Top to Tee

I wore a t-shirt on my first day at Marie Claire.

Some may call me crazy, but I view t-shirts as an "always" option. Comfortable and confident without trying too hard, the humble tee is a quick ticket to effortless style without screaming “I-really-really-thought-about-this.”

Of course, I didn’t exactly breeze into the Pacific Magazines building wearing a holey tee and pilled trackie pants*. Swagger-rending t-shirts may be, it is still worth dressing them up in the trappings of something fancier.

Softest heather grey and brushed silver hardware / photo: me

If it’s heather grey and as soft as hugging a bunny, let a dazzling statement necklace drape lazily over the neckline. There is something so sophisticated about shining, clear gems resting atop easygoing, light cotton. It always makes me feel like a rich, Russian ballerina, even though I am not remotely any of those things.

No introduction necessary for (by now) cult Jil Sander brights / photo: Susie Bubble

On the flipside, a white tee cuts like a diamond. The shape (crew, v-neck, whatever-you-please) and fit (baby, oversized, form-hugging – you name it) are almost irrelevant, so long those fibres are as white as they were on Day One. Plus, it presents a surprising opportunity to be bold. Colours will pop, so take the chance on fuchsias, or electric blues, or marigolds. Or all of them together, who cares? You can get away with flashing fashion borlz, so long as you play it out against the crispiest of white tees.

The lineup / photo: me

Then, there is the addictive black tee. Of which I currently own about six, with no signs of slowing down. Somehow, it is an incredibly liberating feeling to head out at cocktail hour – to a bar, a club, a party – wearing a t-shirt. Subversive, even. But it’s far too versatile a piece to ignore. Leather shorts, flippy skirts, palazzo pants…it all works. My favourite thing to do is come over all Emmanuelle Alt (read: cigarette jeans, four inch heels and a blazer thrown over the shoulders.) Try it and see if it doesn’t make you positively stomp around with attitude.

Easy luxe / photo: Rosie Tupper for Vogue.com.au

But the reason why the simple t-shirt hits staple status is because there is literally something for everyone. For a current season update, source one in military green. For girly cues, there are floral prints and pastels. For the adventurous, embellishments so heavy you will slouch.

Cool points: 10,000

* PS: In case you were wondering, I wore my grey cotton v-neck with black-on-black brocade cropped pants, grey Prada tote, black croc-print pointy flats, and a longline blazer draped over my shoulders Alt-style.

By The Industry Baby with 4 comments

MBFWA: Day Three

It speaks volumes of the Australian fashion industry that each day of MBFWA is better than the last. And the increasing attention from international correspondents is proof that the world is taking notice, too.

Based on the photos, stories and roaring praise flooding in from the shows on Day Three, you have to wonder how they can keep upping the ante.

TOP RUNWAY LOOKS

Once again, there was no way it could be narrowed down to just one. It would have been oh so easy to pick at least four entire shows. Although, after much agonising…

Lisa ‘Ho my God!’ Have you ever seen Australiana look so good? Lisa Ho always creates beautiful garments that are the epitome of luxurious, feminine beauty. But this is bold and unusual. It’s not often that the unlikely concepts of “bush flora” and “glamour” are so happily married. Yet, here it is.



Australian dream / photo: vogue.com.au



The dress looks as if it has been poured on to the model, thanks to those long, slinky nude panels. They create a lithe, flowing hourglass shape which hits the womanly element that Lisa Ho is so good at. Such a fluid cut is akin to the elegant gowns Elie Saab is famous for, but with a unique print grounding the dress as distinctly Aussie.

And then there was Ellery. In what was being heralded early as the best show of the week, Kym Ellery brought tough-girl cool by the metric shitload*.

*Yes, this is a scientific unit of measurement.



tough-girl cool / photo: vogue.com.au



I love this because a) Kym is a fellow West Aussie girl done good, and b) she has achieved draping that is not being tagged as sensual, opulent or soft.

No. While definitely masterful, these tinfoil silver swathes are far from soft. A tough, streetwise edge is a better way to describe it.

Whether this is something that the average woman could wear (read: probably not) is irrelevant.  It is a pure statement, an unapologetic demonstration of skill, and a damn good way to close a collection.

TOP STREET STYLE LOOK

Of course, it’s Yasmin Sewell, the Aussie expat of infinite style.

wrap it up / photo: harpersbazaar.com.au

The headscarf is where it is at. It is so, unbelievably cool, especially with hair as chic as hers. Colour me envious.

And if you didn’t think a plain, white tee could be very 'fashion' (as Rachel Zoe would say) – think again. Regimentally starch and structured as opposed to the comfy, slouch tee you would wear on a casual occasion. After all, she is dressed for the Ellery show, and MBFWA’s best show calls for a ‘very fashion’ tee.

By The Industry Baby with 2 comments