Your Closet Hire is every girl’s dream wardrobe; you’ve got your evening-wear, your smart casual playsuits, your cocktail dresses and your super cute mini dresses for nights out. Brands are exclusively high-end, parading the likes of Alex Perry, Camilla and Marc, Rebecca Vallance, Thurley, Camilla, Nicholas and so much more. It is a playground for the fashion-forward female and, most importantly, a saviour for those events you just don’t know what to wear.
If you’re like us, you probably have a few events planned in the next couple of months, whether it be a friend’s 21st, a wine tour, a ball or even a family wedding. Again, if you’re like us, you’re probably racking your brains of ways you can look great at your next event while not spending too much of that $$$. Below, we’ve put together a thematic lookbook of standout designer outfits you can hire for significantly less than their original retail price from online hire boutique Your Closet Hire. And, for your convenience, we’ve themed it by events: 1) A Wine Tour, 2) A Ball, 3) A Birthday Party, 4) A Wedding, 5) A Graduation, and; 6) A Night Out In Town.
1. Wine Touring in Your Closet Hire
We’re Adelaide-based so, let’s face it, the probability of attending a wine tour in next coming months is rather high. What with Sea & Vines, Winter Reds, Barossa Gourmet Weekend and so much more coming up, who can really stay away from the alluring vineyards at this time of year?
For a wine tour, Kristen’s outfit of choice was the fun and frilly red Georgette Playsuit by Nicholas, which is sure to make a statement against the rolling green hills surrounding Adelaide’s wine regions. Mel’s was the Rebecca Vallance Bella Jumpsuit, which is a totally flattering cut for any body shape and has a subtle yet playful star print, making it a great daytime piece. Pair these pieces with a big floppy hat and you are beyond ready to take on a long day of wine consumption!
We shot these looks against the vineyards of the National Wine Centre.
2. Ballin’ in Your Closet Hire
Balls are your chance to get absolutely red-carpet glammed up, which you might not often get the chance to do. This is why we recommended two quite statement, intricate evening gowns: the Dress the Population Harper Gown Pale Blush and the Grace and Heart Breathless Love Gown.
Anyone who knows us personally might say that these gowns emulate our personalities in a way; Mel is bodacious and loud, but in a sophisticated manner (most of the time), much like the glittery Harper Gown while Kristen makes a more subtle statement in her demeanor, still standing out from the crowd like the feminine, lacy Breathless Love Gown does.
We chose to shoot in the gardens of the beautiful heritage site Mt Lofty House, heralding a unique, old world feel in terms of architecture design and boasting breathtaking views of the Adelaide Hills: the perfect location for a magical ball.
3) Birthday Party in Your Closet Hire
Mt Lofty House is not only great for balls, but is the ultimate location for a birthday lunch or dinner, offering various function spaces and a restaurant with a view. For the birthday party theme, we shot outside of one of their photogenic function spaces: the vine-covered ‘Coach House’.
Mel wore an intricate Thurley design with some of the most incredible lace detail she’s seen on a party dress. That, alongside the flattering cut outs and plunge neckline, made this dress one of Mel’s favourite YC choices which she had most certainly not expected due to the electric blue colour she predicted to dislike. Kristen wore an off-the-shoulder, Botanical Lace Cocktail Dress by Nicholas (a suited name, might we add), with gorgeous lace-work similar to that of the Thurley number.
4) Wedding in Your Closet Hire
At a wedding, if you’re not the one getting married, you don’t want to be the one who steals the show. We recommend opting for more subdued colours and patterns, and we found two of the most perfect options from YC. Mel’s fishtail Elle Zeitoune Zarla Dress is a lovely mix of black lace and grey underlay on a design tailored to create a most attractive hourglass figure. We just couldn’t look past the elegant La Verne Dress by Alex Perry, which Kristen flaunts effortlessly in this shoot. It’s almost crocodile-like, with a reptilian texture and earthy green tone. And it has pockets – win!
St Peter’s Cathedral is a renowned wedding venue as it is classic, timeless and most definitely architecturally aesthetic, not to mention of religious significance for many. It provided the perfect backdrop for this shoot.
5) Graduation in Your Closet Hire
Graduation is a milestone event, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to dress out-there to impress. Some want to truly stand out from the crowd of fellow graduates, while others just want something simple and sophisticated to go with their black robes and grad hats. Regardless, YC can cater to your taste, as we have attempted to show in our shoot out front of the Adelaide Law School Building (FYI: we’re not law graduates, in case you were wondering).
Kristen’s yellow Thurley Hollyhock number is turning heads left, right and centre with lace detailing so quintessential to that of a Thurley design, while Mel’s classy Camilla and Marc Twigge dress is one you simply cannot go wrong with.
6) A Night Out in Town in Your Closet Hire
And finally, a night out in town. NOLA is one of east-end’s buzzing small bars, located on Vardon Avenue and surrounding other notable drinking destinations such as East End Cellars and Mothervine. It is a well-known fact that Vardon Avenue is a hub for entertainment, nightlife and good food and wine, which is what makes it so perfectly suited to this particular shoot.
You’ll be feeling a cocktail or two in the sleek, double-breasted Mineral Dress by Camilla and Marc. Look how easily it is dressed up for a night out with a red lippy and some heels! It can also be layered over the top of turtlenecks, long-sleeved tops or a chiffon shirt, which is exactly how Kristen has styled it below. We won’t stop there with the Camilla and Marc: Mel parades the flowing Saki Drape Jumpsuit which is both sexy yet classy as the long, wide-leg pants offset the suggestive plunging neckline and low-back feature. Also, how pretty is that luxurious velvet detailing on the bust?
Photography by Callum Jackson