Style Scene is a fortnightly series that showcases the best of Canberra’s street fashion. Produced by Daniella Jukic, Style Scene is out to prove that the nation’s capital is just as fashion-conscious as its big-city counterparts.
Street style photography is a great way to show that fashion has a place in our everyday life. Fashion from the catwalk is translated to the streets as wearable trends. What we wear is an expression of our individual style. My aim is to focus my lens on the streets of Canberra to show that fashion is very much alive in the nation’s capital.
A little while ago I had the pleasure of meeting a striking woman… She walked into the office with a punchy red lip, jewellery that looked more like wearable art and clothing that was far from commercial. Her voice also had a familiar hum to it. The woman was none other than Canberra’s well-known Genevieve Jacobs.
With Genevieve recently joining the Region Media team as Group Editor, I jumped at the opportunity to street style snap her and document her signature style.
Name: Genevieve Jacobs
Occupation: Region Media group editor
Describe your style in three words: Elegant, quirky, authentic.
Where is your favourite place to shop? Department of the Exterior in Manuka or Assemblage Project in Braddon. Both are strong supporters of independent Australian, New Zealand and local designers.
What item can’t you live without? The right crimson lipstick.
I’ve noticed you wear a lot of unique jewellery. Can you tell me more about this? I love distinctive jewellery with a strong design aesthetic and presence. I’m wearing earrings from Canberra maker Phoebe Porter, vintage Georg Jensen rings and an Elsa Peretti cuff that was a present to myself when I left the ABC.
The pants that you are wearing have a unique cut, can you tell us more about them? They’re from very cool designers Alpha60, who grew up in Canberra and started out selling cut flowers and teatowels when their parents owned the Pialligo Plant Farm. I was in their Melbourne store last year and saw the “Rhonda” coat on the shelves. I laughed out loud because I knew it was named after Georgie and Alex’s mum.
What is your fashion ethos? Buy well-made clothes that you really like, then wear them for years and years. I really dislike fast fashion fads and that goes double for obvious logos and labels. I’m much more interested in the design and quality than how much something costs. And I never want to meet myself walking down the street wearing the same clothes as every second person.
There is a big movement towards sustainable fashion and buying less. What’s your tip for remaining stylish without perpetuating the issue? Ask yourself why you want something. Does it really fill a hole in your wardrobe? Are you buying it for the feel-good rush or because you feel pushed to buy something for a special event? Because that never works out. But I also think it’s important to buy what you really love whenever you find it, to support innovators and independent makers instead of big business, and to wear whatever makes you feel good about yourself and comfortable in your skin.