For 50 years, Di Cant has been providing styling advice and presenting fashion shows across Australia. In partnership with Hostplus, we asked her about the things she wishes she’d known earlier in her career.
“You just don’t know everything when you go into an industry like this,” says Brisbane-based stylist Di Cant. “It was a learning curve all the way.”
For Cant, the journey has lasted five decades. From modelling sportswear in the ’60s to hosting fashion parades at major shopping centres in the ’80s to presenting footwear trends on TV in the ’90s, Cant really has had an all-round education in the world of professional styling.
“I’ve had a wonderful career,” she says. “I’ve been extremely fortunate to do what I love and have the opportunities I’ve been given along the way.”
Today Cant works as a personal stylist for individuals, corporate clients, employers and retailers. She has also recently launched Suitcase Savvy, a branded service that advises travellers how to pack for overseas trips.
In addition, Cant works for a number of charities, helping raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research and various children’s causes.
Despite having “no major regrets”, Cant wishes she had known a few things early in her career.
Styling work is rarely constrained to the hours of 9 to 5. “It took me a while to really learn how to balance everything,” Cant says. “There were decisions that needed to be made at certain times. I wasn’t able to take a couple of opportunities [earlier on], but my family life had to come first. I was a young mum.”
Cant advises those new to the industry to not be afraid to “pay for help” when your work interferes with your family life.
“Don’t think you can do it all and have it all. Get your priorities right and make it work.”
Before becoming a stylist, Cant worked as a compere for David Jones, which had set market rates and guidelines. The styling industry however was more “laissez-faire”, which she found problematic.
“There were clients that wanted things for next to nothing,” Cant recalls. “There were those in the industry, and there still are, who have the mindset of ‘well they’ll do it; they need to clock up the miles. They’ll do it for free’.
“I was lucky in later years to find an agent to [manage contract negotiations] for me. But earlier on I had a few things put over me. I wish I had been a bit smarter.”
Cant was slower than many of her contemporaries in creating a strong online presence. She wishes she had adopted social media much earlier.
“Someone sat me down about 12 months ago and set [an Instagram account] up. Then my grandchildren showed me how use it,” she says.
Since then, Cant has become a bit of a social media “geek”.
“It’s brought in a whole new audience or women, young and mature … it really is powerful, fabulous, addictive stuff!
This article is presented in partnership with Hostplus, which has your super covered no matter your role and how it changes through your career.
