An Artist Collaboration with Holly Neilson
Happiness Looks Good On You
There’s a certain kind of woman I’m always drawn to.
She’s thoughtful. She builds something of her own. She dresses with intention. She isn’t loud - but she’s unmistakable.
Holly Neilson is exactly that.
Holly wears the...
Frank & Eileen Silvio Button Up Shirt in Pink Stripe Hearts
Agolde Low Slung Baggy Jean in Libertine
For the past eight years, Holly has quietly built a professional art practice under the name Paper Hands. Working from her charming Brisbane northside studio - a space that feels more Parisian atelier than suburban workspace - she creates illustration, textile designs and original artworks that explore nature, regeneration and reflection.
When we visited her studio, I was struck by the calm. The light. The way everything felt considered.
It reminded me that style, at its best, is the same.
Not frantic. Not trend-driven.
Intentional.
For March, I asked Holly to reinterpret her signature paper doll in a Calexico way - dressed in Nili Lotan Shon pants, a Frank & Eileen shirt and Philippe Model sneakers.
It’s an outfit many of our clients already know and love. Relaxed tailoring. Soft structure. Effortless polish.
Seeing it translated through Holly’s artistic lens was a reminder that fashion can be more than something you wear. It can be an expression of who you are in the season you’re living.
You’ll see Holly’s Calexico muse in our windows and on our packaging throughout March - a celebration of creativity, femininity and the quiet power of building something meaningful.
This collaboration isn’t just about new season arrivals.
It’s about celebrating talented women in our community. Women creating beauty. Women balancing life and work. Women who understand that happiness, confidence and style deepen with time.
And yes - happiness does look good on you.
Holly wears the:
Blaze Milano Nariida Cory Jacket in Ice
Citizens of Humanity Ayla Short in Bianca
Calleen Cordero Frida Belt in Hueso Nappa
Explore Holly’s beautiful work here - she also facilitates thoughtfully curated workshops for those wanting to immerse themselves in creativity. Check out her Instagram here!
Before we left, we asked Holly a few questions about her creative life, the moments shaping her work right now, and what she’s learning along the way.
Where has your art taken you recently - physically or creatively?
Gosh, well Calexico is one of those recent places! And what a delightful experience it has been! I think art has always been such a curious and thrilling space for me to work in because you really never know who and where your art might end up with. I am so lucky to have worked with fashion brands, galleries, home and lifestyle shops and individuals all across Australia and overseas! At the end of this month, I take off to New Zealand for a special creative project, so I have felt more than ever, that art can take you anywhere if it resonates.
What’s currently exciting you most about the work you’re creating?
I recently started a new series where I illustrate a series of images that I then post to Instagram with a favourite quote overlayed on top. Sounds silly but the feedback I have been receiving from strangers all across the world who have said it boosts their day and that it’s something they look forward to seeing at the end of the day, has really excited me to make more of the work I am doing and share more of the uplifting energy. We need all the good vibes we can get in this world, so I feel really inspired to keep creating art that makes the hard days a little easier with an 'artwork hug.'
If you could speak to your 13-year-old self, what would you tell her?
Ohhh, these questions are always so emotional for me. I’d tell her to worry less and to enjoy each moment at a time. Play, laugh and make the most of the season you’re in! Everything will work out.
Can you share a moment when your work deeply impacted someone - and what that meant to you?
I honestly feel so lucky to have had so many beautiful customers open up to me about personal stories over the years and how my work has carried them through some of those tough times. Their vulnerability and connection means more to than they’ll ever know. One story that sticks out was a conversion with a lady who came to my solo exhibition a few years ago called ‘When There Are No Words.’ Her daughter had recently lost her partner and she said that my work had been a little refuge for her.
x Nicky Charman
