5 days of chic runaround outfits with Sophie

The looks to wear when you have umpteen activities in the diary and you want to be cute, casual and comfy while doing them.

We recently asked our paid subscribers what they’re thinking most about fashion wise and the most frequent response was to do with ‘runaround clothes’. They’re a step up from home clothes, slightly more formal but equally comfortable – they are the clothes you wear when you have seventeen different activities on that day and you want to both look and feel good. They’re the outfits that you don’t want to rip off the very second you step foot in the door at the end of the day.

These looks should come with a checklist:

• Look like you’ve tried without trying

• Can bend/sit/exist without hurting

• Footwear can be worn 8+ hours

• Waistline must be able to see you through the many daily phases of a woman’s fluctuating belly circumference

This week was my first full week back at work post critter, which i’ve realised pretty much means working two full time jobs (fun!). I fear I may never feel rested ever again but it’s worth it just to see his chunky cheeks every time I walk in the door. I decided to document my looks for the week given it was going to be so busy, and hot! Bloody hot. And we all know how fun it is to try and look good when it’s hot.

I am lucky in that my work doesn’t require me to dress too formally as it’s a very physical job: I am up, down, here, there and everywhere when I work. But it does require that I have some semblance of looking like I know what I’m talking about. Well, there’s no formal rule about this but being that i’m getting paid to dress people I feel it’s the least I could do. So given all of those factors, my work outfits also double as cute runaround looks.

I’ve actually been doing some research into personal style / styling because it works so seamlessly with what we’re doing here with homeroom and i’d love to integrate it a little more. While I am a fashion stylist, there are so many different forms of styling - I myself have worked predominantly in advertising stills and TV commercials (for the last 15 years!!). I’ve realised that despite my occupation i’ve actually put very little thought into what my own personal style is and how it came to be. I’m going to share a bit of this journey eventually because it’s given me a whole lot of clarity around getting dressed as well as an influence on my purchasing behaviour: both key to the existence of homeroom. I shall report back.

Ok here we go, five business days of cute, runaround looks that I actually wore (for the most part).

Thanks for being here with us,

Sophie x

Monday: Jeans-and-a-tee combo

I began Monday with a morning pre-style (putting looks together for a shoot) then onto shoe sourcing in the city, so I needed to look nice for the client facing part of my day, but it was followed by several million steps around the CBD.

For this look I took inspiration from Annie and her all white look from our Mumma Milla collab which was so cute but more importantly looked so damn comfy and had an element of fun to it too. Which reminds me of one styling method i’ve been putting more thought into whilst delving into the world of personal style: the ‘Three Word Method’. Allison Bornstein went viral with this method but Amy Smilovic also touts something similar – whereby you distill your style into 3 adjectives. I haven’t actually done this myself yet but I plan to and i’m guessing ‘fun’ might be one of my words.

Anyway, this feels like a fresh way of styling your everyday ‘jeans and a tee’ combo. The all white makes the casualness feel clean and smart, adding a belt is basically the sartorial equivalent of screaming ‘i’ve got my shit together’, all the while a couple of sneaky little Havaiana’s poke out the base to bring the all day comfort.

Something I’ll also note is that I always ‘style’ my hair differently depending on my neckline. I say style in quotation because saying that I style my hair is a major stretch given I often turn up to work with my hair wet (forever that kid from school). But! I truly do change how it’s done based on my outfits. It definitely assists with the overall outcome.

More thoughts below.

Wearing

Tee: MOTHER DENIM — no longer available but they do fun graphic tees. More here.

A graphic tee is my get out of jail free card for wearing a t-shirt. Yes it’s still a t-shirt but it at least adds another layer to the look. I’m a recovering t-shirt addict, so sue me.

I’ve been coveting these Monphell tees too, mostly sold out but they have new versions each season so i’m eagerly awaiting.

Jeans: FRIENDS WITH FRANK / The Felicity Denim Trouser — $389

Full monochrome isn’t usually my vibe but it is a simple way to create a look when you’re in a hurry. So long as there are various shades of black and white, and multiple layers and textures to the pieces - this ‘maximalist’ can feel at home in monochrome.

I’d never owned a pair of white jeans before and it felt like it was time. I’d been lusting over this Friends With Frank pair for over a year and they very generously gifted them to me when we did our styling event. This style is the perfect amount of oversize and the cut is like a piece of art.

I also own these in blue, which are equally sculptural for $199.

Belt: FRIENDS WITH FRANK x ESSĒN / The Double Wrap Belt — $249

I’ve recently made a couple of belt purchases because I was seriously lacking in this department. A belt is such a simple adage that holds major weight as a finishing piece. I’m also so obsessed with this belt but am completely unable to warrant the price tag right now.

Bag: COS / Oversized Crochet Tote Bag — $81 (On Sale)

I own and love this as a casual day bag that fits all the work necessities.

Thongs: HAVAIANAS / Slim Thongs — $40

I am loving that Havi’s are back in fashion. I felt guilty every time I wore them in my 20’s because they were no longer cool (instead I insisted on wearing a black leather ankle boot with absolutely everything). I keep meaning to purchase the square toe style so they feel slightly more fancy but they seem to forever be sold out.

If i’m honest I felt a little underdressed wearing rubber thongs to work, not that you could really even see them but my formal leather thongs snapped while strolling through the local plaza in Mildura at Christmas time. I literally had to throw them in the bin and bare foot it to Ozmosis to grab a replacement.

Jewellery: I always wear layers of multiple bits and pieces of gold jewellery. Silver is definitely the metal of the season but it doesn’t suit me and even if it did, i’m in too deep to turn it around now. I’ll occasionally lose my marbles and strip it all off, but it always comes seeping back in. My everyday pieces are made up of family handmedowns, Sarah & Sebastian, Sydney Evan, Catbird, Incu Jewellery and honestly a bit of Goldmark or Prouds here and there. Back when it was harder to find affordable fine necklaces, I used to purchase baby necklaces from Prouds.

Gaps

Scarf: P. JOHNSON FEMME / Chainmail Silk Head Scarf — $295

When thinking about how I could make this look slightly more interesting without affecting the comfortable factor too much, the head scarf trend came to mind. I’ve been seeing so many cute girls wearing a head scarf and I want to be them!!! See below.

Earrings: VERMEER STUDIO / Margaret Earrings — $125

These are currently unavailable but I have a similar pair which would also look good paired with the scarf. The brown adds warmth to this look, which I prefer to full monochrome.

Sandals: A.EMERY / The Morgan Sandal — $190

I say sandals because they’re leather but they’re still just thongs aren’t they. But the leather will allow me to feel a little more *done* when donning at work. I’d originally purchased these leather thongs for the summer to act as my formal thongs but they were too small on my postpartum hooves. Despite the fact we’re about to exit summer I am about to hit purchase on these A.EMERY pair instead and i’m quite happy about it.

Ooo I like these for a more fun thong, and cheaper than other iterations i’ve seen.

Patou Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear Collection

Alexis Badiyi at NYFW, featured on The Cereal Aisle by Leandra Medine. The scarf! The collar! The brooch!