Bambi: Layer by layer
Bambi sits across from me in a music studio hidden underneath the Esplanade des Invalides. There are fenders hanging from the walls and the tinkering of a piano is floating through our conversation, creating an effortless blend of cozy and chic—much like Bambi’s fashion sense and the surrounding 7th arrondissement of Paris.
If you listen closely you can hear the metro line eight every few minutes, rumbling under the city next to our heads. Bambi is dressed in a layered, flowy skirt that catches the autumn breeze outside, paired with a structured mock neck sweater that hints at masculine tailoring. Her accessories — a woolen tartan scarf, assorted jewelry and her signature fingerless gloves — add a touch of maximalism to her look. As she adjusts her gloves, which seem more for style than warmth, it’s clear that each of the pieces she wears have their own story to tell.
Born to Lebanese and Australian parents, Bambi’s style is as diverse as her background. She grew up between Melbourne and Beirut, her fashion choices often reflecting the cities she keeps close to her heart.
“My style depends so much on where I am. Melbourne is laid-back and artistic, but Beirut has this edge, this energy. Both places shaped me.”
Now based in Paris, Bambi is a student, hip-hop dance teacher, filmmaker, and photographer.
“Dressing creatively helps you meet other creative people,” Bambi explains. “It’s like you absorb the creativity around you, and it comes out in what you wear.”
Bambi’s style is an eclectic mix of contradictions. She gravitates toward bold layers, contrasting textures, and vivid colors, while still maintaining a sense of practicality and comfort. Her look is always striking but never forced - like a well-curated art gallery, each piece thoughtfully placed to evoke a feeling.
“I’d describe my style as happiness,” Bambi says with a smile, a mixture of joy and introspection behind her dark brown eyes. “Black, for me, was always a way to hide, or something I had to wear at work. But now, I always use fashion to express how I’m feeling. Each outfit is like a mood board.”
"Have you gone through a lot of evolution in your style?"
She nods, brushing a strand of her dark brown hair behind her left ear.
“Definitely. I used to dress to blend in, or just follow a trend,” Bambi says. “Now, I’m celebrating myself through what I wear. It’s not about catching attention for the sake of it, but more about expressing who I am.”
There’s a reflective pause before she adds:
“Diana Vreeland always said that too much good taste can be boring, and independent style on the other hand can be very inspiring. This is what I try to do with my clothes- tell stories. Your personality is not the first thing people notice, and especially living in Paris, with such a fast paced way of life, I think reflecting my character in the way I dress makes an instant first impression- You give people hints, and whether they found your style odd or not suitable- odd is at least intriguing. It makes people remember you”
“Fashion and style are very separate for me. Fashion is great, but I always feel like it is about what is trendy. Style is personal. It’s about how you feel in your clothes, who you are, and your emotions.”
Bambi’s current look, a soft, tiered skirt paired with a boxy floral sweater, is a visual representation of that philosophy. Bambi centers her clothes on her emotions, using skirts and amorphous silhouettes to soften the lines of her often bold, statement outfits. This approach helps her keep in touch with her feelings at the beginning of the day, and shifts her mindset as it progresses.
“For me, true style has never been about having branded or expensive clothes, but rather about having my own personal collection that won’t be found in any other closet but mine. My first love was art, so curating each piece is my own form of expression. In this way, my wardrobe is a reflection of my inner world.”
Why all the accessories?
Glancing down at her assorted accessories, Bambi laughs. “It used to be about practicality. Historically, gloves, hats, even an umbrella, always served a purpose. I guess that has been lost now, but I still use accessories as a way to add layers to my outfits. They make everything feel more personal, more me.”
Her method of shopping reflects this profoundly intimate approach to fashion.
“It’s all about the fabric,” Bambi explains. “How it feels, how it falls. I’m drawn to colors and shapes, but the texture of the fabric is what really decides it for me.”
Bambi is also a big advocate for secondhand shopping.
“Fast fashion isn’t for me. I like pieces that have a history, something unique. It’s like each item I wear has its own energy, its own story. I love thinking about the person who wore it before, and now it’s my turn.”
Bambi sticks to a “rule of seven” when getting dressed: “Every piece I put on adds a layer, which has a number. My goal is to get to seven - it could be layers, textures, accessories. Once I hit that number, I know my outfit’s done. So a sweater would be one point, but if it has a busy pattern it can be a two.”
Although she has tried other styles, it is clear that the trendy minimalism of Scandinavian fashion isn’t for Bambi. “Scandi style is beautiful, but it’s not the vibe I’m going for. I need layers, textures, and color - I want to look like happiness. I want to show us, women, that we can look fabulous, extraordinary, and splendid, anytime, anywhere. I am a firm believer that a person can never be overdressed, whether they are in a grocery store or a university. Women are all walking pieces of art; it's a way of life. ”
When I ask if she thinks her style will always evolve, Bambi becomes reflective.
“It depends on my state of mind. The way I dress reflects how I feel, and I don’t always feel the same. I don’t think I’ve found my definitive style yet. It’s something fluid, not static… to be honest, I think…”
She pauses, rifling through French, English, Italian and Lebanese Arabic in her head in order to find her wording.
“It’s like drawing. I think - I think it's art.”
