The ultimate guide: Everything you've ever wanted to ask a personal stylist

Summary

Style-ish Podcast Summary Episode: The Ultimate Guide: Everything You've Ever Wanted to Ask a Personal Stylist
Host: Shameless Media | Release Date: February 20, 2025

---

Introduction to Elliot Garneau

In this enlightening episode of Style-ish, host Maddie sits down with Elliot Garneau, a renowned Australian fashion stylist and commentator. Elliot's portfolio boasts styling for red carpet events, notable household names, and collaborations with prominent Australian brands. His impeccable taste and deep industry knowledge make him a trusted advisor for both celebrities and fashion enthusiasts alike.

Elliot's Philosophy on Personal Style

Confidence is Key
Elliot emphasizes that confidence is the cornerstone of any outfit.

"The one thing that never changes is the confidence in which you carry your clothing in. So no matter what you're wearing… if you're wearing it with confidence and you feel comfortable in what you're wearing, that is minimum 50% of the look."
[02:37] Elliot Garneau

He advises listeners to "rock it" and feel their best, regardless of the current trends or unique style choices, such as mismatched socks or bold footwear.

The Glamorous vs. Reality of Being a Stylist

Behind the Glitz
Contrary to popular belief, Elliot reveals that the life of a stylist isn't always glamorous.

"It's not that glamorous. I see a lot of fate. I carry a lot of heavy shit. I live in my car."
[04:17] Elliot Garneau

Glamorous Moments
Despite the challenges, Elliot cherishes moments like working on major campaigns in Paris, which he describes as "pinch me" experiences.

"Working with a global fashion brand in Paris with Phoebe Tonkin for an editorial cover story for Gritty Pretty… that was a real pinch me moment."
[05:17] Elliot Garneau

Building a Timeless Wardrobe

Foundational Pieces
Elliot advocates for a wardrobe built on timeless classics. Essential items include a black blazer, little black dress, perfect-fitting jeans, and a quality black handbag. These pieces serve as a versatile foundation, allowing for effortless styling across various occasions.

"Classic black tailoring and classic black silhouettes… are universal across the board for anyone of any shape, any size, any taste. These are the pieces that everybody needs."
[12:02] Elliot Garneau

Importance of Accessories
Accessories are pivotal in elevating an outfit. Elliot suggests letting one accessory, like a statement shoe or a distinctive bag, be the focal point of the ensemble.

"Choose one part of the outfit and let that be the central focus point."
[14:01] Elliot Garneau

Tailoring Advice
Proper tailoring transforms off-the-rack garments into custom-fitted pieces. Elliot highlights the magic of small alterations, such as taking in a jacket to accentuate the waist, which can significantly enhance the overall appearance.

"Getting pants taken up so that they fit you correctly… is super important."
[28:37] Elliot Garneau

Inspiration in Fashion

Sources of Inspiration
Elliot draws inspiration from a variety of sources, primarily film and television. He also extensively utilizes Instagram wardrobe accounts to keep abreast of current trends and iconic celebrity styles.

"Film, television is probably my biggest source of inspiration."
[30:20] Elliot Garneau

Celebrity Styling Inspirations
Elliot admires figures like Margot Robbie, Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, and Emma Corrin for their bold and risk-taking red carpet looks. He appreciates their ability to consistently reinvent their style while maintaining a distinct identity.

"Margot Robbie, Zendaya, Hunter Schafer… they consistently take risks, and they pay off."
[32:19] Elliot Garneau

Career Insights and Lessons

Career Journey
Elliot's journey began with a Bachelor of Design from the White House Institute of Design, followed by international experience in Hong Kong with Lane Crawford. Returning to Australia, he ventured into various creative roles, culminating in a flourishing styling career since 2017.

"After my experience at Lang Crawford, I came back to Australia… back in 2017 was when it all really kicked off."
[35:47] Elliot Garneau

Professionalism and Respect
Elliot underscores the importance of respect and professionalism in the fashion industry. He advises:

"Show up on time, be respectful of everybody on set… treat people how you want to be treated."
[38:01] Elliot Garneau

Advice to His Younger Self
Reflecting back, Elliot humorously advises his 21-year-old self to change his hair and adopt a more laid-back approach to life.

"I would probably say just, like, it all doesn't have to be so much. Sometimes your pace is your power."
[40:46] Elliot Garneau

The Evolving Fashion Industry

Authentic Personal Style
Projected trends for 2025 lean towards authentic personal style over fleeting trends. Elliot echoes this sentiment, encouraging individuals to embrace their unique preferences rather than succumbing to external pressures.

"Personal style means an ability to dress with a sense of freedom… use that as part of your personality."
[10:34] Elliot Garneau

Inclusivity and Risk-Taking
Elliot highlights the inclusivity of fashion and the importance of taking creative risks, both on and off the red carpet. He advocates for method dressing—aligning outfits with event themes—and integrating personal elements into styling.

"Clothing is there to empower us and for us to have fun."
[35:03] Elliot Garneau

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Elliot Garneau imparts valuable insights into building a cohesive and authentic wardrobe, emphasizing timeless pieces, the power of accessories, and the significance of confidence in personal style. His career journey serves as an inspirational blueprint for aspiring stylists and fashion enthusiasts alike, highlighting the balance between professionalism, creativity, and personal authenticity.

Notable Quotes:

• "Confidence is the cornerstone of any outfit." — Elliot Garneau [02:37]
• "Clothing is there to empower us and for us to have fun." — Elliot Garneau [35:03]
• "Show up on time, be respectful of everybody on set… treat people how you want to be treated." — Elliot Garneau [38:01]

---

This comprehensive discussion with Elliot Garneau offers listeners actionable tips, inspiring anecdotes, and a deeper understanding of personal styling's nuances. Whether you're revamping your wardrobe or seeking professional styling advice, this episode provides a treasure trove of knowledge to enhance your fashion journey.

Transcript

[Elliot Garneau]

Foreign.

[Maddie]

Welcome to the very first episode of Face To Face, our exciting new miniseries proudly presented by Longcom. In this series, we're inviting you to sit down with us for a conversation with some incredible game changing creatives who are making their mark on the industry. Within each of these chats, we'll deep dive into their inspiring journeys, uncover their best kept tips and secrets to success, whilst offering you the ultimate inside look at the highs and maybe a few lows of life as a trailblazer, all while exploring their unique world of beauty. This series is all made possible by the legendary Lancome and their new revolutionary genifique, Ultimate Serum. A true game changer that visibly transforms skin in just seven days. Discover it [e-mail] hi, I'm Maddie. Welcome to Face To Face. This is the series where we sit down opposite some of fashion and beauty's best experts so we can get all of the industry's best kept secrets. Today we're focusing on fashion with the ultimate guide to personal style with Elliot Garneau.

[Unknown]

Hi.

[Elliot Garneau]

Hey, girl.

