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Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Royal Ascot 2023

27th June, 2023

I’m in London at the moment enjoying the sunshine and attending one of my favourite racing events, Royal Ascot. After the last few years of limited travel, I’m so appreciative of being able to attend these events again, and you can’t get much bigger than Ascot. It’s always fun putting together looks for this event, and having gone the Gucci route last year I decided to embrace the designer once again. Why mess with a winning formula, right? This Gucci suit is so next level. The tailoring is impeccable and the silhouette is classic yet with a few modern twists. The collar is such a fun detail but as its detachable, it adds some versatility to this look as I could opt to wear it without it another time. Also the belt with the oversized buckle does double duty by cinching in my waist for a flattering silhouette but also being a statement piece.

Given the colour of the suit is quite understated, it needed some extra oomph. While the belt did a great job of adding a touch of drama, I couldn’t go past the two-tone heels to add some boldness and colour. The tapered red heel and the pleated detail at the front added a touch of fun to such a classic look. Luckily, Gucci’s accessories game is strong, so I was spoilt for choice when it came to the finishing details to this ensemble. The quilted black bag with chain detail added an elegant touch, while the black straw boater with bow helped me tick the headwear box in the most sophisticated of ways. A pair of black sunglasses were a must, and helped round out this racing ensemble, and prepared me for a fun day enjoying the sunshine trackside.

Credits: Jacket, pants, bag (similar here), sunglasses (similar shape here), shoes and hat, Gucci

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

 

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Fashion

Easy ways to incorporate dressier items into your weekday and weekend wardrobe

25th June, 2023

I love dressing up but I always feel a little guilty to see certain parts of my closet go unworn until I have an excuse to wear something to event again. So, I’ve started trying to use more of my dressy pieces, think dresses, beautiful blouses, tailored pants, co-ord sets and suits, in my weekday and weekend wardrobe. Of course, not everything can be transformed into something decidedly more casual (a ballgown is still a ballgown after all!) but for the most part, I’ve been able to utilise so much more of my closet by incorporating a few styling tricks to make pieces seem more casual or daytime appropriate. Learning how to use dressy items in a more casual way ensures that you’re wearing more of your wardrobe, more of the time. Want to try it for yourself? Here are a few things you can do to give your event clothes a new lease on life.

Pair it with sneakers

The foolproof way to take the dressy vibe away from a particular look, whether it’s a dress or a top and pants is to pair it with a pair of white sneakers. The upside in doing this is that you can pretty much get away with wearing sneakers everywhere these days so it’s an easy fashion trick to adopt.

Add a fun accessory

Dressy for me calls for more glam accessories, but if I want to dial down the dressiness of something I’d usually wear to an event I usually pair it with something playful and fun. Think a pair of white framed sunglasses or a bag in a vibrant colour.

Switch out the top or bottom

Often you can take the dressiness out of an ensemble by switching out an element for something more casual. For example a dressy blouse paired with denim all of a sudden looks ready for brunch. Incorporating a casual feel somewhere tempers the elevated vibe of certain items, but without compromising on style.

Ditch the heels

If you want to make something more work and weekend ready, consider leaving your heels at home. There are plenty of other options to use, whether it’s a slide, a ballet flat or loafer, which are stylish but don’t feel so dressed up. Plus way more comfy, so there’s that!

Pop on a jacket

If you’ve got a dress that looks a little more night than day appropriate, consider popping on a jacket. You could pair it with a black blazer, a denim jacket or a leather jacket and it can instantly make it feel more casual, while maintaining a polished feel. Plus, this allows you to double the wear of your after dark looks.

Do you use your dressy items in your regular wardrobe? How do you do it?

Fashion

What I Wore: Winter Whites

20th June, 2023

There’s something I love about wearing neutrals and whites during winter. There’s a lightness and crispness to it that’s a slightly unexpected colour palette in chilly temperatures. A great cable knit jumper provides such a lovely textural element to an outfit and is also a really versatile piece – I could wear this Witchery number with jeans and pants, ensuring it gets plenty of wear throughout winter. I wore this sweater back with white jeans, as I liked the tonal look it achieved, plus I’ve always found that white pants of any kind to generally looks put together. For a casual outfit, the white jeans add a polished touch.

