Photos: Xiaohan Shen | Words: Nadia Bailey

Working at an advertising agency in New York might bring images of Don Draper and Peggy Olson to mind, but for Australian-born Samira Ansari it’s a day-to-day reality. The creative director swapped Melbourne for Manhattan (by way of Paris) to work for renown agency TBWA\Chiat\Day NY – but what is it really like to work as one of the modern day Mad (Wo)Men?

“Meetings, meetings and more meetings,” says Ansari of what her typical day is like. “Some of which are actually about really interesting ideas.” She’s quick to add that her work brings her into contact with a host of inspiring people, and that the most exciting thing is that “we have the opportunity to actually change or influence people’s behaviour.” Such is the power of great advertising.

Ansari’s interest in the advertising industry began when she attended an open day at Melbourne’s RMIT. “At that stage, I was convinced that I should become an engineer,” she says. “I walked into the engineering department and saw a first year student project – it was a robotic arm that was stacking and unstacking four wooden cubes. People were beside themselves with joy and excitement.”

But for Ansari, the project inspired a very different reaction. “I broke into a sweat and got chest pains when I realised this wasn’t something I wanted to do,” she says. “Short of breath, I walked out and somehow wandered into the design and visual communication building. I could breath again.”

Having found her calling, Ansari completed her studies and landed a role as a junior art director at Cummins & Partners. She cheerfully admits: “I pretended I knew what I was doing until I worked out what I was doing. But I would honestly say that my gig at Cummins was my big break into the industry. Where you start, whom you work with and what you learn at the beginning of your career does heavily influence your future.”

After a few years working in Melbourne, she was headhunted by an agency in Paris. For Ansari, it was an easy choice. “I was lucky; I was sitting at my desk at Y&R in Melbourne and received a phone call asking my partner and I if we would consider working in Paris. How do you say no to Paris?”

“Always bite off more than you can chew. Then chew really hard.”

Paris eventually gave way to New York, a place that Ansari felt a strong connection to. “I always wanted to work in New York. Always,” she says. “And by that stage I had the travel bug. A great opportunity arose to work with a close friend in New York. She flew in from London and I from Paris. We celebrated with a bit too much to drink and ended up with matching tattoos on our necks. So we became ‘the team with the matching tattoos’.”

Although Ansari loves New York, enthusing that it lives up to its reputation of the city that never sleeps, she does miss Australia. “I miss my family and friends. S P A C E. My old cat Boris. And the Swedish fans at the Australian Open. I would like to think that some day I’ll end up back home in Australia.”

For those interested in pursuing a career in the advertising world, Ansari offers the following advice: “Find what you love. Then fake it until you become it. And by that I mean stay open to learning and don’t be afraid to try new things and fail at them.” She pauses. “And always bite off more than you can chew. Then chew really hard.”

Photos: Xiaohan Shen | Words: Nadia Bailey

There’s a memento stuck on Georgia Ashdown’s fridge – a postcard depicting Friedrich Nietzsche, accompanied by the words Il faut danser la vie.

Life must be a dance.

Although the German philosopher is not generally known for his sunny outlook on life, the epithet suits Ashdown perfectly. When I meet the 35-year-old stylist in her Marrickville home, she greets me with homemade muffins and introduces her Staffy, Roo. The house is airy and filled with trinkets sourced from her overseas travels, and the living room boasts a custom-made bookshelf, holding titles like Mario Testino Portraits, The Pirelli Calendar Album and 1988: The New Wave Punk Rock Explosion. On the coffee table lies a selection of magazines – Acne Paper, Self Service, Vogue Italia – all of which Ashdown has contributed work to. But in spite of her impressive resume, there is no trace of ego or entitlement. Ashdown is refreshingly down to earth.

Her styling career began with an Advanced Diploma of Fashion in Brisbane, which helped her secure an internship with stylist Megan Morton at (the now defunct) Elle Australia. The internship lead to a editorial coordinator role, which then landed her a fashion assistant role under stylist Valeryi Yong. After two years at Elle, Ashdown made the move to London, a decision she chalks up to being “young and ambitious.”

“I was a bit naïve. I did one week at Glamour as an intern, but I realised I couldn’t really work for free for six months.”

“I was a bit naïve,” she admits. “When I got to London, I started looking at magazines I could work for, without realising how tough it was [to break into the industry]. I did one week at Glamour as an intern, but I realised I couldn’t really work for free for six months, so I applied for a promotions coordinator role on British Vogue. Somehow I got the job.”