[Maddie]

Elliot is a prominent fashion stylist and commentator. His work ranges from red carpet moments to styling some of Australia's most notable household names, as well as contributing and consulting with some of Australia's most recognisable brands. I personally, along with the stylish team, trust and adore his impeccable taste. We're very lucky to be joined in studio with Elliot today. Elliot, I'm going to squeeze every last tip, trick and styling advice selfishly for myself, but also for our stylish listeners here with you today. But welcome.

[Elliot Garneau]

What do I do with that intro? It's huge. The pressure. I'm going to combust under the pressure.

[Maddie]

We're very excited to have you because I think that what you can offer our listeners is really clear, actionable hacks and styling advice. And I feel like I should mention that we are good friends outside of this studio.

[Elliot Garneau]

Totally. So I feel like if you've heard all this before, just pretend that you haven't because you hit me up on the daily with text. It's like, it's almost painful, but here I am. We're going to share it with Stylish and I cannot hardly wait.

[Maddie]

I can't wait for everyone else to get the Elliot Garno styling experience too because I think the advice you've given me as a friend has been so actionable and easy for me to, you know, bring into my own wardrobe and my life. So I'm very grateful. But to kick us off, we love a Little bit of a wreck or a psa, if you will.

[Elliot Garneau]

Yeah.

[Maddie]

So do you have the ultimate kind of PSA or recommendation that you'd love to share with us today? Before we start?

[Elliot Garneau]

I think that my biggest PSA and my biggest wreck that I've stuck with throughout my entire career, because obviously fashion is seasonal, right?

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

So things change. Often the one thing that never changes is the confidence in which you carry your clothing in. So no matter what you're wearing, no matter what you have in your wardrobe, no matter your personal style, if you're wearing it with confidence and you feel comfortable in what you're wearing, that is minimum 50% of the look.

[Maddie]

Great. Okay. So just make sure you've got a little bit of je ne sais quoi.

[Elliot Garneau]

Yeah, yeah. Just rock it. Just absolutely rock it. Feel your best self. Have the confidence in the fact that you put on a great outfit. At the end of the day, if you feel amazing in it, you've made the right decision.

[Maddie]

Okay, great. I'm going to remember that when I'm in, like, full, no nose, ugg boots, mismatched socks. Just rock it.

[Elliot Garneau]

Yeah. But like, if Paris Hilton can do it in Juice Couture for the first, like, 10 years of the 2000s, then why can't we do it today? Right.

[Maddie]

Love it. So I briefly spoke about your incredible career, but what excites you the most about styling and fashion?

[Elliot Garneau]

I think for me, it's actually the relationship building with people. The funnest part of playing with clothing is it's like playing with dress up. I was a kid who grew up with Barbie dolls, and I was obsessed with, like, dressing them and putting on my mantelpiece and making sure they looked perfect. And now that's kind of my career in a way. I get to play dress ups with people and build this amazing rapport with these incredible people whose careers I've really admired. And they really trust me with their personal image.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

So I have a degree of responsibility, but I also have a degree of friendship. So it's this really nice hybrid between building an identity for someone but working on the identity that they've already established for themselves.

[Maddie]

I love that. And I think when you're talking about your clients and being a stylist, that's obviously a large part of your career.

[Elliot Garneau]

Yes.

[Maddie]

What do you feel like are the most glamorous parts of being a stylist to some of the most notable recognizable household name?

[Elliot Garneau]

Wait, you want the actual tea, though?

[Maddie]

Yeah, I want a stylist.

[Elliot Garneau]

Is not that glamorous it really isn't. It's not that glamorous. I see a lot of fate. I carry a lot of heavy shit. I live in my car. Anyone who is listening, who is wanting to potentially be a stylist, make sure you have a big car because you literally live in your car. And it's not that glam. I mean, the end result is really glamorous. When you see a client all dolled up, hair, makeup, outfit, the whole bit hitting a red carpet, it's really fulfilling. And you're like, oh my God, what an unbelievable look. And again, it comes back down to the confidence that we said in the opener. But being a stars is not that glam.

[Maddie]

What's the least glamorous thing you've ever done?

[Elliot Garneau]

You don't even have to finish the question. It's fate. Just like I've seen some stuff like, girl, I've said some stuff like, we need Petty's ASAP.

[Maddie]

Okay.

[Elliot Garneau]

Not naming names obviously.

[Maddie]

No, let's keep it PG13, please. Okay. I know you say it's not glamorous, but you said there are those glamorous end results.

[Elliot Garneau]

Of course, of course.

[Maddie]

What has been like one of the most glamorous moments for you that you have gone, wow, this has pinched me.

[Elliot Garneau]

Oh my God. Good question. It's been so long now. Probably my most memorable was I was asked on to a big campaign with a global fashion brand in Paris with Phoebe Tonkin. And it was for an editorial cover story for Gritty Pretty. And that for me was a real pinch me moment. Paris is the pinnacle of fashion, the pinnacle of international fashion. And for me to be able to go over there with a global fashion brand working with an international talent and international Australian talent too, which is absolutely very humbling. And to have that on my CV was a pinch me moment. It was really special.

[Maddie]

Incredible. You spoke a little bit about loving to style people and what an honor it is because ultimately you are helping them, you know, define or polish their personal style.

[Elliot Garneau]

Yeah.

[Maddie]

What is it that you notice about people's style and what sparks that noticeable wow reaction for you?

[Elliot Garneau]

Oh my God. That's such a good question too. God, it's so hard. Okay, at the risk of sounding like a total snob, I always notice the accessories. Like if there's a good bag or there's a good shoe or there's something that I have personally loved. I'm like, this chick knows what's up.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Like, girl, you're walking into a room with a Birkin. Mark my words. I've got two eyes on you right away. And I'm asking you for a cocktail immediately, if not sooner. But obviously Birkins are totally unrealistic. I think ultimately it's the composition of an outfit. Like, everyone has different rules when they get dressed, right?

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

My personal formula is a level of uniformity. That's how I've always styled. So, like, I like a shoe to match, a belt to match a bag.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

I like a head to toe monochromatic look or something that just looks a little bit more refined, a little bit more considered. Things are in the same color story, that kind of stuff. And also less. I think that there's something to be said for a more subtle sense of style. Like, if you're walking into the room and your head tone logos, I don't want to know about it. It's too much. Just take something off. We're not going to the circus. Like, come on. We're not billboards for these brands. Unless you're obviously the ambassador for Louis Vuitton, then go for it, babe. But like, if you're not getting paid, stop wearing so many labels. Yeah. But ultimately it's a level of uniformity and a level of simplicity, I think. And it's very timeless, that sense of style too.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Maddie]

And so why do you think that people do use fashion and beauty to express themselves? Why do you think it's such a big part of what people identify with?

