Living your personal style

Whenever you have to follow a dress code that doesn’t authentically feel like ‘you’, you might feel a stronger sense of self when you can bring elements of personality into it. 

Case in point, this outfit. Dramatic, quirky and unusual pieces are how I express the creative and rebellious parts of myself that I don’t verbalise. Because I don’t have a different outlet for them, they manifest in my style.

When I used to work in an office, this kind of outfit was typically how I styled myself to look corporate; monochrome chess board top paired with a multi-coloured small-pattern pencil skirt, chocolate brown belt and geometric pattern stilettos. Most of this outfit is preloved/second-hand. 

I say this often, but I can’t emphasise this concept enough. I’m always flattered if someone likes my style, but I don’t encourage anyone to necessarily dress like me. As an unconventional stylist, I encourage you to find your own unique, individual form of self-expression through your style. 

When you cultivate your style wellbeing, you’ll have your own personal style formula, which will naturally find you using your clothes for longer periods of time because they look amazing on you. And they’ll also make you feel so damn good!

 STYLING

The look: My love for uncommon pieces was the attraction for buying this chess board statement piece. The pencil skirt, also patterned, works with the top because they have a strong black colour in them that connects. The stilettos also have lines that add to the thread of black colouring, bringing it all together. And the chocolate colour belt? Well, a bit of chocolate is always fun so why not?

Styling tip: If you have several seemingly random pieces in your closet, use the colour threading system I described to put pieces together that you wouldn’t normally wear together. The outcome? A range of new outfits created from multiple combinations in your closet. You can apply this principle to patterns or more plain clothing, office wear and other types of styles. 

Outfit sourced from:

Chess board top: ANU Outdoor Preloved Market (2017).

Patterned and multi-coloured pencil skirt: Salvation Army (Salvos) Op Shop (2016).

Chocolate brown belt: PDSA Op Shop, (UK, 2009).

Geometric pattern stilettos: From my wardrobe. 

Photos by Brunela Fenalte Photography.

♥ Nina Gbor

Bright Yellow Winter

My wardrobe is full of vibrant colours to keep my style fun and playful. Recently the days have gotten shorter and the weather colder for many of us in the southern hemisphere. To help me mentally cope with the colder, darker days, I up the ante with BRIGHT, BOLD COLOURS!

Exhibit A: this super bright yellow early 1980s hand-me-down I got from my friend’s mother, Maryanne. Maryanne is my good friend Kylie’s mother and she has had this gorgeous yellow number since the early ‘80s before she had Kylie and her sisters! Fortunately for me, none of them wanted the dress so I got it. I rocked it with a pair of light brown studded falcon ankle boots I found in a preloved boutique. 

Have you ever noticed that most Winter attire in retail are usually dark and neutral colours, while summer clothes are often bright, cheerful and colourful? I think it should totally be the other way around. We should have bright clothes in winter to raise the energy and ambience of the cold, dark days with cheery, vibrant colours. And then in summer, when we already have longer, brighter days, more sunshine and generally lighter moods as a result, we can opt for darker colours and/or just maintain the colour vibrancy. 

 I do my best to extend my summer wardrobe through to winter by wearing thermals underneath clothes and jumpers when needed. This means I get more use from my clothes, buy less clothing for winter and therefore waste less clothing. And quite significantly, I get those bright, energetic, colour boosts in winter. It also has a positive effect on anyone who sees me on a winter day because they get hit with an uncommon dose of ebullience. 

So, this dress is a metaphoric toast to those of us with winter days ahead of us for the next few months. Stay warm and keep it colourful! 

Outfit sourced from:

1980s yellow dress: Hand-me-down from Maryanne’s wardrobe.

Light brown studded falcon boots: U-Turn Preloved, Vintage, Designer Fashion Boutique

Photos by Brunela Fenalte Photography. 

♥ Nina Gbor

Nina Ballerina

Nina Ballerina is what my friend’s 4-year-old, Gracie, used to call me because she loved my tulle skirts. This pretty floral piece is a perfect example. To me though, the skirts are a little more Carrie Bradshaw than ballerina. At least that’s where the style inspo came from. Carrie Bradshaw is like THE modern style icon that carried the torch after the historic style legends like Grace, Audrey, etc. Carrie Bradshaw knows how to pull off vintage styles in modern ways. Her fearless style takes risks and incorporates different style personalities whilst staying true to herself. RESPECT.

Carrie Bradshaw, iconic character in Sex & the City.

Thanks to Sex and the City Costume Designer, Patricia Field, we will always be able to draw inspiration from the character Carrie Bradshaw’s timeless style.

Even though this pretty, feminine skirt is not vintage, it’s very much in line with my love for 1950s style. So far I’ve worn it to the opening night of an art exhibition, a film screening, a date and a party. It’s an easy go-to piece for occasions where you want to look cute, feminine and not too grown-up or dressed up. I’m no ballerina but I sure do love to dress like one! 

STYLING

I chose to go simple for this look. It was a chilly day so I wore the skirt with a white long-sleeve thermal and plain white heels.

