In Australia, the beach is synonymous with summer and a swimsuit is just as important as a pair of shoes. So every summer I typically buy a new bathing suit because I can’t help myself when I feel those first rays of sunshine. This season I saved up and bought a beautiful Jets one-piece that I had my eye on from the year before last. I love how the high-neck and panelling exudes such a modern style, and I especially love how the quality of the one piece ensures that the white material will never become see-through! It definitely pays to purchase a good quality swimsuit that you love and feel comfortable in. I think it’s about time that I got rid of some of my bikinis with the saggy bottoms.
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Fashion and feminism do not always come hand in hand; scores of women view fashion to be an oppressive sphere that attempts to convince women that the only way to be considered ‘beautiful’ is to conform to standards laid out by the dictators of the fashion industry, who are often men. Plenty of women regard Vogue Magazine, considered the fashion bible, as a beacon of sexism that undermines a woman’s worth. And let us not disregard the lack of diversification of the female body as plastered in magazines and seen strutting down runways in nothing larger than a size 2 mini-skirt. It is far from perfect or positive, and the fashion industry appears to exude a certain unattainable exclusivity thanks to celebrity endorsements and high fashion magazines. It is clear that the industry has plenty to work towards, and as someone who wants to work in the industry, it is an unsettling reality. Although it is necessary to acknowledge the negative aspects of the fashion industry, fashion itself is not a rigid and institution. For me, it is the most liberating medium I can use in order to express myself.
Fashion has been a facilitator of my exploration through feminism. In a world where women have historically had a lack of means to express themselves and communicate their thoughts, fashion has been used as defiance to their oppression. Some of the most iconic and outspoken women paved the way for change using the clothes they wore, setting aside cultural and societal conventions to make way for female empowerment. Coco Chanel, Frida Kahlo, Josephine Baker and Audrey Hepburn are just a handful of women who each showcased unique and controversial styles, proving to women all over the world that being yourself and staying true to your values is a wonderful thing. Thanks to these women, others were inspired to push against their limitations and explore their capabilities in a way that led to cultural revolutions and the success of the feminist movement. It is remarkable that such power stems from style, which is essentially comprised of clothes, individuality and a hint of courage.
I’m not planning on instigating any cultural revolutions anytime soon, but I think I will start with using fashion as a way to summon confidence within myself. In the end, personal style showcases your individuality and is not indicative of what you can achieve. I would hope that when I choose to dress in a feminine way that I am not considered to be naïve or less capable, and if I want to dress in a way that is considered sexy, that my value as a person is not undermined and I am treated with the respect I deserve. It is most empowering when people can make decisions about the way they look without concerning themselves with the opinions of others or the stereotypes of gender, sexuality, age and ethnicity. And this is a message that must be relayed by the fashion industry.
There is no doubt that there have been notable changes in the industry. The androgynous look is on the rise, there is a growing response to the call for a greater variety of body shapes and skin colours on show, and there has been outward support for feminism by designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Maria Grazia Chiuri, who is the first female creative director of Dior. Despite being long overdue, these acts are crucial as they give people the confidence to embrace who they are and to explore that through fashion. Although I don’t need affirmation from high profile designers that the feminist movement is important and necessary, it does raise awareness of the fight for gender equality and garners acceptance. And supporting the movement for gender equality is something I will continue to do through self-expression as conveyed by my fashion choices.
NOTE: Care must be taken to ensure that the clothes you’re putting on your back to proclaim your feminism or self-identity is not contributing to the exploitation of children and women in the textiles industry, which is something I have learnt recently. Being a feminist means supporting other women and preventing their mistreatment, and one sure way you can do that is through shopping ethically. Click here for a list of how top fashion brands rank in worker welfare.
I adore silver bags and silver shoes so much so that I can’t resist buying them whenever I spot them in-store or online, which has become a dangerous obsession for my bank account. I recently impulsively bought a silver metallic faux leather jacket from Zara when I noticed it from the shop window and of course I have no self-restraint despite the ‘NO MORE SHOPPING’ rule I had imposed on myself just hours earlier. BUT it has been the only silver leather jacket I have probably ever seen thus far so I didn’t need to justify it further.