I knew this outfit, given I’ve layered very light shades would need a bit of boldness to avoid it looking washed out, so the black belt helped provide a focal point, something to break up the neutral tones. I wanted to carry the black through to my shoes to add some cohesiveness, so these boots were the ideal choice. They helped ground the outfit while giving me some extra height to elongate my frame. It just goes to show that winter dressing doesn’t relegate you to all the moody tones in your wardrobe. Sometimes a little lightness is the answer.

Credits: Jumper, jeans, belt and shoes, Witchery

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

This shoot was produced in collaboration with Witchery

Fashion, What I Wore

What I wore this week

15th June, 2023

It’s the week for a round up of the more dressy looks I’ve worn of late. Events, interviews and work commitments have given me the perfect excuse to break out a few of my fave pieces, plus some new additions. The theme seems to be that I’m in my suiting season right now, as I cannot get enough of this style staple. The great thing about it is that it can be worn in so many different iterations, so whether it’s a traditional suit or a vest and pants set there’s nothing a suit can’t work for. Here’s what I wore this week.

Credits: Top, Alaia; Pants, SIR, Heels, Giuseppe Zanotti; Sunglasses, Poppy Lissiman

Alaia have released an ‘Editions’ collection which features designs from their archives dating from 1981 – 2017 and this ultra flattering bodysuit is from that range. It’s on the exxy side but the quality and fit is amazing. It’s made from a stretch knit which is comfy and achieves a really smooth line, while the off the shoulder silhouette is one of my faves as it’s ultra flattering. I wore this with a simple pair of black trousers from SIR and Giuseppe Zanotti heels. You can’t beat an all black ensemble for hitting all the right notes when it comes to looking polished.

Credits: Jacket and pants, Rebecca Vallance; Heels, Witchery

I love a suiting moment of any kind and Rebecca Vallance always does a great suit. This oatmeal coloured set feels very fresh and modern and gives this suit a lightweight feel. I like the fact suits are able to be worn in so many different ways to change up their look and feel, and this time around I decided to wear the jacket buttoned up to act as more of a top rather than a jacket. However a quick addition of a white tank underneath plus white sneakers and it immediately gives it an on trend vibe. The versatility factor definitely contributes to my love of suiting.

Credits: Vest and pants, Seed; Heels, Bottega Veneta

I do like the current trend of vests worn with tailored pants which gives a suit a more modern spin. Hot tip: check out Seed’s tailored options. I got this set from there and it definitely has the upmarket feel of bespoke tailoring minus the price tag. I wore this with my Bottega Veneta heels to give it a more feminine vibe, but if I wanted to dress it down I could definitely get away with wearing this set with sneakers.

Credits: Dress, Camilla and Marc; Heels, Giuseppe Zanotti

I was doing a try on session at Camilla and Marc and came upon this super cute dress. I love the ruching detail down the middle which adds a point of interest while the maxi hem gives it an elegant feel. I went with a simple pair of heels in this instance as I liked its understated vibe.

 

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Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Merlot

13th June, 2023

I love unexpected ways to incorporate leather into my wardrobe. While I’m all about a leather legging or pant, this dress by Sofia Irina has me adding leather dresses to my new list of winter faves. Supple and super luxurious, this shirt dress ticks all the boxes, including the beautiful textural element that leather adds. The military inspired silhouette feels very modern and bold, while the exaggerated shoulders and the gold detailing give it a bit of an edge. Also given the fact leather can be a little bulky in nature, the wide waist belt does the job of creating a cinched in profile which is ultra flattering. This dress comes in three colour ways (the others are black and a colour called chive which is a forest green colour) but I immediately gravitated towards this deep merlot hue. It’s such a great colour for winter and adds a punchy injection of colour to an outfit. Also, the wine colour really goes hand in hand with cooler temperatures and the time to embrace richer shades.

A variety of different shoe options could work with this particular dress, but I wanted to add a fun, playful touch so these Gucci platforms were the obvious choice. I love a platform because it adds a good few inches of height which is never not a good thing, plus it’s so flattering — it elongates your frame and makes your legs look like they go on forever! In keeping with all things Gucci, this mini Jackie bag seemed the perfect way to accessorise this outfit. The Jackie is a signature silhouette of the brand and when in the quintessential Gucci monogram, it keeps the bag looking classic. This winter, while you’re busy playing with layers, don’t forget about textures and colours too — they really can give an outfit the extra lift it needs.