Style tip 1: For a patterned skirt like this one, try mixing with a pattered top. The trick is to make sure there is at one matching colour between the skirt and the top. Use your eyes and gut feel to know if the combo works together.

Style tip 2: If you prefer to keep it simple, try a plain coloured top like a white tank top, t-shirt or shirt with a collar. The length of this skirt gives the opportunity for shoe diversity from knee-high boots to ankle boots to heels or flats.

Style tip 3: It’s a voluminous skirt so opt for a smallish top if you’re able. This will create balance between the top and the bottom.

Outfit sourced from:

Preloved ‘ballerina’ skirt: Australian Red Cross Op Shop, Civic.

White thermal: Staple from my wardrobe

White heels: Staple from my wardrobe

Photography by Brunela Fenalte Photography

♥ Nina Gbor

Regina style magic

Regina. Whenever I look at this regal, majestic vintage piece, the name Regina comes to mind. She is a royal, bold goddess but at the same time, soft and romantic. Regina is an original 1960s, cotton Malaysian maxi dress I found at Three Sixty vintage market a couple of years ago. When I spotted a magenta fabric sticking out in between a tightly-packed rack of vintage goodies, I knew straight away she was meant for me. Magenta colour on my skin tone is a match made in heaven.

Regina with her vibrant colour, queenly cut, puffy sleeves, collar, full, long skirt and soft, light fabric is without a doubt, a one-of-a-kind piece. She is an ensemble with a life of her own that wears you, instead of the other way round. She turns heads and commands respect. This was the persona that overcame me the day I wore Regina.

This occurrence is what I call style magic. It’s the boost in confidence or the shift in energy you get from an outfit. If you wear the uniform of a queen, you start to feel like a queen, and therefore act like a queen. If you’re lucky you might even become one! This is the philosophy I use with my style clients to help them look, feel and achieve their goals. It’s style alchemy. Style can be used to evolve to the best version of yourself. Yes, I just gave you on a style personal development strategy. Try it and let me know how it works for you.

STYLING

The look: Naturally, I chose a white belt to synch in at the waist with Regina. This particular belt has an art deco buckle. As a lover of 50s fashion, I spend about 70% of my life in a petticoat so Regina was no exception. It gives the skirt a fuller look and emphasises the synched in waist. I finished this look with white ankle boot shoes.

Style tip: With its light fabric, a dress like this can be worn in summer with sandals or other summer shoes. It’s great for protecting your skin from the sun.

Try: This dress, like most dresses can double up as a top. Achieve this tip simply by wearing a skirt over it like I did in this throwback photo. I wore a 1960s vintage Sally Browne plaid skirt over the dress.

Autumn/Winter Styling: Most Winter clothes are dark and neutral, and I believe in bringing bright, vibrant colour to those cold, dreary Winter days to cheer things up. Because of its long sleeves, I wear thermals (long-sleeve t-shirt and leggings) underneath this dress in Winter to stay warm, yet stylish. And then boots to finish off the Winter look. You can try this trick with your summer maxi dresses.

Outfits sourced from:

Regina 1960s vintage dress – ThreeSixty Vintage Market

1960s Sally Browne vintage Skirt – ThreeSixty Vintage Market

White art deco belt and white shoes – Salvos Stores Op Shop

Photography by Angela Elgiva. Throwback photo by Oliver Weiler.

♥ Nina Gbor

Staying off the fashion trendmill in Aztec

I NEVER follow fashion trends. I coined the phrase “Get off the fashion trendmill” to let my styling clients and workshop participants know it was okay to ignore fashion trends. The culture of following trends is one of the biggest contributors to fast fashion and fashion landfill waste. Plus, trends do not suit everyone. Instead, I encourage people to find style wellbeing. This means wearing clothes that make you happy and filling your wardrobe with pieces that suit your body, lifestyle, goals and personality.

Speaking of personality, this Aztec-pattern hoodie had me hooked from the moment we met in a Salvation Army op shop. There’s nothing else like it in my wardrobe, plus it’s a major diversion from the typical 50s style dresses that grace my closet. Yet, something about it connected to the less visible quirky side of my personality that was clearly screaming to get out. I had the same love-at-first-sight when I spotted these denim, rhinestone, stiletto knee-high boots at a preloved store.

No matter how much people try to influence how you should look, you know yourself better than anyone else. Following trends or styles that don’t align with who you are can create some inner turmoil, not to mention fashion disasters. You’re likely to have better mental and emotional health by staying true to who you are and wearing clothes that align with your truth. It’s great for emotional balance and growing your confidence.

STYLING

The look: I’m wearing the hoodie with a black long-sleeve thermal, black leggings and denim knee-high stiletto boots. This is an everyday, casual Autumn/Winter look for me.

Style tip: A hoodie like this can typically be worn with jeans, shorts or even a straight knee-length skirt. Boots of this length and style will look nice with above-the-knee or knee-length skirts.

Outfit sourced from:

Aztec-pattern hoodie: Salvos Stores Op Shop

Denim boots: Gulia Preloved & Vintage Store, New Town, Sydney

Photos by Brunela Fenalte Photography

♥ Nina Gbor