Robbie Merritt
“John Hooke is a flamboyant fashionista who has been in love with women’s styling since a very young age. I was fortunate enough to work with this amazing stylist recently and had the honor if exclusively interviewing him for Tycoon Magazine” ; says Robbie Merritt, who recently interviewed John Hooke for an exclusive feature with us. Let us have a look at the insights of the conversation they had;
Q: How did it all start John , your love for fashion?
“Well, my passion for fashion started at Vinnies in Lane Cove when I was volunteering there back in 2009. A really cool donation of quite expensive ladies’ shoes came in, and from there I was hooked” , explained John who went on to say, “I started buying donated shoes at Vinnies Lane Cove from that point on. I studied a Cert 4 in Fashion Design at Ultimo TAFE between 2014-15. I actually was wanting to do styling for a while and completed my Professional Styling Academy course in December 2020. I also completed my ‘Advanced PSA’ course in 2022.
Q: Who are your most influential designers ?
“My 3 most influential designers would all be Australian with Zimmerman my #1 because of their ultra-feminine lace couture and gorgeous shapes to enhance femininity. The late Carla Zampatti would come in #2 as an Australian fashion icon, who empowered women with her amazing styles and still does. Tied at #3 would be Elle Zeitoune and J’Adore who are consistently producing world quality couture. As you will realise I go for ultra-feminine, glamorous, and sexy fashion for women. Lace, satin, and colour really draw me in regard to what pieces to buy and style others in. I believe the role of fashion is to make a woman feel adorable, wonderful, feminine, strong, wanted, joyful, loved, free, excited, and HAPPY”.
Q: Women’s shoes are important to you and you always style women with elegant shoes tell us more.
“I had a ladies’ shoe hire business from 2014. I was working in the ladies shoe department of David Jones , Warringah Mall from 2011-13 and I started buying all the shoes that I loved at work, like a private collection. Popular brands for me included Steve Madden and Tony Bianco. I bought 20 pairs of shoes when I went to Italy in 2012. It dawned on me that hiring dresses would be a safer option than only having shoes to hire for women. So that is what inspired the designer dresses and accessories hire. I also do designer outfits like Zimmerman flared jeans, Carla Zampatti pants, or Sass and Bide blazers, to name a few. But the majority of my collection is designer dresses as I believe dresses are the most feminine and glamorous style of clothing for women”, smiled John.
Q: Who are your target clientele ?
“I’m aiming to reach a clientele aged from 16 to 60 but in saying that I think that women of any age would feel comfortable in most of my pieces”.
Q: Finally John ,who are your most stylish Australian Politicians ?
“My (ex) politician with the most dress sense and style of fashion would definitely be Hon Julie Bishop MP Australia’s former Foreign Minister. She is a stylish dresser who was at Carla Zampatti’s funeral during Easter 2022 at St Mary’s Cathedral. I was shocked to hear of Carla’s death, and I still can’t believe she is not here with us designing all her fabulous dresses, jumpsuits, blouses, and pants. I do like Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison as a politician, but sorry I don’t think he has much fashion style with the daggy caps and all he is a walking fashion fail. Honorable mentions for stylish politicians would be The honorable Tanya Plibersek MP Shadow Minister for Education and Shadow Minister for Women. Also Kristina Keneally former first woman Premier of NSW.
Interviewed by Robbie Merritt.