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Bianca Spender

Fashion, Shop

How to style one blazer three different ways

10th October, 2022

If I’ve learnt anything over the years, versatile items are a must-have in your wardrobe. With a busy lifestyle, one item you shouldn’t live without is a blazer! I’ve always found it to be a workhorse in my wardrobe as it can work for myriad occasions and styled in so many different ways. The great thing is you only have to invest in one once and you have a plethora of different looks at your fingertips. One blazer can take you a long way, no matter the colour or fit. Whether you’re working our or headed to a meeting, here are three ways you can style a blazer (I’ve worked with the Camilla and Marc Wembley style), paired with my current favourite brands.

 

The Blazer

 

Wear it to work

There’s nothing quite as polished or chic as a blazer, so it’s a definite must when it comes to workwear. Wear it with a matching pant to embrace the suiting trend and switch out the top from a smart blouse to a fashion forward top to take your office look to the next level.

 

Dressing up activewear

Have a coffee date after Pilates? Elevate your look by popping on your blazer. This simple styling trick will enable you to get more wear from your current activewear pieces. My go-to brands when it comes to the activewear space is PE Nation, as I love the splashes of colour they incorporate into their designs. If you’re all about sporting a neutral clean look, Alo Yoga is certainly the pick.

 

Edgy dressing

Need an extra layer of warmth or an element of chicness? A boxier/ oversized blazer looks divine with a slip-dress. It’s a great event look, plus it’s perfect for navigating your way through transeasonal weather.

Fashion, What I Wore

What I wore this week

25th August, 2022

We’ve had some really beautiful days in Sydney of late so I’ve been able to break out some fun pieces designed for warm weather. I’m really loving the little bursts of sunny days as it’s a great preview of spring — can’t wait to wear more of that part of my wardrobe. I’ve embraced some classic staples this week and some failsafe combinations, but it has also been fun to wear some statement looks featuring bold colours. Here’s what I wore this week.

Jeans and a white shirt is one of those combinations I don’t have to think about because it’s guaranteed to work every time. These jeans have been such a great addition to my wardrobe as I’ve been able to style them in so many different ways and they’re a great wash to work back with various colours. This shirt is from this year’s Witchery white shirt campaign and is the ideal fit to tuck into jeans, plus I love the pocket feature. Paired with statement earrings, it adds a touch of glam to a daytime look.

Credits: Shirt and earrings, Witchery; Jeans, Slvrlake

Off to an event with this all blue look. Love layering the one colour as it can be so impactful when paired together. This cobalt blue hue is so striking and great for an evening event. This blouse worn separately is the ideal piece to add a polished splash of colour to an outfit, while the pants are a ski pant design which makes them ultra comfortable. I added a bit of contrasting colour with the yellow Fendi bag and my go-to Bottega heels.

Credits: Top, pants and earrings, Manning Cartell; Bag, Fendi; Heels, Bottega Veneta

Felt like wearing some colour to an event and what better hue to embrace than sunshine yellow? This column dress by Camilla and Marc features soft, splashes of orange-y yellow so it’s perfect for spring-like weather. I also love the sleek silhouette plus paired with nude heels it achieves an elongated effect.

Credits: Dress, Camilla and Marc; Bag, Apede Mod; Heels Scanlan Theodore; Sunglasses, Le Specs

The cutest of tops, this Maggie Marilyn number is a real statement piece. The puff sleeves offer a striking feature and the ruching adds a flattering touch. I’ve always loved the contrasting effect of pink and white and these wide leg pants are not only a great example of a wardrobe piece that embraces understated glam, but it’s a great piece to allow the top to pop. I discovered the perfect pink shoe with these Gucci pumps so of course I had to pair them with this look.

Credits: Top, Maggie Marilyn; Pants, Bianca Spender; Heels, Gucci

Fashion, What I Wore

What I wore this week

6th May, 2021

The last few days have been busy, and with a few events up my sleeve it meant that I was lucky enough to have the perfect excuse to wear some truly beautiful pieces. I was on hosting duties for Lexus, then a fun American Express event, and a family brunch, so I was able to explore the full spectrum of my wardrobe, from casual to occasion dressing. I love being able to play with different looks, so weeks like these are so great when they pop up. Here’s what I wore this week.

