November 19, 2024 • 28 mins
18 Pairs Of Flats That Will Go With Everything
Do you have all your favorite wardrobe pieces but feel a bit lost when it comes to putting them together? Chances are, you haven’t yet discovered the blueprint for your wardrobe—a way to unlock the full potential of everything you own.
Today’s guest, Anthea O'Connor, is a personal stylist and former Melbourne Editor of Vogue Australia. She has spent decades helping women discover their signature style and simplifying their morning routines, making it easy to choose what to wear and how to wear it.
Want to shop the pod? Sign up to the Nothing To Wear Newsletter to see all the products mentioned plus more, delivered straight to your inbox after every episode.
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CREDITS:
Host: Leigh Campbell
Guest: Anthea O'Connor if you'd like to learn more about Anthea's services and how to book her, you can visit her website.
Producer: Grace Rouvray
Audio Producer: Tegan Sadler
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
You're listening to Amma Mia podcast. Mama Mia acknowledges the
traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast is
recorded on. Whoever said orange is the new pink but
seriously disturved laurels for spraying groundbreaking?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Oh my god, you have to do it. You live
for fashion.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Hello, and welcome to Nothing to Wear, the podcast that
solves fashion problems and levels up your wardrobe. I'm Lee
Campbell and every week I talk to an expert who
helps us work out how to get more out of
the clothes we already own and tells us exactly what
is and isn't worth adding to our wardrobe. And on that.
Do you have all your favorite wardrobe pieces but feel
(00:52):
a bit lost when it comes to putting them together.
The chances are you haven't yet discovered the blueprint for
your wardrobe, a way to unlock the full potential of
everything you own. Today's guest, Anthea O'Connor, is here to help.
A personal stylist and former Melbourne editor of Bogu Australia,
Anthea has spent decades helping women discover their signature style
(01:15):
and simplifying their morning routines to make it easy to
choose what to wear and how to wear it. Finding
your wardrobe blueprint is just one of her go to
tips for making fashion feel effortless. Anthea, Firstly, welcome to
the show. It is so wonderful to have you, and
I start every episode with a new guest with a
couple of questions. So, firstly, can you describe your own
(01:38):
style in three words?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Oh goodness, well high lay and thank you for having me.
Very excited to be joining you today. And look. I
have given this a little bit of thought because I thought,
by now, at this point in my career, I really
should have this downpat. I've come up with a word
called progressive classic, which I kind of made up because
I guess, like most people, i'd like to think my
sense of style is classic, but I think progressive meaning
(02:02):
I'm not going to get stuck in a style right,
and I'm always looking ahead to what the kind of reworked,
refreshed classic pieces.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
I really really like that there's the classics that shapes change,
but it's still a white shirt. It might be a
different white shirt.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
That's exactly right, and the category might be the same,
but execution is tweaked a little bit, and you're moving
forward with it.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I love that. Now are you claiming that as one
word or two?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Look? I in my notes yet, I've made it up
and it was hyphened, but we could make that one word.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yeah, that's the one word. What else have you got?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Elevated?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Which is sort of a funny old word, but I
think for me that means I'm just going to be
trying to smarten it up all the time. I'm one
of those people where I feel, you know, don't save
your good stuff, put it on, feel good, look your best,
and don't kind of save it for.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
A special occasion.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Mind being the most overdressed person in a room.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Me neither. I'm not going to wear a ball gown.
But if I've got five pairs of jeans and one
of them are the best ones, I want to reach
for the moment.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
So that's exactly my thinking as well. And then I
thought another word was maybe assured, And by that I
mean I know what looks good on me by now,
and I know how it makes me feel, and I
hope that's reflected in my style and how I'm wearing something.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
I love that too, and I hope so too. Because
this is your job. And I must agree you are
definitely those three words. Now, the saying that rings true
with most people. We wear ten percent of our wardrobe
ninety percent of the time, so there's stuff we reached
for over and over. What's in your This.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Is such a great stat and it's interesting because I've
sort of used that stat a lot myself, and I
thought we wore twenty percent of our wardrobe eighty percent
of the time.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
So I'm loving this increased.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
I feel sorry for the ninety percent though.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Oh it's so true. So what is in my ten percent?
It is definitely denim. I do feel we've had a
couple of seasons of very denim centric kind of style
and fashion looks, so denim at the moment shirts, I
wear shirts and shirting a lot. I really kind of
go between those and white T shirts.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
You and I sound like we should share a wardrobe
as long as.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
I get your skincare in the mix too. So definitely
denim shirts, T shirts and a great blazer are my
definite sort of tight pieces within that temper.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
I like that we are very similar. Now, Listen, you're
a personal stylist and you have been for many years,
so who are your clients and what do you find
are their main problems with their wardrobe? What are they
coming to you for?
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Good question, Good question. I am a stylist.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
And I work with everyday normal ladies, just regular women
who are getting about their weeks, their days and their weeks.
I have a really broad mix of clients. I've been
doing this for fourteen years since I left Vogue, and
really I'm working with clients that I began working with
back in twenty ten. So it's been a really lovely
next chapter of my fashion career. And I work with
(04:50):
regular women that can be anything from corporate executive to
stay at home mum to someone that is juggling their
own business with other aspects of their life and kind
of everything in between. So I guess the thing that
probably sets my sort of little business and what I
do a part is I sort of begin this journey
with all my gorgeous clients, and we sort of really
(05:11):
stay together. That's amazing, in and out of work together
and see each other a few times a year, once
a year, once every two years.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
It kind of depends on the client.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
And why do they come to you? Are they overwhelmed
by fashion? Do they not have time for fashion. Are
they try to get the best out of their budget
all of the above.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yes, absolutely, all of the above.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
I think essentially they're coming to me because they're busy,
they've got a lot on they've got other things that
are taking priority in their brain capacity, and they're coming
to me for my kind of expert eye. I can
cut to the chase, I know the best black pants
they need for what they need them to do. It's
a little bit, I guess I describe it a little
bit like being an interior designer.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Not many people would embark on a.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Big house renovation project without getting an expert opinion or
an expert eye in the mix for some of those
critical decisions. And I feel I sort of am a
little bit similar. But in the wardrobe clothing space, they're
coming to me for my expert eye, a bit of
a well edited and I present to them the kind
of curated edit of what I think they need for
(06:15):
what they need.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
That's such a good analogy, that is so so true.
It's like you wouldn't do a big fit out without
a professional and it's the same thing.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Embarking on the process of a personal stylist is an
investment but I do feel you're setting yourself up for
better financial decisions and outcomes with your wardrobe. Oh and
this is where it gets really funny. After we sort
of work through our process together and we set up
their wardrobe and everything's there, they'll say, oh God, I've
got a black taie function on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I need a new dress.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
And I'll say, no, you don't refer back to those
black velvet pants that we just set you up with
that look great for an after five event and that
fabulous top. So you don't need to go and do
that impulse spend panic purchase.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
I never panic purchase, but I emotional purchase a lot,
which and I'm always in some sort of emotion and
so honestly, I do need a bit of a mind.
