Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Melbourne stylist and content creator, Liv Brown

“I feel my best I am covered in jewellery and accessories.”

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 step inside the wardrobe of Melbourne-based content creator and the founder of Rattle Style, Liv Brown. Described as “style that makes noise”, Rattle Style was born from Liv’s experience navigating her wardrobe as a new mum. She believes people should feel empowered by clothing – which is reflected in her always-vibrant, unexpected outfit pairings. Below, Liv reflects on her style journey so far.

Who are you and what do you like to wear?

 

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A post shared by RATTLE – Liv Brown (@rattle_style)

I am Liv and I am a personal stylist and the founder of Rattle Style. I really like to wear anything colourful, but when I feel my best I am covered in jewellery and accessories, wearing a really comfy oversized men’s T-shirt or jumper, a cute mini skirt or shorts and statement pair of shoes.

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

My mum used to dress me in the best outfits as a kid, I honestly wish they still fit me. When I was growing up, I experimented with fashion and always tried new things (my friends will tell you about my floral dress and leather fingerless glove stage).

 

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I had my tomboy phase of cargo pants and Billabong singlets, and my really girly stage where I remember owning the coolest lime-green platform shoes. After school, a classic early twenties bad break up and a few negative comments about my fashion, I lost all my confidence and personal style. I dressed to hide my body and it wasn’t until probably my mid-twenties that I was like, ‘What am I doing?’ This isn’t making me happy.

I went back to wearing whatever I wanted to wear. My confidence grew as I learned more about fashion and started to wear some ‘out there’ clothing pieces that I loved. And now, as a mum and in my early thirties, I don’t care at all what other people think. I dress to express myself in ways that make me happy. I think confidence comes with age and just continuing to wear what you want to wear and owning it.

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

 

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When I became a mum, I had moments of feeling as though I had to dress differently. That is what pushed me to start my personal styling business, Rattle. I noticed feeling uncomfortable dressing too ‘out there’ and wanting to tone my style down when I would meet new mum friends or go to a baby activity class.

That didn’t last long and after having conversations with the beautiful mums I surround myself with, I learnt that a lot of mums feel like they lose their identity after they become a mum… that is something I am working on changing. I want to help mums be able to express themselves through fashion and wear what makes them feel best.

 

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Since starting my personal styling business, it is easy to feel like I have to follow the trends and always be in new outfits but I am trying to change that and not fall into the trap of buying into the trends. I need to admire them from afar on social media but stick to what I love to wear and my own personal style.

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

I look back on photos and laugh so much at some of my outfit choices but I will never regret them. The years I regret are really the ones that I wore clothes to hide my body or my insecurity and picked the clothing for that reason, not because I loved it. I regret not staying true to myself and experimenting with colours and fun clothing pieces.

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

 

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I am actually yet to buy a really expensive piece.. when I do it will probably be shoes or an accessory. The most expensive piece in my wardrobe at the moment would be my Stine Goya pink puffer jacket… but with girl maths, it’s basically free because I have worn it so many times. The least expensive item would probably be my coloured tights, which I love and wear with so many outfits.

What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?

My mum gave me her first wedding ring (she has been lucky enough to get a replacement after 30 years of marriage!) I wear it every day next to my own wedding ring. It is so sentimental and I love it. I actually drew inspiration from it for my own wedding ring design.

Who or what influences your style?

 

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I love colour. I notice colour and colour combinations all around me in my day-to-day life. From the supermarket to going for a walk, I’m always looking out for nice colours. I really base all my outfits around colour. I am mostly drawn to pinks, purples, oranges and reds.

My mum has always had iconic jewellery so she definitely influenced my love for accessories. My sister-in-law is the queen of colour, she is known for her love of pink so she is also an inspiration. Social media is a massive influence as well, I could sit on Pinterest for hours scrolling and saving photos of outfits I love.

What fashion piece are you saving for right now?

 

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On my wishlist right now I have a beautiful charm necklace from Sage Vintage. I am also looking for some new bright colourful sunglasses and a big oversized bag. I love spending my money on accessories, it excites me so much.

What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?

I live in my Stine Goya puffer jacket, it has gotten me through Melbourne winter. I love the ballet flat era and live in a pair I bought off Asos, they were one of those buys that you don’t really think about but then end up wearing four times a week.

Who are your favourite local designers?

 

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I love Sister Studios, Homie, Lucy Folk, Karla Laidlaw, and I recently bought a really cool cap from a brand called Tild.

You can follow Liv for more style inspiration here.