Street Style, Storytelling & Collaboration: NFC’s MELBOURNE Styling Workshop

WORDS BY NFC STUDENT, MICAELA TASSONE

Before this Workshop, Styling was something that I had only tried a few times, throughout internships and photoshoots. After spending the day at National Fashion College’s Styling Workshop with the incredibly talented Karinda Mutabazi, I am eager to explore the styling world even more!

There was an energy in the room from the very beginning; as soon as you put a group of creative people together it all comes alive. Karinda brought not only her experience, but a genuine openness about her process. From walking us through her personal styling kit (which, I can confirm, is now the blueprint for mine) to sharing the subtle, behind the scenes tips and tricks that most people would never think about.

One of the things that struck me most was how collaborative styling truly is and can be. It’s not just about choosing a great outfit, it’s about building a cohesive vision. It reminded me that styling is storytelling!

We were then given the chance to step into that role ourselves; working in groups, surrounded by endless clothing from the NFC styling closet, we were challenged to create a street style Fashion Week look. It was easily one of the highlights of the day. Ideas were bouncing around, pieces were swapped back and forth, and everyone brought a different perspective to the table. It didn’t feel competitive, it felt collaborative, like we were a real styling team on set, problem solving and refining the looks until they felt just right.

And it didn’t stop there; shooting our looks with the wonderful Molly Burmeister added another layer to the experience. Watching the looks we styled come to life in front of the camera for the “street style” shots was incredibly rewarding. It made the entire process feel tangible and real.

What made the workshop so impactful wasn’t just what we learnt, but how we learnt it. From learning practical tips, like how to easily remove a makeup smudge on the collar of a white t-shirt, or how to style celebrities for a movie premiere to creating, collaborating, and capturing our own concepts, the day felt immersive and empowering.

The NFC Styling Workshop isn’t just about putting outfits together. It’s about building confidence, creative direction, and learning how to work as a team in an industry that thrives on collaboration. It opened my eyes to a side of fashion I had only dreamt of. So, if you’re even slightly curious about styling, consider this your sign to experience it for yourself.

SEE MORE FROM OUR MELBOURNE STYLING WORKSHOP: