Fashion Scrapbook

Author: Sue Meredith

  • What I Wore: Jenni Kayne Oversized Sweater & Tibi Pleated Skirt

    What I Wore: Jenni Kayne Oversized Sweater & Tibi Pleated Skirt

    There’s a backlog of outfits I’ve worn recently, that I’ll probably lump together in a singular post. But for today, I wanted to break down this cosy autumnal outfit I wore in late February for a day of work, and to meet up with my friend Rose for coffee. Sydney was unseasonably cold; usually I’d expect my sweaters to be on hiatus until at least April, but the weather called for it, and I was more than happy to oblige. This one is a cotton cocoon sweater from Jenni Kayne, which has a super fluffy texture. Quite reminiscent of the fit and cut of this alpaca sweater I purchased two years ago.

    Rose is a loyal Tibi fan, so I had it in my mind to wear something from the brand, the majority of which has been in storage. Because the temperature fluctuates quite a bit, I knew it had to be a skirt, and this muted blue pleated number ticked all the boxes. It has common classic elements, but the style is pushed. First of all, it’s a wrap skirt, with an off-beat pleated panel at the front. Visual texture, which we love. Then it has the belt which is worked into the style, that cinches in at the waist or low hip, with a bit of a cut out effect. I love that this allows you to create a peekaboo element that is incredibly subtle. On the colour spectrum, it’s muted and faded. A soft blue which is remarkably easy to style with other colours, but I chose to make it the focal point here.

    Despite the overt femininity of the skirt, I decided to lean into this for the shoes. A low heeled loafer with a squared off toe. Something of a replacement for a pair of tasseled Stuart Weitzman loafers I purchased eight years ago and wore to death.

    To keep things feeling a little more casual, my Lemaire croissant bag. This adds in a muted shine, and is pretty carefree as far as handbags go.

  • Styling a maxi length trouser skirt

    Styling a maxi length trouser skirt

    Maxi length trouser skirts seem to be having a bit of a moment as we continue to see trends from the 90s and early 00s creep have a strong sartorial presence. Unlike low rise jeans or platforms shoes – been there, done that – this is one “trend” I’ll happily get on board with. The reason being that it doesn’t stray too far from my comfort zone.

    The cut, silhouette, and suiting style fabric have a tendency to make these types of skirts feel quite formal. So, I thought I’d break down a recent outfit which blends formal and casual elements to create a look that feels balanced for day-to-day.

    First, the skirt. Elevated with a hint of structure, there’s an air of formality to it. My feeling was the simplest way to dial things down a notch was to add a top with some slouch to it; enter the humble t-shirt. This is in a soft off-white, so while there is some contrast here, it doesn’t feel stark. It’s eased out, in a gentle oversized silhouette that has a slightly longer sleeve length. Worth noting here that the skirt is very modest, and I leaned into that with the tee. To do anything else would be to dress this up for the evening, and I wasn’t wanting to go there (at least not while running errands in the city).

    Next on the styling agenda was to add in some glitz and glamour. Sparkly shoes fit the bill, but with a barely there kitten heel, these are low-key enough that I don’t categorise them as solely special occasionwear. In line with the styling of the skirt, you’ll note that my lower half feels fancy, while my top half is dressed down. Slinging on my crossbody croissant bag and finishing off the outfit with a cap to swing the pendulum back into casual territory.

    Such a wearable way to style one of these skirts that doesn’t feel like a rerun of the 90s. No tie dye or baby tees in sight. For winter, I like the idea of reaching for either a thin merino knit or chunky oversized sweater, and some fitted knee high boots with a chunky heel. A stiletto feels a little too expected, whereas something with a Cuban heel (like these boots that I love) have an element of modernity while still being reasonably classic and easy to style.

  • How my eye has settled on colour & contrast of late…

    How my eye has settled on colour & contrast of late…

    Been thinking a little bit about how I like to wear colour and create contrast and cohesion in my outfits. And one thing that struck me is around the way I’ll typically wear an outerwear piece. Something I seem to crave and desire – right now, that is – is a consistency in the tones, saturation and depth of colour between my top and outerwear. So, in the first example, wearing a cardigan that is richer in depth, cool-toned, and grey-leaning. Reflecting these same qualities in my choice of outerwear. Which seems to have translated to the bag as well, which is in a darker hue. To me this just “felt right” to finish things off. My eye seems to be fixated on this notion of harmony, and that seems to ring true here.

    The same can be said of the second outfit, this time leaning more on my lighter neutrals. While the coat is slightly lighter than the knit, it still has the same impact. Again, tied in with that choice of bag. What makes it feel more interesting is that little added touch of the pink check. The scarf has a fuzzy almost wispy quality which creates contrast in a subtle way, as it feels lighter compared to the more compact weave of both the knit and the coat.