A week in work outfits with the director of Melbourne’s Sucker store, Ben Tambyah

“How I finish the work week is generally a result of how I start it, and what I wear definitely has an effect.”

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 importantly, will I be in the background of someone’s TikTok?

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This week, the director of Melbourne’s Sucker store Ben Tambyah steps us through his working wardrobe. A typical week for Ben involves content creation (often in front of the camera), unboxing deliveries, guiding Sucker’s customers and balancing a series of post-work social commitments. All this means he needs his day-to-day outfits to be both versatile and comfortable, while also representing Sucker’s curation of brands in the best light possible and aligning with his personal style. It’s a tall order but Ben makes it look easy.

Wednesday

I take Mondays and Tuesdays off, so Wednesday’s my start of the week. How I finish the work week is generally a result of how I start it, and what I wear definitely has an effect. I like to dress the cleanest over the first couple of days, as we usually have a bit of ecom and content [work] to get through. I’ll keep my hair back and shoes black on days I’ve got to front the camera. We just unboxed a delivery from Berlin-based Iden and I had to cop this Italian knit jacket. I’ve paired it with the virgin wool ‘Bellow’ pants from our recent Sucker collection. My new favourites, I know [they’ll] get a rinse over the next few months.

Thursday

I knew I had to layer up today because I was heading straight out after work and it’s common knowledge that the clearest of days become the coldest of nights here in Melbourne. It gave me a good excuse to finally chuck on our new wool cashmere jacket from the recent release. I’ve been [going] hard on the jackets over hoodies this winter so it’s been fulfilling to have made one ourselves. I can never go wrong with the Pseushi baggy jeans, I think I’ve got all three colourways they’ve made. After a day filled with stock prep, it ended by heading out for Thai at a mate’s place in Carlton North followed by catching Felix’s Fifty Five Floral Arrangements exhibition at Earth Angels.

Friday

We’ve been blessed with some sun this week so I had to get the shorts out and let the hair down for a Friday perk-up. We designed these ‘Bellow’ shorts in summer to be light and free-flowing, so I never thought I’d be able to bring them out in August but here we are. No content or marketing for me today, so I really played on the ‘casual Fridays’ theme. This wide-arm long sleeve from our latest drop was made for a relaxed, baggy shape, which I think works with flowy bottoms. I’ve been trying to pair hints of colour with black, something I’ve never really done, so today was a test.

Saturday

Saturdays have got to be the best day to work at Sucker. Everyone’s in a good mood (a shopping mood), friends always pop in to say hey and for some reason, it’s always sunny, but I’m not complaining. I always try to bring some colour to Saturdays, [using] uplifting tones for an uplifting day. My love for clothes, like most, came from finding hidden gems at op shops. I haven’t stopped thrifting, both the jacket and pants are from Savers. The two-metre, big blue scarf is by us, it’s really what we based our winter collection around. [I] can’t go seven days without throwing on the Charles LeBrun hat. I’ve decided to grab another one in pink, thanks [Charles LeBrun owner] Georgia.

Sunday

It’s the end of a pretty good week. We’ve had a bunch of deliveries from new labels from overseas arrive, it’s been a week of Sucker’s new collection and we’ve been having 20+ degree days scattered here and there. We open a little later on Sundays and it’s usually just me. I end up grabbing some lunch from A1 Bakery, it’s either that or Nico’s Sandwiches if they don’t have a hectic line. Today’s a day where I usually tie up loose ends, respond to a bunch of emails and prepare collections for the girls to stocktake on Monday. I’ve got to have some really relaxed music playing for the customers on Sundays, I know you know why. Aden and I have been listening to a lot of Kiwi dub and desert blues lately. Today, I’m in a vintage knit jacket from the op shop along with what is my favourite piece from our latest collection, the ‘Bellow’ pants in wool. This is the kind of get-up I fall asleep in, on the couch, at 4.30pm.