‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’ – Leonardo Da Vinci What’s one style “rule” that influences almost every outfit you wear? For me, it’s the ‘rule of three’. An outfit will feel “done” when it’s made up of three main components. You’ll have heard of this concept many times, referred to as the rule of thirds, or the golden ratio. Prevalent in all visual aspects of our lives, and commonly used in photography, the arts, and architecture. It’s one of the reasons why summer dressing feels less than satisfying. There’s this sense that something is missing. Because when it’s 35 deg C and muggy, all you’ll be inclined to wear is a tank top and shorts. Maybe a simple cotton or linen dress. Basically, it can feel like a bit of a challenge to put together an outfit in that moment that makes you feel good (and also keeps you cool). Wearing H&M rib tank (AU link here); Sportscraft trousers; Andersons belt; Tibi sandals (old); St.Agni bag; Monica Vinader bangle (25% off with JAMIELEEMV25) So here’s my summer uniform I keep returning to. The one I reach for – in any colour combination – when I want to feel chic and confident, but also don’t want to ruminate over what I’m wearing. A simple fitted tank, tucked into a wide leg/fluid drape trouser, with a wide strap flat sandal. There’s visual balance here in the way that I’m showing off my arms, but keeping my legs concealed. The yin and yang of a tight tank top with loose pants. A waist defined by a belt (one with texture, tick!). And complete with a sandal that has some weight to it. Dainty sandals are nice, but don’t seem to complement this look quite so well. For those who wonder how to avoid dragging your pants on the ground, you can see here how I’ve tucked the back hem into my sandal. Some bangles on my wrist add to the sense that I’ve but at least some thought into my styling. While I can’t help but feel that this outfit might be better served with that aforementioned “third piece”, there’s something to be said for the simplicity of pairing the tank solely with the trousers. If it’s especially hot, I’ll usually swap out the trousers for a skirt. I find that you still get nice air flow with the longer length (a side split amplifies this!) ultimately feeling stifling than a pant, but more “styled” than shorts or a mini skirt.  

The internet has gone crazy for what is being tipped as a more modern, and less expensive alternative to the Hermes Birkin. Vogue called it “an heirloom bag in the making”. Functionally and aesthetically serving something quite similar to the Birkin. And it ties into broader trends that we’re seeing right now centred around power dressing, and a nod to collegiate prep. Silhouettes are getting sharper, with a sense of refinement and elegance. While we still crave the nonchalance and ease that has dominated over the past few years. Both of which tie into the appeal of this season’s latest “it” bag. But the phrase “less expensive” is a bit of a misnomer, as a quick Google search for The Row’s Margaux 17 lists the current price on Net-a-Porter as a little over $10K. So, I’ve been seeking out alternatives. Inspired by, but not exactly the same. And I think, I’ve found a winner. So is the Blanc bag from MONOROW the affordable answer to The Row’s Margaux? To me, this has all the qualities I’m seeking. It’s real leather (in fact, recycled leather!), and has a cotton twill interior. The closure is simple, a button stud with belt detail. There’s a small zip up compartment on the inside. It has that mannish structured shape which really encapsulates the vibe of the Margaux. Slightly more structured but in a leather that’ll soften. Not too big and not too small. And then there’s the price… currently $300 (with an extra 10% off with code MADEMOISELLE10). Another alternative is this mock croc version from Oroton. It’s a bit more structured (unlikely to lose its shape), and also has a rather handy crossbody strap. Curious to know what you think, and if one of these oversized ladylike totes has earned a place on your wishlist.  

Sharing these six transitional outfit formulas I’ve been relying on lately – before it gets too chilly here in Sydney to share. Which if this current cold snap is anything to go by, the days of bare legs are already over… Because it’s easy enough to fall back on denim, especially when you primarily work from home, I wanted to highlight my favourite types of outfits where jeans don’t even get a look in. And no, these aren’t any earth-shattering outfit combinations – personally, am a big fan of an easy, minimal look that I can put together in a pinch (a must when you have young kids!). FORMULA 1 | Oversized knit + mini skirt + Mary janes With the knit either tucked or loose; I’m not particular. For me, a fun way to play around with proportions, and I find this is the easiest way to integrate looser silhouettes as you’re baring a lot more of the leg. Can easily update this outfit with some sheer tights too and a long trench for extra layering. Also, have been really playing into the idea of prints as neutrals. The snake print skirt I’m wearing here is a great example of a piece that plays well with other murky hues in your wardrobe. Especially fun when you play around with interesting textures. Wearing Marle sweater, ELKA Collective skirt (also here); Oroton bag (on sale!) FORMULA 2 | Relaxed cardigan + straight leg pants + ballet flats Worn with the bottom couple of buttons loose, to either expose the teeniest bit of skin, or a fun coloured tank underneath. I like this most worn with a slightly cropped pant, to expose some of the ankle, as there’s not really any definition in the outfit otherwise. Wearing Sezane cardigan, Sezane cropped trousers, Acne Studios mini musubi bag FORMULA 3 | Activewear + quilted jacket + chunky sneakers I don’t often wear activewear as my “outfit”, but if I am going for a walk and want to look a little styled, this is an easy way to do it. The quilting on the oversized jacket adds in an element of texture and dimension which feels really interesting. You can play it up by adding in a leather bag. Something with some shine to elevate and add a sense of luxury. Wearing Lululemon crop top; Lululemon align leggings; Karen Walker quilted jacket; Lemaire crossbody bag (review here) FORMULA 4 | Relaxed sweater + tailored mini skirt + oversized coat + ballet flats I’ve worn this fairly easy outfit formula a bit lately; what I like about it comes down to the details. Usually I’ll add in a belt to highlight the waist, but things like a scarf coat can bring in that point of difference. You also get a nice balance of relaxed pieces paired with more tailored items. Wearing Assembly Label cashmere sweater; Minima Esenciales skirt; COS scarf coat (alternate here – US only); Saben odile bag (15% off with JAMIELOVESSABEN15) FORMULA 5 | Sleeveless tank + tailored trousers + oversized cardigan + loafers Texture play being the hero of this outfit, which I’ll usually reach for in some sort of tonal or neutral colour situation. Outfits tend to feel a little more finished with the addition of that third piece, and the cable knit design on this cardigan is particularly special. Wearing St Agni tank; Facade Pattern trousers (10% off with MADEMOISELLE10); Andersons belt; Quince cable cardigan (US only); Oroton pouch (on sale) FORMULA 6 | Knit cardigan + tailored trousers + ankle boots Final outfit formula is a simple one, that pairs a slightly more feminine silhouette with a traditionally more masculine style. Heeled boots give that elevation and sense of refinement. Given my love of oversized knitwear, this feels a bit more unexpected. Wearing Oui Mais Non cardigan (10% off with MADEMOISELLE10); Laing Home trousers; Polene bag

