Stephanie Dods photographed by Sarah El-ali.
The interior designer shares the principles behind her personal style for those looking to bring more purpose and self-expression to their wardrobe.
Before she could understand color theory and proportions, Stephanie Dods’ first lesson in fashion was confidence. She first saw it through her mother, who was unafraid to wear bold colors, patterns, and prints, no matter the occasion. “As I got older, I started paying attention to editors, stylists, and women whose looks felt effortless and considered,” she adds.
From working at an Australian fashion boutique to discovering new perspectives through interior design, Dods’ once-experimental approach to styling became more intentional and versatile over time. “My everyday style is pretty simple and relaxed. I usually gravitate toward clean silhouettes and good tailoring,” she describes. Like most of her outfits, Dods often interplays everyday basics, denims, or tailored trousers with statement jackets or accessories. “I like looking put together without it feeling overworked.”
That same mindset shaped Dod’s styling session with SM Woman at SM Makati earlier this month, where she demonstrated how to identify wardrobe staples, understand proportions that suit their body type, and use neutrals as a base for self-expression.
During the session, Dods highlighted SM Woman’s latest collections as the ideal canvas for this intentional approach to dressing. By focusing on the brand’s versatile separates, she showcased how accessible pieces can be transformed into polished, everyday looks. This synergy between her design philosophy and SM Woman’s curated range allows every woman to build a versatile yet refined foundation without compromise.
Dod’s styling session centers on two ideas: building a capsule wardrobe and identifying the hero pieces that can elevate a look. For the former, she begins with color. “Some people might say neutrals are boring, but I see them as timeless and versatile. They really serve as the foundation of a wardrobe,” she explains.
To Dods, these details make up the essentials in our closets, from knitted tops and cardigans to denim trousers and cropped tees. “I’m a jacket person. I know we live in the Philippines and it’s very humid, but I always find myself reaching for a jacket or any type of outerwear whenever I’m picking out a look.”
Assembling an outfit using pieces from SM Woman, however, follows Dods’ adapted 60-30-10 rule, a formula used in interior design to convey harmony through color. “Usually I’ll do a bottom first, then a top, and then a layering piece,” Dods elaborates. “I like pairing structured pieces with softer ones or balancing fitted silhouettes with something more relaxed. I also always try to anchor a look with one “hero piece” and build around it as well.”
According to Dods, curating such pieces leaves room for personal style, so long as it stays cohesive with the rest of her closet. “I always say before I buy a new piece or a new hero piece, I have to be able to style it three different ways,” she adds. For SM Woman, its approach to clothing curation has evolved, one that echoes Dod’s own. According to the brand, it now offers wardrobe staples that grow alongside one’s evolving sense of style. “I was actually in the changing room at SM, and I noticed that they had a tailoring service. And I think when you have something that fits almost custom, you’ll keep on wearing those pieces when they’re fitted perfectly.”
As she later demonstrates how to style a selection of SM Woman outerwear, she notes that the collection’s athleisure funnel-neck and structured black cropped jackets became some of her personal favorites. She explains, “They felt modern and very practical. I could immediately see them working for things like airport looks or school drop-offs, but also styled more casually with floaty pieces like a dress or a lace skirt, or juxtaposed with more tailored pieces like trousers or a midi skirt.”
For Dods, understanding the basics of a well-considered wardrobe is only half the effort, but it also gives people the freedom to explore fashion on their own terms. According to the brand, this is what SM Woman hopes to embody through its collection of everyday staples, enabling others to curate new foundations for the styles that best express them. Dods shares,
“Personal style really comes from experimentation. You don’t have to figure it out overnight. Start with pieces you feel confident in and pay attention to what you naturally gravitate toward. When you stop dressing for trends and start dressing for yourself, that’s when confidence really comes through”