And when it comes to shopping, it sounds like that's
what you're good for. Now. Something you've talked about before
is when you go shopping with these clients, you're like
their projector against the shop assistance, and you're their advocate.
What do you mean by that?
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I like to think that I'm a sort of a
value add in a retail space with a client, because
I really work with women that are predominantly, I guess
sort of early forties through to late fifties, and interestingly,
a lot of women in that demographic might have lost
their style confidence and lose a little bit of that
self confidence part, particularly when they're at retail and they
(07:33):
get a little bit overwhelmed by what's in front of them.
And I like to think, I'm there. I am a
bit of an advocate. I will say exactly what I think,
so whereas perhaps a retail assistant will.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Say that looks great, that looks great.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I'm there going actually they really do look great, and
actually that pair doesn't look as great, and they don't
look great because of XYZ. So creating a context and
explanation which makes the whole shopping process a lot more
informative and educated and easier.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Ultimately, Yeah, and it can be intimidating. I mean I
mostly shop online these days, but if I do go
in store, sometimes as a sales assistant is saying, how
do you look in that now the size? Let me
have a look. Oh that looks great, And sometimes you're like, oh, okay,
and you might end up buying, or we might end
up leaving because it's a lot But if you tried
on other things in that story, you might have found
some winners.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
One hundred percent, and I really kind of make that
retail time count. I'm out there running around the floor
making sure I've got all the items that I think
are right for that client. How they move back with
the pieces that we've already pulled, So I guess I'm
sort of that edit running around.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Half the time, I'm like, oh, I need a different size.
I can't be bothered to go put my clothes on,
go get it. I'll just leave that's.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Exactly right, Whereas I'm out there getting the size above below.
So we've got all the options and we're doing that
in real time, bang bang bang yes no, yes no.
So it ends up banging a much more efficient way
to go shopping.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
And speaking of in real time. So you take these
clients shopping rever possible. Do you ever work with people
that are into state? Do you have people that shop
online or do you ever recommend, you know, online purchases.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
The nature of how we do our retail what I
call our retail appointment together, because we start with the
wardrobe board at their house, in their own wardrobe. Part
two is the retail appointment. That has changed significantly in
the last four or five years since COVID, So pretty
much the model now is I will go back to
with clients with a full recommendations list and it is
largely online. Now some things we will do in person
(09:22):
at retail, but largely it will be online. And that
again depends on the client and the brief and what
we're trying to fulfill. It is a mix, but it
is definitely skewing more towards online. And then we go
we are fitting, and this is where it gets even better,
because we do a fitting then at the house and
we are trying all the pieces on with their existing
items of clothing okay, their accessories in their own personal environment,
(09:46):
and it just makes for a I think a more
efficient experience at getting the whole.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Big picture kind of a wardrobe at it, and then
a shopping situation of some sort. And then at the end,
it's kind of pulling together the older than new.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Pulling it all together.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
We're integrating the new items that we're using to rework
and refresh their old existing items because we don't just
throw obviously, we don't just come in and move everything out.
I'm going into the eye to say they're great, but
we're going to wear them this way. We're going to
try those pants with a whole different concept of top
or a different shape blazer. So we sort of em
up the things that are certainly there with potential. We
then bring in the new items that are going to
(10:19):
just update and refresh what they have, and we just
do a massive, big fitting together at the end. And
then that allows them to get a big picture, complete
sense of how their wardrobe is going to work for
them and how they're going to get dressed every day
because seeing it in situ.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
And you need to write because otherwise you just think, oh,
that new top goes with those pants. But actually, if
you take the time to work out all the combos,
you've got so much more to wear than you think
you do. You've got some great tips. So you have
three objectives, and I want to break down each of them.
Their first is finding the blueprint to your wardrobe, the
second is the style uniform, and then the thirty is
unlocking the way women get dressed in the morning. So
(10:52):
kind of three steps. Can you explain the blueprint? First?
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Well, I guess when I.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Say blueprint, it really is identifying and establishing what your
personal style is. So once we get a handle on
what that is, we can then sort of put some
pigs in the ground, if you like, What are the
items of clothes that are going to contribute to that
sort of style blueprint?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Okay, what are the things you need? Once we establish
what that blueprint is, it just makes every future purchase
a little easier.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Yes, and it relates back to what you have, how
you get dressed, how you want to look.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
How can someone at home establish their blueprint? They don't
have a you there. Do they look at their ten
percent the stuff they wear all the time? Do they
assess their lifestyle? You know, they've got a toddler, they're
out on the floor. You know, they're a lawyer and
they've always got to wear, you know, a certain style.
How does one find their blueprint?
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Get a big clothing rack or two, pull out everything
and start organizing into groups. Pull out the things you
wear all the time, okay they're over there. Pull out
the things you really wish you could wear more of,
but you're a little bit unsure as to how to
do that. They're the things you really like that you
find appealing from a style point of view.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Put those on another rack.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Put the things that you just have in warning ages
and you've got no idea why they're still hanging around
taking out wardrobe space. Put them on another rack, and
then a picture just slowly emerges. Okay, I'm wearing those
things all the time. Am I wearing them because I
want to? Or it's just a default position because I'm
used to it.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Little threads will start to emerge.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Now obviously if I'm there, I can sort of make
that connection a little faster, But it does become obvious.
You can see what you're wearing a lot of you
can see what's sparking, enjoy what you like wearing, and
then you can sort of define what are those pieces
that make me feel good that I feel good in
that I want to wear more of, And it.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Kind of just starts to gain a little bit of ments.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Makes sense, it does, So that's working out the blueprint.
And then from there, I guess we're left with what
you call the style uniform, which everybody has. But everyone
must have a different style uniform.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
One hundred percent. No one's meant to look the same.
That's all a bit no thank you.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
A lot of people will associate the word uniform have
a negative connotation about it.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
It sounds a bit boring, but it doesn't. But that's
not what we mean, not at all.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
And when I say uniform, I really just mean pertaining
to the individual woman and client, because I think a
lot of people find sort of solace and assurance in
having a little bit of a boundary or a uniform definition,
which is okay, what does uniform mean?
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Well, it means it's a collection of pieces that I
wear that I like that all work together.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
So I guess my big thing when working with clients
is I want to establish a framework of clothes, let's
call that their uniform that all work together more than
one way.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Things that we're not going to have really.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Are items that sit on their own in isolation, that
don't really do anything.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, but you've got to work hard to work out
how to wear them, because clothes shouldn't be that way exactly.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Like, you look at them and you think, I want
to wear that, but I've got no idea what's going
with that? Is it a skirt that then brings a
top and a shoe issue with it? Is it a
random top that makes no sense with your color palette
and the tones of the other items in your wardrobe.
