In this What We Wear series, we step inside the dazzling Astra Irene’s closet – and on the very last day of the year, no less. Set against the backdrop of the fabulous Endla Theatre, this story celebrates style as instinct, ritual, and play. Enjoy – and consider this your sign to dress up tonight.
My earliest clothing-related memories travel back to seeing the ballet as a kid. We went to the ballet often when I was younger, and the ritual of getting dressed for the performance is something I remember vividly. I remember choosing my dress and the clips for my hair, and there always had to be a pair of shoes to change into at the theater, which I carried in a special velvet bag. The whole experience felt sacred.
The silk button-up shirt is from my mother and the yellow skirt purchased for a friend’s wedding. The silk corset was made by Karl Christoph Rebane for my 25th birthday. Our collaboration began in 2022, when we were on the same team for my identity-cabaret drag performance, together with make-up artist Karoliina Villem. They are my favorite artistic kindred spirits. Oh and the boots are from my identity-cabaret act Erodetta Arietta (2022).
It always begins in childhood, doesn’t it? I used to dress up with my mother, who I’ve always looked up to. She had a big closet, and I remember spending hours looking through it, watching how she got dressed and how she put different pieces together. On top of that, we always had large, coffee-table fashion books around the house, and I remember carefully flipping through their pages, especially those about fashion history.
The pants and jacket gifted by my mother; the white shirt made by Karl Christoph Rebane.
I have always loved dressing up and, for a long time, I truly believed I was incredibly stylish. Looking back, that wasn’t always the case. However, all those explorations – let’s call them experiments – eventually led me to where I am now. I no longer hunt for specific pieces; they seem to find me instead. My style has “evolved,” but the essence remains the same: a sense of eagerness and playfulness that has always defined how I dress.
The mesh top is from Berlin; spiked boots from Kaubamaja; blue skirt from my mother; second-hand belts.
The ethno-collection pants are by Maria Roosiaas; lace top is from my mother; “The Theatre” necklace is a Christmas gift from my mother. It has become a significant part of my identity over the past year. Since I work across many different mediums, it serves as a reminder that all of them are interconnected.
Why do some people know how to dress cool and others don’t? I don’t think it’s about dressing cool or not. What matters more is authenticity – being comfortable with yourself and feeling confident enough to share who you are with the world. I adore the fact that I can reinvent myself every day through the clothes I choose to wear; it helps me stay more connected to myself.
The grey cape is made by Kertu Seestrand. She was the costume designer for my second show, Un_stus, which I directed. Her costumes gave the show its essential atmosphere, and I wear her cape as a token of that creative process. The dress is second-hand from Pärnu; pants are from Kaubamaja; boots by Jeffrey Campbell.
The black dress is from Zara; boots from Kaubamaja; silver belt second-hand from ZigriMigriz.
There is a magical duality in clothing: freedom and control. Style can begin wherever one wants it to. For me, it’s a choice I have the privilege to make. In a way, style began for me in my childhood, but it also begins each morning when I leave my home. And maybe it began long before that – with my mother, and her mother, and so on and on.
The red top is Diesel, a gift from Kadri Rämmeld; skirt second-hand; boots from my identity-cabaret act Erodetta Arietta (2022).
I love second-hand shops. The stories they hold, and the memories a fabric can carry. I can only imagine the fairy tales attached to somebody’s grandmother’s favorite silk blouse. To me, clothes are memory keepers and a quiet form of communication; they carry traces of care, love, and lives lived.
Do I miss any pieces? Well, I still think fondly of an old white turtleneck I had when I was around three. It was soft, cozy, and somehow felt like a little armor against the world. I wore it to pieces! I wish I still had it – not just for the comfort it gave, but because it became a cherished piece of my childhood memorabilia.
The dress is from Kaubamaja; shirt second-hand; Suzuki tie from Pärnu; “Crown” fur hat second-hand.
I want my clothing choices to reflect how and what I’m feeling in that particular moment. I need to feel as if I’m one with them – almost as if they are an extension of my skin.
Whose style has caught my eye?It’s not about who; it’s more about what. I love everyday encounters on the streets, where, for a brief moment, I can really notice the details of someone’s personality – how they’ve found a pop of color, a handbag, a scarf, or a dress, and made it entirely their own.