Having spent much of this year in more relaxed, lounge wear style clothing, one of the things I missed wearing was a great suit. There’s something about a sharp suit that just adds an extra layer of polish to a look, and gives me a healthy dose of confidence whenever I’m wearing it. I have loved how tailoring has evolved into more modern, and slightly sexier silhouettes. This Rebecca Vallance suit is ultra flattering with the nipped in waist of the jacket and the cropped fitted trousers. Also I love the fringed edging on the jacket and the pants seams—it’s a little extra detail that makes for a great finishing flourish.
Working with a checked pattern, I wanted to keep things sleek and simple with the rest of my accessories. I decided to go for white Bottega Veneta pumps (as an aside, these shoes have been such a great investment—I’ve been able to wear them on so many occasions and highly recommend them) which add a bold touch without clashing with the pattern. While a black Prada bucket bag adds a fun touch, with the bag’s contemporary design offering a great contrast to the classic look of a suit.
Wearing a Barbie pink dress means that it’s almost compulsory to have fun in an outfit and you can’t get more playful than this Rebecca Vallance number. I’m a fan of long-sleeved dresses for battling tricky transseasonal weather as it helps to navigate that “Is it hot enough or cold enough to wear [insert] outfit today?” conundrum. When you throw in a classic polka dot print, it makes it the ideal piece to navigate spring/summer. Additionally I’m a fan of ruching on a dress as it instantly creates a flattering silhouette and adds a point of interest too.
When working with such a striking print and colour I knew my accessories had to be a little pared back, but not without its own personality too. So I went for a white pair of Bottega Veneta heels which are a great versatile shade to complement such a bold colour. A structured Mehry Mu bag adds a a classic ladylike touch while my slimline Poppy Lissiman sunglasses add a little edginess to offset the sweetness of this ensemble.
A chilly family day out at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo on the weekend required having to rug up, so it was the perfect opportunity to snuggle up in this Rebecca Vallance checked coat. Whenever I’m opting for quite a simple outfit, I like to incorporate a statement piece to elevate it and give it a little extra personality. The print on this coat is quite striking so it was the perfect thing to pair back with the classic combination of jeans and a white top.
When I’m after an outfit that’s guaranteed to work I always opt for tried and tested formulas, in this case denim worked back with a white skivvy. This has become a go-to combination of mine during winter and when classic Levis are in the mix, it’s a time honoured fashion combination that forms the foundation for many a look in my wardrobe.
A big day of walking around is all about comfy shoes and these sneakers by D.O.F definitely ticked that box without scrimping on style. I particularly love the athletic vibe of these shoes and the fact it still has a sleek and stylish sensibility. As the final piece of this outfit puzzle, I went with white sunglasses to add a modern finishing touch, and help tie the entire look together.
Everyone’s routines are so varied and different right now I wanted to get an insight into what different people are up to. Whether it’s juggling home schooling and working from home, to what’s getting them through each day and the things they’re looking forward to. Here designer Rebecca Vallance reveals her current quarantine routine.
What does your day currently look like?
5.00am: I wake up and start the day by answering overseas emails
6.30am: I make breakfast for the kids and I
7.00am: I get my children dressed and ready for the day
9.00am: My eldest Matthias, starts home schooling
9.30am: My office work begins with a team catch-up, followed by emails, calls and design meetings and for the rest of the day I try and balance working from home vs. home schooling. It’s not easy!
I always end the day with exercise. It’s the only time I can squeeze it in.
What’s your current favourite way to start the day?
Cuddles with my children. They are so young and sweet; it’s a very precious age.
What are your current self-care practices?
My La Prairie skin care regime
Exercise
Laying on the grass in the garden with my kids
Ordering weekly delicious deliveries from ‘Katering at Home’ — I genuinely look forward to every delivery!
What are three non-negotiable things that you need to do to get through the day?
1. Exercise – I do a spin bike riding class with Shelter Double Bay each day
2. Red wine!
3. A moment alone to clear my head
How do you wind down at the end of the day?
Once our children are in bed asleep, my husband and I sit in the lounge room with a glass of pinot and talk about our days. We’re also watching Fauda on Netflix at the moment, which is a pretty great distraction.
How do you stay productive while working from home?
I absolutely love doing what I do everyday, so therefore my job alone is my motivation. There is always so much to be done, more so now than ever, which keeps me busy and productive throughout the day.
Seeing pieces come in from her eponymous label’s pre-fall collection is one of the highlights of her day
What’s the current highlight of your day?
The highlight of my day is seeing my children’s little faces each morning when they run into our room. It’s adorable.
I’ve also loved seeing pieces from our new Pre-Fall collection arrive; it’s definitely my favourite collection to date.
How do you separate work time from down time while isolating?
Once I’m finished for the day, I put my phone away to ensure I’m present with my husband and kids.
What’s your current go-to WFH outfit and relaxation outfit?
I like to change my look each day, going from relaxed to professional depending on what I have on. My relaxation outfit is always a Rebecca Vallance knit and a pair of jeans.
There’s something about contrasting prints that makes for a really strong look. It’s always a little unexpected and sometimes working really different prints against each other helps each one stand out a little more. This dress by Rebecca Vallance is a great example of this, working a fun spotted print with a floral collar. The midi length is just right to work the dress for different occasions, particularly a work event or party. Also the long sleeves mean it will be able to extend into the cooler months, ensuring it has a lot of longevity.
