Simple Staples: Back to Basics
When it comes to office outfits and dressing appropriately for work, it can become such a chore and hard to find inspiration everyday. Whilst I often find myself in this same predicament, I have learnt that investing in the basics and sticking to key essentials can in fact be the easiest and most stylish way to build your outfits.
Taking ideas from Pinterest and Instagram, I think the most chic and timeless work trends are those which are kept super simple. You just can’t go wrong with good fitting jeans paired with a crisp white shirt and elegant nude heels.
One of my favourite bloggers Andy Csinger is the perfect example of how to achieve this effortless yet chic style. By adding a pop of colour with accessories or throwing an oversized trench coat on top of a tee, the most basic of outfits are transformed for the office or even grabbing a cocktail after work.
A note to take from this method of dressing is paying close attention to the fit of your garments. A little mini skirt with an oversized blazer or baggy shirt with skinny jeans; these are just some of the ways Andy uses tailoring to add a hint of masculinity to otherwise very feminine silhouettes.
Little details such as gold jewellery or a tie up back are another way of achieving class and style with just an everyday outfit. Sticking to a tonal colour palette also keeps looks clean and elegant, and of course an all black ensemble is always a killer statement. So keeping in mind that less is more, invest in the timeless pieces and shape your look from there using the basics as your blank canvas.
To think that this time last year I packed my suitcase and ventured down to the Southern Highlands to embark on my farm work, I still can’t believe my luck to have ended up in such a place much like my home back in England. That quaint little town of Moss Vale became my home for 4 months, during which I established some of my closest friends who I continue to catch up with on my visits back to the Aussie countryside.
Now I find myself back in Sydney making the most of working city life and soon to move into a different role for another 6 months of my visa. I’m unsure where this next chapter will take me, but I hope to make the most of this year and continue making many beautiful memories with all the wonderful people I meet along my journey.
Friday night I was treated to the best homemade beef burgers with all the extras including cheese, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, gherkin and chilli relish, just what I needed after a long day at work and two hour train journey out of the city. To top it all off, he also found my favourite Malbec red wine with a logo of a Flamingo wearing ballet shoes – it’s like it was made for me! We watched The Graham Norton Show whilst devouring our burgers, making for the perfect Friday night setup.
#BurgerPorn
With such exquisite fish I decided to keep the side dishes super simple; herby buttered new potatoes, steamed green beans, rocket beetroot salad topped with pepitas and a garlic mayo relish mixed with diced gherkins. It was a feast of fresh delights which was as delicious as it was nutritious. Following our meal, we sat back with our Merlot wines and watched a good movie on Netflix, Lost Paradise.
As Sunday rolled around far too quickly, we wanted to meal prep some snacks for the week. Together we made savoury spiced pumpkin feta muffins and peanut butter chocolate date balls which were made of a few basic ingredients; medjool dates, oats, desiccated coconut, peanuts, smooth pb, honey and I swapped the raw cacao for Milo powder, what a game changer! These sweet bites taste so naughty and could easily compete with a chocolate truffle on taste, yet have nothing but natural goodness in them. Enjoy as a healthy snack or crumble over yoghurt or even desert.
It certainly was a weekend of fabulous food and of course perfect wine to match. I have to remind myself that it’s important taking time out sometimes to completely switch off, give my busy mind a rest and indulge in the simple pleasures which nourish my body as well as feed the soul.
Burnt Orange in Mosman is a boutique restaurant which was the original Clubhouse for Mosman Golf Course. Built in 1920, this historic space boasts stunning harbour views from the unique wrap around terrace overlooking Middle Head. With its chic interiors and classic white wood furniture, this homely cafe echoes its exclusive member’s Clubhouse beginnings.
Arriving on a late Sunday morning, we just made it in time for the breakfast menu. With an extensive offering of brekky delights, it was hard to choose! I decided to have the toasted muesli served with coconut yoghurt, passionfruit, seasonal berries and a very fitting caramelised ‘burnt’ orange slice. The fruit was perfectly fresh and each dish exquisitely presented.
