Balenciaga Archives - Kate Waterhouse

Designer items that will never go out of style

5th June, 2022

Investment purchases often have a few more zeros in the price tag than your average chain store buy but when you factor in the longevity and its cost per wear you’re definitely getting a bargain. I’ve spoken in the past about my approach to buying designer goods that you won’t regret, but there are definitely certain pieces that will forever remain stylish. Add these to your wardrobe and I promise you’ll have a long and happy relationship.

Burberry trench

If you’re going to splurge on a trench coat make it one by Burberry. The coat was designed by Thomas Burberry for military personnel in World War One to keep officers protected against wind and rain and the design has been around ever since. The hardware and fabrication are of course top notch but one glimpse of the iconic checked lining sets this trench above the rest. I promise a trench coat is one purchase that you will get plenty of use out of all year round.

A photo posted by Burberry (@burberry) on Mar 25, 2016 at 3:21am PDT

Chanel 2.55 bag

Everyone knows the quilted 2.55 bag by Chanel and whilst its ubiquitous it’s also one of the few designer bags that will not only appreciate in value (research has shown that the bag has increased in value by 70 per cent over the last six years) it’s also the kind of bag that will not date, will go with virtually everything you own and will always be a classic staple that you’ll be proud to carry. It’s a hefty investment I know, but if you’re going to splurge on a designer bag this one is definitely worth considering.

A post shared by CHANEL (@chanelofficial) on Oct 6, 2015 at 4:09am PDT

Cartier LOVE Bracelet

The ultimate in wrist candy the beautiful Cartier LOVE bracelet first came to prominence in the 1970s and has only grown more popular since its inception. Available in a variety of metals including yellow gold or rose gold, and if you’re really looking to splurge there’s also a version studded with diamonds this is one piece of jewellery that you’ll remain in love with.

A photo posted by Cartier Official (@cartier) on Feb 10, 2015 at 9:37am PST

Hermès Oran sandal

While the Hermès Oran sandal comes in a number of different colours, the tan is by far the most popular. There’s a very good reason for that! If you’re going to splurge on a designer sandal this would have to be it. The classic, understated style works for so many different occasions, from beach to bar to a long lunch… it goes with pretty much everything and has been in style for forever making it a worthwhile buy. Also, you can never go wrong with anything from Hermès.

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Chanel ballet flat

Ballet flats will always be a wardrobe staple but add a pair of interlocking Cs and you venture into truly classic style territory. Whilst they’re not the type of shoe that you’d wear daily to run errands (they’re definitely a bit more special than your average ballet flat) they are an easy and stylish footwear option for those days when you just want to take a casual look up a notch. A close runner up in the shoe department would be the classic Gucci horsebit loafer. Almost 70 years on and it’s still going strong.

A photo posted by TashSefton (@tashsefton) on Feb 25, 2016 at 2:43am PST

Gucci loafers

First released in 1953, the Gucci loafer has been around for 68 years and whilst it has never ever really gone away it has experienced a huge resurgence in popularity. Whilst the range now encompasses everything from floral print to an array of colours, fur trim and a version with a collapsible heel, this style is a forever shoe. Translation: if you invest in this you’ll be wearing it for the next few decades without it ever dipping in style cred.

A post shared by ✖L a u r e✖ (@sevenaugust) on Mar 29, 2018 at 3:49am PDT

Tell me—which designer items do you think will always be in style?

Beauty

My go-to fragrances

3rd May, 2021

Fragrances are always a critical final touch to any look. Once I have my outfit locked in, I always find that the right perfume is high on my list as it ties everything together. I’ve said before that a scent is such a powerful thing, as it can evoke such strong memories. I know there are always certain perfumes in my collection that will instantly remind me of a time and place, whether it was an event, a holiday or just a fond memory.

I know there are some people who stick with a scent and have it as their signature fragrance, but I think I like too many different perfumes to really settle on my absolute number one. I would find it hard to narrow it down as I think different perfumes work for different occasions. I do like experimenting, and as such my fragrance wardrobe comprises of a few different scents. These three are my guaranteed go-tos.

Balenciaga Paris

The iconic bottle with the cracked dome is a staple in my fragrance collection. The scent is one of those impactful scents that has a presence without being overwhelming. In fact I’m such a huge fan that it’s actually the perfume I wore on my wedding day. With an almost endless number of options in front of me, I decided on Balenciaga Paris because it’s such a beautiful scent, that fades really nicely, and has a great lasting finish. It was released several years ago but I’m still a huge fan.

