Elle Hioe (@14strk) finds meaning through styling.

From becoming Rico Nasty’s personal photographer, to styling Grammy-nominated songwriter Montaigne, Elle Hioe is quickly becoming one of Sydney's hottest stylists.

and

Mar 04, 2024

Elle Hioe’s (@14strk) style is a supercharged mix of Harajuku and Y2K. It’s the kind of aesthetic that many aspire to pull off but are hesitant to embrace fully. Flirting with oddity and a passion for dream-like visuals, she evokes nostalgia for our Tamagotchi and BBM days.

Getting to know Elle beyond the screen was refreshing. Even stripped away of the armour of vibrant chains, metal rings, and maximalist extravagance that usually define her online persona, Elle's spirit still shined. Behind the scenes, she possesses an extraordinary talent and a deep-seated devotion to her craft, approaching her work with an infectious enthusiasm, finding purpose and meaning in every creative endeavour.

From becoming Rico Nasty’s personal photographer, to styling Grammy-nominated songwriter, Montaigne, we find out how Elle Hioe is quietly pushing boundaries of Sydney’s style echo chamber and becoming one of Australia most sought-after styling exports.

Could you take us on a stroll down memory lane and share how you went from art directing to styling and then picking up the camera yourself? What were some key lessons you learned in those early days that you still find yourself leaning on today?

I come from a Communications background, focusing on Media Arts and Production. Styling wasn't part of the plan originally—I was exploring the creative agency path but realized it wasn't for me. That's when I stumbled upon styling and felt it click.

My first gig was with a girl who wanted to make a music video. Back then, I wasn’t a ‘stylist’. It was just something I liked to do, and I was just helping her out.

In my early days, I just went with the flow and I still carry this ‘all in’ mentality today. Any door that opened, I was willing to step into it. It all happened very naturally. Even with art direction, when someone approached me to art direct the ‘Make No Doubt’ New South Wales Government Consent Campaign, I was nervous because I had no background in art direction. I guess at that time, they wanted to kill two birds with one stone so I did the styling and art direction together and hey, I managed to pull it off!

Rico Nasty styled by Elle Hioe (@14strk)

Why the shift to photography? Are there any projects you look forward to in your future?

I’ve always wanted to pursue visual media and photography. It just came naturally to me. I didn’t look at settings, like ISO and stuff, but I trusted the process. Even when I was a teenager, I was taking and editing photos from my iPhone or a small camera.

Working with Rico Nasty was a pivotal moment. She contacted me because we followed each other on TikTok and Instagram. She said she was coming to Australia, and I suggested hanging out. She was searching for a photographer, and that’s when I pitched to be her’s. At first, I doubted myself, but everyone around me said I should do it, and I did. I didn’t have a portfolio then, but I showed her some of my previous work and got the job! I did her Australian tour at the beginning of 2023, and after that, I just stuck throughout her American tour.

It’s hard to be creatively free about your work in Sydney because it’s very “commercialised”… I think people are scared to push the boundaries here.

I’m still new at this and struggle to find the balance between styling and photography, but as I venture into more creative works, I do feel the pull to do more creative direction and styling. I want to sit down and connect with others and somewhat push them into a style journey. I feel like in Sydney, I’m not as proactive at taking pictures because I struggle to think of a concept. It’s also hard to be creatively free about your work because it is very “commercialised” here. While trying to earn money, there isn’t much room for creative freedom on projects in Sydney. I think people are scared to push the boundaries here.

You mentioned that you enter a “flow state” when styling pieces. Walk me through styling a piece, especially for Montaigne and Ghostboy Club.

I get into the flow state when I pick a central piece and keep doing combinations. I start off by adding it all on and slowly stripping it down.

Styling other people is a whole different ballgame. When styling others, you must understand the person and consider how they feel, their relationship with clothes, and what message they are going for. Working with Montaigne helped me think outside the box. They gave me some references for what pieces they wanted. Their name reflects a French philosopher, so I tried to work with this inspiration, their background and music. I used to be more selfish when styling others – like I wanted things to go my way, I wanted to express my vision. Now, I have a more collaborative approach. I’d rather reach a point where both myself and the client are happy about what they’re wearing because in the end, they’re the one wearing the pieces.

