Vanessa is the heart (and hands!) behind Philoxi Styling.

Her business was born from a love of turning blank spaces into unforgettable moments—and a little push from her mentor, Shonel, who saw Vanessa’s potential long before she did.

These days, you’ll find her juggling event magic, motherhood, and the occasional skin treatment (self-care isn’t selfish—it’s survival!). But no matter how busy it gets, the best part remains the same: seeing a client’s face when their dream setup comes to life.

What inspired you to start Philoxi Styling?

The idea for Philoxi Styling had been with me for years before I finally took the plunge. I fell in love with event styling and planning after my own wedding in 2016, where I formed a close bond with my own stylist, Shonel from Nomad Styling. She quickly became a mentor, and I began assisting her regularly with event setups. She was the one who truly believed in me - always encouraging me to start Philoxi and cheering me on every step of the way.

Shonel sadly passed away in 2022, which was absolutely devastating. To this day, I think of her during every setup. I try to channel her kindness, creativity, and wisdom in everything I do.

At the time I officially launched Philoxi, I was working full-time as a VM Manager at a major retailer, and I happened to be pregnant as well. I don't know what I was thinking! But looking back now, I’m so glad I trusted that pull and made the leap.

What do you love about running your own business?

The best part is choosing when I work and the freedom to getting to share my creativity with others. It’s incredibly fulfilling to bring ideas to life and see the vision come together - but nothing compares to seeing how happy our clients are with the final result. That feeling of knowing we’ve created something truly special for them is what makes it all so rewarding.

Tell us about your ideal day out with your plus one.

My ideal day with my plus one is probably doing something new and watching him take it all in for the very first time.

We recently went to a Jurassic World event and the way his eyes lit up and the excitement in his voice - the giddiness is so infectious.

I also really love just being outdoors with him, going to Mordialloc beach and watching him run around trying to catch a bird. I could watch him for hours.

What’s your go-to when you have a kid-free moment?

My go-to kid free thing to do is self care. Skin treatments at Chakra are a must and I also enjoy a float at Beyond Rest.

Who can fault a coffee (or a cocktail) with a gf for some delicious uninterrupted adult conversation.

What's one thing motherhood has taught you that you wish you’d known earlier?

That a crying or screaming baby doesn’t mean they’re a “bad” child, they're allowed to have big feelings too.

Every child is different. They all grow, learn, and develop in their own time and their own way.

Motherhood has taught me how important it is to offer grace and patience, not just to our little ones, but to ourselves and to all mothers out there. When you become a mum you notice every single mother you pass by, and for me anyway, I wonder what their day is like and if they're happy or sleep deprived. We’re all doing our best, whatever that looks like.