When it came time to host a Lexus event, what better option than a suit… but make it make it sporty. This Burberry look was so much fun to wear. The bomber/blazer hybrid is a a more fashion forward take on a traditional suit jacket, while the pleated tapered pant added a polished element. Also the colour! I love wearing vibrant hues to energise myself for the day ahead.

Credits: Suit and bag, Burberry

I wore this black tie look for another Lexus event and carried the blue theme again into my look. This Bianca Spender dress is such a sleek design, with the ruched neckline and cap sleeve making for a bold silhouette. I chose black accent pieces including the most gorgeous tie-up Christian Louboutin heels and a mini Louis Vuitton chain handle bag.

Credits: Dress, Bianca Spender; Shoes, Christian Louboutin; Bag, Louis Vuitton

I wore this strapless camel hued dress by Sir the Label to the launch of American Express Delicious Month Out in Sydney and fell in love with its simplicity. The clean lines and the unfussy design makes for an elegant option for event wear. I accessorised this with black tie-up heels again, this time by Aje and a Louis Vuitton shoulder bag and a touch of gold with Manning Cartell earrings.

Credits: Dress, Sir the Label; Shoes, Aje; Bag, Louis Vuitton; Earrings, Manning Cartell

Having brunch with my family and I decided to pull out this Camilla and Marc midi skirt, which has been the perfect neutral skirt to have in rotation. It just works with so many different pieces. I went for a black top to provide a little contrast, but neutral sandals to continue the silhouette. While my forest green Dior bag added a nice hit of colour to brighten up my ensemble (it’s also quite roomy so I can take everything I need with me).

Credits: Top, Ducie; Skirt, Camilla and Marc; Bag (similar here), Christian Dior; Shoes, Gucci, Earrings, Manning Cartell

Fashion

What I Wore: David Jones AW 21 Runway Show

12th March, 2021

It’s funny how much you don’t realise you miss something until you’re right there doing it again, and that’s exactly how it felt to be back watching a fashion show after a year of being away from it. I flew down to Melbourne this week to attend the David Jones Autumn/Winter 21 show and it was so exciting to be there, catching up with friends and colleagues, having the opportunity to check out upcoming trends, and just generally soaking up the atmosphere of being in the midst of something I love again. Plus the clothes had me compiling quite a lengthy mental shopping list!

I had the opportunity to wear this tan ribbed dress at the event, and it was so nice to be able to wear one of my favourite designers, Bianca Spender and get all glammed up. This dress is a jersey fabric, which usually I’d associate with casual wear, but this iteration was anything but. It was elegant, it was sexy and it was effortless in the way it draped. I truly loved wearing it, and the bonus was it was ultra comfortable too. The finishing details were also gorgeous, with the knotted detail at the front, the thigh split and the open detail at the back—oh, and the colour was right on trend. It was perfection.

To finish off the look, I opted for simple accessories. I went for my black Bottega Veneta heels and a white and gold Oroton clutch. I don’t think this particular look really required going too over the top with accessories; it was important to let the dress do all the talking.

Credits: Dress, Bianca Spender; Heels, Bottega Veneta; Bag, Oroton

Photography: Dan Castano

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: David Jones AW19 new season launch

9th February, 2019

It’s always fun getting a sneak peek of what’s up ahead when it comes to the season ahead and David Jones is always such a great show to watch because it stocks so many of my favourite Aussie and international brands.

The runway show was held at The Void in MONA and as it was quite a cavernous stone structure and we were previewing Autumn Winter 19 looks, the vibe of the night really lended itself to dark and moody colours.

Enter the perfect modern suit by Bianca Spender. I don’t think you can ever really go wrong with classic black but I liked the modern silhouette of the cropped coat worked back with tapered pants.

