A N O U K X N K E

Hello! Could you please briefly give us a run down of your career in five sentences, pretty please?

I started out in fashion PR in Sydney while also freelance styling, assisting and writing. From there I went to Harper’s BAZAAR Australia as fashion assistant to Mark Vassallo.

When my editor and mentor, Alison Veness-McGourty moved from Harper’s to open GRAZIA Australia, I went and worked my way from accessories editor to market editor and after three years of weekly deadlines and with one trip to NYC fresh in my mind, I moved to the Big Apple to work out what I wanted to do next…

I took freelance roles as production and fashion assistant when I landed. My first role was as assistant to Camilla Nickerson at VOGUE magazine where I was fashion editor. I was also assisting on the design and development of collections for Celine, Calvin Klein and Alexander McQueen (yes, seriously it was wild). It was here I realised I wanted to leave editorial styling and print media (for the time) and I met two entrepreneurial women, Ferebee and Eleanor. They were launching a new fashion site, FEYT.COM. I was the first hire on their adventure – I took on the role of brand director.

When the site sadly didn’t make funding to develop further and closed, I was then introduced to the fabulous Joe Lupo and Jesse Garza of the luxury lifestyle consultancy, Visual Therapy and I became a lead personal stylist with them, dressing my wonderful clients for their equally wonderful lives. I took on freelance roles such as editor-in-chief for ThePoloProject.com and online fashion and lifestyle publication for the Australian Polo. I created digital strategy road maps for clients and wrote articles for publications including ELLE.

Out of what seemed to be my daily musings on the mad life I lead here in NYC, watching people on their daily commutes, talking about our struggles and wonderful experiences, I started drawing and painting as a form of therapy, and an outlet no one else has a say in… The Beekman Hotel took me on for a campaign, as did Stuart Weitzman shoes and other publications. Back in May 2015 I had my first solo art show, Safety In Numbers, which I am proud to say was really successful. Today I am making art as a part of my daily life and not just as a hobby!

Ok, that was a book, sorry! I told you I can’t do five sentences! Maybe just write: PR, fashion, digital, personal styling… ART. Hahaha it sounds like a LinkedIn Summary. Ew.

That’s a lot of different roles! Why do you feel what you’re doing now is right for you?

What’s your typical day, in a nutshell?

Visiting NYC in June, two things I should do, and two I should skip?

Oh goodness, what are you into?

DO visit Harlem. Do to a gospel church, go to Red Rooster (no not the fast food joint!) and listen to jazz and eat fried chicken. Go see Shakespeare in the Park or any other free public art events in NYC – it’s bloody wild, I’ve seen Patti Smith and more for free! DON’T just do the tourist stuff. Find a friend, get a bike, ride around the city eating and drinking your way around town. Find neighbourhoods you like, talk to people, everyone is cool and mad. DON’T forget, if you like to drink and indulge, you will be hungover more than you expect. The city just does it to you. Pack Nurofen, I miss that stuff hahaha.

What kind of person do you envisage buying your prints?

Someone who likes to be provocative and has a wicked sense of humour. Really, anyone that feels something when they see it, that’s all that matters!

Name three things you miss most about home.

My family, the water and the seafood.

Can you tell us about the The Flower Shop collab? How’d, it come about?

Sure! I was so excited when the boys from The Flower Shop restaurant came to me with their concept. I’ve known them for a few years being a part of the Aussie community here in NYC, and they are really supportive. They had a design in mind from their interior references, to create a mural style art work, a one off piece that told a quirky, naughty and memorable story about life in downtown NYC. A sort of adults only, provocative version of one of the Bemelmans Bar.

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream. It’s owned and run by a fellow Aussie who is killing it at life – and they make the most amazing Earl grey tea ice-cream that rocks the casbah.

What is it about New York that’s inspiring? Could you do what you’re doing somewhere else?

This is a place of constant friction and creative catalysts – not only for work, but you have to be a creative human to make a life for yourself that works here. I’m inspired by the inspiring people and things that are done here. I’m inspired by my NYC family and friends who are living this mad life with me and embracing their individual needs but collectively looking out for one another in a way I haven’t seen before… New York is a place that is open to anything and everything.

What’s the ten-year plan?

Oh pah-lease, I am doing well trying to work out the next four to six months. Ten years is just about living as authentically as possible, embracing the moment and setting myself up some security on the way!

One way you helped a woman recently?

I have so many women in my life, I hope it is a daily occurrence! Most recently I helped a girlfriend talk through some big life stuff happening, give some advice and perspective, but really, just my time and understanding (yep, don’t we all need that). She said, “thank you, it helped so much”, and changed her view on something that was causing her some real pain. So, that’s cool. Spread that support and love! No judgement!

Most importantly, you desperately need something sweet. What do you buy, and where?