Neutral Staples - My Farfetch Black Friday Wishlist

These next couple of weeks I am on a shopping ban until Black Friday! But I must say, Farfetch has some dreamy pieces I already have my eyes on. It seems silly to purchase before the ‘land of internet goes into fashion meltdown’ and to be honest I would rather fill my online basket which I will be checking out on the 23rd November. Also known as ‘not shopping on a whim’ and actually purchasing items you really want, or have been on your wish list for some time. If you’ve been reading my blog for some time, you would know how important it is for me to have a small, yet curated staple wardrobe which consists of key pieces I will rewear over and over throughout the season.

So lets start with the blazer…. 

Best ways to wear? Office to evening festive drinks, styled over a basic tee, oversized with a midi dress or my way of wearing this season would be with a silk midi. (See styling tips from my previous post here)

The White Accessories…..

The best thing about this seasons on trend white shoes and bags is they will look amazing with your tan come summer, so these pieces aren’t just for autumn! I recently invested in a BOYY bag, and it’s literally feeling the love from all you guys on Instagram. Looks great contrasting an all black look. If you’re feeling a little more brave, opt for chunky white trainers or slouchy knee high boots/western style boots.

Denim that will suck in all those mince pies….
I get it, it’s so hard finding the right jeans because there’s just so much choice. Keep it simple and flattering with a high waisted straight leg and don’t stray from washed blue or true black. This style looks great with a pair of chunky trainers and even better for a night out styled with scrappy black heels.

Neutral Knitwear….

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. A good collection of knitwear will not date. I have had some jumpers for three winters and take care of them washing them with special wool detergent. Opt for neutral colours which you can style with your straight leg jeans and over slip dresses.

Happy Shopping!

Weekly Lust Haves...

A new segment to Style Structure: Weekly lust haves. This weeks mood board is all about city chic monochrome with a side of coastal. A detailed tee pairs perfectly with a good cut jean and heels, but whilst living in Sydney (and heading into autumn) the memory of long summers near the ocean wants to live on. My fascination with straw bags continue and takes the look from smart to casual in seconds. Add a splash of Rosas Frescas and you are good to go!

Shop the edit:

1.Asymmetric Lace-Up Cotton-Jersey Top: Marques' Almeida

2. Suede Pumps: Jacquemus
3. Cropped Flares: Saint Laurent

4. Nanni Gold-Plated Earrings: Acne Studios

6. Rosas Frescas: Coqui Coqui

Slips and Statements

Season to season, the black slip dress has remained a versatile piece within my closet, and I’m sure yours too. Details change - whether it be the neckline, the straps or the length. Overall, it remains a strong option worn alone or styled layered. I actually love the update on todays Third Form dress. The tie details on the spaghetti straps add something a little more than just a simple LBD. Styling can be mixed up depending on the occasion, worn high on the neckline to look more polished or a little more loose for those easy braless beach days.

Now onto the slogan tee - I.JUST.CAN’T.GET.ENOUGH. My collection is rapidly growing and a little less serious than some of my wardrobe staples. I am finally introducing this seasons biggest colour red somewhere other than my make up bag. The pop of colour on the tee pairs back nicely with a strong lip. I've opted for a statement earrings because let's be honest... there's some amazing pairs around right now. My jewellery box is begging for more space. Something about this ensemble takes me back in time - and I’ve come to the decision it’s the sunnies, clogs and red lip that contribute to this!

Shop the look:

Mini Tie Dress: Third Form Via The Iconic or similar here, here and here

(Similar) Feminist T-Shirt: Tee and Cake or similar here, here and here
Kyra Shoes: Senso, or similar here and here
Formalities Coat: Third Form or similar here and here
Statement Earrings: similar here and here
Faye Suede Bag: Chloe via Farfetch
Audrey Sunglasses: Celine and similar here

Photo credit to Jo from Jo Hombsch blog

French Cuff Layering

We all have our fashion weaknesses - items which you can’t live without and seem to buy a lot of. For me this is the tailored shirt, and apart from denim is probably the highest volume item I own. Because lets be honest, having a crisp white shirt that lasts is actually pretty hard to find. That’s until I owned my first Anna Quan button up. I try to wear this shirt the most out of my collection, Mainly because it has a point if difference to the others I own (The personalised monogramming is easy on the eye), and secondly the cost is a little more than I would usually spend. The cuffs are not so wearable for me - especially when sat at a desk for the majority of the day. Some of her more recent designs actually have removable cuffs, which are perfect for that lunchtime soup option! But hey, if the shirt washes like a dream and still looks crisp a year on then it’s worth it.

Usually I would wear with a good pair of mom jeans, but wanted to experiment with my new House of Harlow dress. At the get go I thought this wasn’t going to work with a tight style (as the shirt is not that fitted). Thankfully after styling a few ways, I felt comfortable wearing it the way photographed. Accessories have been kept to a minimum to accentuate the stripes and the cuffs. I know when the weather gets cooler it will be layer perfect with a chunky knit.

