Exploring our Relationship With Clothes with Liz Sunshine

I’ve known Liz Sunshine for many years now, having been photographed by her at times and, at others, engaging in interesting conversations about the work she’s doing in exploring the relationship we all have with our clothes, personal style, and fashion.

Her study of fashion has evolved so much over the last few years, and it’s been a pleasure to watch and read her perspectives. Her year-long shopping pause and the documentation of that process is something I find particularly fascinating, and I’d encourage you to subscribe to her Substack for more insights.

For now, sink into this lovely chat we had, get to know her better, and perhaps even take a small step today towards buying less and being more mindful of your purchases.

Let’s start from the beginning. Where did you grow up, what did you study (if at all) and what path - both professional and personal - brought you to where you are today? 

I grew up on a farm in country NSW surrounded by wide open spaces, my two sisters, and our parents. My childhood was a mix of hard work and adventure - riding horses, mustering cattle, sailing on lakes, and helping with chores like picking buckets of apricots from the garden. Clothes were mostly second-hand, and fashion was more of a fantasy than a reality for me. I'd spend hours playing dress-ups, digging through my mum's sewing cabinet for fabric, fighting with my sisters over boxes of hand-me-downs from our grandmother, and poring over junk mail catalogues, dreaming of far-off places.

It wasn't the pages of Vogue that first sparked my interest in fashion - it was more being creative with what we had, dreaming up something out of nothing, an expression of fantasy and escape.

At 16, my family moved to Canberra, where I finished high school and developed a passion for photography. That's when I started to connect with fashion in a new way, alongside all the other girls at school discovering Vogue, shopping, and working in retail. I don't recall visiting many art galleries as a child, but I started seeing the world through a different lens in those teenage years.

Things clicked for me when I moved to Melbourne at 21. The city was brimming with new energy, and the streets were alive with incredible style - nothing like I'd ever seen before. It was right around the time blogs were beginning to blow up, and street style photography was emerging as a form of art and self-expression. That's when I realised that fashion could be more than just clothes - it could tell a story, reflect culture, and express identity. And that's the journey I've been on ever since.

As a familiar face at fashion week shooting for publications like Vogue Australia you have captured some of the most stylish women. In your experience what is it that makes an outfit interesting and memorable? 

When capturing memorable moments at fashion week, it’s not so much the outfit itself that stands out but the person wearing it. The clothes often get all the attention, but until someone steps into that outfit, they’re just fabric and thread. What makes a look truly interesting and memorable is how it’s brought to life by the individual - their unique approach to dressing, their confidence, and the story they tell through their look. 

The intention behind my photography work is to focus on that personal interpretation of fashion, seeking moments where someone’s individuality shines through is what  makes an outfit unforgettable.

Can you explain what you have set out to explore with your year off shopping and not buying anything new? What led you to this decision, was there a catalyst, and what are the ‘rules’ you have given yourself? 

I started questioning fashion from a place of love and respect at the beginning of 2022. As someone who has been documenting fashion in Australia for 15 years, I have seen the power of clothes both personally and professionally. 

In July 2024, I was already on a consumption challenge, but I was searching for clothes more and more. A habit that had once been the norm and I had broken but was creeping back in. Within a few weeks of the initial thought, I had decided I was going to take a year off shopping, and started on August 1st 2024. 

Documenting my journey via a dedicated My Relationship With Clothes substack, I set out the rules, which included an approved shopping list. Otherwise, I vowed to stop shopping for everything else for 12 months. Though my focus for the last few years has been to repair my relationship with clothes, my intent behind not shopping for anything, was to ensure I didn’t trade one bad habit for another. 

The approved shopping list included three specific items: a rattan beret (which had already been in the works when the challenge began), a tuxedo (which might seem like an odd choice, but it felt important for my work as I attend and photograph a lot of black tie events), and a black jumper. So far, I’ve bought the beret and nothing else. I’ve reconsidered the tuxedo - it may not be necessary after all, as I already have key pieces in my wardrobe - and now, I’m on the hunt for the perfect black jumper as the colder months approach in Melbourne.

What have you discovered about your relationships with clothes through this process?

Through this process, I’ve learned so much about my relationship with clothes. While I unpack these thoughts and feelings in more detail on my Substack through weekly newsletters, if I had to summarise what I’ve discovered, it’s this: for quite a few years I think I have used shopping as a distraction and antidote for some other emotional need that is not being met. I have used fashion as a bandaid. 

And though this is of course a little sad, now that I know, I can work towards change and help other people do the same. 

Now over halfway through your shopping pause, what’s on the other side? How will you approach buying, building and evolving your personal style moving forward?

The exciting part of being over halfway through my shopping pause is realising that, just like a relationship with clothes, it’s constantly evolving. As I start to think about the end of my 12 months, I’ve been setting some intentions for how I want to shop moving forward. One of my key focuses will be supporting and participating in the local industry. I’m also eager to dive deeper into the history of clothes and become more involved in the circular clothing economy - whether it’s through volunteering at a local distribution center or shopping with more mindful choices.

While this shift is happening in one part of my life, I’m still documenting fashion for Vogue and creating fine art and exhibitions in another. It’s no longer just about my personal relationship with clothes. I see this as an opportunity to spark change, to influence a movement around soft activism, and to raise awareness about textile waste—not just in Australia, but globally.

