In conversation with Deb Gordon, creative hairstylist and designer. Fantastic wardrobes and where to find them.
Tucked away on a leafy suburban street, I set off to uncover the secret world of Melbournes' most coveted wardrobes. From Caulfield to Coburg, Point Cook to Collingwood, Melbourne is host to some hidden treasure chests of beautiful clothing, alongside an impeccable dresser with an intriguing story to tell. I am excited to discover the enigmatic and exciting faces behind the wardrobes and the inspirational tales they have to share.
Arriving at the home of Deb Gordon, I am buzzed in with Debs cheery 'Hello my darling!' Bending to greet her adorable pooch, I am ushered past unusual art pieces all curated with care, life-sized animals made of twisted metal in strong primary colours are reminiscent of Deb's South African heritage, unusual creative artworks are everywhere, and the kitchen is light-filled with a view of Melbourne giving the home an urban flair. I sit down at the table with Deb talking a mile a minute and jumping straight into her delight for colour, creative fashion and where it started.
ER: 'Deb, where did your love of fashion come from?'
DG: 'My late mother was the most talented and exceptional woman and a costumier for all the big stage shows back in South Africa with Joan Brickhill, Folies Bergere, The Sound of Music-all the big Broadway and TV shows and I used to love watching her. She never used patterns, she used to make her own. I learned from her how to how to design and sew, and was especially creative with hairdressing because of this, I learned how to design hair how I cut fabric, learning which direction to cut so that the hair would fall a certain way.'
On the table are design books from Deb's mother, Minnie, and Deb points out the designs she used to wear and how her mother used to say 'Omg, you cannot wear that!' Deb recalls that she would laugh and say, 'yes I can!' and between the two of them she and her mother would create outrageous and beautiful designs.
Her fearlessness in fashion is what sets her apart, fiery red hair and a twinkle in her eye Deb describes a world of South African showbiz where 'anything goes'.
She points out a gown of black pvc with ostrich feathers 'I remember being in the paper with Miss. South Africa for this one!' The designs become more exquisite and creative as I turn the pages of the precious design books Deb has kept in tribute to her talented mother. All of the original hand-drawn designs capture a moment in history, so much love and care has gone into each individual drawing and embody a bygone era.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
'This is the background to my style evolution, it all started with my mother. She used to wear incredible kaftans, turbans and enormous earrings. She did all the sets for huge TV channels in South Africa, she was a force to be reckoned with. On a day to day basis I used to dress casually, but when I started with hair that's when I really came out of my shell. I used to wear tutus to work, lycra luminous green with black netting. I loved fashion and was totally crazy. I used to do all the models' hair for the shows and absolutely loved it!'
ER: 'I love the evocative picture of a glamourous, artistic life in South Africa, you and your mum had such a great connection and an inspirational, creative world together. Where do you like to shop now, and how do you create outfits?'
DG: My mother taught me so much about how to put things together. I sew a lot of my own clothing, but even when I go and buy a dress or outfit, I make it my own. I don't just wear it off the rack, I have to add my own stamp to it, adding scarves, jackets, twisting it or adding appliques to make it my own.
ER: 'Style is all about individuality!'
DG: 'Absolutely. I would never wear something straight off the rack, it's about HOW will I wear this, how can I coordinate with my existing pieces? You can turn a boring outfit into a really interesting one just by thinking about the proportions, the colours and what you can add to make it unique.'
ER: 'What's your best style advice?'
DG: 'The older you get you have to adapt and maybe think about a more elegant look and what is appropriate, but you should never play yourself down completely. Look at Iris Apfel! It's so important to have your own personality and stamp that reflects who you are. Style is dependent on your confidence, your personality, and how you're feeling that day. It's about finding inspiration in your day-to-day life. Confidence is your outfit!'
ER: 'Absolutely agree, for example, if you're not going anywhere, you might not feel inspired to get dressed. It's about finding inspiration in our everyday lives and grabbing the moment to enjoy and savour. If you just chuck on some red lippy or an interesting piece it will add to your day and make you feel better because it's a knock-on effect, so you might feel more adventurous and feel like dropping in on a friend or doing something else to elevate your day. So, you're having an elevated experience, just because you made that tiny bit of effort in the beginning.'