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How to wear a tracksuit in a chic way

5th May, 2021

Tracksuits were once the kind of thing that were strictly designated for wearing at home while relaxing on the couch. But that’s all changed. Recently it’s had a bit of a glow up and is a bonafide wardrobe must-have. For the sceptics among you, I totally get it— a tracksuit?! However banish the thought of the daggy, baggy trackies of old—the new incarnation is infinitely cooler, and way more stylish. This season, it’s about re-learning how to wear a tracksuit.

The key with wearing a tracksuit these days is how you style it—from what you pair it with to the kind of cut and fabric you choose. Either way, the best part is that’s it’s so incredibly comfortable to wear all day, so you can bookmark it for your WFH wardrobe quite easily. So, while anyone can rock a tracksuit, there are some important guidelines to remember so you’re on the right path to doing this trend right.

Match it

Matchy matchy is always a wining combo. Wear a top and bottom that are same colour ways and also go for the same material. For example the cord option I’m wearing above is a way to do a matching combination in a way that’s polished.

Consider your footwear

Think about the kind of shoes you pair with a tracksuit. Your outfit still needs to look put together if you want to achieve a look that’s on point. Although it’s a casual option don’t just throw on a pair of thongs—style it with chunky sandals or a nice pair of sneakers.

Go for the tuck

A jumper and tracksuit pant combination can sometimes look a little shapeless so you want to give it some shape elsewhere. I’ve found tucking it slightly in the front can be a great way to do this.

Choose great outerwear

If you want your look to tick all the style boxes make sure to go for a stylish jacket option. Adding a trench or an oversized denim jacket can make a tracksuit look more sophisticated/trendy and bring the entire outfit together.

What do you think—are you going to be doing the tracksuit glow up this season?

Fashion

The one coat I’m investing in this season

12th April, 2021

I’m a lover of coats from way back so believe me when I say that it’s a big call for me to declare just one coat style to be high on my winter shopping list. I often dip between different coat styles, from classic to more playful printed versions but I keep gravitating towards one style and it’s one I’ve come also loved in seasons past. What is it? As you can probably guess from the above, it’s a trench coat.

It’s no surprise that trench coats make it onto lists rounding up the items every woman should have in their closet time and time again. They’re an effortless style that look chic paired with so many different things. You can wear them over a dress, dressed down with jeans and a tee, or over a suit, and the result is still exactly the same: an ensemble that looks considered and put together.

I’ve had my eye on this one by Camilla and Marc for awhile now, but I’ve seen so many beautiful options around in my travels. I think the thing with trench coats is to go for a mid-thigh to midi length, and go for one that looks a little relaxed in fit but can easily be cinched in. I’ve had many a trench coat moment over the years (as you can see below) and I’ve found you can be a little adventurous and embrace a pattern, but you can never go wrong with a simple beige or tan style, or if neutrals aren’t your thing, a navy blue or a deep green are also worthy considerations.

This winter, I think a trench is the ultimate layering piece. It’s so good as a topper over a casual outfit, and can often be the perfect finishing touch to tie an off duty look together. Or wear it thrown over a dress for the ultimate in sleek and elegant dressing in the evening. Whatever you do, go for the best quality you can afford (the better the fabric, the better the drape) and consider it a worthy investment piece for your wardrobe in the years to come.

Embracing a patterned trench
Out and about with the girls
Sleek and chic worn back with leather pants
Fashion

The new way to wear tailored pants

29th March, 2021

A tailored pant has always been a classic wardrobe staple, but these days it’s become a lot more versatile. While it may have once conjured up images of corporate wear, the new tailored pant is relaxed, accessible and cool. In the last few months, I’ve really embraced it as a constant part of my outfit repertoire, and I’ve worn it going from meetings one minute to dinner the next, even just a casual meet up with friends and the occasional school run. The key to avoiding it looking too “done” is what you pair with it. So if you’re keen to make these a part of your regular looks, here’s how to style tailored pants.

Go for relaxed tops

As you can see above, I paired white tailored pants with a chocolate brown halter which significantly reduces it’s office wear feel. The key here is to avoid anything too fussy, think a plain white tee or a ribbed knit. By going for something that’s a little more dressed down, your outfit looks cool rather than corporate.

Consider the cut

Learning how to style tailored pants first starts with the cut you choose. For a more ‘now’ silhouette go for a pant that’s straight or slightly tapered. It offers a more streamlined feel and looks sleek. Also make sure that you’ve hemmed it properly so you don’t have excess fabric at the bottom—you want any pant to look spot on, and that means it has to be the perfect length.

Worn with a blazer for something slightly more polished

Worked back with a singlet for something a little sexier

With a halter neck and flats for a casual feel

Pair it with flats

One of my favourite combinations is wearing a tailored pant and working it back with a pair of flats. A gorgeous slide (I highly recommend the Gucci pair I’m wearing above), or loafer or sneaker are all great options. By eschewing heels, you can dress down your look, but still maintain a polished feel with.

