In Conversation with Penny & Nikki, aka @styleinthestix

We invited Penny & Nikki of @styleinthestix to style some pieces from our Core Collection. Here they share what makes a great wardrobe basic, how they choose pieces for their wardrobe, and their advice for building a more considered wardrobe.

Q: What do you think makes a great wardrobe basic, and which pieces in your wardrobe would you never be without?

A: The pieces we come back to time and time again. Not necessarily the ones that get the most attention but the ones that we always feel good in. For Penny, it’s a great pair of jeans and a good-quality long-sleeve T-shirt. For Nikki, it’s a classic shirt and a well-fitting pair of trousers. The pieces that require no thought and make getting dressed in the morning easier.

Q: How do you balance timeless wardrobe staples with the excitement of new trends? Are there any signs you look for that tell you a piece will have longevity in your wardrobe?

A: We tend to combine the two, pieces with longevity and things that bring a sense of newness to our wardrobe.

For us, longevity comes from well-made pieces, natural fibres and classic shapes. But that doesn’t mean ignoring trends; we enjoy them too. We often bring in a sense of newness through colour combinations or by focusing on key pieces that feel relevant for the season.

The great thing is that trends tend to come around year after year. These are easy to identify a great trench, denim and good tailoring will always be relevant.

Q: As creators sharing your personal style, what do you hope your audience takes away from the way you share fashion?

A: We love fashion, but we also believe you can love fashion without constantly buying more of it. We want to encourage our audience to wear more of their wardrobe, more of the time, and to make getting dressed feel easier and more enjoyable.

We hope to help people pull outfits together in a way that feels effortless, while also encouraging more considered purchases. Look for good quality, natural fibres, sustainable brands and great pre-loved finds. And if you’re going to buy something new, make sure you really love it and can see yourself wearing it again and again.

That’s probably the Stix philosophy in a nutshell - enjoy fashion, make the most of what you already own, and buy well when you do buy. 

Above: Penny wears our Malia Warm Grey Coat with Blake Mid-Wash Jeans


Q: What are your go-to styling formulas for autumn/winter, and how do you make cold-weather dressing feel fresh each season (without feeling like you need to buy an entirely new wardrobe)?

A: We don’t necessarily have a go to styling formula. We rely heavily on our core pieces and good basics, then play around with how we wear them. Change the layers, proportions, colour or texture. Try a different shoe, add a good pair of socks, swap your bag or add a scarf or some jewellery. Sometimes it’s just wearing something in a way you haven’t thought of before. There’s a lot more mileage in a wardrobe when you start looking at it differently.

Above: (L) Penny wears our Yuki Grey Marl Jumper with Blake Mid-Wash Jeans, (R) Nikki wears our Wren Black Coat, over the Fable Undyed Shirt with Chiara Black Trousers

Q: You’ve beautifully styled some pieces from our AKYN Core collection – any stand-out favourites? 

A: For Penny it’s the Yuki Grey Marl jumper, it’s such a core piece in my wardrobe and one I reach for time and time again. I love the gorgeous pearl detail on the sleeves, which makes it feel that little bit more special. I wear it with denim for an easy everyday look, but it’s also one of those pieces that works brilliantly in the evening.

Nikki’s stand out piece is the Chiara black trouser. I’ve always loved a tailored trouser and a good black pair is one of those things I come back to constantly. The Chiara has just the right amount of tailoring without feeling too “done”. I can wear it with a big knit and trainers for the school run and still feel pulled together, or add a shirt and a loafer for a smarter look.

"You want to open the wardrobe door and find easy outfit solutions, pieces that work together, that you love wearing and that make getting dressed feel simple."

Above: Nikki wears our Wren Black Coat, Fable Undyed Shirt, Love Oyster Jumper and Chiara Black Trousers

Q: How do you approach buying something new now - what questions do you ask yourself before making the purchase? 

A: The questions we ask ourselves before buying something new are….

• Do we actually need it?
• Do we already have something in my wardrobe that does the same job?
• Is this a whim, or have we been thinking about it for a while?
• And probably the biggest one,  will we really love it, and will we wear it again and again?

We’re not anti-shopping. We just want the things we buy to earn their place in the wardrobe.

Q: What’s your best advice for someone who wants a more considered wardrobe but doesn’t know where to start?

A: Start with the wardrobe you already have.

It sounds ridiculously simple, but have a proper sort out. Get everything out, have a look at what’s actually in there and, more importantly, what you actually wear.

You’ll find things you’d completely forgotten about, things you still love and probably a few that you wonder why you ever bought in the first place.

Then think about what you love wearing and whether it actually fits your life. Sometimes there’s a bit of a disconnect between the wardrobe we imagine we want and the one that works for the life we actually live.

If you do find gaps, buy less but buy well. Look for good quality, considered brands or go preloved. And make sure anything you buy works with what’s already in your wardrobe.

You don’t want to create more noise. You want to open the wardrobe door and find easy outfit solutions, pieces that work together, that you love wearing and that make getting dressed feel simple.

That’s where we’d start.