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Q I'm a partner in a law firm and I'm having a 50-plus wardrobe crisis. I need smart, stylish clothes for work. A true style icon is like a rare bird in that a single sighting can result in acres of press coverage and a following of fans. Take Quentin Bryce.
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In April, the former barrister and sex discrimination commissioner gracefully glided into the mainstream when she was named our nation's 25th (and first female) governor-general. To mark the occasion, Bryce wore a pale pink skirt suit elegantly nipped in at the waist with a sash and accessorised with a matching envelope-sized clutch, cream court shoes and a tiered brooch. Smart, stylish and 65. But what made this sexagenarian Australia's latest (and some say greatest) fashion icon? I think visiting UK fashion mavericks Trinny and Susannah nailed it when they called her acceptance outfit "serene, perfect, age-appropriate and elegant". Additional prose labelled her look "smart", "poised" and "sophisticated"; and Harper's Bazaar placed the gold star on this sartorial story by naming her one of Australia's best-dressed. However, I think a big part of the Bryce entice (apart from the great clothes) comes down to the fact that she gives great style without forgoing the smarts, which means she doesn't let her almighty intelligence diminish her desire to look good. Or to look like she likes to look good. You know what I mean. So this week's column looks to Bryce for style advice. A few phone calls later and I discover that our new G-G (come September) favours Julie Grbac dresses and Pia du Pradal suits. Who? Yes, that's right, our nation's best-dressed woman is dressed by two little-known Brisbane designers (the former of which is currently cutting her cloth on Project Runway Australia). Preferring skirt suits in pale and muted tones, du Pradal's are priced from about $1300. The Alberta Ferretti skirt suit, pictured, and the Sonia Rykiel jacket chime perfectly with the current move towards softly structured tailoring (a la Bryce), and are therefore ideal options for a 50-plus partner in a law firm. Alternatively, you could option a pant suit: Max Mara and Armani for luxury; Country Road and Basque if you lost your last case. Either way, you're bound to impress the judge. Style woes? Let Sophie sort them out. Stockists Christine 9654 2011 |
