LAW UNTO HIMSELF

Harry Reid loves to have fun with clothes and accessories. He shares his wardobe with Tyson Beckett.

2022-09-18 -

Solicitor Harry Reid received his bachelor of laws from Victoria University of Wellington but he was born with an eye for fashion. He may not have always indulged his passion as much, but the Pōneke resident remembers, aged 3 or 4, delighting in a big dress-up box he had at home. “I remember there being a matching hot pink beret and scarf in there, which I was absolutely obsessed with and would probably still wear now. In hindsight, it’s no wonder my parents knew that I was gay from a young age.”

Decades later, he still delights in the chance to have fun with clothes. Reid shares some of his ensembles via TikTok (@himbodiaries). He recently dipped his welladorned toes into the world of modelling, appearing in a campaign for streetwear label Huffer and its collaboration with poet – and Reid’s friend – Tayi Tibble.

THE LEGAL PROFESSION NOTORIOUSLY HAS QUITE A STRICT DRESS CODE.

However, I try to incorporate as much of my personal style as possible when it comes to dressing for work, whether that be substituting a regular tie for a necktie, or a dull grey suit for a cute lilac one. I’ve also always loved a preppy look so it’s kind of the perfect profession for me to bring that to life – just think Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN FASHION

but I think like a lot of people, particularly queer people, my approach to dressing has been influenced by my sense of identity.

I think I’ve noticed this the most in the past few years as my style has taken a direction that my teenage self would probably never have imagined. Without getting too philosophical about it, I think that can be attributed to feeling the most sure of myself now than I ever have.

I’M PROBABLY NOWHERE NEAR AS DISCERNING AS I SHOULD BE

when it comes to shopping. When I see something I like, I have approximately three seconds to convince myself that I shouldn’t get it before it’s too late. That said, I try and think about whether things will go with what I own and whether they will last.

I USE FASHION TO COMMUNICATE MY QUEERNESS

to the world, without having to explicitly come out.

If someone is able to take one look at me and identify that I’m not straight, which happens regularly in some form or another, then I’m dressing right.

ASKING ME TO PICK MY FAVOURITE CLOTHES

is like asking a parent to pick their favourite child but I’ll give it a go. I got this Louis Vuitton briefcase from Hunters and Collectors on Cuba St. I saw it not long after being admitted to the bar and I was kind of jokingly thinking “imagine if I owned this”, which very quickly turned into “I can’t imagine my life without this.” It felt like a fitting reward.

I ALSO BOUGHT THESE ROBERTO CAVALLI SATIN FLARES

from Hunters and Collectors. They have an air of 80s disco about them while simultaneously going with everything.

THESE WHITE AND SILVER COWBOY BOOTS

are from Ziggurat, another Cuba St institution. My friends and I were planning a cowboy-themed dress up and I knew I wanted to do a white monochrome look, so when I walked past the store and saw these I knew they would be perfect.

I THRIFTED THIS FAUX FUR JACKET

when I was in Berlin for a weekend while studying abroad. It was my 21st birthday and I remember wanting to buy something to mark the occasion and as soon as I saw it, I knew it was the one.