And just before that, I had splashed out on a pair of silver leather mules from Topshop that are as comfortable as they are pretty. Mules have been re-introduced into the trends department thanks to fashion’s new affinity with comfort, as they emulate slippers but are acceptable to wear in public. Furthermore they are not very high, which my poor crippled hips are thankful for. Comfort aside, they are silver, which is possibly the most fundamental factor.
The next issue is, with my abundance of silver clothes, shoes and accessories, how do I coordinate them? One must not simply wear a silver bag with silver shoes and a silver jacket, no matter how much one would like to. I would potentially become a public hazard and blind people.
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So within this outfit I encapsulated the perfect amount of silver metallic, consisting of my jacket and mules.
Working that Kimmy K pose
Aaaaand one with my kitten Sebastian, because he matches.
But then again, too much silver is never really enough.
Jacket: Zara
Dress: Bardot
Shoes: Topshop
Cat: Rescue centre, yay!
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The Melbourne spring racing carnival is upon us again, where we see that the true winners are not in fact the horses, but women’s racing fashion. I attended Derby Day with my girls and I was stunned by not only the wonderful weather, but by how gorgeous all the women and men looked dressed in traditional black and white. The colour combination was flattering on everyone and the creativity involved in assembling outfits was marvellous.
Full lace dresses were a hit, alongside off-the-shoulder dresses and capes for the more adventurous types. Gladiator heels have made a tremendous comeback this season, matched with crown headpieces that are gaining more momentum with every racing carnival. Many women wore tailored pants or jumpsuits, which looked chic and fresh, especially when paired with killer heels. There are not too many rules involved in races fashion, but the main one I stick to is to keep it elegant, and to avoid looking like you are going to the clubs. This is a classy day for classy ladies and gents (unless one too many cocktails have been consumed).
I opted for a classic look featuring a pencil dress with lacing by Runaway, a flower fascinator, a Napoleon Perdis clutch and simple black heels. The fascinator was the main element of my outfit, and I bought it years ago at a stall at the South Melbourne market. The entire outfit was inexpensive and comprised of items I already had in my wardrobe. Fortunately, it was very easy to put together and I didn’t have to spend a cent.
Happy Races!
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So many balls to attend and so many dresses to choose from. Being an ardent shopper means that I have a wardrobe that provides for any occasion, so naturally that includes plenty of formal wear options. But after having a sneaky shop on asos and finding ‘the dress I really must have’ (all of them tend to come under this category), I justified purchasing a new dress for the next uni ball. Because if you can’t stop thinking about it, then it must be fate- isn’t that right? Further justifications included not having the summer glow needed to pull off my variety of colourful dresses I purchased last summer, and also as this dress features long sleeves, it is an absolute must for a winter ball, obviously. Sometimes I impress myself with my creative reasons.
Not to take anything away from the dress, I wore black peep-toe Guess shoes with a matching black clutch. I love the reflective silver and pink beads- the only issue is how delicate it is! Probably have to avoid the mosh pits with this one.
For an impulsive online shop, there were no regrets. In fact, regrets are for the weak, and you ought to remember that next time you question your snap purchase.
Dress: asos
Shoes: Guess
Clutch: Kate Hill
Hair and make up by Lana Fried.
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Melbourne experienced a glorious taste of spring with temperatures reaching a rather pleasant 21 degrees. For the first time in weeks I left the house without a coat and it was oddly exciting to wear merely a jacket and scarf. It really is the small things that get us Melbournians through winter.
Khaki is a colour of the season, so I matched my maxi dress from Topshop with a vintage scarf incorporating a diversity of colours. Gold tends to compliment khaki, so I rocked the old Docs for a feminine-combat-chic look. I feel like I could take over the world in my hulking gold Docs.