[Elliot Garneau]

Because I think it is one of the most purest forms of self expression. What we put on our backs every day is the person that we project to the world. Right. And so ultimately, these clothes become a sense of armor for all of us. They give us the confidence to walk into the room and dominate our job. Walk into the room and go on that first date. Walk into the room and be a school teacher to 25 kids. And if you're in, like some hot Lucy Lou leather skirt, Charlie's Angels, one with a whip, like, bang. Control the room. You know what I mean? These clothes are armor. They create a sense of respect for you as a person. And I'm not saying that clothing is a be all and end all, by the way. Absolutely not. Clothing is just a contributing factor to that overarching entire personality trait. But it definitely helps and it definitely gives you a level of security.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Maddie]

Can you think about a time when you have had a particular outfit or look where you feel like it's helped you show up in the way that you wanted to enter into a room?

[Elliot Garneau]

I've always used clothes as, like, as fun. Like, when I get dressed up, it's very costumey for me. It depends what I'm doing. It depends where I'm going. Let me think of an example. The NGV gala every year always has a crazy, fun, colorful, fabulous theme, so I fully lean into that. So for me, it's more like having fun and bringing out aspects of my personality through those clothes.

[Maddie]

Do you want to talk about even our phone conversation this morning when you were like, I'm.

[Elliot Garneau]

Do I? Which part?

[Maddie]

When I said to you, are we turning a look today?

[Elliot Garneau]

Oh, we're turning a look. Yeah. I've gone Ace Ventura coded. So I mean, like, Ace Ventura cosplay. So, yeah, I've gone like Hawaiian Ace Ventura, but, like, hopefully in, like, a shake way. Like, I'm not wrangling dolphins in this.

[Maddie]

But I love that you do have that cosplay element. We talk a lot about method dressing as well.

[Elliot Garneau]

Absolutely.

[Maddie]

And I know that you really love leaning into that as a styling element for your clients as well.

[Elliot Garneau]

Big time.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

I love. There's a massive movement in the international fashion industry at the moment being spearheaded by stylists like Law Roach, who looks after Zendaya. They will go back to old school references of Sophia Loren or. I don't know why she came into my head first, but I think I'm thinking about something for Beck Harding where I want to recreate this feeling look. But anyway, they'll go back and they'll take inspiration from the past, from history.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

They're obviously very lucky in the way that they then have access to those original garments in Australia. That's obviously few and far between. But to mood board things that you love is a really great starting point. To subtly recreate, like, again, me today, Ace Ventura. Lol. But I love Ace Ventura, and I watched it on the weekend, and it kind of inspired me. I was like, all right, Hawaiian shirt, tank, jeans. And so if there's something that you love or there's a person that you love or there's a film that you love, a television show that you love, I call you Blair Water for the time. So, like, you know what I mean? Take Inspo from your favorite film characters. Take it from your favorite celebrities, Take it from favorite magazine editorial, like, whatever it might be. They're great starting points for inspo. And I do it all the time.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Like, sometimes I'm in the shower and outfits come into my head, and other times I'll see something that really inspires me, and I use the building blocks that I already have in my wardrobe to then recreate something similar.

[Maddie]

I think you told me Anne Hathaway and Daisy Edgar Jones. Like, two good references for you.

[Elliot Garneau]

English roses for you, babe.

[Maddie]

Yeah. Okay.

[Elliot Garneau]

So fair, dark hair, very glamorous. Showstopper.

[Maddie]

Sorry, my ego is not going to fit out the door when I leave here. Elliot, at the start of 2025, it was widely predicted by both Vogue and TikTok creators that rather than being particularly trend focused, 2025 would be all about authentic personal style. What does personal style mean to you?

[Elliot Garneau]

I guess what personal style means to me is an ability to dress with a sense of freedom.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

That there is no restrictions with the clothing that you want to put on your back and really use that as part of your personality. I think that to be able to determine one's personal style is to be able to determine a certain personality trait of that person too, and using that clothing as a reflection of that.

[Maddie]

And what advice would you give someone who maybe feels like their personality and how they're showing up or what they're wearing isn't matching right now? What tips would you give them?

[Elliot Garneau]

Lay off the trends. Gravitate towards things that you love. Not because you're being told by the media that that's what you should love. Yeah, because ultimately, if you're finding something that you love that will be a representation of who you are as a person. So it's always great to drip feed the trends in. Go for it. And also don't go and break the bank on trends either. It's a total waste of money. So, like, go to your H and M's, go to your Zara's, go to your high street stores and go and find adaptations of what's being shown on the international runways. And if you're going to invest, invest in timeless classics that you will have for the next five to 10 years in your wardrobe.

[Maddie]

And you've talked to me a lot about peeling back the layers and when you're helping clients figure out their own personal styles, what that means. And as you said, not buying into the trends and just going all in there. Can you tell me more about the process and how our listeners can adapt to build into their wardrobes that feels a little bit more authentic to them. Like, how do you go about going, that's a trend I want to dabble in. Or that's a piece that's going to be an everlasting wardrobe staple.

[Elliot Garneau]

We've got to start with what you personally gravitate towards. So, like, from a trend focused perspective, there's so many different trends. I do things all the time where it's like, oh, okay, break down five trends for this season. Oh, we've got lace, and then we got color, and blah, blah, blah, blah. Find the one that you like and chuck that in. But building out a wardrobe of foundations is quite formulaic. You want to have pieces that you know are totally timeless and also act as a blank canvas to build on. So if you watch history of fashion over the course of time, things that have always remained are classic black tailoring and classic black silhouettes. The little black dress, the perfect fitting white T shirt, denim jeans, a great black pump, a great black handbag. Keep them in a uniform of colorways as well. So stick to things like black, gray, white, navy, denim wash, blue, and kind of maybe like a couple of tan tones for things like trench coats and that kind of stuff. And that as a basis of a foundational wardrobe is so easy to inject anything you really need into it because they're very, very timeless colors. Make sure none of that's got logos on it, by the way. We're talking, like, the bare basics of classic clothing. And then you can put whatever you want. Like, you can wear anything you want with a pair of jeans or anything you want underneath a black blazer. You can wear it to the office, wear it to a funeral, whatever. You know, it's universal.

[Maddie]

It's such great advice. Because I think as well even you talking about how accessories make an outfit pop. It's like that's almost where to dabble. If you've got all of the basics, that's where you can have a little bit more fun and expression.

[Elliot Garneau]

Definitely. And also the accessories are the funnest part. Sometimes those are great. And obviously you can get, like, a really fun printed something.

[Maddie]

He says in a printed.

