A Wardrobe for all Seasons – Must Have Piece

I was recently asked by the Sydney Daily Telegraph to provide a piece for their ‘wardrobe for all seasons’ feature.

Whilst others provided pieces that retail for a few hundred dollars I decided to find a piece that was affordable and great value for money that anyone can afford.

The piece in the feature had to be edited to fit the space available so I decided to post the full article to give you all the secrets for this particular piece.

This season is great and it is hard to pick one piece but I have chosen one piece that I think will be appealing in all areas that you require including price. I shop all over the place and both high end and lower end so I have picked a store that I go into a lot and this store is appealing to a real mix of body shapes and ages. The Feather Sequin Tee available in Just Jeans in Pitt Street Mall. (This tee only arrived in store this week so hopefully it will be around unless it sells out fast)

This top is so versatile in many ways and is a great trans-seasonal piece. It will take you from mid Winter through to Spring which really makes this piece both economical and a wise purchase to start with. As this top has a bit of a sleeve which is a very versatile sleeve in itself as you can layer underneath with a lightweight wool long-sleeved top to create warmth and a very chic look for a 18-30 something age group, team that with a pair of skinny or straight leg jeans, add a pair of long flat boots, lastly throw on a great leather jacket and you have a great effortless, yet stylish look for Winter.

The great thing about this particular top is that you can add as much or as little as you like for nearly any season. This piece is a wardrobe essential because it just goes with everything and will take you from day to night and season to season.

The style of this top is what I call very figure friendly in the sense that it suits most body shapes. The low scoop neckline is great for the bodyshape that requires the illusion of a longer and leaner body but is also great for the body shape that needs volume around the bust as the neckline is also gathered with lots of draped fabric which will bulk up a bust that requires it.

The sleeve is a mix of a longer cap sleeve but unlike a cap sleeve which is usually unsuitable for a larger arm, this sleeve is made up of soft draped jersey which does not hug the arm but sits softly on the arm and therefore is flattering to both a lean arm and a larger arm. As I mentioned above this style is great for layering underneath and on top, making it very versatile. This top is also adaptable to a body shape that requires a fitted shape and also a body shape that needs volume.

The draped viscose jersey hangs off the body so it won’t hug you through the middle, around your tummy but it will still give you shape unlike a pheasant top or smock top because it is a clingy fabric so it will cling to your bust, giving you shape where you need it but at the same time concealing the areas that you need. A good tip with this style is to go down a size so that it will give you more shape and less volume if you have a good size bust. It will conceal the tummy as it is styled and cut that way. You can’t lose with this style.

The fabric is perfect for this style and because it is viscose it will also keep you warm which is another reason why it is trans-seasonal. High summer is probably the only time you may want to avoid this fabric if you have issues with feeling the heat but face it that leaves most of the year to wear this top.

Here are some ideas on what to team this great top with.

• Feather Sequin Tee with a long sleeve lightweight wool top underneath, skinny or straight leg jeans and long flat boots. Finish this look off with a funky wool scarf and a short leather jacket.
• Feather Sequin Tee with a Bootleg Jean, a bootie shoe and a long chain necklace. Finish this off with a long line lightweight wool cardigan and a slouchy bag.
• Feather Sequin Tee with a cargo pant, a pair of sneakers and silver hoop earrings. Finish off with a denim jacket and a bunch of silver bangles. Feather Sequin Tee with a skinny or straight leg jean, ballet flats or gladiator sandals. Finish off with a waistcoat and some great dangly earrings, add a big chunky ring. A pair of heels will change this look to take you out at night.
• Feather Sequin Tee with a straight black skirt, a pair of platforms and a sparkly cuff. Finish off with a satin clutch and a satin trench coat. A great look to take you out at night.

These are just a few examples of how to wear this fabulous tee and as you can see it is a wardrobe essential that is very versatile, figure friendly and a great buy.

When you are looking for trans-seasonal pieces keep in mind that these are the pieces that you will wear a lot due to their versatility. So with that in mind fabric is important, you want it to last for awhile, not forever as we can become bored if we have something too long. We just want to have fun with it and feel great wearing it while it is in fashion. So unless it is a classic piece, don’t spend too much, make sure that it is flattering and you should be able to picture yourself wearing it at least 3 different ways. If it gets these 3 ticks then, and only then, should you buy it.