Think “spring fashion” and you probably picture a green field with sunshine on your shoulders, the hem of your dress skimming daisies and butterflies playing on your sandals. Not so in Melbourne. You have to prepare for rain, wind and sunshine – all in one day.

But that doesn’t have to mean we have to miss out on the best of spring fashion. Instagram style influencer Klara Belle (@klarabellle) says Melbourne provides a great opportunity to have a trans-seasonal wardrobe. “You can pair upcoming spring items with your winter staples,” she says. “It’s something you can’t do in most European cities, where they go straight from cold to warm.”

Klara says the key fabric for the season is satin and silks. “Pair a simple satin singlet over a t-shirt with jeans,” she says. “There are a lot of mid-length satin slips over t-shirts or long-sleeve tops, which you can stack layers underneath if it’s a colder day.” Klara loves the navy satin slip dress from Vanishing Elephant, which she wears with heels or sneakers, depending on the occasion.

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A solid monochrome outfit is always a Melbourne favourite. Klara suggests playing with textures to add a bit of interest. Her white shirt from Republic Boutique has diagonal buttons and can be worn as a wrap-shirt or undone for a more relaxed feel.

Texture can also come through accessories. Klara’s bag of choice is the tassel-adorned Deadly Ponies stunner from Incu. While tassels have been on-trend for some time, the focus has shifted in their application. “Right now it’s more about tassels in accessories: bracelets with tassels, shoes with tassels, bags with tassels,” she says. “Not so much tassels hanging off your clothes.”

When that Melbourne spring sun does show you’re going to need sunglasses. “We’ve moved away from the giant sunnies look, to the aviator style or the rounded lens with darker or reflective lenses,” says Klara. “Thicker lens frames are also a key feature.”

Denim is a staple no matter the season, but Klara says longer-line denim skirts are a good choice for spring. She likes to pair a denim skirt from A.P.C. with a playful tee from Graniph and a lightweight elbow-length trench from Vanishing Elephant. “A jacket doesn’t always need to be worn done up, especially when it’s not too cold,” Klara says. “I tie mine up at the back.”

“When the weather is on point in Melbourne it’s great,” says Klara. But when it’s not? You have to dress for anything. Klara thinks it’s only in mid-November, after the spring racing season finishes, that it’s safe to leave the house without a jacket. “But I’d still obviously look at the weather in advance,” she says. It’s in our DNA.

Outfit details

All items are available from stores within the QV Melbourne precinct.

Look 1
Silk slip dress – Vanishing Elephant
Silk wrap dress (worn as jacket) – Vanishing Elephant
Heels – M Dreams
Sneakers – Model’s own

Look 2
Shirt – Republic Boutique
Bag – Incu
Jeans – Incu
Sunglasses – QV Optik
Shoes – Model’s own

Look 3
T-shirt – Graniph
Trench coat – Vanishing Elephant
Denim skirt – A.P.C.
Shoes – M Dreams
Sunglasses – Vanishing Elephant