David Flack transforms luxury homes worth millions of dollars with daring color combinations and bold materials, but when it comes to his personal wardrobe, the renowned Australian interior designer keeps things surprisingly simple. His go-to essential? A $20 Uniqlo AIRism t-shirt that he considers perfect for travel and everyday wear.
Flack, who gained prominence after designing pop star Troye Sivan's home and has since become one of Australia's most sought-after interior stylists, describes his personal fashion philosophy as refreshingly uncomplicated. "The way I dress is less complex than my interiors," he explains. "I'm very daring with materials and color combinations in my work, whereas my personal style is quite pared back."
The designer admits his wardrobe has evolved over time, particularly after some gentle nudging from his husband, Jason. "I have recently started wearing color again after my husband told me I need to stop wearing black all the time," Flack reveals. "I love it – wearing color makes you feel good." This shift represents a departure from his all-black uniform that had dominated his closet for years.
Flack's wardrobe essentials tell the story of a man who values both quality and practicality. His three must-have items include Levi's boot-cut jeans, a versatile bomber jacket, and his handcrafted Japanese Matsuda sunglasses, which he describes as looking "like little goggles." The oldest piece in his collection is a vintage 1970s leather jacket he discovered in Brooklyn, New York, which he treasures for its beautiful tobacco color and slightly cowboy aesthetic.
When it comes to travel attire, Flack has perfected a foolproof formula that prioritizes comfort without sacrificing style. His airplane uniform consists entirely of black pieces: oversized cotton pants, the beloved $20 Uniqlo AIRism tee (chosen specifically because "they breathe well"), slip-on Salomon runners, and a Norse Projects bomber jacket that resists wrinkles and looks professional enough for immediate post-flight meetings.
The designer's fashion journey began in his twenties when he moved from the countryside to Melbourne after coming out. Working at Ralph Lauren, he spent time "exploring fashion and experimenting with lots of different outfits – good and bad." He fondly recalls this period as "a fun time," though he's quick to acknowledge some fashion missteps, particularly a phase involving trilby hats that he now considers "bad" and laughable.
Flack's approach to formal wear maintains his preference for clean lines and quality pieces. For red carpet events, he opts for beautiful Prada suits paired with Prada dress shoes featuring chunky soles. His fragrance of choice is Ex Nihilo's French Affair, while his jewelry collection remains minimal but meaningful, consisting of his Tessa Blazey wedding ring and a gold Cartier Juste un Clou hoop earring.
Looking at current fashion trends, Flack expresses particular enthusiasm for Gen Z's embrace of early 2000s and Y2K aesthetics. His fashion inspirations include Raf Simons, whom he admires for his sense of color and clean designs with "beauty in the simple but significant details," and JW Anderson, whose work always contains "some little quirk or nuance" that he finds playfully appealing.
Despite his success in the high-end design world, Flack's daily work attire reflects his practical approach to dressing. He typically alternates between casual combinations of jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers, and more polished looks featuring dress pants, white shirts, and smarter shoes. "It complements my studio," he notes. "I wear nice pieces, but I don't get overly dressed up." His most-worn footwear consists of Salomon XT-4 S/Lab sneakers in various colors, which he wears throughout the day.
Flack's current wish list includes a Jacquemus Canevas de-Nîmes denim jacket and the coveted Bottega Intrecciato North-South tote bag, while he maintains firm boundaries about what he won't wear – specifically velvet suits and white suits. His fashion icon remains Yves Saint Laurent, whom he admires for being "prolific in everything – fashion, interiors, art collecting – with an incredible sense of color and embellishment."
