Tuesday Style Fashion (TSF) is at Closet Code boutique for this week’s spotlight on retailers. Under the fashion radar today is principal Martina Vickers.

Martina Vicker’s foray into fashion

Growing up, I was a ‘girly girl’ and had a genuine love for clothes. From the very beginning, clothes have always been my go-to medium for self-expression. The ability to dress up and become whomever you want is a next-to-nothing feeling. So, after following my gut and breaking the mould of my parents’ wishes for me to join the family business or become a doctor, lawyer, or some other traditional, safe career, I ventured into the world of fashion. With a determined mindset against all odds, I pursued my true passion and studied fashion retailing, marketing, and merchandising. And thank God I did because the experiences during my time have completely shaped my journey and path today.

What has kept you in the industry?

My genuine love for clothes and the gift of being able to share that with a community. Because this is a field I genuinely love, I stay up-to- date on what is happening in the fashion realm, and as a result, I can share these trends and innovations with our customers through our product assortment. Also, being a safe space for our community, our team is very hands-on and really shops with you. The fun of clients really dressing up and trying what they expected to like, but also exploring what they never imagined loving, is also a perk. Yes, we are in an era of online shopping, but nothing beats actually trying on an item, feeling the fabric, and seeing how it fits your body, rather than just seeing an image online and hoping it will work for you. The combination of finding unique pieces, shopping with people who care, and having a great irl experience is something we are proud to deliver.

How have you maintained relevance?

By keeping our communities’ wants at the centre of what we are selling in store and evolving with the times. We do our best to keep bringing unique, original pieces while still hitting the mark on the classic styles our customers love. If we see a style has done really well as long as it is within our ability to carry it in a similar variation, whether it be an alternate colour or similar variation, we do our best to really stay tapped in with feedback because we really do try to cater to our people while venturing out at the same time.

We have also introduced categories we did not previously carry, such as loungewear, non-traditional office wear, and occasional active/athleisure wear, because we want to be part of all your life’s activities.

The Closet Code woman embodies a lifestyle, not just clothing.

How have you revitalised the brand and garnered additional support?

I have revitalised the brand by sharpening its creative direction and really honing in on who our community is and what they actually want while staying true to our DNA.

Doing our best to include different-sized models to try to have every woman feel like they can see themselves in the model. We’re also working to offer more inclusive sizing; they sell the fastest, but we do our best to cater to a range of sizes.

We also work extremely hard on our digital presence by creating more curated, eye-catching, and engaging content on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, highlighting our collections, processes, and collaborations. We have really let our community in on the process and all the behind-the-scenes work to truly be a part of every part of the brand.

We have also relaunched our online store, so check us out on Closetcode.com

Also, hosting a lot of pop-up events, brand collaborations, community chats, and brand trips helps stay engaged with the community and avoid feeling like just another brand or shopping experience.

What can customers look forward to from Closet Code for the next couple of months?

Customers can look forward to the same great quality, well-curated, unique pieces you always see from us. The ones that if they aren’t asking you, it’s only because they already know a Closet Code girl when they see one.

Eye-catching content that doesn’t feel boring or typical, exciting collaborations and pop-ups coming very soon, and the continued build-out experience with our friends at immersify for our loyal clients.

First one up is our upcoming pop-up this Easter weekend in Portland with Camp Porti!!

What are a few season must-haves?

Your essentials this season are the items that make you feel most confident. So don’t necessarily stick to trends; really build a well-curated wardrobe based on what suits you and what you actually love.

But the things we are definitely seeing and loving are: Animal prints, whether in jackets, shoes, or bags. This print can spice up any plain outfit and really give it its own personality. The Salvii Bag in-store is a great introductory piece if you’re not too sure about animal prints but want to give it a try.

Sheer fabrics are a big-season must-have, and I absolutely love this as summer approaches. It’s super lightweight and cool, but also dainty, chic, and easy to wear. Seeing a lot of sheer tops this season, that is a wardrobe essential.

Lace detailing is ultra feminine and girly, and this season it’s all about being confident in your skin. A nice, silky, beautifully laced piece has a soft, subtle sweetness. The reform lace short is a very easy piece in-store that can be dressed up or down and feels ultra-chic and feminine.

Cape detailing, seeing a lot of this, and it is the moment. The back is doing all the talking and giving drama, and for team overdressed this one is for us. We are here for it!!

The style journey begins at the door, where Closet Code presents the Astr Meana (left) and Tillies dresses (centre), and the Aveena tie top with Rowan pants. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

For Closet Code principal Martina Vickers, the secret to sustained relevance lies in the ability to evolve with ever-changing trends. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Closet Code principal Martina Vickers displays one of her favourite pieces, a Blazey Sparkle Cover-Up top. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

A curated corner of the boutique, showcasing pieces from the Italian Summer collection. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

The allure of Closet Code extends beyond the racks, with the boutique housing a diverse array of jewellery. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)