Nicky Buckley: fashion throwback photos

There’s no question that Nicky Buckley is an Aussie style icon. We asked  the fashion maven to share her style evolution with us by taking us through some of her favourite photos from over the years. We loved chatting about the days of corduroy vests and velvet scrunchies, right through to how Nicky achieves her classic, corporate style while emceeing events and her off-duty favourites…

 

How would you sum up your style?

There are three sides to my style – track pants at home, glam for events and boho/biker chic. ­

I definitely started out as a tomboy, lasting right through to my early modelling years. I still don’t try to look particularly feminine, it’s all about comfort first for me. Work is different, I go glam for that then I come home, wash my face immediately and put my trackies on. The third, the boho side, is my desire to always find something a little bit different. But it’s gotten harder to find those things as everything is so “on trend”. I used to travel and find special pieces but trends are international and it seems like the same thing is everywhere.

 

Do you have a fashion mantra?

I live by the notion that if you put something on from your wardrobe and you don’t feel good in it, give it away. You’re probably not going to feel much different in it another day, so just have fewer things that you really love.

 

Please talk us through the photos you’ve provided…

GROUP FAMILY PHOTO – NICKY FAR LEFT IN VEST AND BLOUSE

This was about 1979, so I was about 14 years old. I would have picked this outfit myself, this was my prime tomboy phase. I was always running amok with my four brothers and mum was always trying to princess me up. I chose jeans over dresses all the time. There were plenty of times before this that I had no say in what I could wear. I would be sent off to church with rollers in my hair because we were going out, matching outfits for myself and mum complete with frilly socks. My mum didn’t think my school uniform was girly enough so she would buy the gingham fabric herself and make a Peter Pan collar, trim it with lace and give it a little kick-out at the bottom. So, at around 14 years old, I went in the other direction.

MURRAY WITH NICKY IN PINK 

This is me and Muz at John Hancocks Theatre Restaurant. I would have been about 17 and this was quite a fancy event for us at the time. I didn’t have many dresses so I borrowed mums, as well as  my grandma’s pearl earrings and necklace. I thought it was cute to top it all off with a matching pink bow.

 

MURRAY WITH NICKY WEARING FLORAL DRESS

Despite the perm trend of the time, I was likely to have scrunch-dried my hair here  – topped off with a scrunchie! It was my 19th or 20th birthday party and in terms of clothes, this was the other side of me coming out from the tomboy. This coincided with my early modelling years and this fitted, seersucker dress is more feminine than what I used to wear; I was starting to branch out.

MURRAY AND NICKY BOTH WEARING ALL BLACK 

This is us all glammed up for my 21st birthday!

 

MAGAZINE CLIPPING NICKY IN LACE PANTS AND STRAPLESS TOP

This is me breaking out from Sale of the Century-style mould.  I’d wanted to cut my hair for ages and the minute I left, I chopped it into my “Meg Ryan” ‘do.

It was 1999 and my first Logies since leaving Sale. It was a conscious move to not wear another formal gown like I did every night on Sale of the Century. This outfit was created by fabulous Australian designer, Lisa Barron and we just wanted to have fun with it.

We had a great time creating it. She found fabric from offcuts and we made the blue suede top, the pants (I still have them – my rockstar son actually tried them on the other day and thought he might wear them!) they’re see-through lace so I recall feeling quite daring wearing a nude G-string but I felt pretty confident while I was parncing around my house. . Arriving at the Logies was a different story though and I thought, “oh my god” and spent the whole night with my hands covering my backside – all of a sudden, I went very shy!

 

WEDDING PHOTOS

My wedding dress was made by a girlfriend of mine. While modelling I did a lot of bridal shows, and we took inspiration from gowns that we wore. The skirt could be removed for the reception and the headdress was inspired by Grace Kelly. I recall Murray’s bridal cars broke down and he ended rocking up in the neighbour’s van! We spent the whole time at the altar, him retelling me the story and the two of us giggling, having a great time.

 

NICKY IN WINDOW FRAME WEARING GREY JUMPER 

I was living in America here and I was assisting a photographer who was shooting the singer, Kenny Loggins (who sang Footloose, Danger Zone) and this is me standing in shot just to test the lighting. Check out the style, I was in baggy jeans, a scrunchie, comfortable sneakers and I’ve always loved bandanas – I still do. 

 

NICKY ON BIKE 

This is my Yamaha Virago, I loved riding and my casual style was easily in tune with this stage of my life. I even used to ride my bike to modelling castings but had to stop because it mucked up my hair.

NICKY WEARING BANDANA

This is in Mexico with a couple of girlfriends after we went to America for a wedding. That bandana and shirt, that’s my slight hippy vibe – I lived in both of those can take that out as you’ve already said she likes jeans before. I’ve got some ripped, baggy styles at the moment, as I like to be comfy, and the tighter ones for going out. I can’t go past a KatharineHepburn style pant. 

 

NICKY IN BROWN LEATHER JACKET  & NICKY WEARING BLACK LEATHER JACKET WITH FRIENDS

I hardly wear it but that jacket is still in my wardrobe, I can’t throw it out. I recall Alyce Platt having the same jacket. This is my 22nd birthday in America and my friend gave me the crystal ball (which I also still have) and this is clearly that bikey feel once again – I love a good leather jacket. 

The shot in the black leather jacket with my girlfriends is from the same trip to America and I added the black cap.

NICKY WEARING GREEN CRUSHED VELVET DRESS

I have hazel green eyes and I love wearing green. Everyone should try wearing colours to match their eyes, to help them pop. Those earrings were my grandmothers and I think I still have those beads. I used to wear beads all the time; forever a hippy at heart.

 

NICKY WEARING TAUPE TOP AND SKIRT SET

I love this outfit, I still have the necklace and they’re my grandma’s earrings again! Murray’s vest may be in the dress up box!

This taupe is definitely a colour I still wear, my colours haven’t changed much over the years. There was a black and white stage of my wardrobe, heaps of black -very Melbourne – but I don’t think I would wear black anymore. I like grey marle in my casual wear and earthy tones have always drawn me in, greens, burnt oranges, pops of subtle colour. But I’ve found that red doesn’t work for me.  

 

 

 

NICKY WEARING CREAM SUIT 

I’m holding my godson here wearing a Covers suit. I’ve always like a well-cut suit; it’s that masculine side to fashion where you might have a feminine blouse underneath. In my corporate hosting work I’m typically in a fitted dress, usually Lisa Barron or Anthea Crawford as they fit a beautiful, classic mould. I never go too frilly and like to keep it clean with timeless lines and cuts. Because I’m hosting on behalf of a  business, I try to look understated and professional.

 

To see more of Nicky’s smart and chic hosting style click here.

To see more from our Style Stories series click here.