Some muses feel written into your story from the very beginning - Portia Prince is one of them. We connected at the birth of Nana-J, and she has always embodied the brand’s spirit: a mix of 90s nostalgia, cool-girl energy, and the quiet rebellion of modern self-care.
For Portia, style has never just been about clothes - it’s a language of freedom. Whether it’s oversized silhouettes that signal softness, or the liberation of a big hair chop that reclaims power and identity, her look is as much about expression as it is about empowerment. She shows us that rebellion can be soft, that presence can be powerful, and that sometimes the most radical act is choosing to dress (or undress, or cut, or rest) entirely on your own terms.
How do you use fashion as a way to tell your story or express your energy in the moment?
PORTIA: Fashion has always been a form of storytelling for me - it’s the way I narrate my mood, my culture, and sometimes even my rebellion without having to say a word. Some days I lean into structure and minimalism to channel focus and clarity; other days, it’s oversized silhouettes, bold colour or texture to express freedom, softness, or creativity. My wardrobe is a revolving reflection of who I am, what I’m feeling, and how I want to show up in the world that day. It’s like visual energy - I wear what I want to say.
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Do you feel your personal style has evolved since becoming a mum - or has it become more you?
PORTIA: Getting dressed is both rebellion and reflection for me. It’s my quiet protest against expectation - a way to step outside of labels, roles, or what someone else might think I should wear. But it’s also deeply personal. A reflection of where I am, emotionally and creatively, in that exact moment. Some days it’s armour, other days it’s softness. Sometimes I dress to be seen, other times to feel something for myself. Either way, it’s never just clothes - it’s communication without needing permission.
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Does your environment in NZ inspire different style choices than when you lived in the UK?
PORTIA: Living in New Zealand hasn’t changed my style, but it’s made me more intentional. I’ve always had a strong sense of what I like and don’t like, and being here - with less access to vintage and more emphasis on slow fashion - has sharpened that.
Is there a style icon from the past who still influences the way you dress today?
PORTIA: Style icon- my namesake, Sade Adu. My mum and dad’s favourite singer at the time I was born. She’s absolutely one of mine too. I just adore her. Fun fact- she was born in the next town to me. Colchester, Essex.
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If you could live in any decade purely for fashion, which one would it be and why?
PORTIA: I love this question. Typically I would have always said 90s. I’m a 90s girl through and through. I’m also someone that has access to their childhood wardrobe because my mum kept everything. That’s definitely fed into my nostalgia around this era over the years but the 70sssss wow now that could be my new favourite. I recently watched Judah and the Black Messiah and the costume in that movie- WOW. I was inspired. Went a got a vintage leather jacket that same week.
Has motherhood shifted your relationship with time, rest, or the pace you live at?
PORTIA:The short answer is yes - massively. Motherhood has completely shifted my relationship with time and rest. I have treated rest like a rare luxury at times but I have been actively working on reframing that.
Do you feel like there’s power in softness and slowing down - especially as a woman and mother online?
PORTIA: Definitely. There’s real power in softness - especially in a world that often tells women to be louder, faster, tougher to keep up. Again, it’s taken me a while to learn this. Slowing down, choosing not to perform or constantly produce online… that is a form of resistance. It’s even more important at this stage of my life - I want to model presence, not burnout. There’s strength in choosing softness when everything around you is pushing for speed and perfection.
How do you protect your inner world while sharing so much of your outer world with others?
PORTIA: It’s definitely a dance. I’ve learned to share with intention, not obligation. Just because I post often doesn’t mean I’m revealing everything - I keep my inner world protected by checking in with myself first, not the algorithm. If it doesn’t feel aligned or nourishing, I don’t share it. I also hold certain moments just for me and the people closest to me. There’s something powerful in knowing that not everything has to be visible to be real. I try to share from a place of honesty, not pressure. I used to share a lot on my socials, almost like a diary but as years pass and I evolve I have become quite private. Sometimes I still have an urge to spill and be brutally honest but I generally don’t have the energy to be on the internet like that anymore. Just because people see what I wear, create, or post - it doesn’t mean there’s an obligation. Privacy is priceless. I keep my inner friend circle small, always have.
If your closet were a record, what genre would it play?
PORTIA: Disco or house music. I can’t decide.
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