veronika maine Archives - Kate Waterhouse

What I Wore: Power Suit

27th March, 2018

I think every woman should own at least one great suit. There’s just something inherently commanding about wearing one. Whilst traditional suits in classic colours such as black and navy are great, especially when in a more corporate setting, I love being able to push the boundaries a little more given that I work in largely creative settings a lot of the time. This is why this Rebecca Vallance suit and I are a match made in heaven. The colour, the fit, the style are all a fashionable take on a long standing classic.

The double breasted jacket is one that’s had a serious resurgence over the last few years and is always such a flattering fit. When paired with wide leg suit pants it helps give a streamlined silhouette up top which is great for when you’re more on the petite side like me. The pale blue hue of the suit with contrasting gold buttons helps lift my overall look and gives it a more fashion forward edge.

I decided to pair this suit with simple black studded Alaïa heels and Chanel clutch to provide some contrast without being too overwhelming. I find plain black accessories are always a reliable go-to when you want an outfit to have a timeless feel. However I did want to have a little fun too! My Chloe round frame sunglasses, I think, are an unexpected finishing detail for such a classic look and help give it a modern touch.

Credits: Jacket, Rebecca Vallance; Pants, Rebecca Vallance; Sunglasses, Chloe; Clutch, Chanel; Heels, Alaïa

Photography: Danielle Castano

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Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Rich Tones

20th March, 2018

While summer still seems to be stubbornly hanging on in Sydney, my mind’s already shifted towards what I’ll be wearing once temperatures get cooler. We’re heading into the time where it’s all about embracing richer, moodier hues as we head into the depths of autumn/winter.

There’s no better colour paired with cool weather dressing than those of the burgundy/wine variety. It’s a great alternative to black, yet still maintains the same level of sophistication. This funnel neck jumper by Veronika Maine is just the ideal shade for winter and is a gorgeous chunky knit that’s made for cosying up in. I opted to pair it with a check skirt which features the same burgundy colour as the sweater to tie my look together. I’ve found teaming knits with skirts is a great way to extend the wear of a jumper beyond just pants and jeans throughout the cooler months, and with the addition of my new Gucci pearl belt it really gives the look some shape and definition.

Whilst this outfit would be perfect with boots, I’m sticking to my favourite Alaïa heels for the moment whilst the weather is still open-toe shoe appropriate. Armed with a bag in the same colour family and simple black sunglasses, I think I’ve found a new favourite outfit to take me through the coming weeks.

Credits: Jumper, Veronika Maine; Skirt, Veronika Maine; Sunglasses, Poms; Heels, Alaïa; Bag, Polene; Belt, Gucci

Photography: Sophia Athas

This post was produced in collaboration with Veronika Maine

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Sheer glamour

13th March, 2018

It’s often fun to experiment with different textures and prints. And sometimes both amalgamate in perfect fashion such as this sheer top and skirt by Veronika Maine. This skirt is a definite statement piece—tulle, polka dots and pleating all work together to create just the right amount of drama to make it the focal point of any look.

I’m a big fan of matching pieces and this top in the same sheer fabric seemed an irresistible pairing. I love the sequinned collar (which can be detached should you want a different vibe to the top) which adds a bit of glam to the overall look. It’s also quite versatile in that I can layer it over a number of different tops which would then change its overall feel.

I was in the mood for a bold contrasting effect so I decided to wear a Veronika Maine white slip dress underneath. This helped the sheer black fabric from looking too flat and really helped lift the overall ensemble. As an added bonus I can also wear the slip dress on its own, which is a tick in the cost per wear box.

This makes for an ideal look for autumn as it adopts the darker hues of the cooler months; is the perfect opportunity to work with layers (a plus for for trans-seasonal weather) and has the kind of polished look that I associate with this time of year.

Credits: Skirt, Veronika Maine; Top, Veronika Maine; Slip, Veronika Maine

Photography: Sophia Athas

This post was produced in collaboration with Veronika Maine

Fashion, Shop, What I Wore

What I Wore: Quick Smart

7th March, 2018

I’ve been looking for an outfit that’s quite smart and polished, suitable for a few work events but also a slight departure from the silhouettes I usually wear. These culottes from Veronika Maine seemed the perfect place to start. The oversized buttons give it an adorable touch and the cropped wide leg style are a playful take on traditional suiting.

