Our Portrait series was created to capture the stories of the incredible women who inspire us. In this latest instalment, we sit down with VOGUE Australia’s Executive Editor, Jessica Montague to talk all things inspiration, quintessentially Australian style, storytelling and our mutual love of pieces with a narrative.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF?
"I am a full-time working mum of two young kids living in inner city Sydney. My husband and I both have very busy jobs involving quite a bit of travel, so our lifestyle is very fast-paced and requires a lot of coordination. But we love the energy, colour and variety of what each week brings.
We live in the most amazing pocket of Alexandria/Erskineville where, demographically speaking, it’s now predominantly working parents with kids, so there’s an amazing community that’s grown in recent years. I couldn’t juggle everything without this supportive network that (along with both sets of grandparents) help to scaffold the inner workings of our family."
WHAT DREW YOU TO WORKING IN PUBLISHING?
"This year marks 20 years since I got my first job in media. As for what drew me to this industry? Probably the magic of it all. That moment of sitting down, opening a magazine and being transported by the fantasy of fashion and storytelling. I just wanted to be part of that world. At school, I loved English and writing so thought I’d combine this sense of wonder with a journalism career. While the platforms of traditional magazine publishing have evolved with digital and social, my love of bringing a good story to life, beautiful writing and snaring an exclusive has never wavered. Those around me will tell you, I’m a very competitive person."
DO YOU HAVE A STORY YOU HAVE WORKED ON THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER THAT STAYS WITH YOU?
"A few years ago I interviewed Charlotte Bellis who was working for Al Jazeera and based in Afghanistan. She was the amazing journalist who fearlessly asked the Taliban about the rights of women and girls after they reclaimed power in what was their first press conference in 20 years. When the chaos of the evacuations took place in Kabul, she reported from the frontline and literally ran towards danger to report what was happening.In the aftermath, we asked Charlotte’s partner Jim (who was a freelance reporter for The New York Times) to shoot her for Vogue Australia on the ground.
Honestly, it’s these sorts of stories that stay with you rather than celebrities, who are usually very polite and hard-working, but dare I say it, a bit bland. I’ve always much preferred the pieces where I meet strong women who stand for something. It’s never lost on me that the power of working at Vogue is our ability to platform these sorts of women."
Read the story here.
THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER YOU HAVE WORKED FOR MAGAZINES THAT SHARE QUINTESSENTIALLY AUSTRALIAN STORIES AND STYLE. WHAT WOULD YOU DEFINE THE AUSTRALIAN AESTHETIC AS?
"Australians are hardworking, authentic, optimistic, collaborative and artistically speaking, we punch above our weight on the global stage. I also love our ability to laugh at ourselves and not take life too seriously, which is why I think there’s a sense of ease and effortlessness to our design sensibility. Our aesthetic is not forced, it’s pared back and understated, yet still inherently stylish."
WHAT INSPIRES YOU ON A DAILY BASIS?
"My kids, Freddie and Ophelia. They inspire me to be adventurous and approach things with a sense of curiosity. I’m a huge advocate of learning something new each day. They also inspire me to be silly and have fun. Whatever way you slice it, parenthood is really hard so having a laugh - especially at yourself and the absurdities of life - is important. Also long-form storytelling. When I have time I fill my cup by reading Tina Brown on Substack or Graydon Carter’s Air Mail, or listening to a Bella Freud or Louis Theroux podcast."
YOUR HOME EXUDES A SENSE OF WARMTH. WHAT ARE SOME WAYS YOU HAVE MADE THE SPACE YOUR OWN FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY?
"My husband David and I share a love of history. Our home was built in 1900 and is a few doors down from a pub that was the headquarters of our local razor gang in the 1920s - we love that! We’d much prefer a home with a colourful history than a blank, soulless space. Even though it’s been renovated, we’ve tried to keep our terrace classic but lived in, acquiring pieces that connect with us or have special meaning. Furniture like our green marble dining table, which we instantly fell in love with, or our various artworks by French street artist JR, photography by Hugh Stewart or a small painting Louise Olsen once gave me as a Christmas gift.
I love shopping for unique pieces when we travel too. Our vintage travel trunk was uncovered locally at Turnbull Brothers in Milton, while the Pommery art nouveau poster in our hallway was purchased from their cellar door in Champagne. I even keep all of our mail and life admin paperwork in a vintage Champagne bucket I found somewhere. I mean, why not?
I’d happily fill our home with an assorted array of fresh flowers each week. In lieu of any fresh fragrance, I love burning candles and have a selection from Cire Trudon, Diptyque and Christian Dior on high rotation."
YOU’VE SPOKEN ABOUT YOUR LOVE OF HISTORY AND VINTAGE PIECES. WHAT ELEMENTS OF YOUR HOME WERE YOU MOST DRAWN TO AND WHY?
"The archways, the mouldings, original fireplaces and tiling out the front of the house. I wish these walls could talk. Once we were replacing a doorknob on my son’s bedroom door and we found a piece of newspaper from 1960 stuffed in there. I’ve even learned to love the creaky and uneven floorboards underneath our carpet upstairs. For me, a home needs character."
CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH YOUR PERSONAL STYLE? WHAT DESIGN ELEMENTS ARE YOU DRAWN TO?
"At this stage in my life I tend to opt for uniform dressing in a palette of black, cream and grey to keep things streamlined. I find pieces that I love, like oversized blazers, white tees, good denim and cashmere, then repeat buy. I’m a stickler for fabric and a very tactile person - it’s important for clothes to be soft on my skin and for the cuts to be comfortable.
I am really in tune with my gut instinct, so I know almost instantly if a look is for me or not. I can power shop in mere minutes. I experimented with fashion a lot in my late 20s and early 30s, but now much prefer to stick with what I know and invest in quality pieces that are going to transcend seasons and last for years."
DO YOU LOOK TO CAPTURE A PARTICULAR MOOD WHEN YOU DRESS FOR YOUR DAY?
"For me it’s always about looking classic and polished. And dressing in an ensemble that can take me effortlessly from school drop off, to a client meeting, to a full workday to possibly even an event at night. Because I have to wear a lot of hats, I like clothes that make me feel empowered and confident - especially for those days when you’re feeling the opposite. If I’m in need of a real boost, I add a red lip. And a good heel. Always."
WHAT ARE YOU DRAWN TO ABOUT BIANCA SPENDER DESIGNS?
"Bianca’s pieces are the building blocks of my wardrobe and I love that I can mix and match across seasons and collections and have a look that’s still timeless. Her pieces are wearable, but also made using the most beautiful fabrics and manufactured locally, which is also really important to me.
For someone like me who is insanely time poor, I love that I don’t have to think. All of her looks are elevated yet effortless and exude a sophisticated polish. As much as I love a Bianca Spender blazer, I am also really drawn to the softness of her designs and draping. I spend so much trying to be strong for everyone else - in control, on top of everything, juggling dozens of balls at once - that it’s nice to have a sense of softness and femininity to offset the hardness I’m projecting to the world."