[Elliot Garneau]

Which, by the way, I bought on the beach in Hawaii. So, like, hello. Complete with coconut buttons, but a great earring or a really fun bag or an iconic shoe. If you're wearing a simple dress, dress it up with the shoe. Let the shoe do the focus. Another piece of advice I always say to clients is stop making the outfit compete with itself.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Choose one part of the outfit and let that be the central focus point. So if you want to do a really iconic shoe, let's use Carrie's blue shoe from the Sex and City movie number one.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Where Big gets down on one knee and ends up proposing with the blue satin Manolo Blahnik with the jewels on it. That's a heavy shoe. Right. So that shoe Is an example that she's that as a theme. Put that back with a beautiful white mini dress and let the shoe be the focal point of the outfit. Obviously. Carrie, if you're listening, babe. So because she, like just layers and layers and layers and layers. Carrie and I not mates, but we can see eye to eye on a shoe choices. So, you know, kudos to them and athletics, but we want one central focal point. That's just personally how I style people.

[Maddie]

And I think you see that in all of your styling, even over the years. If we go back and see a look that you did seven years ago versus now, I think it's very clear that's your formula.

[Elliot Garneau]

Definitely. Or reverse engineer it. Right. Do the crazy dress and do the simple shoe. So just have that one focal point that is the central element of the outfit.

[Maddie]

And so we talked about these classic pieces to have, and you've obviously got a formula. As a stylist, do you believe that timeless fashion is a thing? And if so, how do you determine whether a piece fits into that timeless category?

[Elliot Garneau]

Yeah, well, fashion cyclical. Let's start there.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Right, so, like, trad wife is the biggest trend of this season.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

But a trad wife concept is based on the 1940s and 1950s traditional housewife. So what's that, 50, 60, 70 years ago? We're now taking inspiration from then and we're recreating it with modern fabrication, maybe updated silhouette. Now, ultimately, everything that's old is new again. I remember, like, the 80s have always been a massive inspiration for Balmain, the fashion house. So, yeah, if you're that way inclined and you like that esthetic, then maybe buying pieces from a brand like that will always remain in your wheelhouse. People will definitely have different iterations of what their timeless wardrobe looks like. For me, it's the classics. Like, it's the absolute classics. As I said earlier, the black blazer, the little black dress, the perfect black handbag, the perfect fitting jean. These are the items that are universal across the board for anyone of any shape, any size, any taste. These are the pieces that everybody needs.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Maddie]

So that would be where you would start if someone was listening and going, I just want to start again, or I need to go into my wardrobe and make sure I've got all those basics. That's what you would be telling them to look for.

[Elliot Garneau]

Yep, definitely. Good black pant, good jean, black skirt, white T shirt, white shirt, black blazer, great black handbag that you'll have for a long time in a beautiful quality leather black coat. And a black trench coat.

[Maddie]

Love that.

[Elliot Garneau]

I'm going to go checklist.

[Maddie]

I'm like, do I have my pen? I need to write all this down and make sure.

[Elliot Garneau]

But then the black trench coat, okay. You wear it with jeans and a white T shirt. You wrap a cool seasonal scarf around. You do that. It's freezing cold in the winter. Then you want to go out for dinner with your boyfriend the next night. You put on a black mini, put on a pair of hosiery. Hot pair of black pumps. Coat over at Hailey, Baby who get out your lip liner, the whole bit. Like it's. All these pieces are interchangeable as well. You can make them sexy, you can make them classic, you can make them cool, you can make them fun. Depends what you do. Black coat, chuck a brooch on it. All of a sudden you carry again. So it just depends with your accessories what you're doing, like, where you're going with it. These pieces are really interchangeable.

[Maddie]

And I think that that is something that people can often fall into, I guess, a dangerous habit of going, I need to have something different for that. Without shopping their own wardrobe first and going, I have an event and I need to go and shop for that. Whether it is a date or a dinner or a birthday party. And it's not. I'm going into my wardrobe to see what I have first and how can I add accessories to it? Do you agree with that?

[Elliot Garneau]

Well, I mean, I'd be totally hypocritical if I agree with that because I'm not going to sit here and lie to everybody. I definitely shop for an event, but I also shop for my own wardrobe for events too.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

But it just depends ultimately on what you're looking for. If you're going to a themed wedding and the theme is garden party attire, and you don't own a single floral printed linen dress off your pop. To Zimmerman.

[Maddie]

Love.

[Elliot Garneau]

You know what I mean? You need to be able to adhere to somewhat of a dress code. And if you don't have it in your wardrobe, then I tell it down to the shops. But if you have something existing or you have an element of that dress code, so you have a beautiful plain white dress and a cracking floral brooch that your grandma's left you, then you're adhering to the dress code too.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Maddie]

White to a wedding.

[Elliot Garneau]

Oh, well, I'm gay, so I wear anything. Whatevs. Like, no ladies, no white to a wedding.

[Maddie]

Okay, good. I'm glad we're on the same page about that. We've got a Few brides in the shameless media offers so many things.

[Elliot Garneau]

No, no, I'm not condoning anyone to any weddings.

[Maddie]

Listeners. I know you're diligent with your skincare routine. You cover up in the sun, you stay hydrated. But let's be real, especially in Australia, skin damage is inevitable. Long days, busy schedules, constantly running from one thing to the next. Life might look glam from the outside, but the reality, not so much. Between early starts, late finishes, and carrying the weight of it all, literally, our skin takes a hit. That's where Lancome's new genifique Ultimate Serum comes in. Their OG cult favorite advanced Serum just got a serious glow up with revolutionary new ingredients that visibly repair skin damage in just seven days. Beta glucans. Ever heard of them? They're inspired by dermatological actives known to boost skin repair. If you know, you know. So whether life is fast paced or just full on, this is the secret to hydration, smoothness, and a lip from within. Glow. Add it to your skincare lineup [e-mail] so you have obviously worked with some of the most incredible names in Australia, and it's a true testament, I guess, to your styling ability and who you are as a person as well, because I think you instantly meet people and connect with them. Is there a rule that you make your clients kind of adhere to when you first start a working relationship or a rule that you have for them that is blanketed across all of your clients?

[Elliot Garneau]

Not really. Actually, no. I don't have a rule that I make anyone adhere to. I think that where maybe I've maybe noticed a differentiation in my work, maybe in comparison to others, is that I work very specifically with the talent to their personal taste.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

And so I guess I more make the rules for myself to be like, I want to be loyal to their own personal sense of style and work with them in developing that sense of style. Because ultimately, for anybody, celebrity or not, the personal element is the most important element. Because otherwise, if I'm putting something on someone that they say, don't like the color yellow, and I'm putting them in a yellow dress, it just won't translate.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

So for me, it's more setting the groundwork to get to know these people, understand what they like, understand what they feel comfortable in, use that as the basis and the building blocks for building a really amazing fashion icon.

[Maddie]

I love that. Do you use color analysis with your clients at all in terms of, like, what are their colors? What?

[Elliot Garneau]

No. Although you're weirdly, the second person to ask me that today. And I had to do a segment on it on Channel 7, like three months ago, and I had to fully educate myself.

