3 Minute Thread: Zoë Akihary
"If an item speaks to you and you immediately think of lots of ideas for how to wear it, you should get it!"
I recently looked at my Instagram feed and noted (smugly) that it had become more ‘aesthetic’ of late. It’s probably because I’ve been reading so much of Zoë Akihary’s newsletter,
, in which she shares research, tips and inspiration from the world of art direction and its surrounding disciplines. After I published my 2024 outfit roundup, we got chatting about personal style. So I thought I’d ask Zoë to share hers:
Who are you?
Hi! I’m Zoë, a freelance art director currently based between Berlin and Amsterdam. I also write the ART DIRECTION newsletter here on Substack.
What are you wearing?
I am wearing a grey knit vest I bought at 2nd Street in Venice during a recent trip, jeans from Weekday via Vinted, a jacket I bought on the Ijhallen in Amsterdam years ago when I was a student, and a scarf that’s somehow always laying around my house.
My bag is Telfar with a Labubu on it, and a keychain my boyfriend surprised me with last week. Vetements x Luchesse Bootmaker boots and Gentle Monster sunglasses. My rings are from a Dutch store called Anna + Nina.
Why did you choose this outfit?
A lot of the pieces I’ve owned since my early years of college and I’ve been loving for a really long time (the boots, jacket and jeans!) I love using these pieces over and over again with new accessories or combining it with different tops, it never bores me.
Where did you wear it?
I wore it this weekend when I went for a casual dinner in Berlin with my boyfriend. a We went to a Korean restaurant in Kreuzberg called Namsan Berlin.
What’s the best style lesson you’ve learned over the years?
Don’t try to stick to one aesthetic or curate your style too much. Your style will change all the time at different stages of your life or places you move to.
If an item speaks to you and you immediately think of lots of ideas for how to wear it, you should get it! If you have to look up inspiration or have it planted in your mind because of social media, then don’t (or think about it longer).
One person you think has great style?
Any 90s model off duty!
Best life hack?
Journalling! I journal every single day. Sometimes when I feel emotions boiling up I take a moment to write it off of me and immediately feel better. I write to manifest, to work through situations and to be more in touch with myself.
Your favourite person to follow?
I follow thousands of cool people on Instagram and whenever I open my feed it’s a happy place of inspiration seeing all the amazing stuff everyone creates - whether it’s recipes, outfits or creative projects.
One recommendation to read/ watch/ listen/ see or do?
I absolutely love archivepdf.net, System magazine has some of the best and most insightful interviews. Lately I’ve been listening a lot to RUBII, and I bought a Ninja Creami machine and am playing a lot with healthy ice cream recipes. My favourite at the moment is pineapple, coconut shavings, kefir, dates, blue spirulina and collagen powder.
Subscribe to ART DIRECTION newsletter here and visit Zoë’s website.
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Thank you for the feature 🫶🏼