June 2023

In a world where perfection is praised, and vulnerability is often seen as weakness, it can be difficult for women to fully embrace their authentic selves.
Society has conditioned us to shrink ourselves, take up less space and avoid standing out from the crowd. But what if we celebrated the traits that make us unique? What if we encouraged each other to embrace our rough edges instead of hiding them?

We believe a woman’s worth should not be defined by her appearance or her ability to keep it all together. True beauty comes from unapologetically owning who you are and being confident to live, laugh and love boldly. There is a power that comes from not taking yourself too seriously.

That’s why we’re putting a spotlight on the women behind the Sussan campaign. We want to celebrate the small things that make these women memorable — the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make them unlike anyone else. Through their stories of authenticity, they encourage us to embrace our uniqueness with confidence and style.

ZANITA
Photographer

How would the people close to you describe you?
The good? Generous, funny, kind. The bad? Disorganised, forgetful, scruffy.

When and where do you feel the most like yourself?
I grew up in a rural community, and my fondest memories are all around a campfire with my family. Sitting with loved ones around a fire, with a glass of wine and a guitar, is just paradise to me.

What does it mean to you to be your authentic self?
Forgoing the expectations of others and questing for your own rewards. I’m still working on finding that within myself, especially when it comes to my career; it’s a constant evolution.

What item of clothes do you feel most like yourself in?
During the day, a great pair of jeans, a vintage tee and a boxy coat. At night, a great pair of pyjamas.

If you had to pick one piece of the collection that captures who you are the most; which would it be?
The shearing coat with the leather buckles goes with anything! Or any of the long pyjamas — an essential part of a cosy night routine and a form of self-care.

TARRAH 
From the Digital Marketing Team

How would the people close to you describe you?
Spontaneous, organised and effortlessly stylish.

When and where do you feel the most like yourself?
By the ocean. I feel so connected whenever I’m at the beach or surrounded by the ocean. Nothing clears my head more than a swim in the sea. 

What does it mean to you to be your authentic self?
Being true to my values and beliefs. As I’ve gone through life, I’ve come to understand the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded people who uplift and support you and bring out your best, most authentic version.

Have you ever felt pressure to conform to societal expectations of beauty and perfection? How did you navigate those feelings?
Having previously worked as a professional ballet dancer, I know the constant strive for perfection is incredibly demanding, not only on your body but also on your mind. I navigated that pressure by telling myself, “I can only control what’s in my control”— there’s no point wasting energy on things I can’t control. That was not having perfectly arched feet or being “too tall”. I think the same goes for societal expectations of beauty. Don’t focus on wishing your nose was smaller or you had different colour eyes; instead, focus your energy on what you can control and what makes you, and you will naturally shine.

Can you think of a time when you felt like you had to hide a part of yourself in order to fit in? How did that make you feel?
Having attended a private girl’s school from a young age, the rules and regulations that came along with that, from uniform requirements to disciplinary practices and even career outlooks, felt so jarring. As a natural creative, these processes felt mechanical and “clone-like” to me. Encouraging me to be a version of someone I wasn’t. It wasn’t until my later high school years that I felt comfortable enough to voice my concerns and changed schools where I could authentically be myself and where I absolutely thrived.

Can you think of a personal trait that you used to dislike but have learned to accept and appreciate about yourself?
I used to strongly dislike being tall, towering above my friends and never feeling confident enough to wear heels. As I got older, I learnt how to appreciate the things that made me unique and realised that the only person impacted by my insecurities was me. My love for fashion flourished as I embraced my height and played with different pieces and styles. Now, I can never imagine being any shorter.

How do you think society’s emphasis on perfection and conformity affects women’s self-esteem and confidence?
Working in social media, I see many people sharing perfect moments of their lives when this is only about 5% of their reality. Only seeing that 5% warps our perspective of “normal”, which in turn can impact our self-esteem and confidence as we compare our lives to theirs. With new social platforms like TikTok and the exposure of more video content as a result, I feel like we’ve seen more authentic “real-life” type content with more people encouraged to share their life as is boosting their self-esteem and confidence as they reach a like-minded community.