Jo Malone English Oak and Hazelnut Cologne

I love the Jo Malone range because the fragrances are always so distinctive, and there are so many options. At the moment, this is the one I’m wearing a lot. It’s a lovely refreshing scent, with just a hint of zestiness. I think what I like about it is that whenever I get a slight whiff of it, I want to smell it again… and for me, that’s the sign of a great fragrance.

Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede Cologne

Do you have a perfume that you’re guaranteed to get asked about/get complimented on whenever you wear it? This is the one for me. The fact that it’s another Jo Malone fragrance goes to show my enduring love for the brand. This particular scent is a floral, but it’s not overpowering (a must for me). I find it to be very subtle but oh-so feminine. It’s an elegant fragrance that I enjoy wearing to events.

What are your go-to scents?

Fashion, Shop, What I Wore

What I Wore: Laced Up

6th August, 2019

Whilst easy, breezy lightweight dresses in summer are great I do love a long sleeved dress during winter. There’s something quite polished and chic about the style plus they work beautifully during trans-seasonal weather when you’re not quite sure whether it’s going to be hot or cold. Whilst I love the silhouette of this Zimmermann dress, what really sealed the deal for me was the lace up detailing and ruching. Both give it a beautiful textured effect and elevate it into something special. Also who else loves rocking florals during winter? I think it’s such an unexpected print to wear at this time of year, plus the colour palette is perfect for the season.

With a dress such as this it’s nice to keep the rest of the look quite pared back so as not to overwhelm. I opted for my Balenciaga sock boots as they allowed me to continue the slimline silhouette of the dress to the rest of my outfit. I capped off my ensemble with a pair of frameless Le Specs sunglasses with a slight cat eye (such a great style at an affordable price) and my heart shaped Dior tribal earrings. Accessories that are understated yet with plenty of personality.

Photography: Sophia Athas

Shop the Look:

Dress: Espionage Lace Up Pencil Dress, Zimmermann

Boots: Knife spandex sock boots, Balenciaga

Earrings: Pearl Crystal Heart J’Adior Mise En Dior Tribal Earrings, Dior

Sunglasses: Pit Stop | Gold, Le Specs

Shop the Look on a Budget:

Fashion, Shop, What I Wore

What I Wore: Colour Block

11th June, 2019

Picking up great designer pieces on sale is always so satisfying and a Harrold’s sale is one I always make sure to check out. They stock all my favourite designers so I always end up finding great pieces at a fraction of the price. A great top I picked up at the sale was this red Balenciaga logo turtleneck. It’s a fun on trend addition to my wardrobe and the colour is bold and punchy, which is perfect for lifting a winter outfit. Also the ribbed style is great for adding a textural element to a look.

One shade I am really loving paired with red is pink. I think a vibrant iteration of the colour just works so beautifully with red. There’s something feminine and modern about it and I love how the colours are both so striking and the colour blocking effect can make an outfit pop. Plus who can resist a little lurex Stella McCartney number in such a fun hue?

I decided to work a little more pink into my outfit by pairing it with my Bulgari top handle bag. A structured bag is so on trend at the moment and I loved that ladylike touch it added to my look. During winter I’m all about ankle boots. My Balenciaga sock boots have lasted me a few seasons and they’re back again—proof that a great designer buy can last for plenty of years to come.

Photography by Sophia Athas, Hatrik

Shop the look:

Top: Allover Logo ribbed turtleneck top, Balenciaga

Skirt: Asymmetric Lurex skirt, Stella McCartney

Boots: Knife spandex sock boots, Balenciaga

Bag: Serpenti Forever Mini Bag

Sunglasses: New Wave SL 207 Jerry, YSL

Shop the look on a budget:

Fashion

The power of the statement shoe

27th April, 2019

I’m a firm believer that shoes can make or break an outfit. This is why I’m all about a statement shoe. An eye-catching pair of shoes can pull your entire outfit together. I think the key to a great statement shoe is in the cut, the material and the colour plus I think they’ve got to be classic in that they last season after season but they’ve also got to have interesting details that make them unique. Even if it’s just a plain black pump there has to be something about it whether its just a beautiful heel or great material. And most of all, it has to be beautifully crafted.

