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What’s in Leather?

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

Is fake leather any good? Is it really better for the environment than animal leather? Does it even wear well? These are the questions I asked myself before purchasing this Nanushka skirt made from polyester and polyurethane. The material is as soft as butter and more beautiful than any leather I have touched in my life. But it does bring up an important debate: is vegan leather really better than animal leather?

Vegan leather imitates real leather but is created from plant products or artificial materials. For example, some vegan leather is made from apple peels, pineapple leaves and recycled plastic. With a rise in those adopting veganism and plant-based lifestyles, vegan leather has made leaps and bounds over recent years.

From a durability point of view, I suppose you can’t compare synthetic materials to animal leather. I have quite a few leather pieces from my mum that are still in perfect condition. However, like all things, it is dependant on the quality of the vegan material.

I was a bit concerned when realising that my skirt is made from plastic, albeit extremely well-made plastic. Nanushka is renowned for their high-quality and fashion-forward vegan leather garments. There garments are certainly not cheap, which was why I questioned whether it would be worth purchasing this fake leather skirt in the first place. Plastic-made clothing poses an environmental risk if it ends up in water or landfill, as it releases toxic chemicals into the environment while taking years to degrade. But after doing more research I discovered that despite the environmental issues associated with producing plastic clothing, the environmental impacts of producing animal leather is still far worse. This is due to the greenhouse gas emissions caused by animal agriculture and the substantial land use. And of course for ethical purposes, vegan leather is the preferred option.

When I found this skirt at David Jones while shopping with my mum in early May, we could not believe that it was fake leather. I tried it on and absolutely loved it. And after conducting my year free of buying fashion in 2019, I don’t fall in love so easily anymore. So after weighing up the pros and cons of plastic-based leather I decided to go for it. After all, I’m not in the business of tiring over my clothes and chucking them out to the ocean when I’m done.

Skirt: Nanushka

Top: Kookai

Shoes: Topshop

Bag: Zara

I wore the skirt with a black cropped tank and Topshop shoes with funky white block heels that I purchased years ago. Topshop used to make the best mules.

Speaking about Topshop, Topshop’s parent company Arcadia has just entered into voluntary administration. Australia’s Topshop stores closed a few years ago so we’ve been devoid of Topshop for a while. But given the declining popularity of high street retail over the last decade, Arcadia’s collapse is hardly surprising. It doesn’t help that the owner’s reputation is problematic. However, it’s extremely sad to hear that over 13,000 jobs are at risk and that a brand with such a strong heritage may disappear. I expect that we will see many brands entering into administration in the next 12 months thanks to the bleak retail landscape and economic effects of Covid.

Thanks for stopping by! x

Clueless in Covid

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

Melburnians have just been told that we have two weeks to go until we have significant easing of restrictions. Essentially, we will be allowed to finally experience retail and hospitality which is a huge relief for business owners. It also means that we will be able to see our family and friends, which is a significant step for all of us. It’s disappointing that we don’t have access to these opportunities sooner as many of us were hoping. But when you’ve been in lockdown for months with seemingly no end in sight, what’s another two weeks?

I have plenty of outfits that I’m itching to wear out. But rather than waiting another couple of weeks to let them all breathe, I’m continuing to dress up at home. I dress up for virtual catch-ups, for dinner with my partner, or just because I feel like it. Non-surprisingly, it improves my mood significantly and prevents me from edging closer to that helpless mindset that results from living in an extended lockdown.

SO. Without further ado I decided to look to some of my favourite fashion films (which always spark great joy) and felt inspired to channel a Cher from Clueless get-up. How can you go past that that iconic yellow plaid ensemble? I don’t really own much plaid or yellow, but I do have a a matching black and white tweed outfit that has a hint of Clueless to it.

The entire outfit is Witchery, aside from the boots which are Tony Bianco. I had been crushing on the boots for months prior to buying them, and now gallivant around the apartment wearing them. Combat boots are always in style, but I love these ones specifically for the lace ups and sock-like appearance. They toughen up softer, feminine looks and can be worn with anything and everything. I think I’ve always had a pair of combat boots since I was 12.

I also purchased the matching tweed pants for the blazer as a more work-appropriate outfit. Both the skirt and pants work well with this white cotton shirt. A white shirt is definitely a wardrobe staple, even one as detailed as this. It’s nice and light, so will also be functional for summer with some denim shorts and the combat boots (of course).