I still remember my first denim jacket. A classic, mid blue, which I often wore with a pink and white striped tee, and pink shorts. Even as a kid, I was partial to this wardrobe “classic”, the transitional weight jacket that has this uncanny ability to chill out even the most dressed up outfits. Tulle and taffeta? Dial it down with denim. Casual to its core. So off the back of a new series on Instagram, where I take a single item and style it 10 ways, I thought I’d immortalise those outfits here, while expanding a little on the styling concepts I leaned on. Basically, the idea is to become besties with the items we already own (if you aren’t already). Because it’s half the equation to finding wardrobe nirvana. There’s a few details I personally tend to seek out in a denim jacket. As someone with a longer torso, I tend to prefer a style that hits me just below the hip. The denim must be reasonably soft (though a rigid denim does work, the style needs to be quite oversized to compensate). And I want a medium blue; nothing too aged or faded out. No distressing. Any button style will do. A curved hemline is preferred as it creates a softer silhouette, but straight across is fine too as long as it meets my other criteria. The one featured here is Ceres Life (sold out but love this one they do). My wardrobe is mostly neutrals, so with the exception of the blue monochromatic look, I decided to lean in on that, as I wanted to highlight the jacket as the focal piece. The blue wash acts as something of a neutral – the great thing about this wardrobe hero – and it actually looks fantastic when paired with a vibrant red, or soft pastels. You could easily repurpose these proportions using a more vibrant colour mix or swap out the blue denim jacket for one in white or black denim (if that’s what you have in your wardrobe). Looking back on the outfits I pulled together, I can see that I favoured a higher neckline. And reflecting on this, you can see that the crew-neckline tops allowed the jacket to be the focus. Probably my favourite look, has to be the first double denim outfit. Or, pairing it with the white denim, which allows the blue to really pop. I think when doing double denim, what you want to do is aim to match with a jean that is as close as possible in colour to the jacket. An exact match isn’t a must, but it does make it feel much more intentional. You can see here in action, how a denim jacket is a great tool to use to dial down the formality level of dressier pieces in your closet. It makes full skirts or heeled looks feel more “chill”, by adding in that good friction. Finally, you can really play around with the styling. When doing double denim, break up the colour with a contrasting tee, or button it from the collar to get a monochromatic moment. Wear it like a shirt or a jacket. Throw a knit over the top for another layered piece. Before we get into the outfits, it’s worth also highlighting that as you remix your wardrobe, you’ll start to see a solid through line. Variations on styles that you find work best for you – something that comes with playing around with what you have in your wardrobe. Not all of these outfits will look wildly different, but instead allow you to see commonalities in items you own (and sometimes even lesser worn pieces!). OUTFIT 1 | Wearing Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Assembly Label straight leg jeans, Edward Meller heels, Quince woven pouch OUTFIT 2 | Wearing COS t-shirt, Blanca skirt, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Edward Meller heels, Oroton bag OUTFIT 3 | Wearing Assembly Label stripe top, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Everlane linen shorts, Onitsuka Tiger sneakers, Oroton bag, Vieux Eyewear sunglasses OUTFIT 4 | Wearing Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Wynn Hamlyn skirt (old but similar), Tony Bianco heels, Quince pouch bag OUTFIT 5 | Wearing Everlane stripe shirt, COS trousers, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Onitsuka Tiger sneakers, Edward Meller bag OUTFIT 6 | Oroton wool vest, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Nothing Written jeans (10% off with MADEMOISELLE10), About Arianne ballerinas, Edward Meller bag OUTFIT 7 | Assembly Label blue tee, Sezane slip skirt, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Loeffler Randall woven flats, Madewell bag OUTFIT 8 | Everlane strapless dress, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), YSL slides, Quince woven pouch OUTFIT 9 | Grana cashmere vest, Levi’s ribcage jeans, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Bared boots, Edward Meller bag OUTFIT 10 | Ceres Life t-shirt, DISSH trousers, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Vaneli two tone pumps, Oroton bag