STAFF STYLE
STAFF STYLE: IWD EDITION
By Symone Keisha, March 8, 2022

MUINAT, SENIOR SOCIAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE
Hope & Ivy Plus maxi tea dress, $134.30
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
IWD is an opportunity to celebrate, showcase and connect with women doing amazing things. Whether that’s liberating people, educating the next generation or being an advocate for all that is good. For me especially, it’s a day to really shout about Black women and our contributions to society and culture, as it always shakes the table.
What's your experience of bias?
I am a fat, black, queer woman. Life can really feel like I’m playing on XGAMES Hard Mode 2k22. Breaking the bias to me means feeling comfortable and capable of really living and truly being myself without any reservations. I will continue to channel confidence, grace and style into everything I do.
What’s your biggest style tip?
My biggest style tip is to try adding some more color to your wardrobe, it doesn’t have to be a massive change. Try some simple nail art, a new lippy or even a hair-color-changing filter on Instagram.

HELEN, TALENT EXECUTIVE
Niihai oversized graphic T-shirt, $62
Another Reason cord drawstring pants, $72
How would you describe your personal style?
I would say my closet is filled with oversized silhouettes. A lot of the time, baggy clothing is what I tend to lean towards and, oddly enough, my personal style is heavily influenced by skate culture with a mix of streetwear.
What does 'Break The Bias' mean to you?
'Break The Bias' means breaking through the stereotypes we face in school, in the workplace and in our everyday lives. This also applies to areas outside of gender, such as race and sexuality. For myself, being a female who is also POC, I’ve faced the challenge of others judging my personality and capabilities solely based on the way I look.
Which woman do you find inspiring and why?
I would say my mom is the most inspiring woman I know. She immigrated to a foreign country where she didn’t know the language or the culture, yet she still worked hard to make a life for herself. Despite all these barriers, she does everything with such grace and holds her head high. Having such an inspirational woman in my life pushes me to try my best and make her proud.

FIONA, JUNIOR VIDEOGRAPHER
Another Reason open-back crop top with lace neck, $35
Jaded London printed flared sweatpants with ruching, $99
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
For me it’s a day where we get to celebrate being who we are as women. Sometimes it's hard to feel like you can celebrate yourself if you haven’t just climbed a mountain in the Himalayas for charity or become the youngest CEO of some kind of tech start-up, but we all know that it's tough being a woman and we do that every single day, so congrats to us!
What does 'Break The Bias' mean to you?
For me break the bias is all about making space for women in male-dominated industries. Working as a videographer, I often work with all-male teams and it's regularly been assumed that I'm talent rather than crew. Once on my first day on a short film, I asked a member of the crew a question about uploading rushes and he said you don’t need to worry about that, that’s for the editor to worry about. I was the editor.
What’s your biggest style tip?
When you’re trying on something that is out of your comfort zone, it's rare that the item doesn’t suit you even if that’s how you feel. In reality, it’s just that you’re not used to how it looks on you. If you wear it with confidence, you’ll find you get so many compliments and it will become a go-to.

BARRI, CONTENT SPECIALIST
Jaded London oversized suit jacket with all-over typewriter print, $158
Jaded London oversized suit trousers with all-over typewriter print, $87
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a no-judgement zone. I’m always so inspired by the stories shared in articles and on social media. I usually end the day feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude, understanding and pride for being a woman.
What's your experience of bias?
Being both black and a woman, unfortunately most of the biases I’ve experienced have been intersectional. Like when I was working in retail, a colleague of mine told me if I had started the job when a previous manager was around, she would have told me not to wear braids as it wasn't presentable for customers. In that moment, I was faced with the pressures of female beauty standards and the negative biases placed on Afrocentric hairstyles.
Which woman do you find inspiring and why?
I’d have to say my mum. She has a presence that can’t be missed in a room. She’s confident, resilient, successful and with all of that she still manages to be kind.

SALOU, PMO ANALYST
Pretty Lavish tie-cuff blouse, $72
River Island embellished slim jeans, $138
How would you describe your personal style?
I would describe my personal style as ‘modest wear’, which means that I try to find creative ways to stay Islamically covered and stylistically expressive without having to erase my fashion identity.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
To me, International Women’s Day means celebrating every woman who was told you can’t do that and who turned around and said 'watch me'!
What does 'Break the Bias' mean to you?
It means it’s time to question our minds. Unfortunately, as a Muslim woman, I faced multiple layers of biases rooted in religion, appearance and gender equality. I have been labelled as either oppressed or a perceived threat to national identities, as if there is a hidden global consensus that is denying my ability to think and act independently.

HASSANAT, QA ENGINEER
Pretty Lavish pleated balloon-sleeve blouse, $76
Aria Cove leather-look tie-hem pants, $72
How would you describe your personal style?
I would say comfortable, colorful and effortless. Currently, my go-to outfit is a blazer, mom jeans and ankle boots – sometimes switching it up with some bold prints and colored hijab.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It’s more than a just a day; it’s an entire month for everyone to highlight the social, cultural, political and economic achievements of women across a range of industries around the globe. It shines a light on how far we have come in issues of gender equality and violence against women, amongst other issues, and how far we have to go.
What's your experience of bias?
I experienced sexism at an interview where the interviewer made patronising comments about the qualifications I had achieved as a woman. Being Black and Muslim sometimes means situations like these are more common. Speaking up can make you come across as the 'angry Black woman' and staying silent presents you as the 'oppressed Muslim woman'. It's so important for companies to implement more inclusive and impartial processes during recruitment and far beyond. We are more than the stereotypes present us to be.

Pictures: ASOS
KAMARIA, SHOOTS SCHEDULER
LAPP seamless co-ord zip-up top, $229
LAPP seamless co-ord sports leggings, $182
How would you describe your personal style?
Mel C but in 2022 – sporty spice!
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day means celebrating women and everything we do! From all ethnic backgrounds.
What does 'Break The Bias' mean to you?
'Break The Bias' means, there’s no rule book for being a woman – for example, women can have short hair and rock it like myself!
Which woman do you find inspiring and why?
I don’t have one specific woman who inspires me, but there are many women in my life, especially in my family, that have influenced me and made me who I am today.
What’s your biggest style tip?
Wear it with confidence!!