Conversations and Colour: Qew Hector
When you see her, you might experience something out-of-this-world - a wash of happiness, optimism - and you'll no doubt want to study every inch of her artfully curated outfits (we sure do).
Qew Hector IS colour. The antithesis of stereotypical Melbourne fashion - she can't get enough of every hue, synonymous with her use of a wide and playful palette. She conjures The Rolling Stones 'She's a rainbow' - and we could not love her more.
Bright (in every sense of the word), powerful, big-hearted and dedicated to her beautiful family (Jimmy, Olive and Pickles the sausage dog), Qew chatted with us about sobriety, her very real love for Real Housewives and gave us the scoop on who we should be following on Instagram for of-the-minute wardrobe inspo (besides her, of course).
Tell us who you are and what you want us to know about you: Ooh hello, I’m Qew (pronounced like the letter Q). I wear my heart on my sleeve, am a 110% bogan and live for COLOUR, art, fashion and Real Housewives!
Where do you live and what do you love about it? I live in Melbourne with my husband + daughter and our sausage dog Pickles! We relocated from Sydney two years ago and LOVE IT!
You’ve been on a journey of sobriety - how did it start? Yes I am 533 days sober, my abuse of alcohol really kicked off six years ago after my daughter + I were in a high impact car accident where we were rear ended whilst stationary by a truck + trailer travelling at 100km.
The hardest part of sobriety is… Not drinking. Staying focused, moving on from the guilt and shame and healing.
And the best part? When my daughter tells me she is proud of me for not drinking anymore after we have been out at an event. That she knows how hard it is for me and I am doing a great job. She is 10.
Any surprises along the way? Yes! How hard it is to not drink, I didn’t realise it would be an everyday struggle and it would consume so much of my time and energy. I underestimated how much emotional labour would be involved, how much work would need to be done. I also thought I wouldn’t be able to live a life free of alcohol, that I wouldn’t enjoy things anymore but that is 100% not true.
When you’re constantly bombarded by imagery of people drinking - on TV, in films, Instagram etc - how do you stay focused? I turn my phone on flight mode and go for a walk, listen to a podcast, have a shower or a nap. Acknowledge how hard or triggering it is and attend AA meetings. It’s crazy how alcohol is literally EVERYWHERE, when I was drinking I never really noticed this.
Finish this sentence: the book that changed my life is… We are the Luckiest by Laura McKowen. I could relate so much to this as a Mother in recovery.
Any podcasts you love? I loooooove true crime. ALL OF IT! Currently listening to Your Own Backyard.
What’s one thing you have to do each and every day? Tell my little family that I love them SO much. Drink my coffee in bed made by my husband, snuggle my dog and watch an episode of Real Housewives.
Favourite Little Tienda piece? Ooh that’s a tough one but seriously was Rainbow Disco Ottie not made for me? I mean those colours are SO me and that collar is EVERYTHING!
Go-to beauty product you can’t live without? @ultravioletteau Supreme Screen & @itsall.fluff Bronzing Powder
Someone you love following on Instagram? @kristenvbateman and her Mum @karenresta- their style is INCREDIBLE!
At a dinner party I am likely to be… The one interrupting everyone (I am trying to work on that) and telling crass jokes (not going to change).
You can find Qew here.
Qew wears the Rainbow Disco Ottie dress.