A fashion lecturer’s workweek blends vintage finds, designer pieces, and creative styling while managing teaching, meetings, and errands. Thea Basiliou divides her time between consulting, styling, and lecturing at Melbourne’s Collarts. Her wardrobe serves as a mood board shaped by art, film, and memory.
The rhythm of a workweek in clothes
Basiliou avoids a uniform. She constructs outfits based on her schedule, balancing comfort and character. A Monday might begin with a Teams call in a hand-knit Greek cardigan, then transition to teaching in a Dries van Noten midi skirt. The skirt, bought secondhand, was worn before spring. “I was saving it,” she said, “but I just couldn’t wait.”
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Tuesday requires a sharper look. A retail excursion with students called for a JW Anderson coat dress from 2015, paired with a vintage slip skirt and a Muji tote. The coat, purchased from Matches Fashion before its closure, rarely leaves her closet but proves useful in winter. “I love the collar and the color,” she said. The tote, practical and unassuming, has become a daily essential. “It’s so easy and unpretentious,” she said. “I love teaming it with a pretentious outfit for contrast.”
Evenings rarely slow the pace. After teaching, she attended a screening of The Invite, part of her annual ritual of booking a dozen films during the Melbourne International Film Festival. The next day, a visual merchandising excursion found her in a Phoebe Philo sweater. “This sweater is a class,” she said.
Styling as a second language
Basiliou’s approach to dressing has remained consistent since she was 17. “I dress for mood,” she said, “often inspired by something I’ve absorbed—a book, a film, a photo, music, art, or a conversation.” That mindset guided her through a decade running Blonde Venus, a Brisbane boutique where she mixed new-season designer pieces with vintage finds. Now in Melbourne, she experiments more with daily looks, whether for teaching or running errands.
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Her methods are straightforward. A black slip skirt transforms into a cummerbund belt when twisted and tucked. Trouser legs tucked into socks, a habit born from cold weather, became an obsession. “It’s not quite a balloon pant,” she said, “though I’m eager to try the Chloe version.” Accessories—upcycled earrings, a 1990s Chanel brooch, a scrunchie from Maryam Nassir Zadeh—often draw attention. “I rarely rely on a single piece of clothing,” she said.
For Basiliou, clothes tell stories. Whether through a secondhand skirt or how a simple tote can soften a polished look, her wardrobe adapts to her life. The result reflects the unpredictability and depth of her week.