Frayed Hemlines

Black denim with an oversized blazer. The statement pieces that should be in everyones closet. Whilst planning my Autumnal wardrobe I am challenging myself to “How many different ways can I style a blazer?” If you have read my previous posts, you’d know that in the last couple of months I have been building my blazer section to my wardrobe quite nicely. You can never have enough, and these are the reasons why:

1. They are the great contrast against denim. Business up top, party down low. You get the gist.

2. It’s not just for Autumn. Yes, I wore a blazer in 40 degree Perth heat this Christmas. It’s also a great piece to layer in Winter under a wool coat. I can’t wait for for this!

3. Instantly smartens up a look. If you are feeling like your outfit is a little casual for a certain occasion the blazer might be the answer.

Today’s post isn’t all about the blazer. It’s actually about my haul from LA last month and how I’m reassessing my need for denim in my wardrobe. Day to day, I like wearing jeans when I’m not in tailoring so why not share these looks with you! I have been on the hunt for frayed jeans for some time and being a Northern Hemisphere gal with a love for Zara, it only seemed right to raid the winter sale rail given these pieces will be coming to Australia full priced any day soon! That’s the best part of shopping overseas in sale time. Would you believe me if I told you I scored these jeans for just $12? You can’t even get brunch for that in Sydney so I was pretty chuffed! Styled with a good jean belt and a Calvin tee, this is the look I can rock for my Mon-Fri job. Still keeping smart with a good pair of loafers and the trusty jacket, it’s a good balance of casual and tailored. 

Shop the look:

Zara Blazer: SHOP SIMILAR HERE and HERE

Calvin Klein Tee: SHOP SIMILAR HERE

Jean Belt: SHOP HERE or SIMILAR HERE

Zara Loafers: SHOP SIMILAR HERE and HERE

Celine Sunglasses: SHOP HERE

Photo credit to Jiawa Liu from Beige Renegade Blog

Braving The Cold

Baring my shoulders was a bit brave last week. Seriously, who would have ever thought a Brit would struggle in a Sydney winter (owning up to this sat behind my laptop). It’s probably a little premature to be wearing a black sleeveless jumpsuit, but couldn’t resist this Fifth Label little black number from NSW boutique, Wolf & Ordnance. If you haven’t come across this boutiques Instagram, you really need to! It’s clean, crisp and bright so right up my street! They stock some amazing brands: The Fifth Label, Asilio, C&M and many more. I’m a fan of good photography and they honestly nail the aesthetic and sharp imagery on social media. I remember when I was a teenager, I would venture out on a Saturday afternoon with my friends shopping. Cardiff, the city I am from is known for it’s boutiques and arcades. I was always drawn to these smaller retailers as wanted to pick up one off pieces and brands that weren’t as widespread. I think it’s really important to shop local, and keep these boutiques alive, and it’s nice I can do the same in Australia.

Most Sydneysiders are praying for summer, but if i’m honest I actually quite like this weather (as long as I wrapped up warm at home with a nice hot cup of tea). Unfortunately it’s no way warm enough to wear this jumpsuit alone, so layering is key. I opted for an Asilio Label coat for added length and a contrast in colour against the black. It looks quite thin, but don’t let that fool you. It’s so warm, no scarf was needed. The leather pockets add extra luxe to the look.

I was torn whether to style shoes or boots, but opted for the latter. Wearing shoes would have made the look feel more dressy, and wanted the outfit to feel relaxed to resinate the comfort of the look. Bulky boots from Urge Footwear were a great choice, and really loving that wooden styled heel. They are currently on sale, so if you’re after an end of season bargain these are your babies! I can definitely see me styling these with a bohemian styled dress in the summer.

Shop the look:

The Fifth Label Jumpsuit: SHOP HERE

Asilio The Label Coat: SHOP HERE

Urge Footwear Boots: SHOP HERE (currently on sale)

Forever 21 Bag: SHOP SIMILAR HERE and HERE

Forever 21 Rings: SHOP SIMILAR HERE and HERE

Breda Watch: SHOP HERE or SIMILAR HERE

Photo credit to Laurie Young from The Rue Collective Blog

Wrap It

Today, was an unexpected shoot day at Carriageworks. It’s been a while since I’ve been in front of the camera here, but this place is the one of the first I ventured to when landing in Sydney 10 months ago. The brick walls, rustic feel and giant opaque glass windows from the inside walls are a perfect backdrop for a monochrome look. I particularly love the light that brings life to the open space and kind of reminds me of a New York style loft. Exterior walls inside take me back to Manhattan. When the weatherman forecasts rain on a shoot day, Carriageworks is the perfect location. There are so many cool spots undercover, but thankfully it was a surprisingly glorious day! My friend Jo usually in opposite roles. She is pretty new at starting her blog and I’ve been taken her shots for a couple of months. Andrea usually takes the majority of my pictures, but unfortunately she was sick today so Jo offered to give them a shot. She did a great job at snapping this dress from a few angles and we even played around with some fun shots outside with the hat and wind.

The style of this dress flows between conservative and bohemian, so have tried to bring out the latter with a fedora hat and some cool wooden heeled sling backs. The imperfect setting really adds mood to the monochrome tones and the open space adds a little drama to some of the moody shots. The dress comes with a fabric belt, but decided to style with a black leather belt instead. Relaxed beaded bracelets seemed the right choice in accessories and a small black bag with silver detailing to bring out the pattern in the dress.

It was cool to have my friend Alisha there too to have her input. She was great behind the camera to help guide Jo, and was lovely having coffee with the both to catch up what’s going on in each others lives. That’s the one thing i love about blogging in Sydney. Individually, all the girls have some creative plan happening behind the scenes and we all have input for each other to strive for the best. Hoping Andrea gets better soon as we have a trip this weekend to The Central Coast! It’s going to be my first time so can’t wait. Make sure you stay up to date with us on Instagram!

Let’s all hope this yucky rainy weather goes and bugs somewhere else!

Shop the look:

Dress: St. Frock

Shoes: Jo Mercer

Hat: H&M (similar here)

Bag: Forever 21 (similar here)
Bracelets: eQUIP Accessories

Photo credit to Jo Hombsch (New website coming soon)

BLOGGER STREETSTYLE: LEATHER AND LATTES

Blogger: Andrea Hetherington (www.leatherandlattes.com)

Location: Coogee, Sydney

Photographer: Helen-Jayne Driscoll