Jess Hart on Making Style Mistakes, Trans-seasonal Fashion and Her Most-Played Song

Our favourite gap-toothed Australian model is taking to the streets of NYC for her latest adventure. Since appearing in Sports Illustrated in 2009, Jess Hart has gone from modelling swimwear to high fashion, and has graced the front cover of Vogue.

Staying true to her roots, Jess is excited to announce she has signed on to be the face of Aussie brand Portmans for another 12 months. Known for having a strong heritage in workwear, the iconic brand will launch their Winter 2015 collections Vive La France and STATUS by Portmans in store the week commencing 9th Feb.

So what can we expect from the new launches? The classic jacket gets a makeover with a new Trench launch, while the 70’s make a comeback with Denim playing a major role. Also in the spotlight, expect to get a bit racey with leather, in both jacket and skirt combinations. For your more romantic side, expect to see an abundance of lace; floaty dresses, wispy skirts and co-ordinated two pieces.

We went one-on-one with Jess Hart to find out more about her exciting new ventures:

RESCU: How do you think French girls dress differently to girls in Australia?
Jess Hart: French girls are quite girly. Yeah, I think girly is a good word for it. I think Australian girls are a little bit, you know, adventurous and definitely more comfortable; we’re always more happy to be comfortable. Whereas French girls always look really cute, preppy or, not quite preppy, but put together. They still look comfortable; they don’t look like they’re trying to hard. I think that’s kind of the European thing. No matter what they wear, they just look chic.

RESCU: Chic, put together, and feminine.
Jess Hart: Exactly.

RESCU: And we all know women often dress for women, but what do you like wear when you’re dressing for your boyfriend?
Jess Hart: I don’t think it really changes! I just dress for me — I don’t think that really changes in any case.

RESCU: You’ve had some of the most coveted modelling jobs in the world including Calvin Klein and Victoria’s Secret, what made you come back to iconic Australian brand Portmans?
Jess Hart: Well, it’s not so much coming back. I grew up with Portmans, I walked past a Portmans store every day as a child and I’ve been a huge fan of the brand for as long as I can remember… I mean, it’s just something that I’m so familiar with. Before I knew what Vogue Magazine was, I knew what Portmans was. It’s something that’s probably one of the first things that I ever considered fashionable. It’s just amazing that I’m now the face of that. I’ve been working with Portmans for a long time now and the fact that we’re still going is just awesome. We have such a great relationship.

RESCU: Can you remember the first Portmans piece you ever bought?
Jess Hart: It was a stripy black and white top… oh my god, I had it forever, I had it for so long! I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I remember I had just started modeling when I bought this top in particular. I remember I was like 14 or 15 and I got this black and white stripy top and I remember that I thought it was so great and it was one thing that would just carry on in my closet… I think I might actually still have it! This thing, it was ¾ sleeve, black and white stripey top, it was the first idea of me stepping outside of my box, which was like tracksuit pants, and I was traveling with it and thinking I was really cool because I had this fashionable top.

RESCU: Haha love it! If you could give some fashion advice to your 15 year old self, what would it be?
Jess Hart: That’s a hard one. I think fashion is something you really have to develop. Style comes a long as you grow as a person. It’s like a scent, like a time in your life. I think you can be given all the advice you want, but you’re always going to wear what you kind of think looks good, or hwat you think at the time looks fashionable so I don’t know what advice I would say there. I don’t know — It’s about learning along the way I think…

RESCU: I guess you have to make the mistakes to learn the big lessons!
Jess Hart: Yes – you have to make the mistakes, then you really know it doesn’t work!

RESCU: So how has your style evolved over the last few years?
Jess Hart: Few modeling, it’s incredible how much its evolved. It’s like a syndrome. That’s exactly what it’s meant to be like, you’re meant to go through stages. It’s not so much fashion trends, but incorporating them in to what you are at that time. My style has evolved, but I can look back on something I thought I’d discovered the wheel on but I look back and I think wow —what was I thinking! But at the time, that was who I was.

RESCU: Is there anyone whose style you really admire?
Jess Hart: I think style I admire the most is — again coming back to that it’s so personal — there are many, many people out there that look great, but I love it when someone is kind of making an effort to think outside the box and play around and be creative. That’s what it is for me — a creative outlet. There’s one thing I can control – what I wear – and I choose to wear black and navy. I remember back in the day you would never wear black and blue. Now it’s like the thing!

RESCU: Best fashion tip you’ve ever received?
Jess Hart: I think just to dress for myself. As you’re growing you really care about what other people think. Then you reach a point in life and you’re like I don’t care! I just don’t care! And that’s when you’ll really start to realize what’s working for you. If you keep trying to follow fashion trends, you’re always going to be a bit off or a bit awkard. If you just let go and don’t care what anyone else thinks and you just go for it a little bit then, even if you make mistakes, that’s when you’ll discover what you’re really comfortable in and what will work for you and what your style is.

RESCU: Great advice! We’re heading in to Autumn/Winter and you’ve just shot the A/W Lookbook for Portmans. Can you tell us what some of your favourite trans seasonal pieces are this year?
Jess Hart: I’m a big fan of knits and pastel knits. There are some really cool pastel knits that Portmans are doing this season. They’re great. Three’s pastel pink cropped sweaters, a skirt, then turtlenecks in powder blue. I think things like that are really kind of fresh for autumn months — stay on the lighter side of keeping warm. Oh there’s also a pastel trench coat which is really beautiful. I really love pastels!

RESCU: Sounds gorgeous — we can’t wait. Thank you so much for your time Jess and congratulations on signing with Portmans for another twelve months.
Jess Hart: Thank you!