[Maddie]

So as you mentioned, Channel 7, I mean, you're a commentator on all things fashion and you're constantly invited to give your opinion on fashion, both publicly and then privately. As you've said, I call you almost every day. I did want to ask, what would your most controversial take on fashion be?

[Elliot Garneau]

I got absolutely slammed in 2020 all over the Australian media, because somebody asked me in an interview who I thought the worst dressed Australian celebrity was. And, like, I just came out and said it was Margot Robbie.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

And back then, she was genuinely chained to the radiator of the Chanel basement. Like, those outfits were not it. But yeah. And then actually ended up coming out that everybody agree with me. I was just kind of at the beginning of that opinion. And may I just say, I think that Margot Robbie is one of the most impeccable women on the face of this planet earth. And how lucky we are to have her as an ambassador for this country. She's so talented and she's so stunning and she's so chic. And now with her stylist, Andrew McCannell, I would go as far as saying that she is the best dressed celebrity in the world. That Barbie press tour had me, like, some of the best outfits I have ever seen anyone wear on any red carpet in the history of celebrities being photographed. Like, unbelievable. I completely take all of that back because she's gone from someone whose outfits I didn't enjoy so much to probably one of my biggest inspirations for my own work here.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Maddie]

I mean, she also got out of the Chanel contract, so that helps.

[Elliot Garneau]

Yeah. But then Margaret quality, she looks amazing in Chanel, I think maybe, you know, just different archives.

[Maddie]

Why do you think you loved that Barbie press tour so much?

[Elliot Garneau]

The method dressing? I thought it was so ingenious, the whole concept that they did behind that. So every single red carpet that she showed up to, they chose a different Barbie from across the history of the manufacturing of the toy. And they use that as the basis of the inspiration. They then took that specific Barbie to a designer that they thought was the best fit for the esthetic of that little costume on that dollar, and then recreated it with brands like Versace, Miu Miu, Balenciaga, Balnan, Vivienne Westwood. Every designer in the world was lining up to do this press tour and it was immensely successful. I think it was some of the best work I've ever seen.

[Maddie]

And probably the best she's ever looked.

[Elliot Garneau]

Well, she continues to wow after the press tour, so get it, Margot.

[Maddie]

Go, Margo.

[Elliot Garneau]

We love you, girl. We love you, girl.

[Maddie]

2020 versus 2025. Elliot has different opinions.

[Elliot Garneau]

Always loved her, but love her even more now.

[Maddie]

Yeah. You're like, I love her when she's dressed this well.

[Elliot Garneau]

She looks amazing.

[Maddie]

That's a really good segue because I wanted to ask you something. I feel this may be like asking you, you know, when you ask someone what their favorite child is. But you mentioned a whole suite of incredible brands just now. What is your favorite brand and why?

[Elliot Garneau]

For me, personally, I'm trying to go through my wardrobe and think, like, what I've got a lot of. And it's like, it's honestly opposite ends of the spectrum for the ultimate tailoring. And the most timeless pieces that are completely based on investment. I buy a lot of Prada.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

And these are the pieces that will never, ever date. And obviously mutual pride of the founder has always been at the helm creatively. So you can always see a very distinct kind of esthetic. Albeit designers have changed throughout the course of the history of that brand. And then I buy a shitload of cars.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Like a shitload. Like. Cause is my absolute go to for basics for both my female and male clients and myself. Like, I love kos. KOS has the best basics. Unbelievable denim. Really good knits. Like, really great quality knits. I love their T shirts. They do really cool kind of like three button down pullovers that I really like. If you're into kind of more of a preppy vibe. I really love. Cos it would probably be in my top five favorite brands.

[Maddie]

I can attest to that because I have been to Chadstone with Elliot in Cos and it's like I've run out of arms. You need to hold the rest of this.

[Elliot Garneau]

But you know what it is? It's going back to what we're saying about building a wardrobe of capsules. COS does that really well. Not all of their silhouettes are amazing. You can probably take or leave some of the cuts, but for the most part, they have really, really great wardrobe.

[Maddie]

Basics that are just easy, functional pieces.

[Elliot Garneau]

Great quality for the price point. I've got stuff from COS that I'm still wearing three, four or five years later, which we love, which we absolutely love, which is super important, especially when you're buying pieces that aren't seasonal. You want to get time out of those pieces.

[Maddie]

And Cosm. Prada. I mean, I love that they're two ends of the spectrum. You know, you've given us a high and a low. But both very well known household fashion names.

[Elliot Garneau]

Yeah.

[Maddie]

Is there an up and coming brand or designer that you've had your eye on recently that you've really loved seeing?

[Elliot Garneau]

It's a really cool Australian designer. Went to his show a couple of years ago at Australian Fashion Week. His name's Alex Higgins.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

He's making waves. He's really cool. They're like these kind of screen printed, really tight fitting, colorful tops, skirts, pants. I would say the brand's kind of more genderless.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Which is really, really cool as well. So, you know, anybody can pick it up and wear it and I love the pieces. So he's definitely one I've had my eyes on. And then in terms of an international that I've had my eyes on, don't necessarily know that there's anybody that's knocking my socks off. But also I'm a bit of a traditionalist. So maybe this is a good question because you've actually sparked me to go out and do a little bit more research and stop being so lazy as a stylist and going back to the same brands that I love and work with.

[Maddie]

I have to say that you're not lazy because I did come and visit you recently and there was a rack of really, really cool clothing. I don't know if you're going to remember this. You were styling someone for the tennis.

[Elliot Garneau]

Oh, I was like, I actually love deering. Yeah. Erin's a cool chick. She knows what's up. She's got great taste. The clothing is amazing. Really beautiful quality, really well manufactured, really reasonable price point. And she's making waves, too. I'm not sure when this is going to air, but she's releasing a Valentine's Day capsule.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

And instead of calling it V Day or and celebrating love, she's called it May Day. It's about you, my consumer, and feeling confident. Relationship or not.

[Maddie]

Yeah, well, not for me, so. Great. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So you and I are going to shop me date.

[Elliot Garneau]

Perfect.

[Maddie]

Okay. So look, people who listen to stylish love fashion. And I think fashion is constantly evolving. And the best part about fashion is it's the most inclusive thing. Right. Everyone's welcome, but everyone's experience or journey is at a different point. And so I want to make sure that today we're giving our listeners some really great practical tips. And I think you've given so much. Like, even now, as I said, you know, I don't have A pen with me. But I'm certainly going to re. Listen to this and be like, do I have a good black coat? Do I have a black trench? Do I have.

[Elliot Garneau]

Oh, my God. But we don't want girls making checklists either. Like.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Ultimately, I want everybody listening to go and choose what they love the most.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

That is my basis of, like, formula, you know, so I can.

[Maddie]

So I have a navy trench and not a black trench. I'm not on the naughty list.

[Elliot Garneau]

No, no. You'll still see Santa this year. Don't worry about it.

[Maddie]

Great. Okay, so if you were to have a go to outfit formula.

