My fashion favourites of 2018

Continuing my wrap up of 2018, I wanted to share the fashion pieces which I found myself not only loving, but reaching for the most over the year.

I’m a creature of habit and if you’re subscribed to my YouTube channel, then you’ll know that I tend to focus a lot of my outfits around these key pieces. They’re wardrobe heroes for a reason, and it’s these end of year reflections which help me to analyse which parts of my wardrobe should get a little bit more love in the seasons ahead.

CLOTHING FAVOURITES

Everlane oversized wool blazer | I was so excited when I saw that Everlane were bringing this oversized wool blazer back. I missed out on it in 2016 as I mulled the purchase over for about a week (!! I know right?!) and the waitlist just never came through for me. I promptly added this to my wardrobe and haven’t had a single regret. The woollen exterior feels good quality, and I like the lightweight nature of the style. It’s perfect for the transitional seasons and Sydney winter, and looks great worn with jeans and a tee, or belted over a skirt.

ASOS polka dot dress (also in black) | This was a later addition to my wardrobe (I wanted until around Black Friday to buy this), but I seriously can’t get enough. It’s turned out to be one of my favourite additions for the year, largely in part due to the scattered polka dot print. The ties at the wrist are a nice detail, and I think the v-neckline is really flattering too. It’s gotten a little too hot to wear this now, but I’m looking forward to reaching for it again in March onwards. You know a girl loves a dress a lot when she buys it in the black too.

Grana silk camisole | I’ll admit, I’ve found myself steering away from Grana of late as I find many of the styles lacking forethought, though I truly cannot fault their spaghetti strap camisoles. Double lined, in a soft washed silk, with a square cut neckline. I actually have this style in three colours and tend to find myself browsing their selection to see what seasonal options they’ve released as it’s such a staple part of my personal style. Everlane also does a great version too.

Joseph ivory knit sweater | This was an investment that I made at the start of 2018, and it quickly became one of my most reached for items during autumn and winter. The ivory hue made it a versatile choice, as it literally went with everything, and I loved the slouchy oversized fit. It was relaxed, but felt luxurious, and it’s made me really appreciate Joseph as a brand.

Everlane faded black turtleneck sweater | On the flip side is this faded black turtleneck sweater from Everlane. This is the darker alternate to the Joseph option, and it’s slightly heavier weight too, despite being made of cotton and not wool. Incredibly classic and again, just goes with everything.

Portmans black linen wrap dress | Admittedly, Portmans isn’t really a store that I think much about shopping in, but this linen wrap dress turned out to be a major winner for me. It’s very Isabel Marant inspired, but without the designer price point. This has been a wonderful summer companion so far as it’s 100% linen, making it a breathable option, and I love the wrap detail across the waist. It’s deceptively flattering and helps to give the dress a little more shape.

ASOS faded black denim skirt | I have a feeling this skirt just so happened to be one of my favourites in 2017 too, and it’s with good reason. The style hugs my frame and cinches in nicely at the waist with a good belt, and I love the washed black hue. I find myself reaching for this most weeks (weather permitting, of course), as it just seems to pair well with everything in my closet – essentially all you could ask from one of your favourite workhorse pieces.

Dr Denim faded black skinny jeans | Another fashion staple you’ll have seen a lot across my blog and YouTube are my faded black skinny jeans from Dr Denim. These have seriously earned their place in my wardrobe, and after almost five years, they’re still going strong. The high rise balances out my proportions, the skinny fit is perfect, and I love how stretchy the denim is. It doesn’t bag out at all. I’ve been meaning to buy a second pair from the brand, but am yet to settle on a wash.

Zara black cropped trousers | Along with H&M, Zara is one of those shops that always stresses me out. Clothing is strewn everywhere, and there’s just too much to look at. But when I make the effort, I usually come across a gem, and while it’s not even close to being an ethical or sustainable brand, if I find something I like which I see having longevity in my wardrobe, I still consider that to be a wise purchase for me. As part of my efforts to shift away from wearing denim so frequently, I added some crepe trousers from Zara to my closet in the last quarter of the year, and couldn’t stop wearing them. They have a pin tuck detail at the waist, and I like the tapered peg leg. Classic, but with some subtle details which make them feel just a little bit special.

