Fashion plate: Julia Christian

Julia Christian. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

Julia Christian is the kind of freelance illustrator who can make a prickly pear look edible. Her slick drawings have been on everything, from food packaging to fashion pages.

Since leaving the advertising world, Christian has turned her steady hand to painting intricate works on canvas.

Her latest series My Girls, which explores the perfection of innocence, is on show at Momentum Gallery in Jervois Rd.

The postcard-sized paintings feature stylised faces of young girls, including her 5-year-old daughter Honor.

"She was an inspiration for these distinctly feminine works," says Christian, who adds that living with cartoonist Chris Slane and two lively boys (Henry, 15, and Hugo, 11) keeps her in touch with distinctly male humour.

Who are your favourite fashion designers?

Kate Sylvester, Zambesi, Wallace Rose, Pearl and Workshop. What is your favourite accessory of the moment? I don't really like accessories - they end up in the graveyard of your bottom drawer. Except my Georgio Armani sunglasses, which are permanently on my head.

What is the last item of clothing you bought?

A full, gathered skirt from Scotties. Who does the best handbags? Minnie Cooper - they're beautiful leather with no fussy ornamentation, and they're New Zealand-made.

What item of makeup would you be lost without?

Clarins eye cream or SPF30 moisturiser.

Any style icons?

Wednesday from The Addams Family.

Favourite colour?

Green, definitely. Our garden is full of evergreen trees and hedges in every shade. It's a very calming colour to see out of the windows.

Favourite store of the moment?

Pearl in Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn. It's a very cool space and the clothes are exquisite.

Any fashion disasters you'd care to mention?

I love wearing black socks and black shoes, or boots with skirts or dresses. I suppose that could be considered a fashion disaster by some people.

What's your biggest indulgence?

Kate Sylvester skirts.

Best fashion bargain?

A new pair of Costume National boots from Scotties Recycle for $200.

The one rule you always dress by?

Comfort - I like to be able to help at school, paint in my studio or do the garden without getting changed (Kate Sylvester skirts work well with gumboots). Also, I'd rather buy good quality clothes less often than a lot of cheaper fashionable stuff.

The one (fashion) rule you always break?

I don't buy anything that screams "in fashion".

What is the one key item of clothing everyone should have in their wardrobe?

A favourite outfit you just can't part with. Mine is a fitted sleeveless Virus dress, which has a blue and black gothic print of an evil jester. Chris gave it to me when I was 24.

Whose wardrobe would you most like to raid?

No one's. The idea is too creepy.