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.”
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.
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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.
