Finale of the Races

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogNovember 17, 2016November 17, 2016

So, I should have done this blog post a couple weeks ago but exams/sickness got in the way. And even though the races have long gone and people are shifting their sights to the holidays, I’m going to talk about it anyway.

I went to the final day of the Melbourne spring racing carnival wearing an outfit that incorporates something old and something new. This particular day did not require a specific theme a part from being described as ‘family day’, so I decided to go with a navy look. By basing the outfit around my mum’s classic races hat, I found my navy cullottes and Witchery gilet and had practically sorted my outfit. Like my outfit for Derby Day, I attempted to only wear things that I already own, and almost succeeded if it wasn’t for the navy crop top I needed. I count it as a success anyway. The nude court shoes and navy purse (thanks Mum, again!) polished the look.

I went for something appropriate and sophisticated; something that embodies my perfect races style. Needless to say, I felt like I looked a little too mature, as this day is notorious for the younger crowd coming out and flaunting bare legs and stilettos. As I said in my previous post: we are not heading out to the clubs. But I suppose they probably are afterwards, so who am I to judge?

Gilet: Witchery

Pants: the Fifth

Bag: Vintage

Top: Kookai

Shoes: Human Premium

Hat: Vintage

Hope everyone’s having a wonderful week so far! x

Want to see more of my personal style and fashion musings? Follow me on instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog !

Grungy Ballerina

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogSeptember 21, 2016September 21, 2016

I think I have discovered what my life-long love will be: Shoes. I had convinced myself that my love would always be dresses, but then I took a second look at my shoe collection and recent receipts of purchases and it was undeniable. I am a shoe-a-holic, essentially a Carrie Bradshaw, minus the expensive taste (for now).

A recent purchase included these ankle-strapped pointed flats from Witchery. Ankle-strapped flats were popular in fall/winter ’17 collections as shown by Valentino, Isabel Marant, and Vivienne Westwood, taking the sweetness out of the generic ballet flat and pumping it with a splash of grunge. I went with the black pair because when it comes to shoes, I can always match them with anything in my mostly-black-wardrobe.

Until the sun comes along, I think I’ll stick to my black and grey.

Dress: Bardot

Jumper: H&M

Bag: Nine West

Shoes: Witchery

Want to see more of my personal style and fashion musings? Follow me on Instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog ! x

Spring Awakening

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogAugust 18, 2016

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: ?

Want to see more of my personal style and fashion musings? Follow me on my Instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog! x

Beanie Bling

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogJuly 29, 2016

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

Want to see more of my personal style and fashion musings? Follow me here and on my instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog ! x

The Dressmaker Exhibition

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogJune 27, 2016

On a bitterly cold winter’s evening in Melbourne, my family and I attended The Dressmaker 1950’s party at Rippon Lea estate. The Dressmaker is a book-turned-movie starring Kate Winslet and is set in rural Australia in the 1950’s. Its poignant and often unexpected storyline was immensely entertaining, however the costume designs by the award-winning designers Margot Wilson and Marion Boyce truly brought the aesthetic appeal.

The Dressmaker costume exhibition has been on display since April and will continue until 31 July, and it was a real treat to be able to experience it when an exclusive 1950’s pop-up bar evening was hosted. Not only was everyone required to dress in 1950’s attire, but there was even a band playing 50’s music in the ballroom to enhance the old-fashioned setting. The main reason why I wanted to go was to see the breathtaking costumes, of course.

You could not compare the way Kate Winslet’s character’s costumes looked on her in comparison to how they sit on the mannequins. Her curvaceous figure practically made those dresses look as stunning as they did.

The effect of the embellishment is divine, particularly with the golden sash of leaves. Gertrude wore this when making her debut with her new makeover.

This didn’t exactly come under the category ‘breathtaking’, but it was certainly startling.

This pale gold lamé dress is one of my favourites. It’s sheer Hollywood and I love how it accentuates curves.

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Simply fabulous. The pink socks are a striking touch.

The costumes showcase some of the best design elements of the 1950’s, including plenty of glamour and gorgeous fabrics. If you haven’t yet seen the film I would recommend it purely for the delightful costumes, and if you are in Melbourne I would urge you to see them for yourself! Stay tuned for my next post on what I wore to the event. x

Follow me on my instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog for more of my fashion musings and personal style.

Accessory of the Season: Crutches

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogJune 21, 2016June 21, 2016

Get excited ladies and gentlemen, the must-have trend of the season has arrived at your nearest department store and is here to stay: the crutches. Not only are they a complete necessity for some and have a certain aesthetic appeal that you cannot deny, but they also come in the exclusive colour of silver.

