Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Melbourne-based content creator Marissa Leppala
IMAGE VIA @marissalepps_/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY MARYEL SOUSA
“Having recently turned 40, I sometimes wonder if I should now start dressing a specific way, but then I have to remind myself that society loves telling women how they should live their lives.”
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 taking a look inside the wardrobe of Melbourne-based content creator Marissa Leppala. When I first encountered Marissa on TikTok, I was taken aback by her “little outfit videos”. Her style marries the fearless approach and refined taste of a professional stylist, with an enviable ease and nonchalance. The result is a captivating mix of unconventional layering, varied proportions and pops of colour.
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Hey Marissa! Tell me about yourself and what you like to wear.
Hi, I’m Marissa! I’m half-Finnish and half-Indian and I recently moved to Melbourne after living in London for ten years. I have a regular corporate nine-to-five job and make little outfit videos on TikTok. I love wearing clothing that makes me feel best and the most me.
What has your style evolution looked like?
I’ve certainly had some ups and downs in my style. Being a teenager in the ’90s meant that I was all about crop tops, high-waisted denim shorts and Doc Martens. My eyebrows also took a beating because I wanted skinny brows like Gwen Stefani’s and now they refuse to grow back.
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As I’ve gotten older, I have more confidence in what I like and what suits me, but an even better sense of what I don’t like. In saying that, I know my taste and style is constantly evolving and I will probably look back ten years from now and laugh at some of the choices I’m making.
Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
As a Gemini, I have tried to fit into multiple fashion boxes, but in all seriousness, I don’t think I have ever tried to fit into one box because that can be limiting. Having recently turned 40, I sometimes wonder if I should now start dressing a specific way, but then I have to remind myself that society loves telling women how they should live their lives and I quickly quash any doubts I might have. I love playing with clothes and different styles, but I will always fall back on how clothes make me feel.
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Do you have any fashion regrets?
Aside from plucking my eyebrows to the point of their eventual death (see above), I don’t think I have any major regrets. Of course, I look back at some of my choices now and wonder what the hell I was thinking, but at the time, I thought my outfits were the best thing since sliced bread. Fashion is relative – seasons, trends, styles – they come and go. Even though I may look at my skinny jeans and Jeffrey Campbell platforms circa 2013 and cringe a little, I know at the time I thought I was putting together an outfit that was really special.
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
The most expensive item is probably my Maison Margiela Tabi boots, which I finally gifted myself on my 40th birthday this year after lusting after them for too long. The least expensive items are probably the ones I’ve found while thrifting, including a £5 slip dress I wear to death, that I found in a charity shop in London.
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What is the most meaningful piece you own?
My friends bought me a beautiful silver ring as a farewell gift when I left London. Leaving this crazy city and all my friends behind was a difficult and emotional time for me. I wear this ring every day as a reminder of all the fun memories I shared with them during this chapter in my life.
Where does your style inspiration come from?
Honestly, I love people-watching and Melbourne is the perfect city for this, with so many fashionable people and unique styles. Aside from this, travelling and immersing myself in a new city seems to spark a creative fire in me. And, of course, Pinterest, fashion magazines and people on social media are a constant source of inspiration for me every day.
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What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
I’m trying to be really mindful of where I spend, but the jewellery from Simuero has me in a chokehold. Their pieces are chunky, organic and imperfect which is everything I love in jewellery (especially rings). There are at least five rings I would buy right now if I won the lottery.
What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
Nothing beats a pair of trusty old jeans that fit you well and are so versatile they go with everything in your wardrobe. I have a pair of dark blue Uniqlo jeans I got a few years ago that I’ve worn so much and have no plans of stopping anytime soon! Jeans are like my comfort blanket. If I find a good pair, I’ll find every excuse under the sun to make them mine.
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Who are your favourite local designers?
Having only recently moved to Australia, I’m on the hunt for local, small-business fashion brands that align with my style. St. Agni, Deiji Studios, Arthur Apparel and Monphell all make beautiful, fun pieces, but I would love to discover more!
Keep up with Marissa, here.
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