Working in the Vogue advertising wing proved to be a valuable experience. “I was nurtured really well in that department,” says Ashdown. “But of course, I always wanted to go into fashion.” After a year and a half in London, Ashdown did stints in Canada and the US, landing an internship with legendary stylist Brana Wolf. With international experience under her belt, she returned to Australia where roles at Sunday Magazine and Pages Digital kept her busy for four years.

“Then I went back to London, thinking this time, I’ll do this properly – I want to assist someone really good,” explains Ashdown. “So I assisted Marie Chaix for a year, who’s a really talented stylist – but very difficult to work with. We worked across Self Service, Italian Vogue, German Vogue, Acne Paper, as well as advertising for Chanel, Swarovski crystals, and Aveda. We also did Dazed and Confused, ID, all those young, English titles.”

After coming back to Australia, Ashdown expanded her skill set with a role at MTV, styling celebrities like Ruby Rose and Natalie Bassingthwaighte. “I came back because I needed a break. It was really full on in London,” says Ashdown. “I wanted to learn more about digital and the moving image, so I got a job at MTV, and was there for two years. But now I’m ready to go back to magazines, so I’ve
done a bit of InStyle this year, and some work for Sunday Magazine too.” There’s also a food blog in the works, which Ashdown will collaborate on with her chef boyfriend and a graphic designer.

Outside her work as a stylist, Ashdown has an active role in charity work, which she approaches with the same down-to-earth enthusiasm as her career. “I did charity work in London, working with Women for Women International,” she explains. “When I got back to Australia, I wanted to find something that was more tangible, that I could actually see the people that I was helping, rather than just sending money over to another country.”

“I go in to The Girls and Boys Brigade once a fortnight, to do homework with the kids. I read to them, check their work and hang out.”

Through a friend, Ashdown was introduced to The Girls and Boys Brigade. The Surry Hills-based charity aims to provide education, community and a support network for children, youth and their families who experience significant socio-economic challenges and other difficult circumstances. “I go in to The Girls and Boys Brigade once a fortnight, to do homework with the kids. I read to them, check their work and hang out,” says Ashdown.

In addition to this regular commitment, Ashdown also helps to organise special projects and events with likeminded creatives to benefit the charity – there’s a book project in the works, and an annual fete called Wonder100, which launched in October this year. “It was a great way for the creative community to engage with each other on a positive level,” says Ashdown of the inaugural event. “It really brought everyone together to have a good time for a good cause.”

Of her charity work, Ashdown is pragmatic. “I’ve always felt that Australia needs help in certain areas, especially with our Indigenous community. It’s strange to me that we have so many problems here and yet people continue to send money abroad. I think it’s important for any socially minded Australian to help in some way.”

Photos: Xiaohan Shen | Words: Nadia Bailey

It is hard to be in the same room as Diane Von Furstenberg without falling madly in love with her. She’s poised and elegant and when she speaks, it’s like warm honey over brambles. When she speaks to you, it’s like you’re the most important person in the room. We stole two minutes with her ahead of her Palazzo show at Sydney’s Westfield to find out: how does one of the world’s most stylish women celebrate the party season?

“I’ve thrown a lot of dinner parties in my life,” says DVF. “I like to throw parties but I like them to be informal. I think that the most wonderful way to have a party is to meet people you don’t know.”

Von Furstenberg explains that the trick to a successful dinner party is to construct a varied guest-list – old friends, new acquaintances and the occasional wildcard. “Always mix people,” she says – we imagine her own dinner parties might see Anna Wintour seated next to Salman Rushdie, Susan Sarandon next to Marc Jacobs.

“I love personal gifts, something you spend time on – a letter, a drawing, a book that you know is meaningful.”

“The most important thing,” continues Von Furstenberg, “is for you, the hostess, to behave as a guest.” To sum up: mingle, make conversation, enjoy the food, drink in moderation and try not to get overly stressed (a stressed hostess means stressed guests, and nobody wants that).

On the subject of gift giving, DVF opts for the personal touch. “The most important gifts are the ones that you work on,” she says. “I love personal gifts, something you spend time on – a letter, a drawing, a book that you know is meaningful.”

And the little tokens she keeps on hand for when unexpected guests drop in? “I like to give books, phone covers, or scarfs,” she says. All of which are available at dvf.com, naturally.