I think I’ll try a The Devil Wears Prada inspired outfit next. Excellent fashion films are just so comforting in these times.

Thanks for stopping by! x

Linen Weather

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

When the warm rays of spring appear, I welcome the return of my linen clothes.

However, this dress is a new season purchase. I recently bought it from Witchery for the anticipated return to working in retail once restrictions are lifted. It also helps that I have an affinity for balloon sleeves and dresses that would look perfect when frolicking in a field of flowers. The more fit for unnecessary frolicking, the better.

It’s made from 100% linen and the sleeves are actually intended to be worn on the shoulders, but I prefer a bit of off-the-shoulder action. It makes me feel like a young lass from the old-timey times who didn’t have a whole lot to do a part from dress pretty and sit around in nature dreaming about a future husband. Not too dissimilar to current day in Covid, except I sit around and think about watching another episode of Younger (are two seasons in one day too many?).

Dress: Witchery

Shoes: Zara

Earrings: Witchery 

Not going to lie, I’ll probably engage in some hysterical frolicking when stage 4 restrictions are over. There’s much to look forward to when the weather gets warmer, including a bit more freedom.

Thanks for stopping by! x

Playing with Paisley

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

We’re still not getting out of lockdown anytime soon, so for now the clothes are staying in the wardrobe and the shoes are remaining in the boxes. Until the other day when I started playing around and discovered my clothes again. I was marvelling at all the vintage jackets I found in my mum’s wardrobe that I planned to wear this year. I then felt sad at the thought of a lost year, all those occasions missed with friends and family. But then I brightened up a bit by having a lil dress up. Clothes give me some much needed energy.

I almost forgot about this skirt until I had a refreshing squiz at my wardrobe. It’s from Witchery’s winter collection last year and I absolutely love it. It’s quite Etro-esque with the paisley. The pleats make it so easy to wear in winter with jumpers, jackets or cardigans, and then t-shirts in summer.

I finally got around to sewing on new buttons on this cardigan. I thought I would have gotten around to replenishing clothes that needed new buttons during the first lockdown, but I overestimated myself. I still haven’t even gotten around to watching season 2 of You. Life’s strangely busy when you’re not doing much.

Skirt: Witchery

Cardigan: Op shop

Top: Kookai

The weather’s a bit warmer, so I wore a little navy crop top underneath the cardigan. At least Melbournians can look forward to spring – especially now that we’re allowed public gatherings with up to two people! It’s picnic time.

Thanks for stopping by! X

I’m Still Lounging

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

In Melbourne we are almost halfway through Stage 4 lockdown and it’s starting to feel like this is the norm. Only the insta pics of influencers holidaying in Italy and Greece bring me back to reality. Even watching footy games and seeing people in the stadium cheering on their teams makes me remember that not everyone in Australia is in the same boat. Curfews and once-daily exercise allowances are only prescribed in Melbourne.

It’s nice to know that the other states don’t have to go through these arduous restrictions and shows us what freedoms we can enjoy when we eventually return to normal. We’re hopeful about the future, but naturally it’s still sad and incredibly frustrating. This is the situation we’re in and we have to deal with it as best as we can. We’ll get through it.

On the other hand, never-ending lockdown means that the loungewear is still getting constant wear. I bought a matching charcoal grey set from Witchery and it’s incredibly cosy for winter. People rushed into store to purchase the set when there were rumours of a second lockdown. They were smart, because its usability is unparalleled. It wears extremely well with minimal pilling and is beautifully soft thanks to the inclusion of cashmere. The drop crotch in the pants also facilitates some successful lounging, which is important when you’re doing a fair amount of sitting around.

This set is casual, but still nice enough to duck out to the supermarket with some white sneakers. The jumper and pants can easily be worn individually but obviously it’s a lot more fun to wear them together. So far I’ve been rotating between my loungewear, knit dresses, and occasionally the mum jeans with a toasty jumper. It’s still fairly cold in Melbourne at the moment, so warm and comfortable clothing is key. Flicking through instagram has made me salivate over summer fashion, though. I’m already looking forward to getting my flimsy white dresses out, even though I shouldn’t be hopeful that this will happen anytime soon.

Thanks for stopping by! x

Adventures to my Backyard

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

My knit dresses have been getting quite a workout in lockdown. They’re super comfortable and dressy enough to make me feel like being productive. They’re maybe even just as comfortable and warm as my loungewear, but look like I’ve put effort into my day’s isolation outfit.

