“Minimal effort with maximum impact.” That’s how designer and drummer Kaylene Milner describes her ideal work uniform. The founder of striking printed knitwear label, Wah-Wah, combines brightly coloured, playfully patterned and hyper-tactile garments to create outfits that she can wear just about anywhere – from her studio to a shoot to a show that she’s playing at with her post-punk band Loose Fit.
When dressing herself she opts for comfy pieces that allow her to move through her day with ease (and chase after her toddler and dog between tasks). You’ll often find her clashing colours, patterns and textures (think neon orange pants that look like they’ve been spraypainted, paired with a vintage snakeskin coat) or elevating an all-black ’fit with pops of colour (think blazing orange Adidas gazelle sneakers with cobalt blue socks).
It’s clear that Milner doesn’t follow trends, which can be traced back to her youth spent playing in punk bands across Sydney. She’s been obsessed with the punk movement – and the DIY ethic that underpins it – since she was a teenager. Today, she continues that passion by drumming and designing colourful, often made-to-order merino wool jumpers and pants that stand out in the crowd.
While she’s the one-woman show that runs the brand, she’s collaborated with plenty of other artists, including illustrator Filthy Ratbag, ceramicist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, The Mighty Boosh’s Noel Fielding, Mambo designer Reg Mombassa, Melbourne punk band Amyl and the Sniffers and Yankunytjatjara artist Kaylene Whiskey.
What’s your definition of a good work wardrobe?
Minimal effort with maximum impact.
How do you describe your personal style? Does it overlap with your professional style?
It’s never occurred to me to make a distinction. They’re definitely one and the same! Lots of colour, print, texture in comfortable silhouettes and breathable fibres.
Do you have a go-to item in your wardrobe that you associate with a good or productive day at work?
Not as such, but comfy shoes equal maximum productivity for me. Work days also involve running around after my toddler and walking my dog, so there’s no time to be slowed down by impractical footwear.
What’s your approach to transitional dressing – like going from a meeting or working in your studio to an after-work event or dinner party?
I might ditch the above-mentioned practical footwear for something with a bit more pizazz. It still has to be comfy though!
What are some of your current favourite fashion labels?
I love Brooklyn-based brand Myfawnwy. The creative director, Maisie, hand-marbles all the fabrics and each piece is a work of art! Post Hunk by stylist Kirsty Barros is an amazing slow fashion label that upcycles old tablecloths and other textiles in a really cool contemporary way. House of Darwin for great graphic print T-shirts (and profits go back into social initiatives in remote Indigenous communities).
What’s your most beloved item of clothing?
Can I choose a few? All of my Wah-Wah collaborations. Each one is so special to me and each style has its own story behind it. Other than my extensive Wah-Wah collection, I’d have to say a shibori-dyed Yohji Yamamoto trench that I got on Ebay about 15 years ago that I’ve literally worn through (but it still looks cool regardless) and a hand-knit vintage Jean Paul Gaultier cardigan that I found in a second-hand store in Osaka.
How did you get into making graphic knitwear?
During my final year of fashion school I started to explore the possibilities of hand-knitting. It was an exciting and liberating way to design, as you’re not limited to working with pre-existing fabrics. The composition of fibres and texture are an integral part of the design process, which somewhat differs from cut-and-sewn garments. After graduating, I purchased an old domestic knitting machine so I could produce made-to-order knit dresses, and I guess that was my gateway into knitwear production.
The idea of combining graphic imagery associated with punk album art and posters was largely inspired by a picture of [American musician] J Mascis wearing a Deep Wound knit sweater that I saw in a book called Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad. I read that book in high school and the quaint absurdity of “punk knitwear” clearly stuck with me, as I’m still obsessed with it 20 years later!
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
I’ve always loved the visuals associated with music, whether it be through album artwork, poster design, costumes, or just the clothing of a particular era or subculture. I started out adapting artwork from Aussie punk bands that I knew from [playing] gigs in my late teens and early twenties. I love these early styles, but punk fans expected punk prices and wool garments aren’t cheap! I branched out into collaborations with visual artists with the same intent – to adapt and explore the art that I love in the medium of knitwear.
How do you like to wear your hair? Where do you get it cut or styled?
Until a couple of years ago, I always cut my hair myself. I used to hate going to the hairdresser because I never felt I looked like myself when I walked out. I like looking a bit intentionally scruffy and dishevelled, but I’d always come out looking like a conservative politician or newsreader. That is, until I met Cushla from Guilles Salon in Newtown. She always makes me look and feel like a better version of myself, and now I can’t go back to DIY.
What skincare products do you use and why?
Skincare is a bit of an afterthought for me. The less to think about, the better! I use The Ordinary squalane oil and cleanser, which seem to agree with my sensitive skin, along with some niacinamide and zinc serum at night. Skincare for me is more about avoiding foods that make me break out, and remembering to put sunblock on!