So once we kind of move those things on, we
then introduce shapes and colors and things that all kind
of work together.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
So you can basically.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Put six of your tops with two pezz of your
pants and all of a sudden, how's my MAT's going
twelve different looks more?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
And that's kind of you captual wardrobe, but instead of
sort of there's so many terms for it, but it's
kind of almost going through your wardrobe, working out your blueprint,
and then you're like, oh, that's my style uniform, and
then you can buy more of the similar look or
length or whatever, because you know that's what you're subconsciously
throwing on every morning. It's just making that conscious Okay,
(14:32):
this is my uniform exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
It's like we need to blow it all up to
bring it back together with less pieces that prove their worth,
that show how they work a multitude of ways.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yes, Like, honestly, we are not buying a blazer unless.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
It works three ways good across a number of different
dress codes, and if it doesn't get that tick of
approval for me, it's not coming home with the client.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
It's so funny you say that because I did a
mini clear out on the weekend and there was this
blazer that I bought but still had tags on maybe
nine months ago, and I tried to make her work.
I love the color, but it's just not part of
my style uniform. And I was trying to make the
blazer fit into my style and it just didn't. So
I've donated her. Someone will love her. I liked her
on her own, but she did not form part of
(15:15):
my style uniform.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
That's kind of it, right, That is sort of my
whole ethos with my clients. It's things that don't make sense,
that don't then fit into the picture that we create.
We need to park those for now. Now, having said
(15:37):
all of that, you absolutely can have an item that
sparks joy and is therefore no other reason than it
makes you happy and you love it.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
So it's not all just rules and regulations of all
the extra.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
I guess that's sort of different. Like you say, spark joy,
it's kind of the Marie Condo of your wardrobe. It's
like that sparks joy. But we're talking style uniform day
to day, so that our busy, rushed mornings aren't spent
forty five minutes trying to make that bloody blazer work.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
It is all about at the end of the day,
my whole process with clients is about making getting dressed
every day easier.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
And that's what I want to ask you about, because
you finally touch on unlocking getting dressed in the morning
and not hating it and feeling frenzied and throwing clothes
all over the floor or throwing on something that doesn't
make you feel good. So how does this work? How
do we enjoy getting dressed in the morning.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
By the time that I've gone through the process with
my clients from sort of the wardrobe board it through
the retail appointment to the fitting where we do a
styling session and fitting at home, we've demonstrated.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Fifty looks and I photograph it. I put it together for.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
The client with So do you have them put on
the outfit and your photograph.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
It one million percent?
Speaker 1 (16:47):
So then they've got a little bible of outfits to
look through.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Percent.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
It's like inspo for the Tuesday morning when it's six
degrees in Melbourne. You've lost the will to leave. You've
got to be for a meeting. What the heck am
I wearing page twelve done, done, and it's just a guideline.
It will spark thoughts on how to put other pieces together.
Obviously it's not entirely conclusive. It can't be every single combat.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yeah, I might feel them confident enough to go out
and buy a few new pieces, but I'm sure they
know how to work them back in exactly.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
The whole point is that I set them up. I
create this kind of foundation, this platform where yep, I
know how I want to look, I know the pieces
that I feel good in, I know how I want
my style to progress. And then they do have the
confidence to layer in and add the pieces that are
going to work back with those core foundation pieces. It
ends up being a cost saving because not only are
(17:37):
they set up, and they just don't need to keep adding, adding, adding,
When they ring me and they get in touch, it's
like I've got to get this. I am just like
big Brother bad news.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I'm like, absolutely no, I.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Do not need that. Put the credit card away.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
A hard no on that and forget it, and we
love it.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
If people don't have you at home, should they put
on their combos, stand in front of a full link
mirror and take a photo and save them on their phone.
How should people because I love the visual reminder, because
I'm so forgetful, So how can we do it at
home without the joy of you there?
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Absolutely, you need to dedicate a Sunday afternoon colle some
space in your brin to think.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Okay, hang on a minute, I'm just gonna go back
and look in my wardrobe. What have I got?
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Pull some things out, try some outfits on things that
you see on Instagram, tiktop online, good old magazines. I
still buy them.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
I still read.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
I love them.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Sheets behind me. I love that. I've got teest sheets.
There's a tear sheet there I've carried around for thirty years.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
I love it. Yeah, there's nothing like just having sparking
an idea from a photo that's.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Exactly right, and it will often exactly get you thinking
about that and then something else from there, and just
pull together those references, those little inspo nuggets, and then
try things on, photograph them. Yeah, create a folder in
your phone and you've just got them all there.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
And just shoes at this point as well, and always shoes,
full outfit.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Full outfits. Honestly, often I'll be in a change room.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
With a client they've got the outfit on and they've
left their socks on, like you've got joking.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Oh you got that's me. I shop in active wear
leggings and I just try dresses on over leggings because
that's how.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
That's absolutely not happening. So sorry, I'm like the time,
like the school too.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
No, it's true, because then you think something works in
your head. It's Tuesday morning, you're running late, and then
the shoes don't look good and you're like, o'h bug it.
You rip everything off and chuck on your boring black outfit.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
So take that extra sort of twenty minutes on Sunday
to map it out in your brain, find your shoes,
and then all of a sudden, I promise you, once
you start, things start making sense and it sort of
is self fulfilling.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
And you know what I mean. I know it's November now,
but we'll blink and it's Christmas. This could be a
good little project to do if you've got some time
off over Christmas and New Year's, have a play a
new orderbe it's kind of like a New Year reset.
And then even if you just start with fifteen outfits
you like, that'll help.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
One hundred percent and it is often the time of
year where I do get the most calls because it
is that call to action to sort of start the year, refresh,
clean the slide, start again, and also think about all
the items that you're not wearing that are taking up
ninety percent that we talked about. You've had a great
time with those pieces, so how about we pass them
on to someone else who's going to get value.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
And we're out of.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Them, or you haven't and you feel guilty and they're
just sitting there making you feel bad, So all them,
donate them and get them out.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
One hundred percent everyone wins in that situation. And I
love the increasing circular nature of fashion. That's just been
something that's fallen into my process over the last sort
of probably five years, and I love it. And often
at the wardrobe bought at stage I'm leaving. I left
to clients with twenty three garbage.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Bags last week.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
To be fair, that was an old time peak because
there was a lot she'd sort of had twenty years
worth of things in her work.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Yeah, but how fun your job sounds so fine?