[Elliot Garneau]

Yeah.

[Maddie]

That you would fall back on or have our listeners fall back on if they didn't know what to wear. Do you have, like, a specific formula you think that everyone should know about?

[Elliot Garneau]

I love a suit.

[Maddie]

We've never touched on this.

[Elliot Garneau]

I really love suits. Do tell me if there are any listeners. Obviously we're speaking a lot to ladies.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

But, you know, suits are totally universal.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

And I really love a suit. It's power play. Makes you feel really, really confident. And I encourage women, especially who don't like wearing trousers, to give it a shot. It all comes down to the fit. So you could do a high waisted straight leg if you're a shorter girl because it will elongate your leg and it will shorten your torso. So you create the illusion of more height.

[Maddie]

Taking notes, taking notes, taking notes.

[Elliot Garneau]

That one was specifically for you, 5 foot 3. If you want something. If you want something more boxy and relaxed and oversized and a bit cooler, you can buy a men's blazer and have it really deconstructed. If you want something really fitted to create a beautiful hourglass silhouette, even take it to a tailor and get it taken in. I'm just going to circle back on a segue on that. Tailoring is one of the most important things for anybody getting dressed. It is the differentiation of buying something off the rack and having it look like it's off the rack and buying it off the rack and having it look like it was custom made.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Taking in a jacket 2cm to give you a waistline is the most beautiful thing in the world. Like magic. Getting pants taken up so that they fit you correctly, getting the waist taken in so you create more of a waistline. All of these things, little nips and little tucks to your clothing from a great tailor is super important. If you've got the time and you can be bothered, obviously, I think that's.

[Maddie]

A really good Tip, though, because there may be things sitting in our listeners wardrobes that they're going, that doesn't suit me or the cuts not quite right. And before you're selling it totally or.

[Elliot Garneau]

Donating altered, give it another life.

[Maddie]

I love.

[Elliot Garneau]

I get everything altered. Everything. It's actually kind of annoying, to be honest. So, like, don't get everything altered because then you lose it for like two weeks and then you got to get a blah, blah, blah. But it is actually really worthwhile. Yeah, really, really worthwhile. And again, like, trends come and go and things are so cyclical. Like, I've had blazers where I loved that, like, big, oversized, boxy vibe, and I don't necessarily love that as much for myself anymore. And so I've taken a lot of blazers to get taken in, and I've created this beautiful silhouette, and I actually feel amazing in them because I feel, like, really snatched.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Maddie]

Do you know what? I love that so much because a friend of mine recently, I was out and I was like, I love that dress. And she was saying that it had actually been a maxi dress and she'd had it brought up to a mini. See, she was like, I was gonna get rid of it. Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Imagine how sexy she felt. Yeah.

[Maddie]

So you mentioned a little bit about inspiration, and I think this is so eye opening. And I've known you for a while now, and I have to say I've learned so much in this. So I'm hoping that everyone who's listening feels the same.

[Elliot Garneau]

Me too.

[Maddie]

But you've spoken about going to Pinterest and film and television, which I love, because I often think there's a bit of personality in there too, which I know you've spoken about how you want to show up and how you want to feel 100%.

[Elliot Garneau]

Like, Samantha Jones is literally the goddess of my life. Like, I use her for how I talk. I use it for how I do my hair. I use it how to my lip. I use it for how I act in the bedroom. Like, all of it. And her outfits, I'm like, she bought a red Birkin off. I went and bought a red Birkin. Just find someone that you love that you can emulate. Obviously not in, like a psycho stalker kind of way, but, you know, it's always nice to have, like, a little bit of inspo. You know what I mean? Cosplay.

[Maddie]

So would you say TV is your biggest source of inspiration for fashion?

[Elliot Garneau]

I think film, television is probably my biggest source of inspiration. Yeah, definitely. Like, I, as you know, consume a vast array of media So I could be watching a film with Marilyn Monroe from the 50s or the 60s, and then I could be watching Gossip Girl, the remake. So for me, it's ultimately things will strike with me. And also another massive part I find for my inspiration is as cliche as it sounds is Instagram.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Because I follow a lot of those old school kind of like fan accounts.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

On one side that break down a lot of the iconic Hollywood actresses.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

And then on the other side, I follow, like the wardrobe accounts of a lot of people. And that is a really good one, especially for people that are more interested in kind of like up to date and current fashion trends. Now following the wardrobe accounts of the fan wardrobe accounts that actually break down the outfits that they celebrities are wearing. I follow the Hailey baby one. I follow the Bella Hadid one. I followed the Gigi Hadid one. I followed the Kendall Jenner one. I followed the Madison Beer one. Honestly, the list will go. The list goes on, on and on and on. I follow the Rihanna one. I'm obsessed with the Rihanna one. I followed Kate Middleton one. Yeah. They're really cool accounts. And if no one has heard of those, I highly advise people to go and find them. They're really, really cool just because they'll actually break down the exact outfit that they're wearing. And a lot of the times I'll also offer dupes. Love. Yeah.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

So you can really actually recreate those looks that you love.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Maddie]

Because while I love Nicole Kidman and St. Laurent. Can't go on.

[Elliot Garneau]

But that's not to say that you can't take that in and have your phone in your hand while you're walking through H and M and recreate something similar.

[Maddie]

Love. That's a great tip. I definitely don't follow any other than Hailey Bieber's wardrobe accounts. I'm absolutely at that. Also, they are so quick. That outfit within like two hours. I'm like, how straight away, devil works hard. They work harder.

[Elliot Garneau]

Definitely.

[Maddie]

So we've spoken a lot about celebrity and I think you have had an illustrious career with celebrity fashion here in Australia and red carpet dressing. I mean, we've had logies. We've had the all your Australian red carpets NJV gala logis.

[Elliot Garneau]

Wow. How respectful.

[Maddie]

Well, most recently, you've had the NJV gala. When we talk red carpet fashion, who are your favorite red carpet celebrities that you look to?

[Elliot Garneau]

Margot Robbie.

[Unknown]

Yep.

[Maddie]

God, she's really come out strong from 2020.

[Elliot Garneau]

Margot Robbie's a massive one. Zendaya is a massive one. I absolutely love Hunter Schaefer, but she hasn't been on a press tour since the Songbirds and Snakes, I think, for Hunger Games, so we haven't seen much of her, but she is a huge one. Yeah. Zendaya Hunter. I love Nicole Kidman, but more of an iconic. And Cate Blanchett is like, red carpet icons, but more for kind of our generation. I love Hunter Schaefer. I love Zendaya. I love Emma Corin, the English actress.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

And I love Josh O'Connor, who is an English male actor who was also in Challenges with Zendaya. Yes, they're probably my four. Yeah, I really, really love them. They look extremely stylish and extremely put together, but consistently take risks.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

And they pay off. Oh, and Margot, obviously, of course, again, she hasn't been on tour since Barbie, so we haven't seen as much as her on red carpets recently.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

But those four I really, really love. And again, it's about risk, but reaping the reward of that risk.