Credits: Dress, Sofia Irina; Shoes and bag, Gucci, Sunglasses, Poppy Lissiman

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

This shoot was produced in collaboration with Sofia Irina

 

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Fashion, What I Wore

What I wore this week

8th June, 2023

It’s been awhile between these posts! It has been a bit hectic so I’m now getting around to recapping a few of my fave looks over the last few weeks. I’ve had the opportunity to attend some fun launches and racing events of late and as a result, I’ve been able to wear some pretty great events looks as well. Here are a few of my faves…

If there’s one thing everyone needs during winter it’s a camel coat. This Bec and Bridge number is such a versatile piece and just the perfect length to wear with everything from pants to dresses and skirts. I wore this look to an event launching The Social Quarter in Melbourne’s Chadstone shopping centre and I needed a coat to keep me cosy, as I was wearing a strapless dress, also by Bec and Bridge underneath. I liked the structured silhouette of the coat and that it had almost a blazer vibe to it – it helped balance the more floaty nature of the dress. The floral print also felt a little more unexpected for winter dressing. The nude heels helped keep everything quite tonal and tied everything together.

Credits: Dress and coat, Bec and Bridge; Heels, Scanlan Theodore

I flew up to Brisbane to attend the Stradbroke season launch so decided to have a Barbiecore moment with this candy pink dress by Paco Rabanne. The celestial print added a fun touch, while the long sleeves and ankle length hem kept my look classic (a must for me whenever it comes to race day looks). A white boater and white heels made for the perfect contrast pieces against the pink of the dress. I love touches of crisp white for adding a smart touch to any look.

Dress: Dress, Paco Rabanne via Camargue; Hat, Martina McGrath; Heels, Nine West

Prints are always a great way to elevate a racing look and this houndstooth dress by Rebecca Vallance was a great way to tackle a monochrome colour palette. I also like the fact it features a gold chain trim that adds a luxe touch, and a bit of texture to this outfit. A great pump in the form of one of my go-tos, a pair of black Aquazzura pointed heels keep this look sleek and polished. I also added an adorable mini Loeffler Randall clutch to keep my essentials within easy reach, and a Martina McGrath veiled hat kept this ensemble looking wintery but honoured the requirement of headwear for any racing event.

Credits: Dress, Rebecca Vallance; Hat, Martina McGrath; Bag, Loeffler Randall; Heels, Aquazzura

It was texture galore with this Manning Cartell look! I loved the oversized sequinned effect the scales achieved plus it really added a touch of theatre to this ensemble. This is actually a top and skirt set so I tied the look together with a black vintage waist belt to give it more of a dress effect. My fave Bottega Veneta heels and a velvet padded headband made for the perfect pared back accessories to let the dress shine.

Credits: Top and skirt, Manning Cartell; Belt, vintage; Heels, Bottega Veneta; Headband, Avenue

 

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Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Winter Classics

6th June, 2023

Now that winter is officially here, layers are the name of the game. I recently did a shoot and interview with the fashion brand Willow and loved the look I wore below because it was the perfect example of how I like to embrace dressing for the cool weather. I always go for classic pieces such as a gorgeous trench or a tailored pant to anchor my look and act as the focal point from which to build the rest of my outfit. That’s the beauty of working with the classics – they can be worn time and time again and reworked in myriad ways. The trench is definitely the must-have coat of the season. It has to be long length, a touch oversized and worn in a relaxed way. Definitely wear it open with the belt tied at the back for a more contemporary way to style it. A trench is the kind of piece that can be thrown on over almost any look to elevate it, so it’s a great shortcut on days when you’re not quite sure which direction to take your outfit. Tailored pants are very much having a moment, and these black pants are going to work well throughout winter given their versatility. I wanted to add a touch of colour, and this bodysuit in a rich wintery hue helped lift my go-to classic pieces.

Jewellery and accessories really can make or break an outfit. In this instance I wanted to go for footwear that added an on trend touch, and my fave Bottega Veneta sandals are the kind of shoe that can play nicely with other pieces, but the design is iconic enough to add some interest. A black quilted Chanel bag played into the classic vibe I was going for, while layering some gold necklaces added an injection of boldness.

