Everyday Style Essentials – Sigourney’s Edit

I recently had the pleasure of collaborating on a story with my dear friend Georgie Abay who runs The Grace Tales – a stunning website for stylish mothers. We came up with a list of hardworking pieces (for everyone - not just mums!) that can take you from brunch to shopping and anything in between.

I find the busier I am, the harder my wardrobe has to work. It’s definitely worth looking for multi-tasking essentials that won’t leave you staring at your closet in the morning, scratching your head. Since I work from a home office, I’ve found that on non-meeting days, my wardrobe has naturally become more comfortable and my weekend-wear often morphs into day-wear. For functions I might reach for a dress and heels, but I’ve found myself investing in great denim pieces worked back with classic white and grey for most days. So here’s our list of essentials and a range of steal to splurge shop the look options.

1. THE WHITE SHIRT

SIGOURNEY WEARS TOMMY HILFIGER BLOUSE (SOLD OUT, SIMILAR BY JOSEPH); VENNA NECKLACE AND VICTORIA BECKHAM BAG, BOTH FROM BELINDA.

Like many women, I’m obsessed with white shirts. I must have about seven in my wardrobe. From the crisp tailored man-style shirt to soft, silk and chiffon blouses which are beautiful worn with leather pants, shorts or printed pants. In summer it’s also great to have a super light white cotton to wear as a cover up at the beach. Equipment and Phillip Lim are my favourites, while Saba,Witchery and Country Road make great shirting locally.

Shop the look:

EQUIPMENT MARGAUX SHIRT, $224.40

SABA RAQUEL BLOUSE, $180

PHILLIP LIM DRAPED WRAP BLOUSE, $462.40

2. THE DENIM JACKET

SIGOURNEY WEARS TOMMY HILFIGER CABLE KNIT SOLD OUT, CURRENT/ELLIOTT DENIM JACKET, $429, FROM BELINDA; HER OWN BODEN SHOES

Denim jackets are an instant style update this season and so easy to throw on over a little floral dress or cami and shorts. I love my denim Jacket and it cost next to nothing. I picked it up at H&M when I was in Provence in July. I tried on a bunch of others but I really loved the cut and weight of this one.

Shop the Look:

H&M DENIM JACKET, $49.95, AVAILABLE IN STORE ONLY

WITCHERY DENIM JACKET, $159.95

PROENZA SCHOULER DENIM JACKET, $507.96

3. THE STATEMENT NECKLACE

SIGOURNEY WEARS VENNA NECKLACE FROM BELINDA, JUMPER BY TOMMY HILFIGER FROM DAVID JONES

Everyone should have a statement necklace in their jewellery box. It’s such an easy way to dress up anything from a white tee to a little black dress. If you’re not sure of a dress code, you can always pitch your outfit somewhere in between, pop your necklace in your handbag and throw it on if you need a bit of extra sparkle. Venna and Marni necklaces are amazing if you want to invest in something truly special, or for more affordable options also check out Kenneth Jay Lane, Kate Spade and Mimco.

Shop the Look:

KENNETH JAY LANE NECKLACE, $55.72

MIMCO SYNERGIST NECKLACE, $249

MARNI RIBBON TIE NECKLACE, $299

4. THE SHIRTDRESS

SIGOURNEY WEARS TOMMY HILFIGER DRESS, SOLD OUT, SIMILAR AT DAVID JONES

Shirtdresses are perfect for those casual, don’t-want-to-think days when you just want to roll out of bed and throw something on. I love them with a pair of tan sandals and a cross-body bag. You can belt them when you’re feeling in the mood or just leave them free and easy (great if you have a big brunch planned!)

Shop the Look:

J CREW SHORT SLEEVE COTTON SHIRTDRESS $178.90

FRANK & EILEEN MARY COTTON-POPLIN SHIRTDRESS, $290

EQUIPMENT IAN COLLARLESS STRIPED SILK SHIRTDRESS $551

5. THE TAILORED BLAZER

SIGOURNEY WEARS TOMMY BLAZER (ON SALE NOW AT DAVID JONES); AND TOMMY SHIRT (ALSO ON SALE) AND MIH JEANS.

I love preppy style – always have. It just looks pulled together (when you feel anything but!) and a blazer is a chic way to dress up jeans to a go-anywhere level. (Country Club, here we come.) For a well-cut style look to those all-American brands like Tommy, Ralph Lauren, Gant and J Crew. Having said that, I bought a navy Gucci blazer at the Woodbury Common Outlets in New York about ten years ago and I still wear it constantly. Navy is the perfect blazer shade. It offsets white beautifully, it pairs with denim and it just feels perfectly pitched no matter what the weather.

Shop the Look:

J CREW REGENT BLAZER WITH SATIN LAPEL, $416.20

SPORTSCRAFT SIGNATURE SATEEN BLAZER, $139.30

THEORY LANAI STRETCH-CREPE BLAZER, $312.95

6. THE STATEMENT TOP

SIGOURNEY WEARS TOMMY JUMPER SOLD OUT, CITIZENS OF HUMANITY JEANS AND VICTORIA BECKHAM BAG FROM BELINDA.

Sometimes plain tees and jumpers just feel a bit…well… boring. While I’ve never really been a big logo girl I’ve found that a statement top or tee is a cute way to add a bit of personality to your outfit. To stop it from looking like too teeny-bopper-chainstore ensure you invest in a quality fabric – cashmere, wool or soft cotton – and cut. Kenzo, Bella Freud, Zoe Karssen, and Markus Lupfer do some awesome slogan jumpers and tees.