Ghostboy Club was my first-ever fashion photography gig. I saw their brand online, reached out to the brand and asked them to send me a few pieces. To be honest, I wished I could have done that shoot a little better. Back then, I didn’t even know how to work a camera. I consume a lot of East-Asian media, and that influences me on the daily so now I want to know more about Southeast Asian cultures and creatives. Working with Malaysian brands and people was an excellent start for me.

Ghostboy Club styled and photographed by Elle Hioe (@14strk)

What would you recommend for upcoming stylists for their projects?

Message people and ask if you can collaborate with them! At the beginning of my journey, there was no money involved. I messaged my friends who ran magazines to ask if I could pitch my photos. Reach out to your friends. Reach out to your network. If you want to get into photography, ask them if you can take photos of them. Put yourself out there. I have another shoot with my friend, a DJ, and they were so happy to get on board with my ideas. There will always be a mutual benefit for both parties. But also, be wary. You want to choose people that align with your morals and visions.

Is there a certain ‘formula’ or ‘rule’ you use when creating something?

I don’t think there is any formula for building your creative portfolio. What worked for me was having an online presence. I am lucky to know that my most significant strength is connecting with many people through the Internet. Having my platforms like X, Instagram and TikTok, I know I have something to showcase when pitching to others. They can see that I do styling and realise I have a particular taste, which makes it easier for others to instil trust in my vision.

We need to start looking into our wardrobes and what influences us… Fashion is all about building from the ground up.

I think nowadays people are focused on looking a certain way. They try to buy the things that look like an outfit and recreate the same look without thinking about their style. There is some sort of urgency to reach the destination or mimic the look rather than understanding the route or journey in creating a look.

We need to start looking into our wardrobes and what influences us. Looking back at how I dressed, I was influenced by music, bands, books, etc. I think approaching it that way and integrating style into your life will help you navigate your relationship with fashion. Fashion is all about building from the ground up. But I must admit, sometimes I see this cute Dior bag, and immediately I want that in my closet because it’s so cute! But do I need it, or do I just think it’s cute at that point in time?

You’ve mentioned that your style is maximalism. Do you see it evolving into something different? To something democratic where people are more involved with the brands?

Hmmm. I think so. My core belief in creating is to evolve constantly because, technically, you should be changing and growing as a person. I don’t think I would restyle pieces in the same way again. Not because I don’t think it’s good, but because there are different ways that I can explore wearing them. I don’t have a strong “code” or “formula”. I’m just someone who isn’t that interested in repeating things I’ve done before.

Turning to your point about the democratisation of fashion, I feel like luxury brands will always exist in a way that will constantly be ‘top-down’. I was interested in luxury fashion in high school, but it was always very unattainable at that point in my life. It was just… pretty. But nowadays, I think it has lost its ‘unattainable’ persona because there is an influx of second-hand luxury fashion that is getting more popular, which I think is good in a way.

I think brands are pivoting more to middle-class consumers to stay relevant. There are always new brands out there, which I hope allows consumers to be more involved. Especially with the Internet - I believe social media is our biggest democratising tool, but it’s almost a double-edged sword. You get random brands that want to put something on a T-Shirt and sell it at a high price point, but there are others that put a lot of thought in their work.

2024 ins and outs?

My ins are finding meaning when curating outfits. I want to look back and still wear that item in 5- or 10-years’ time. I want to be more mindful. It’s a lot of work, but I know it will be worth it. I also want to get back into reading.

My outs are over-consumption. I go through periods where I thrift so much because it is at a lower cost and gets out of board sometimes. Also, Pinterest is an out for me. I want to stop doing something that is just “cool” and think more about why I think that is “cool” instead. I’ll only go on Pinterest for work.