A week in work outfits with Melbourne photographer, Alisa Yamada

“My style philosophy is that oversized tops look better when paired with even bigger pants.”

Working in a creative role, it can be difficult to know how to dress for the day. Instead of having a set uniform of crisp white shirts and tailored black pants (as much as I love both), an ever-changing schedule means every morning requires a set of questions.

Am I running around, or just sitting at my desk? Do I need to dress specifically for a project? And most importantly, will I be in the background of someone’s TikTok?

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This week, Melbourne-based photographer and video editor Alisa Yamada takes us through her week in work outfits. From editing in a Fitzroy café to meetings with stylists to weekend retail shifts, Alisa’s ever-changing schedule necessitates a wardrobe that can roll with the punches. With a blend of Japanese labels, pre-loved finds and pieces from local brands like Front Office and Exhibit A, Alisa’s style is quintessentially Melbourne – laidback, eclectic and effortlessly cool.

Monday

Sometimes I truly need a croissant to be productive, so with a hard drive full of photos that needed editing, I went to a café to start off the week. I went with a friend, which is dangerous because it runs the risk that we would talk the entire time but we were pretty good at staying on task, so I’d say it was a success. We tried something new and went to White Pony in Fitzroy, which was such a treat. 

I thrifted this Adidas jersey from a vintage store in Tokyo. The jeans are actually from my little brother (who I like to think got his great taste from me). For shoes, I wore my platform Timberlands so that my poor jeans could get a break from being dragged along the floor. 

Tuesday

This picture was actually to accompany another piece I worked on with Fashion Journal but since I went straight to work after taking this, the outfit is serving as a two-for-one. The article was on lucky fashion items, which, for me, is my everyday handbag. I wore it with a blue button-up (also an op shop find), with a new fur-hooded jacket I had just bought from the Fitzroy Market over the weekend. 

The necklace is from Exhibit A, a local jewellery designer who makes pieces from secondhand charms and recycled metals. No two are the same, which is why this necklace is one of my favourites. Once at work, my main task for the day was editing some new long-form content for the brand, which required hunching over my computer in a way I know will cause me back issues in the future.

Wednesday

In the office again, where I spent time taking flatlays of some new garments for the Front Office website and meeting with a stylist for an upcoming project we’re currently working on. It was freezing, so layering up was the move. 

The Sashiori Jacket is one of my favourites from Front Office – it’s made from a martial arts material that’s been dyed in indigo. Like everything I wear, it’s a size too big but I love the comfort of its largeness. My style philosophy is that oversized tops look better when paired with even bigger pants, so I wore the jacket with my pleated balloon jeans.

My Salomons were a Christmas gift from my roommate, a shoe that I was bound to have now that I live in Melbourne. The hat, though, was purely because my hair was doing something crazy today. 

Thursday

I had a day off today, so thought I’d put on my new op shop find when catching up with some friends but realised as soon as I stepped outside that my neon long sleeve made me look more like the tradies working on the construction outside my apartment, rather than emulating the New-York-in-the-’90s vibe that I was going for. My busted Timbs and frayed jeans didn’t help either. Regardless, I look good in orange and I was easy to find in a crowd, so a win is a win. 

Saturday

The space at Front Office serves not only as a studio but as a retail storefront too, so on Saturday, I packed down the backdrop and lights to set up the store. With the shift from studio to storefront, I also decided to give my jeans rotation a much-needed break. I opted for a skirt from a Japanese brand, staying true to my mission of remaining comfortably shapeless by pairing it with my Adidas zip-up. 

A mix of having the best pre-shift bagel, the store being consistently busy with customers who brought their dogs and the weather being the most perfect autumn day – it was a great way to end the week. Thanks for sharing it with me!

Keep up with Alisa here.