My Closet: Sammi Jefcoate ♡

 

Let’s get something clear: I don’t do trends. I do moods. I do gut instinct. I do waking up, throwing on a corset over a leather vest, lacing up some combat boots, and layering on belts like I’m heading to war — because some days, I am.

Retro? Yes. Predictable? Never.

There’s nothing sexier than individuality styling. You know the type — looks that aren’t asking for validation. Outfits born out of rebellion, stitched together by impulse and instinct. Gold rings stacked so high you could hear ‘em clink with every step. And don’t even get me started on jewellery — I’ll always choose Asian pieces with history, craft, and edge over mass-produced sparkle. (Future post incoming, mark my words.)

And while I’m building a look, somewhere in the back, SlipKnot’s howling through the speakers. Because fashion — real fashion — isn’t about pretty. It’s about presence.

Now let’s talk ink.

Tattoos, darling. Tattoos are fashion.

But not just any ink slapped on in a hungover haze. We’re talking tattoos that speak. Ones that nod to punk, that flirt with vintage, that look like they were pulled off a '70s record sleeve or scrawled in the bathroom of CBGB.

Not every tattoo works with every look — and it shouldn’t. Your ink should have range. And if it doesn’t, you better learn to style around it. As a designer and makeup artist, I’ve had to camouflage and celebrate ink depending on the vision. That’s the point — tattoos are part of the outfit, not just sitting on top of it.

When I got my sleeve started (unfinished, by the way — we’re still brewing watercolour magic for the inner arm), I didn’t walk in blind. I sketched it out like a runway collection. Fashion was the blueprint. And then came the collab with the artist — my vision, their hand. One-of-one. That’s the level of care this stuff deserves.

Style your tattoos like you style your outfits.

Ask yourself:

• Who are your icons?

• What songs fuel your blood?

• If you had to walk into a room alone, what would you be wearing?

Your ink and your clothes should know each other, speak the same language. If they’re fighting, figure out why. If they’re vibing — build on it.

I’m obsessed with this ethos — and that’s why Sammi Jefcoate is forever in My Closet. She gets it. Italian-British, covered in art, walking proof that fashion isn’t just stitched into fabric — it’s inked into skin. She doesn’t dress for algorithms. She dresses for the mood, for the soundtrack, for the life she’s actually living.

Which brings me to you.

That dress sitting in your online cart? Don’t wait for some maybe-event two weeks from now to wear it. Wear it today. Life’s unpredictable. Fashion isn’t just about planning — it’s about performing. Every single day.

If today were your last day, what would you wear out the door?

I hope the answer’s something wild. Something bold. Something that’d make me Desperately seek for Susan.

Now go on — belt up, lace your boots, throw on that leather, and don’t forget your rings.

'Til next time,

-R.A.

Your personal virtual designer