How can embracing authenticity and owning who you are positively impact your life and the lives of those around you?
I’ve always said to surround yourself with like-minded people who encourage and support you. In my experience, you reflect the people around you (sometimes subconsciously without noticing). If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why am I so angry all the time?” or “Why am I being so negative or mean” look at the people you surround yourself with. By surrounding yourself with like-minded people, you can be your authentic self without judgement from others.

What item of clothes do you feel most like yourself in?
Definitely a dress; if you look in my wardrobe, 80% of it is dresses. Being tall, I gravitate towards a midi or maxi dress. There’s just something so simple about the ease of dressing when it comes to a dress.

If you had to pick one piece of the collection that captures who you are the most; which would it be?
I definitely gravitate towards more neutral colours and tones, so for the colder months, our classic trench coat.

SELEENA 
From the Digital team

How would the people close to you describe you?
Outgoing, passionate & outspoken! They might throw in cheeky and loyal too.

When and where do you feel the most like yourself?
In my art studio, with the music turned up really loud and dancing around!

What does it mean to you to be your authentic self?
Being my authentic self is feeling comfortable in my skin and being surrounded by people who make me feel like I can just be myself, whether silly, sad or happy.

Have you ever felt pressure to conform to societal expectations of beauty and perfection? How did you navigate those feelings?
Growing up in a Western country (New Zealand), I have always felt pressured to fit into Western beauty standards from a young age. As I am naturally tan, I have grown up thinking, “I wish I were lighter; I wish I had lighter hair and different coloured eyes”. I also used to get teased by family members for being too tan and a little too “chubby”, which made me feel ashamed of myself. I have struggled to articulate how I felt about those thoughts and feelings, but I have learnt to accept the body I was blessed with – it’s the only one I’ve got.
Those things I used to get teased about are the things I love the most about myself because it’s what sets me apart from everyone else. I still catch myself thinking these things from time to time; however, nowadays, I picture my younger self and remind her that the things we get teased about are the things that make us unique & authentically ourselves.

Can you think of a time when you felt like you had to hide a part of yourself in order to fit in? How did that make you feel?
Growing up, I felt like I had to hide parts of my culture, especially how I spoke. I was born in the Philippines and spent primary school years there, where the accent has a slight American accent. Moving to New Zealand, I used to get teased a lot about how I said things, which embarrassed me, so I made a conscious effort to conform to a New Zealand accent and therefore lost my original accent— and also my mother tongue —in this process. I also isolated myself from making friends with people from my culture. I am still sad about this to this day. It’s something I’m currently navigating as I feel like, through that time, I lost not only my accent but also a part of my culture. I tried my hardest to hide that part of myself as I didn’t want to be further scrutinised or questioned.

In what ways do you embrace your individuality and celebrate the traits that make you unique?
These days, I feel fortunate to have cultivated a group of friends from different backgrounds and ethnicities, making everyone unique. I have learnt from my friends that we’re not all one mould; we are all different in the most special way.
I express my individuality in some form of creative expression, whether that’s painting in my studio or putting together an outfit that makes me feel confident but also very much myself.

Can you think of a personal trait that you used to dislike but have learned to accept and appreciate about yourself?
I used to really kick myself for always being so loud and chatty. I don’t know why. I used to get told growing up that I needed to stop talking … but honestly, my big mouth is why I’ve gotten to where I am today. Although I may not always have the right words, I will always be the first to say something when a situation doesn’t feel right. I appreciate that more now, especially in my adult years. I can vocalise my boundaries and verbally express to my loved ones things that I love about them the most, using my big mouth (haha) to help build them up. I still get into trouble, but only because I’m being cheeky.

How do you think society’s emphasis on perfection and conformity affects women’s self-esteem and confidence?
I think it’s been very damaging. As someone growing up in the height of fitting into certain sizes to be considered and seen as acceptable in society, it has definitely been a burden I’ve carried throughout my life. My strive for “perfection” has affected how I enjoy my life – especially when experimenting with my style. It’s made me feel down throughout my late teens to early twenties. I have stood next to my friends and mentally compared myself to them. I would go home and beat myself up over the fact that my stomach wasn’t flat enough or I didn’t have the right jawline or cheekbones.
These deep-rooted societal issues take a lot to undo and an active desire to flip the script on it. Unfortunately, I still see these inherent issues within my peers, which makes me uncomfortable. Still, I am grateful that I have worked on myself for years to have the proper coping mechanisms.