I have plenty of shoe labels that I love but at the moment these are the brands that I think do the perfect statement shoe…

Aquazzura have really beautiful designs and have a really interesting look to them. I have a great pair of Aquazzura snakeskin stilettos that I wear all the time.

I love Tabitha Simmons‘ shoes. I wore a pair of her leopard print stilettos to Melbourne Cup one yaer and I felt they really added an interesting element to my outfit. Her shoes are just a little bit quirky and a lot of fun.

I also love Balenciaga‘s shoe line. They’re classic and are perfectly crafted. As I wear my heels so often I invest a little more in them so they’re great quality and are built to last.

Photography: Tamika Keioskie, Beyleigh Vedelago, StyleSnooperdan

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Stark Contrasts

13th November, 2018

One of the things that I’ve found to be quite a versatile piece in my wardrobe is a statement top. Whilst there are some things that are just way too bold to achieve true versatility, I think there are definitely some elevated pieces that can still be styled in multiple ways. This cream Zimmermann top is one of them. With the elegant draping and dramatic sleeves it definitely has impact but I think the neutral tone means it can be easily paired with numerous colours and everything from a skirt to tailored pants and denim. For this outing I decided to pair it with a textured Isabel Marant tulip skirt with a metallic sheen. I think the futuristic vibe of the skirt provides the perfect contrast to the classic Victorian feel of the blouse.

As I was already working with some strong silhouettes in my outfit I kept my accessories quite streamlined and simple. My new go-to Dior bag and Balenciaga sock boots were the ideal finishing touches. A structured bag works well to contrast the fluid, and slighter softer textures of the blouse and skirt, whilst wearing boots instead of heels helped ground the look. Overall it was great to be able to work with contrasting pieces and find a way to give them some cohesion without losing their individuality.

Credits: Blouse, Zimmerman; Skirt, Isabel Marant; Clutch, Dior; Boots, Balenciaga

Photography: Danielle Castano

Fashion

What I Wore: Spot the difference

11th September, 2018

Polka dot prints are always such a great option when going for anything patterned as it’s such a classic print. An skirt suit is the ideal go-to when I want to look polished and professional, however when in a spotted print it looks more fresh and fun. This Hansen and Gretel blazer and skirt works beautifully together however I like the fact they can also stand on their own when worn separately. I could see myself wearing the jacket with jeans and pointed pumps whilst the skirt would look amazing with a simple white tee and sneakers.

I wanted to ground the outfit a little and think it needed more than a delicate heel so opted for my Balenciaga sock boots. They provided the height that I was after but added a little grit to the look at the same time. I’ve been getting a lot of wear out of my new Dior clutch recently as it’s just the right size and colour to wear with almost everything in my wardrobe whilst the handy chain strap makes it easy to transition it to a shoulder bag when necessary. I can’t go out without a pair of sunglasses handy and my trusty Poppy Lissiman frames were the perfect match for this look.

Credits: Blazer, Hansen & Gretel; Skirt, Hansen & Gretel; Clutch, Dior; Shoes, Balenciaga; Sunglasses, Poppy Lissiman

Photography: Ash Larden

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Nine to Five

7th August, 2018

I’ve talked about my love of suiting before and it shows no signs of waning. I’m really starting to appreciate the appeal of a great suit. It really does impart a sense of confidence with its ‘I mean business’ vibe and it always looks polished no matter the occasion. Whilst I’ve been wearing pants suits a lot, I decided to change it up a little with this jacket and skirt by Camilla and Marc. It takes the traditional office suit and modernises it with the statement buttons on both pieces and the cinched in, double breasted style blazer. The mini also makes it look less corporate and a little more on trend whilst the white tee is a slightly more relaxed alternative to a button down shirt.

To help ground the outfit I chose to pair it with my favourite Balenciaga sock boots. I felt heels would be a little too delicate in this instance so opted for ankle boots help toughen up the look a little and give it a more fashion forward feel.

In keeping with the classic feel of this ensemble I chose to pair it with an oldie but a goodie—my black Chanel bag. It’s the kind of piece that’s been so great to have with my wardrobe as it can work back with virtually everything I own and really elevates any outfit. My Poppy Lissiman small frame sunglasses add a little edge and gives the whole look a truly modern feel.

