What Creatives Wear: Alana Crosby

In this mini series, we go inside the wardrobes of creative entrepreneurs to find out how their work influences what they wear, where they find outfit inspiration and what personal style means to them.

Alana Crosby is a creative polymath with the discipline of a Bauhaus-trained interior architect and the natural curiosity of an artist. “[My mum] instilled in me all of my artistic abilities and told me how many days and nights she would spend throwing clay on a pottery wheel while pregnant with me,” Alana says of her mother, who is also an artist. Although she pursed a career in interiors, Alana inherited her mother’s love for experimenting with different mediums, and a few years ago she began reimagining life drawings and paintings of the female form as handmade ceramic pots. “Incorporating my interest in interior design into my love for clay as a material and practice, a collection of lighting was the natural next development in my work,” Alana says of her debut series of ceramic lamps titled Collection 01. Alana creates her sculptural lamps in her sunny North Bondi studio, each one taking over 30 hours to make, and the natural tones and shapely forms of her designs are informed by desert landscapes across Australia and the US; scenes she witnessed on recent travels. “Expressing creativity is such a vital aspect of how I function. I am so lucky to be in such an inspiring industry and in a workplace where creativity is encouraged and fostered.”

How would you describe your personal style in three words?

Minimal, comfortable, eclectic.

When you’re working with clay in the studio, what is your go-to uniform?

Overalls, boilersuits or old clothes that can withstand all the different colours of the clay I will inevitably get all over them!

Has your work as an interior architect influenced the way you dress?

My style was first influenced at university, where being around design and architecture students meant all black, simple yet stylish, comfortable outfits. Since then I feel I have become more balanced and more myself, injecting colour into outfits while keeping true to the minimal aspects of the architecture student’s ‘uniform’.

How do you inject personal style into work clothes that need to be functional and practical? 

I mostly look for pieces with tonal, textural depth and natural fibres that have a unique quality. Shopping vintage and good quality Australian brands, I always start with a classic, comfortable and neutral base for an outfit and build on texture, colour and pattern from there, striving for outfits that are practical both in the office and for after work drinks.

Are you a capsule wardrobe curator or an enthusiastic collector?

Capsule wardrobe.

Who are your style icons?

Emily Adams Bode, Paloma Elsesser, Bianca Jagger. My very chic grandmother, Cleo.

Favourite trend?

Brown tones and tiny bags.

And what trend do you wish would go away?

Y2K.

What design era/s do you feel most naturally drawn to?

The ’90s for its simplicity and 2000s for its fun and clashes of unexpected colours.

Where do you look when you need wardrobe inspiration?

My mum – I have always taken (literally and figuratively) from her wardrobe, my most cherished outfit for many years has been a chic vintage Max Mara suit I stole from her.

What do you consider your ultimate ‘going out’ outfit?

That very same suit, or any black or neutral base with a cute, colourful or interesting top with simple mules and my Fendi Baguette bag.

When was the last time you saw someone with great style, and where? 

Every single day at work in my office! I am lucky to be surrounded by very creative, talented women with very individual, undeniably great styles.

You feel most yourself when you’re wearing...

Definitely a nice pair of suit pants and a blazer and the colour pink, but I would also be lying if I didn’t say clay/paint stained ‘making’ uniform or an old pair of pyjamas.