How can embracing authenticity and owning who you are positively impact your life and the lives of those around you?
For me, it’s about living my life with no apologies for being who I really am. I hope that by being authentic and genuine, I have inspired others to be able to embrace their true selves instead of hiding behind a façade. Ever since I started not caring what others think or putting myself inside the box that society puts me in, I’ve been able to push myself more and push my boundaries further to see what I can achieve as a woman of colour in Western society.
I recently talked with a girlfriend about this, and she asked me how I do it. I told her I no longer wanted to hide myself from the world for the sake of my 12-year-old self looking back at me in the mirror. She deserves more. She deserves to have the confidence she needs to achieve anything she wants. I wish I had known that earlier in my life or had someone model that for me.

What item of clothes do you feel most like yourself in?
Denim, specifically jeans. I’m always in them – whether I’m lounging around, running errands, painting or dog walking.

If you had to pick one piece of the collection that captures who you are the most; which would it be?
The Australian Cotton Denim Utility Jacket – it’s the perfect throw-on piece to finish an outfit with a touch of cool.

CAMERON
Model 

How would the people close to you describe you?
The people closest to me would probably describe me as very loving, a little bit crazy at times, but also someone who tries to protect their peace and aura and is learning to.

When and where do you feel most like yourself?
When I’m at my Grandma’s house. Growing up, we’d go over to her house every day; for me, it was a place where I felt so safe and grounded. And also, I think it depends on the people I’m surrounded by, who know me the most, so I also feel like myself around my best friends.

What does it mean to you to be your authentic self?
To me, it’s being carefree and at peace with my surroundings, where I can be my silliest and childlike, where I can talk openly and be heard. But, most importantly, just being around people that accept that. Being alone and enjoying it is also fundamental to my human experience.

What item of clothes do you feel most like yourself in?
Definitely a good pair of denim jeans. It sounds cliche, but the pair that makes you feel like a million bucks, that hugs the butt the best and makes it look amazing, are comfortable and accentuates everything good.
Also, a good basic black or white tee. They can be hard to find, but when it fits well, it makes you look and feel comfortable yet put together.

If you had to pick one piece of the collection that captures who you are the most; which would it be?
It would have to be the trench coat. The camel colour is spot on, keeping it cool and contemporary, but also something that you could integrate with a lot of pieces from your current closet.

MADDIE 
Store Manager

How would the people closest to you describe you?
Calm, caring, creative, positive, stylish and a good listener.

When and where do you feel most like yourself?
At home, at the dinner table with my family where we can talk about our days and laugh uncontrollably.

What does it mean to be your authentic self?
Being true to my values, believing in myself, and not letting the expectations and ideas of others limit who I am. I am a positive person, and I enjoy learning and motivating others to develop and be confident.

What item of clothes do you feel most like yourself in?
In Summer, I love a good pair of linen wide-leg pants made from natural fibres. I feel comfortable and stylish.
In Winter, I love a beautiful camel coat. It is versatile and feels grown up and polished, with the ability to elevate any outfit.

If you had to pick one piece from the collection that captures who you are the most, which would it be?
The gorgeous trench. The silhouette and fabrication provide an elegant flow, and the colour and style are classic.

COLETTE
From the Buying Team

How would the people close to you describe you?
Big-hearted and thoughtful with a minimalist style and an eye for interesting design details and versatility.

When and where do you feel most like yourself?
Out and about in Melbourne, soaking up the creative culture with my favourite people – whether it be eating at my favourite restaurant or seeing live music.

What does it mean to you to be your authentic self?
Feeling confident to express myself and live my life to my own expectations.

What item of clothes do you feel most like yourself in?
A perfectly cut jacket dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

If you had to pick one piece of the collection that captures who you are the most; which would it be?
The latte blazer. A brilliant layering piece with a subtle check in new season neutrals.

CARLA
From the Visual Merchandising Team

How would the people close to you describe you?
Caring, loyal and passionate.

When and where do you feel the most like yourself?
At home with the people I love.

What does it mean to you to be your authentic self?
Unapologetically yourself, and you stick to your own path.

What item of clothes do you feel most like yourself in?
I love a good blouse or shirt.