Written by Kerrie Alexander
You can be old, young, plain, pretty, big or small but if you know your shape, have good shoes and a great haircut Tania Hoult says you can pull off just about any style.
The larger than life 55-year-old is known for her effortless chic style and big personality which has no doubt been sprinkled into the homes of Fraser Coast residents who have shopped in her local businesses over the years.
Not to mention friends and family who often rely on the style guru for fashion advice on what looks good because – let’s be honest – Tania certainly isn’t backward in coming forward.
I just loved her edgy blond short style cut and her colourful ELK brand top and skirt, all accentuated by a beautiful mix of necklaces, bangles and earrings.
“Style isn’t something you can just pin down, it’s in your fabric,” Tania said.
“A cool lady I know once said to me, ‘I’m not pretty and I’ve never been pretty, but I think one has to carry on as if you are’, and I think that’s so true.
“Don’t try too hard, keep anything fake within the realms of possibility or you’re not fooling anyone.
“If people ask for my advice I will give it. I always say to do something unexpected and think outside the box otherwise you tend to get a bit outdated.”
The entrepreneur and her husband moved to Hervey Bay from Victoria when she was 21 and invested in an ice-cream shop on the Esplanade in Torquay where she stayed put for two-and-a-half years. Baby number one was a permanent fixture at the shop but once she could walk it was time to sell. Three more babies followed, swiftly.
Once the youngest was off to preschool it was time for another challenge so a floristry traineeship was completed.
It was while attending the Gift fair with her friend and boss from the florist that Pandanus Homeware and Gifts was hatched.
Changing Ocean Waves preloved clothing store on the Esplanade, located next to what was then O’Reilly’s Pizza Parlour, into a destination for beautiful gifts, jewellery, and soft furnishing.
Whatever took her fancy.
The range of unique items Tania sourced is sure to have brought the same warmth, personality and a lived-in feel to many locals homes just as it has her aged Queenslander home in Sunshine Acres.
The same kind of high-quality fashion, homewares, shoes and accessories could be found in Tania’s next business venture, The Sticky Fig Café at Fraser Shores.
For eight years the café side served up some sensational food and drinks, but it was Tania’s stylish and colourful paintings, shoes, jewellery and so much more that always caught the attention of shoppers.
“That side of the shop was definitely what I enjoyed most.”
Tania no longer owns these stores but the eclectic mix of furnishings, paintings, and homewares around her home are a reminder of her illustrious time in business.
She now spends most of her time working inside and out on the acreage property they bought in January and spending time with her precious grandchildren.
“For all my love of ‘things’ what comes first is my family, of course.”
Owning an old Queenslander has always been on Tania’s bucket list and now that the dream has come true; she has spent endless hours using her “edgy nostalgic” flair to make the place feel like home.
The new house was the missing link to Tania’s perfect lifestyle with the previous beautiful “soulless box” missing the mark in what she really wanted out of a home.
She wanted a place where all her antique, vintage and pre-loved furnishings given to her and collected over the years would look right at home.
“I want it to feel inviting and homely. You should be able to walk into your home and go, yep, that’s my house.
“This house was meant to be. I’ve been collecting all this stuff for so long and now I finally have a place to put it.”
The home is full of restored furniture, trinkets from op-shops, a lounge from the tip shop, and a circus themed bedroom for the grandkids with flag bunting Tania handmade and red and white striped curtains.
Colourful paintings adorn the walls, some purchased from op shops and some painted by many local artists.
There’s colourful throw rugs, pillows, cushions and home-made lamp shade covers.
Plus, lots of repurposed items around the yard bought from Facebook marketplace.
“I don’t really like anything new, and what I like that’s new is exorbitantly expensive.
“By the time I put all the old stuff in the house there wasn’t room for anything new anyway.”
Tania insists she’s not a hoarder just a keeper of super cool stuff.
“I’m a collector rather than hoarder… it’s not hoarding if your shits cool,” she said with a laugh.
“You want your home to reflect you because you can’t be anyone else.”
When it comes to any kind of fashion and styling, Tania’s main piece of advice is this.
“Just wear what suits you and listen to your mother.
“If your mother says you shouldn’t be wearing that than you probably shouldn’t be wearing that. But if your mum’s a bit daggy, call me.”
“Know your best features and highlight those, have fun, life’s is too short to waste on chasing perfection, it doesn’t exist.”