olive&finn x blankbird : white out

Viktoria & Woods soft peplum top; Carly Hunter wide-legged pants; Sollis necklace; ASOS heels 

I'm so excited to finally be sharing with you my first collaboration of the year, with online boutique Olive & Finn! I loved the minimalistic O&F aesthetic the very first time I visited their website - so effortless and fuss-free it was refreshing. Their pieces really do speak for themselves with such ease and this white-on-silvery-white outfit is a case in point. With a perfectly-tailored soft peplum and uber luxurious wide-leg, it's a double dose of breezy and currently ranks high on my list of seriously comfy outfits. A simple statement necklace completes the look and the textured chapel walls feel somewhat Moroccan, don't they?

I also spent a quick moment with the lovely Olivia, the bubbly, multi-talented founder and owner of O&F, chatting about her store, personal style and fave Melbourne hangouts. Oh did I also mention that I'm absolutely in love with her humble abode?! Read on..

Tell us about your retail concept.

Our retail concept was based around providing online customers with a boutique shopping experience. We all know the feeling of going into a boutique and looking through great pieces from different designers, getting great customer service and leaving the store with our purchase in a gorgeous bag that we are proud to carry around.  We wanted to create that same emotion but for an online customer. It is minimalistic and simple, no adverts and nothing taking away your attention from the clothing.

What do you look for in the labels that you stock?

It can be a range of different aspects that can attract me to the labels. Most importantly of course they have to be a label from Australia or New Zealand. I look for brands that have clean and structured silhouettes and those that use the very best quality of fabrics.

What shall we expect at O&F in the coming seasons?

The next few seasons will showcase some great new talent in the fashion industry from some new designers within the Australian and New Zealand market. Most people may have not heard of them but I’m hoping to change that. We have our next photo shoot next month, so that is what I am concentrating on at the moment.

Would having a pop-up be part of your future plans?

Of course! It is right up there on the priority list for O&F. I want it to be done right though meaning the right location and right time. There is always going to be customers who want to pick up and try the products on and I would love to cater to those people.

What about your personal style – where do you personally shop and is O&F a reflection of it?

I have to admit most of my personal style is a reflection of Olive & Finn. It is simple silhouettes with just a tad of interesting detail. I like to dabble with trends but I never overload.  I love to wear heels and do so all the time. They make me feel elegant and confident. When it comes to basic tees and tops I am a fan of the Australian chain stores; Country Road and Witchery always have great basics.  Zomp is always my destination for gorgeous shoes. Although they do not deliver to Australia I love the shop Cos in Europe, and when I travel I make sure I leave a lot of space in my suitcase for purchases.

Share with us a tip or two about Melbourne and your favourite hangouts!

Anyone who has been to Melbourne or lives here knows there are way too many places to mention. I love the Fitzroy area and thus love the café ‘Bell Jar’ on Smith Street – Great coffee and food.  I also love Panama Dining Room on Smith Street with yummy cocktails and delicious dinners (of course all of my favourite places relate to food). You can go anywhere in Melbourne though and have a great time.

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Hope you guys are keeping cool down under! More O&F x blankbird goodness coming your way x

Photos by Thomas Lo

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