Credits: Trench, bodysuit, pants, Willow; Heels, Bottega Veneta; Bag, Chanel

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

 

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Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Sheer Delight

30th May, 2023

There’s something alluring about wearing something sheer but it’s always tricky trying to figure out how to style it while still maintaining your modesty. Unless the designer has already thought of it for you, of course. Such is the case with this gorgeous Willow blouse. The built in panel is perfect as it maintains the sheer effect without having to fuss around trying to figure out what you’re going to wear underneath. It also makes for the ideal top to pair with tailored pants, as the flash of skin helps break up the dark colours and avoids the entire ensemble from looking too heavy. Also if you don’t have a pair already, definitely invest in a pair of dark slacks. They’re on point this season and can be worn out to dinner to an event or a day in the office. It’s definitely the kind of style that’s extremely versatile and worth the investment.

Shoes are always a key consideration when you’re working an outfit the works with dark hues as you need a hit of lightness. A closed shoe in black may have been a little too heavy for this, so I went for a pair of strappy Bottega Veneta heels instead. The straps and open style add an element of interest and the fact you can see some skin, much like the blouse avoids this look from being a little too dark. A quilted Chanel bag is always a welcome addition to any look, and adds a sophisticated finishing touch.

Credits: Blouse, pants, Willow; Heels, Bottega Veneta; Bag, Chanel

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

 

 

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Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Black Velvet

25th May, 2023

As we head into winter, I’m all about layering textures and embracing rich fabrics. It’s definitely the time of year when luxe fabrications are in order. So, this set by Witchery really appealed because who doesn’t love a velvet moment? The matching set is something I do so frequently now because it such an easy, effortless way to dress. The boxy cropped jacket, teamed with a wide leg pant feels very opulent, looks polished and the textures gives a classic silhouette a bit of an edge. It’s also a bit 70s Jane Birkin, which I love. Also, worn separately, the two pieces are able to be turned into multiple looks. For example the jacket with a pair of jeans, and the pants with a crisp white shirt. When wearing such a heavy fabric as velvet, I think you need to look for some relief in the form of  finishing details. The braided edging breaks up the heaviness and adds an element of interest.

I quite liked the suit vibe of this dress, but didn’t want it to look overly sharp or structured so I opted to wear a sweater underneath. I went for a pattern because a plain black top would have looked too stark. Also, PSA: pointed toe shoes are back. It’s closed toe shoe time again and this slingback style, also by Witchery was perfect. I liked that the block heel grounded the look while and was supremely comfortable. This exercise in layering and luxe fabrics has me wanting to play around with my winter wardrobe and get ready for the looks I can wear over the coming colder months.

Credits: Jacket, pants, shoes, Witchery

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

This post was produced in collaboration with Witchery

 

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Fashion, What I Wore

What I Wore: Australian Fashion Week 2023 Day 3

18th May, 2023

As a longtime fan of Bec & Bridge, I always look forward to their show every year. It’s bad for my bank balance though as I inevitably want virtually everything that I see come down the runway! This year’s show, much like previous years didn’t disappoint. Of course, wearing Bec & Bridge was a must so I opted for something that had a slightly more masculine vibe than the previous days’ looks. Given the trend towards suiting, I couldn’t go past this grey suit. The pants are actually designed to sit a little lower on the waist which takes some getting used to again given most pants I wear sit slightly higher these days! But I love that a simple change in the rise of a pant can give a look a more contemporary feel. The matching blazer is a little more oversized and has a boxy fit which feels very on trend right now (very Hailey Bieber) and takes this look into more of a fashion direction, as opposed to the slightly more fitted look of a corporate suit. What I loved most about this look is the unexpected pairing of a suit with a backless bodysuit. I loved the contrast between traditional tailoring and something super modern and sexy. I found it gave this look great balance, while also making a statement.

I wanted to add some glam touches to my ensemble, and Jimmy Choo certainly delivered in that department. I opted for a crystal embellished bag which gave the look some glitz and sparkle (a great contrast to the more traditional look of a suit). And a pair of sky high stilettos helped elongate my frame and avoided the baggy silhouette of the pants from becoming overwhelming.

Credits: Jacket, pants and bodysuit, Bec & Bridge; Heels and bag, Jimmy Choo

Photography: Ashleigh Larden

 

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