Q&A with stylist Loré Ebeling

Q: When did you first develop an interest in style and fashion?
A: I always had a keen eye for fashion at school and used to buy the fashion magazines Seventeen and Dolly. I had a part time job which allowed me to start buying my own clothes. I would wander into the City and spend hours in the Sportsgirl Store trying on clothes and trying to work out what my look should be as I did not want to be the same as the other girls at school.

Q: Tell us a little about your professional background and experience.
A: I started working for Sportsgirl in Toorak in the shoe department and then worked my way up to the buying office as a clerical assistant. After two years of writing orders, faxing, typing and being a general dogs body I was offered my first assistant buyership. I was promoted buyer of the Country Road label for the Sportsgirl stores. After this role I became the buyer for Sportsgirl accessories and shoes and started to travel overseas on buying trips – my absolute dream was to travel for fashion. So off i went to LA, New York, London, Milan, Florence, Paris and Hong Kong.

After 10 years at Sportsgirl buying and travelling I moved over to Witchery as Accessories / Footwear buyer and then onto managing the Witchery Design Team. I managed the Design Team for approx 6 years and did a lot of overseas travel, buying, resourcing, attending fabric fairs and trend forcasting seminars.

Q: Favourite holiday destination?
A: Italy

Q: Any fashion regrets or faux pas?
A: Big shoulder pads to go with my shocking 80’s PERM!!!

Q: Describe your personal style
A: Simple, Stylish, Fashionable, Relaxed

Q: What are your favourite wardrobe items?
A: Jeans, silk blouses & my Munthe blazer

Q: What’s your most recent purchase?
A: Oroton silk blouses & Marni Fussbett sandal which I LOVE

Q: Favourite designers or stores?
A: Marni, Munthe, The Frankie store, Alemais, Viktoria & Woods & Heidi Middleton art club

Q: What wardrobe staple could you not do without?
A: Can’t live without my Viktoria & Woods soft suiting, it feels so good every time I wear it – LOVE IT

Q: When you shop for yourself, what’s your decision making on a purchase?
A: If I feel good in it and if it compliments my shape, value for $$ and I can dress it up or down. I need clothes to serve more than one purpose.

Q: What are some of the things you’ve learnt about styling since working with Styled by Sally?
A: Smart Simple Style generally wins overall.

Q: What do you enjoy most about working with clients?
A: Every client is so different, and I really enjoy introducing new labels to their wardrobe and getting them to try on different styles and options that they would not normally try on. I also love seeing a very happy customer at the end of our shop with some new purchases.

Q: What are your top 3 styling tips?
A: Buy investment pieces, don’t be afraid to spend the money
Get rid of pieces in your wardrobe that don’t feel good and replace them
Use mood boards or Instagram for inspiration.

Q: What do you love doing on your days off?
A: Gym, lunching with girlfriends, movies, viewing Leonard Joel Auctions & shop, shop, shopping!

Q: What are your top 3 styling tips for women or men?
A: Buy good quality labels, don’t wear a trend head to toe, invest in good quality shoes and bags.

Q: Minimalist or hoarder?
A: A bit of a hoarder, can’t throw out any designer labels.

Q: Chocolate or cheese?
A: Cheese

Q: Favourite Movie?
A: The Untouchables

Q: What Sex and the City character most resembles your personality?
A: Mmm maybe a bit of the practicality of Miranda and would love to think a bit of Carrie.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake you see clients make with their personal style?
A: I constantly see clients going back to the same label and stores and not broadening the stores they shop in.

Q: Describe your personality in 3 words
A: fun, easy going, happy

Q: Do you have any style icons?
A: Jackie Onassis Kennedy, but modern day Aerin Lauder & Amal Clooney (love her evening wear style)

Follow Lore on Instagram @lore_ebeling