The Scanlan Theodore Pieces I Didn’t Plan on Buying

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If you follow me over on Instagram, you’ll have clocked that I’ve been in Melbourne a lot lately. I spent the best part of two weeks there for work, and then flew down again last weekend to accompany my husband to the F1 after he scored an invitation through work.

While I was there for work, most of my after-hours time was dedicated to long overdue catch-ups with family and friends. But between work and dinners, I didn’t visit any shops or venture far beyond the CBD (does Carlton count as the burbs?!). So the chance to return for a trip where I could properly enjoy Melbourne at my own pace felt like a real treat.

One particular store I paid a visit to during my me day – which resulted in a rather noticeable dent in my wallet – was Scanlan Theodore. I had actually popped into the boutique to try their army skirt – “dramatic” and “fun” skirts are a gap I’ve identified in my wardrobe that I’m looking to fill. Given I was wearing a dress while shopping, the sales associate suggested I try the skirt with their crepe knit tee. Well. Talk about distracting. 

Scanlan Theodore top (sz M), Scanlan Theodore skirt (sz 8), Scanlan Theodore heels

The skirt immediately became second fiddle and the t-shirt quickly took centre stage. Shoulder pads, stripes, crepe knit – an irresistible combination considering my history with the fabric! I tried on both the tan and navy but the tan was the one that stole my heart that day. 

Pre-COVID, Scanlan’s crepe knit formed the backbone of my corporate wardrobe. It’s a magical woven fabric that holds structure beautifully and always looks incredibly polished. But since my current role doesn’t require me to lean quite so deeply into corporate dressing anymore, I haven’t really been able to justify adding more pieces. Or so I thought.

Naturally, I asked the sales associate to grab me a pair of jeans so I could see how the tee might work styled more casually. And… those came home with me too. The jeans are super high-waisted, and the darker wash means they sit somewhere nicely between a tailored trouser and a dressy jean – the kind of piece that works just as well with heels as it does in a slightly more relaxed outfit. The jeans also come in two different lengths. I obviously went for the shorter length but they also come in a longer version for those of you blessed with height. 

Scanlan Theodore top (sz M), Scanlan Theodore jeans (sz AU 8)

It was one of those shopping adventures where I absolutely did not intend to leave with the items I ended up buying – but here we are. As a petite person, finding flattering jeans straight off the rack can feel like an eternal challenge, particularly as many Australian brands don’t necessarily cater to shorties. I was genuinely impressed with these though.

While the jeans looked great with the heels I tried on in-store, I suspect I’ll end up heading to my tailor to have them shortened so I can style them more easily with flats. I’m still slightly undecided though – I don’t want to lose the elegance of the silhouette – but I’ll report back once I’ve made the call.

Thanks for stopping by!

P.S. Have a read of my recent blog post where I share my thoughts on the super popular Uniqlo windbreaker.