Shop the look:

Anne shirt: Anna Quan via The UNDONE
X Revolve Phoebe Dress: House of Harlow 1960 via Revolve or similar here or here

Baby Audrey Sunglasses: Celine via David Jones

Medium Faye Bag: Chloe via Net-A-Porter (shop other options here)

Black mules: shop here, here and here

Photo credit to yours truly x

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How To Wear Tailoring & Denim

Weekends are a time to kick back, relax and enjoy a good brunch! Despite my Sunday's consisting of lazy mornings and copious amounts of tea, my Mon-Fri wardrobe tends to follow me through to the weekend with one subtle change - denim. 

These last few weeks, I've been investing in "real" denim for the colder months. No more stretchy skinny jeans sorry, this post is dedicated to the denim we all knew back in the 90's. Mom jeans can be quite tricky to master, but they actually suit most shapes and sizes and can work for most women. So how can you style these with your favourite tailored pieces?

1. Keep the tones simple

You want your outfit to match, and mixing the tones can make the look too busy. When I'm styling my denim on weekends, the first thing I think about is the wash of the denim vs the tones in the tailored garment. Warm tones tend to work well with black jeans, and cold tones work better with blue. Today's coat is a buttery beige colour, which I class as a warm tone.

2. Consider your height and heels

I'm only 5ft 3 with a small waist and larger thighs, so finding the right cut of jeans can be quite a challenge. There are ways to elongate yourself and i'm not talking about angles of the camera! Mom jeans look great with this seasons square heel, just like the Senso's I have on in this post. I just make sure I'm adding a pointed toe to draw everything in from the baggy nature on the leg. For taller ladies, a pair of sneakers can work well.

3. Smarten up

There is no right or wrong here, just pick your favourite tailored pieces. Today I have opted for a linen blouse and tailored woolen coat. These are the items you can wear to the office Mon-Fri, but become more relaxed for weekend wear as soon as they are styled with denim. You can always change up the coat for a blazer or add a neck scarf as a chic alternative.

Shop the look:

Rails Charli Button Down Shirt via Shopbop

Ganni Coat via Shopbop
Topshop Mom Jeans

Ray-Ban Wayfares Sunglasses via Net-A-Porter

Senso Georgie I Shoes

Alexander Wang Bag via David Jones

Photo credit to my love, Chris

Hooray For Knit Season

Well…..I might be speaking too soon when I say it’s knitwear season! Sydney is supposed to be in autumn right now with the leaves turning orange and hot chocolate consumption on the rise. But instead, we are graced made to suffer with 30 degree days with the decision ‘most thirst quenching drink wins’. Seriously, I am a little disappointed. I am so eager to start layering properly again and I have already added some chunky knits to my wish list for the coming season. Until then, I will settle for the sleeveless knit, which is only really wearable on cooler evenings, hence shooting this post at sundown which makes a change for my usual brighter posts. 

Side detailing is a winner. This is what sold the jumper for me. It makes a nice change to the lace up trend that was common around the neck region last season. The high low style will look nice untucked with a good pair of jeans this season which I am on the hunt for! Another trend I am a fan of is the ring pull zipper. It’s such a good feature to any look, and especially liked the zip is the feature of this skirt. Pairs back well with the eyelets on the jumper. I have kept accessories to a minimum with a classic pair of Celine’s and a minimal black watch. The focus is all on the gold details and the gorgeous sunset.

Shop the look:

Seed Jumper: SHOP SIMILAR HERE and HERE

Witchery Skirt: SHOP HERE and SIMILAR HERE

RMK Shoes: SHOP HERE

Saint Laurent Bag: SHOP HERE

Reuben Ray Watch: SHOP HERE (10% off with code BOHO10)

Photo credit to my love, Chris

Layered Workwear

This week has been a scorcher in Sydney, but that hasn’t stopped my summer layering goals to be dampened. As you may have read in previous posts, I am determined to stay more in line with my style this year despite the rise in temperature, and plan on doing this by experimenting with lighter fabrics. Off-shoulder tops are still on high rotation in my wardrobe, and this one in particular has a 70’s boho feel that’s on trend and a little sexy. It’s cool to mix up my tailored pieces with something a lot more casual and that’s exactly what I’ve done today. Who would have thought this style of top could be layered? It surprised me too, but when I saw the navy pinstripes compliment the tone of the utility vest (may I add, this is actually a dress) I just had to try it! I’ve never attempted this kind of styling before but was pleasantly surprised. I assumed the frill just wouldn’t sit right, but I couldn’t have judged that more wrong. The top and vest fit nicely together with the high waisted skirt drawing everything in a little to give the look more shape. Would you believe that all three pieces are from Target? They have a great selection of work wear at the moment if you are after something smart but not too corporate.

To lift up the darker tones in this look, I decided to keep the accessories neutral. I’m a bit of a sucker for more luxe pieces this year, which I fully blame Pinterest for! I love how to shoes have that snaky texture and can’t actually remember the last time I wore dolly shoes. Come to think of it I was about fifteen! But there’s something classic about the style and paired with this Valentino bag it seems a match made in heaven! Plus, it’s nice to wear accessories that aren’t black for a change.

Shop the look:

Target Top: SHOP SIMILAR HERE & HERE

Target Skirt: SHOP HERE

Target Dress (worn as a vest): SHOP HERE

Beaucoops Shoes: SHOP HERE (currently on sale)

Valentino Bag: SHOP HERE at Cosette.com

Ray Ban Sunglasses: SHOP HERE

Thomas Sabo Jewellery: SHOP HERE

Photo credit to my love, Chris Bray