I never thought I'd say it - but I sometimes miss my school uniform.
Don't get me wrong, I love clothes. I shop way too much, experiment with new trends, and frequently imagine an outfit in my head and scour the internet until I find it. But often, I find myself paralysed with indecision in the mornings, trying to decide what to wear to work.
It was a simpler time back when I was wearing the same school skirt, blue button down and knee high socks every day. All I had to do to get ready was furiously straighten my hair within an inch of its life and apply enough eyeliner to put the guys from My Chemical Romance to shame.
So when I started seeing a wave of matching denim sets pop up on my social media feeds - and being worn by my mates - I thought: 'People are on to something here.'
Firstly, denim looks good on absolutely everyone. I had a double-denim-themed birthday party a few years ago (ahem, ahead of the trend) and confirmed - it suited every single person.
Secondly, a good pair of jeans and matching jacket works for a wide range of weather conditions and social occasions. At work, it's relaxed but still smart. At the bar, it's trendy and chic. Too hot? Take the jacket off and rock a tee-shirt underneath. Add a jumper if it's chilly.
Most of all, it's flattering on all kinds of bodies. But real, well-tailored denim can be expensive. So it's no wonder that Kmart's take on the trend has gone totally viral this year.
They offer a few different options - short-sleeved or long-sleeved, shirts or jackets, paired with straight or wide-leg jeans, or even denim minis. I went for the Denim Utility Shacket and Wide Leg Pocket Jeans, both in the Indigo wash.
Let me tell you, the quality of these $34 jeans is seriously impressive. They're real denim, none of that synthetic stretchy stuff, and they're rigid enough to hold you in while still being super comfy.
I always struggle so much to find flattering jeans, being a tall girl who has what I affectionately refer to as a 'lil cookie pouch'. This style was long enough, and the pockets were flattering on my tummy, with the waistline snatching me in at my smallest point.
After a bit of experimentation, I found the sweet spot for the shacket ($40) was wearing it open, with a black or white top underneath and the cuffs turned up.
The first day I wore this combo to the office, it got a very good reaction. In fact, everywhere I've worn it so far (a lot of places), I've been showered with compliments.
People have asked if it's from DISSH, Levi's or Seed and have all been amazed to hear it's from the humble Kmart.
Between the influencer videos and Kmart website reviews - "these are outstanding", "people of all sizes are raving about these for good reason", "highly recommend" - you don't really need me to convince you. But you can be sure this is completely non-sponsored and unbiased - I paid the very reasonable price of $74 dollars for the set myself.
So if, like me, you're looking for a winter uniform that works for pretty much any day you're struggling to dress yourself, this could be it. You can thank me later!
