Browsing Tag

work wardrobe

Fashion, What I Wore

What I wore working from home

4th September, 2020

My working weeks are becoming more varied which has been great as I’ve been able to broaden my wardrobe a little more. I had a few shoots slotted in during the day while working from home so I was able try try out a few dressier pieces in my closet. The weather in Sydney was also glorious throughout the week so I was able to embrace a few summery pieces. Can’t wait to bring more of my spring/summer wardrobe out!

I was shooting for The Outnet and was definitely vibing this one-shoulder Stella McCartney top from the site. Love the puffy sleeves and detail, but it’s also a great piece to pair with jeans as it helps to achieve the ideal high-low mix. I know I’m going to get plenty of use out of this top in the coming months.

Credits: Top, Stella McCartney; Jeans, Levis

The warm weather meant I could play with a few of my spring dresses. I love the drop waist style of this particular piece from Steele along with the cut-out and tie detail at the back. It’s also a great comfy WFH look so it ticks all the boxes.

Credits: Dress, Steele

I wore this look for another shoot during the week and can I just say, I am loving all things Aje. They always do such dramatic and bold silhouettes and are always such great statement pieces to have.

Credits: Dress, Aje

This blazer is actually part of a suit but I often treat suiting as separates and wear the jacket and pants with other pieces. It’s a great way to maximise the wear I get out of them, particularly as there aren’t many excuses to wear a suit these days. These Bec and Bridge jeans have served me well and are so versatile. I was also happy to wear these slingback flats again—I’ve missed wearing polished footwear and have always found these flats to be such a great shoe.

Credits: Blazer, Rebecca Vallance; Top, Manning Cartell; Jeans (similar here), Bec and Bridge; Shoes, Dior

Fashion, What I Wore

What I wore working from home

27th August, 2020

It’s the last few days of winter so I’m making the most of it by keeping my fave winter pieces on high rotation until we hit that transseasonal weather time where I’m not quite sure what to do with my wardrobe! That said, this week’s working from home looks have been mostly about comfort, apart from one day this week where I got to play with an amazing Rebecca Vallance suit for work. I’m relishing any excuse to get dressed up! Here’s what I wore working from home this week.

Let’s once again give a round of applause to whoever kickstarted the tracksuit trend. Because it’s one of the greatest things ever to be able to walk out the door with my fave set on, pop on a coat and I’ve ticked a trend box. This Camilla and Marc jumper and pants is unbelievably comfortable but also the grey makes it really versatile. Ticks all round!

Credits: Sweatshirt and tracksuit pants, Camilla and Marc; Coat, Viktoria and Woods; Sneakers, D.O.F

I love wearing suits and since there hasn’t been really an occasion to wear them the last few months, I welcomed the opportunity to wear this Rebecca Vallance set this week. It’s such a sleek silhouette and love the pearl buttons and fine fringing on the jacket. I wore this with a pair of white Bottega Veneta heels to finish the look off and lift it with a little extra colour.

Credits: Suit jacket and pants, Rebecca Vallance; Top, Heene; Shoes (similar here), Bottega Veneta;

Puffer jackets are easily one of my fave things to have on hand on crisp winter mornings and this new one from Unreal has been such a toasty addition to my wardrobe. This is a great go-to look as it’s so wearable, and comfortable with the leggings and sneakers.

Credits: Jacket, Unreal; Leggings, Camilla and Marc; Sneakers, D.O.F

I’ve bookmarked this outfit for my transseasonal wardrobe. These jeans are a great shade to work back with myriad tops. But I am all about the shape and style of this top. The structured shoulders give it a sense of boldness while the linen keeps it comfy. I’m going to be wearing this look A LOT.

Credits: Top and jeans, Viktoria and Woods

Fashion, What I Wore

What I wore working from home

13th August, 2020

Working from home was broken up with some filming commitments for Lexus so I was able to get dressed up! (I don’t think I ever fully appreciated how nice it was to be able to do that until now). It’s a nice way to break up the week and is something different so I always welcome these small changes to the day. Here’s what I wore working from home this week.

Spring/summer pieces are slowly but surely starting to creep back into my wardrobe. This dress is ultra comfortable but I loved the fact it still has a polished feel with the ruching and puffed sleeves. Also being able to wear sneakers with just about everything is so great isn’t it?

