This week, we were lucky enough to sit down and speak to Sandra Iskander - the Editor In Chief at Style News. Don’t miss our chat with Sandra as we learn how she entered the industry, future trends and her exciting plans for the future.

Hi Sandra! Can you tell us a bit about who you are, where you’ve worked and your background?

I am obsessed with fashion and travel, the idea of newness blended with history, and I feel both fashion and travel are touched by both. To travel and experience new things opens your eyes to the past and inspires the future, and the same can be said with fashion, and through Style News I get to indulge that passion and share it with my readers. My mum has always had a huge influence on me when it comes to fashion and learning. Growing up she always had magazines around and I particularly remember her reading Paris Match, a French magazine, and I used to take her copies and just admire everything that was featured in them. They transported me to the glamour of Paris and the South of France with royalty and French stars filling the pages, the allure was everpresent at home through the pages of magazines. And through that I grew up obsessed with Paris and my dream was to one day live in Paris. After university and working in media for a few years I took the leap and moved to Paris where I became editor-in-chief of a lifestyle magazine and it was amazing, it felt surreal, I definitely experienced imposter syndrome and I was constantly in awe of what I was doing, just in disbelief that somehow I made it to Paris, working in fashion, going to PFW, travelling to Saint-Tropez, everything I used to imagine through mum's magazines, somehow it became my reality. In 2020 I decided to launch my very own digital lifestyle magazine, Style News, with a focus not only on Paris but also Melbourne and Australia as a trendsetting destination as well.

I also design jewellery, and I recently launched The Si Collection, showcasing my love of accessorising through jewellery-making is almost therapeutic, it calms my mind a little compared to when I am working on Style News when I feel my mind is always racing. It is another creative outlet for me, offering my clients a more affordable selection of jewellery to add a little sparkle to their day.

You’ve lived an intriguing bi-cultural life between Paris and Melbourne. Talk to us about how these fabulous cities have influenced your perspective on fashion and lifestyle?

Living and working in Paris has made me very curious about so many things and has really broadened my knowledge, I have always been interested in different cultures but living there has opened my eyes and educated me in ways that I don't think I would have experienced had I not immersed myself in a completely different culture and working on a magazine that covered so many cultural events. Paris is home to some of the most world-famous museums, which of course always exhibit incredible works of art so you're constantly learning and discovering new and historical things, from events to trends.

I was also on a judging panel voting for the best hotels, and via that I did a lot of travelling and discovered some amazing destinations through award-winning hotels, with their grandiose designs reflecting their city's culture and history.

Living in Paris I also experienced fashion differently. Paris is a walking city so you tend to dress for the season and the weather more whereas Melbourne is very much a driving city, it gives you the luxury of wearing what you want for your mood knowing you will be comfortable and just uncomfortable for a few moments getting from your car to your destination without worrying too much about the elements, whereas in Paris you walk a lot so you do dress for comfort, and wamth in winter, there is that romance of dressing up in beautiful winter jumpers and creating a cosiness chic aesthetic.

Before moving or even visiting Paris the first time I had imagined I would be walking straight into a glamorous fashion show, however, in reality Parisians are very practical, and not as daring with colour except for the signature red lip. I find if a city is to define quiet luxury it really would be Paris. Even though some of the most famous labels and their logos are synonymous with France, Parisians are more subdued in flaunting logos.

Can you walk us through your creative process when curating content for Style News? How do you decide what makes the cut?

I really try to be on top of what people are doing, wearing and interested in and get inspired by the artists and designers who create amazing pieces and package it in a way that my readers can actually bring it into their lives. I love discovering unique things to see, do and wear, offering aspiration. I've always believed in staying positive and the power of dreaming so I love creating attractive content, creating an escape but also offering my readers practical trends that can actually work in a normal day and not just on a red carpet. I try to find a nice balance between glamour and practicality.

Fashion is a form of personal expression. How would you describe your own style and how has it evolved over your career?

I am a bit of that tiktok cliché "sometimes I dress like this... and it could be jeans and a tee, and sometimes I dress like this... and it's a maxi tulle skirt with a cashmere jumper and statement jewellery". I really do dress depending on my mood and I love it. I love how there are no rules to fashion really, you can do whatever you want and as long as you feel like you're pulling it off then you look good. Working in fashion has really taught me that confidence is key when it comes to pulling off a look, if you are comfortable in your choice then that is all that matters, breaking or adhering to "the fashion rules" really only comes down to you, we truly are the real rule-makers when it comes to personal style, you make the rules and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. It is interesting because growing up I thought, as many may think, that it is the designers who make the rules, but it's not, they design pieces to be worn and they don't dictate how it is to be worn, on the contrary they love seeing how they will be worn and how someone will put their own spin on the designs and styling pieces that they may have not thought of themselves. You need to have fun with fashion and through that a part of your personality also shines through, which is so important, fashion is a way of self-expression, it shouldn’t be used to hide but rather show off a little part of you, your personality and your creativity, whether it be minimal or over the top.

You have a keen eye for trends that extend beyond fashion into dining and travel. What is one trend you see emerging that excites you the most…and why?

It's actually quite interesting, in Paris they are all about street food, elevating oh so slightly comfort food, whereas here in Melbourne it is all about the refined palate. I love how I can dip in and out of the two worlds, but what I love the most is how that is a reflection of everything lifestyle. Everything is cyclical and unpredictable, with surprises along the way.

Having been a magazine editor, freelance writer and art director, how do you think the digital age has reshaped fashion and lifestyle media?

The digital age never satiates our hunger for more but somehow it gives us everything and more that we may need in regards to information and trends but it is very easy to get lost in all of it. Algorithms create feeds for us based on what they think we want to see but they’re not always right whereas with print media readers had more control in what they were seeing literally grabbing what they want to see and read, scrolling has changed that. Fashion trends are now at our fingertips and not dependent on where you live and the season you’re in, we see something and we want it now, we’re living through imagery more so than through the experience of shopping. Content creators have also changed the look of fashion, quite literally, changing the idea that certain shapes should wear certain silhouettes. See now-buy now is very much what people want, there is a lack of patience and dreaming of buying a certain thing in a season's time. Media now has a certain pressure to be producing content almost 24/7, the luxury of time is truly that, it is a luxury that isn't afforded as much now. The only thing we truly can't get in the moment and wait for it's "season" are certain destinations and their hotels, with some hotels only open for certain periods of the year, and of course Christmas, Easter, all holidays, which is nice to have those magical moments in the midst of it all.

Which fashion writers/bloggers/creators do you like to read/follow these days?

I follow quite a few people and I am definitely not closed off to one aesthetic. I follow other editors from around the world, fashion and beauty labels, photographers, stylists and tourist offices from around the world to see what they're focusing on in terms of promoting their cities, my feed is very varied.

What’s the last big fashion purchase you’ve made?

I love mixing high fashion and high street, I'm not a huge logo person. The last piece I bought was actually a budget-friendly faux fur vest coat from Decjuba and the boujee piece I last bought was a Givenchy brooch, that works well with a casual look elevating it just perfectly and of course with a more dressed up look.

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self at the start of your career, what would it be?

Say yes to all opportunities, every experience will be a learning curve, adding more experience to your work, and you never know what doors will open and who you will meet with every new thing you say yes to. Another piece of advice would be to not be so self-conscious, be confident and speak up more, the idea you have that you think is silly will be presented by someone else and they will be praised. There is no stupid idea, some things work and others don’t but you will never know until you speak up and try it.

Spotlight On: Style News By Sandra Iskander