Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Melbourne producer, DJ and singer, Memphis LK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACK CRAIG FOR MEMPHIS LK
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“I like to wear clothes that make me feel a little bit tough but a little bit cute.”
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 Melbourne producer, singer and DJ, Memphis LK. On stage, Memphis’ outfits are colourful, eclectic and accessory-heavy; a mix of pieces from local designers and Depop finds. She describes her style as a culmination of previous eras, with baggy shorts, sparkly belts and black platform boots on heavy rotation. Coming off the back of her latest release, Too Much Fun, Memphis speaks on her journey with fashion so far.
Who are you and what do you like to wear?
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I’m Memphis LK and I like to wear clothes that make me feel a little bit tough but a little bit cute. I like the contrast of wearing something hard with something pretty.
What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?
I’ve learnt what suits me and makes me feel like me, which I guess inevitably coincides with more confidence. But it did take a lot of experimentation with different styles and trends to figure out what that was, including an Avril Lavigne ‘sk8r punk’ era, a ‘bohemian crochet’ phase, a ‘wearing every bright colour even if it clashes’ phase and a full pendulum swing into wearing only black and red and being obsessed with acid techno. I feel like a small piece from each of these phases makes up my style now, so I guess it literally is an evolution in that sense.
Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
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No, to the point where it probably affected my ability to make friends at school. I never felt like I had to conform, which is definitely a good thing in terms of not feeling pressured to dress or look a certain way.
But I do look back at some of my decisions and I’m like, ‘Did you really need to do that?’. But I do think the fashion world today is exciting because it feels like we’re expected to conform less and less… it’s becoming the norm to mix and match and just do whatever makes you feel good.
Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
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On my first day of high school, I thought it would be a good idea to wear a full yellow outfit – banana yellow jeans with a banana yellow T-shirt and runners. In primary school, I used to wear flared trackies under my school dress with Globe skate shoes and a D12 beanie. But TBH, I probably would still wear that now.
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
Most expensive, [a] 13Month hoodie. Least expensive, [a] Peppa Pig hat.
What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
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I have this dress that was handed down to me by my mum from the ’80s/’90s. It’s this amazing space-age mini dress made of thick vinyl-like fabric.
The best part is that it has all these plastic circle cutouts on the front and back. It was custom-made for her when she was younger so it feels really special, and it fits me perfectly which is crazy. I love wearing it with platform boots.
What’s in your cart at the moment?
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Just Depop stuff, I want to get some lace leg warmers and a visor.
What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
I’m moving overseas soon and won’t be able to take much with me, so nothing right now. But I feel like that’s going to be a good opportunity to just narrow down to the clothes I really love and build on that slowly once I’m over there.
What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
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Black platform boots, Chet Thomas Globes, mini skirts, baggy shorts, sparkly belts/chains [and] something pretty in my hair.
Who are your favourite local designers?
Emily Watson, Toilé Studios, Purgatory, Underground Sundae, Annienoka, In Aetheria, Oats and Greta Garmel.
Listen to Memphis’ EP ‘Too Much Fun’ here.
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