Credits: Dress, Steele; Sneakers, D.O.F

Kept it simple today with a cosy knit but added a pop of colour with the pink shade. Jeans and my go-to Chanel flats helped finish off the look. I could swap the slingbacks for sneakers and have myself an outfit that’s great for days spent running around after the girls.

Credits: Knit (similar here), Country Road; Jeans (similar here), Camilla and Marc; Flats, Chanel; Chunky necklace (similar here), Aje; Medallion, custom

Embracing touches of monochrome with this particular ensemble for a day of filming with Lexus. I went with a pared back yet polished look and went for the failsafe combination of a blazer, classic top and jeans. Comfortable flats also helped to round out this ensemble.

Credits: Blazer, Aje; Jeans, Camilla and Marc; Top, Manning Cartell; Flats, Chanel

I changed up the previous look by making a simple swap from a blazer to a cardigan. I’m always a fan of an outfit that can be reworked by tweaking one piece. Also, this cardigan is as cosy and comfy as it looks. It’s been such a great investment and is something I know I’ll wear again season after season.

Credits: Cardigan, Skin and Threads; Jeans, Camilla and Marc; Top, Manning Cartell

Fashion, What I Wore

What I wore working from home

30th July, 2020

It’s another work from home week and it has been torrential downpour and freezing one minute to sunny days and mild-ish temperatures the next in Sydney. So, it has made outfits very trans-seasonal. I’ve also had a few work meetings scheduled and took the opportunity to embrace some slightly dressier pieces because who doesn’t love any excuse to get a little more dressed up these days. Here’s what I wore this week.

All about a statement coat and couldn’t resist this leopard print faux fur number. It’s super cosy too, so it definitely ticks the practical box. I relied on my failsafe jeans and a white top combination on this day, because it provided the perfect base for a funky print.

Credits: Coat, Unreal; Jeans, Levis; Top (similar here), Uniqlo

I wore this in a recent What I Wore post and can attest to how much I love it based on its frequency of appearance in my outfit roster. I really can’t go past comfy separates, and paired with boots, it’s the ideal balance of comfort-dressiness that I always aim for.

Credits: Top and skirt, Camilla and Marc; Boots, Louis Vuitton

I saw this knit and fell in love immediately because I could imagine how warm and cosy it would be. I’m a fan of all things navy as I’ve found it to always look chic and classic, and I think the silhouette with the hybrid cowl/turtleneck makes for the ideal anchor point to this look. I added a black skirt with fold detail (you can always rely on Dion Lee for the most perfect finishing touches) and kept the rest pretty simple.

Credits: Knit, Camilla and Marc; Skirt (similar here), Dion Lee

How good are these camel pants by Manning Cartell? They’re a great fit and just the right winter shade. I wanted to go for a pared back vibe so I went for a simple white ribbed top. I enjoy having the opportunity to rock a few dressier pieces and these pants have become a firm fave.

Credits: Top (similar here), Uniqlo; Pants, Manning Cartell

Fashion, Shop

Work bags that will make heading into the office a little more chic

10th January, 2020

Most people have a work bag of some description. Whether it’s a small shoulder bag that carries just the essentials or a sturdy tote that holds your entire life, there’s something to be said for having a trusty carryall at your disposal.

If your current bag is looking a little battered from constant use, now may be the time to consider investing in a replacement. Given how much wear and tear they experience, I’m all for choosing a bag that’s well made and built to last for years, not to mention withstand everything from the daily commute to carting all your things around.

So, what makes a great work bag? Look for a design that’s simple and practical—make sure that it’s big enough to hold everything you need and versatile enough that it can be worn with myriad outfits quite easily. A classic shape in a neutral colour with minimal embellishment will ensure that it can be worn for years and looks professional too.

Scroll down for some great work bag options to consider this year.

Fashion

Essentials of a chic work wardrobe

8th January, 2020

I’ve always found the start of a new year to be the perfect time to re-visit a work wardrobe. Given most of us are trying to get ourselves ready for a brand new working year, it’s a great opportunity to ensure that our office looks are sleek and professional and that we’re armed with the necessary pieces to avoid morning wardrobe meltdowns. So, what are the key pieces we should have at our disposal? There are five, and I guarantee that with their help, you’ll always feel ready to kick major career goals.

A blazer

I couldn’t live without a blazer in my wardrobe. It’s a shortcut to looking put together without having to do much at all. I can usually pop on a blazer over everything from a dress to a skirt and even jeans and my look is instantly elevated.

