard to come by in my size so I tend to work with independent designers and seamstresses to create my visions.

What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?

Those black pinstripe pants that I thrifted in 2018! No matter what, I always find myself wearing them, they’re like a part of my identity and they truly go with everything. And my black Nike TNs and my trusty nylon Re-Edition 2000 Mini Prada –can’t go anywhere without her.

Who are your favourite local designers?

I’m really loving Die Horny. I really love their use of material and their unique, slightly chaotic contrast stitching. It’s so dope!

For more of Kostantina’s outfits, head here.