…that said you can wear it with a great heel

You can totally wear heels with a tailored pant (obviously!) but choose something with a slightly more minimalist feel, think something strappy as opposed to a pump. It makes it feel more on trend, and just avoids turning your look into something for the boardroom.

How are you wearing tailored pants?

Fashion

Non-skinny jeans options I’m loving

10th March, 2021

There has been much said about skinny jeans of late, with Gen Z declaring them cancelled (along with side parts, just FYI). While I’m all for wearing the kind of jeans style that works with your wardrobe, shape and style, if you are on the look out for other alternatives then you’ll be pleased to heat there are are more than a few options to consider.

I tend to gravitate towards straight leg styles now, along with cropped wide leg options which look great with a sandal or heel. I’ve found the former to be a real wardrobe staple for me now as they both work back with so many different styles of top, particularly a white t-shirt, which is a constant wardrobe MVP for me.

But the options don’t end there. There’s still the classic boyfriend style which is ideal for an off duty look, while the mom jean style is a great hybrid between boyfriend and straight and works for so many different occasions.

So if you’re looking to update your denim wardrobe, here are a few styles to consider.

Fashion, Shop

Lightweight linen pieces to update your summer wardrobe

30th October, 2020

If there’s one thing that should be front and centre in your summer wardrobe it’s anything and everything linen. The lightweight, breathable fabric is about as perfect as you can get for dealing with balmy, summer days. And the added bonus is, it looks effortless and chic which is a major plus when dealing with soaring temperatures which can leave you feeling hot and bothered.

Given the prevalence of linen in most brands’ collections this season, the only difficult part is trying to decide how you’re going to embrace it. Will it be via a flowy slip dress? Crisp and classic linen pants? Perhaps a tailored white top that will accompany any summer look effortlessly? To help get you started I’ve rounded up a few pieces that will kickstart your love affair with linen. Be prepared though, once you wear it, you’ll definitely be a repeat customer.

Wide leg pants in that so-perfect-for-summer oatmeal shade should be high on your wish list. These pants can be worn dressed up with a cami or thrown on over your swimmers to take you straight to after beach drinks.

With its classic shape, you’re guaranteed to get plenty of wear out of this top. Wear it back with denim for that perfect balance of smart casual or team it with a skirt for an outfit with a soft, feminine vibe.

A loose, flowy top like this is made for warm days. Pop it on over pants or shorts and it instantly gives it a slightly dressier feel.

The colour is striking but the simply, understated slip dress will be something that blends seamlessly into your summer wardrobe. Worn back with sneakers for a day of running around, or slides for a long lunch, you’ll get plenty of wear out of this piece.

These tailored shorts are just the perfect crisp white shade to take you through summer. The best bit is you’ll be able to pair it with so many different pieces, and easily dress it up or down.

If there’s a puff sleeve involved I’m there. It’s one of my favourite trends this spring/summer, and this crop with its sweet floral print and shirring is the ideal way to lift any outfit.

A simple staple that you’ll wear non-stop this summer is a midi skirt. In white, it’s just made for enjoying afternoon drinks, barefoot whilst soaking up the sun.

Blazers should be a constant in any wardrobe simply because it’s such an easy way to dress up an outfit with minimal effort. While some jackets might feel a little heavy in summer, a linen version is the perfect way to wear one when it’s warm out.

Apart from the fact this dusty rose shade is perfection, the classic shape of these shorts is the ideal way to this summer staple in a more polished way. Team it with a white tee and sneakers or slides and you’re set.

Linen doesn’t always mean neutrals, you can also go for truly beautiful pastels or vibrant shades. This baby pink skirt is just the kind of thing to wear when you’re wanting something a little more playful and fun.

If you’re a forever fan of sleek black pieces then these wide leg linen pants are about to become your new best friend in summer. Worn with bold colours, prints or simple neutrals, bookmark this piece to be on high rotation.

How cute is this linen jumpsuit? The shirring and the puff sleeves combo is always a winner and such a chic way to do linen this summer.

It’s summer so why not wholeheartedly embrace vivid colours? The turmeric shade of this dress is just the right amount of drama to truly lift any ensemble while the finer details such as the puff sleeves, crossover bodice and sweetheart neckline are the perfect full stop to this dress.

Fashion, Shop

This is the one tee you need for summer

2nd October, 2020

It starts to become abundantly clear in the lead up to summer what particular silhouette is going to be big. This season, it’s all about the muscle tee. The padded muscle tee to be exact. This t-shirt style has been given a strong update with the addition of padded shoulders (I’m obsessed with this style). There’s something about the addition of a little padding working back with a nipped in bottom such as a pair of high waisted jeans that makes for a really strong look.

There are no doubt going to be a few iterations of this top come summer so when you’re shopping for one be sure to firstly try it on if you can. There are some styles with a hefty amount of shoulder padding which doesn’t suit everyone so it’s key to see what it looks like first. Also it’s better if the padding isn’t super visible. This can sometimes occur when the material is slightly thinner and the padding hasn’t been sewed in securely and this can make the shoulder pads quite obvious. Other than that, don’t be afraid to jump aboard this trend.