To keep the look polished, I opted for classic Tods leather loafers. The simple style makes it a comfortable shoe option for days when I’m on the go, and the ‘T’ logo plaque helps to elevate it into something a little more special. I wanted my bag to provide a contrast feature so I opted for a tan leather bag with top handle. The structured style has a classic vibe while being roomy enough to carry a day’s worth of essentials. A pair of fun triangular shaped frames is a more modern take on classic black sunnies and helped to add an interesting finishing touch to this look.
I’ve got a roster of Aussie labels that I always turn to for events and special pieces and Rebecca Vallance is one of them. I’ve worn the brand countless times—from weddings to launches and the races and have always found it to hit the mark every single time. I love the beautiful use of colour, the feminine yet modern silhouettes and the flattering cuts. I’m always on the hunt for the next piece to wear, and in my search these are the 10 things I think are definitely worth checking out right now.
As we head into trans-seasonal weather a long sleeved dress will become the ideal piece to get you through the unpredictable weather. The subtle print, the long sleeves and the tiered hemline all work together to create a dress that’s versatile yet fun.
A bright pop of colour is always a good idea. Statement blazers are a fantastic way to brighten up an outfit and this bubble gum pink jacket adds a feminine touch that’s also polished.
Event jumpsuits are a great alternative to a dress. The elegant look of this jumpsuit, with its strapless metallic bodice and flared pant work together for an easy and glam option for your next occasion.
Who can resist a great polka dot? The cute print and the classic silhouette will make this dress something that you’ll want to wear again and again come spring/summer.
There’s something great about a blouse that has elements of interest from front to back. The voluminous sleeves make this top on point, but the open back feature with the bow really make it the kind of thing that will elevate any look.
For a polished and pretty option for your next event, try this long sleeved polka dot number. I love the Liberty print collar worked back against the spotted print, which gives it a unique touch.
The vibrant shade make this turtleneck sweater the ideal piece to add a punchy element to myriad outfits. If you want your look to stand out in a crowd, this is one top that’s worth adding to your collection.
Black blazer perfection! Not only is the cut beautiful, the pearl trim along the lapels and the gold and pearl buttons give this jacket a super feminine touch.
Leather pants are a constant in my wardrobe and whilst black is high in versatility, this chocolate brown pair make for a great alternative. The colour’s still ultra wearable but has a slightly different vibe.
For your next event, definitely bookmark this gown. The fit and flare silhouette is really flattering and the tie detail around the waist makes for a great shape.
I’ve always been a fan of dresses for ease of dressing — you simply pop them on, add a pair of shoes and you’re done so it’s been so good to see that the dresses around at the moment have all featured such gorgeous prints and classic cuts. I’m particularly loving the midi length styles with simple, feminine silhouettes such as the dress below by Rebecca Vallance. I brought the dress with me on my trip to Daydream Island and found it to be such a good piece for a beachy getaway because it was able to take me from hanging with Sophia by the pool to lunch and even to dinner if I really wanted, with just a few accessory tweaks. And it was so comfy too!
I paired it with a pair of simple white Gucci sandals to keep the vibe of my outfit fresh and relaxed. And I simply can’t get enough of wicker handbags at the moment so opted for a top handle bag by Sparrows Weave. It helped add to the holiday vibe of my ensemble. And as the rest of my look was so simple it was crying out for a strong piece to elevate it, so I added a pair of drop earrings as the ideal finishing touch.
It’s time to officially farewell summer and say hello to autumn but that doesn’t mean I’m not trying to squeeze in a few last summery purchases. That said it’s the also the perfect time to start prepping my new season wardrobe. I’m embracing warm, earthy tones of tan and beige along with vibrant shades of burgundy and red. If you’re on the hunt for some great new pieces, check out my wish list for a little inspo…
I love dresses with a simple silhouette that can be dressed up or down. This dress will work now with heels but I can also transition it to autumn/winter with a jacket and boots.
I always gravitate towards wedges as they’re the ideal shoe for wearing to events like the polo or the races where I don’t want to be sinking in grass with stilettos!
There’s no better time than now to embrace bright pops of colour. Summer just lends itself to fun, playful shades so it seemed fitting to embrace this bubblegum pink Rebecca Vallance dress. The colour is great and I love the bow straps and the subtle tiered ruffled hem which give it a feminine silhouette.
I wanted to keep the colour going throughout my ensemble so I opted for this transparent bag by Staud. The PVC and leather tote adds an on trend touch to my outfit, whilst still carrying the girly vibe into my accessories.
Most of my outfits aren’t complete without a pair ofsunnies and this particular look called for something punchy so I opted for a pair of marbled cat eye sunglasses by Lucy Folk. I wanted to keep my footwear quite simple and my white Gucci sandals make for the ideal classic finishing touch.
It’s always nice to have the opportunity to attend black tie events as it’s the perfect excuse to get dressed up. There’s just something quite special about being able to put on a gown and wear something I wouldn’t ordinarily get to wear to most events. I was Luke’s guest at the New South Wales Rugby League True Blues Annual Black Tie Dinner last night and wanted to wear blue in support of NSW’s team colour. I couldn’t have asked for a better option than this navy Rebecca Vallance dress. I always love dresses with an amazing feature on the back and the tie detail was so beautiful on this. It elevated the dress and really gave it a point of difference. The off the shoulder silhouette and ruffled accents gave the dress a romantic feel and made it the ideal option for the event.
Given the neckline, I wanted simple, unfussy hair so I scraped my hair back into a low bun but I knew I wanted something striking when it came to my jewellery. I opted for vintage drop earrings which had just the right amount of glamour for such an occasion.
