KIRSTIE PENTON
UNIVERSITY SUPPORT OFFICER, 25 When she’s not working at the University of Southern Queensland in Brisbane, Kirstie loves to escape to her family home at Meringandan on the Darling Downs.
What do you love about getting away to the country? It’s home. Getting away to the country means Mum-and-dad time in a gorgeous railway cottage with sheep in the paddock next door welcoming me home. How would you describe your style? During the week it’s heels and corporate black and white, but on the weekends I love a simple dress, or overalls and sneakers. What are your wardrobe essentials? A white T-shirt that I can put under a dress, a white button-up shirt and white sneakers. So you could say that I have a thing for white, which I definitely got from my mama! What are your favourite clothing labels? Most of my work outfits are from Zara and I love exploring little boutiques for labels no-one has heard of. Where do you shop? Betty Lane, an online boutique, for the cutest overalls, dresses and straw bags. I am also a sucker for the earrings at Seed. Do you have any favourite accessories? My Rebekah Brooks fine gold compass necklace from my travels to Boston and a gold Lannah Dunn Fine Jewellery monogram ring that I never take off. What are your hair and beauty essentials? I have recently started using Byron Bay Skincare, which I am loving. I also wear my Estée Lauder Modern Muse perfume every day. This is just as much for sentimental reasons as my Nanna always wore Estée Lauder perfume. What do you never leave home without? A handbag. I can’t travel without buying a new one and I have a collection from New York City to Italy. And, of course, my iphone — mostly because I take photos of everything. Yes, I am the person who has to take a photo of her coffee before my first sip! What inspires you? The strength and kindness of my parents, the smile every morning from the older gentleman playing the guitar in the train station, New York City — no explanation needed — and the feeling of helping someone, even in the smallest way. I love that I get to experience this in what I do every day, even if sometimes it’s not easy. Where do you shop in the country? In Toowoomba, it’s Freedom furniture for big-item homewares; The Bungalow and Basket for the small, beautiful and fun pieces; and then a visit to Heritage Flowers for the final touch.