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Well, I just want to remind people fashion is so
not glamorous because at my age I'm still lugging garbage
bags of clothes out of the back and the boot.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Of my car and scouring through dusty wardrobes and cupboards.
I love it.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
I guess in summery it's about what are the items
you already have? What are the new things we can
layer in to just give you a refreshed, renewed sense
of personal style, give you a little bit of a
pep in your step, because, let's be honest, new things
and shopping and sparkling new things is exciting and unlocks
that dopamine and we all feel good about that. How
do we keep that balanced? And then how do we
make getting dressed joyful again? For a lot of women,
(21:15):
getting dressed it's just a chore that is negative and
not great. I want to make women feel good about
how they look when they are out there in the world,
presenting the best version of themselves. I know people say
clothes and fashion is vacuous and shallow, but funnily enough,
it's a tool that helps us present the best version
of ourself.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Agrees present the best version of ourself and just feel
happy and confident.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
And feel good.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Now, Anthea, we're about to jump into bougie and budget.
But first, if our listeners want to find out more
of your tips at about your services, where can they
find you?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
They can have a look at my Instagram at Theoro
O'Connor and my page is called the Fashion Edit but
it's under my name, and also my website at Theoconnor
dot com. So I've got a lot of information about
how i work with my clients and my services on
my website, so a bit more detail there.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
It's very expensive, honey, how mud are these percent bougie
and budget? So sticking to the theme of sort of
blueprint personal style uniform, I am going to shock you
because I'm normally jeans and a T shirt. But we're
heading into the humid Sydney weather. So I've got what
is my sort of style uniform for summer. I've got
(22:34):
a more expensive skirt and a more affordable tank. But
do you want to go first with your boogie or
your budget?
Speaker 3 (22:40):
A bougie item worth the investment is a blazer and
now I am from Melbourne, so really we are wearing
blazers three hundred and sixty out of three sixty five
And I won Fashion Salotto last year when I was
in London and I found a saline blazer for sixty
percent off.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
In my eyes, thank you fashion.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Yeah, that's your good fashion karma coming back to you.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
So that's been just an absolute winner and I love
it and I'll wear it forever. And it was a
bit different to what I'd normally buy, but it all
just fell into place.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
I love it. So bougie blazers are worth the spend.
It's certainly worth buying as well as you can in
that category.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
In that space, get a great cut, a great style
that works for your body shape, that you feel good in,
and it's going to go the distance.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
So tick worth the money, I think, particularly because when
you throw on a blazer to it just makes you
feel powerful, like it is a power item. I don't
know why, but.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Well it makes you feel pulled together and polish and
like you've sort of finished the job.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Yes, absolutely, that's a good way to put it. And
what's your budget?
Speaker 3 (23:41):
Okay, well the budget and no surprise here is a
white T shirt and my current favorite is the Cause
Clean cut T shirt.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
And that's such a good tea Honestly, I feel like
I did to on a tea band, but every time
I just see a good tea, I can't not buy it.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Well, I now have a wardrobe of bhaite T shirt,
so you know, please to say not a full war
drobe of blazers.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
It's a wardrobe of white T shirt.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
And they all do different things, right, So they do
different way of fabric, different neckline, sleep, they all do
little different things so few but that Coose T shirt
is my new current fave and it's probably be sold out,
but you know at the end of this season, because
I've told that.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Many people, make sure you stuck up before you tell
anyone else. Well, speaking of cause my bougie is from
Cosh Oh good. It's the Maxi slip skirt, yes, because
I love a slipskirt and a tank or a white tea,
especially it's quite humid here in summer in Sydney and
also perimenopause. I'm getting hot. I run hot, I run hot,
(24:37):
so I'm normally jeans and a tea. But my kind
of version of that is a slip skirt. But the
reason I love this one is it's fully lined, yes,
because I don't want that cheap sort of satin that
snap clings to all your boulders and your undies. This
is fully lined. It comes in a light sort of
blue dusty color. It's not that kind of kid like
baby blue. It's a mature light blue, fully lined silk
(25:00):
and cotton. It's two hundred and fifteen dollars. So you
can definitely get a lot more affordable slip skirts. You know,
you can get good affordable ones, but you can also
get nasty ones. Nice not too high, slid up the side,
but enough that you can walk. Yes, you gotta be
got to walk. So I love that flat heels, sneakers, honestly,
anything with that, all of it. And then I'm putting
with that. I've actually got to this in two colors.
(25:22):
It's a bit like your tea. It's h and M
Nit tank thirty four ninety nine. It looks like a
good old Bonds singlet, but it's a thicker ribbed knit
whereby the straps are thick enough to wear a bra.
It comes in black, white, beige, and red.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
I'm making notes because I'm buying that that we hang up.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
It is just such a good basic tank. You could
wear that with a lovely wide leg pant and a heel,
your jeans, shorts, your blazer, your chuck on a shirt.
You know, it's just one of those really good all rounders.
So that's my blueprint for this summer. I'm mixing it
up perfect.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
And can I just add around that tank?
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Can you sort of move out of a cotton tank
cotton tank into that more of a knit tank all
of a sudden that feels like a dressier.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Top, you know, that's it's a nice top concept.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Yes, and goes back into the hole, back with your jeans,
back with your jean shorts, back with knee length denim
jean shorts. That we're seeing a lot of the sum
that's it. It's going to roll out one hundred ways.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Yes, But then you know beautiful like I've got like
a cream pair of wide leg pants, like I could
check on a heel and go somewhere quite fancy with
that tank. And I like that the cut looks like
a traditional white singlet, but the knit just brings up
that elevation. And it's thirty five bucks.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Yeah. No, I'm just going to be jumping on.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
There in the minute, will anthe. I think we should
go on and buy each other's purchasers before we tell
the whole world. Thank you for joining me. I love
the blueprint. I've got it in my head, but I'm
going to go home and do it physically because I
know my style uniform. I'm a bit of a chameleon.
But at the end of the day, I know what's
going to be on that first rack you do, and I.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Think it's just about taking that formal step to moving
all the other stuff on, just conceding that these are
the pieces you wear.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Yes, you know.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
The truth is you don't need a lot in the end.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Now, that's the thing if you get rid of the clutter,
the liberating feeling. And I see it with my clients.
The minute we move the volume out, everyone's shoulders go down,
things become clearer, things become more joyful as we talked about,
and it all becomes a lot easier.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
And we've sort of untangled the.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Little sort of not fashion my wardrobe and how I
get dressed.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
It all just sort of I love it.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
It's so true, it is. It's simple. We make things
hard for ourselves. Anthea, thank you so much for joining me.
I will be having you back soon because you're a
wealth of knowledge.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
Oh you're the best leade. Thank you for having me.
It's been a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Thank you for listening to Nothing to Wear. Don't forget
to sign up to the Nothing to Wear newsletter. There's
a link in the show notes and it is free.
