#prestigeprofiles | JULY 2019 PRESTIGE 99
“It was a lot more exciting than the Gap that was being
worn in my hometown growing up,” she jokes, and credits
the characters’ flamboyant fashion for her own tendency
towards more dramatic and elaborate style choices. “I think
that’s why even though I grew up very suburban, I’ve always
had a taste for high fashion – because it gives you that much
more room to experiment.”
At the same time, fashion was a way for Grace to come
out of her shell. “I found fashion very empowering,” she
says. “I think as girls, we definitely go through that phase
where we feel very insecure, and fashion gave me the
confidence I needed before I felt comfortable in my own skin.
I love the idea that you can be a different person; you can
be demure one day and a vixen the next. There is no limit
because it’s not permanent. You just have fun with it!”
Today, Grace is known for her impeccable style and
has attended Paris Fashion Week many times. Standing at171cm tall and model-thin (who would have guessed from
these photos that she’s five months pregnant?), she not
only looks the part, but also possesses a wide breadth of
knowledge about fashion and the business of it. Throughout
our conversation, the fashion fiend references many
designers but counts Tom Ford as her favourite. “He is the
ultimate designer because he is consistent. He’s doing the
same thing now as he did at Gucci in the ’90s. He’s got a
consistent silhouette, likes black, and likes jewel tones. He is
understated and sexy, and you need to be confident to wear
his stuff.”
Naturally, friends go to Grace for fashion advice. After
about five years of styling and shopping for friends, she
started to take on clients earlier this year. She has about
a dozen now, most of whom are working professionals
who “want to look good but find getting dressed painful”.
She spends a lot of time getting to know them first andunderstanding what they want. A key starting point is to visit
their wardrobes and sort out items to keep, which also gives
her a sense of their style and budget.
One of her biggest challenges is ridding her clients of
their preconceived notions of what works or does not work
for them. It takes some convincing to bring them out of their
comfort zones, but Grace empathises. “I was a bit like that
before,” she admits. “When I was younger, I used to dress
more for men. Like, can this skirt be shorter? Can the dress
be tighter? I think I was dressing sexy because I wanted that
confidence boost.
“But as I got older, and as my husband showed me so
much love and support and made me feel very comfortable
in my own skin, I dress more for myself. I appreciate
silhouettes, and play with textures and patterns more.
My skin can be covered and that can still be sexy. That’s
what I’m sharing with other women; that it doesn’t have
to be ‘Look at me!’ to make an impact. Not
everything that shines is golden.”
After helping them build a basic wardrobe
with staple pieces, the goal is to help her clients
find their personal style. “It’s understanding
what suits you rather than what’s popular. What
I try to provide are the tools, but I’m not telling
you what to do. What’s important is that one
day, you can do it on your own.”
Seeing her clients happy with their new
looks gives her a great sense of satisfaction. “It’s the whole
idea of making someone’s life a little bit better. I see their
eyes light up when they look in the mirror. And if they can
go to a party and feel confident, and have all these people
suddenly telling them, “You look amazing”, that makes me
really happy. Because not everybody gets to experience that.”
With her third little one arriving later this year, it seems
like an odd timing to be embarking on her passion projects.
“In a way, it’s the worst time to start something,” she says.
“But I was always confused about what I wanted to do in
life, and it’s only recently that I questioned myself and
discovered it.”
She adds: “I think maybe the pregnancy also spurred
me on. As my kids get older, and perhaps because I’m now
expecting a girl, I want them to know that Mummy has a
good work ethic and that Mummy has a career. I want to be
a good role model for my children.”“I think as girls, we definitely go through
that phase where we feel very insecure, and
fashion gave me the confidence I needed
before I felt comfortable in my own skin”