A week in work outfits with FJ’s Editor, Cait Emma Burke

“I think of my style as a fusion of two of my favourite decades, the ’70s and ’90s, with a dash of contemporary fashion and pop culture references.”

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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For Fashion Journal’s Editor Cait Emma Burke, the ultimate work outfits are a balance of comfort, style and practicality, punctuated by vibrant colours and “perfectly imperfect” details. Describing her style as a “fusion” of her two favourite decades, the ‘70s and ’90s, Cait’s wardrobe staples include tailored stripey button-ups, high-quality dark denim, colourful knitwear and mesh long-sleeve tops.

She chooses to shop mainly from local labels, consignment stores and Depop and is very pro the occasional clothes swap with a friend to inject some newness into her wardrobe without actually buying new. Below, she shares a week of work outfits.

Monday

I think of my style as a fusion of two of my favourite decades, the ’70s and ’90s, with a dash of contemporary fashion and pop culture references. Aesthetically, I’ve always been drawn to women in rock music too – messy hair and ever so slightly imperfect, grungy touches are what I gravitate towards. I’m a big pants person, particularly wide-legged and flared styles, and I’ve accrued many special vintage and designer pieces over the years through working in secondhand and consignment fashion.

I wouldn’t have predicted that a pair of yellow sneakers would be this versatile so my affinity for these Onitsuka Tigers came as a pleasant surprise. I’ve been wearing them on repeat since getting them last year, and they work with practically everything in my wardrobe. As it’s a Monday, I crave comfort, ease and practicality from my outfit, but also a little something that makes me feel like I have my shit together and am ready to get stuff done – enclothed cognition is a real thing, friends!

I’m wearing my trusty P.A.M jeans (you can find a similar style in a lighter wash here) with a many seasons old star print Acne mesh I bought off my housemate. I’m a sucker for anything mesh, particularly a long sleeve. They’re great for layering under dresses, boob tubes, T-shirts etc, but also work alone. My glasses are from Wink, a very cool, chic optometrist. If you’re on the hunt for new signature eyewear, I wrote about my experience selecting my Cazal glasses at Wink here.

Tuesday

It’s getting chilly in Melbourne, which means it’s time for my beloved orange Frisson Knits Isabella jumper to make an appearance. During the colder months, this piece is a mainstay in my wardrobe. I’m a longtime Frisson Knits fan and the quality of this jumper is unmatched. It’s also probably the number one most complimented item in my wardrobe, and who doesn’t love an unexpected compliment here and there?

Again, comfort is front of mind these days when I get dressed, so I paired it with a stripey long sleeve from one of my favourite Melbourne labels Verner, a pair of low-rise, ’90s pinstripe workwear pants from Goodbyes (my go-to consignment store) and my Asics x Angelo Baque sneakers. I feel confident, comfy and cute in this look, which is all you can ever really ask for from an outfit.

Wednesday

I’ve been thinking about pairing denim cut-offs with knee-high boots ever since I saw a photo of Kate Moss in the mid-2000s wearing something similar (albeit in a much sexier, festival-worthy way). I found these Levi’s shorts at Soup Shop, a recent pop-up I went to in Melbourne. They’re that dreamy shade of vintage blue I’ve been searching for, and they fit unbelievably well.

I’ve paired them with Sam Edelman boots I got on sale from The Outnet and a stripey button-up made by my very talented friend Emily, the founder and designer of Melbourne made-to-measure suit label, E Nolan. Emily creates the most amazing clothing – the cut of this shirt is everything to me.

Thursday

I had a few meetings today that I needed to look presentable for, and dinner plans after work, so I felt like being a little less casual. I know I said my Frisson Knits jumper is the most complimented piece in my wardrobe, but a strong contender for that title is this recent Etsy find – a ’90s Issey Miyake tartan print short-sleeve turtleneck.

I’ve had people follow me into stores just to ask me where it’s from, and the look of disappointment they have when I tell them it’s a vintage piece from Etsy almost makes me feel bad. The photo doesn’t really do it justice – in person, it’s just incredible to look at. I’ve paired it with a trusty black skirt I got when I worked at Recycle Boutique, a consignment store in New Zealand, and Docs with white socks.

Friday

This bomber jacket has seen some shit over the years. I’ve had it since I was a teenager, and it’s such a core part of my wardrobe. Bombers are that ideal fusion of ’70s and ’90s aesthetics, yet somehow still feel contemporary. I put them in the same category as a well-cut shirt and blazer or a pair of vintage Levi’s that fit just right.

I’m wearing it with an asymmetrical top from Melbourne label Oats that I bought secondhand on Depop (we love the circular fashion economy!), a denim maxi skirt from Neuw I borrowed from our Partnerships and Campaign Manager Ella and Sam Edelman boots. This denim skirt has proven very versatile, so I’ve added it to the top of my ‘to buy’ list.