For coffee I had my usual cup of long black, but I didn’t even need to add the milk – that’s when you know the coffee is extra special! Service was quick and staff were very friendly and attentive making us feel well looked after.
Being in such a unique spot off the beaten track, Burnt Orange certainly feels more special and exclusive than the everyday cafe. With a bustling atmosphere, delicious menu and boutique interiors to match, I will certainly be putting it up there as one of my favourite cafes in Sydney too. I’ve already eyed up the High Tea menu for my next visit, but may have to go back in the meantime just to enjoy another one of those coffees whilst having a browse of the niche cookbooks for sale.
With this in mind, I popped a date in the diary for our admin and finance team to go and lap up the cheap drinks following another busy week at work. This Friday evening we left the office to meet at Palings, one of the Merivale bars which is part of The Ivy complex just off of George street.
Of course the bar was heaving as everyone scrambled to get their drinks in before the bell, many of us finding ourselves double parked! Being one of the most popular CBD bars for city workers, there was a bustling atmosphere which made for a fun night out with my colleagues. Cheers Merivale!
Being a trained dancer I have always done Pilates and find it one of the most beneficial training methods to sustain my fitness. Not only does it improve flexibility and agility, but Pilates is one of the most core strengthening forms of workouts you can do. This is particularly important for posture when sitting which can cause back problems later in life.
Taking part in our company’s complimentary Pilates class last week, I found myself more energised and engaged for the afternoon back at work. I would strongly encourage office workers to do the same and participate in at least 2-3 workouts throughout their week. Not only will this benefit overall health, but getting your body moving will revive creativity and enhance focus for a more productive day.
In light of this, I endeavour to source my clothes sustainably by visiting vintage thrift stores, charity shops or markets. Surry Hills is full of quirky, cool vintage outlets and of course my favourite past time at the weekend is to visit the famous Kirribilli Markets to dig out some bargains of previously owned and loved garments. My most recent purchases were a pair of Levi shorts for $5, a Kookai denim playsuit for $10 and a forest green silk shirt dress for $5.
So here in my beautiful flat located in Lavender Bay, I’m lucky enough to have my own three double door wardrobe – what a dream! I have the luxury to organise and proudly display my pieces which makes getting dressed each morning easy and fun. I’ve always been a shoe addict too, so I’ve used the bottom few shelves of the middle section to store these, placing my beloved mules from Zomp and Prada heels from my auntie at the front.
My wardrobe here is definitely a fraction of the size back home in England, however I have learnt to be more minimal by sticking to key pieces which can be worn different ways. Layering is an essential component to acheiving this, so I make sure to have a range of tanks, blouses, shirts and jackets.
Having good fitting jeans in different washes is also an absolute must. My favourite brand of denim at the moment is Neuwlandstrat as they make great quality, bum hugging pants – and they match my Dutch last name!
Whilst I wish I could ship the rest of my wardrobe from home out here to Oz, I’ve learnt a more simple, less is more approach to dressing now. However with such a fantastic wardrobe setup which also pleases my inner neat-freak, I can’t help but occasionally treat myself to a few new additions. At the moment I have my eye on a gorgeous Lack Of Colours felt Rancher style hat in Ivory – this will be a staple piece for summer and perfect for my holiday back to Italy in a few months!
On a rainy Tuesday evening in Sydney, we made our way over to Palace Cinemas in Broadway to share some pre-show drinks and nibbles. We were treated to mezze platters of cheese to accompany a comforting glass of red wine. Following a good catchup and chitchat with colleagues, we made our way into the theatre to take our seats for the film. Of course we went via the bar to line up drinks and order in snacks for the movie and there I was double parked on a Tuesday!
Despite the cheesy outbursts of song, I thought the movie was fabulous with a raw edge which made for a more real portrayal of Elton John’s life. Having our own private theatre prompted us to act like children as we had a laugh throwing popcorn at each other, not so accepted when in a public cinema. The evening continued on at another bar in Broadway and I found myself one too many red wines down for a Tuesday night – thankfully there were others on my page and up for a few drinks too!
Dani Aneka 