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I was recently reminded, while chatting with Tam Holland on the Nothing To Wear podcast, that I've now spent more than 14 years working in fashion (yikes!).

It made me take stock of everything I've absorbed along the way and I feel strangely grateful for my people-pleasing, overachieving younger self, who paid close attention and learnt from some of the industry's best editors and stylists.

Watch: The spring trends our fashion experts reckon are set to take over. Post continues below.

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The Spring Trends Set to Take Over This Season

Of course, there's the practical advice most of us already know: invest in quality basics, tailor your clothes and dress for the life you actually live. These are the everyday principles I follow, and we talk about them a lot on the pod.

But the lessons that have stayed with me most are more philosophical. They've come from things I've read, people I've worked with and mentors I've been lucky enough to learn from.

They're less about what to wear and more about how to think about clothes, confidence and personal style.

1. Shop off-piste.

There's no denying Australia's fashion scene can begin to feel a little predictable. The same silhouettes, prints and colours seem to appear everywhere each season, which is why I prefer to shop slightly off-piste.

My solution? Curating an algorithmic fashion world entirely of my own on eBay. After more than a decade of buying and selling on the platform, I've realised its real allure lies in the thrill of finding something rare.

It's the sold-out pieces you thought you'd missed forever (I'm still waiting for the H&M x Wardrobe.NYC collection to appear), treasures from discontinued Australian labels like Dion Lee and Josh Goot and the one-of-a-kind vintage and upcycled finds that make a wardrobe feel truly personal.

There are a tonne of ways to buy and sell clothes on thrifting platforms; I shared some tips alongside other fashion and style experts in this piece here.

2. Spot the formula.

The formula here? The proportions of the mini shorts and oversized jacket or blazer. Image: Pinterest.

When you see an outfit you love on Instagram or Pinterest, resist the urge to copy it piece for piece. Instead, work out the formula behind it.

Is it the oversized silhouette? The way a crisp white T-shirt has been layered under a collared shirt? Identifying what you actually like about a look will help you recreate it with clothes you already own and recreate the look with your own flare.

Over time, you will train your eyes to see patterns not products, and you'll become a far better stylist of your own wardrobe.

3. Lean into 'Method dressing', but don't let it become your entire personality.

On the pod chatting iconic style in the 2010s and wearing a trucker cap and low rise jeans. Image: Supplied.

Borrowed from the way stylists dress actors to reflect the mood or character of a film during red carpet appearances and press tours, method dressing can also be a useful tool for everyday style.

Consider the mood, location or occasion, then let it guide your outfit. I often do this on the podcast. If we're talking about '90s fashion, I might lean into low-rise jeans and a trucker cap.

Fashion is a form of communication, and your outfit can be a brilliant conversation starter and I find method dressing is the perfect vehicle for this. I love that — but don't rely on it as a crutch. We've all heard the advice, "Don't let the clothes wear you." The same applies here.

Take inspiration from the world you're stepping into without becoming a character or turning up in costume. It should always still feel like you.

4. 'Trend' isn't a dirty word.

Leaning into low rise parachute pants on the pod! Also rocking Grandpa core! Image: Supplied.

The irony of saying this as a trend forecaster isn't lost on me, but it's okay to love trends (and to try them!).

Experimenting with a new silhouette, colour or styling idea doesn't mean you're losing your personal style or identity. Trends are playful and experimental, and that's what fashion should be. You don't need to fall victim to every trend or buy an entirely new wardrobe each season.

Simply try the ones that excite you, then make them your own. Personal style isn't about ignoring trends; it's about knowing which ones deserve a place in your wardrobe. For example, I love a country Western theme and enjoy the flare bootleg and cowboy hat.

5. Have a visual signature.

An old creative director once told me that while some people have a signature uniform, the most interesting people have a visual signature.

A uniform means wearing essentially the same outfit every day and lots of cool girls in the industry to do… Think Steve Jobs in his black turtleneck and jeans. A visual signature is subtler: a recurring element that makes your style recognisably yours.

Image: Instagram @whatgigiwears.

For example: One of my favourite content creators Agnes Pusztai ( @whatgigiwears) has a visual signature; a head scarf. Scrolling through her feed, one in four pictures would include some variation of a head banana.

It might be a red lip, a distinctive pair of glasses or a strong shoulder. It could even be a silhouette you return to again and again. People remember these details, so find the ones that feel like you and repeat them until they become your signature.

6. Re-asses your wardrobe every birthday.

Sorting colours, double ups and what no longer serves you. Image: Pinterest.

I'm a big believer in this one. Style should evolve. The best wardrobes aren't frozen in time; they shift as your taste, priorities and lifestyle change.

What felt right last year may no longer reflect who you are or what you're doing. Reassessing your wardrobe each year helps you recognise what still feels like you, what needs to go and where your style might be heading next.

Rather than doing it on the first day of the new year, I like to associate it with my birthday and use it as a sort of self reflection moment (and an excuse to buy some new birthday pieces!).

7. The 'will I wear it next Tuesday?' rule.

An Arcina Ori sparkly gold dress that I have, in fact, not worn on a regular Tuesday… Image: Supplied.

This question puts the handbrake on an impulse purchase every time. Before pressing 'add to cart', I ask myself: would I wear this next Tuesday (which is essentially an ordinary Tuesday). If the answer is no, I probably don't need it.

It cuts through the fantasy of dressing for an imaginary life and forces you to consider whether a piece belongs in the one you actually live. There are exceptions for genuine occasion wear, of course, but for everyday purchases, it's a surprisingly effective test.

8. Wear the good clothes.

Image: Supplied.

Like everything in life, we need to use the good stuff. Wear the dress that cost a fortune, the shoes you purchased for a wedding and the designer bag you saved for. Wear them to work, the playgroup for mother's group or coffee with a friend.

My Wardrobe NYC Jacket I once reserved for weddings now gets a spin to girl's dinner and meetings. Stop saving your favourite pieces for an occasion worthy of them. Clothes are meant to be lived in. They'll collect dust either way, so you might as well enjoy them.

Ultimately, good style isn't about following a fixed set of rules. Experiment, edit and evolve. Fashion is playful and should be enjoyed.

For more helpful style advice and shopping recommendations, subscribe to the weekly Nothing to Wear Substack, listen to the Nothing to Wear podcast or watch Nothing to Wear on YouTube.

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Feature Image: Supplied.