Getting dressed with Lizzie

Meet Lizzie Storor, this month’s muse who embodies the aura of someone who has one of those names that must be said in full, first name last name. These kinds of people are rare usually behold a certain je ne sais quoi, and in Lizzie Storor’s case, just like Carrie Bradshaw herself, we think hers in tied up into her self-professed fashionista identity. We have heard lots and lots of people comment on Lizzie’s style, and in a small town that says something, and so we just had to ask her to contribute on the eve of her leaving Darwin :( insert gaping hole in local society where a well-dressed woman once treated our eyes xoxo

I’ve loved fashion since as long as I can remember, definitely since I was a dorky teen in Brisbane dreaming of being a fashionista in NEW YORK CITY. I used to naively think of Brisbane as the smallest town in the world and dream of living somewhere where I could wear high heels every day. On reflection, this intense longing to pound the pavement in a pair of strappy sandals was directly correlated with coming of age when The Devil Wears Prada was released in cinemas. Darwin may not be NYC but there’s nothing stopping you from wearing some cute lil kitten heels at the Foreshore! Though sometimes I do wish there were more demonically chic Miranda Priestley-like figures roaming these streets to intimidate people into picking up their game. The bikini-micro-denim-clad backpacker babes on Mitchell street wouldn’t stand a chance!

Anywayyyyys I hope Sister Buffalo readers enjoy my life in looks. Thanks Gab and Lou for the work you do promoting fun and fab fashion in Darwin and for including me in this series

Above: This is my Grecian inspired outfit on the way to the best restaurant in the world aka The Rooftop Greek Restaurant aka Klimataria. My dress is from a Darwin clothes swap, boots are secondhand Chloe and bag is from Nightcliff salvos. I don’t know who Leni K is but I like to think she might dress like this.

Below left: I loved this outfit because of the inspired choice to pair ballet flats with bike shorts and a local Darwin gallery tee. This is obviously a super whimsical sporty chic pairing that is very 90s Chanel. My ballet flats are actually Chanel lol from Vestiaire Collective, they were super cheap and arrived quite scuffed but I like to think that this is very Olsen twins/Jane birkin and with this laissez-faire styling I too may be seen as French adjacent.  

Above right: My momma always told me don’t let anyone tell you who to love or which god to pray to or what items can be considered clothing. I take this advice often when piecing together cute weekend outfits. I made this top by tying two scarfs and a ribbon to a silver butterfly belt.  

Above: As a self-confessed label whore, I find it physically challenging to not spend $300 at Goodbyes consignment store whenever I’m in Melbourne. I think it can be worth shelling out for the occasional secondhand designer piece if it’s decent quality. Having said that here I am trying on an I am Gia dress which assumedly has the shelf life of a cos lettuce.

Below: Here I am at work wearing my favourite hot pink satin heels from Zara. I first bought these in 2017 and wore them so often for so many years that they broke, which was devastating, only to find the same pair in my size on eBay! Thank you universe. I paired them with a Barkly art centre t shirt, my favourite Trelise Cooper drop waist skirt and of course my Gucci sunnies that I got for 50% off at Denpasar airport duty free.

Above: This is my SPF 1000 gear for long drives. As famously noted by Kim K, it’s important to protect your hands from the sun because they are the first sign of ageing! While I don’t necessarily aspire to Queen Kimmy’s level of atemporal AI glam, I think it worth attempting to make sun safety chic and I was lucky to buy these colour coordinated arm and hand covers from the General Store. The gorgeously grumpy old men who work there pretend to not care about fashion, but these snakeskin forearm numbers suggest otherwise!

Last lewk, also a bit Grecian inspired with a pastoral twist. My dress is Diane Von Furstenberg from Vinnies Neutral Bay (love op shopping in bougie suburbs), heeled sandals are vintage Miu Miu and my belt is from the one and only Delaney’s of Knuckey Street!

