Jessica Peacock
What is
“I like your style”?
In this series we ask fashion lovers to share some of their favourite outfits and talk us through what inspires and influences the way they dress and shop.
Each person featured then nominates someone they are inspired by and they then become the next featured in the series - creating a chain of style admiration across the globe.
Jessica Peacock was nominated by Nina Lloyd
Who is Jessica?
Hello , I’m Jess — I’m from Auckland NZ but have called Melbourne home for almost a decade now. I like to take photos, especially when I travel. I’ve been cooking a lot of pancakes during lockdown. I have a three legged tabby cat named T.J. – he rules!
Follow Jess at @_jessica_p
Your favourite NZ/Australian designer? and why
I can’t honestly say that I have a favourite. I’ll always look at what Poms, Penny Sage, and Georgia Alice are doing because they always do beautiful stuff, but one of the best dresses I got last year was actually from the Scanlan outlet so I tend to collect things from all over the place.
Best Vintage Store in Melbourne?
Melbourne has some really decent luxury consignment & archival designer stores; Reina would be my pick. It’s really well curated and accessible. But I do most of my hunting online these days. Buying second hand online means and I can source the specific pieces from past collections that I like but I know would never turn up here. I got my Prada Madras bag on Vestiaire for a steal.
Who most influences
and inspires your style?
That’s a really tough question. I don’t know! A thousand people in a thousand different ways? A lot of my friends are also really into clothes, film, art and design so it’s something we talk about all the time. A lot of ideas come from that, even if it’s kind of on a subconscious level.
What do you love
about your style?
Getting dressed is definitely a creative outlet and I enjoy the whole process. A typical outfit for me is usually some iteration of ‘jeans and a tee’ – but I love the scope in which I can play with that. Most pieces in my wardrobe are fairly casual and wearable (I can’t do an uncomfortable shoe haha). I love playing with volume and proportion, an unexpected colour combination, and all my archival Pleats Please! I love that I’m not confined to a certain style and feel free to do something different from one day to the next.
How do you think the Australian landscape, surroundings and culture feeds into your own aesthetic? if at all? and if you don't feel it does, then what does?
There’s a strong creative community in Melbourne and it’s easy to get involved if you want to, people are very open to it. They’re also into fashion and there aren’t really any rules. No one worries about being too dressed-up or dressed-down. As long as you’re authentic, people celebrate that.In terms of the landscape, It’s Autumn here at the moment and I don’t think I’ve ever been so acutely aware of how beautiful the light is at this time of year. Recently I lost my job because of Covid, so I’ve been walking around outside a lot during the day. It’s cliché but it really has been magical and inspiring.
Do you think social media has influenced how you shop? and if so how? and do you feel it has affected your style?
I don’t think it’s really influenced how I shop exactly but it would be naive to say it hasn’t affected me in some way. I would say that working in fashion and being involved in a brand’s social media strategy has been enlightening. It’s a really interesting process and I look at social media differently now.
Personal style can be about how we want to present ourselves visually to the world - how do you intend for your clothes to present you?
I tend to dress according to my mood rather than for an occasion; I feel like everyone says this but it’s true! I buy things that speak to me on some level so I’m not sure what my intention is, other than to be genuine.
When I was younger, I didn’t wear much colour, or things that would get people’s attention. Now that I’m older and more confident I’m free to not worry so much about people’s perception. I try to always have fun with it, not take it too seriously, hopefully that comes across.
Your most embarrassing fashion moment to date:
I try not to let myself get embarrassed by things I’ve worn in the past. Fashion is cyclical – I know my younger self would be mortified if she knew I was wearing Crocs now. Ultimately, who cares. Fashion should be enjoyed.
Your most icon fashion moment to date:
Whenever a stranger compliments my outfit or bag or something, that’s a really nice feeling. It’s a reminder that people do engage with what you’re trying to project in a tangible and immediate way. I try to remember to compliment strangers when I like things they’re wearing and not just make a mental note and move on.
The best runway show that happened during your lifetime
This is tough but it has to be Prada! Spring 1996 and lately I have been really into Spring 2015 Menswear. I don’t know, this is too hard because what about Phoebe Philo era Celine? And Comme! Anyway, Miuccia Prada is the one.
Images — Shannon Rush
