The world – and the weather – may be in total chaos, but your wardrobe doesn’t have to be. As summer fades into the cool hush of autumn, it’s a quiet reminder to keep calm, get cosy and find small comforts in the everyday.
Ahead of the seasonal shift, friends and flatmates Felix Jackson and Joanna Zhao take to the suburban streets of Grey Lynn to show how serene transeasonal dressing can look, and feel. It’s their guide to those in-between days, featuring softly structured pieces with quiet confidence and room to move, nap or bump into someone you know at your local diary.
UNBUTTONED & UNBOTHERED
Named the ‘Big Business’ shirt, but off-duty in spirit, this candy pink style from local menswear brand Porter James Sports proves power dressing can be soft, too. Paired with slouchy denim and assertive accessories, it’s more about pause than productivity.
Porter James Sports pink stripe shirt, $185
Rebe jeans, $425
Yu Mei ‘Antonia’ suede bag, $1495
Jasmin Sparrow earrings, $250
Mi Piaci flats, $260
GOLDEN HOUR
Real clothes for real life mean a few wrinkles, and that’s part of the charm. Ruby’s chartreuse maxi skirt embraces the lived-in look with a playful swish.
Caitlin Snell one-off draped top (similar here)
Ruby skirt, $169 (on sale)
Chills one-off waist chain, $625, ring, $205, and custom earrings, model’s own
QUIET TIME
Delicate yet assured, Jasmin Sparrow’s mother of pearl collar rests with quiet confidence atop Wixii’s knitted silk; an elegant pairing of softness and strength.
Wixii silk top, $265
Jasmin Sparrow ‘Oro’ mother of pearl shell collar, $450
Kowtow culottes, $259
Ballet flats, model’s own
DON’T SPIRAL
The seasons may be shifting, but your summer dresses still have something to offer. In a deep wine gingham, Ruby’s dropped-waist dress lingers in the warmth, and layers easily when the breeze turns cool.
Ruby maxi dress, $319
Baobei charm necklace, model’s own
LET LOOSE
Autumn layering doesn’t mean losing the fun. A slouchy long-sleeved top, equally easy maxi and tonal accessories keep things relaxed yet considered. Laurence Sabrine’s pleated belt, a playful punctuation, brings texture to the mix.
Wixii hemp-cotton top, $255
Ruby skirt, $269
Laurence Sabrine pleated belt, POA (DM for customs)
Yu Mei suede clutch, $749
Chills necklace, POA, and ‘Dome’ ring, $195
Crushes earrings, $40
Ballet flats, model’s own
IDLE TIME
Ease and elegance aren’t mutually exclusive. Ruby’s ruffled shirt, all volume and softness, pairs neatly with Kowtow’s wide-leg denim. Add Yu Mei’s roomy ‘Braidy’ bag and you’re ready for work, uni or simply sitting still.
Ruby ruffle stripe shirt, $259
Kowtow jeans, $289
Yu Mei ‘Braidy’ bag, $859
Minty heart pendant, $45, from Crushes
Kathryn Wilson denim loafers, $319
GREEN LIGHT
Caitlin Snell’s oversized silk scrunchie, with its detachable bow, adds a gentle flourish to the everyday bun. Seen from behind, it’s a study in gentle intent.
Caitlin Snell silk scrunchie, $25
Jane Eppstein ‘Cairo’ earrings, $255
MELLOW YELLOW
Take a moment of stillness. Rebe’s pastel yellow cardigan, lightly fastened, worn with a low-waisted, slightly pleated skirt, is a study in simple luxury.
Rebe merino cardigan, $325
Wixii skirt, $165
Chills Heart Signet ring, $250
Porter James Sports crew socks, $30
Singlet, models own
READY FOR NOTHING
A study in quiet confidence, and contrast: candy stripes and daisy clips meet the crisp pleats and boyish ease of Porter James Sports’ shorts.
Ruby top, $159
Porter James Sports shorts, $195, and crew socks, $30
Caitlin Snell daisy hair clip, $65 (similar here and here), and headband, $75
Mules, stylist’s own
