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A week in work outfits with Australian actress Jillian Nguyen

WORDS BY CAIT EMMA BURKE

“Another good day, another good film and another good meal.”

Working in a creative role, it can be difficult to know how to dress for the day. Instead of having a set uniform of crisp white shirts and tailored black pants (as much as I love both), an ever-changing schedule means every morning requires a set of questions. Am I running around, or just sitting at my desk? Do I need to dress specifically for a project? And most importantly, will I be in the background of someone’s TikTok?


For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.


This week, Australian actress Jillian Nguyen takes us through her working week. In town for Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), her week sees her attending screenings and dinners and being one of the esteemed jury members for the Bright Horizons Award, where she helps deliberate which filmmaker will receive the prestigious award. Read on to see what garments she’s gravitated to.

Day one

Melbourne was so lush when I arrived. After having a swim at the ‘Chateau Rydges’ (my nickname for the recently refurbished hotel), I put on my favourite black ensemble to grab some veggie noodles at Kim Sing, a Viet-Chinese eatery I have been going to since I was 15. After doing some work and wandering familiar streets I love so much, I headed to my first filmmaker dinner at Victoria by Farmer’s Daughter at Fed Square which was lovely.

It was so wonderful meeting filmmakers, critics and people involved in the festival, from all around the world. I wore my vintage Scanlan Theodore top, Italian leather boots (both from the Red Cross), Issey Miyake skirt and a hand-knitted hat I picked up from a local artist at a market in London last winter.

Day two

Day two was the Centrepiece Gala for Left, Write, Hook by director Shannon Owen. It was important that I was there for a documentary that gives a voice to the survivors of domestic violence, a global issue I feel very strongly about. I think the film has the power to educate, inspire and change people’s hearts and minds to be better, so I really hope more stories like this continue to be told.

I wore my go-to jeans I’ve had forever from a film shoot, a red Bossini top from the op shop which mum picked up for $1 for me, a camel trench from a vintage store in Paris and a handmade bonnet by Melbourne-based designer Amy Lawrence.

Day three

Day three was my birthday! I have spent my last few birthdays at MIFF as it’s on August 15. I finished another screener in the day, had an afternoon nap, followed by a sumptuous meal at Sunda on Punch Lane with the MIFF fam and saw the new Francis Ford Coppola film Megalopolis at IMAX.

My dear friend Rhys Graham, a fabulous writer and director, got a seat in Row A. He had to leave halfway as he was too close to the screen. I stayed for the whole film and genuinely hadn’t laughed like this in a really long time. It was a really fun day and night. I wore my black milkmaid top from Vinnies, my classic go-to jeans, a hand-knitted aqua headband by a super sweet and talented 75-year Ukrainian grandma who I buy crochet/knits from on Facebook Marketplace and my MIFF tote.

Day four

Another good day, another good film and another good meal. I did more film work, had a nap and then had a mouthwatering meal at Bistra in Carlton, followed by a viewing of the new David Cronenberg film, The Shrouds. I wore a silk Scanlan Theodore dress I’ve had for years and a vintage cream Max Mara blazer.

Day five

I went to see my friend Rhys Graham’s documentary Rewards for the Tribe at ACMI. It’s about Restless Dance Theatre, a troupe of disabled dancers, and Chunky Move. The film explores dreams, the pursuit of perfection and fear.

It was very compelling to watch and made me think a lot about how important it is to listen to our bodies. Dance is such a magical tool for expression and vulnerability. I wore an old Scanlan Theodore knit I’ve had forever, a blue silk trench from a vintage shop in Paris and an Emma Mulholland on Holiday denim hat.

Day six

I’m taking jury duty for the festival very seriously!! I reflected on the hotel couch with my notes and stared out in existential crisis into the city landscape as I pondered the fate of these films (and my own). I wore an Emma Mulholland on Holiday dress.

For more of Jillian’s looks, head here.

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