And if you have enjoyed this episode and it has
inspired you to shop your own wardrobe, you can listen
to our episode on the six new season looks you
already own. There's a link in the show notes so
that too. See you next week. This episode was produced
(27:53):
by Grace Rubray with audio production by Lou Hill. This
podcast is powered by our subscribers. If you believe in
independent women's media and want to support us, there's a
link in the show notes, and a big thank you
to all our current subscribers.
You're listening to Amma Mia podcast. Mama Mia acknowledges the
traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast is
recorded on. Whoever said orange is the new pink but
seriously disturved laurels for spraying groundbreaking?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Oh my god, you have to do it. You live
for fashion.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Hello, and welcome to Nothing to Wear, the podcast that
solves fashion problems and levels up your wardrobe. I'm Lee
Campbell and every week I talk to an expert who
helps us work out how to get more out of
the clothes we already own and tells us exactly what
is and isn't worth adding to our wardrobe. And on that.
Do you have all your favorite wardrobe pieces but feel
(00:52):
a bit lost when it comes to putting them together.
The chances are you haven't yet discovered the blueprint for
your wardrobe, a way to unlock the full potential of
everything you own. Today's guest, Anthea O'Connor, is here to help.
A personal stylist and former Melbourne editor of Bogu Australia,
Anthea has spent decades helping women discover their signature style
(01:15):
and simplifying their morning routines to make it easy to
choose what to wear and how to wear it. Finding
your wardrobe blueprint is just one of her go to
tips for making fashion feel effortless. Anthea, Firstly, welcome to
the show. It is so wonderful to have you, and
I start every episode with a new guest with a
couple of questions. So, firstly, can you describe your own
(01:38):
style in three words?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Oh goodness, well high lay and thank you for having me.
Very excited to be joining you today. And look. I
have given this a little bit of thought because I thought,
by now, at this point in my career, I really
should have this downpat. I've come up with a word
called progressive classic, which I kind of made up because
I guess, like most people, i'd like to think my
sense of style is classic, but I think progressive meaning
(02:02):
I'm not going to get stuck in a style right,
and I'm always looking ahead to what the kind of reworked,
refreshed classic pieces.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
I really really like that there's the classics that shapes change,
but it's still a white shirt. It might be a
different white shirt.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
That's exactly right, and the category might be the same,
but execution is tweaked a little bit, and you're moving
forward with it.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I love that. Now are you claiming that as one
word or two?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Look? I in my notes yet, I've made it up
and it was hyphened, but we could make that one word.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yeah, that's the one word. What else have you got?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Elevated?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Which is sort of a funny old word, but I
think for me that means I'm just going to be
trying to smarten it up all the time. I'm one
of those people where I feel, you know, don't save
your good stuff, put it on, feel good, look your best,
and don't kind of save it for.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
A special occasion.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Mind being the most overdressed person in a room.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Me neither. I'm not going to wear a ball gown.
But if I've got five pairs of jeans and one
of them are the best ones, I want to reach
for the moment.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
So that's exactly my thinking as well. And then I
thought another word was maybe assured, And by that I
mean I know what looks good on me by now,
and I know how it makes me feel, and I
hope that's reflected in my style and how I'm wearing something.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
I love that too, and I hope so too. Because
this is your job. And I must agree you are
definitely those three words. Now, the saying that rings true
with most people. We wear ten percent of our wardrobe
ninety percent of the time, so there's stuff we reached
for over and over. What's in your This.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Is such a great stat and it's interesting because I've
sort of used that stat a lot myself, and I
thought we wore twenty percent of our wardrobe eighty percent
of the time.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
So I'm loving this increased.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
I feel sorry for the ninety percent though.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Oh it's so true. So what is in my ten percent?
It is definitely denim. I do feel we've had a
couple of seasons of very denim centric kind of style
and fashion looks, so denim at the moment shirts, I
wear shirts and shirting a lot. I really kind of
go between those and white T shirts.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
You and I sound like we should share a wardrobe
as long as.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
I get your skincare in the mix too. So definitely
denim shirts, T shirts and a great blazer are my
definite sort of tight pieces within that temper.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
I like that we are very similar. Now, Listen, you're
a personal stylist and you have been for many years,
so who are your clients and what do you find
are their main problems with their wardrobe? What are they
coming to you for?
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Good question, Good question. I am a stylist.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
And I work with everyday normal ladies, just regular women
who are getting about their weeks, their days and their weeks.
I have a really broad mix of clients. I've been
doing this for fourteen years since I left Vogue, and
really I'm working with clients that I began working with
back in twenty ten. So it's been a really lovely
next chapter of my fashion career. And I work with
(04:50):
regular women that can be anything from corporate executive to
stay at home mum to someone that is juggling their
own business with other aspects of their life and kind
of everything in between. So I guess the thing that
probably sets my sort of little business and what I
do a part is I sort of begin this journey
with all my gorgeous clients, and we sort of really
(05:11):
stay together. That's amazing, in and out of work together
and see each other a few times a year, once
a year, once every two years.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
It kind of depends on the client.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
And why do they come to you? Are they overwhelmed
by fashion? Do they not have time for fashion. Are
they try to get the best out of their budget
all of the above.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yes, absolutely, all of the above.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
I think essentially they're coming to me because they're busy,
they've got a lot on they've got other things that
are taking priority in their brain capacity, and they're coming
to me for my kind of expert eye. I can
cut to the chase, I know the best black pants
they need for what they need them to do. It's
a little bit, I guess I describe it a little
bit like being an interior designer.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Not many people would embark on a.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Big house renovation project without getting an expert opinion or
an expert eye in the mix for some of those
critical decisions. And I feel I sort of am a
little bit similar. But in the wardrobe clothing space, they're
coming to me for my expert eye, a bit of
a well edited and I present to them the kind
of curated edit of what I think they need for
(06:15):
what they need.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
That's such a good analogy, that is so so true.
It's like you wouldn't do a big fit out without
a professional and it's the same thing.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Embarking on the process of a personal stylist is an
investment but I do feel you're setting yourself up for
better financial decisions and outcomes with your wardrobe. Oh and
this is where it gets really funny. After we sort
of work through our process together and we set up
their wardrobe and everything's there, they'll say, oh God, I've
got a black taie function on Thursday.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
I need a new dress.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
And I'll say, no, you don't refer back to those
black velvet pants that we just set you up with
that look great for an after five event and that
fabulous top. So you don't need to go and do
that impulse spend panic purchase.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
I never panic purchase, but I emotional purchase a lot,
which and I'm always in some sort of emotion and
so honestly, I do need a bit of a mind.
And when it comes to shopping, it sounds like that's
what you're good for. Now. Something you've talked about before
is when you go shopping with these clients, you're like
their projector against the shop assistance, and you're their advocate.
