Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of San Cisco drummer and musician, Scarlett Stevens

“I’ve always loved dressing up and styling myself for video clips and photoshoots for the band, I feel like it’s one of the aspects of the job where I really shine.”

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. For this instalment of Hey, I Like Your Style!, we enter the wardrobe of Scarlett Stevens.

An Australian musician and singer/drummer in the indie band San Cisco, Scarlett cites Lenny Kravitz, Sharon Tate, Yoko Ono and David Bowie as some of her style influences. With a penchant for rockstar-esque vintage clothing (namely hotpants, ballet flats and “dresses with naughty cutouts”), Scarlett is most excited by pieces that make her feel sexy and comfortable in her body. Read on to hear about her style journey so far.

Who are you and what do you like to wear?

Hi! My name is Scarlett and I play drums and sing in San Cisco. I love wearing hotpants, ballet flats, T-shirts I’ve had since I was 15 [and] sexy dresses with naughty cutouts.

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

I’ve always really loved vintage, specifically ’60s and ’70s clothing, but more recently I’ve been loving ’90s and 2000s fashion and the designers that kind of define that era – Galliano, Cavalli, Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier, etc. My mum has great style and has been op shopping her whole life, she has a fantastic eye and taught me everything I know about clothes.

I’ve always loved dressing up and styling myself for video clips and photoshoots for the band, I feel like it’s one of the aspects of the job where I really shine. It’s been a crucial part of my own self-expression and confidence off and on stage.

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

I think Instagram has made it more confusing to stay true to your individual sense of style in a way. It’s easy to get absorbed in trends and fast fashion, constantly feeling like you don’t ‘have enough’ or having to adopt some sort of external persona to fit in. These days I’m much more excited by unique pieces that make me feel sexy and comfortable in my body, rather than jumping on the latest fashion craze.

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

I came of age in the mid-2000s so there were a lot of skinny ‘spray on’ jeans, off-the-shoulder tops, chunky belts and boleros but also lots of tiny vintage dresses and pink Converse. Being the baby rock chick that I was, I vividly remember obsessing over Wheels and Dollbaby and saving up to buy this satin pencil skirt in a Marie Antoinette-inspired print, from their store on Crown Street. My only regret is selling off cherished pieces from that era.

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

A ludicrously expensive pair of Miu Miu biker boots that I bought on holiday in Rome last year and ended up hiding in my closet for many months, lol. The most inexpensive things are various items I’ve gotten from the op shop or hand-me-downs from loved ones.

What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?

My Courreges two-tone vinyl jacket that makes me feel like a rockstar. I always get so many compliments on it. It’s something I’ll have forever. And a very silly Hysteric Glamour zip hoodie that comes with me everywhere!

Who or what influences your style?

Lenny Kravitz, Vivienne Westwood, David Bowie, Kate Moss, Sharon Tate, Yoko Ono, Carrie Bradshaw [and] Deborah Harry are some obvious icons and brilliant dressers I admire. I think I’m also very inspired by my friends and random people I’ve seen on the streets when travelling.

What fashion piece are you saving for right now?

I’ve got my eye on the Margiela Tabi pumps… We’ll see!

What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?

At the moment a Balenciaga City Leather Cuff, Alix Higgins green track pants, baby tees, a vintage tennis skirt that my friend Ash gave me, my Vivienne Westwood Granny Purse.

Who are your favourite local designers?

I’m a big fan of Alix Higgins, R&M Leathers, St Agni for elegant ’90s silhouettes, Non Private for cosy basics and Del Sol for sunnies.