By Annette Sanfilippo
Reality check…it’s winter! Well, we can’t have our cake and eat it too. Colder days are here and they are going past so quickly I can’t keep up with the changes I need to make in my wardrobe.
Most of May was sunshine and sandals but its time for storms, sneakers and woolly socks. If you’re anything like me you have probably been adding to your winter attire for a few weeks now and waiting in anticipation of layering up and embracing the cold. Time to bring out those boots!
Melbourne in winter is tricky with its four seasons in one day and as result it makes dressing a bit of a guessing game. It’s lucky that Victorian fashionistas really love a good coat. They are a bit of a weakness for me and I cherish my collection. We can always justify a new one though.
A coat can be the ‘piece de resistance’ of our outfit but we rarely get to put them on show. Many of us work indoors, and unlike some of the colder countries, we don’t need to keep our outerwear on for very long periods of time. We leave the house, jump into the car and then enter a building only to have our coat hanging ready to wear home for a few minutes at the end of the day.
Lifestyle really affects what we need in our wardrobes. Puffer jackets are parked and plastic parkas are history! Choosing your layers as our days plunge into single digit degrees has taken a ‘real’ culture shift. In a country where we pride ourselves on quality wool and breathable natural fabrics, it’s never been more apparent to designers and big brands to ditch polyester and make more from raw materials.
Stepping out into the spotlight this season are a few new fashion heroes. Merino, alpaca, cotton, cashmere and mohair are getting reimagined and rediscovered. Consumers are preferring to pay a little more for comfort, luxury, sustainability and longevity. We need to look out for those ’50s style fluffy cardigans and jumpers, soft textured tweed vests and fine woollen suits which is a great way to showcase these fibres and their premium characteristics.
More than ever before we touch, feel and flip the products to read the labels. Even underwear is going natural. Silks, bamboo and refined wool are replacing shiny, smooth poly wear reflecting the cohort’s mindset and a new consciousness of quality over quantity.
Pretty colour palettes and striking combinations of buttercup, crimson, chocolate, winter white and powder blues make it easy to style back with our favourite pieces. These colours are trickling down to footwear, jewellery and handbags, helping make monochrome a super trend this winter.
With relaxed suiting moving more into the mainstream we are playing with wider cuffed pants, loosely fitted double breasted jackets, pinstripes, unusual weaves and silhouettes that resemble ’30s style dressing. Think Clarke Gable and Katherine Hepburn. “Who”, you say? Well, they were the epitome of this style during this era, exuding classy, chic comfort and sharp dressing.
The faithful and iconic ‘brogue’ has made a clever comeback
To keep with this genre and to steer clear of just pairing this style back with trainers, the faithful and iconic ‘brogue’ has made a clever comeback. Known for their detail with small decorative perforations and often two-toned leather, this masculine-style shoe is rising in popularity, along with loafers and lace-ups, keeping the look practical and suave.
Past eras are paid homage to with one of the most prominent trends to resurface in years: brooches. Nothing enhances a lapel, collar, cardi or scarf like a stunning heirloom or modern designed piece, and stacking a few is a great way to make a statement to reflect your personal style. Brooches are popping up on bags, denim jackets, and even ties and are only limited by your imagination.
Imagination is what we need back. Clone dressing needs a shake-up. I’m all for self- expression and there is no better time to have some fun with real conversation pieces. So, layer up, dress up and enjoy all that the Mornington Peninsula has to find. Put street shopping on your agenda so you enjoy a good forage and show off those beautiful coats. Oh, and don’t forget that trusty accessory we all definitely need to keep by our side – a sturdy umbrella!
Fashionably Yours,
Annette
Peninsula Essence June 2026