Melbourne Blogger

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

Isolation Outfitting

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

I have decided to stay at my boyfriend’s house during this isolation period, meaning my entire wardrobe is back at home. This is a predicament considering that I derive most of my inspiration and joy from clothes. Often, I will take out favourite dresses or shoes to admire if I need to give myself a little pick-me-up. Or, I just parade around the house in my faux snakeskin boots. But this isolation period won’t be spent in vain, because I have brought with me some key pieces that I will be needing. This mainly comprises of comfortable pj’s, activewear, some outfits for ‘dress-up’, and then for the most important: loungewear.

No longer is activewear the beacon of comfort and aestheticism – it is all about LOUNGEWEAR. The popularity of matching pyjama-like ensembles has soared, and for good reason. You can feel great about changing from your pyjamas into slightly more formal pyjamas, which is just perfect for relocating your Netflix-watching activities from the bed to the couch.

Thank goodness for my investment in linen parts at the start of the year. My attempt at a matching loungewear ensemble is exemplified below, with a cream cable knit and earrings that conveniently match the cover of my favourite instruction manual (Every Woman’s Guide to Saving the Planet by Natalie Isaacs). I like to make some attempt to look decent, because interestingly enough I believe that it makes me more productive.

Inconvenient that it’s not a guide to saving the planet from coronavirus

I think that investing in some loungewear would be worthwhile given our current situation and the ongoing versatility of the style. But as emphasised in my guide to saving the planet, it’s important to take the sustainable route when looking to buy. I haven’t had much success in finding secondhand loungewear online, so instead I’ve been searching for loungewear by local brands with ethical values. The hefty price tag on sustainable wear is always an issue for a now unemployed student like myself, but YOLO right? Nah just joking, I can’t afford to live the YOLO life.

On another note, dressing up and down during isolation helps in maintaining some sense of normalcy. To limit the extent of disruption to my normal schedule, I have decided to dress up every Saturday night as though I am heading out for a night on the town. My boyfriend has also been forced to participate. I am hoping that this will maintain my passion for dressing up, even though the only place I have to go is downstairs.

This was me last Saturday:

Apologies for the background

I wore a Bec & Bridge dress, earrings by Swarovski and a Witchery necklace. Don’t ask about the shoes, because I didn’t bring any nice ones with me. But it gave me an excuse to put on my favourite dress, wear my sparkly earrings and do my face up. Personally, I found the experience somewhat rejuvenating and a welcome distraction from the bleak circumstances. I definitely recommend it, even if it’s just getting dressed up to have a glass of wine on the couch.

Thanks for stopping by! x

A Summer English Wedding (featuring actual sun)

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

The day finally arrived! I travelled to England to attend the wedding of my partner’s sister in a majestic country house in Cheshire just over a week ago. The sun was beaming, the birds were chirping, and I truly felt like I was enjoying a typical Australian summer’s day. But alas, we were in England, and the weather gods blessed the occasion with plenty of glorious sun. We enjoyed the sights of Arley Hall and the surrounding gardens  (which is Thomas Shelby’s home in Peaky Blinders, for all the peaky fans out there) with some lovely food, drinks and great company.

To prepare for attending my very first British wedding, I knew I needed a new outfit. I despaired over the fact that most of my dresses would be just too formal for this sort of wedding, and any other appropriate options were either black, white or worn to death. So, in order to continue to abide by my pledge to not buy any clothes in 2019 (which, let’s just say, is not getting easier) I was fortunate enough to be gifted this Alice McCall dress for my birthday. It’s still probably cheating, but what the heck – this was THE dress. It exemplifies ‘summer garden wedding’ to the very last metallic flower AND features puffy sleeves. And we know that puffy sleeves are 2019’s most inflated trend (ha) and should eternally be in the best-trends books alongside sequinned dresses.

Now, onto the accessories. I had watched plenty of Bridget Jones and studied most of the recent royal weddings, and knew for sure that headware is a fundamental thing for British weddings. I found this metal headband adorned with pearls in David Jones to pick up on the dress’s metallic print. I matched the headband with a silver Novo clutch, and wore my black Mimco heels that feature blue jewels in the silver block heels. You could say I looked fairly low-key with bejewelled heels, a leaf crown and Snow White-worthy puffy sleeves.

(This is Dan, who was also a groomsman)

Dress: Alice McCall

Shoes: Mimco

Bag: Novo

Crown: Kitte

It really was a stunning wedding, with full-use of the venue’s beauty, a few cute surprises here and there, and plenty of romance scattered through-out the day. The bride and groom are definitely off to a wonderful start to their married lives.

Thanks for stopping by!

We Got the Pink

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

It was clear to see that pink ruled the day on the 2019 Oscars red carpet, in possibly every bold and stimulating shade of pink there is. This sent a strong message there’s no better time than the present to be brave and splash on some of the divisive hue, as every celebrity who has sported pink this season has looked nothing less than glorious.

So, I have mentioned previously that the only exception to my pledge to not buy any clothes in 2019 is my uniform for work. And fortunately, Witchery decided to unleash a hot pink collection early in the year to which I squealed and exclaimed: “I NEED some pink in my life!”. Even though I haven’t worn any type of pink since the early days of galavanting in my fairy princess dresses, the fashion gods were sending a message that pink is strong, empowering and queenly. I decided that I wanted to be a part of this pink parade, so I bought this silky bright shirt (see pics below) and have been bombarded with compliments every time I have worn it to work. I matched it with my cream high-waisted shorts that I have worn all summer, and white Mimco sneakers which I LOVE due to the patterned detail. All round a vibrant and comfortable outfit for work – not to mention, on trend with the freshwater pearl hoops!

My modelling partner in crime, Sebastian.

Shirt: Witchery

Shorts: Witchery

Shoes: Mimco

Earrings: Witchery

After suggesting to some customers that they should try the pink shirt, they would hold their hands up and say, ‘Pink? No way, that is so not my colour!’ although I assured them it would most definitely become their colour. Maybe it’s the preconceptions of pink being associated with girlishness and children that makes it so divisive, though surely that’s no longer relevant. It may require some confidence to pull off, but there is no better time to seize the day and give it a try. And I am so delighted to finally have something hot pink inhabiting my wardrobe that’s not in the form of a Princess Aurora dress.

What’s your opinion on pink? Let me know in the comments below! x