Why this Australian creative still wears her mum’s clothing from the ’80s

“I really like working different eras together to create outfits that feel authentically me.”

It’s probably no surprise to anyone that vintage fashion has well and truly made a comeback. Maybe it’s your friend who’s always wearing her mum’s secondhand leather jacket or your colleague whose boots were a lucky find at their local op shop – either way, vintage styles are all around us.

It’s almost become a point of pride to answer “Where did you get that?” with a casual shrug of the shoulder and offhand comment that you found it while mindlessly browsing the aisles of your local Vinnies (or your parent’s wardrobe). 

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For a growing number of consumers, the days of impulsively buying fast fashion made overseas with environmentally-degrading materials are behind them. Now, these shoppers are more concerned with locally made items and sustainable materials and prioritise timeless pieces they can carry with them over the years.

Another vintage clothing drawcard is the sentimentality it evokes; there’s something special about the previous lives a pre-loved piece of clothing has lived. Australian heritage brand Country Road knows this all too well.

First released in 1984 as part of the brand’s first-ever menswear collection, the brand’s Chambray Shirt epitomises classic ’80s style with its oversized, unisex cut and denim wash. The reissued shirt is also part of the brand’s efforts to expand its range of Australian grown and made items, placing local manufacturing and responsibly sourced materials at the forefront of its ethos.

With a personal style that already pays homage to fashion from the ’60s to ’90s, Steph Lane, a content creator and the co-founder of vintage furniture business Goodspace, has a talent for pairing modern and vintage pieces. Whether it be a classic pair of jeans or a well-cut shirt, Steph’s love for vintage fashion sees her incorporating timeless pieces into her everyday outfits.

Yet why go op shopping if you can dig through a family member’s wardrobe? This week, Steph styled a week of outfits using Country Road’s timeless Chambray Shirt with vintage pieces from her mum’s wardrobe, showing the many different ways that retro and modern styles complement one another. Below, she shares some insight into her style.

How do you define your personal style?

My personal style is a mix of vintage meets modern. I love anything from the ’60s to the ’80s and ’90s. I really like working with different eras together to create outfits that feel authentically me.

What does timeless fashion mean to you?

To me, timeless fashion is all about classic, simple, staple pieces – items that can be worn and re-worked to go with any style. Think great denim, oversized jackets, well-cut shirts and tailored trousers. 

What’s your favourite piece of your mum’s from the ’80s?

My favourite piece would have to be her vintage suede blazer. It’s timeless, comfy and looks super cute with so many different outfits. 

What are your tips for styling a vintage piece with a modern outfit?

My advice would be to pair and style your modern outfits with the era the vintage pieces are from. I will often wear a high-waisted mini skirt with a vintage jacket for a ’60s vibe, or an oversized jumper with bike shorts for more of an ’80s Princess Diana energy.  

What are your go-to wardrobe staples?

I can’t go past a great pair of vintage jeans or a well-cut vintage blazer. I also love the classic oversized look of my Chambray Shirt – it goes with so many different looks and can be styled super casual or dressed up with a skirt for a more polished look. 

Find Country Road’s reissued Chambray Shirt here.