Left: “My Cue blue suit in its glory. The blouse is from Sweepstakes Winners and
adds fabulous femininity to the outfit.”
Right: “love the analogous colours in this outfit. The red blazer is
vintage and the top is merino from Sheepinc.”
If there’s one thing Rose Austen loves, it’s a good challenge.
Her personal challenge for 2023 is to wear 365 unique outfits and #52weeksofcolour, inspiring others along the way to ditch the neutrals for a bolt of colour.
While it’s only a few weeks into her 2023 challenge, Rose already has hundreds of looks under her belt, having fully embraced the colour challenge back in 2022. What began as a simple exercise to avoid wearing so much black, has become a dopamine hit, which she and a steadily growing number of followers are embracing with joy.
With a professional career in policy and treasury, it’s fair to say that Rose’s vibrant colour palette stands out from the crowd.
Early beginnings
Rose’s rainbow tendencies were encouraged from a young age (albeit unknowingly) at the hands of her parents who made stained glass creations and encouraged individuality.
Her naturally deep-seated love of New Zealand and vintage fashion, particularly bold 80’s fabrics and prints, is the perfect accompaniment to this ongoing colour challenge.
While unashamedly apologetic (as she should be) for the sheer happiness colour brings to her (and others around her), Rose does admit to some surprising wardrobe habits as we find out more about her journey through a dazzling kaleidoscope of colour.
Where are you are based?
I recently moved to Featherston and commute to Wellington to work most days. It’s the best of both city and small-town living. I often describe myself as a country girl in city clothes and that is demonstrated in my lifestyle. Work in the city and recharge in the country.
Left: “A floral Cue dress I have worn to weddings, balls, the polo, the beach and work.
The best pieces can be worn practically anywhere. Worn with my orange Ziggurat blazer and
matching orange shoes for a uber summery look.”
Right: “This is what I wore to my birthday party last year. It was 1930s-themed
and I felt so glamorous. Dress from Storm and vintage top from Sass and Bide. The hat just makes it.”
Where did you grow up and how did this shape you?
I grew up in Rotoma, a lake about halfway between Rotorua and Whakatane, but moved to Wellington when I was 12. It was about the time that Wellington was really coming into its own in the ’90s. Mum and I lived in an apartment downtown and would hang out in cafes. It was pretty cool.
My very early years were spent wandering around craft shows as my parents made stained glass – they were Working Glass Heroes (I think is a fabulous name). While I never considered myself particularly artistic, they encouraged my individuality.
What do you love most about where you live now and some of your favourite spots?
I only moved to Featherston last May, so I’m still getting to know the place. One of the things I love is that no matter where you live in the Wairarapa you are a local.
What sparked your interest in fashion/colour?
My friends would probably say I have always been a little “out there” when it comes to colour or that I had a “strong personal style”, but it was really coming back to Wellington after living in Canterbury for a couple of years and becoming more confident in myself and my work that led me to embrace my personal style and be willing to stand out.
An overview of your career?
Most of my career has been spent working in policy, far removed from the cool world of fashion. I’m currently a Team Leader at the Treasury. I love the culture there and despite the stereotypes is a pretty relaxed workplace when it comes to the dress code – very few men wear ties and it is not uncommon to see jeans mid-week. My colleagues are well aware that I’m the colourful one and push the boat out a little when it comes to fashion in the office. They will often come and show me their efforts to embrace colour.
What did you think your career path would be during your school years?
I had no idea what I wanted to do. Some of my friends had fairly clear goals but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do – I thought about law, metrology, and politics. I ended up getting degrees in geology and European Union studies but didn’t really pursue a career path in either. Whatever you study and do there needs to be scope for the unknown and often that’s where the best opportunities lie. That has certainly been true for my career so far.
Some info on your personal style journey?
My sartorial journey has been a bit hit and miss with a lot of misses over the years. I am so pleased social media wasn’t around for most of my youth. My style has reflected where I was physically (i.e. in the country vs the city) and mentally. As I have gotten older and wiser, I feel more confident in my own body, with my work and my place in the world and I think my style reflects that.
Left: “Most of my clothes are block colours but it is nice to wear patterns every so often.
This vintage blazer is so full of colour and reminds me of hand-dyed silk
scarves my grandmother used to make. I also love a skirt with pockets.”
Right: “I have discovered so many different colour combinations over the past year and by far
my favourite is pink and green. I like this outfit because not only is it pink and green,
the outfit is also mixing shades and tones in an unexpected way.
The jacket is Sweepstake Winners and the skirt is C/MEO collective.”
What sparked your interest in vintage fashion?
I feel like I have always had a bit of a retro aesthetic. I love watching shows such as Mad Men and Marvellous Mrs Maisel for the clothes and style. A few years ago I had a much more 1950/1960s vibe going on but I’m currently more drawn to the 1970s for inspiration.
An overview of your thoughts around fashion/colour/style?
It’s a difficult balance to find your personal style, make it work for your circumstances (age, body type, income, job, etc). Then you have various voices telling you what’s in, what’s not. Hopefully, as fashion becomes more inclusive and sustainable, it will mean less emphasis will be placed on trends so we can all feel confident wearing what makes us happy.
I think true fashion is less trend-focused and more of a wonderful artform that we get to adorn.
When and why you started Colour Your Capital and your colour challenge?’
