This month, chic Canberra fashion boutique Mussen turns one. Starting out as an eBay shop, it officially opened a physical location this time last year on the corner of  Mort Street in Civic, Canberra. To celebrate, Mussen invited me to raid their racks and play dress up for some birthday snaps.

Ironically, this time last week I posted about how it’s so very me to dress like a man, and now here I am in a pencil skirt – nothing could be more feminine. But if it’s going to be a pencil skirt, it’s got to be this one. Stylestalker blows me away with their healthy mix of of femininity and edge. One can’t go without the other. If you’re gonna get all dressed up in florals, that flower had better the the size of a baby elephant. That’s edge you can’t fake. A statement skirt is, in my book, one of the most easiest pieces to style. Once you have that large scale floral on your hips, you almost can’t go wrong. Wear print on print with a similarly loud pattern on top, or let the skirt have the spotlight with a simple white button down shirt.

So how does a girl who likes to dress like a man style a skin tight pencil skirt? With a slouchy sweater, of course. Mesh and chiffon fabrics are my favourite materials, especially when used in sportswear inspired styles, like this grid insert mesh sweater by Staple the Lable. It’s femininity and decadence juxtaposed against structure and functionality.

Top and skirt are from Mussen. Find Mussen online, or at its physical location at 17 Mort Street, Canberra. For good measure, go ahead and follow them on their gorgeous facebook page.

Staple the label – mesh ribbed shirt (Mussen, online and instore)
Stylestalker – Drive skirt (Mussen, online and instore)
L.A.M.B. – Oxley ankle strap heels (here in black)