My husband and I managed to sneak in a rare, child-free date night a few weeks back. It had been a long day at the desk, so I wanted to shed the work clothes for something more suitable. Running short on time, I went for my fail-safe of black jeans, heeled boots, and a shoulder-baring long sleeve. Arriving at the bar and quickly obtaining my first martini (vodka, dry, dirty), I turned to survey the scene and instantly clocked a woman in a near-identical outfit.
Unexpected but unaffected, we moved towards a seat at the opposite end of the bar, only to bump into another dressed-up doppelgänger. Before the evening was out, there were four of us, and none of my [many] martinis had managed to numb my newfound fear: shit, am I basic?
The question it all comes back to is: When it comes to fashion, how much is me, and how much is marketing? With style inspiration fed up to us at every opportunity by influencers, brands, and businesses, it’s easy to swipe someone else’s look subconsciously. A recent Forbes article quoted the slightly horrific statistic that the average American is exposed to 4000-10,000 ads per day. If your algorithm is fashion- focused, then it’s no wonder this stealth marketing is infiltrating our style. The time to rediscover our individualism is nigh, but how?
“Time is a big thing,” says Jess Pecoraro. As one of Australia’s most in-demand stylists, Jess’s seemingly effortless aesthetic has made her the go-to for editorial, runway, commercial campaigns, and celebrity styling (hello, Georgia Fowler).
“Set aside an hour on a Sunday to go through your wardrobe, try things on, experiment, and see what feels good,” she suggests. Putting forward a winning case for the classics, Pecoraro’s outfits centre on a pared-back palette of white tees, blazers, jeans, and tailoring with an enviable scattering of designer vintage and elevated accessories. “You have to be comfortable,” she shrugs. “I can see it immediately in a fitting; you have the most amazing, perfectly fit dress, but if the client isn’t feeling it — it’s a no-go.”
Nailing your authentic aesthetic isn’t necessarily about avoiding trends but making them work for you. Honestly, if you want to enjoy a tomato girl summer with your hot rodent boyfriend and glazed strawberry doughnut skin, have at it. Trends often reflect or comment on the social climate (think punk), but it’s how you interpret them that matters. “Instagram is great for inspiration, but it’s very easy to spiral because we don’t all look like that size four, six-foot model on the screen,” says Pecoraro. “Not every trend suits everyone, but maybe you’d look good in her jacket? Or her sunglasses? Take what works for your body and leave the rest.”
It’s solid advice that some women figure out early. Chloë Sevigny, Grace Jones, and Anna Wintour’s dress senses are diametrically opposed, but they’ve each had them locked in for decades. Look up a picture of Carine Roitfeld in 2004, then 2024, and you’ll see that the French fashion editor’s style and energy haven’t wavered.
These women know themselves and their bodies and hold true to that. Of course they entertain trends — Roitfeld and Wintour practically dictate them — but they pepper the new-season styles through their wardrobes in ways that suit them. Like Wintour once said, “Create your own style… let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.”
Jaime Ridge follows a similar theory. “I’ve always advocated dressing for your lifestyle and body shape. I dress for myself, I always have, and this will never change,” says the expat stylist and creative producer. Her aesthetic explores the boundaries of classic style, sticking with neutral tones while playing with form. The formula imparts a unique edge to her timeless, elevated looks. Like Pecoraro, she says her style was born from “lots of trial and error. Learning that less is more and investing in the right pieces.”
Of course, that’s not to say she hasn’t had the odd stumble, particularly while shopping online. “A number of times I’ve had to eject myself immediately, close that tab, and take a deep breath to avoid purchasing something completely ridiculous, absolutely not my style, or not at all practical for my lifestyle,” says Ridge. To help avoid future missteps, she developed a simple sartorial litmus test. “My one piece of advice I give clients and friends when it comes to styling and purchasing new items is to ask yourself, ‘Is this the woman/man I want to be?’” Sage advice to aid us along in our journeys.
It’s important to remember, though, that fashion is ever-evolving. It shifts with our lives, priorities, and age. Motherhood, for instance, can open up an entirely new level of style self-doubt. “You suddenly have a whole new body, and figuring out how to dress that is difficult,” says mother-of-two Pecoraro.
Clothing is our armour, a part of our identity, and rediscovering what that looks like post-child is confusing. Never mind that when you finally pull it all together, your outfit is sullied by milk and/or tears seeping out of you and/or the pēpi. Meanwhile, mum influencers are eating oysters in all-white outfits while their cherubic children snooze in the Bugaboo 5000 nearby. Is it any wonder we try to replicate this pretty propaganda?
“You have to be generous and allow yourself to go through those moments to get to a place where you’re comfortable,” Pecoraro says empathetically. Again, the stylist circles back to taking time to focus on what feels right for you.
Tan France (of Queer Eye fame) has a great take on the topic. His advice is to first create your fashion foundation with a capsule wardrobe, locking in those classic pieces that make you feel great, then introducing more unique items one at a time — a statement heel with a trusty little black dress, an on-trend pant with your classic leather jacket. According to Chemena Kamali’s Spring 2025 collection for Chloé, boho is back. But perhaps instead of going full-fringe Sienna Miller and re-piercing your nose this time, pick one element and work it into your wardrobe.
This educated experimentation checks out. It’s a logical method that builds onto your look rather than adopting an all-new one. Combine this with Pecoraro’s advice to audit your wardrobe and Ridge’s purchase prerequisite question: ‘Is this the woman/man I want to be?’ and we’re heading in the right direction.
Now repeat after me: I am not a boho bae.
BUY OR BYE?
Six questions to ask yourself when shopping.
Why am I buying this?
Does it fit with my usual style?
Can I work it into at least 4 outfits?
Does it embrace my body shape?
Am I comfortable?
Does it work with my lifestyle?
Words: Harriet Cowie
Images: Supplied
