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Hey, I Like Your Style! A look into the wardrobe of model and Error404 Co-Creative Director, Rahma Mohamed

IMAGES VIA @RAHMSMOHAMED/INSTAGRAM

WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT

“I’ve gained confidence through learning about and knowing my body. Dressing myself every day has become a process.”

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.

Model and Error404’s Co-Creative Director Rahma Mohamed’s style evolution has always been about exploration. Rahma has never been interested in conformity; for her, fashion is a medium for experimentation and identity building. This week, we’re unpacking her style journey – from dressing like her indie-rock music influences to co-curating a collective of Melbourne’s best fashion talent.

Who are you and what do you like to wear?

My name is Rahma Mohamed, I’m a model and Co-Creative Director of a fashion retail space in Naarm (Melbourne). The pieces I choose to wear revolve around my mood. I like to mix vintage, designer and independent brands.

What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?

Growing up, fashion was definitely an escape. It was a way to express myself and [it] helped me to form an identity. I went through a lot of phases through my teenhood trying to discover what I liked. I feel like the type of music I was listening to and the fashion magazines I was collecting gave me the inspiration to branch out of my bubble.

I grew up playing tennis and I remember getting ready for training at 6am and turning on Rage to watch music videos. It would gee me up! I couldn’t always relate to the magazines I was reading as a kid, but they were aspirational. Travelling was also something that helped me to connect with my identity, which then influenced my style.

The privilege of travelling and experiencing other cultures is special. Coming from a strict cultural and religious background has its limitations, but I’m lucky to say I’ve always found a way to do my own thing. I’ve gained confidence through learning about and knowing my body. Dressing myself every day has become a process. Also, as a model, you start to learn the styles that work for you on the job.

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

I don’t think I’ve felt like I had to fit any box, but looking back I can definitely see a correlation between what my friends and I were wearing and the culture we were influenced by at the time. I’ve always had a rebellious streak and I felt like I couldn’t relate to a lot of the people I grew up with.

Even in my community, I’ve always played with fashion and beauty. I think stylistically, I was trying to prove a point – that I refused to conform to the influences around me. I think things have changed now because of Instagram. There’s constant access to people that are like-minded, so it doesn’t feel as alienating.

Back then, I was checking out blogs and seeing what my favourite artists were wearing. The process of finding cool fashion pieces felt special because you had to really search and it felt rewarding to find a gem. Now everything is made in excess, so it’s hard to differentiate whether you actually like something or if it’s been marketed to you.

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

I don’t have any regrets; it was all part of the process. Because I played sport from a young age, my style had a sporty influence but was also inspired by hip-hop and indie rock. I’d also just started going to the club – trying to look ‘club hot’ while staying true to my aesthetic was a journey.

Most of my vintage pieces I collected from 2006 to 2009, when it had just become cool to shop at Savers. I still own and cherish many of those pieces. Those years were fun. I feel like the teen years were a great experimental time that you have to forgive. I know myself more now!

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

I have a couple of Maison Margiela pieces that are up there. The most expensive would be the Maison Margiela x Reebok Tabi Instapump Fury Hi ankle boots I have. The least expensive would be a clay pot from my mother’s region in Ethiopia, they usually use it to have kitfo (a traditional dish from Gurage), but I use it to keep my jewellery. I bought it from a market a long time ago. That might be cheating though because you can’t compare the currency exchange. But it was cheap relative to Australia.

What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?

All the jewellery my mother has given me and also some pieces my friends have gifted me. The precious metals I own are special. I usually wear more gold near my face and silver on my hands. I don’t mind mixing silver and gold though. My mother always said wearing silver was good for the soul, so I make sure to wear at least one piece when I leave the house.

What’s in your cart at the moment?

I don’t do carts! I try to only go shopping when I know I’m going to buy something – it just becomes too silly scrolling through pieces I don’t need. I sometimes view things online and put a mental stamp on them, but I’ll always think before purchasing. If I’m going to bed and it’s still on my mind, then I’m buying it.

What fashion piece are you saving for right now?

Some more Charlotte Knowles pieces to add to my wardrobe for the summertime hot girl looks I want! It’s hard because I dislike giving power to the weather but it does play a vital role in the way I dress. I’m also putting money away for a nice handbag. I don’t know what I want yet but I want to be ready when something nice blows me away.

What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?

Because Melbourne’s so cold right now, I’ve got my puffers on rotation. I have an Issey Miyake one that’s 1997 vintage, and a Prada one that I’m obsessed with. I tend to layer a lot of my clothing as well so currently lots of tops over turtlenecks – I have some Martine Rose and Wales Bonner tops that are comfy. I’ve also been wearing sneakers more than ever before; my retro Jordans go with everything.

Who are your favourite local designers?

I’m really fortunate that I get to work with amazing up-and-coming and established local designers as a model and with my role at the Error404 store. There are so many but the designers I’m loving at the moment are Ka-He, Eethyn, Poms, Metal Bender, Toile Studios, Hoddle and Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp.

Follow Rahma on Instagram here and check out Error404 here.

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