If you’re going to invest in a blazer, black is always a failsafe. However navy is also a good wearable option, and a great patterned jacket is something that you can wear with more pared back pieces to lift them and give them some extra personality.

A white shirt

A crisp white shirt is a forever staple because you can pair it with pretty much anything and look chic. You’ll find that you can rock a white shirt with myriad pieces in your wardrobe and you’ll look sophisticated without having to do much at all.

There are several iterations of a white shirt, everything from the classic button down to slightly more on trend variations with statement sleeves, so there’s bound to be one to suit your wardrobe and personality.

A smart work bag

Given that you use it on almost a daily basis a quality work bag is a must. Opt for one of that’s well made and built to withstand the constant wear and tear it will receive. Also to ensure that you get maximum wearability from it, choose a design and colour that’s quite pared back as you can pair it with multiple looks.

A versatile heel or flat

It’s fun to incorporate a fun coloured heel or embellished flat into your look once in awhile but for most days, you’ll want a heel in a classic, neutral colour such as black so you can wear it with most of your work wardrobe. Also given how often you’ll be wearing these shoes, definitely make a point of looking after them so this means having them re-soled and also spray them with leather or fabric protector. These simple precautions will ensure that they go the distance.

A polished dress

I can vouch for the incredible versatility of a simple dress in a classic design. This means a sleek silhouette and minimal embellishments. Doing so will ensure that your dress can be reworked in numerous ways and can be dressed up or down according to the accessories you’re wearing each day.

Fashion

On a budget… work wardrobe

27th February, 2019

You spend a huge chunk of your life working so it stands to reason that you should feel confident and amazing every time you head off to work. Whether you’re in an office or you’re constantly on the road or manage your own schedule being self-employed, it’s important to have a functional office capsule wardrobe that will take you from your desk to an important meeting without missing a beat. Having done a stint in both a full-time office environment and also the varied schedule of having my own business, these are some of the things I’ve learn about looking great on the job without having to spend a whole lot.

Invest in key pieces

Starting with the right building blocks of a work wardrobe will mean that you’re able to get dressed everyday with minimal drama and just dress it up with inexpensive accessories. Start with classics like a great black blazer, tailored pants, a white shirt, a versatile skirt and a simple dress in either a block colour or an unfussy print. These staples can easily be worked back with other items in your closet but are key in looking professional for work.

Alter existing items

If you’ve got a few things in your work wardrobe that have become a little tired consider taking them to a tailor to have them reworked. For example you could alter a midi skirt and have it changed to be knee length so it feels like an entirely new garment but at a fraction of the price.

Add inexpensive accessories

A pair of classic earrings or a chic scarf are accessories that you can easily pair with your work wardrobe to dress your outfits up but without having to spend a fortune.

I’m all for stocking my work wardrobe with chic basics that can be paired with other inexpensive pieces
Know when to buy

If you want to update your office wardrobe it pays to keep abreast of when the big sales are happening so you know exactly when it’s time to snap up a few pieces. Sign up for your favourite brands’ newsletters and follow them on social media to be the first to know when things will be on sale.

Rework pieces from your wardrobe

We often tend to relegate certain things for work and certain things for play but sometimes they can crossover and make for a great office look. This effectively also doubles your work wardrobe. Look out for tops that can be worn under jackets, chic flats that will look great teamed with tailored pants and dresses that when paired with the right blazer and shoes, look super sharp and chic.

Fashion, Shop

Work appropriate shoes with loads of style cred

25th February, 2018

As I mentioned in this post earlier this week I wore heels all day, every day when I worked in an office. Granted I probably had a bit more leeway in the styles that I wore because of working in fashion but I was still conscious that everything had to be work appropriate. I know how difficult it was at times to find work shoes that were still on trend whilst not looking completely over the top for daytime whilst heading to the printer or doing a morning coffee run. These days however, there’s never been a better time for shoes that are totally ideal from 9 to 5 but are still cool enough to head straight to dinner or drinks after work without missing a beat. In fact, you may even want to pull them out for the weekend such is their style power. Here are some styles you should definitely become familiar with — they’ll up your work shoe game and turn more than a few co-workers’ heads in the process.

Kate Waterhouse street style balenciaga sock boots and maggie marilyn skirt

The slingback with edge

Kitten heel slingbacks have made a comeback and not only are they comfortable, you’ll find them in a variety of classic shades, and some with hits of colour to give them a sartorial lift.

