Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Melbourne model and writer, Simone Ziada
IMAGE VIA @simonevicious/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY DAISY HENRY
“It took years of dissecting my own internalised fatphobia for me to really come out of my shell and embrace my body (and my style) without feeling the need to cover 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.
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 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 Simone Ziada.
Growing up, Simone gravitated towards oversized clothing, feeling that her body was something she needed to cover up. However, as she’s gotten older and and as fashion labels have become more size-inclusive, Simone has learnt to embrace her body and personal style. “You can be fat and sexy and wear something tight, or maybe a bit sheer, and that’s okay!” she says. Now, Simone’s wardrobe is a mix of faux fur jackets, sheer tops and sentimental pieces inherited from her grandparents.
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Who are you and what do you like to wear?
Hey angels! I’m Simone – a writer and model from Melbourne/Naarm. I feel sexiest in big jackets, sheer tops and my curls.
What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?
For years I tried to fit the mould of being straight-sized, even though I’ve always been fat. It’s almost like I didn’t want people to know I was fat – like it was a bad thing?! Crazy, right? It took years of dissecting my own internalised fatphobia for me to really come out of my shell and embrace my body (and my style) without feeling the need to cover up. Almost as though my existence as a fat person would harm others around me. It’s such a wild thing to think about now, but being surrounded by an incredible community and having greater access to plus-sized fashion (even though there is still such a long way to go) has helped a hell of a lot.
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I went from being the biggest tomboy as a teenager – my go-to being baggy skater pants, loose tees, oversized hoodies and Chuck Taylors. The sad part is, I was so scared of my body, that I used to wear jeans and big jumpers even on the hottest of days. I wanted my body to be invisible. When I entered early adulthood, my friends and I were fiends for the op shop, so I’d be dripping almost head-to-toe in op shop attire on a daily basis.
Slowly but surely, the inner (and outer) work was happening and I began to feel more comfortable shedding layers (when necessary) and embracing what I liked. For the last 10 or so years, I’ve dabbled with different looks, images and styles, but consistency in my overall theme has always been key: tomboy mixed with feminine and grunge but chic. I think I’ve really perfected that whole vibe these days. My style confidence, as well as my inner confidence, has grown exponentially since I’ve been on this… I don’t want to say ‘journey’ but I feel like that’s the most accurate word for it. I wear what makes me feel good – that’s what everyone should do.
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Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
One. Hundred. Per cent! Being a plus-sized babe, especially as a model being approached by so many brands, I sometimes feel I should be grateful that particular brands cater to my body type. It makes it hard. I have so much gratitude that there are brands that want to cater to larger bodies, but sometimes their clothes are just not my style.
That’s not to say it’s not someone else’s style, to each their own! But what some brands forget is that you can be fat and sexy – and want to wear something tight or maybe a bit sheer – and that’s okay! Maybe I don’t want to wear an oversized top with cold shoulders in a rose pink, ya know? (No hate I swear, it’s just not my thing.) I think at times, especially being a curve model, there is an element of feeling the need to be grateful for just having clothes that fit me.
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Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
I regret wearing an entirely oversized wardrobe because I was made to feel that my body was something to be embarrassed about. I deeply regret making myself feel so uncomfortable, like I was going to faint, purely so I could shield people’s eyes from my extra kilograms. I’m so sorry, baby me, you deserved so much more than that. I hope I’m making you proud now.
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
I’m going to say that my most expensive item is my Marc Jacobs tote bag. I work in corporate as my nine-to-five, so babygirl gets a very good workout every week. My least expensive item is probably the random lace skirt I drunk-bought a few months ago. I had this idea for an outfit and it’s still never seen the light of day.
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What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
What a beautiful question! I have so many different answers, so I’m sorry but I’m going to cheat a little. I have a very cool jacket collection which I’m known for in my friendship groups (and probably on my Instagram). I go to a lot of music festivals and they are my favourite accessory to take. There are a lot of very fond memories held in that faux fur!
I also have one of Mum’s vintage sequinned jackets that my uncle got her from Singapore in the ’70s. I don’t wear it, but I love having it knowing it was hers from so long ago. On a deeper note, I have a few pieces of my grandparents’ clothing that I was given after they passed. I was incredibly close to them, so having these memories of them means the world to me.
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Who or what influences your style?
Everything and everyone! Pinterest, my friends, the brands I work with, celebrities I love, creators I see on Instagram or TikTok – I love to draw inspiration from everywhere. I spend quite a bit of time online (whoops) when I’m not working, and it’s so fun to see how cool and creative people get with their outfits. I wish I could say I was the type of person that is put together every day but, truth be told, when I’m not at work I’m usually in my activewear or trackies.
What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
I am dying for a pair of the New Balance 9060s. I’m not even that much of a sneaker head but I am so obsessed with them! In the (hopefully very near) future, I also want to buy myself a Cartier Juste Un Clou bracelet in white gold. I have always loved them and promised myself that, when the time is right, I’ll spoil myself with one.
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What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
At the moment, on the days that I’m not in my activewear, I’ve loved a little stockings moment. I usually pair them with either a plaid mini skirt or my black denim shorts over the top, with one of my go-to turtlenecks from One Mile the Label or Commonry and either my Doc Martens or a pair of loafers. I also love a baggy suit pant moment with a tight-fitting top, or a denim maxi shirt with basically anything on top – band tee, oversized jumper, shirt. All such cute options!
Who are your favourite local designers?
I’m so fortunate to know, wear and be able to work with some amazing local fashion designers! In no particular order: Avila the Label, We Are Golden Hour, August and Eve, Sanct Clothing and Rosita the Label (just launched!). Being able to see so many babes in, or allies to the fat community, making such rad pieces with so much love is just the best.
For more of Simone’s outfits, head here.
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