This winter, compliment your crutches with grey/silver tones and silver jewellery as exemplified by my new scarf from Witchery and marvellous patent silver loafers from Aldo. Ensure that your outfit revolves around your statement-making crutches and don’t be afraid to wear them with anything and everything.

Like me, you may not have any choice in the matter; but it doesn’t stop you from being as fabulous as possible.

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Coatigan:Witchery

Shoes: Aldo

Skirt: Witchery

Scarf: Witchery

Top: Cotton On

Want to see more of my personal style and fashion musings? Follow me here and on Instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog ! x

200 Years of Australian Fashion Exhibition

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogJune 15, 2016

So, a while ago before the whole surgery debacle and numerous exams, I visited the 200 Years of Australian Fashion Exhibition at NGV as you may recall from my previous blog post (it has been a while, so terribly sorry!). It was a beautifully presented exhibition showcasing an array of Australian fashion from as early as 1805 to present day, and truly captured Australia’s unique and impressive fashion scene. There were some of the most embellished and extravagant gowns I have ever seen from the mid-20th century, which contrasts against the abstract and colourful outfits from the 1970’s and onwards. The diversity and beauty of Australian fashion over the years is astounding.

Here are some outfits I could not resist taking snaps of:

Linda Jackson and David McDiarmid, c.1980

Romance was Born, c. 2015 and Discount Univer$e, c. 2015

To remember the history of Australian fashion and the lovely outfits exhibited, I got sucked in to buying the fashion book. It provides a history of each period in fashion and how it reflected the social constructs at the time, and also features some of the most notable Australian designers of our current age.

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If you live in Melbourne and are looking for something worthwhile to fill your day, I highly recommend this. It’s open until July 31 so don’t miss out!

Want to see more of my personal style and fashion musings? Follow me here and on Instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog ! x

May in Melbourne

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogMay 31, 2016May 31, 2016

Ok, I haven’t blogged in an insanely large amount of time. But truth be told, I’ve had surgery and have been in hospital for a while and I am now confined to bed rest, so unfortunately there has not been any time for any fashion escapades (a part from the sexy hospital gown). This will be the beginning of more consistent blogging, I promise.

As soon as I can make it out of bed and wear something other than Peter Alexander PJs.

So before the whole surgery excitement, I spent a day in Melbourne city with my mum and sister to see the 200 Years of Australian Fashion exhibition. Winter is beginning to kick in, which naturally I am overjoyed about because I can finally drag out the dozens of coats I irrationally purchased while op-shopping last summer. This one I wore is a particular favourite, and I purchased it on my trip to America last year from Zara. I love the round shape, the wide sleeves and the stiff, baby blue fabric that incorporates an asian influence. There’s so much ‘yes’ in one coat. Underneath I wore my comfort culottes and a basic turtleneck top, both in black to compliment the pattern of the coat. Despite the fact that I had to be wheeled around in a wheelchair for most of the day, I felt very comfortable with my look.

Coat: Zara

Culottes: Luvalot

Shoes: Witchery

Top: asos

Bag: Zara

Want to see more of my personal style and fashion musings? Be sure to follow my blog and follow me on insta @ilikeyourshirt_blog ! x

Sparkles Galore

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogApril 15, 2016April 15, 2016

Last night I attended a university ball and it was a brilliant night filled with plenty of food, drinks and good tunes. Personally I believe that the preparation period prior to the festivities is just as fun as the actual event, and this year I knew that I wanted to inject some sparkles into my outfit. I received more than I bargained for with a fully sequinned black dress by Club L, featuring a high thigh split dramatic enough to rival Angelina’s 2012 famous Oscar’s gown.

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A red lipstick with matching red nails is my typical go-to when wearing a black dress, especially one as exciting as this.

Dress: Club L

Shoes: Nude

Clutch: Mollini

The high neck trend has been popping up numerous times this year on the red carpet. It was most recently the feature of an outfit covered in black sequins as worn by Lizzy Caplan at the MTV awards, and was fiercely paraded in a skin-tight jumpsuit worn by Taylor Swift at this year’s iHeart Music Awards.

Lizzy Caplan - laineygossip.com — Lizzy Caplan – laineygossip.com

Taylor Swift at the iHeart Music Awards 2016 celebuzz.com

…And it seems as though a short and loose cut is a fundamental accessory when sporting the high neck trend. Looks like I’m in!

Want to see more of my personal style and fashion musings? Follow me on Instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog ! x

Winter is Coming-so best to get your Coats out!

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogApril 5, 2016April 5, 2016

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.

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Coat: Asos

Dress: Witchery

Shoes: Witchery

Bag: Zara

Want to see more of my personal style and fashion musings? Follow my insta @ilikeyourshirt_blog !