billini Archives - Kate Waterhouse

What I Wore: Spring Days

14th November, 2023

I’m always looking to add to my summer dress collection because they tend to be my go-to during the warmer months. I love the one and done approach because it makes getting out the door so much easier! Husk recently gave me a peek at some of their recent new season additions and this drop waist dress was one of my faves. It’s a different silhouette to the dresses I’ve been seeing making their way in store for simmer, which I like because it gives it a point of difference. The contrasting texture with the ribbed top and lightweight cotton skirt strikes a great balance between form and flow, while the khaki colour adds a touch of boldness.

I wanted to dress this outfit up a little more so I went with a pair of Billini heels (they’re now on sale BTW) to add a little extra polish. My mini Oroton bag from a few seasons back is still a firm fave as it never fails to add a dash of glam to a casual outfit. It’s a great size and is quite structured with a chain strap which makes it really versatile as I can carry it crossbody, as a shoulder bag or tuck the chain in to turn it into a clutch. Anything multi-purpose is always a winner in my eyes as you can take it in so many different directions and reimagine it in so many different ways.

Credits: Dress, Husk; Heels, Billini; Bag, Oroton

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

Fashion, What I Wore

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: Witchery x Ellery

10th March, 2022

I love a great designer collaboration, so I was so excited to hear that designer Kym Ellery was teaming up with Witchery to create a capsule collection. The results are nothing less than ultra wearable — as soon as I saw the entire range I wanted everything! The vibe is very Ellery, and having been a fan of the brand over the years, it’s definitely great to see new pieces with the label’s signature modern and sleek aesthetic. I really liked the play on volume, with voluminous sleeves, cinched waists and flared hems all making an appearance, plus the hues of soft lilac and a thoroughly electric cobalt blue added some vibrancy.

While there were definitely plenty of pieces in the range that I bookmarked for various occasions, I did fall in love with the below LBD. Shift dresses have always been a key aspect of my wardrobe, I’ve worn them to work, while I was pregnant, to events…but this particular style felt fresh, with just the right amount of drama. The clean lines of the dress evoke a classic feel, but what I loved most were the feature sleeves. It’s always great when a simplicity is injected with a little playfulness and the frill sleeves certainly did just that. The waterfall effect was the final clincher – so much fun, and a definite statement.

Working with black, I had a blank palette to work with and I like being able to take an outfit in myriad directions. I wanted to break up the black a little so I thought a little colour was in order. These forest green heels with tie feature worked well against the dark hue of the dress, and helped inject a little zing of energy.

Credits: Dress, Ellery x Witchery; Heels, Billini

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

Shop my faves from the collection!

Fashion, What I Wore

Afterpay Australian Fashion Week: Day 1

31st May, 2021

It’s the first day of Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) and it’s so nice to be back! After having the event cancelled last year, it has been great to see everyone, from friends to colleagues, and most importantly to check out some of my favourite designers. I was off to the Rebecca Vallance show today so I wanted to throw my support behind the brand, by wearing this suit dress from the label. I’m a huge fan of suiting in general, but I think a suit dress is always such a classic and feminine way to do it. This pink Legally Blonde-esque number is equal parts sophisticated and playful—how could it not be in such a great shade of pastel pink. I also love the textural elements of this dress, from the fringing detail to the pearl buttons.

I wanted to dial it up a notch for a day spent celebrating fashion so I was looking for a glam accessory to complement my dress. These perspex heels by Billini definitely fit the brief. The pointed toe is sleek, while the diamante straps and bow add a bit of drama to the shoes. And sunglasses during Fashion Week are an absolute must. These oval Le Specs tortoiseshell glasses are a simple design that allow the rest of my look to do the talking. That’s day one of AAFW almost done—the rest of the week (and more looks) to go!

Credits: Dress, Rebecca Vallance; Shoes (similar here), Billini; Sunglasses (similar here), Le Specs

Photography: Ashleigh Larden