Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Australian singer-songwriter, Mia Rodriguez

“Rather than dressing how I feel, I dress how I want to feel.”

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 Mia Rodriguez.

From birth, the Sydney-born singer-songwriter has always worn “the whackiest things”. A quick scroll through Mia’s Instagram will give you an idea of her chameleon-like approach to fashion. She has a penchant for bright colours, eccentric accessories and ‘dopamine dressing’, and is currently feeling inspired by Japanese fashion. Following the release of her new single, ‘Ride’, Mia speaks on her style journey below.

Who are you and what do you like to wear?

 

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My name is Mia Rodriguez, and I’m a singer! I have changed my style a lot; right now it’s really bright colours inspired by Japanese fashion. Rather than dressing how I feel, I dress how I want to feel. It can always cheer me up on a bad day, or get me into character when I need to!

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

I’d never let my mum dress me, since I was a toddler. I wore the whackiest things. I loved my dolls and computer games [and] dressing up [as] characters. I grew up in Western Sydney, and the people there weren’t too fond of unique outfits back then. As a teen, I used to dress in really dark colours – I loved emo and gothic fashion. I was bullied a lot for it but I didn’t care, I loved it so much.

 

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My mum always taught me to not care what anyone else thinks, so I was always confident in the things I loved doing. My dad and I bonded over horror movies and creepy things. We watched so many Tim Burton movies… that’s where I got my inspo from! Now it’s just whatever I feel like.

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

As mentioned, I was raised in Western Sydney… looking as identical as possible and sticking to the trends was ideal. My family was pretty poor when I was a kid, so I never had branded stuff anyway. I had no choice but to be outside of the box.

 

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I remember for my 13th birthday, I got my first ever branded item of clothing and that’s all I could get. But even so, it was this big, silver, cropped puffer jacket that would stick out in a crowd. I just never saw the point of sacrificing my happiness… just to fit in.

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

Honestly, my awkward years were my kid years. Seven to 10 years old was probably the weirdest time. I loved wearing a tutu with jeans for some reason. Also, a scarf when it wasn’t even cold. It was really experimental and strange, but I can’t help… appreciating my younger self for trying.

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

 

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All of my expensive stuff is from brands deciding to give it to me after a big event. I think it’s SO awesome, but… to this day can’t personally drop big money on a fashion item! I’d say a pair of Miu Miu shoes that retail for $4,000, also a bodysuit and blazer they gave me which… I remember being [between] $10,000 and $20,000 altogether. I’ve only worn them once or twice… I’m scared to ruin them.

What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own?

Probably that whole Miu Miu set I previously mentioned. I wore it the night I won my first award, Best New Artist 2021, at the Rolling Stone Awards.

Who or what influences your style?

 

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Mainly Japanese or Korean fashion! They’ve got it down pat. It’s just so interesting and fun.

What fashion piece are you saving for right now?

I can’t seem to reason with myself… [when it comes to] buying expensive fashion items unless it’s jewellery or something. There are just so many awesome pieces that are affordable. I love fashion, but a dress for $6,000? I’d rather go on a mini holiday!

What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?

 

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Oh man, hear me out… right now I’ve been loving skorts. I always hated wearing skirts because they’d lift up or just not fit me right. But a skirt with built-in shorts?! Oh my god, I love them so much. And they’re so breathable because they’re built for sport. I search every corner in sportswear stores, there are so many hidden gems.

Who are your favourite local designers?

Whenever I go to fashion week, I end up loving every damn designer! I don’t think there’s such a thing as a bad piece… maybe there are some extreme exceptions. But I admire all the visions and hard work designers put into their art! I think the one that has really stood out to me is Erik Yvon. So inclusive and creative! I always am amazed at his pieces.

You can follow Mia for more here.