From navigating the nuances of Australian slang to building a creative career from the ground up, Léa’s journey into fashion styling is anything but ordinary. Originally from France and now based between Sydney and regional NSW, her story blends Parisian beginnings with a distinctly Australian chapter — one shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a strong creative instinct. With a background that spans journalism, marketing, and styling, Léa brings both intention and intuition to her work, balancing the fast pace of fashion with a more grounded, thoughtful approach to life.

We sat down with freelance stylist Léa to talk about cultural surprises (including a memorable “tea” misunderstanding), her unconventional path into the industry, and the creative philosophy that underpins her work today.

Bonjour Léa! Thanks so much for joining us today. Before we dive into your career, we have to start here — as a French person living in Australia, moving countries can come with a few surprises. What’s something Australians do that perhaps completely confused you when you first arrived?

So many things, but one memory still makes me laugh so much. I was completely confused by how Australians shorten absolutely every word!

Early on, when I had just arrived, my now mother-in-law invited me over for “tea” at 7pm. In my mind, that meant a cup of tea… so I had already eaten dinner (I’m a very early bird!). When I arrived, I realised “tea” actually meant dinner. To avoid being rude, I quietly ate a second full meal! It was my first real lesson in Australian culture.

You work as a freelance fashion stylist — can you tell us a bit about how you got started? Was this always the career you imagined for yourself?

I started styling in 2015 while studying Journalism and Communications at Sorbonne Nouvelle University. I remember assisting on my very first shoot Rue Crémieux (a narrow, very colourful Parisian street) freezing cold, completely out of my depth, but having the best time!

I always knew I wanted to work in fashion, but I didn’t know in what capacity. I didn’t come from that world, and I had no connections. It all started from a random Facebook group post. I am so grateful for social media.

I styled in Paris for a couple of years before stepping away to focus on marketing and media buying for an international startup Pictarine. That experience taught me so much, and it’s been incredibly valuable returning to styling in Australia and rebuilding from the ground up.

Now, I feel like I’m living a more intentional version of the life I had in mind. Balancing ambition with a quieter, grounded personal life. Fashion can be fast-paced and demanding, so having that contrast allows me to give everything creatively, then step back and recharge.

What does a typical week look like for you as a freelance stylist?

I split my time between Sydney and regional NSW, so when I’m in Sydney working on a project, my days are busy.

It usually involves attending PR showings, preparing pitch decks, researching concepts and fabrics, and building out moodboards. I’m constantly connecting with creatives over coffee or through social media and I love seeing what others are working on. I spend to much time on Instagram!

There’s also a lot of logistics: sending loan requests, coordinating with PRs (Flaunter makes this especially seamless), organising pickups and returns, and making sure my styling kit is always ready.

In reality, most of the work happens before the shoot day. But I love that process just as much as being on set. What I enjoy most is the collaborative nature of styling, working closely with brands and teams to bring art to life.

People often talk about fashion revivals — the ’20s, the ’90s, and everything in between. Looking back over the last century, is there a fashion era you wish you could have been part of?

I’m very drawn to the late ’90s into the early 2000s. When minimalism felt effortless yet intentional. There was a quiet confidence in the way women dressed: clean lines, beautiful tailoring, and an ease that didn’t try too hard.

It’s something I naturally gravitate towards in my own work and personal style.

Are there any styling principles or rules you always keep in mind when putting together a look?

Proportion is everything. Then tailoring, texture, and thoughtful details.

I’m naturally drawn to minimal and often monochrome palettes, but a look always needs a point of interest, just a subtle “pop” that makes it feel considered rather than simple.

You’ve styled across both editorial and commercial projects — how does your creative approach change between the two?

Editorial is where I express my own perspective, it’s instinctive and driven by a personal vision.

Commercial work is different. It requires a level of intuition that sometimes feels like mind-reading. It’s about understanding what a client wants often before they can fully articulate it and translating this into something tangible.

That said, I approach both with the same level of care and consideration. Editorial allows me to build my own team and shape the creative direction, while commercial projects often introduce new collaborators, which I really value as well.

For anyone who dreams of becoming a stylist one day, what’s one piece of advice you’d give them?

Keep pushing on doors. Don’t be afraid of hearing ‘no’.

I once heard someone say, “it’s not a no, it’s a not yet,” and that really stayed with me, I even have a “not yet” folder in my inbox.

Dream big, stay grounded, be respectful, and stand firm in your vision. Most importantly, start. Nobody really knows what they’re doing in the beginning. You learn by doing, and by showing up consistently.

And finally, if you could style anyone in the world — a celebrity, artist, or public figure — who would it be?

I would love to work with Charlotte Gainsbourg. She embodies everything I’m drawn to! Effortless, understated, and deeply authentic. There’s a quiet strength in her style that doesn’t rely on trends, and I find that incredibly inspiring. I think there would be a very natural alignment creatively.

Spotlight On: Léa Phillips, the Incredible French Freelance Stylist