[Maddie]

What do you think that they do in terms of risk? Where do you think? You know, as one of them, is there an example of a.

[Elliot Garneau]

Just something different? There's no real formula to their dressing. They'll always do something different. Every time they hit the red carpet, they look different. They play with their hair and makeup, they play with silhouette, they play with size, they play with pattern, they play with print. They're not walking down the red carpet. You're like, oh, here it is again.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Same kind of vibe. Every single time they go, they'll try something different and somewhat method dress as well, which I absolutely love is. And there is the queen of method dressing, Emma Corrin, on the Nosferatu press tour was having all these very kind of like, gothic lace vampire kind of vibes. I love a bit of method dressing, so I love that they kind of lean into a theme, which actually, for a red carpet, makes a world of difference than just wearing a plain black strapless dress.

[Maddie]

I love that so much. And I think a lot of the time, you know, we, as women going into our wardrobe can feel a little bit scared to take a risk. It's very easy to look at what we always love or what we always wear. And I think, yeah, it's so interesting hearing you talk about those things that you admire in those celebrity dressing.

[Elliot Garneau]

And method dressing is so adaptable to everyday life. It doesn't have to be reserved for a celebrity going on a press tour on a red carpet. Like, absolutely not. Like, if you're going to a baby shower in somewhere coastal. Yeah, lean into it. Have a little bit something. A little bit coastal. Do something kind of fun with the jewelry or. I remember I was in Sydney the other week doing a shoot and picked up some really cool cheap, like shell earrings from Lovisa. Like take tiny little elements. Don't go too obvious because it's method, it's not literal, but grab little elements of where you're going, where that event that you're attending is being held, what the concept of that event is. Go and grab tiny little elements and feed them into your outfit. It will actually make getting dressed so much more fun.

[Maddie]

And that's what it's all about, right?

[Elliot Garneau]

Absolutely.

[Maddie]

Is having fun.

[Elliot Garneau]

Without question, clothing is there to empower us and for us to have fun.

[Maddie]

With what fun we do have with fascist. I can't wait to see an up close of the coconut buttons on this show.

[Elliot Garneau]

By the way, the coconut buttons seriously don't even full authentic Hawaiian.

[Maddie]

So I think what will intrigue our listeners the most about your career is very much its breadth and I guess how extensive it has been. Because I think what a lot of people know about you is where you are now, but maybe not where you've been. And so I'd love if you could just give us a download or a little summary of your kind of career today because I want to go into some of those career lessons and tips that I think are so valuable. But I think just context would be great too.

[Elliot Garneau]

Okay, well, I'm 608 years old, so we're going to be here for a while. I graduated from the White House Institute of Design and I did Bachelor of Design there. So after I completed my university degree, I knew that I wanted to get some international experience off the bat. I was very fortunate in the way that my family has lived in Hong Kong for a very long time. So I had enough of a safety net there to be able to pack up and leave and go and attempt to start my career overseas, which I did. So I ended up working at the Pettigroup, which is a subsidiary of Lane Crawford. For those who don't know, Lane Crawford is a luxury department store in Hong Kong and mainland China. So I was there and I was just an absolute scrubber kid. Started as an intern, sweeping the floors, learning everything I could, navigating Excel, like literally looking at it like, what the fudge is this? Never seen an Excel document in my entire life. And all of a sudden I'm like claiming expenses for my boss. Lol. I wonder if you got any of that Money back. Absolutely not. I couldn't count to 10. And then I ended up kind of growing my career there. And so after my experience at Lang Crawford, I came back to Australia after four years, and then that was kind of the beginning of a myriad of different things creatively in the Australian fashion industry. And then back in 2017 was when it all really kicked off. There was one of my original clients had reached out. They had followed me on Instagram, actually, for quite a long time, and she thought I was funny. That was the context, so.

[Maddie]

Well, that's true.

[Elliot Garneau]

There's humor in fashion bags. So as much as everyone tries to pretend it's the most serious thing in the world, it's actually not. She had reached out to her agent, who then reached out to me and was like, this client is looking for styling. Would you be open to it? And I was like, fuck, how hard can styling be? Like, you either have taste or you don't. So I was like, okay, cool. Sweet. Let's try it. Next minute, Michelle Collection dress. Pair of Tony Banco pumps. Bob Jonqua. I'm sitting here.

[Maddie]

Here we are. And now you're our expert fashion advisor.

[Elliot Garneau]

Who, by the way, still absolutely gags for a Tony Bianco pump. No tea on tv. I fucking love them.

[Maddie]

Can you tell us who it is?

[Elliot Garneau]

No.

[Maddie]

No. Okay. I love that you want to hold that secret. We do love a TV bit of mystery, you know.

[Elliot Garneau]

A bit of mystery.

[Maddie]

Yeah, I know. Well, you're not really known for mystery. You're an open book. If our listeners can't tell, what do you think has been your biggest career, like, lesson in all of that Paramount.

[Elliot Garneau]

Fundamentally is respect and professionalism, and that's applicable across any. Like, don't be scared of a hard day's work.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Like, do it. Do the work. Don't complain. And be really respectful and really gracious. That's my advice to anybody in any industry. Show up on time, Be respectful of everybody on set. Ask everybody how they're doing. If you're going to go and get a glass of water, just check if someone next to you wants a glass of water. Always take care of the model. Models get overlooked all the time and it drives me fucking insane. Make sure the model is having an all right time. Does she want something to eat? Does she want something to drink? Just be respectful of people and treat people how you want to be treated. You know, the fashion industry can get so caught up in its own bullshit, and it's actually just like, nothing.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

So, you know, just take with a grain of salt. Enjoy it. Obviously it's our career and I take it very seriously. But also you have to be respectful of people too.

[Maddie]

And I love that you mentioned that because you did show up here 15 minutes early and you brought tea.

[Elliot Garneau]

Well, because why is my time any more important than anybody else's?

[Maddie]

That's a really great piece of advice for people to live by.

[Elliot Garneau]

So everyone in the room is equally as important as each other and that's a really important thing to remember.

[Maddie]

I love that so much. And I think you touched on it briefly just about the landscape of the fashion industry and it being considered by those within it a very serious industry to be in. What do you think is the biggest challenge within the industry for you? Personally?

[Elliot Garneau]

I don't really have many challenges in the industry. It's been very, very good to me and I deeply respectful for my career and the success that I've found. I've met some of the best friends my entire life in this industry and I wouldn't change a single experience I've had for the world. I really, really love it, but I'm not one to take myself seriously. So maybe that's where I've had some solace in the industry as well. Because as you know, I take the piss out of myself before anybody else takes the piss out of me.

[Maddie]

So self deprecation is your go to correct.