Credits: Blazer, Camilla & Marc; Skirt, Camilla & Marc; Shirt, Uniqlo; Sunglasses, Poppy Lissiman; Bag, Chanel; Shoes, Balenciaga

Photography: Sophia Athas

Fashion

What I Wore: Classic Tweed

26th June, 2018

When I think of classic looks anything tweed is instantly top of mind. There’s something about it that’s so luxe and sophisticated. I couldn’t resist this set by Camilla & Marc mainly because I love that it straddles old world glamour with a distinctly modern vibe with the standout pattern, textural element and the longline cut feeling so contemporary. The gorgeous buttons are the ideal finishing detail and really elevate the look. Meanwhile the flared cropped pants add a playful touch and give this set and it’s suit-like silhouette a relaxed feel.

I wanted to ground the look with my choice of footwear so boots seemed the ideal fit. When it comes to pairing boots with a busy trouser, I think fitted sock style boots are the best option. The slim look works well with the flare detail and the pointed toe give it a little edge.

When it came to accessories for this outfit, I wanted to stick to black to complement the dark tones in the jacket and pants. My cat eye sunglasses added a on trend element, whilst my Chanel bag is one of my favourite go-tos when I want to punctuate a look with something I know is understated and always stylish.

Credits: Jacket, Camilla & Marc; Trousers, Camilla & Marc; Sunglasses, Poppy Lissiman; Bag, Chanel; Boots, Balenciaga

Photography: Sophia Athas

Fashion, Shop

7 shoes that have proven themselves in cost per wear

9th April, 2018

My wardrobe purchases are always considered—I make sure that whatever I buy will have longevity, has plenty of versatility and is of a good quality. When it comes to accessories, especially shoes and bags, I have to say that most of my buys are of the designer variety. This is simply because I love the fact that they’re always made beautifully and I know that the cost per wear is great.

I have a handful of shoes that were initially a splurge but the number of times I have worn them over the last few years has ensured that I’ve been able to get the most value for money. And they still look great. I have a few favourite brands but there’s definitely one designer brand that has consistently delivered on the shoe front, and it shows because almost half the shoes on this list is from their range! When it comes to footwear, this is what I consider to fall into the money well spent category.

Marco de Vincenzo plaited velvet sandals

These are a statement shoe through and through so at first glance you may think I’d get limited use out of them but it has been quite the opposite. I’ve been able to wear them on so many different occasions. The pink hue and velvet fabrication make them striking but when used as an accent piece to add a pop of colour to an oufit they’re able to be worked back with myriad looks so easily.

Gucci Willow gold leather t-strap heels

I’ve had these shoes for a few years now and you know what? I love them now as much as I did when I first got them. I think gold is such a great colour as it can be worn with so many different outfits. I’ve worn these to the Melbourne Cup to work functions and weddings and I’d seriously be lost without them. The pearl detail also gives it a little something extra and adds a luxe feel.

Balenciaga knife spandex sock boots

If you don’t have a pair of sock boots for winter yet start hunting down a pair because I can guarantee you’ll wear them to death. The design of this Balenciaga pair is quite simple and streamlined making them a style chameleon. I’ve worn them to Fashion Week and to big launches and in street style shoots and they are worth every penny.

Alaïa Bombe studded heels

My love for these shoes is endless. And I swear that they are ridiculously versatile. They’ve become a go-to in my wardrobe because the design is simple enough to be able to easily pair with a multitude of ensembles, however the finishing details elevate them into something special. These shoes have made an appearance at everything from big gala events to launches and nights out with the girls.

Gucci Princetown leather slippers

Gucci can seriously do no wrong. Their footwear range is always on point, just that little bit different, and the finishing details are always next-level. These slippers are given a special touch by the embroidered flowers, however still maintain the classic sensibility of the brand with the horsebit buckle and silhouette. I’ve found I can wear these shoes with everything from dresses to pants, and transition them from work to off duty style easily.

Gucci New Ace sneakers

And hello again, Gucci! I swear white sneakers have become an indispensible part of my wardrobe and these especially have become a mainstay in most of my looks each week. I wear them when I’m running around with the girls, to the office, if I’m on the go with work appointments… the list is endless. They’re also so comfortable which earns them major brownie points. Worth every cent.

Which shoes in your wardrobe have proven themselves in cost per wear?

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