Amanda Peet

Amanda Peet is one of the most successful fashion stylists in Australia, with her distinctive and innovative approach to styling leading to success in fashion and food blogging. She regularly appears on national television, presenting style advice and sharing her knowledge about fashion and food.

Career

Born in Tasmania, Australia, Peet grew up in Sydney with her journalist parents. While studying journalism at university, she worked as a lifestyle writer for newspapers in Sydney before turning to full-time freelance work. From 2017 to 2019, she starred as the style mentor, Celia Taylor, on the hit Netflix series, Celia Taylor: Fashionista.

Peet’s approach to styling is very focused, with a clear emphasis on affordability, sustainability, and effectiveness. “I’ve always been driven by the mantra of ‘less is more’,” she explains on her blog. “I want to create capsule wardrobes for my clients, filled with the essentials that wardrobes are filled with, but at a fraction of the cost. Not only does this make me smile, but it also means I have more funds in my pocket to splurge on treats for myself!”

How to style

Peet’s approach to styling is very pragmatic and results-driven. After all, she was once told that she needed to ‘grow a thicker skin’ when it comes to receiving styling advice. As she explains on her blog, “this quote struck me as odd. Why would you need to ‘grow a thicker skin’ when it comes to your looks? Style is subjective and comes in many different forms — what is ‘fashionable’ depends on the individual. It’s about having the confidence to express yourself through your clothing and accessories — to be confident in your style and to trust your own gut instinct.”

In an effort to make her fashion and food blog more approachable to a mainstream audience, Peet has de-emphasized fashion hauls and splashes of color in favour of a more streamlined approach focused on creating capsule wardrobe essentials — a look that is very accessible and achievable for the average person. She has also focused on creating looks that are very sustainable, opting for organic fabrics and environmentally-conscious production methods. 

Feeding the trend

Although Peet has always been keen on style and fashion, it wasn’t until she started her blog in 2015 that her career took off. The then-22-year-old’s styling approach was very unusual. Rather than focussing on the latest trends, she decided to document the ordinary and the unique aspects of her life in order to inspire her blog readers.

“I wanted to create something that was mine and also something that I felt like I could relate to. So I started documenting my outfits, and the little things that made me happy,” she explained to the Sydney Morning Herald. “I think when you’re younger, you have so many different perspectives and ideas and it can be challenging to find your voice. So I just wanted to be the Amanda that my readers knew and loved.”

Since then, Peet’s blog has grown to over 120,000 monthly readers, largely thanks to her unique and quirky style, which has made her one of the most followed fashion and food stylists in Australia and also attracted the attention of major media brands.

Style influences

Peet is a very versatile stylist, and draws inspiration from a number of sources. For fall 2019, she drew on her love for ski fashion and the outdoors, and incorporated bright and bold tones into her look. “I love the idea of layering on the mountain,” she said. “A beautiful silk slip dress with a wool high-waist skirt is the perfect way to transition from day to night, and feel like a total winter skier.”

Prior to that, she had styled portraits of some of Australia’s top models, including Emily Maynard and Chloe Bennet. The experience was invaluable, teaching her the importance of striking a pose that is both authentic and natural. “I want my clients to feel like they’re relaxing with a favorite fashionista,” she said.

Peet also credits her blog’s success, in part, to the fact that she has never been one to follow fashion trends but instead bucked them, creating her own unique style that is always stylish and inspiring. “Trends change as quickly as the wind blows, and we often follow them without really considering what they are or aren’t,” she said. “We shouldn’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd, and be true to ourselves and what we believe in.”

In addition to styling for magazines and newspapers, Peet has also worked as a stylist for some of the country’s best-loved brands, including Witchery, Habitat, and Möve.

Off-duty style

Aside from her busy schedule working in fashion and food media, Peet is an experienced stylist who often finds herself picking up fashion styling duties when she’s on holiday. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her on the slopes, skiing or otherwise engaging in outdoor activities, often with her dogs in tow. She is also a skilled DIYer who enjoys putting her own spin on products, finding new ways to wear old clothes.

“I’ve worn the same outfit four different ways in the same week,” she laughs.

As her blog’s popularity grew, so too did her network of stylists, makeup artists, and hair-stylists. In 2018, she opened her very own styling and makeup studio, and has continued to grow her network ever since. Most recently, she collaborated with famed New York stylist, Kelly Chi on a collection of chic and sustainable ski wear that was featured in the December 2019 issue of Vogue Australia.

Sustainability

Peet is passionate about sustainability, and has incorporated this focus into all aspects of her work. She designs her outfits using organic materials and environmentally-conscious production methods. Many of her pieces are designed and manufactured in Australia, using materials and production methods that are kind to the environment. For example, the majority of the textile fabrics used in her designs are organic — a conscious decision that allows her to use fewer synthetic materials and less water to wash and clean them. This means that her outfits are kind to both the environment and your wallet.

As a vegan, she also makes every effort to ensure that her outfits are kind to animals. All of her outfits are designed without animal products, so no matter what style you choose, you’ll always be kind to animals and the environment.

Fashion

Peet’s focus on sustainability and style makes her a bit of a fashion role model. As a vegan, she makes it a point to choose organic fabrics and sustainable production methods whenever possible, finding beauty in simplicity and quality.

This emphasis on quality and attention to detail is clear through her blog and her work for magazines and newspapers. The former is filled with practical and well-written style advice, while the latter has showcased her distinctive and innovative style.

The success of her blog and her fashion and food work has also seen her become a popular speaker on style and sustainability. She frequently talks about these issues at both vegan and mainstream events, sharing her approach to styling, encouraging attendees to embrace simplicity and quality, and minimising their environmental impact.

Culture

Peet is well-versed in fashion, food, and style, and sees these fields as part of a bigger picture, drawing on her cultural background to identify and analyze the forces shaping our world.

“I love the way trends emerge in culture, through fashion, food, or music,” she said. “It’s so exciting when you see cultures come together through style and use it as a unifier, bringing attention to marginalized groups and raising important questions about society and representation.”

Through her analysis of these topics and the way she brings them to life through her work, Peet has become an important voice in the fields of style, sustainability, and culture.