I bought this one during the first lockdown from Witchery to add to my well-worn collection. I love the length, the turtleneck and the forest green colour. Better yet, the fabric doesn’t pill and it’s easy to hand-wash.

The way I dress in lockdown is definitely a lot less styled than this, but on the weekend I decided to get some long boots out and accessorise. Where am I going to with my boots and bag in tow? Absolutely nowhere. But occasionally it’s nice to get all dressed up and pretend.

I love the look of long boots under a long skirt or dress. That look has definitely dominated the catwalk in the last two years. These brown boots actually belong to my mum, but I borrow them from time to time.

Dress: Witchery

Boots: Edward Meller

Bag: Prada

Jewellery: Assorted brands

Thanks for stopping by! x

Vintage Pads

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

There’s nothing more satisfying than finding a fabulous jacket at the op shop.

I came across this find a while ago from a local op shop. It’s a pink and grey tweed coat with black buttons and glorious shoulder pads. Thanks to a recent 80’s revival on the runways, shoulder pads have made a huge comeback and their presence has been strong in the most recent 2020 shows. I used to cringe at shoulder pads and declare them as a regretful trend, but I’m pleased to say that my opinion has changed. I have now embraced shoulder pads in all their broad-shouldered glory.

The coat is a little oversized for me, but I’ve worked it with some straight-leg jeans and mules to give me some length. Underneath I’m wearing a simple cropped long-sleeve top from ASOS that I purchased yonks ago. The coat is perfect for warmer winter days and trans seasonal dressing, even if no one else besides my household members can see it for the meantime.

Jeans: Witchery

Top: ASOS

Shoes: Zara

The pièce de résistance of my second look is my mum’s jacket from the late 80’s. Once again, shoulder pads are everything. I love the pastel colours on the quilted fabric. Honestly, where could you find something like this now? The look reminds me of Isabel Marant’s Resort 2021 collection. Actually, I’m pretty sure it was looking through the photos of that runway show that made me remember this old jacket and the fact that I recently rescued it from my dress-up box. Yes, I still have one of those.

Jeans: Witchery

Top: ASOS

Shoes: Midas

I love this jacket so much that I’ll probably wear it everyday around the house. Maybe by the time lockdown restrictions lift, the weather will be nice enough to float around in civilisation again in these vintage finds.

On the topic of nice weather, I couldn’t help but take a photo of my partner in his warmer weather ensemble on the weekend when the day felt unusually spring-like. After having my instagram feed flooded with influencers enjoying summer in various parts of Italy and the Greek Islands, a sunny day above 16 degrees felt like a glimmer of hope for a hopefully warm and lockdown-free summer.

White linen shirts always remind me of summer. Didn’t he model it well!

Thanks for stopping by! x

 

Isolation Celebrations

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

I really need to become more creative for my post titles.

Last week I celebrated my birthday in lockdown, as many of us will do this year. Melbourne remains in strict lockdown and that won’t be easing for a long while still. Despite the limited options for celebrating and the inability to go out for an epic dance, I was determined to celebrate in style. Dressing up gives me energy and purpose, and I was not going to miss out on the chance to exercise my wardrobe on my birthday.

My birthday celebrations involved a delicious Japanese takeaway meal with my family and partner plus cocktails made by said partner. I ordered a cake for the occasion from my favourite patisserie and omg it was delectable. I was so excited for this cake and happily it exceeded all expectations.

I wore a black off-the-shoulder dress with red sock boots and my favourite pair of earrings from Bianc. My newest accessory is an espresso martini. 

Following on from my birthday, my partner organised for us to enjoy a special dinner from Attica – all takeaway, of course. The 10 course extravaganza was filled with native Australian flavours and was even accompanied by matched alcohol. We were given instructions to place some items in the fridge, others in the oven and a couple to be left at room temperature. Some dishes needed plating while others could be eaten as they were in their recyclable packaging. It was an exceptionally delicious and exciting evening.

We ate for a total of four hours – so we definitely made the most of it. It was a privilege to have this experience and make these memories in isolation. My partner did pretty well.

