Skirts to Sofas: How Fashion and Interiors Have Always Been Connected
Introduction
I’ve always loved beautiful homes, but for a long time, I lived in what you might call “dated” clothes. I didn’t dress badly, but I hadn’t taken the time to really curate or update my wardrobe. Think: pieces that were years old, ill-fitting jeans, colours that didn’t quite suit me, clothes I kept wearing simply because they were there. Even when I looked put together, I never really felt it. Dressing in a way that felt aligned with who I am has always been a quiet struggle.
Now, as I step into a more visible role as the face of my business, I’ve had to seriously reconsider the role personal style plays, not just in my wardrobe but in my mood, my home, and how I show up in the world. The truth is, the same visual language runs through all of it. If you love timeless interiors, chances are you’re drawn to classic dressing. If your wardrobe feels rooted and textural, your home probably does too.
Here’s how fashion and interior design have always been linked, and how I’m rediscovering my own style by looking at both.
A Shared History
Fashion has always responded to social and political shifts. After World War II, there was a surge of minimalism and utility in both fashion and interiors, marked by clean lines, structure, and function. In the 1970s, earthy tones, natural fibres, and bohemian rebellion emerged in fashion and eventually influenced interiors too. Then came the 1980s, a decade where maximalism and boldness reigned.
Today, we’re seeing a return to the warmth and tactility of those earlier eras, particularly in the wake of COVID. Comfort, nostalgia, and intentional design are taking centre stage again. This pattern, where fashion leads and interiors follow, has deep historical roots. Even as far back as the 1700s during the reign of Louis XV, the ornate Rococo interiors mirrored the extravagance of aristocratic fashion. Both were rich, excessive, and full of personality.
Interior design has always been a reflection of what is happening in the world at the time.
Designed by Harry Seidler, 1948–50.
A bold and unapologetically modernist home in suburban Sydney. One of my earliest references in understanding how interiors could be minimal, expressive, and deeply personal.
Enclothed Cognition & Personal Rebuild
Since starting my business and leaving the daily corporate-vibe uniforms behind, I've had to rediscover how I dress and what that says about me. I’ve also had to understand what actually feels good to wear.
That’s where I came across the concept of enclothed cognition: the idea that what we wear affects how we think, behave, and carry ourselves. Not just in confidence, but in focus, posture, and productivity.
It clicked. I was working from home every day. Why did I still feel flat? So, I started experimenting. I finally got some classic pieces tailored, which was an absolute game-changer. I began to favour warm tones and soft natural fibres. That became a non-negotiable. And sure enough, when I felt in alignment with what I was wearing, my mood shifted too. That began to reflect in my home. I didn’t want to be surrounded by loud, clashing things anymore. I wanted calm, clarity, and warmth.
During my recent Boards and Bubbles event with Summer Street Wine Room in Orange, this concept came to life. That your interiors, from the very start, should be about how you want to feel. Our homes hold our rest, our routines, our growth. They should support the way we live. And that begins with how they make us feel.
Rediscovery through Design
In my early 20s, I was a student and I used to buy sale items out of necessity more than choice. They didn’t suit my shape, my colouring, or my lifestyle at the time. They washed me out or made me feel smaller than I was.
Honestly, the same could be said for the inexpensive, second-hand décor I used to hold onto. It was all just fluff. Filler. Not intentional.
The turning point for me came when I learned I’m a True Autumn. My fashion finally began to make sense. Why I favoured gold jewellery. Why I never felt great in cool pastels. Why brass, walnut, and bone all felt like home. Because this is the type of style I love to embody, in both fashion and interiors.
Now I’m consciously building both a timeless wardrobe and a timeless design philosophy. One that favours restraint, cohesion, and a sense of visual intention. Not because it’s trendy, but because it reflects me. The way I think and the way I feel. And I’ve taken that philosophy into my work.
I love when interiors feel warm, calm, classic, and lived-in. And I finally feel like my personal style is catching up to that.
Found imagery – Dior, 2024 & Pinterest reference
A moment of tonal harmony, beige, ivory, texture, and tailoring. Two different sources, one shared mood: restrained, tactile, and quietly refined.
Full Circle
I’m still learning the art of styling (and probably always will be). But I finally understand how deeply linked fashion and interiors really are. And that realisation has been a really special one.
Whether I’m styling a hallway or styling an outfit, the goal is the same. To feel like I’m meeting myself.
That’s what good design is meant to do, on your body and in your home.
If you're feeling disconnected from your wardrobe or your space right now, maybe you're just waiting for the two to finally catch up with each other.