In 2023 date changed you embarked on only buying 26 new pieces of clothing - around half of the average Australian consumer who buys 56. What was this initial experience like as one of your first steps to consuming less? 

In 2023, when I set out to buy only 26 new pieces of clothing, it was my first real attempt at making a long term sustainable change to my behaviour, and I actually started to see the shift. It felt like progress, so I took it even further in 2024, limiting myself to just 12 new pieces, but with the freedom to shop vintage (a new habit I was excited to cultivate). It was in July last year that I decided to take it a step further and challenge myself with a 365-day “nothing new” challenge starting on the 1st of August 2024.

What made the experience successful was the long-term nature of the goal. I wasn’t aiming for perfection; I was aiming for progress. The key was that I could still buy one new piece every couple of weeks, but the focus was on doing better than the year before. That mindset has stuck with me, and it’s helped me continue buying less and less as I move forward.

Have you reflected on how your work as a fashion photographer plays into the way we think about clothes, is the documentary of clothes, style and outfits making us more connected with the clothes we own or is it fueling consumption?

This is such a good question. I think it’s both. 

First, I'd like to quickly differentiate between street style and fashion documentary work to provide some clarity. To me, street style can be an aesthetic that is used by brands and at fashion weeks to sell clothes, but fashion documentary work is essentially documentary photography with a focus on fashion. I’ve moved away from the street style aesthetic in the past five years, choosing instead to focus on fashion documentary, portraiture, and fine art photography.

What really inspires me is how everyday people interpret fashion. In contrast to editorials, fashion documentary images have a heart and a soul that celebrates a breadth of individuality and a historical relevance. These images not only reflect the moment in fashion but also the broader context of our societal values, like the current craving for fast hits of dopamine and our reliance on social media for connection, just like images from the 80’s, when this time passes the images value will only become stronger. 

Does street style encourage us to shop more? Probably, yes. We often find ourselves scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram, looking to emulate others’ style. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Just like admiring a beautiful jacket without the need to own it, we could view fashion documentary work in the same light. It’s about appreciating individual style as aspirational, not something we must replicate. To shift this perspective, I’ve consciously posted less on social media to promote a slower, less disposable image culture. Since Copenhagen Fashion Week 2023, for any fashion week or event coverage, I’ve included a caption that reads, “I’m not posting these images to inspire you to dress like someone else. I’m posting them to give you the confidence to be yourself.”

I also created a series of AI fine art works. Following a thread of wanting to own clothes for a long time I started imagining how older women, myself included, might dress in the future. What I loved about these pieces is that, as the clothes don’t even exist, they were completely unshoppable—further pushing the idea that inspiration doesn’t always have to be tied to consumption.

How do you think we can improve our relationship with our clothes?

Improving our relationship with clothes starts with seeing fashion not just as an indulgence, but as a form of self-care. What we wear is just as important as how we eat, how often we exercise, and how we sleep. Clothes are an essential part of our daily lives - they connect us to others, impact how we see ourselves and our bodies, and help us navigate our days with confidence and ease.

But it’s not just about how clothes make us feel in the moment. The fabrics and fibers we choose have a direct impact on the health of our skin, and fashion itself has a huge social and environmental footprint. That impact is not just overseas - it’s right here in Australia, too, in our landfills, thrift stores, homes, and wardrobes.

By spending more time reflecting on what we buy, why we need it, and what role clothes play in our lives, we can improve our relationship with them. This practice not only fosters a deeper connection to our clothes but also supports a fashion industry I want to be part of - one that embraces personal values and soft activism as the path forward.

Advice for someone wanting to commit to buying less or taking a complete pause.  

If you’re looking to commit to buying less or even taking a complete pause from shopping, I’d suggest starting with small, practical steps. Mute brands on social media, unsubscribe from promotional emails, and unfollow or mute influencers who promote cheap, disposable fashion. These steps help remove the constant temptation and messaging that encourages unnecessary consumption. Then, start asking yourself some important questions: Why do I want this? Do I truly need it? How will this purchase align with my values?

But beyond that, the most important thing is to just start. When I first took time off from shopping, it was only for a month at the beginning of 2022. I bought clothes in advance to make sure I had everything I thought I needed. Technically, I didn’t shop during that month - but my behaviour didn’t change at all. It felt like a bit of a failure, but I learned a lot about myself. I realised I was buying the same things over and over and wearing new versions of old items, like another white shirt, just to get that fix of “newness”.

Fast forward three years, and now I’m comfortably taking 12 months off shopping. I’m not perfect, and I still face challenges, but as I become more aware of the emotional reasons behind my shopping habits, I’m working through them  and with time, I know they’ll change, too.

Lastly, be kind to yourself. Change takes time. Progress is far more important than perfection. Do your best to let go of any guilt, fear, or judgment. Wherever you are on your journey is the best place to start, and if you take two steps forward and one step back, that’s totally okay. Small changes by many are far more impactful than perfection by few.

What are the 5 wardrobe essentials you couldn’t live without? 

1. Black crepe cropped suit pants. 
2. Black Carels. 
3. Leather jacket. 
4. Oversized white shirt. 
5. A black high waisted mini.