Ruby Shields is an award-winning interior designer. Ahead, she shares her style secrets, including her fantasy bespoke outfit – and one she made a reality.
Martina Gemmola
I’d describe my style as textured, colourful and layered – like my interior design style. My wardrobe is op-shop buys mixed with vintage finds and new, pretty things.
The most recent addition to my wardrobe is a custom garment by Melbourne design studio Speczmen. I gave them a picture of a 1987 Yves Saint Laurent opera coat to spin their own way. They created a Victorian-style jacket made from Mokum curtain fabric with a touch of stainless steel in it, so it looks like crushed gold. It’s magnificent. The oldest thing in my wardrobe is a teal crushed-velvet slip dress from the ’80s.
My favourite period in fashion is the Victorian era for its colour and detail, but I’m also a sucker for the ’60s. My great-grandmother had all the Women’s Weekly magazines and there was a 1960s wedding dress issue with a gorgeous powder-blue bridesmaid’s dress with little yellow flowers. I also love the boho style from that era.
My favourite designers are Etro, Ulla Johnson and Julia Allert. On a first date, I’d wear a burgundy leather Julia Allert skirt with a top that has little bow ties on it and, even though I’m six-foot-one, I’d crank out a set of heels. My dream red-carpet outfit would be something dramatic and luxurious, custom-made by Dolce & Gabbana.
On a plane, I’d wear an Eva’s Sunday linen smock dress and my silver Radical Yes “Monae” buckle shoes.
Three essentials in my wardrobe are my Alpha60 “Ishi” tapestry cocoon-style pants, a Uniqlo merino turtleneck and a fur jacket; I have a collection of fur jackets I like to think I rescued from op shops. And when it comes to pyjamas, I couldn’t live without my Bed Threads set.
My favourite jewellery is by Melbourne-based Tessa Blazey, including a peridot diamond ring and a necklace with sapphires, opals and rubies.
For fragrance, I like to mix “Tobacco Vanille” by Tom Ford and Maison Margiela Replica “By the Fireplace”.
A favourite childhood outfit was a magenta corduroy dress with pockets when I was five. When I was nine, I liked to wear a pink Puma tracksuit; it was awful, but I thought I was super cool.
My biggest fashion mistake was in the early 2000s. I was 12 and I wore jeans with fluoro paint splotches up the leg.
On my wish list is a quilted, embroidered jacquard coat by Etro. I don’t follow trends, but take inspiration from runway shows for my interiors and look to street fashion for my own style.
When it comes to fashion icons, I love Iris Apfel for her boldness and Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette film for the colour and texture.
On a typical working day, you’ll find me repping a Julia Allert set: big flared pants and matching shirt with a double cuff and collar in a mottled blue-and-purple print. On weekends, I’m wearing old, paint-stained pants, a Uniqlo turtleneck, my Paris op-shop knit and Camper slippers.
Studio Shields won best single residential interior in the 2026 Dulux Colour Awards.
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