From navigating the nuances of Australian slang to building a creative career from the ground up, Léa’s journey, pronounced Leah, is a French-born Fashion Stylist and Creative Consultant currently based in Australia.

With a deep appreciation for the creative process, Léa works across a diverse range of projects, from commissioned styling and fashion shoots to the curation of designer lookbooks. Her work has naturally led her to collaborate with models, photographers, designers, and corporate professionals, bringing together a refined creative perspective with a strong understanding of brand and communication.

Drawing on her background in marketing, digital advertising, and content creation, Léa approaches every project with both creative intuition and strategic insight, creating considered and captivating outcomes that resonate with clients and audiences alike.

Her practice is fuelled by a constant curiosity and an instinct to keep evolving her visual perspective. She travels internationally each year, immersing herself in new cultures, environments, and creative landscapes to continually educate her eye, discover fresh references, and allow new ideas to emerge.

For Léa, inspiration is an ongoing practice—one shaped by movement, observation, collaboration, and an enduring passion for the art of visual storytelling.

Flaunter sat down with freelance stylist Léa to talk about cultural surprises (including a memorable “tea” misunderstanding), her unconventional path into the industry, and the creative philosophy that underpins her work today.

THE STORY UNFOLDS

Bonjour Léa! Thanks so much for joining us today. Before we dive into your career, we have to start here — as a French person living in Australia, moving countries can come with a few surprises. What’s something Australians do that perhaps completely confused you when you first arrived? 

So many things, but one memory still makes me laugh so much. I was completely confused by how Australians shorten absolutely every word! 

Early on, when I had just arrived, my now mother-in-law invited me over for “tea” at 7pm. In my mind, that meant a cup of tea… so I had already eaten dinner (I’m a very early bird!). When I arrived, I realised “tea” meant dinner. To avoid being rude, I quietly ate a second full meal! It was my first real lesson in Australian culture. 

BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING

Your work as a freelance fashion stylist — can you tell us a bit about how you got started? Was this always the career you imagined for yourself? 

I started styling in 2015 while studying Journalism and Communications at Sorbonne Nouvelle University. I remember assisting on my very first shoot Rue Crémieux (a narrow, very colourful Parisian street) freezing cold, completely out of my depth, but having the best time! 

I always knew I wanted to work in fashion, but I didn’t know in what capacity. I didn’t come from that world, and I had no connections. It all started from a random Facebook group post. I am so grateful for social media. 

I styled in Paris for a couple of years before stepping away to focus on marketing and media buying for an international startup Pictarine. That experience taught me so much, and it’s been incredibly valuable returning to styling in Australia and rebuilding from the ground up. 

Now, I feel like I’m living a more intentional version of the life I had in mind. Balancing ambition with a quieter, grounded personal life. Fashion can be fast-paced and demanding, so having that contrast allows me to give everything creatively, then step back and recharge. 

A WEEK IN YOUR LIFE

What does a typical week look like for you as a freelance stylist?  

I split my time between Sydney and regional NSW, so when I’m in Sydney working on a project, my days are busy. 

It usually involves attending PR showings, preparing pitch decks, researching concepts and fabrics, and building out mood boards. I’m constantly connecting with creatives over coffee or through social media and I love seeing what others are working on. I spend to much time on Instagram! 

There’s also a lot of logistics: sending loan requests, coordinating with PRs (Flaunter makes this especially seamless), organising pickups and returns, and making sure my styling kit is always ready. 

Most of the work happens before the shoot day. But I love that process just as much as being on set. What I enjoy most is the collaborative nature of styling, working closely with brands and teams to bring art to life. 

THAT CERTAIN FASHION MOMENT

People often talk about fashion revivals — the ’20s, the ’90s, and everything in between. Looking back over the last century, is there a fashion era you wish you could have been part of? 

I’m very drawn to the late ’90s into the early 2000s. When minimalism felt effortless yet intentional. There was a quiet confidence in the way women dressed: clean lines, beautiful tailoring, and an ease that didn’t try too hard.  

It’s something I naturally gravitate towards in my own work and personal style. 

Are there any styling principles or rules you always keep in mind when putting together a look?

Proportion is everything. Then tailoring, texture, and thoughtful details. 

I’m naturally drawn to minimal and often monochrome palettes, but a look always needs a point of interest, just a subtle “pop” that makes it feel considered rather than simple. 

EDITORIAL VERSES COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

You’ve styled across both editorial and commercial projects — how does your creative approach change between the two?

Editorial is where I express my own perspective, it’s instinctive and driven by a personal vision. 

Commercial work is different. It requires a level of intuition that sometimes feels like mind-reading. It’s about understanding what a client wants often before they can fully articulate it and translating this into something tangible. 

That said, I approach both with the same level of care and consideration. Editorial allows me to build my own team and shape the creative direction, while commercial projects often introduce new collaborators, which I really value as well. 

A LITTLE BUSINESS ADVICE

For anyone who dreams of becoming a stylist one day, what’s one piece of advice you’d give them?

Keep pushing on doors. Don’t be afraid of hearing ‘no’. 

I once heard someone say, “it’s not a no, it’s a not yet,” and that really stayed with me, I even have a “not yet” folder in my inbox. 

Dream big, stay grounded, be respectful, and stand firm in your vision. Most importantly, start. Nobody really knows what they’re doing in the beginning. You learn by doing, and by showing up consistently. 

And finally, if you could style anyone in the world — a celebrity, artist, or public figure — who would it be?

I would love to work with Charlotte Gainsbourg. She embodies everything I’m drawn to! Effortless, understated, and deeply authentic. There’s a quiet strength in her style that doesn’t rely on trends, and I find that incredibly inspiring. I think there would be a very natural alignment creatively. 

Discover more about Léa Phillips and the creative work of a stylist.

To learn more about the all-in-one PR software for Fashion, Beauty, Home and Lifestyle brands, visit Flaunter to learn more.

Editorial Note: This story first appeared in The Flaunter Blog. Styling Images courtesy of Léa Phillips.

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