Chatting with: Jessica Ryan
CHATTING WITH:
JESSICA RYAN
I first met fashion stylist Jessica Ryan when we were guests of the Melbourne Fashion Festival Business Summit in March 2020, where we bonded over our similar career paths, our attitudes to fashion and style, and being business owners and mothers to two small children. Little did we know, the world was about to change in so many ways.
While the festival was abruptly cut short due to Covid-19, Jess and I stayed in touch. I am always finding myself nodding in agreement with her fashion ethos and guidance on creating a wardrobe that serves you.
Based in regional Victoria, Jess owns and runs Curate & Style; a fashion curation service designed to empower and inspire women to build a wardrobe unique to their personal style.
Faced with a global pandemic, consumer's attitudes toward styling and fashion are shifting. Many of us would associate a stylist with celebrity dressing - something that's "probably not for me" and just that little bit out of reach, particularly when we're being more conscious of our spending than ever before. But, on the other hand, we're bombarded with choice and relentless discounting - so having someone to give it to us straight and tell us what we really need would be helpful.
Enter: Curate & Style. An accessible, affordable service that reduces the white noise and creates focus.
I sat down with Jess to find out more about her services and what makes her tick.
My core values are about educating and guiding through the lens of fashion, that results in an empowered and confident woman. I love showing women how to find their unique style, and how to embody this through great clothes that work for their body. Because of this, I have fulfilled a desire to evolve my offering. As someone who is passionate about building smarter wardrobes, I was conflicted by the insatiable cycle of consumerism that we are faced with and wanted to ensure that my services were approached with a sustainable and mindful intention.
What are the common themes you come across at Curate & Style? It’s an even split between over shopping and women whose style identity has changed or been diluted after having a baby. How we shop and what we wear is an extension of who we are. It’s where we start each day. It’s deeper than we realise.
What do you do to reset? Make a coffee (and try to drink it while hot) As a mother of two small children, coupled with Covid-19, and re-structuring my business, I’m working on the carving reset time for myself.
What is your favourite, most treasured item in your wardrobe? My most treasured wardrobe items are pieces on high rotation - a classic summer dress by La Bohème the Label, my Hi Lo pieces (of course), basics by Anna Quan, and my Chloè Woody sandals.
Often our most appreciated pieces are those that were deliberated about, pieces we possibly had to save a little for or perceive as an investment piece.
It’s called the “anticipation effect” and we tend to love pieces more when anticipation has led to owning them rather than those quick fix, impulse purchase pieces.
Stay tuned to find out how you could win a Curate & Style styling session with the talented Jess Ryan.
You can follow Jess at @curateandstyle_