Ask Chloe Hill to describe her style and the answer comes easy, cute, colourful, comfortable. But behind those three words are years spent learning exactly who she is. Known for a wardrobe as bright and happy as her personality, Hill has traded fashion week front rows and Ubers for days spent running around town and in the garden, and her style has followed suit, more knitwear and more flat shoes. The instincts haven’t changed, just where she’s pointing them. Still drawn to a great silk scarf, still a sucker for a midi skirt, and still convinced that if it doesn’t excite her in 20 years’ time, it isn’t worth buying now.
Among her most treasured pieces, a beaded Prada cardigan she’d rescue first in a fire, Deadly Ponies sneakers earning their place through sheer daily rotation, and a wide-shouldered Miu Miu coat that’s ridden the Paris Metro and weathered New York snow, bought on a whim in Sydney and worn for years since.
We’re taking notes, starting with “buy the coat.”
Chloe Hill: If my personal style had a tagline, it would be simple, cute and colourful (and comfortable). It’s a philosophy that’s stayed remarkably consistent over the years, though it has evolved as I’ve become more certain of what I love. I wear far more specific silhouettes now, and I steer clear of anything I don’t feel completely comfortable in, whereas in my early twenties I was experimenting a lot more, buying random colourful pieces on a whim. Practicality has crept in too. Now that I’m living back in Aotearoa and spending less time in Ubers and at fashion shows, and more time running around town and out in the garden, I’ve developed a new appreciation for knitwear, jackets I can just throw on, and a good pair of flat shoes.
When it comes to deciding what’s worth the splurge, I have a clear rule, anything I’m spending on has to feel a little special, something that will be fun to wear and make getting dressed that much better. I always ask myself whether I’ll still find it exciting in 10 or 20 years’ time, and if not, it’s not worth buying. For more practical, everyday pieces, quality is my priority. Yes, it might just be a pair of black socks, but I want to know what they’re made from and who made them, so I’ll happily spend a little extra to ensure they’re good for the people and the planet.
If I had to start over tomorrow, there are five pieces I’d rescue first, my beaded Prada cardigan would, of course, be number one, followed by my oversized Miu Miu wool coat, one of my early Wynn Hamlyn pieces, like a deep purple suede jacket, my Meadowlark birth certificate charm engraved with my daughter’s details, and lastly, probably my Deadly Ponies sneakers, I’ve been wearing them every single day, so it’s a practical choice.
No matter what’s trending, I always find myself drawn back to knitwear. It’s a favourite in every collection I see, so cosy and classic, and a great cardigan can really pull a look together. I also love embellishment, beading, brooches, anything that adds a bit of extra. My signature style move is a silk scarf around my neck. If I ever feel like an outfit is lacking something, it really pulls it together. And in terms of silhouettes, it’s always a midi skirt, such a beautiful, easy-wear piece that makes even the most basic T-shirt and sneaker look feel dressed up.
One item that holds particular significance for me is my massive, wide-shouldered Miu Miu coat, which has travelled around the world with me for such a long time. It brings back so many memories, taking the subway to the opera in Paris, standing in the snow in New York. It also makes me laugh, because I really debated buying it. I was living in Sydney at the time, and it was such a big purchase, I thought it was a bit stupid given how short winter is there. Little did I know I’d spend four years dipping in and out of Europe’s cold winters, before settling back here and wearing it hundreds of times since (and counting). So if you take anything from reading this, it’s buy the coat.
I always feel the most inspired by older women who confidently wear eccentric outfits, that, to me, is the ultimate style. They’ve gone through decades of changing fashions and really honed in on what works for them and brings them joy, despite the noise around them. Something that particularly jumps out at me is when someone commits to a single colour, or two, in their wardrobe, and it’s all they wear. I once saw a wonderful older woman in head-to-toe purple, and, wow, she was glorious. If I’m having even half that much fun with my looks when I’m her age, I know I’ll be living.
If I could raid the wardrobe of any era, designer, or cultural moment, I’d pick Prada runway in the 2010s, without a doubt. There were so many collections during that era that were absolutely me. I still go back and scroll through them just for fun, an absolutely perfect time for Miuccia fans like myself.
I’m not one for following trends, but I do love to experiment, within the parameters of what I know is genuinely my style. You won’t catch me buying something just for the hype, but if it makes me smile and I can see myself wearing it for years, then maybe, yes. And there’s nothing that makes me feel more confident than a look built around a statement piece, something that makes me smile. When the rest of the look works together and feels comfortable, I’ll happily stride around with a big grin on my face all day long.
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of Fashion Quarterly.
As told to: Sophie de Renzy.
Imagery: Supplied.
