What To Wear When The Weather’s Topsy-Turvy: Denim

Bassike dress, $595; Marc Jacobs bag, $473; New Balance sneakers, $160; Oroton necklace, $599; sunglasses, Kate’s own, similar here;

This dress from Bassike is fabulous because it’s made from a super-lightweight pale denim, and it has a really relaxed cut. It’s always a bonus when something looks good AND it’s comfy.

Because of the simplicity of the dress, I paired it with a crossover handbag as the strap and logo print add interest to the overall look. The necklace, with its pop of colour, achieves the same thing.

The sneakers give this look an easy weekend feel but you could also wear a sandal for a more elevated look. I also think this dress could be belted if you wanted some waist definition. On cooler days, I’d wear a classic jacket and belt the jacket and dress in one.

Ganni singlet, $TBC; Sandro jeans, $309; Marle bucket hat, similar here, $132; heels are Kate’s own, similar here.

I love these jeans. They definitely say summer to me. There’s a lot of tie-dye denim around at the moment. (I like these ones from Aje if you want to go all out on the trend.) But these from Sandro are great because they’re just dipped at the ends, which makes them more sophisticated and elongates the leg.

I chose a simple singlet top to let the jeans do the talking. However, they’d also work with an oversized white or classic blue striped cotton shirt for a more elevated look.

I love hats as, of course they protect your skin from the harsh Australian sun, but they’re also a styling value-add for your outfit! This bucket hat from New Zealand brand Marle is a couple of seasons old, but you can find a similar one here.

Zimmermann skirt, $495; Zimmermann shirt, $395; Among Equals bag, $335; Zara sandals, $185. 

Yes, there was in time when double denim was frowned upon. However, right now with everyone loving matching sets, from cotton shirts and shorts to printed silk pyjamas, double denim is worth another look.

I love this super pale faded denim set from Zimmermann as it feels fresh and cool. I chose a brown roman sandal (from ZARA) because it ties back to the brown stitching on the shirt and skirt.

The best thing about double denim is that each piece can be worn on its own. A denim skirt can be worn with almost any top or shirt, and the shirt could be worn with a trouser or even open as a ‘shacket’.

I recently wore double denim on a night out. I chose this denim shirt and jean from Unison (which used to be called French Collection), and added a chunky gold necklace, red lip and some heels – and voila! – an otherwise perfect day look was transformed into a night-time look.

Denim is so versatile, pretty much any style of bag would work here, but I chose this beautiful bilum bag from one of my favourite and most coveted local brands, Among Equals, who not only have a beautiful selection of handmade bags from Papua New Guinea but it’s a non-for-profit that supports local women, which I really love.

Ganni jacket, in store soon; Lee Mathews dress, in stores soon, Dazie sandals, $69.99; Sheike bag, $99.99.

Denim jackets are a classic piece. Personally, I’ve sometimes struggled with them, because they can feel a little young or unsophisticated. However, this boxy denim jacket from Ganni has an oversized silhouette and a slightly stronger shoulder that takes it up a notch and makes it a statement piece.

To balance the boxy stronger shape, I paired the jacket with this cotton shirtdress from Lee Mathews. I buttoned it up at the neck to keep the dress neat and prevent it distracting from the jacket. The handkerchief hemline with lace detailing softens the stronger jacket and keeps it a little more fun.

Photography by Isa Sanchez.

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