I like to think of my style as constantly evolving and becoming more refined, as I slowly settle into outfit combinations or even particular items that I just feel good in. A couple of the wardrobe heroes that I’ll be featuring throughout this mini series have actually been style staples that I’ve added to my wardrobe over the course of this year, and perhaps the one that’s stood out to me the most has been this check blazer from Storm.
Wearing Whistles t-shirt (love this one), A-line leather skirt (also love this option or this is a great faux leather alternative), Storm check blazer (this is a great affordable option, and I love this style too!), Charlotte Olympia pumps (old but similar here), Mia Fratino cashmere scarf, Chanel chevron boy bag (also here or affordable option here), Reliquia earrings (also here), Linjer watch
A well cut blazer was a huge part of my personal style during my transition from university to a corporate and professional workplace. It was a simple fix for making many of my outfits (many of which had slightly shorter skirts…) look far more put together, and with the exception of a coat during the colder months, a blazer was usually the last thing I threw on before leaving the house.
Unlike Wellington, the window for wearing blazers in Sydney is pretty small; I find it works best during those transitional months, and I’ve really put a focus on adding a few classic options to my wardrobe this year. I might work in a more casual office environment, but a nice blazer makes me feel good and it’s completely effortless. It looks like you’ve put a lot more work into styling your outfit and is a simple trick for taking a basic look to the next level.
There are a few things that I love about this check blazer, which are what truly make it a wardrobe hero for me. It’s structured, but made from a lightweight fabric which moves with your body and drapes beautifully. It’s a check as opposed to a classic dogtooth or houndstooth print, the latter of which I find tends to date; a good check blazer is a classic on its own, and a piece I know will still feel fresh and current 12 months from now. Finally, I adore the longline length; it cuts off at the mid-thigh, which I think makes it a great pairing with little summer dresses and mini skirts, while working equally well with tailored trousers or my go-to skinny jeans.
Styling Tips
01 | Go monochrome
One of my key tricks for wearing any kind of print is to match the rest of your outfit to the colour palette of the patterned piece, which in this case just so happens to be grey, white and black. I did the same thing the last time I featured the blazer in this outfit here. It works every single time, and is always my go-to if I’m planning on wearing a print that actually has a bit of colour to it!
02 | Keep it simple
You’ve probably noticed by now that one of my favourite styling tips is to keep it simple. Coco Chanel was known to say, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off”, and I really take that advice to heart. For this particular outfit, I wanted to let the checked pattern of the blazer speak for itself, so I opted to pair it with some of the other classic pieces I have tucked away in my wardrobe.
03 | Juxtapose it with something feminine
I love a good element of contrast in an outfit – it’s one of the many ways that you can make things a little bit more interesting. Tailoring in general can often lean a little more masculine, so I love pairing my blazers with more feminine pieces like a slinky dress (like when I wore the check blazer with a slip dress here), or a little mini skirt, as I’m wearing it above.
