In Conversation With Liverpool Fashion Stylist: POLY STYLENE

Her DIY, punk, prinny, and maximalist dressing take beyond just her Instagram posts...

An interview by Aleisha Petafi

As the editor of Destined magazine, I encounter a lot of creative and stylish people all the time... Despite being, and working in the fashion space in Liverpool, I tend to forget how anti-trend, alternative, and individualistic we really are up here.

Back in February this year, I attended Melissa-Kate's S/S26 Birkenhead fashion show, and it's safe to say all attendees did nothing less than showing up and showing out when it came to outfits, but one fashion show go-er that night caught my eye specifically, and it was a woman with brightly-coloured hair wearing a puffed out pink tulle dress, head-to-toe in a lace cat suit and a variety of mix-and-match flower accessories.

If you know me, you'd know that I'm such a sucker for maximalism done right, especially in this now boring climate where people are aiming for a minimalistic silhouette, and bland colour looks. After seeing Poppy, I felt like the hope in me for wishing people would dress more fun again had been fully restored.

When it came down to producing issue 2, I knew straight away that I wanted to collaborate with Poppy and have her creative vision, and energy brought to set. Her fun, exaggerated, playful, and experimental image fit perfectly with the direction in which we were headed.

Last month, I sat down with Poppy to discuss in detail all things styling, and the elaboration on her DIY, punk, prinny, and maximalist dressing take beyond just her Instagram posts...

So tell us a little bit about yourself… 

"I’m Poly Stylene (My real name’s Poppy Duckworth) I’m 29 and I’m a stylist from Dingle!"

Has styling always been your calling?

“I’ve always been into fashion and dressing up and expressing myself through clothes and different aesthetics but I never really considered it as a career until a few people approached me and asked me to style them, so it kind of just blossomed from there, and I absolutely love it!”

Do you prefer to style yourself or others?

“I love both, I love creating and experimenting with different looks and aesthetics but I feel like I do that a lot with my own personal style. I love working within a concept, and incorporating my own personal touches.”

Favourite clothing item in your wardrobe at the moment?

“My outfits depend on my mood, so because of that I never really stick to one style, I’m big on maximalism so I'm always looking to add jewellery and accessories wherever I can. I think recently, I’ve been loving a corset, and layering from there.”

Your name reminds me too much of polystyrene from X-ray specs. Are there any deliberate punk or alternative influences in your work?

“YES! Yes, my name is definitely inspired by Poly Styrene, it was a cheeky little play on words! I do have punk influences in my work, I love to reject conformity and breaking boundaries. I believe that fashion should be an individual form of self expression, and that you should fully embrace your authentic self, you can’t limit your dressing down to gender or any kind of beauty standards. I’m such a DIY girlie as well, like I also believe that fashion should be accessible to everyone, and I don’t think that you need a lot of money to creatively express yourself, you just need to personalise your look!"

You always have the most gorgeous coloured and styled hair! Do the outfits change with the hair? Or does the hair change with the outfits?

“Aw, thank you! My hair is my signature look but the hair definitely changes with the outfits! I think when I plan an outfit every detail is considered, and recently I’ve been loving playing around with wigs so expect lots more colours and styles!”

Favourite fashion designer?

“It’s gotta be the queen of punk, Miss Vivienne Westwood! Apart from her being iconic, I just love her style and I love when designers remind us that fashion can always be political, and that what you wear has the ability to challenge societal norms - oh and I love a bit of tartan of course! 

But I want to give an honourable mention to @CreepyYeha on Instagram because I just love everything that she creates!”

Favourite fashion trend?

“Of all time, I think I’m going to have to stick with my Scouse roots on this one and say hair rollers. There’s something about going out with rollers in your hair that just makes me so happy, I don’t think that it should just be limited to the ‘getting ready’ process, it’s a look in itself, and I might just have to be the person to make it a statement!”

Leopard print or Tartan?

“Oooooo, that’s hard! I’ve been loving leopard print lately but tartan has always been a staple in my wardrobe. Just because I wear it a bit more, I’m gonna have to go with tartan.”

Ribbons or Fur?

“Again, this is so hard because I absolutely love both! I love incorporating fur in all of my outfits but then again, I feel like I’m always trying to put a bow or a ribbon on something. I’m going to have to say bows/ ribbons!”

Can you tell us more about the stunning press-ons used in your looks?

“I absolutely love long nails! I just don’t feel like myself if I haven’t got my claws on , and I’m obsessed with all nail art and 3D designs so I always seek out cute little press ons that will match the look I’m going for. I generally buy them from small and local businesses but recently I’ve been trying to make my own press-ons to go with my outfits. So who knows? Maybe one day we’ll have a Poly Stylene press-on line coming out!”

Favourite project you’ve worked on so far?

“My favourite project that I’ve worked on so far is definitely the second issue of Destined Magazine - which showcased some of the best upcoming talent in Liverpool’s fashion and creative space. I think that as a whole, Liverpool is filled with such talented people who are often just not given as many opportunities and are going unnoticed, so in issue 2 we were highlighting some of the successes and the struggles that people within our city face, and that’s a conversation I hold close to my heart! It was such an honour to be a part of that and be alongside such a beautiful, and unbelievably talented team. It was just incredible for me.”

Image: Destined Magazine: Issue 2 "Reality"

Styling by Poppy Duckworth

Purchase issue 2 here

And finally, someone you’d love to style?

“There’s a few people I’d love to style to be honest! Sierra Ferrel, Kim Petras, Hunter Schafer, Madonna…. But I think it’s not about who you style, it’s how you style them, so if anyone wants to create some magic, get in touch with me!”

You can find Poppy's work on Instagram @poly_stylene