Get dressed with Carleen

Getting Dressed With is a dear diary moment capturing the wears of the week of stylish people in Darwin, contagiously celebrating getting dressed, even if it’s just so others can bear witness. If you would like to nominate someone for this series, send us a message.

This Emily Watson piece will make her Darwin debut this dry season! I put on this Emily Watson garment, from one of my favourite shops in Melbourne Error404, and couldn’t take it off.

Another Alpha 60 piece is this black cap that is starting to fade from too much love and wear but that only makes it more chic. Coupled with this second hand frock from Etsy it’s giving sun smart, stylish and sexy lol

---

In the words of Carleen, our muse who sauntered into the shop not long after we opened with two black garbage bags overflowing of high fashion brands and gorgeous pieces and who has become a very good friend of the buff sisters. Carly is a seriously clever woman, she’s charismatic, she’s soft in her approaches and she pushes boundaries in all aspects of her life including her wardrobe choices and that’s just some of the reasons we fell in love with her.

“I try to be very thoughtful with fashion, everything that I do, (this can be overwhelming in a place that is giving concussion) Howevs, I think it is important to consider the core parts of your identity: what pieces are on constant rotation?, what are you always on the hunt for? And, what item/ colour makes you feel the most sexy/ powerful? (I promise you, it’s not your cut off jean shorts hun). 

Treating fashion as art slows it down which is always the ultimate goal. It also makes you aware of nuance and, accordingly, bullshit. The devil IS in the details and given we have a smaller economy of garments on rotation in Darwin due to the heat and humidity the choices you make are even more important. 

Similarly, the climate makes us hyper aware of comfort but I think it is boring and lazy to conflate comfort with sloppy, ugly, directional, (often Shein) garments that only serve to increase global suffering for everyone. 

I am also excited about the return of subcultures as a response to the loneliness epidemic among young people and coupled with cossy lives crisis, this is driving people back into the op shops because this is where the real magic happens.

Ultimately the most fashionable item is your capacity for care and radical compassion for your community whether that be local or global. Don’t forget dressing involves care for those who are sweeter and weaker than you so make good choices.

Palestine must be free.

Save Lee Point.”

— Carleen

Did you know Darwin also has fashion events? This is me in my Christopher Esber frock and Karla Laidlaw hoodie (both Australian designers) after the country to Couture show at the Darwin Festival.

Above left to right:

For those of us who occasionally date men we understand the aesthetic qualities of the bin. I have been spending a lot of time at the gym but I always pop by SB afterwards with my iced coffee for a yarn.

This is me at @skin.official having an after work shop wearing the Silk Laundry pants I bought from there. Hannah is the sweetest and she has a great eye for beautiful, timeless pieces in fabrics that wear well in Darwin. I wear a lot of silk as I don’t have to wash it too much, it feels great on and it is great for travelling. Also, I have to mention my Sandy Liang ‘it girl’ ballet flats; who says Darwin can’t have New York fashion?

Me trying to be cute for my goddaughter’s eighteenth birthday party. My Dirt (small Melbourne designer) heels put me in front every time. Obvz not as cute as the birthday girl but still winning.

Above left to right:

My nearest and dearest Eddy the light of my life ♥️ when I am at home I will always be wearing a white cotton nightie (or a sexy, sheer, slip from SB). This is my favourite garment as it feels sexy and a true antidote to the ferocious heat. Hot girls wear white cotton nighties and own Dyson vacuum cleaners.

A couple of cocktails in, wearing my SUKU dress over their skirt with my Prada that I picked up in Berrimah 😮

I picked up this gorgeous Alpha 60 linen, bias cut, cowl neck, layered, stunner on a trip to Melbourne recently. I always stop by there when in Melbourne or Sydney they also have excellent work wear.

Above left to right:

Charlie’s dunny for a fashion emergency. This Oat’s the Label ensemble is the most beautiful colour (I tend to stick with monochrome). Her pieces are made to order in Melbourne. Note the Issey Miyake clutch that takes over from Prada when she gets tired; you don’t need lots of bags just really exceptional ones that you are dedicated to.

