Australian stylists on the hardest-working pieces on their styling rack
IMAGE VIA @marisasuen/instagram
WORDS BY CAIT EMMA BURKE
“I love a simple piece that isn’t the usual basic but has an interesting element to it.”
Building a well-functioning wardrobe can be quite an arduous task. Do you have enough basics to pair with your more eccentric pieces? Have you made a habit of filling your closet with pieces that are enticing on the rack but difficult to style?
If there’s a category of people that know how to thoughtfully select clothing, it’s people who work with it on a daily basis – stylists. Their day jobs revolve around finding memorable but hardworking pieces and blending their personal vision with that of a client, brand or publication.
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So what are the hardest working pieces stylists have on their styling racks? In search of some wardrobe-building inspiration, I asked four Australian stylists to share the pieces they repeatedly have on their racks, and why.
Marisa Suen
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I feel like I’m naturally drawn to pieces that can be transcended into multiple looks, especially for my personal wardrobe. I am drawn to pieces that are textured, oversized and have a playful element to them. I usually rework simple pieces for shoots that can be built around which are usually black (classic me). I love a simple piece that isn’t the usual basic but has an interesting element to it. Some examples are the Margiela baby heel cut-out Tabis, [an] Issey Miyake Pleats Please mini skirt or [a] Comme des Garçons Homme Plus belted half skirt.
Other pieces that are super adaptable for shoots, whether… for an editorial or for eCommerce are my take on ‘blanks’. As mentioned I love a basic piece with an interesting element. I love a particular brown men’s Yohji Yamamoto singlet. The cut of it sits so well on a ‘men’s’ frame and has such a casual but chic look to it. I also love having my friend Aggie’s label Pach Project on my rack – her pieces are so thoughtful and come in a diverse range of sizing, not to mention [they’re] sustainable! I particularly love her Marion Trouser. I love their baggy drape and how they have adjustable sizing per pair with their snap-and-slide buttons.
Simone Farrugia
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I value longevity and versatility when it comes to selecting the MVPs of my styling wardrobe. The same rule applies to my personal style. I love mixing on-trend pieces with great quality staples that I have collected over the years. One of my most worn pieces is an 8-year-old Sass and Bide trench coat that has stood the test of time. I love that it’s lightweight and drapes beautifully – it gets a look in with trackies on the weekend or over an evening look.
I also can’t go past a day-to-night midi-length dress. It’s the perfect way to look put together without having to think about what to put on. My tip for clients is to buy prints in winter – they’re easier to cross over seasons. You’ll wear a sandal with a darker floral but perhaps not a chunky boot with a bright summer print. Dominique Healy does the most amazing quality pieces, she’s a Melbourne designer and I recommend her to everyone.
Tory Price
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I am such a sucker for amazing gloves and colourful tights! I have every colour you could ever want and I feel like every outfit is infinitely better when I add in that extra pop of glam! A very close second to this would be all sorts of wild and wonderful hats. I just cannot resist a hot hat moment! Everyone looks good in a hat. I love to layer in my styling so I always just keep adding more fun elements to really make sure every detail is on point. It’s all about those extra details that really make it my style.
A major theme in my racks is tulle and more tulle. I love [it] when I get the opportunity to style something very extra and fun and when that happens tulle is my absolute go-to… I really love the texture and volume and shapes you can make with it! I did go through a major pink phase so now I am absolutely ready to change it up. I also gravitate to secondhand clothing on my rack as I just love to use unique pieces in my styling and vintage just cannot be beaten on this! Plus it is way better for the planet.
Monica Morales
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I have a huge block colour suit collection which I’ve curated over many years, and I definitely use them a few times a month, both on shoots and personally. Wearing a good suit creates an instant ‘wow’ moment and there’s so much opportunity to shake it up and give your suit a bit more personality with the accessories and top you use, going super chic and clean, relaxed and masculine or fun and trendy.
I have a huge jewellery collection that I take a lot of pride in and I often bring pieces from it to shoots. Jewellery has the power to completely change an outfit so it’s important to have a good variety. My collection has amazing vintage pieces from Chanel, Dior and just other random finds, mixed with more modern brands like Area NYC, Alexander Wang, Panconesi, Kiko Kostadinov, Acne Studios, Dinosaur Designs, Swarovski then more fun, trend high turnover pieces from Emma Pills, Lovisa, Mountain & Moon, Peta and Jain etc. What can I say, I’m an accessories girl.
Interested to hear more about what a stylist does? Try this.
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