Dress: Topshop
Jacket: Muubaa
Shoes: Doc Martens
Bag: Sportsgirl
Scarf: ?
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We are having a ridiculously cold winter here in Melbourne, and there are no signs of improvements in the near future. It has come to the point where beanies are not just a cute accessory but are an utter necessity if you don’t want your head to freeze up and lose brain function upon stepping outside. Many people vehemently refuse to wear beanies on the basis of not knowing how, or they question whether the slouched piece of material suits their facial shape, which is why there are endless tutorials and how-to guides on styling a beanie. This seems a bit excessive as clearly it works like any other accessory; it simply needs to match something else incorporated into your outfit. And, like Doc Martens, there is a time and place for the beanie.
I naturally gravitate towards black accessories to make it easier on my wardrobe, and in this case I have matched it with black ankle boots, and complimented my oxblood red satchel with dark red lipstick. It’s easy to only stick with darker shades in winter, but I always aim to integrate a little colour to avoid fading into the sky’s backdrop.
Check out that beanie bling.
Dress: Witchery
Shoes: Diana Ferrari
Bag: Leather Satchel Co.
Beanie: Witchery
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It seems as though fashion chokers are here to stay for a while longer, but I found something fancier to wear with my off-the-shoulder tops: a summer scarf. There always needs to be something worn around the neck with a top that exposes this amount of décolletage, and a summer scarf is perfect if you are not too fond of chokers or chunky jewellery. This lovely scarf was given to me by a group of friends a few years ago as a birthday present, and I have not really been capable of wearing summer scarves to my liking until recently. Little summer scarves have been a sneaky trend this autumn, usually added to an outfit to provide some colour and flair to avoid falling into the trap of wearing monotonous tones as the weather becomes colder. And doesn’t it make the day brighter! It also keeps my neck warm too.
These culottes are my favourite kind of pants, fundamentally because they are so remarkably comfortable. Since I haven’t been able to wear any jeans due to a soon-to-be-fixed hip condition, I have mainly been living in my culottes or loose-fitting dresses. Fortunately, it’s not hard to be stylish and comfortable these days!
Scarf: Patricia Paris
Top: Asos
Pants: Luvalot
Shoes: Lipstik
Bag: Pratten
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There is really only one good thing about the weather getting colder and the nights getting darker: winter fashion. There is an abundance of potential available in winter with layering clothes; the opportunity to wear cute scarves with matching beanies; and of course the pinnacle of winter fashion- the coat. Luckily I stocked up on coats and jackets whilst ironically op-shopping during the summer. I am more than ready to put those to good use.
A couple of days ago Melbourne showed the first initial signs of winter, and so I donned a woollen mulberry-coloured coat which I bought last year from asos. I am currently obsessed with wearing dresses with round-toe sneakers (and ONLY white round-toe sneakers) because they are incredibly versatile and take the feminine edge out of wearing a dress while still maintaining a stylish vibe. I never thought I would come to a point where I would voluntarily pair sneakers with a dress, but I uphold the fact that it can only be done with this style of shoe which technically isn’t a legitimate sports shoe anyway.
I also updated my wardrobe with a few grey pieces amidst the realisation that my wardrobe is almost devoid of every other colour a part from black, and hence this mercifully comfortable and warm dress from Witchery is one of those pieces. Fashion has just miraculously become so comfortable, and for the sake of my hectic schedule and for everyone else, we are sincerely grateful.
Coat: Asos
Dress: Witchery
Shoes: Witchery
Bag: Zara
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Oh sunny days, it feels like you only just begun. Now the clouds are creeping out and there’s a faint chill in the air, but I still don’t feel like we’ve seen enough sunshine to prepare us for the incoming winter. Can Melbourne just please continue to deliver days like these until we are satisfied with the level of vitamin D in our systems? Beaches just aren’t as fun in the winter time.
Bikini top: Billabong
Shirt: Wish
Shorts: Forever New
Photos taken by my good friend Tyana at Brighton Beach, Victoria.
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I Like Your Shirt 