During 2021, I started wearing more and more colour but would often default to black. Around that Christmas, I had an idea of seeing how long I could go without wearing black. So on 1 January 2022, I started the Colourthecapital Instagram page. Initially, the page was to hold myself to account and see how long I could go without wearing black. I didn’t want to spam all my friends with daily pics of my outfits so I invited a few friends who I thought might be interested. The challenge morphed into successfully wearing 365 unique outfits in 2022.
As the page grew, it became more important to me to emphasise that I while I am wearing all this colour, I am still living a normal life, as opposed to some of the overseas influencers who wear these phenomenal outfits but don’t have to worry about holding down a 9 to 5. These are the clothes I live my life in not just dress up for the ‘Gram. There is a place for that but that’s not me.
For this year’s challenge, I am having another year of not repeating an outfit, and as an extra challenge I am also setting a theme for each working week.
What has the response been and what motivates you to continue?
The response has been fantastic. My friends and workmates love it. They will often tell me that when they are wearing colour or that my colour can cheer them up.
One of the most surprising things about wearing colour has been the people I’ve met. I think wearing colour provides an ice-breaker, especially for women. When you tell someone you like what they are wearing, you are praising an active choice they made that morning. It feels good to receive compliments and it’s even better to tell a stranger that they made a good choice and look stunning (in a non-creepy way).
Left: “I wore this Ruby gown to work with my Cue suit jacket and I loved the cool 90s vibe of it.
I liked the long lines and it made me challenge some of my preconceived ideas about wearing maxi/midi lengths to the office.”
Right: “I wore this outfit out to dinner in Greytown recently and I was surprised at how well the brunt orange
worked with green Tuesday pants. I then punctuated the outfit with blue shoes that matched my raincoat because it was pouring.”
How do you feel about black and why do you think so many people wear it?
We wear black because we are told it is slimming, that it’s professional, timeless and goes with everything. We also want to fit in with what everyone else is wearing, which happens to be black, grey, and navy, especially in the workplace.
There are also so many “rules” associated with colour. Which colours go together, which don’t, what colours you can wear to weddings, etc., gendered colours, which season you are, etc. The list goes on. It can be difficult to navigate them – that’s something I want to explore with my weekly themes this year.
I should add there are others trying to bring colour to Wellington, especially on a Wednesday with #wellywears. It has been because we complimented each other in the coffee line that I made the connection with Hollie who is trying to build that movement.
What have you discovered about yourself by sharing this journey?
There is a power that comes from wearing colour. There is nothing wrong with standing out and being remembered.
Your advice for others hesitant about embracing colour?
Invest in a coloured blazer or coat that you can wear with your existing wardrobe. Wear it on a grey day and be surprised by the compliments you get. Generally, I get the most wear out of my separates and solid colours, rather than dresses and patterns.
If you’re a professional, keep the silhouettes classic and familiar. Go for tailored pieces, blazers, pants, pencil skirts, etc. The clothes shouldn’t distract from you as a person and your work; rather, they should enhance them. Despite the outrageously bright colours, I generally keep my work clothes fairly modest.
What are some of your fave vintage pieces and why are they so special?
I got a fabulous 1970s jumpsuit from a fair – it has this big black and white pattern over it and I can’t help but feel like a tall glam rock goddess in it, despite having no colour.
I also have a 1960s orange wool jacket from Ziggurat. The colour is so vibrant it makes any outfit just pop.
Where do you hunt for vintage finds?
I love Instagram resellers. They do the hard yards in scouring the shops. The best ones then curate a drop much like a fashion collection. There are quite a few but @secret_threads, @everydayvintage, @welcomeback_slowfashion are among my faves.
Left: “This is one of my favourite casual looks. The same Storm slip I wore to my birthday but with a
vintage knit over the top, sneakers and of course my favourite electric blue raincoat from Okewa Rainwear.
I generally find casual wear more difficult to style than workwear.”
Right: “My favourite vintage jumpsuit and all dolled up to go to a 1970s cocktail party”
Some of your favourite NZ designers and why?
I really like tailored pieces. Most of the week I am in work clothes so I look for pieces that can go from the office to weekend rather than the other way round. I have quite a few pieces from Storm, Juliette Hogan has great tailored pieces, and I love the colour of Kowtow for my basics, especially tops.
Describe your wardrobe and how you organise so many different looks?
My wardrobe is an embarrassment. It is a mountain of clothes on the floor of my wardrobe and heaped on the chair in my bedroom. The clothes that have escaped the great floordrobe represent the lesser-worn clothes and are organised by ROYGBIV, which does look quite cool.
What are your wardrobe organising tips for others?
Don’t be like me – hang up your clothes!
Something people may be surprised to know about you?
I don’t really plan my outfits. I usually have one item in mind that I want to wear (I describe this as the hero piece) and while I’m snoozing, I think of what would work with it.
I’m approaching 40 and decided to learn how to play the electric guitar. I’m pleased no one can hear me practice.
Some of the best purchases/finds you’ve ever made and why?
Back in 2014, I invested in a Badgley Mischka gown for a fancy event. It is a classic dress that makes me feel like a 1940s Hollywood movie star. It’s great to have for whenever I have to go to a super fancy event.
More recently, I bought a bright blue suit from Cue. I have been wearing it so much as separates and as a suit. It makes me feel powerful in a Katherine Hepburn manner. I suspect I will be wearing it for years to come.
Images supplied