Adwoa Aboah makes ‘jeans and a cute top’ her own with these brands

Adwoa Aboah is an international model. On a recent trip to Australia she discussed her style journey, including how becoming a mother has impacted the way she dresses.

I’d describe my style as “put together in a mad way”. I like to wear outfits that don’t make sense. I don’t want to fit into a certain box. I lean into colour, and there’s an element of comfort to everything I wear.

The oldest things in my wardrobe are a 1920s brocade jacket and a very fragile sequin flapper dress. I have vintage pieces from all through the ages, including a collection of Ossie Clark dresses from the 1960s, Alaïa pieces from the ’80s and some special Galliano pieces from the ’90s. The most recent addition is a pair of purple Chloé jeans; I’m into wearing coloured denim. And I bought everything I could get my hands on from Dario Vitale’s only collection for Versace.

For a first date, nothing beats jeans and a cute top. On a plane I wear a tracksuit, a giant, Lenny Kravitz-style scarf and long compression socks. For the red carpet I like the idea of undressed glamour that feels unpretentious, looking like you’ve thrown something on and run out the door.

My favourite designers are Phoebe Philo and Miuccia Prada. The embellished floral skirt from Prada’s recent spring-summer show, and a pair of Prada man-repelling thong shoes are at the top of my wish list.

Three wardrobe essentials are a well-cut vintage button-down shirt – I like Charvet, YSL and Hermès – a great pair of jeans and a good belt. I’m wearing a pair of vintage Diesel jeans I found in Japan. My favourite fragrance is “Rain” by Uni.

Dressing a new body has been interesting but I’ve never felt more confident or attractive. I’m trusting my gut.

My go-to jewellery is a mix of earrings because I’ve got so many piercings. I wear antique and Sophie Bille Brahe pieces, and old Solange Azagury-Partridge earrings. The shoes I wear most are leopard-print slippers from Anderson & Sheppard, and Phoebe Philo ballet flats.

My big fashion moment came after having a child. Dressing a new body has been interesting but I’ve never felt more confident or attractive. I’m trusting my gut. I know how I like to dress and I know what looks best on me. I wasted so much time worrying before.

My biggest fashion mistake is sometimes getting the proportions wrong; I can go overboard on the bagginess. Even the best-dressed people make mistakes – they’re the ones taking the risks. I’m not obsessed with being trend-focused. I appreciate the quiet-luxury aesthetic if it’s authentic to the person but that’s not how I like to dress. Something I’d never wear is a high-waisted jean – the lower, the better, for me.

My favourite fashion icons are Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, always, and Solange Knowles. She’s confident and sexy but her interpretation of sexy is nuanced, not basic.

On a typical working day I wear a uniform: jeans, a vintage band tee, a good jacket and sunglasses. On the weekend it’s trousers and a Charvet shirt.

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