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Credit: (L) Instagram @victorialee (R) Supplied
I’m quite handy. My brother is in construction and I’d like to think I’ve learned a few things from him. I’m great at DIY. I basically put up everything in my New York apartment myself, like my blinds. I have a tool belt and electric drill.
Laid-back and effortless but chic and put together. I’m good to go with jeans with a cute tee and fitted blazer.
A slide with a slight heel that’s comfortable enough that you can walk all day in them.
Bags – those are my favourite investment pieces. My favourite bag brand is Celine. I just bought a beautiful one from David Jones. [Ed’s note: Lee later admits this bag was the first thing she bought with her DJs wardrobe allowance, followed by a pair of Saint Laurent shoes.]
Credit: Steven Chee
I’m from six hours west of Sydney in the Riverina near Wagga Wagga called Narrandera. That’s home but my ‘home away from home’ – because mum would hate it if I called it home – is New York.
The city is the eclectic culture and the energy. It’s literally a melting pot. I’ve never been anywhere that has the diversity that New York has. But the reason I embrace that so much is that I know I have Australia to come home, so I can take New York for the experience of it, then know I’m coming home to basically the best place in the world.
Travelling to see the Christmas windows. My family would drive six hours to see them – and now I’m in them! When my mum and dad arrived in Sydney [for the Autumn/Winter 2018 fashion show], mum came with me to the store and I was like “look, look, look” at the campaign in the window. [Ed’s note: Lee stars in this campaign.]
I’ve worked in the industry for nearly nine years – I started when I was 19 – and it’s funny because now is when I feel the most comfortable and confident in my own skin.
I think that’s the people. I’m so fortunate to work with the most talented and creative people all over the world. The teams and the creative vision and the skills that I’ve seen behind the scenes of.
Credit: Steven Chee
See Victoria Lee in GRAZIA’s 2016 FASHION STORY Angels & DemonS
The hardest thing would be the time away from family. I struggled with that a lot at the beginning of my career – being away from home – and you’re by yourself a lot of the time. I’m very lucky to have this amazing job but a lot of the time you’re alone and it’s because of that support network at the end of the phone – my mum, my dad, my nan, my agency, my agent Doll – I can get through the bad days. That encouragement [makes all the difference].
I was recommended to an agency when I was 16 but … I didn’t see it as a career at all. So instead I studied hard, did really well at school, and got into university to study nutrition and dietetics. But then the modelling came up again and knew it was a short-lived career opportunity and I should probably take it, so I did. It kind of developed from there. I also didn’t put pressure on myself – I thought I’ll just see how this goes. But nutrition and health is still something that really interests me and it will always be there.
I’m such a fan of an expertly tailored jacket. It’s so versatile. In the David Jones AW18 campaign, I wore a Sandro suit – I love how that instantly makes your outfit elegant no matter what it is. If you’ve got a floral dress, you can throw a fitted blazer over that and you’re set from day to night.
Credit: Supplied
In terms of career, I’ve had multiple mentors but they just didn’t know they were. I looked up to people like Megan Gale and Jess [Jessica Gomes] who’ve had incredible careers then turned that into amazing business opportunities. That’s what inspiring and amazing – taking this platform then developing it into something else so your career has longevity.
? I know it’s kind of clichéd, but it would probably be: just stay true to yourself and do the best that you can. At the end of the day, if you couldn’t have done any more, that’s all that matters.
READ GRAZIA’S INTERVIEW WITH LEE BACKSTAGE AT THE DAVID JONES AW18 SHOW HERE.