[Elliot Garneau]

And so I've had a really great time. I've just ridden the wave and, and loved it.

[Maddie]

So maybe it's just unpedicured feet for you.

[Elliot Garneau]

Undici I can't get over. But apart from that, like I'm okay. No, not unpedicured. I don't have pedicure right now. Babe, don't judge. But everyone has challenges in their career. You face challenges in terms of working with dynamic personalities or looking for opportunity. Probably one of the biggest challenges that anybody who's freelance in any industry faces is backing yourself into the next job. Yeah, there are quiet times of year, there are busier times of the year, but ultimately you have to stick with yourself, back yourself in and just have the confidence and keep hustling. There are quiet times and there are busy times.

[Maddie]

Keep the hustle, hustle alive. Okay, what advice would you give if you could meet 21 year old Elliot Garno now?

[Elliot Garneau]

Change of hair. Horrendous. Okay, I'd like a cut in diagonal Zach Efron fringe. When I was 21, I'm 34 now. That was not acceptable 14 years ago. I was watching High School Musical like 10 years before. That I still had the Zac Efron going, like, no, ma'am, but yeah, okay. Made it here. God knows how.

[Maddie]

Peace and blessings. Yes. Okay, so aside from haircut, do you have anything more constructive for him?

[Elliot Garneau]

I think I would probably say just, like, it all doesn't have to be so much.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Sometimes your pace is your power.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

And you don't have to be the boldest person in the room.

[Maddie]

Oh, that's a good one. It's quite reminiscent of the advice people often give about having two ears and one mouth.

[Elliot Garneau]

A little bit like that.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Yeah, a little bit like that. Two is my mouth. I like that.

[Maddie]

Not that you and I ever live by that.

[Elliot Garneau]

No. But I'm still working on it. And here I am. What am I, 14 years later?

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

13 years later. Yeah. 13 years later.

[Maddie]

You did say you couldn't count to 10, so well done on getting to 13.

[Elliot Garneau]

I also decided about my age. I'm actually 33, for, like, eight more weeks. So I've got to stop rounding up.

[Maddie]

Yeah, no, no, no. We don't round up. So you still style. And I know you do less styling than you've previously done because you obviously have commitments now with brand consulting and commentary that you have Weekly with Channel 7. How do you know, though, if an opportunity is right for you, whether it is who you're styling, what you're styling for? Working with a brand.

[Elliot Garneau]

The people.

[Unknown]

Yeah, okay.

[Elliot Garneau]

The people. The energy and the people and the client. The vibe that you get is now the biggest driver in my career.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

Every person that I work with now I absolutely love and have an immense amount of respect for and genuinely leap out of bed to go to work with. So it's finding the right energy and the synergy with those people.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

And again, it comes back to, like, kind of that mutual respect. Like, I want to work hard and they're receptive of that hard work. And they work hard because they're receptive of my energy. So it's finding the right people to work with.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Elliot Garneau]

That make a massive difference.

[Maddie]

Can I ask who your favorite person has been to work with or brand?

[Elliot Garneau]

I love going to work at Channel 7. I really, really love it. I think that the entire team has made me feel so welcome and they're so hospitable. My producer, Beck Fenton, is an absolute legend of the game and has become a really close friend of mine. I am so grateful for the opportunity that they've given me there, and they really make me feel very trusted, and I really have a deep amount of gratitude for that. I genuinely enjoy going to work in that studio every week. I absolutely love it.

[Maddie]

I love that so much because I think that was also new and scary for you.

[Elliot Garneau]

Yeah, it's been 12 months now, and it's really, really fun. I love it, love it, love it, love it, love it to death. And then, of course, my actual clients, my styling clients, some of them have been like Beck Harding. I've been styling since the beginning of my career, so I can't really remember doing my job without her as a client. So there's the relationships I've established with some of my oldest clients, too, who have become like, genuinely some of my best friends.

[Maddie]

I love that you put so much emphasis on relationships because I think fashion can feel intimidating and serious and scary. And I think what you've given us today is a warmth and lightness to an industry that is often perceived as quite serious and I think most importantly, an actionable list that people can go into their wardrobes with. And as you said, it's not a checklist, it's just a guide or a starting point. And I think that I, along with our listeners, are definitely going to be going home into their wardrobes and maybe hopping online for one or two of those pieces that might be missing in the gaps. But thank you so much for joining us today.

[Elliot Garneau]

Thank you so much for having me. Like, how much fun.

[Maddie]

So much fun. And of course, thank you so much.

[Elliot Garneau]

First time caller, first time yappa, first time yapper.

[Maddie]

Does go often. And go. Did you give me a shout out when we did that?

[Elliot Garneau]

You just realized? I've seen it on social media already.

[Maddie]

And of course, thank you to Longcomm and their genifique Ultimate Serum for bringing this incredible episode and series to life. Elliot, thank you again. Thank you for the tea.

[Elliot Garneau]

Thank you, Sally.

[Maddie]

And for the tea.

[Elliot Garneau]

Oh, for the t and the tea. Yum. E.

[Maddie]

Foreign the Face to Face mini series is brought to you by Lancome's new Genifique Ultimate Serum. Visibly repair skin damages like redness, pores and fine lines in just seven days. Available [e-mail] this podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri land.

[Elliot Garneau]

Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

[Maddie]

Hi, it's Ruby here, host of Shameless Media's podcast Inherited. Every week I am joined by a guest on Inherited who tells me about the rule, relic, recipe and ritual that has shaped who they are. And I'm popping up today to share some special moments that have resonated with me here. Britt Hockley speaks about the relationship she shares with her business partner and best friend, Laura Byrne.

[Elliot Garneau]

The best thing that came out of the Bachelor was Laura. Laura Byrne, Yeah.

[Maddie]

By far the best relationship that I got from that series.

[Elliot Garneau]

We are very different people in business. That's why it works. And I think you can't have two people the same in business because you'll clash heads.

[Maddie]

Next you will hear a side of Annabel Lee you may not have heard before. I used to be so secretive as a kid when my parents divorced. When they split up, I didn't tell.

[Elliot Garneau]

Anyone in my life.

[Maddie]

I think it's because growing up, I.

[Elliot Garneau]

Was kind of told by my parents. And it is also like a Chinese.

[Maddie]

This culture thing where you don't tell people the things that they might judge you for. And here's Caroline Kell, founder of Black Waddle Coaching. This was a really special conversation. Caroline speaks to the work she does with indigenous communities, in particular, women who can reclaim their power.

[Elliot Garneau]

For a long part of this history in Australia, black women, particularly their bodies and minds, have been exploited, enslaved, domesticated.

[Maddie]

You know, to have the bravery to name like how we're feeling and to honor those feelings and to have even that language is a really courageous thing for us to reclaim our sovereignty of ourselves. Inherited episodes drop every Tuesday. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts. And you can watch it too on YouTube. Just search inherited.