Hey, I Like Your Style! A glimpse into the colourful wardrobe of content creator and activist, Deni Todorović
IMAGE VIA @STYLEBYDENI/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“Before coming out as non-binary, I felt as though I had to ‘fit into’ the fashion binary.”
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 wardrobe of Geelong-based content creator and LGBTQIA+ activist, Deni Todorović. When they’re not serving a look, Deni uses their 50,000 follower-strong platform for queer education, heartwarming storytelling and stunning backyard choreo (please watch this Lizzie McGuire performance).
As varied and broad as their vibrant personality, their style ranges from floaty tutus and tees to slick monochrome workwear. With a penchant for 10cm heels, colourful streetwear and fabulous bodysuits (a wardrobe essential), there’s never a dull moment in Deni’s wardrobe.
Who are you and what do you like to wear?
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My name is Deni, my pronouns are they/them and I’m an LGBTQIA+ activist and content creator. I like to wear things that make me feel. Whether it’s joyful, confident, sexy, mysterious or bold – fashion is all about the feeling for me.
What has your style evolution looked like? Do you feel like you’ve gained confidence in the way you dress?
My style evolution has been quite varied and broad, I’ve always said I have a huge amount of duality to the way I dress. I’d describe it as Carrie Bradshaw has a baby with a hip-hop obsessed boy and then they all walk into Kmart together. It’s eclectic, it’s high low, it’s streetwear with a splash of couture.
Personal style is a journey. Have you ever felt like you needed to fit into a particular fashion box?
Before coming out as non-binary, I felt as though I had to ‘fit into’ the fashion binary. I’d always wanted to wear ‘womenswear’ but felt it was difficult to incorporate into my wardrobe without looking like a costume. As a stylist and fashion editor, I also felt as though I had to conform to what the industry deemed to be the appropriate way a fashion editor should dress. So I wore a lot of clean lines and monochrome for quite some time.
Take us back to those awkward teenage years. Do you have any fashion regrets?
I’ve had many an awkward fashion moment – but none that I regret. I think personal style is an evolution, but perhaps I could’ve gone a little lighter on the hair gel! I woke up every morning a half-hour early to straighten my hair and wax it up to great lengths. It was very much the look of the 2000s.
What are the most expensive and least expensive items in your wardrobe?
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My wardrobe is incredibly varied and I very much live by the ethos that it’s not about the label on the back of the piece, it’s all about how you wear it. That being said, the older I get, the more I appreciate quality and investing in timeless pieces. My most expensive item is a very beautiful Louis Vuitton handbag that my parents bought me last year as a gift to celebrate some milestone moments in my career. The least expensive things are likely all from Kmart, as it’s genuinely my favourite place to shop and there’s so much you can do with their pieces.
What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?
I have a pair of shoes that my grandmother gave to me when I was very little. They’re actually a decorative piece she used to keep in her living room on display, based on a traditional Serbian moccasin/slipper. They’re a burnt orange velvet and embellished with gold beads. They’re incredibly sentimental and I keep them in a box for good luck.
What’s in your cart at the moment?
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I’ve been sitting on a pair of pink satin Balenciaga slippers. The only way I could describe them is like a hotel slipper but they have a sole on them. They’re quilted satin and completely superfluous but I can’t stop thinking about them. I kind of imagine wearing them with jeans on a Sunday morning when we can all go out for brunch again!
What fashion piece are you saving for right now?
I promised myself I’m going to treat myself to a Fendi Baguette for Christmas. I’ve had my eye on one since the start of the year but I’ve never spent that much money in one go so I need to ease myself into it and rationalise it as a present.
What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?
Oversized tees, hoodies, Kmart jeans and heels. No less than 10cms high – otherwise what’s the point?
Who are your favourite local designers?
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Dion Lee for the way he’s breaking gender norms. Rebecca Vallance for the way her clothes make me feel. Kym Ellery is a national-turned-international icon and I’m so proud of her. I’m also loving Blanca at the moment. Their shirts are so dope, I have a couple on rotation!
My all-time favourite however is Carla Zampatti just in terms of how much I’ve looked up to her since I was a teenager. Everything she represented and how she went on to become the matriarchy of Aussie fashion. I’ve read her autobiography three times over!
See more of Deni’s killer looks here.
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