Style Structure: minimal fashion

Showing posts with label minimal fashion. Show all posts

Monday, 10 August 2020

The South Korean Brands to Know

I visited South Korea when I was just 18 years old, staying in a city called Busan. April - Cherry Blossom season, and with it comes a festival surrounding the falling of the flowers. I will never forget the blossom piled waist high on the side of the pavements. I must have walked at least 20k steps a day, the best way to see a new city. Back then I had just finished my full-time dance residency, moving onto university to study Sport and Exercise Science. I worked in a clothing store part-time, so had a fond interest in fashion; but not as strongly as the present day. I’d love to go back to South Korea in the next few years, but next time spending time in Seoul, soaking up the local fashion and appreciating the minimal style from a more mature perspective.

For the past two years, I’ve been wearing more and more South Korean labels. Muted tones, structured lines and also trialling new skincare to add to my beauty cabinet that not only feels good but also looks appealing on the shelf. If you’re a minimalist and sport a capsule wardrobe, I think this post is for you. I find myself restyling my Korean pieces more than many other key wardrobe items. Plus, it’s easy to shop some of the brands in this post as they are stocked on Net-A-Porter and W Concept which ship Internationally.

Verso Seoul

Clean lines, breezy fabrics and neutral tones. Verso is more of a lifestyle store. I originally found them on Instagram for fashion, but they also stock ceramics, jewellery and scents for the home.

Gabriel Lee

I first wore Gabriel lee in May 2019 at MBFWA (Australian Fashion Week). There are never too many pieces in the collections, and I love a staple blazer makes an appearance each season. Usually with striking detail, whether it’s an asymmetrical button placement or split hems.

Recto.

My ruched crop top has to be my most worn piece this year. Versatility is key when selecting new pieces to implement into my closet. Style with high waisted linen trousers, or under a white shirt.

Yuul Yie

I’ve been wearing Yuul Yie shoes for just over a year. Recognised for unique structured heel designs. Perfect shoes to elevate basic outfits. They have a lot of online stockists, so easy to shop worldwide.

Andersson Bell

Korean and Scandi fushion that launched in 2014. Andersson Bell reinterprets Scandinavian vibes to create new objects from a point of Korean’s view. I adore their tailoring and outerwear. I opted for my blazer pictured in a larger size.

Venn Skincare

Skincare streamlined to modern life without compromising on the efficacy. You've maybe heard of the 10 step Korean beauty routine - Venn simplifies that. My favourite products are the Moisture Balance All in One Cleanser and the Age Reversing All in One Concentrate.

Numbering

My newest discovery. Jewellery that makes a statement. Chunky chains contrast with a minimal wardrobe. Also the brand which made me fall back in love with silver.

Gu-de

Bags with substance. Like many other Korean accessories, styled with a simple wardrobe will make them pop. I first discovered the brand the start of 2019. You can add extra accessories such as a different strap giving a bit of spice to the styles.

Hopefully when the world adapts to a new kind of normal, I’ll make it back to South Korea. If you have any recommendations from visiting yourself, I’d love to hear them. Hope these brands can inspire you to mix up your wardrobe.

Writing, photography and creative direction by Yours Truly
All images shot self-portrait

Farewell Lunch For Father’s Day

Before moving out of my apartment, and spending a fair bit of time apart from close family, it seemed fitting to host one last extended lunch before moving out of my humble home which I’ve resided in for the past two years. The perfect excuse to host a Father’s Day lunch with seasonal produce and the perfect occasion to upgrade from my iced coffee recipe (you may remember from a few articles back) to coconut espresso martinis watching the sunset from my living room window.

I love hosting guests, and my Samsung Fridge Freezer has been the best addition to my compact kitchen. It’s been my sidekick in hosting Christmas parties, birthday’s and arms reach for healthy snacking whilst working from home.

It’s nice to make an afternoon with family, and I like to do a few delayed courses amongst good conversation and time away from the dining table to feel more relaxed. For my Father’s Day lunch, I decided to cook chicken wrapped in bacon, served with slow roasted Mediterranean vegetables and asparagus. My dad is in his mid 80’s, and he lives for two things: days spent with the family, and holidays to hot climates. So I wanted to make a lunch that ticked both those boxes. It was a beautiful early summer Sunday, the sun beaming in, and a lunch similar to one he would eat on a Spanish Island. With his holiday with my mother cancelled last minute, I wanted to put on an afternoon to make this day special.

Finally, this day was an excuse to make alcoholic ice cube mixers where I utilised my Freezer tray to make the day before. In case you missed the recipe last time, here it is again.

Ingredients: French pressed/Moka pot brewed coffee, coconut flakes, vodka, coffee liqueur, single cream.

Method: Fill half the ice cube tray (with hot coffee, adding in a dash of coffee liqueur). Let that freeze, then fill the remaining half with single cream. Pop back in the freezer until completely frozen. Place two into a martini glass and add vodka. Add grated coconut for decoration and flavour.

Sometimes, a creamy cocktail and slab of chocolate is the perfect end to dinner party. We all have a bit of a sweet tooth in my family. It’s sad this is the last time I will entertain in this space, but I am really excited to share my new home with you really soon! The kitchen in my new place is a lot bigger, so more dinner parties to come. I’ve also upgraded my Samsung appliance, to not only match the size of the kitchen, but also to accommodate the frequent dinners I plan on hosting.

Article in partnership with Samsung Home Appliances

Photography and creative direction by Yours Truly

Paris Cafe Hopping

Bonjour from Parii! Apologies for the radio silence, I’ve been taking time out for some much needed R&R. It’s been just over a year since taking annual leave in Europe and couldn’t give one of my favourite cities a miss! Especially before the hustle bustle commences for Paris Fashion Week. As you may have seen from my Instagram, for the most part of my trip I have been in Ibiza. But took a short flight to Paris for 3 days to catch up with my bestie from back in the UK. Whenever I travel to the French capital, the itinerary somewhat ends up being the same - Cafe hopping! So what better way to participate in this 8 euro a cup activity than in comfortable, easy to wear head to toe linen. Comfort is key in this city, especially when you plan on walking around to take in the culture.

I am revisiting my roots in British brand Marks and Spencer who are known for their great selection of workwear and urban styles. It’s been a whole 2 weeks since wearing anything other than a bikini (hard life) so I was finally happy to wear a blazer and real footwear in Paris! I must admit, my shoes as pretty as they may be didn’t bond well with the cobbled streets so we just avoided those! I have been after a good pair of tapered pants for some time, and with summer rolling round in Sydney linen is all that’s on my mind. I will definitely style these up with flats and a basic white tee for day to day at the office.