bec and bridge x pared Archives

What I Wore: Set Up

1st November, 2023

One of the great trends to emerge in the last few years has without a doubt has been the matching set. It makes effortless dressing unbelievably easy as there’s no fussing around with mixing and matching separates, it’s just a co-ordinating top and bottom and you’re done. Love that! A set can also appear on the full spectrum of fashion whether you want something that’s super casual for weekend wear, or a duo like the below which is definitely dressy and more elevated. This vest and skirt combination is from Husk which is a great boutique near where I live (they also have a number of locations around Sydney and Melbourne and they’re online) and is part of the current range. Vests are really having a moment so I love the fact this set taps into that trend, but gives it a more polished spin with the knee length A-line skirt. It’s also something that can be worn separately if you want, which is perfect for cost per wear. You could wear this set to the office, an event or just out to dinner and it would work, making it a great option for those days when you need to look put together but kinda just want to get dressed on autopilot.

Working with a crisp white canvas as far as outfits goes is always fun as you can take your accessories in so many different directions. It’s a hue that works with pretty much everything so there’s not much to worry about in terms of getting everything absolutely spot on, most colours will just work with it. Once again, effortless dressing to a tee. I opted for some slightly bolder tones with a caramel-hued pair of sunglasses by Pared and chartreuse heels by Billini to provide some contrast. The finishing touch was a teeny Gucci Jackie bag, which I have to say, for something that is so diminutive it has really become a bag that I’ve come to rely on a lot simply because it holds my essentials but still looks small enough to be a bit more of an elevated bag than an everyday grab-and-go style.

Credits: Vest and skirt, Husk; Heels, Billini; Bag, Gucci; Sunglasses, Pared x Bec and Bridge

Credits: Ashleigh Larden

This post was produced in collaboration with Husk

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Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Australian Fashion Week 2023 Day 1

15th May, 2023

It’s the first day of Fashion Week today so I wanted to make a splash with my outfit choice and go for something bold. It’s of course the perfect time to embrace the numerous talented Australian designers out there, and today was all about this Alemais dress for me. I throughly loved the way this dress had a fluidity to it that gave it some beautiful movement. While the stunning brocade fabric added some drama and elegance. And let’s not forget about the bell sleeves! Such gorgeous draping really added some theatre to the way this dress moved, while the contrasting yellow fringing added a gorgeous finishing flourish.

So, how to accessorise a dress that’s already quite dramatic and theatrical? I wanted a shoe with an interesting silhouette and these Fendi shoes have been a longtime fave of mine. I love the wedge style ‘F’ heel and the metallic straps. I opted for a classic mini Jackie bag from Gucci to pair with this dress as it’s diminutive size and simple monogram print would complement rather than compete with the dress. Lastly, Fashion Week isn’t possible without a great pair of sunnies on hand at all times, and this caramel Bec & Bridge pair from their collaboration with Pared really fit the brief.

Credits: Dress, Alemais; Heels, Fendi; Bag, Gucci; Sunglasses, Bec & Bridge x Pared

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

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Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Tailor Made

8th June, 2022

I love nothing more than sharp tailoring and you can’t look past a suit to achieve that look. I’ve really embraced suiting of late, and have discovered the beauty and versatility in a suit for a variety of different occasions. Also, they come in all sorts of iterations now that you really can find a suit to work with your personal style. I teamed up with local brand Saba to put this look together and think it really typifies elegant winter wear. The suit comprised of a houndstooth double breasted jacket and cropped pants is able to work together but also separately which ensures I can get more wear out of it. I wore the jacket on its own and buttoned up to look more like a top and it’s something I’ve been doing a lot with other suits in my collection as it feels modern and fresh. The pants that go with this jacket are also cropped which for petite ladies, is actually just the perfect length —no need for alterations which I really rate. Given the cooler weather, a coat is most definitely a must. This midi length herringbone coat is such a classic option for winter. The pattern is something that is forever in style and can be worked back with multiple looks. It also has a slightly A-line silhouette which feels very feminine, but the peak lapels keep it looking slick.

When you’re wearing a suit, I think you really have to pay attention to what you do in the accessories department as you don’t want to completely overwhelm the look with accoutrements. As the colour palette of this look is all about black, white and grey I wanted the rest of my accessories to complement it. So in this instance, I went for a great pair of Bec and Bridge sunnies which I have been wearing non-stop—they’re a classic frame but have a few contemporary touches which achieves a great balance. I also went for Aquazzura pumps to finish off the look — you can’t go past a sky high heel to add a feminine touch to such a strong ensemble.

Credits: Jacket, pants and coat, Saba; Sunglasses, Pared x Bec and Bridge; Heels, Aquazzura

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

This post was produced in collaboration with SABA

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Life in Colour

8th March, 2022

There’s something about a great dress that I can’t resist. Particularly when it has such a fun print. This brush stroke print on this Esther and Co dress, in an array of different colours is just the kind of design that’s a perfect occasion dress to have at the ready. I could wear this to an event or a casual lunch just by switching up my accessories, whether it’s heels or a boot to dress it up or slides and sandals to dress it down. Little design features are so important to me and the cut-out and blouson sleeves give this dress a little extra personality. Plus the A-line skirt gives it a soft, feminine feel. There’s something about printed dresses that makes them a statement-making piece, and so easy to build an entire look around.

Considering my accessories whenever I’m planning a look is so important to me, and I’m always thinking about what accoutrements and shoes I’m going to use to tie a look together. In this instance, the colour and print of this dress was always destined to take centre stage, so I wanted my accessories to complement rather than compete with it. So I opted for a classic pair of black sunnies and my usual arm stack of my fave special jewellery, comprised of pieces I’ve collected or been lucky enough to be gifted over the years. My investment jewellery is something I use every day and I always tend to wear the same pieces most days because they work so well together. Jewellery is definitely something I don’t mind saving up for because I know I’ll get plenty of wear out of it. It’s also the perfect finishing touch to any look, no matter the occasion.

Credits: Dress, Esther and Co; Sunglasses, Pared x Bec and Bridge; Arm stack from top to bottom – link bracelet (similar here), Tiffany and Co; Watch, Jaeger LeCoultre; Tennis bracelet, Hardy Brothers; Juste Un Clou bangle (similar here), Cartier

Photography: Ashleigh Larden