What do you mean by that?
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I like to think that I'm a sort of a
value add in a retail space with a client, because
I really work with women that are predominantly, I guess
sort of early forties through to late fifties, and interestingly,
a lot of women in that demographic might have lost
their style confidence and lose a little bit of that
self confidence part, particularly when they're at retail and they
(07:33):
get a little bit overwhelmed by what's in front of them.
And I like to think, I'm there. I am a
bit of an advocate. I will say exactly what I think,
so whereas perhaps a retail assistant will.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Say that looks great, that looks great.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I'm there going actually they really do look great, and
actually that pair doesn't look as great, and they don't
look great because of XYZ. So creating a context and
explanation which makes the whole shopping process a lot more
informative and educated and easier.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Ultimately, Yeah, and it can be intimidating. I mean I
mostly shop online these days, but if I do go
in store, sometimes as a sales assistant is saying, how
do you look in that now the size? Let me
have a look. Oh that looks great, And sometimes you're like, oh, okay,
and you might end up buying, or we might end
up leaving because it's a lot But if you tried
on other things in that story, you might have found
some winners.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
One hundred percent, and I really kind of make that
retail time count. I'm out there running around the floor
making sure I've got all the items that I think
are right for that client. How they move back with
the pieces that we've already pulled, So I guess I'm
sort of that edit running around.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Half the time, I'm like, oh, I need a different size.
I can't be bothered to go put my clothes on,
go get it. I'll just leave that's.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Exactly right, Whereas I'm out there getting the size above below.
So we've got all the options and we're doing that
in real time, bang bang bang yes no, yes no.
So it ends up banging a much more efficient way
to go shopping.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
And speaking of in real time. So you take these
clients shopping rever possible. Do you ever work with people
that are into state? Do you have people that shop
online or do you ever recommend, you know, online purchases.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
The nature of how we do our retail what I
call our retail appointment together, because we start with the
wardrobe board at their house, in their own wardrobe. Part
two is the retail appointment. That has changed significantly in
the last four or five years since COVID, So pretty
much the model now is I will go back to
with clients with a full recommendations list and it is
largely online. Now some things we will do in person
(09:22):
at retail, but largely it will be online. And that
again depends on the client and the brief and what
we're trying to fulfill. It is a mix, but it
is definitely skewing more towards online. And then we go
we are fitting, and this is where it gets even better,
because we do a fitting then at the house and
we are trying all the pieces on with their existing
items of clothing okay, their accessories in their own personal environment,
(09:46):
and it just makes for a I think a more
efficient experience at getting the whole.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Big picture kind of a wardrobe at it, and then
a shopping situation of some sort. And then at the end,
it's kind of pulling together the older than new.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Pulling it all together.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
We're integrating the new items that we're using to rework
and refresh their old existing items because we don't just
throw obviously, we don't just come in and move everything out.
I'm going into the eye to say they're great, but
we're going to wear them this way. We're going to
try those pants with a whole different concept of top
or a different shape blazer. So we sort of em
up the things that are certainly there with potential. We
then bring in the new items that are going to
(10:19):
just update and refresh what they have, and we just
do a massive, big fitting together at the end. And
then that allows them to get a big picture, complete
sense of how their wardrobe is going to work for
them and how they're going to get dressed every day
because seeing it in situ.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
And you need to write because otherwise you just think, oh,
that new top goes with those pants. But actually, if
you take the time to work out all the combos,
you've got so much more to wear than you think
you do. You've got some great tips. So you have
three objectives, and I want to break down each of them.
Their first is finding the blueprint to your wardrobe, the
second is the style uniform, and then the thirty is
unlocking the way women get dressed in the morning. So
(10:52):
kind of three steps. Can you explain the blueprint? First?
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Well, I guess when I.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Say blueprint, it really is identifying and establishing what your
personal style is. So once we get a handle on
what that is, we can then sort of put some
pigs in the ground, if you like, What are the
items of clothes that are going to contribute to that
sort of style blueprint?
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Okay, what are the things you need? Once we establish
what that blueprint is, it just makes every future purchase
a little easier.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Yes, and it relates back to what you have, how
you get dressed, how you want to look.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
How can someone at home establish their blueprint? They don't
have a you there. Do they look at their ten
percent the stuff they wear all the time? Do they
assess their lifestyle? You know, they've got a toddler, they're
out on the floor. You know, they're a lawyer and
they've always got to wear, you know, a certain style.
How does one find their blueprint?
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Get a big clothing rack or two, pull out everything
and start organizing into groups. Pull out the things you
wear all the time, okay they're over there. Pull out
the things you really wish you could wear more of,
but you're a little bit unsure as to how to
do that. They're the things you really like that you
find appealing from a style point of view.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Put those on another rack.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Put the things that you just have in warning ages
and you've got no idea why they're still hanging around
taking out wardrobe space. Put them on another rack, and
then a picture just slowly emerges. Okay, I'm wearing those
things all the time. Am I wearing them because I
want to? Or it's just a default position because I'm
used to it.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Little threads will start to emerge.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Now obviously if I'm there, I can sort of make
that connection a little faster, But it does become obvious.
You can see what you're wearing a lot of you
can see what's sparking, enjoy what you like wearing, and
then you can sort of define what are those pieces
that make me feel good that I feel good in
that I want to wear more of, And it.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Kind of just starts to gain a little bit of ments.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Makes sense, it does, So that's working out the blueprint.
And then from there, I guess we're left with what
you call the style uniform, which everybody has. But everyone
must have a different style uniform.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
One hundred percent. No one's meant to look the same.
That's all a bit no thank you.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
A lot of people will associate the word uniform have
a negative connotation about it.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
It sounds a bit boring, but it doesn't. But that's
not what we mean, not at all.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
And when I say uniform, I really just mean pertaining
to the individual woman and client, because I think a
lot of people find sort of solace and assurance in
having a little bit of a boundary or a uniform definition,
which is okay, what does uniform mean?
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Well, it means it's a collection of pieces that I
wear that I like that all work together.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
So I guess my big thing when working with clients
is I want to establish a framework of clothes, let's
call that their uniform that all work together more than
one way.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Things that we're not going to have really.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Are items that sit on their own in isolation, that
don't really do anything.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, but you've got to work hard to work out
how to wear them, because clothes shouldn't be that way exactly.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Like, you look at them and you think, I want
to wear that, but I've got no idea what's going
with that? Is it a skirt that then brings a
top and a shoe issue with it? Is it a
random top that makes no sense with your color palette
and the tones of the other items in your wardrobe.
