CREATIVES COLLIDE
MEET ANNABEL FALCO
11 Sep 2015
Earlier this year we put out a call to find our next #mimcomuse – a unique individual who epitomises our creative, passionate and stylish MIMCO woman. The winner was
Brisbane-based stylist and publicist, Annabel Falco. We recently caught up with Annabel, ahead of her time as guest editor of the MIMZINE.
MIMCO: Congratulations, Annabel! We were so excited to announce you as the winner for our #mimcomuse competition. What was your reaction after you discovered you’d won?
Annabel: I was speechless – and that doesn’t happen very often! MIMCO has been a big part of my life: from working in-store when I was studying to now winning this competition and working with the Head Office team to guest edit MIMZINE; I love that this special brand is still a big part of me today!
MIMCO: The #mimcomuse competition was really about finding women who had amazing personal style, every day. What does style mean to you?
Annabel: Rachel Zoe got it right: “Style is a way to say who you are, without having to speak.”
I love taking the time each morning to put together an outfit and the items I select often help shape my day. Killer heels for a boost of confidence in meetings; statement earrings for boardroom to bar occasions; fedoras to fix ‘bad hair days’… Fashion is my armour and I love how I can change my mood by simply changing my accessories.
MIMCO: You run your own creative and styling agency which is incredible. How did you get to where you are today?
Annabel: Hard work; thinking outside the box; and by being nice. The third characteristic is vastly underrated in the fashion industry! My career in fashion started at MIMCO actually!
I worked as a Sales Assistant in the Queensplaza Store in Brisbane and eventually moved to London for a year. I came back to Australia and finished my Journalism degree whilst completing internships at various fashion institutions. I was eventually hired by Brisbane Style Magazine as a fashion journalist and stylist and then moved to Westfield as a stylist, before opening my own company, A&A Collective.
MIMCO: You’re a creative and stylish woman, which is why we were so drawn to you and your Instagram feed. Who are some of the women that have inspired or continue to inspire you?
Annabel: My grandmothers are probably two of the most inspiring women I know – their incredible work ethic, confidence and impeccable style have taught me that hard work and perfectly polished nails can take you almost anywhere.
Also, I was once told there are two types of women in the fashion industry: “show ponies and work horses”. I admire the “work horses”.
MIMCO: Like so many other MIMCO women, you must always be on-the-go – how do accessories fit into your daily style?
Annabel: Accessories are the personality to add to any outfit. They are your ‘calling card’ and become a part of your identity. I can’t leave home without my gold watch, engagement rings and a statement earring. My jeans and crisp white shirts just aren’t the same without them.
MIMCO: Do you have any key pieces you come back to season on season?
Annabel: I am a firm believer in investing in simple, classic pieces (LBD, blazer, jeans and a white tee.) however, when it comes to accessories, the bigger and bolder the better.
Each season I’ll purchase a statement heel (usually leopard print); an on-trend necklace
(I’m loving this season’s high-profile choker); and a printed clutch for added interest.
MIMCO: Part of your prize was to guest edit MIMZINE with the MIMCO team. Can you give our readers an insight into what they can expect from your articles?
Annabel: I will be compiling trend-based editorials with a ‘how to’ twist to ensure MIMCO readers get the most out of their accessories. I will also open up my office space and reveal what life as a stylist and fashion publicist is really like, and how we work the desk-to-dinner dress code!
Follow Annabel on Instagram and stay tuned for more style tips from her on MIMZINE.