Did you see Boiled? The most remote, couture, fashion show in the world? This outfit was designed and hand crafted entirely by the sisters themselves! Boiled was a fashion event at Wide Open Space Festival in the East MacDonald Ranges an hour’s drive from Alice Springs. If you haven’t been you are seriously missing out.

My teacher wardrobe is built around comfort and pyjama adjacent choices hence these Deiji Studio shorts. It’s horrifying enough that I have to wear a bra 5 days a week for at least eight hours! A great pen handy is also a must-

You may have noticed all my shoes are Post Sole Studio which is a small, ethical, Melbourne label. Their shoes are well made, comfortable, timeless and they go with everything. Also, I have been wearing these Issey Miyake Pleats Please pants to school for seven years now and they are good as new.

Get dressed with ˚♡˚Emilia ˚♡˚

Getting Dressed With is a dear diary moment capturing the wears of the week of stylish people in Darwin, contagiously celebrating getting dressed, even if it’s just so others can bear witness. If you would like to nominate someone for this series, send us a message.

Emilia is a journalist / writer / hiker / op shopper from Melbourne/Naarm 

Wearing all secondhand or opshop stuff and secondhand $30 bag

SB: Who’s your biggest style muse? 

Emilia: I get a lot of inspiration from my friends! They are probably sick of receiving my broken mirror selfies. And if we’re talking pop culture, probably early season Carrie Bradshaw and Samantha Jones, online influencers like @alwaysjudging and every film by Sofia Coppola. 

Above: The Darwin special, bathers paired with skirts, the bathers are allegedly Chanel but given they were $5 in a country town op shop… I am dubious 

SB: Can you describe your style choices for an average week

Emilia: I work from home a lot and it’s no fashion function. I like one piece yoga suits and ballet flats. In the office, I wear plain coloured tops, comfortable skirts or pants, and fun shoes. My colleagues may have something to say about my rogue choices. 

When I’m heading out, I wear a lot of skirts and dresses, usually with kitten heels and ballet flats. I do have a soft spot for uncomfortable plastic shoes that fog up in humidity. In colder months, I have two black secondhand jackets that I wear a lot. 

As someone who has spent a lot of time in Darwin, I am also very partial to fun vintage bathers styled under skirts or shorts, taking you seamlessly from swimming hole to Casino infinity pool! 

Above: Secondhand dress and shoes, which are the very silly plastic ones I mention 

SB: Why is so much of your wardrobe secondhand? 

Emilia: Secondhand shopping is full of surprises! I love rummaging in op shops or vintage stores for something unique. It’s also a lot cheaper than buying firsthand. Just the other day I found the cutest pair of weird grey flats for $9 in an op shop.

As a journalist, I have reported on our country’s fashion waste statistics and seen brand new, unused clothing with tags being shredded in machines. I’ve interviewed charities that are being inundated with fast fashion. I hope shopping secondhand and cherishing what I own helps somewhat. 

Lastly, I love hand me downs and clothes swaps! There’s something very sweet about passing on items to friends and treasuring their old pieces. One of my go-to silk slip dresses is a hand me down. (Paige, I owe you dearly.) 

Wearing all secondhand or op shop stuff and secondhand $30 bag; The hand me down dress that I mention was from Paige; The love of boob tubes; More boob tubes with hand me down pants; My love of bathers continues

SB: Fav item to style? 

Emilia: What doesn’t go with a boob tube? 

SB: Biggest faux pas 

Emilia: Leaving the house and not feeling right. I just can’t wear something unless I feel physically comfortable (except for those plastic shoes) and genuine in my own skin. Is this why I’m always 15 minutes late? 

SB: Go to date style tip 

Emilia: I always feel sexiest in a simple slip dress and comfortable kitten heels or flats! 