Stylish work shoes Prada logo print glossed leather slingback pumps

Prada logo print glossed leather slingback pumps

Patterned mule

This style would look amazing with a cropped pant, but equally so with a dress or skirt —essentially anything that flashes a bit of ankle is ideal when it comes to the mule.

Stylish work shoes style Altuzzara Izy patterned twill mule

Altuzzara Izy patterned twill mule

Trusty loafers

Yes, you can wear flats to the office. Especially loafers which will save your feet and they look pretty darn stylish while doing so. Gucci do a great pair but as they’re such a huge trend right now, there are plenty of affordable options out there.

Stylish work shoes Gucci Brixton horsebit-detailed collapsible heel leather loafer

Gucci Brixton horsebit-detailed collapsible heel leather loafer

Classic pumps

A pair of classic pointy heels are work-friendly and can also extend to your off duty wardrobe. Black is of course a great all-rounder but for an alternative, try navy. It works equally as well but definitely has a bit more personality.

Stylish work shoes Gianvito Rossi 85 suede pumps

Gianvito Rossi 85 suede pumps

Sock boot

I love my sock boots (pictured above) and this coming winter I know they’ll come in very handy. They’re ideal for wearing with skirts and wide leg pants as they have a nice streamlined silhouette.

Stylish work shoes Gianvito Rossi cling suede sock boot

 

Stuart Weitzman cling suede sock boot

A touch of embellishment

Yes, a pair of black pumps is a failsafe as far as work shoes go but look for cute finishing touches such as a sweet bow to lift it and make it a little more interesting.

Stylish work shoes Ganni Sabine suede slingback pumps

Ganni Sabine suede slingback pumps

Cutout pump

This style means business! Whilst a super high heel would probably be better suited for those days when you know your desk will just be a few metres away these are sharp, chic and the kind of power work shoe you pull out for big meetings.

Stylish work shoes Jimmy Choo Vanessa 100 cutout textured leather and suede pumps

Jimmy Choo Vanessa 100 cutout textured leather and suede pumps

The Mary Jane

The ever adorable Mary Jane style shoe is a perfect style for the office but look for finishing touches such as a coloured strap or textured fabrication.

Stylish work shoes Gucci Sylvie grosgrain trimmed leather pumps

Gucci Sylvie grosgrain trimmed leather pumps

Tell me—what are your go-to styles when it comes to work shoes?
Fashion, Shop

5 pieces that will instantly update your work wardrobe

22nd September, 2016

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Your nine-to-five wardrobe doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, office wear can easily become fashion forward with just a few key pieces. I know some workplaces are a little more flexible with their dress codes than others but rest assured even in the most conservative, corporate office these pieces will get the stamp of approval. And the best bit? You can easily transition them to the weekend to get double the wear out of them. And if you’re all about cost per wear like I am, this will help justify a new purchase!

Double breasted blazer

Thanks to Balmain’s popularity this double breasted military style blazer has become quite the wardrobe staple. Update your regular blazer with this style for instant on trend cred. Wear it with a skirt, over a dress or with cigarette pants to work and when it comes to the weekend you can easily pop on a pair of jeans, a tee and ballet flats and you’re set.

Loafer-inspired pumps

Gucci’s loafer-style pumps were everywhere at Fashion Week and they’re the kind of style that can just as easily work in any office. If you’re growing tired of your usual black pumps this is a great style to sub in its place. When you’re heading out for Saturday night drinks you can team them with cropped straight leg jeans, a cami and blazer and you’ve got a killer evening look.

Sleeveless blazer

The sleeveless blazer is one of those pieces that once you introduce it into your wardrobe you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Team it with a white shirt or cami and trousers or a skirt for the office and you’ll look polished yet on trend. You can easily wear it to Sunday afternoon brunch by using it as a topper over a dress or tailored shorts and a tee.

Wide leg pants

The key to these pants is to ensure that they’re hemmed so they fit you perfectly – you don’t want to be dragging your pants around as the edges will eventually get damaged and look tatty. Keep your top quite streamlined to complement the voluminous silhouette of the pants. A button down shirt that’s tucked is a smart looking combination with these pants. When it comes to the weekend team it with a striped tee for a relaxed French-inspired look.

Top handle bag

Update your regular tote bag for a chic top handled number. One in black will ensure you get plenty of use out of it but if you’re after something a little different navy and burgundy could work as well. Whilst the bag might look a bit too dressy for ducking up to the supermarket it could still get a night time outing by being paired with a dressy evening ensemble.