Each week, we quiz a prominent person about their style and the inspiration behind it. Ahead, furniture designer Sarah Ellison.
How would you describe your style? Comfortable, sculptural and classic.
What’s the oldest thing in your wardrobe? A little black chiffon babydoll dress with spaghetti straps that was my prom dress in the ’90s.
And the most recent addition? I found a ’90s Calvin Klein blazer in a vintage store when I was on holiday in Margaret River in Western Australia. I was stoked because I’d just finished watching Love Story, about Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.
What would you wear … on a first date? Maybe a lace slip but styled with a cool shirt – a play on masculine/feminine – with a kitten heel. … on the plane? A Nagnata tracksuit – they’re super comfy but still have some structure – with nice socks and my Marni slides. … on the red carpet? Some crazy gorgeous thing by Schiaparelli.
What is your favourite fashion era? Every era has its strong points. I feel like fashion now is just taking the highlights from the past 100 years: the beautiful femininity from the 1930s, ’40s and ‘50s; the cool silhouettes from the 1960s and ′70s; and the minimalism from the ’90s.
Who is your favourite designer? Matthieu Blazy, who’s at Chanel [he was previously at Bottega Veneta] is brilliant. Chanel is cool now; he adds that edge. I also love JW Anderson for quirky pieces.
What’s your fragrance of choice? Maison Margiela “Replica from the Garden”. I like interesting scents and this smells like soil and tomato leaves.
What are the three essential items in your wardrobe? A great blazer – I have a lot in different colours, including a white Sandro one I love and a black bomber-style blazer by Alexander Wang I’ve had forever. Tailored black pants by A.Emery and Esse Studios. And white T-shirts – I’m always spilling things on my tees, so I’ve stopped buying the expensive ones and started wearing Kmart.
Any go-to jewellery? An Elsa Peretti silver “Bone” cuff.
Can you remember a favourite outfit you wore as a child? I have a memory of being wrapped up in beautiful silk and lurex saris on a trip to India with my mother when I was very small. It was the first time I realised that clothes can transform you.
What was your first fashion moment? Moving to the UK from country Western Australia when I was 18, and the whole fashion vibe at the time: the fantastic nightclubs, the crazy big Buffalo trainers, psychedelic dresses and diamanté bindis. Not the most tasteful choices, but it was when I really started experimenting with fashion.
And your worst fashion mistake? Wearing really high, really uncomfortable Marc Jacobs lace-up boots in the late 2000s. The pain we used to put ourselves through! Why did we do that?
What’s on your wish list? The Toteme “T-lock” bag in crocodile.
Is there something you’d never wear? Low-rise pants.
Is there a current trend you like? It’s been around for a while, but I love sculptural tailoring like the Jacquemus jackets with the curved sleeves.
What do you sleep in? A Bonds cotton singlet and shorts.
What shoes do you wear the most? Wales Bonner x Adidas “Gazelle” sneakers and black Prada loafers.
Who’s your favourite fashion icon? Jenna Lyons, for the way she puts her outfits together and her colour combos. I love the play on styles, the way she’ll wear a military jacket tucked into a ridiculous tinsel skirt.
What do you wear on a typical working day? Work is my opportunity to dress up a bit and wear my favourite pieces. It might be a maroon Silk Laundry shirt-and-pants set with tassels, and a blazer over it.
What’s your favourite off-duty, casual Sunday look? I’ll be walking the dog and going to the beach or farmers’ markets, so it’s usually a linen shirt and some Lucy Folk terry towelling shorts. It’s pretty casual up here in Byron Bay.
Sarah Ellison is the founder of Sarah Ellison Creative
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