Stella McCartney navy Edith coat| For my 30th birthday, I decided to treat myself to a wool coat from Stella McCartney. Partly, because I love the brand (more on that later, I promise!), but also because I stumbled across a brand new with tags “Edith” coat for less than half price, and it seemed silly not to snap it up. This, along with my camel belted coat, was my most worn outerwear piece during winter, and I’m so impressed with how the coat has held up. There isn’t a single indication of wear and tear, the fabric is super soft, heavyweight and warm, and I love that it’s a slightly modern take on a classic. With that experience behind me, I’m now more than willing to fork out for the full price tag – assuming another coat I will love just as much pops up.

ACCESSORIES FAVOURITES

Vaneli charcoal/black two-tone pumps | Shoes are my ultimate weakness, so narrowing down a favourite is always tricky. In 2018 however, it was a no-brainer. I wore these Vaneli two ton pumps more than any other shoe, and it’s seriously got me thinking about investing in the real thing. These shoes run true to size and I honestly couldn’t recommend them enough. I’ve got two pairs so far, and am already questioning why I don’t have back ups!

Cuyana leather tote | The quintessential every day bag is hands down a good tote, and my favourite of the year has undoubtedly been the structured tote from Cuyana. I’ve worn this day in and day out and it still looks immaculate, and I’m well impressed with the quality. I’ve done a full review hereLINK if you’d like to have a read.

Madewell hoop earrings | I often wear the same jewellery pieces over and over again, and there’s not one pair of earrings I’ve gotten more joy out of wearing that these from Madewell. They’re a wavy hoop style, with a pearl detail at the centre, which I think makes for a point of difference. It’s my second pair of earrings from the brand, and they’ve proven to be excellent quality for the price.

Mejuri zodiac necklace | If I’m wearing a necklace, chances are it’s the zodiac necklace from Mejuri, a firm favourite of mine. This doesn’t hang too low down the neck, but the personalised details are what make it truly special.

Orelia bracelet | A slightly later addition to the jewellery collection, but a favourite all the same. I love the lariat style closure, and fine star charm along the chain. This does tend to get a little tangled up, but it’s the one I reach for most days when I want a little bit of sparkle on my wrist.

Acne Studios canada scarf | The one scarf I wore all winter was the Canada scarf from Acne Studios. It’s a classic, and while I think it’s exorbitantly priced, you really just need one. I bought a charcoal one close to five years ago now which I still adore (and still looks great), and in early 2018 I added a camel hued one to my wardrobe to have a bit of extra variety.

MY FAVOURITE FASHION DESIGNER OF 2018

Reflecting back on 2018, there’s one designer that really stands out to me as a favourite: Stella McCartney. For one, I love that there’s an emphasis on driving ethical and sustainable initiatives – the brand leads the charge in the luxury space, and I think sets a pretty high standard. Shoes are made from vegan leather (I’ve owned a few pairs over the years), as are bags, and all materials are ethically sourced too.

And Stella’s designs aren’t boring. They’re fashion forward, but always firmly focused around classic elements. I’ve been lucky enough to have owned a few pieces from the designer now, with each item living up to my expectations of quality, design, and style.

I have champagne taste on a beer budget though, so I’ll probably be looking a lot to the pre-loved market for any potential purchases in the future.

CHEAPEST & MOST EXPENSIVE PURCHASES

Finally, I wanted to touch on my most affordable and most expensive wardrobe additions of the year.

Starting with the cheapest item I added to my wardrobe: a caramel-hued denim pelmet skirt from ASOS. This skirt took me by complete surprise, but it came at a time when I was wanting to expand my wardrobe’s colour palette, and I loved the warm tone of this piece. Admittedly, it’s not perfect. The waist is a little big on me, but nothing a belt or a thick sweater (tucked at the waist) won’t fix.

At the other end of the spectrum, is a wardrobe classic I managed to nab on sale: a classic leather jacket from All Saints. I’d had my eye on this jacket for a while, and had it on good authority that it was well worth the purchase, and my sources weren’t wrong. I decided to make do and wait until the Black Friday sales just to get 30% off and I’m glad I did. It made an already expensive purchase a bit more palatable, and I was more than sure that I wanted to add this item to my closet.

What were your wardrobe favourites from 2018? x