Fashion
What do people in the fashion industry wear to work?
Mar
“There’s nothing more comfortable, practical and long-lasting than a good pair of boots, and the best are always vintage.”
Working in the fashion industry comes with plenty of upsides – the events, the occasional freebies and the wonderful community of creative people. But rest assured, like any other job, there are the inevitable downsides and no one is ever totally immune from the struggle of dressing for work, not even designers.
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There’s also typically a greater level of freedom when it comes to workwear in the creative industries. Bright colours, atypical silhouettes and leggings are considered fair game, while suits are worn ironically or at the very least, with a personal twist.
Whatever your industry, seeing what other people wear to work is always fascinating. So, we put the call out to six of our favourite fashion creatives to see what they’re wearing for their nine-to-fives.
Sarah Lamont, store owner
Aside from a few basics, I wear only vintage. I borrowed this blazer and these shorts from PDA shop where I work a little while ago and now I know they’re a perfect match, I’m keeping them. I found these boots on Depop last year and they work with everything!
Erik Yvon, designer
I usually aim to dress cute every day. I mostly like to wear shorts (even in winter), with a few comfortable layers. Today I wore an Erik Yvon badged tank layered with a silk shirt, which I can take off and on with the weather, paired with Nofunovic shorts. Lastly, I’m carrying all my work essentials and laptop in an extra large Erik Yvon tote bag.
Jess Grindell, designer
When I’m in my studio I waltz around in slippers and booty shorts, so this is a ‘Jess Grindell in the wild at a pop-up’ work day. I usually go for cute, comfy and couture. Nothing screams comfy like an off-the-shoulder tee and wow oh wow, I’ve made the most iconic one. If someone says something mean about you, put it on a T-shirt and monetise that thang!
The skinny jeans and boots are giving business but baddie. These jeans are random vintage ones and the boots are Dirk Bikkemberg riding boots. There’s nothing more comfortable, practical and long-lasting than a good pair of boots, and the best are always vintage. My Prada sunglasses are the only ones that hide these billion-dollar eyebags when I’ve been crying at my sewing machine all night. And my giant MM6 MM6 Maison Margiela fluffy bag which fits everything and the kitchen sink. Bigger is always better.
Sai-Wai Foo, programming and events executive
I’ve been on site for PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival and this outfit was day five of the Premium Runways. I tend to dress for comfort and also to reflect what’s on the catwalk. This look was for the F the Invisible Runway and Grand Showcase and there was no chance of disappearing in this outfit!
I did an emergency run to my friend Toni Maticevski‘s studio. I’ve been obsessed with this foiled coat for ages and was going to borrow it from the PR samples. He very kindly gave it to me so I’m so grateful! I originally planned to wear it as a dress but it was too hot, so I wore it with a thrifted Peter Alexander nightie, lace leggings and studded boots. I accessorised with Anoushka Van Rijn earrings and a Bipolar Brazil Hello Kitty birthday bag. Hello Kitty is over 50 and she’s definitely still iconic and relevant.
Jessika Swarbrick, designer and production manager
Comfortable and effortless is the mood for the day and this dress is usually my go-to for that brief. This is an easy linen ‘chuck on’ dress from Variety Hour that I always feel put together in. I couldn’t resist pairing the dress with my frog clogs for more fun vibes heading into the weekend and I can slip them off under my desk. I find wearing multiple statement pieces is an easy way for me to look put together (or at least more than what I actually am).
Yoshino Maruyama, studio and store manager
For this first look, I wore my Permanent Vacation lightweight wool suit pants with my T.Kro lace skirt over the top. A cropped PV T-shirt and an Isabel Marant blazer on top. My shoes are Post Sole Studio’s classic Path with a Shannen Young shoe charm. I like layering different textures and subtlety clashing items like the suiting and lace and the stripe pants with a check blazer.
For more workwear inspiration, try this.
