Understated Opulence

Photos by Henry Bourne for The New York Times Magazine

It's the details that set the home of interior designer Rose Uniacke apart. The 19th century house in London features beautiful ceiling mouldings, ornate light fixtures and romantic archways. Paired with such a minimal colour scheme and relaxed furnishings, these elements add a sense of comfort and liveability to the otherwise grandiose home. 

The New Workwear

Celine S/S 2015, Lanvin S/S 2015 via style.com

Lanvin blazer, Dion Lee top, Christopher Kane pants, Zimmermann sandals

3.1 Phillip Lim S/S 2015, Maiyet S/S 2015 via style.com

Balenciaga shirt, Tome pants, Amber Sceats ear cuff set, Saint Laurent bag, Nicholas Kirkwood sandals

The notion of power dressing was a revolution in the eighties. Big hair, big shoulder pads–it was very corporate but at the same time it made a big statement for a woman to be in a two-piece suit. These days, I think it's more a revolution for women to wear comfortable and unconventional things to the office.

Looser silhouettes can allow for so much freedom and confidence in the workplace. When you're comfortable, it's easier to focus on the task(s) at hand. But it's not just about billowy pants and roomy blazers–incorporating more pieces usually reserved for evening into a corporate wardrobe can be liberating (and provide many more options when getting dressed in the morning). I'm not referring to cocktail dresses, mini skirts or sexy sky-high heels. I'm talking about relaxed garments in satin or silk, special jewellery you never wear because you're waiting for the right occasion, or even those pieces that reveal just a little bit of skin, but only in the subtlest of ways. It might be a slit in a long skirt or pair of loose pants (à la Maiyet), or an unexpected cut-out in an otherwise generic shirt.

After all, boundaries are there to be pushed.

Catherine Deneuve

Paris, 1975. Photo by Helmut Newton.

With Kate Moss in Vanity Fair, February 2014. Photo by Patrick Demarchelier.

Vogue, March 1968.

Esquire Paris, 1976. Photo by Helmut Newton.

Marriage to David Bailey, 1965.

Vogue, December 1968. Photo by Richard Avedon.

Perhaps it's the bouncy blonde locks falling over her shoulders, the sharp winged eyeliner, or maybe it's her admirably long and successful career as an actress. Either way, there's something about Catherine Deneuve that makes me want to tie a ribbon in my hair and brush up on my French. She's a household name but still maintains an element of mystery in film, photographs and la vie quotidienne. 

Summer in the City

OK, so Melbourne isn't exactly known for consistent (or warm) weather, but while I was visiting for four nights in December it was really quite pleasant. Having only ever been to the city during the winter months, it was a welcome change to be able to wear singlets, skirts, and shorts.

This time around I was with family from the UK, so we did a lot of the quintessential Melbourne things like going to see comedy shows, eating or stopping for coffee in hidden laneways, and seeing the street art in the CBD. We also walked a lot. But it was beautiful to explore the city when I wasn't worried about the lack of blood supply to my extremities. 

If I had more time, I would have loved to check out some more art galleries, see some live music, and explore more of the suburbs outside of the CBD.

New Year's Eve Mood

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier

When I travelled to Melbourne last week the only thing I had on my to-do list was seeing the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. The exhibition consisted of more than 140 garments as well as photographs, sketches, costumes and other multimedia elements.

Traversing through the seven galleries, it was clear how passionate Gaultier was about fashion and culture. The countless hours and amount of care that have gone into his garments has resulted in extraordinary detail and beauty. The exhibition delved into Gaultier's rich history of corsetry, and included costumes worn by the likes of Madonna and Beyonce. It was also interesting to see garments inspired by the London punk scene and costumes created for films.

If you are in Melbourne before February 8th, I highly recommend the exhibition.