So once we kind of move those things on, we
then introduce shapes and colors and things that all kind
of work together.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
So you can basically.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Put six of your tops with two pezz of your
pants and all of a sudden, how's my MAT's going
twelve different looks more?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
And that's kind of you captual wardrobe, but instead of
sort of there's so many terms for it, but it's
kind of almost going through your wardrobe, working out your blueprint,
and then you're like, oh, that's my style uniform, and
then you can buy more of the similar look or
length or whatever, because you know that's what you're subconsciously
throwing on every morning. It's just making that conscious Okay,
(14:32):
this is my uniform exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
It's like we need to blow it all up to
bring it back together with less pieces that prove their worth,
that show how they work a multitude of ways.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yes, Like, honestly, we are not buying a blazer unless.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
It works three ways good across a number of different
dress codes, and if it doesn't get that tick of
approval for me, it's not coming home with the client.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
It's so funny you say that because I did a
mini clear out on the weekend and there was this
blazer that I bought but still had tags on maybe
nine months ago, and I tried to make her work.
I love the color, but it's just not part of
my style uniform. And I was trying to make the
blazer fit into my style and it just didn't. So
I've donated her. Someone will love her. I liked her
on her own, but she did not form part of
(15:15):
my style uniform.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
That's kind of it, right, That is sort of my
whole ethos with my clients. It's things that don't make sense,
that don't then fit into the picture that we create.
We need to park those for now. Now, having said
(15:37):
all of that, you absolutely can have an item that
sparks joy and is therefore no other reason than it
makes you happy and you love it.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
So it's not all just rules and regulations of all
the extra.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
I guess that's sort of different. Like you say, spark joy,
it's kind of the Marie Condo of your wardrobe. It's
like that sparks joy. But we're talking style uniform day
to day, so that our busy, rushed mornings aren't spent
forty five minutes trying to make that bloody blazer work.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
It is all about at the end of the day,
my whole process with clients is about making getting dressed
every day easier.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
And that's what I want to ask you about, because
you finally touch on unlocking getting dressed in the morning
and not hating it and feeling frenzied and throwing clothes
all over the floor or throwing on something that doesn't
make you feel good. So how does this work? How
do we enjoy getting dressed in the morning.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
By the time that I've gone through the process with
my clients from sort of the wardrobe board it through
the retail appointment to the fitting where we do a
styling session and fitting at home, we've demonstrated.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Fifty looks and I photograph it. I put it together for.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
The client with So do you have them put on
the outfit and your photograph.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
It one million percent?
Speaker 1 (16:47):
So then they've got a little bible of outfits to
look through.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Percent.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
It's like inspo for the Tuesday morning when it's six
degrees in Melbourne. You've lost the will to leave. You've
got to be for a meeting. What the heck am
I wearing page twelve done, done, and it's just a guideline.
It will spark thoughts on how to put other pieces together.
Obviously it's not entirely conclusive. It can't be every single combat.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Yeah, I might feel them confident enough to go out
and buy a few new pieces, but I'm sure they
know how to work them back in exactly.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
The whole point is that I set them up. I
create this kind of foundation, this platform where yep, I
know how I want to look, I know the pieces
that I feel good in, I know how I want
my style to progress. And then they do have the
confidence to layer in and add the pieces that are
going to work back with those core foundation pieces. It
ends up being a cost saving because not only are
(17:37):
they set up, and they just don't need to keep adding, adding, adding,
When they ring me and they get in touch, it's
like I've got to get this. I am just like
big Brother bad news.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I'm like, absolutely no, I.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Do not need that. Put the credit card away.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
A hard no on that and forget it, and we
love it.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
If people don't have you at home, should they put
on their combos, stand in front of a full link
mirror and take a photo and save them on their phone.
How should people because I love the visual reminder, because
I'm so forgetful, So how can we do it at
home without the joy of you there?
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Absolutely, you need to dedicate a Sunday afternoon colle some
space in your brin to think.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Okay, hang on a minute, I'm just gonna go back
and look in my wardrobe. What have I got?
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Pull some things out, try some outfits on things that
you see on Instagram, tiktop online, good old magazines. I
still buy them.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
I still read.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
I love them.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
Sheets behind me. I love that. I've got teest sheets.
There's a tear sheet there I've carried around for thirty years.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
I love it. Yeah, there's nothing like just having sparking
an idea from a photo that's.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Exactly right, and it will often exactly get you thinking
about that and then something else from there, and just
pull together those references, those little inspo nuggets, and then
try things on, photograph them. Yeah, create a folder in
your phone and you've just got them all there.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
And just shoes at this point as well, and always shoes,
full outfit.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Full outfits. Honestly, often I'll be in a change room.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
With a client they've got the outfit on and they've
left their socks on, like you've got joking.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Oh you got that's me. I shop in active wear
leggings and I just try dresses on over leggings because
that's how.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
That's absolutely not happening. So sorry, I'm like the time,
like the school too.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
No, it's true, because then you think something works in
your head. It's Tuesday morning, you're running late, and then
the shoes don't look good and you're like, o'h bug it.
You rip everything off and chuck on your boring black outfit.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
So take that extra sort of twenty minutes on Sunday
to map it out in your brain, find your shoes,
and then all of a sudden, I promise you, once
you start, things start making sense and it sort of
is self fulfilling.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
And you know what I mean. I know it's November now,
but we'll blink and it's Christmas. This could be a
good little project to do if you've got some time
off over Christmas and New Year's, have a play a
new orderbe it's kind of like a New Year reset.
And then even if you just start with fifteen outfits
you like, that'll help.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
One hundred percent and it is often the time of
year where I do get the most calls because it
is that call to action to sort of start the year, refresh,
clean the slide, start again, and also think about all
the items that you're not wearing that are taking up
ninety percent that we talked about. You've had a great
time with those pieces, so how about we pass them
on to someone else who's going to get value.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
And we're out of.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
Them, or you haven't and you feel guilty and they're
just sitting there making you feel bad, So all them,
donate them and get them out.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
One hundred percent everyone wins in that situation. And I
love the increasing circular nature of fashion. That's just been
something that's fallen into my process over the last sort
of probably five years, and I love it. And often
at the wardrobe bought at stage I'm leaving. I left
to clients with twenty three garbage.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Bags last week.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
To be fair, that was an old time peak because
there was a lot she'd sort of had twenty years
worth of things in her work.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Yeah, but how fun your job sounds so fine?
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Well, I just want to remind people fashion is so
not glamorous because at my age I'm still lugging garbage
bags of clothes out of the back and the boot.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Of my car and scouring through dusty wardrobes and cupboards.
