summer

Secondhand Staples

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

I am so blessed to have fashion-forward family members. It’s a good excuse to rummage through their wardrobes to find some vintage pieces that probably haven’t been worn since the 80’s. I barely need to head to the op shops. This top is no exception, as it previously belonged to my aunty and even has a matching long skirt. It’s a gorgeous colour, but what is more striking is the sequinned detail at the back. You could even wear the top as a cardigan, but I’ve chosen to wear it as a top with a few buttons undone because it was such a warm evening. I wore it with a secondhand white denim skirt from Solus Shop (@solus.shop), which I would wear with everything if I could because it’s such a versatile summer staple. I love to add a pop of colour so I matched the outfit with an aquamarine bag from Mimco and mules from Midas. I haven’t worn this bag in a while so it was nice to air it out.

I am still determined to wear every piece of my summer wardrobe before the summer ends to carry on with my challenge from 2019. Despite last year’s shopping ban, I still have so many clothes, and I need to continually remind myself that I don’t need to add anything else to the wardrobe. And if there’s anything that doesn’t spark joy by the end of the summer, then it will probably be sent to the op shop!

(No pieces worn are current stock)

Shoes: Midas

Bag: Mimco 

Earrings: Witchery 

Thanks for stopping by! x

The Beach & the Boots

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

Ever since pouring over 2018 street style from the various fashion weeks, I noticed a specific trend: white boots. Why? Simply because they look great with anything and everything. They are possibly even more versatile than the black boot, if that’s even possible. Instantly I knew I wanted a pair in my life so I could trapeze around in white boots all day/everyday, just like those fabulous bloggers and fashion editors that would don the same pair with a different outfit all through fashion week. I did some exploring as you do, and found a pointy-toed pair from Midas that was well within my budget. These are going to last me all through the year AND they are fabulous enough to prevent me from desiring any more boots, as I have made a pact with myself to STOP BUYING FASHION because a) the environment, and b) I have so much stuff already (and who really needs that much stuff?).

I knew the boots would look effortless with a summer dress, so this week I wore them with a midnight green dress from Dissh, a white Furla wallet and some drop earrings from Witchery. Clearly they are not going to be my go-to shoe as the temperature creeps up to the blazing 40s, but I love the way they contrast against the green and make the outfit ‘pop’. Such popping good fun.

Dress: Dissh 

Shoes: Midas

Wallet: Furla

Earrings: Witchery 

Thanks for stopping by! Check me out on Instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog (in my popping white boots)!

LWD

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

Audrey Hepburn championed the little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, as did countless women preceding her and plenty who have followed in her fashionable footsteps. A LBD will always remain essential regardless of the weather, but my summer staple will always & forever be the little white dress.

My summer wardrobe consists of primarily a dozen white dresses in a variety of shapes and sizes – and I wear every single one of them. They become decorated with colourful accessories and lipstick shades, because I’m all about my splash of colour this summer until we’re inevitably plagued by the dreary Melbourne winter.

Tassel earrings have gone absolutely bonkers recently, so I purchased the biggest ones I could find to add some blue and green tones to the outfit to accompany my Mimco bracelet. I wore my pearl-embellished bag and nude heels, which are beautiful but positively painful (and possibly not worth the beauty).

Dress: Kookai

Shoes: Nine West

Earrings: Lovisa

Bracelet: Mimco

Bag: Chi Chi London

Thanks for visiting my blog! Check out my instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog x

Dungarees for Days

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

I used to own a pair of red corduroy overalls when I was approximately 4 years of age and I wore them with a matching red ribbon in my hair. Mum would exclaim how cute I looked, and I was just happy to have matching accessories and my Baby Born to accompany me and all of my outfits.

Now I no longer carry around a Baby Born, but I’m still a fan of this comfortable clothing item they call ‘dungarees’ and matching accessories. I opted for denim because they’re classic and simple, and you can dress them for any season by changing the under layers. A balmy summer’s night in the Gold Coast definitely calls for a light floral crop top and little else, and a walk on the beach in these bad boys tempts a person to launch into some spontaneous cartwheels.

Dungarees: Luvalot

Top: Sportsgirl

Thanks for visiting my blog! Be sure to check out my Instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog!

It Was All Yellow

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

Summer is generally about COLOUR, symbolising energy and vibrancy. Working in fashion retail, I have been surrounded by a variety of colours this season, alongside plenty of customers doubting whether they are capable of pulling off such loud colours. This is a fair concern, as not every colour suits everyone out there, and some suit people more so than others. But as a customer turns to me and asks whether a fuchsia top suits them, I always respond with ‘if you love it, then don’t hesitate’. Because at the end of the day, no one should be told what colours they can and can’t wear (unless there is a terrible clash, then it would be negligible to advise dishonestly). And considering winter in Melbourne is a sea of black, I try my best to encourage lots of colour in summer at least. 

So I attempted to practice my own perspective, and bought a bright yellow dress. I’m still uncertain about whether it flatters my skin tone, but I love it regardless. It’s feminine, light, comfortable and completely unlike anything I already have in my wardrobe. It basically embodies summer, because yellow is summer. 

