Phoebe Tonkin doesn’t have time to think about her wardrobe when she’s traveling the world. She needs an outfit that can take her from the airport to set and then to dinner without a worry, and even if we’re living in envy of her jet set lifestyle, we need that combination of practicality and presentation too.
Rip & Tan: Describe the outfit that makes you feel like the most authentic version of yourself:
Phoebe Tonkin: Vintage Levi’s, a sweater, a pair of flats, and gold hoop earrings.
Rip & Tan: How has your career influenced the way you dress?
Phoebe Tonkin: I definitely tend to favor comfort over anything, especially when I have early call times and I’m working through long days.
Rip & Tan: Consider your favorite item of clothing. What is it that draws you to it? Is it the texture, color, silhouette, its history?
Phoebe Tonkin: My best friend Ilona is a blue jean connoisseur, and for about a year I kept dropping hints about a particular pair of Levi’s until she eventually relented and gave them to me. I protect them like they’re gold. I always pack them in my luggage. Other than that, I have a lot of jewelry that has sentimental value.
Rip & Tan: Are there any women in your life that have given you wisdom on style or dressing? Who are they, and what have you learned from them?
Phoebe Tonkin: Ilona Hamer and Alex Nataf, editors of Unconditional Magazine, totally inspired the way I dress and the way I look at fashion. They favor basic, well-made, classic pieces, and they steer clear of anything trendy.
Rip & Tan: Describe the evolution of your taste over the years. How do you imagine your style changing in the future?
Phoebe Tonkin: My style has definitely changed over the years. I remember when I was younger, I would look at girls who were older than me and I didn’t understand how they just looked effortless. And I realized that style is something that you accumulate…like those jeans I stole from my best friend, the shoes that I’ve been wearing for seven years, the jewelry that I traded with my sister. When you’re younger, you think that being sexy is wearing tight little things, and now I do feel sexiest just when I’m in something really simple and classic, like a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.
Rip & Tan: What (or who) do you most often dress for?
Phoebe Tonkin: Myself…always myself.
Rip & Tan: What message do you communicate to the world with the way you dress yourself?
Phoebe Tonkin: That I do not own an iron and therefore I wear a lot of cotton.
Rip & Tan: What are some rules of style you think every woman should follow?
Phoebe Tonkin: Avoid spending money on trendy things. Find a style that suits your body shape and your lifestyle. There are certain pieces of clothing that look amazing on other people, but I know they just don’t suit my body shape, and therefore make me feel self-conscious. I feel confident knowing what I look good in.
Rip & Tan: What are your guiding principles when adding something new to your wardrobe?
Phoebe Tonkin: When I think about things to buy, I think about how many times I will wear that piece. I’m not someone that wants to just go and buy something that I feel like I’ll just wear once and never wear again. I like to invest in pieces I know I’ll wear until they get holes in them. I buy things I know will go with other pieces that I have that complement the wardrobe that I already own.
Rip & Tan: What significance do women play in your life? How do you make it a point to support women?
Phoebe Tonkin: I love when women support and inspire one another. I have incredibly driven, talented, smart girlfriends, and I am not afraid of asking them for advice. I think that’s something I learned as I got older—and it helps having friends a few years older than me—but it doesn’t make you immature or unaware to call up your friends and straight up ask them for work or life advice.
Fill in the Blanks:
Classic investments are…anything you know you can imagine wearing in ten years or giving to a very worthy daughter or niece.
Every woman needs…a black dress and a slinky nighty.
Confidence can…make your entire world change.
A worthy investment piece is…your health!
Published May 11, 2018
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