Hey, I Like Your Style! Inside the wardrobe of Melbourne-based graphic designer and model, Su Park

“I realised that the fashion box that I’m trying to fit in right now is the box that I made for myself.”

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 taking a step inside the wardrobe of Melbourne-based graphic designer and model, Su Park. Her minimal, refined style is injected with playful moments of colour and print. Throughout her style evolution, Su has discovered that the only fashion box she’s trying to fit into is the one she’s carved out for herself. Take a peek into her style evolution below.

Who are you and what do you like to wear?

My name is Suyeon, most people know me as Su and I’m a graphic designer and model. I like wearing garments that make me feel powerful, confident and special.

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

My style evolution started from my mum dressing me in set pieces that always consisted of bright colours – purple, orange and green. So I always loved incorporating vivid colours in my outfits. However, throughout my teenage years, I was stuck with a denim jacket with black skinny jeans as I became very timid and had no money to buy new clothes.

I don’t particularly hate or dislike those times though because the patience and suppressed desire from them significantly defined the confidence and uniqueness that I have right now as a POC designer.

So, ever since I became self-sufficient and gained control over my financial status, I’ve definitely gained confidence in discovering what kind of style and pieces I undeniably love, and began to responsibly invest in pieces where I know I can hopefully archive it for the rest of my life.

Right now I’m over the moon with structured and minimal normcore looks that incorporate long coats, suits and scarves. But I don’t want to restrict my style into one category as I love every genre in fashion from traditional to unconventional concepts. [Put] simply, I want to build my wardrobe to represent the most refined, mature, sexy and successful version of myself.

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

Of course! Especially as a teenager. I grew up in Brisbane and at the time, there were not many local designers or support towards sustainable brands. Also growing up as an immigrant, my existence as a ‘foreigner’ in a predominantly White community scared me to never step out of the box. And financial hardship was a big obstacle to overcome in the journey of finding your own style too.

So most of the time, I tried my best to not stick out like a sore thumb in my teenage life. I had tried out a couple of styles and items that I saw from Korean shows and K-pop bands to fulfil my fangirl obsession, but even then I didn’t have any accessibility and inclusive market to freely explore my style. I remember my younger self was always daunted and intimidated for being different and liking something different from anybody else. I’ve always hidden what I liked and loved from people in case the others will define me [as] ‘different’ again.

Now the table has turned. Ever since I moved to Melbourne and had the immense pleasure and opportunities of meeting numerous BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ creatives, I am not scared of being different anymore. Being different means [being] personal – that you’re in your truest form. After the rocky journey and trial and error I’ve gone through until now, I [have] realised that the fashion box that I’m trying to fit in right now is the box that I made for myself.

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

Yes, truly anything I’ve impulsively bought from fast fashion brands. It is embarrassing to bring up regretful purchases but I had this irresistible phase of liking hats that were trendy at the time. I had round red fedoras and a black floppy hat that I used to love when I was 14 or 15. I’m just so glad that there aren’t many pictures of me wearing those hats floating around on the internet – which was partially the reason why I got rid of Facebook so nobody can dig up my fashionable mistakes and regrets.

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

My most expensive item in my wardrobe would be Maison Margiela burgundy Tabi boots or my Courrèges vinyl jacket. The least expensive item would be this baby pink V-neck crop top my friend bought from Zara five years ago that was given for free. The quality is surprisingly durable for Zara and the colour looked good on me, so it eventually became my go-to summer item.

What is the most meaningful fashion piece you own? 

Every piece in my current wardrobe holds a special place in my heart – I am happy to say that I am successfully building my own archive that I’ve been dreaming of since I was 16. But if I have to pick, I’d say my bright green Mulberry jacket, a yellow Issey Miyake wrinkled blouse and my Maison Margiela Tabi boots. The Mulberry jacket and Issey Miyake blouse were some of the first designer pieces that I purchased when I was 19.

Both of them were preloved secondhand pieces so I feel very lucky to have these two pieces in my wardrobe. Tabi boots will always be the most meaningful piece I own because I’ve dreamt of owning a pair since I was 16 or 17. Whenever I look at them, it’s a pleasant and empowering reminder of how far I’ve come and how hard I’ve worked to reach this point.

What’s in your cart at the moment?

At the moment, I have J.Kim’s long sleeve petal dress, Emily Watson’s black tankini skirt, Wackie Ju’s green 3D indentation tank and Lemaire’s brown camera bag in my cart.

What fashion piece are you saving for right now?

I’m currently saving up to purchase black tankini sets from Emily Watson and a 3D indentation tank in matcha colour from Wackie Ju. One day, I’m planning on purchasing a tailored suit set from Jil Sander as well. My one and only shopping tactic or rule is to never buy anything from an impulsive urge.

After spending most of my teenage years thoughtlessly splurging on Zara or Target, and the tiring amount of moves I did in the past three years, I’ve finally learned the beauty of self-control. So right now I’m practising self-discipline to only purchase pieces that entirely embody the designer’s identity and passion, pieces that can be special and important to both me and the designer.

What are the wardrobe items you wear on repeat?

All of my Pleats Please pieces, Telfar mini bag, Le 17 Septembre brown pleated pants, Acne Studios mohair checkered scarf that I got secondhand and a brown Self Romance hoodie from Romantics X Coco Star. I practically live in these pieces right now.

Who are your favourite local designers?

I have so many names for this question! First of all, every deliberative and responsible designer and creator – you have all my respect and love for your creation. We are extremely blessed to have a beautiful community that consists of countless talented and influential designers and creators in Naarm.

However, all the names I can think of on the top of my head – I’ve already mentioned above – Wackie Ju, Emily Watson to start with, Phoebe Pendergast (aka Phoebe’s Angels), Romantics Studio, Pei Yi Jewellery, Lucinda Babi and DocG and DocGirl studio and Thuggee Apparel.

See Su’s incredible creative work here.