When you walk into the Hotel Windsor, you’re immediately met with old-world class, glamour and style. From the twinkling chandeliers heavily laden with crystals, to the pianist and harp player in the lobby, the Windsor offers guests a particular style of luxury that modern, multi-billion dollar skyscraper apartments cannot. When we visited the Windsor on our last trip to Melbourne, the first thing we wanted to do was run around these red-carpeted hallways and take photos in our new Review Australia clothing we’d just been gifted.
Mel and Kristen styling Review’s ‘Parlez Vous Francais’ collection at The Hotel Windsor
Review offer a brand of clothing that takes a lot of influence from the romantic styles of the 40s, 50s and 60s. One of the reasons we love them is their clothing is all designed and made here in Australia.
The design team travel the world drawing inspiration from all over, before sending their sketches back to Melbourne where they’re brought to life by pattern makers. Naturally, we were super excited to trial some lovable pieces from July’s Parisian-infuenced ‘Parlez Vous Francais’ collection!
The Windsor and Review’s ‘Parlez Vous Francais’ collection were a match made in heaven, really. Kristen’s bouffant floral skirt, ribboned blouse and tailored coat tied up with a bow fell right in step with the Windsor’s classic charm, as did Mel’s light beige ruffled coat and modest-but-curve-hugging black dress.
Clementine Skirt and Marisa 3/4 Sleeve Jumper
Kristen has always wanted a giant, mid-length skirt to wear during the warmer months on careless wine tours and outdoor lunches. Paired with a white shirt, floppy felt hat and oversized sunglasses, she can’t wait to bring this carefully-planned outfit out over the summer.
Lovella coat
When Kristen saw this tailored coat, she realised all her coat dreams had been brought to life. A deep, navy blue in colour, perfectly nipping in at the waist, a cute peter-pan collar and finished up with a giant bow at the back… it was the perfect dress-coat for any occasion. Since being sent it, she’s worn it almost every day, over the top of jeans, skirts, and even buttoned up with stockings as a dress.
One could say the heritage-listed Ayers House is Adelaide’s version of Hotel Windsor. It, too, is such a beautiful piece of old-world architecture, most perfect for weddings and other milestone events. Due to this, we chose Ayers House as the Adelaide counterpart to this editorial, shooting Mel’s Review pieces on the outskirts of this grand, stone-walled building.
Anastasia Trench
There is something so effortlessly stunning about the appropriately named ‘Anastasia Trench’. The beige-nude colour exudes some slightly pink undertones, achieving a a significantly feminine look alongside a flouncy, frilly collar. A luxuriously silky lining and use of soft materials makes you feel like you’re wearing a million dollars, and the high quality of materials helps the trench to fall just right, with the hem sitting elegantly above the knee.
The shape is is oh-so flattering, with a tailored waist and subtle shoulder definition, making the coat effective to wear as simply a dress on its own, too. Although Mel tends to steer away from the ‘girly’, ‘pretty’ type of designs, she’s somehow fallen deep in love with Review’s ‘Anastasia Trench’, choosing to wear it over the top of party dresses, a corporate work outfit or by itself as a dress.
Mariniere Dress
The ‘Mariniere Dress’ is corporate-chic at its finest. Tailored to suit quite a robust womanly shape, this dress hugged Mel’s hourglass figure beautifully without being too revealing (as curve-hugging dresses can be!). The neckline sits high, covering any potential cleavage and, when paired with a hem line that sits modestly above the knee, this LBD achieves a notable sense of corporate sophistication.
Mariniere Dress details
The design of the neckline is simple, sleek and structured, cut in a way that compliments collarbones, shapes shoulders and elongates the neck. Up close, you can see how Review have tailored the design to nip in tightly around the waist and bust, which is what gives it that figure-hugging appearance. This dress is undoubtedly a staple wardrobe item.