Given the white buttons on the culottes are such a focal point I wanted to keep my blouse quite simple. I knew that the pants needed to take centre stage so a classic, pussy bow style blouse seemed the right fit. This Veronika Maine top has just the right look and feel to it with the understated print and the ladylike bow. It was also a way to add a feminine touch to my ensemble.

Every time I accessorise an outfit I always try and do a sweep of the overall look and decide whether I need to take it up a notch or embrace simplicity. As the rest of my look was quite subdued I wanted to add a subtle touch of glam in the form of my favourite Alaïa heels. They have a bold studded detail feature that makes them a statement piece yet not so loud that they’re overwhelming. Where I did choose to elevate the look a little was in the form of my earrings. I felt a pair of gold drop earrings was able to dial up the glamour without being too showy as I knew that I’d more than likely be wearing this outfit for mostly day events.

I think this autumn I’ll be looking to embrace cropped pants a little more as I ease my way into all out winter dressing. They’re a nice meet-in-the-middle piece that will be able to navigate the trans-seasonal weather quite nicely.

Credits: Blouse, Veronika Maine; Culottes, Veronika Maine; Shoes, Alaïa; Earrings, vintage.

Photography: Sophia Athas

Fashion, Shop, What I Wore

What I Wore: All lined up

19th September, 2017

Experimenting with layering is one tried and tested way that I end up discovering new looks in my wardrobe. I’ll often start with one statement item (in this case it was the ruffled asymmetric hem skirt by Veronika Maine) and pair it with something unexpected to build up an outfit. It takes a few tries but eventually I’ll stumble open a combination that works. In this instance I wanted to provide a contrast to the feminine vibe of the skirt so I paired it with a pinstripe man-style button down shirt. The silhouette looked a little too voluminous so I added a corset belt to cinch in the shirt and add a little shape and provide some structure to the overall look. Plus I liked the effect of clashing stripes on stripes to add another layer of interest to the ensemble. I wanted some colour contrast to the blue tones of the shirt and skirt so I opted for my beige Loewe Barcelona bag but stuck to my black Alaia heels to allow that one accessory to be the focal point. I loved the total effect of this outfit—it’s like a corporate inspired look that’s been deconstructed and given a little edge.

Credits: Skirt,Veronika Maine; Top, Veronika Maine; Belt, Veronika Maine; Heels, Alaia; Bag, Loewe; Sunglasses Poms

Photography: Danielle Castano

This post was created in collaboration with Veronika Maine

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: The cold shoulder dress

12th September, 2017

If you’re looking for a new season wardrobe update that will take you through the next few months then make it of the cold shoulder dress variety. I was after a casual sundress that could be an easy go-to for off duty style and this Veronika Maine dress certainly fit the brief. The striped pattern elevates the dress into something that looks smart yet remains easy and effortless making it ideal for weekends. The appeal of this particular silhouette is that it accentuates one of the most flattering parts of the body—the shoulder—making it a great style for most women. A pair of round 60s style sunglasses makes for a dramatic finishing touch and adds a statement-making feature to the whole ensemble. I finished off the look with metallic star sandals for a fun pop of colour and my neutral Helen Kaminski clutch makes the ideal understated accompaniment for a printed dress with effortless appeal.

Photography: Danielle Castano

This post was created in collaboration with Veronika Maine

Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Walk the Line

31st August, 2017

For no-fuss dressing I always turn to a great dress. It’s the one thing in my wardrobe which makes it a cinch to pull together an outfit as I don’t have to worry about having to style multiple pieces—I throw it on and I’m pretty much done. It’s one of the reasons this Veronika Maine striped shirt dress is currently one of my go-tos. The bold lines instantly make it look smart whilst the corset style belt gives it a very on-trend, modern feel. I love the fact the dropped waist and ruffled hem give it a relaxed vibe while still being very much work or event appropriate. I wanted to give the outfit a pop of colour so opted for a pair of gold heels which give the whole ensemble a luxe touch whilst a classic navy top handle bag complements the blue belt while still allowing the dress to take centre stage. I always like to add a statement piece to my outfits and in this instance I couldn’t resist pairing it with a pair of fun, cat eye sunglasses.

Photography: Danielle Castano

This post was created in collaboration with Veronika Maine