For the dinner, I wore a black jumpsuit by Guess with black patent leather Calvin Klein heels. Surprisingly, I’ve managed to get some good wear out of this jumpsuit despite its flamboyance. Jumpsuits aren’t always convenient, but this one is just so much fun to wear. Sometimes you just need to pop on a sparkly jumpsuit and commit to a four-hour eating fest! It does wonders for the soul.

Here’s to making more fun memories in isolation.

Thanks for stopping by! x

Isolation Outfitting Part 2

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

And life in lockdown resumes in Melbourne. I think we’re all pretty devastated to be in this situation, but we need to do what we need to do in order to keep each other safe. It’s daunting to consider being cooped up again for an extended period of time, particularly as things felt like they were returning back to normal. I think that we will certainly need to rely on our friends and family to help us through this time around, and that’s okay. Hello to nightly FaceTime dates!

I was hoping to air out some of my winter wardrobe during post-uni celebrations, but this will have to wait for another 6 weeks. But as I discovered during the last lockdown, this won’t stop me from dressing up despite having no place to go. With that, my Day 1 of re-lockdown outfit was sorted.

After the first lockdown concluded, it was pretty hectic juggling work and the final weeks of uni studies. But I did have the chance to buy a couple new pieces for work. Our customers have dubbed them as ‘mum jeans’ and I am obsessed with the cut of them. The skinny-leg style that has reigned for over 10 years has been pushed aside to make way for high-waisted, wide-legged jeans that are reminiscent of the 80’s. Today I wore them with a simple white turtleneck, decorated white sneakers, my classic trench and a vintage leopard-print bag. My outing to my backyard was short but sweet.

I am in love with these sneakers! The last pair of white sneakers that I bought back in 2018 were also from Mimco, because I adore the detail on their classic sneakers and the fact that they update the style yearly. They are certainly a little bit extra, which is just the way I like my shoes. They are also incredibly comfortable and of excellent quality.

Trench, Jeans, Top: Witchery

Shoes: Mimco

Bag: Vintage 

Stay safe and look out for one another. If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to contact your local mental wellbeing services (in Australia you can contact Beyond Blue or Lifeline) or reach out to your friends and family. We will get through this together.

Thanks for stopping by! x

The Wonderful Effect of Fashion

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

I haven’t managed to do even half of the things I was planning during isolation. I wanted to finally watch season 2 of You, learn to cook heaps of vegetarian dishes, watch all of The Godfather movies, get back into guitar-playing, read some of the most recent best-sellers, and build an award-winning island on Animal Crossing. But I’ve been so occupied with uni and trying to organise a life post-uni for myself that I haven’t had time to tick those items off my list. And obviously lamenting about unfulfilled experiences of leisure is an extremely privileged position to be in. But I think it demonstrates a common expectation that we are supposed to be packing our time with everything we can while we have the opportunity to do so. This is often unrealistic given how confusing this time is for our emotions.

In a time when our movements are restricted and we’re being bombarded with the  grim consequences of coronavirus, it can feel like everything’s out of our control. So in order to exercise some control during this time, I have diligently been getting up at a reasonable hour, showering, and putting on an outfit that I feel great wearing. I believe that there is significant power in what you wear and the energy you can obtain from an outfit. For some it has been an opportunity to completely detach from external pressures on our appearance, and to simply wear what we want and put in as little effort as possible. I truly appreciate the liberating effect that has had on people. But for me, making an effort to dress has been a motivating force that helps to make me as productive as I can on a daily basis.

This is similar to when I was restricted and bored during my hip operations. When I felt frustrated from my lack of mobility and inability to go places, I found that I could experience some respite and joy through dressing up. Fashion gave me focus and energy, as styling myself offered a creative outlet that in turn made me feel stronger.

I’ve continued to dress up on a Saturday night to mimic my routine when going out and it’s been a blast! My partner was so kind to take some silly flicks of last Saturday’s outfit. You would think from my outfit that I would be heading out to the clubs, but really I had to head to the kitchen to remove the cauliflower mac and cheese from the oven.

Dress: Kookai

Boots: Witchery 

Earrings: Things We Lost 

We put the music up loud, have a cocktail or two and have a little dance around the living room. It psychologically feels like a Saturday night when I put a dress on and slap on some make up. A part from giving us something to look forward to every weekend, it’s plenty of fun (although I am  looking forward to going out for real on a Saturday night in the foreseeable future). It’s amazing how fashion has the power to transform how you feel and even how you behave in any circumstance, and it is certainly true for me.

Thanks for stopping by! x