I love it.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
I guess in summery it's about what are the items
you already have? What are the new things we can
layer in to just give you a refreshed, renewed sense
of personal style, give you a little bit of a
pep in your step, because, let's be honest, new things
and shopping and sparkling new things is exciting and unlocks
that dopamine and we all feel good about that. How
do we keep that balanced? And then how do we
make getting dressed joyful again? For a lot of women,
(21:15):
getting dressed it's just a chore that is negative and
not great. I want to make women feel good about
how they look when they are out there in the world,
presenting the best version of themselves. I know people say
clothes and fashion is vacuous and shallow, but funnily enough,
it's a tool that helps us present the best version
of ourself.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Agrees present the best version of ourself and just feel
happy and confident.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
And feel good.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Now, Anthea, we're about to jump into bougie and budget.
But first, if our listeners want to find out more
of your tips at about your services, where can they
find you?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
They can have a look at my Instagram at Theoro
O'Connor and my page is called the Fashion Edit but
it's under my name, and also my website at Theoconnor
dot com. So I've got a lot of information about
how i work with my clients and my services on
my website, so a bit more detail there.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
It's very expensive, honey, how mud are these percent bougie
and budget? So sticking to the theme of sort of
blueprint personal style uniform, I am going to shock you
because I'm normally jeans and a T shirt. But we're
heading into the humid Sydney weather. So I've got what
is my sort of style uniform for summer. I've got
(22:34):
a more expensive skirt and a more affordable tank. But
do you want to go first with your boogie or
your budget?
Speaker 3 (22:40):
A bougie item worth the investment is a blazer and
now I am from Melbourne, so really we are wearing
blazers three hundred and sixty out of three sixty five
And I won Fashion Salotto last year when I was
in London and I found a saline blazer for sixty
percent off.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
In my eyes, thank you fashion.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Yeah, that's your good fashion karma coming back to you.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
So that's been just an absolute winner and I love
it and I'll wear it forever. And it was a
bit different to what I'd normally buy, but it all
just fell into place.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
I love it. So bougie blazers are worth the spend.
It's certainly worth buying as well as you can in
that category.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
In that space, get a great cut, a great style
that works for your body shape, that you feel good in,
and it's going to go the distance.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
So tick worth the money, I think, particularly because when
you throw on a blazer to it just makes you
feel powerful, like it is a power item. I don't
know why, but.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Well it makes you feel pulled together and polish and
like you've sort of finished the job.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Yes, absolutely, that's a good way to put it. And
what's your budget?
Speaker 3 (23:41):
Okay, well the budget and no surprise here is a
white T shirt and my current favorite is the Cause
Clean cut T shirt.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
And that's such a good tea Honestly, I feel like
I did to on a tea band, but every time
I just see a good tea, I can't not buy it.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Well, I now have a wardrobe of bhaite T shirt,
so you know, please to say not a full war
drobe of blazers.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
It's a wardrobe of white T shirt.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
And they all do different things, right, So they do
different way of fabric, different neckline, sleep, they all do
little different things so few but that Coose T shirt
is my new current fave and it's probably be sold out,
but you know at the end of this season, because
I've told that.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Many people, make sure you stuck up before you tell
anyone else. Well, speaking of cause my bougie is from
Cosh Oh good. It's the Maxi slip skirt, yes, because
I love a slipskirt and a tank or a white tea,
especially it's quite humid here in summer in Sydney and
also perimenopause. I'm getting hot. I run hot, I run hot,
(24:37):
so I'm normally jeans and a tea. But my kind
of version of that is a slip skirt. But the
reason I love this one is it's fully lined, yes,
because I don't want that cheap sort of satin that
snap clings to all your boulders and your undies. This
is fully lined. It comes in a light sort of
blue dusty color. It's not that kind of kid like
baby blue. It's a mature light blue, fully lined silk
(25:00):
and cotton. It's two hundred and fifteen dollars. So you
can definitely get a lot more affordable slip skirts. You know,
you can get good affordable ones, but you can also
get nasty ones. Nice not too high, slid up the side,
but enough that you can walk. Yes, you gotta be
got to walk. So I love that flat heels, sneakers, honestly,
anything with that, all of it. And then I'm putting
with that. I've actually got to this in two colors.
(25:22):
It's a bit like your tea. It's h and M
Nit tank thirty four ninety nine. It looks like a
good old Bonds singlet, but it's a thicker ribbed knit
whereby the straps are thick enough to wear a bra.
It comes in black, white, beige, and red.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
I'm making notes because I'm buying that that we hang up.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
It is just such a good basic tank. You could
wear that with a lovely wide leg pant and a heel,
your jeans, shorts, your blazer, your chuck on a shirt.
You know, it's just one of those really good all rounders.
So that's my blueprint for this summer. I'm mixing it
up perfect.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
And can I just add around that tank?
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Can you sort of move out of a cotton tank
cotton tank into that more of a knit tank all
of a sudden that feels like a dressier.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Top, you know, that's it's a nice top concept.
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Yes, and goes back into the hole, back with your jeans,
back with your jean shorts, back with knee length denim
jean shorts. That we're seeing a lot of the sum
that's it. It's going to roll out one hundred ways.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Yes, But then you know beautiful like I've got like
a cream pair of wide leg pants, like I could
check on a heel and go somewhere quite fancy with
that tank. And I like that the cut looks like
a traditional white singlet, but the knit just brings up
that elevation. And it's thirty five bucks.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Yeah. No, I'm just going to be jumping on.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
There in the minute, will anthe. I think we should
go on and buy each other's purchasers before we tell
the whole world. Thank you for joining me. I love
the blueprint. I've got it in my head, but I'm
going to go home and do it physically because I
know my style uniform. I'm a bit of a chameleon.
But at the end of the day, I know what's
going to be on that first rack you do, and I.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Think it's just about taking that formal step to moving
all the other stuff on, just conceding that these are
the pieces you wear.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Yes, you know.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
The truth is you don't need a lot in the end.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Now, that's the thing if you get rid of the clutter,
the liberating feeling. And I see it with my clients.
The minute we move the volume out, everyone's shoulders go down,
things become clearer, things become more joyful as we talked about,
and it all becomes a lot easier.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
And we've sort of untangled the.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
Little sort of not fashion my wardrobe and how I
get dressed.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
It all just sort of I love it.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
It's so true, it is. It's simple. We make things
hard for ourselves. Anthea, thank you so much for joining me.
I will be having you back soon because you're a
wealth of knowledge.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
Oh you're the best leade. Thank you for having me.
It's been a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Thank you for listening to Nothing to Wear. Don't forget
to sign up to the Nothing to Wear newsletter. There's
a link in the show notes and it is free.
And if you have enjoyed this episode and it has
inspired you to shop your own wardrobe, you can listen
to our episode on the six new season looks you
already own. There's a link in the show notes so
that too. See you next week. This episode was produced
(27:53):
by Grace Rubray with audio production by Lou Hill. This
podcast is powered by our subscribers. If you believe in
independent women's media and want to support us, there's a
link in the show notes, and a big thank you
to all our current subscribers.
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