Melbourne

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

Wardrobe Workout

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

There’s less than a month to go until my fashion ban is over!!

My goodness how time has flown by. Uni is over, Christmas preparations are in full swing, and summer in Melbourne has arrived. I may have failed occasionally with the odd purchase of earrings, the dress for the wedding, aaaand the boots (as you will see below), but I don’t regret anything – least of all the things I have not purchased this year and the few things I did.  I probably shouldn’t celebrate the fact that I’ll be able to buy a brand-spanking-new outfit (GUILT FREE!) when the clock strikes 2020, because I really don’t need anything. My wardrobe is still overflowing, and the combinations of outfits I’m able to create are seemingly endless. So we’ll see if the lifting of my self-imposed ban will actually make a difference to my sparse spending habits – I’m actually fairly certain that my growing dissatisfaction with raging consumption will curb any unnecessary buying.

So, to further exercise the depths of my wardrobe, I turned to this white button-up Witchery shirt that I haven’t worn in yonks. I’ve probably neglected it because it crushes so easily and is the biggest pain to iron. My schedule does not always take into account ironing time, so the clothes that need to be ironed usually remain far back in the wardrobe. But not this time – I am determined to wear EVERY SINGLE ITEM in my wardrobe this year.

I slapped on my corset-style belt and transformed it into a shirt-dress (with little black shorts underneath – don’t want to experience any mishaps) with a matching black felt hat from Blue Illusion.

The pièce de résistance is obviously the Tony Bianco boots, closely followed by my burgundy Prada bag. These boots are still everything to me. I am trying to to shake off the belief that clothes buy happiness, because I’m actively trying to stop myself from giving in to consumer culture. But for me, fashion is often the source of some kind of happiness, and it’s not fleeting or superficial.

This is the face of a gal who loves her boots like she loves her cat.

I love a white shirt dress. It’s a traditionally masculine item of clothing that has been transformed into a statement-making piece thanks to a few feminine touches. I’ve also worn this shirt with blue jeans, on top of bathers and with a pleated skirt. You can’t really go wrong with a long white shirt as it’s easy to coordinate and works well in both the summer and winter months. But before you buy, just make sure that you won’t have to drag your iron out before each wear.

Shirt: Witchery

Shorts: Glassons

Boots: Tony Bianco

Bag: Prada

Hat: Blue Illusion 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Casual Weekdays

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

With the winter weather hopefully on the way out, I’ve been on a mission to wear every last piece of winter clothing in my wardrobe. Of course, I’ve been wearing a lot more of my wardrobe than previous years thanks to my fashion ban, but I know that I can go further. I’m aiming to counteract the statistic that on average we only wear 20% of the clothes in our wardrobes, and only wear each item of clothing about 7 times before they’re neglected or discarded. How crazy is that! The cost per wear is through the roof, and studies have also found that an item is deemed ‘old’ if it’s worn a few times. Our obsession for newness is wasteful and darn expensive.

Social media has a significant impact on this by creating a taboo in being photographed in the same outfit twice. And the proof of this ridiculous fascination over ‘outfit-repeating’ is evident by the controversy that occurs when Kate Middleton wears the same coat a couple of times in a year. How dare she pluck a coat out of her mountainous wardrobe that has already been photographed by the tabloids! It really is laughable.

So, everyday I’ve been digging through my wardrobe to find something that’s been somewhat neglected recently to wear. I picked out this lace Witchery top because I haven’t worn it in a while, and matched it with Witchery floral boots. I borrowed my mum’s new black coat which I LOVE as it’s so versatile and warm, and accessorised with silver jewellery and bag. The outfit is practically all Witchery, which is proof that my wardrobe has been lacking diversity in the last four years. You find that your disposable income decreases dramatically when you work for a fashion retail brand.

Coat, top, jeans and boots: Witchery 

It’s been a refreshing exercise in repurposing old clothes to fit new trends, and sometimes we just need a reminder that we already own some pretty cool fashion. I still need to try out my Sportsgirl ponchos from 2010 that are kept in the back of my wardrobe, so that will be the next challenge. Stay tuned! x

Seeing Green

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

I purchased this coat over a year ago from Asos – prior to my pledge to not buy clothing for 12 months. I get so many compliments on this coat and I truly cringe when people ask where it’s from. Considering I am trying to adopt the slow fashion lifestyle, wearing a brand that promotes the fast fashion ethos doesn’t present me as being too committed. But the truth is that I loved this coat when I saw it and it was delightfully affordable and affordability is still pretty important to a student like myself.

Despite the low prices, I no longer want to support these prominent fast-fashion brands. My shift to becoming a more sustainable shopper is a process that hasn’t immediately resulted in me shopping at exclusively certifiably ethical brands, and I recognise that this is the next step once I complete my pledge. But eliminating the option of surfing Asos, Missguided or Boohoo for cheap and cute outfits is a step in the right direction. A couple of my friends have expressed their frustration over the difficulty in cutting out those online stores from their lives despite knowing the impacts of fast fashion. These brands are a lot to give up considering you can find practically any item you could dream of for a cost that doesn’t break the bank. But as inconvenient as it is (and I mean that with the greatest understanding), the consumption of fast fashion cannot hold a place in our future.

Nevertheless, I don’t regret buying the not-so-sustainable articles of clothing currently in my wardrobe because I love them and know that I will continue to wear and appreciate them. Just hopefully they will stand the test of time.

So, back to that infamous Asos coat. I popped the coat over wide-leg jeans and a black skivvy (both from Witchery) and accessorised with a canvas tote bag and white ankle boots. I just love the colour it brings to my typical jeans and black top combo, and the length is long enough to keep me properly warm for cold mornings such as these.

Coat: Asos

Jeans: Witchery

Top: Witchery

Bag: Christian Dior (from the Dior exhibition)

Shoes: Midas

Ultimately what I’m learning from this experience is that if you want to adopt a slow fashion approach, you should only buy what you absolutely love. And after taking some time to contemplate whether you should buy something, you may actually find that you didn’t really love it the first time.

But maybe that’s what I tell myself to squash the urges.

Thanks for stopping by! x