JULIA BUSUTTIL NISHIMURA
COOK AND AUTHOR, 30 After the success of her first cookbook, Ostro, Julia is currently working on her second book and lives in Melbourne with her chef husband, Nori, 32, and three-year-old son, Haruki. How would you describe your style? I’m often cooking so my style is quite relaxed and comfortable. I usually wear a linen or pinafore-type dress with flats, or in the evening it will be floaty dresses with balloon sleeves. Who influences your style? My biggest style influences are my friends and just people I see on the street. I love seeing how people create different outfits that I would never dream of wearing. What are your wardrobe essentials? A linen dress, white leather Spring Court shoes and big statement earrings. My go-tos are Lee Mathews, Jac + Jack and My General Store — they suit my style and shape. What are your favourite accessories? I have a few pairs of gold crochet earrings from Lucy Folk, which I love and alternate depending on the occasion. Do you have any hair and beauty essentials? For hair I use Davines, an Italian brand that sources a lot of its ingredients from farms around Italy. Skincare-wise, I recently splurged on La Mer and love it. I also use Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel — it works wonders! I am obsessed with the perfume oil by Maison Louis Marie No.04, too. It smells amazing and I receive so many compliments on it. What do you never leave home without? A pen and a notebook. I’m always jotting down ideas or writing lists. As it gets colder, I always have a neutral cashmere shawl in my bag, just in case. What are you reading and watching? I’m currently reading a beautiful book called How to Cook Your Life (Shambhala, $29.99) and watching a very funny and addictive Japanese reality show on Netflix called Terrace House. Where do you shop for tableware? In Melbourne, I love Mr Kitly — it has a beautiful range of local and Japanese tableware. I recently discovered The Drill Hall Emporium in New Norfolk, Tasmania, and I am planning another trip just to go back there. What would you cook for a celebration? For our last celebration I made porchetta, seasoned with fennel, rosemary, chilli and garlic. I love a good pavlova, so that’s often on high rotation. Otherwise, something like ricotta cheesecake or rich chocolate cake. Homely but delicious! Visit julia-ostro.com or follow @juliaostro on Instagram.