A dress I got for $5 at an op shop!; All secondhand bargains here including shoes for $25; At my hairdresser, clearly loving that secondhand bag again. In secondhand pleats please I bought many years ago for a steal and a very old top; Wearing two secondhand yellow dress and top items plus that secondhand bag off Depop; Wearing hand me down sunglasses, a woven bag off Depop, a cherished dress I bought years ago by Molly Goddard and those $9 weird cute op shop shoes I mention 

Get dressed with ˚♡˚Chotty ˚♡˚

Getting Dressed With is a dear diary moment capturing the wears of the week of stylish people in Darwin, contagiously celebrating getting dressed, even if it’s just so others can bear witness. If you would like to nominate someone for this series, send us a message.

White outfit w car I love all white and I love to match my car, physically and energetically. I was about to go to Bustardtown and as suspected – the dance floor wasn’t lit but my straight hair was!

Charlotte (Chotty) is a school teacher / WAG / & dog mammi hailing from Naarm / Melb.

Dog and white skirt This t-shirt is my partners bros, fits like a dream. I’m with my hottest accessory. Earlier that day I put my shoe on and there was a cane toad in there. By the time this pic was taken I had calmed down.

SB: Describe your week for us babes

Chotty: During the working week I’m v much at capacity, literally offering students my soul in return for them to engage with a lil bit of school work and not to light the toilets on fire! But also, ah they keep me young ;) they let me know when I have a pimple, telling me I remind them of their mum and also being cut throat with when they do and do not like my outfit – often given with some side eye.

School mirror selfie Love a loose shirt and Suku for work. I told you the students keep me young but they also know how to use a few words for big impact.

On bike with shirt I had just finished work and changed into shorts before zooming to a besties to do some babysitting of darling angel Olwen. I love this color combo and Olwen.

Mid week highlights are a pump session at the gym, walking my ginormous dog Jack who I’m obsessed with and giggling with bae before bed. My mid-week life hack is to vacuum/mop/do washing/clean bathroom on Thursday so I can be an absolute lady of leisure on the weekend, this is being in my 30’s? Clean house clean mind ect ect.

Saturday morning is the best part of the week and I love having too many coffees, gossiping with friends and getting overstimulated and sweating at the markets. For the rest of the weekend I try to dip in some kind of body of water, see more friends, eat yum food, read and watch Jonus and fam play footy (I’m a WAG now). My wish for 2024 would be better and more dancefloors in Darwin!

Yellow mirror selfie I told you I love all white. I felt hot this night, thus the mirror selfie.

Who’s your style guru? Where do you draw inspiration?

My inspo would probably be my mum and dad who are very cool. Dad taught me how to wear color and that fabric should feel nice to the touch and on the body. My mum strictly wears black, always smells incredible and isn’t scared to wear funky cool clothes. A friend once told me that self-care is wearing clothes that are comfortable and you feel comfortable in eg no tight seams that cut into you, feeling like you have to suck in ect. My advice is follow the colors you like then everything in your wardrobe looks good together! Also Kimmy K (the early years) said she only bought new clothes once she sold her old ones, sound advice. I don’t do this, but I should!

Selfie w head tilt and skirt I was heading out for the day with friends. I love this colour combo which is surprising cause I don’t usually like wearing red but this linen skirt was from an op shop and only cost $4.

Pink selfie This is my favorite outfit of all time and I miss it everyday because it got stolen when I was living in Mpartnwe, RIP linen jumpsuit. I was wearing some Vietnamese slippers too, that’s cool I might get more.

Dress up at sis buff I think about this shirt a lot and I really want it but I have about 5 long sleeve shirts that coz its so hot up here never get worn! Also sunnies inside is a vibe?

Bae and Chotty after footy This is Jonus and I at ‘the bridge’ on Tiwi after watching the Imalu tigers play and win! (yay bae he kicked a goal!) big shirts and long skirts classic comfortable combo.