My accessories were simple and classic with a few subtle gold accents to add a luxe feel to my outfit. My go-to black bag at the moment is a Dior bag with a gold chain strap and name plating — it’s a great size for events and features a hand strap so it’s handy for carrying at functions. I think the suit worked beautifully with my Salvatore Ferragamo mules. The shape of the shoe with its gold wedge heel added a modern, almost futuristic touch to the rest of my look and is always a focal point whenever I wear them.

Credits: Suit, Bianca Spender; Shoes, Salvatore Ferragamo; Bag, Dior

Photography: Jessie Crockford

Fashion

Australian Fashion Week 2018 Day 2 Wrap Up

14th May, 2018

Fashion Week Five

My daily wrap up of the day that was at Australian Fashion Week.

Shows I attended: Albus Lumen, Bianca Spender, Anna Quan

Location: Carriageworks

Fave show: Albus Lumen

Biggest trend I saw: Earthy tones, silky soft fabrics and shirting with a feminine twist.

The highlight of the day: Sitting down with Jess Pecoraro chatting fashion, styling and celebrity dressing.

Fashion

Australian Fashion Week 2017 Day Two Wrap Up

16th May, 2017

 

The Shows: Alice McCall, Bianca Spender, Albus Lumen

Where: On site at Carriageworks for Alice McCall and Bianca Spender; Offsite at La Porte Space for Albus Lumen which was a great site to showcase a beautiful collection.

My day started… at 9am and I hit the ground running and straight to Carriageworks for a 10am show. First up was Alice McCall and it was a gorgeous way to start the morning.

My outfit today… was all about colour! I wanted something bright and feminine for the first full day at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia. I wore a Camilla and Marc top and skirt and loved how it was flowy and soft. I teamed it with Gucci heels and bag and Saint Laurent sunnies to add a bit of fun!

Favourite show… I loved Albus Lumen at La Porte Space—being able to showcase a collection in a unique space really has an impact. It really complemented the beach, minimalist vibe of the show. 

The one look I fell in love with…A yellow dress at Albus Lumen (pictured). I also loved the jewellery in Bianca Spender which was designed by Dinosaur Designs and the 90s Chanel vibe of Alice McCall.

Big trends I saw… 90s Chanel, beautiful tailoring, bright colour palettes.

What I ate/drank…my photographer and I stopped at Bread and Circus for lunch and refueled on salads and soup as we downloaded pics and caught up on work and emails before heading to the Albus Lumen show.

Photography and Video: Sophia Athas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wG1bnpbEB0

 

Fashion

MBFWA: my fave shows

27th April, 2015

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The beautiful Toni Maticevski show

So many shows, so many clothes, so many trends! Fashion Week is always a great place for a little fashion inspiration. It’s an even better way to compile a very lengthy shopping list! There were a whole lot of shows during the week, but these were my favourites…

Toni Maticevski

My favourite by far. It was just breathtakingly beautiful and I loved every piece in the collection. The production was incredible, the styling was beautiful and it was just a really gorgeous show.

Ellery

I loved Ellery. It was a really great show to kick off the week and I love all her designs. Having Gemma Ward open the whole show also really created a lot of buzz. She’s a favourite in fashion circles and to have her open Australian Fashion Week was pretty special.

Bec and Bridge

I’ve known the Bec and Bridge girls for many years and I’ve always loved what they do as they always create really wearable pieces. Even though the show was held at Carriageworks (where MBFWA is based), it was still offsite in this big open space and the whole show just had a bit of wow factor.

Manning Cartell

I thought this show was great. Loads of 70s inspired pieces to fall in love with and I walked away with a favourite or two (maybe three!).

Bianca Spender

Bianca Spender just knows how to make clothes that have me falling in love with them immediately. I was mentally marking some pieces as I saw them coming down the runway and was adding them to my shopping list.

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Bianca Spender

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Bianca Spender

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Manning Cartell

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Manning Cartell

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Manning Cartell

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Ellery

 

 

 

 

Fashion

Bianca Spender Spring Summer ’15

10th April, 2014

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Bianca Spender’s Spring Summer 14/15 collection was ladylike with a twist. Her collection explored the space of dreams through her signature floaty ethereal pieces but also incorporated a sultry touch with low backs, mid drifts and slim fitting pantsuits.

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