Fashion

This top style is the new season update your wardrobe needs

28th August, 2020
Image: @aimeesong

New season wardrobe updates don’t have to entail a huge splurge on entirely new outfits. Sometimes all it takes is pinpointing a few strategic pieces that will take your existing wardrobe into on-trend territory. By doing this, you can easily tap into what’s now, without ending up with a closet full of things that may or may not last beyond this season.

As we head into spring/summer, consider making one key addition to your outfit repertoire. The 70s inspired polo top which has been doing the rounds of late and is definitely one of the key on-trend pieces this season. It’s quite minimalist in style which makes it a versatile piece to have on hand, and can easily be worked back with everything from jeans to shorts and skirts. It’s also quite polished making it an easy go-to for those days when you need to take your outfit game up a notch. There’s a range of styles available, but if you’re going to snap one up, definitely go for a ribbed style which is a great way to add some texture to a look.

I’ve rounded up a few great options at varying price points, so updating your looks for the coming months is now oh-so easy.

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: To Dye For

21st July, 2020

Tie dye has been a really huge trend of late and while it works well in casual pieces such as sweats and tees, what I love about this dress is that it’s such an unexpected print for a fashion house such as Dior. The silhouette works classic elements such as a crisp pleating and the tailoring of a shirt dress but adds a huge hit of vibrancy and punchiness in incorporating splashes of tie dye.

Working with such a busy print I knew I needed to incorporate accessories that were simple and elegant to offset such a bold statement piece. So I opted for a classic cream Dior bag with clean lines and a pared back vibe. For the final finishing touch I couldn’t go past a pair of black vintage cat eye sunglasses to add a fun feel to my overall look.

Credits: Dress and bag, Dior; Sunglasses, vintage

Photography: Sophia Athas

Fashion

How to do biz-leisure

6th July, 2020

One of the best things to come out of living in iso for so long was that loungewear has become a legitimate option for workwear. Enter biz-leisure, a trend recently highlighted by US Harper’s Bazaar which sees the amalgamation of business wear with comfortable loungewear.

Plenty of us would be quite familiar with this way of dressing. It’s the kind of style that’s made for Zoom calls which often involves working dressy pieces with more relaxed options. Think a blazer and shirt worn back with leggings and sneakers. It’s polished but isn’t overly so and strikes a nice, comfortable balance.

If you’re finding yourself slowly emerging back into the workplace, and straddling working from home punctuated with days at the office then here’s how to master this trend.

Balance is key

As great as tracksuit pants are, it’s likely you won’t just get away with wearing your trackies to work and declaring that you’re doing biz-leisure. It’s still important to strike the right balance between relaxed pieces and work-appropriate items, so be sure to incorporate polished separates into the mix like blazers, button down shirts, luxe knits and tailored pants.

Choose polished loungewear

Believe it or not, not all loungewear is created equal. While your fave hoodie from year 12 may be as comfortable as it gets, it’s probably not the kind of thing that you can get away with wearing as office wear. Opt for matching sets, go for fabrics such as wool, cashmere, silk and cotton and make sure that at least one element maintains a structured silhouette to avoid it looking unkempt.

Blazers and shirts are a key addition to any biz-leisure look

Go for neutral pieces

A colour palette that involves neutral shades such as beige, white and cream along with classic hues like navy, black and grey are ideal for workwear, and also so versatile for a casual look. Pieces such as this ensure longevity and allow you to create so many different looks.

Sneakers are key

If there’s one thing you absolutely need in your biz-leisure wardrobe it’s a pair of white sneakers. If you want to keep them work-appropriate, opt for a minimalist option that’s plain white, with minimal, if any embellishment or decoration.

Opt for classic and neutral palettes

Keep it comfortable

The beauty of biz-leisure is that it’s designed to be comfy. So embrace relaxed pieces such as buttery soft silk pants or a cosy wool knit. The silhouettes shouldn’t be too rigid, but evoke an understated nonchalance.

What do you think of biz-leisure? Will you embrace it?

Fashion, Shop

Why the trench coat will be your favourite style staple this season

9th March, 2020

As the temperature starts to drop in the coming weeks a coat will become a must. I’m a firm believer that a coat plays a crucial role when it comes to an outfit and should be considered as much as a dress or shoes. The right coat can pull a look together and is also one way to make a statement.

While I’m a fan of different coat styles, I’ve always found that one of the most versatile coats any woman can own is a trench coat. The shape is eternally stylish and suits virtually everyone. It’s also easily thrown on over everything from a dress to jeans and a tee or a sleek blouse and trousers.

This season you’ll find that trench coats will come in a range of shades so there’s definitely one to suit every wardrobe. I’ve always found the traditional khaki a great pick if you want just one coat that’s guaranteed to take you through the season. However if you want something a little different you could always explore a classic navy, a beautiful forest green or an on trend grey.

If you want more tips on how to style this classic staple check out the video below, and scroll down for some of my top trench coat picks.