Dress: Witchery

In contrast to a minority opinion that I am always shocked to hear, wearing bold colours is not a form of attention-seeking. Wear what you love, and don’t overanalyse your outfit choices in order to appease others.

Thanks for visiting my blog! x

1/12

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

Today commemorates the official beginning of the Australian summer! Although, it doesn’t seem to be a great start as we’re predicting floods for the next three days. But having endured through a couple of weeks of sweltering heat already, there has definitely been some time to scope out the kind of colour I want in my wardrobe this season. Thanks to working in retail, there’s always plenty of inspiration, and this season is exhibiting plenty of bold reds, oranges and pinks.

As part of my work uniform for this month, I fully embraced the colours of summer with this floral flip skirt and orange wedges (both from Witchery). A lot of my costumers struggle with choosing colourful pieces over staple black because they are more difficult to coordinate, but it’s always easy to match bold and bright colours with neutral shades in the form of shoes, accessories, or as I have worn below. So essentially there is no reason to shy away from bright colours, and a lack of confidence should never get in the way. And if you’re like me and have a winter wardrobe composed of black with some dark shades close to black thrown in, then a seasonal contrast is most welcome.

Top, Skirt & Shoes: Witchery

Earrings: Mimco

Bag: Unknown

I am a very matchy-matchy kind of person, so I couldn’t help but coordinate the skirt with the matching shoes and lippy. The colour stands out against the black top without making me look like a blood orange, although I’m never opposed to embodying fruits or wearing plenty of colour if I feel like it. If you struggle to add colour to your outfit, wearing bright lipstick always provides a nice burst of colour, and colour can also easily be incorporated through jewellery or accessories!

Thanks for visiting my blog! For more pics and fashion musings, check out my Instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog. x

Sunsets & Happiness in a Greek Paradise

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

Next stop: The Greek Islands; a place I have always dreamed of travelling to since watching Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and Mamma Mia! In Crete we explored the remarkable ruins of the palace of Knossos and trawled through the marketplace in Rethymno; in Santorini we drank cocktails while staring in awe at the endless mass of blue; and in Naxos we ate cheese and relaxed on the beach till our hearts were content.  No matter where we went, the views were more spectacular than we expected and the people were always warm and welcoming. 

Crete

We were fortunate to have experienced the hustle and bustle of Heraklion, as well as the tranquility of the resort town of Rethymno. We spent a lot of time visiting archeological sites, as well as attempting to get used to the fact that we were on holidays.

Santorini

My partner Dan and I agree that this was our favourite part of the trip. When you glide towards Santorini on a ferry, the white buildings on the top of the cliffs appear as snow, and make the island look like a snow-capped mountain. EVERYONE raves about the beauty of Santorini, and I completely understand why. The pristine white buildings against the inviting blue ocean was a sight I couldn’t tear my eyes away from.

Naxos

We didn’t realise how big this island is, or in fact how good the food is. We tried to explore as much as we could in the three days we were there, but we always ended up gravitating towards the beach.

Athens

This was our last stop. The Acropolis was one of the most magnificent monuments I have ever seen, and it was so exciting to be among these buildings that were erected thousands of years ago.

Dan and I felt as though we had spent a decent amount of time in each place, which was important because we were able to experience the culture of the islands alongside taking the opportunity to relax and unwind. And when you’re in the Greek Islands, the best thing to do is to find a spot on the beach and enjoy the serenity and natural beauty of the landscape with a cocktail in hand. And that’s exactly what we did for the duration of this leg of the trip, and we were never disappointed.

Thanks for visiting my blog! Check out my insta @ilikeyourshirt_blog. x

Wine, Food & Fashion

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

Recently it was my boyfriend’s birthday and his parents took us to a beautiful winery in Red Hill in Victoria to celebrate. There was plenty of wine as expected, and delicious food to accompany a stunning view. There is really nothing that tickles my pickle more than good wine and fantastic food, and the colossal green vineyards made the experience just a tad more enjoyable. I kind of wish that I had taken photos of the dishes I ate, however I didn’t want to be one of those people who whips out their phone every time they are presented with a pretty meal. But I do understand why they do it, because I was lucky to enjoy some artfully displayed dishes that tasted as good as they looked.

Weather-wise it was not a typical summer’s day, so my lightweight blazer from Portmans kept me warm on top of my navy and cream dress from Dotti. Being the girly woman I am, I love the tulle underlay and I attempted to create a more classic look with my vintage porcelain brooch. I have recently discovered that I own an unprecedented number of brooches of a great variety, so I should probably challenge myself to incorporate them into outfits more often.  I think it’s time to bring the brooch back.

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The glare was blinding so there was no way that I was going to take off my sunglasses for this one!

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Dress: Dotti

Blazer: Portmans

Shoes: Lipstik 

Sunglasses: Chloe

Bag: Pratten

Hope all my Aussie followers have been enjoying a beautiful summer! Spending a day outside with friends and family while enjoying good food and drink is truly great for the soul. Thanks for visiting my blog! x

Summer by the Sea

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

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

By the Sea in Melbourne

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblog

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. 

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Bikini top: Billabong

Shirt: Wish

Shorts: Forever New

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Photos taken by my good friend Tyana at Brighton Beach, Victoria.

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