Julie Bishop’s sentimental wardrobe item from time as Foreign Minister

She has a wardrobe full of beautiful designer Australian outfits, but there is one piece of clothing that holds a special place in Julie Bishop’s heart.

Inside My Wardrobe

Julie Bishop, 65, chancellor of Australian National University in Canberra

When it comes to power dressing, no one does it better than Julie Bishop where velvet ball gowns, Witchery white shirts, blue jeans and a sentimental UN Security Council meeting jacket reign supreme.

With a love of classic and timeless fashion and Australian and international labels, Julie’s wardrobe reflects her strong sense of self and style, proving fashion is about confidence, a good cause (she is a 2022 Witchery White Shirt Campaign ambassador), and just the right amount of “ordered chaos”.

PS Julie, I’ll go you halves in Bergdorfs …

Julie Bishop for Witchery’s White Shirt campaign.

This year’s Witchery white shirt, designed in collaboration with Australian designer Michael Lo Sordo, is available online and in Witchery stores until May 8, with 100 per cent of gross proceeds to be donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation to raise funds for the research to develop an early detection test.

How would you describe your personal style?

Timeless.

Who are your style icons?

Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn, Amal Clooney.

What’s the oldest thing in your wardrobe?

A Catherine Walker velvet ball gown.

What are your favourite brands?

International: Louis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss; Australian: Rachel Gilbert, Rebecca Vallance, Meraki.

Julie Bishop attends Fashion Week 2021. Picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images

Have you ever made a style faux pas?

Never intentionally.

When it comes to the Witchery White Shirt, what is your favourite way to style it?

With jeans or pants.

What is the most surprising thing in (or about) your wardrobe?

The ordered chaos.

Top-three wardrobe must-haves?

White shirt, leather jacket, blue jeans.

What is the most sentimental item in your wardrobe?

The jacket I wore in July 2014 at the UN Security Council meeting on (the downing of Malaysian airliner) MH17.

Julie Bishop arrives Carla Zampatti’s funeral. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

If money was no object you’d buy ... ?

The Bergdorf Goodman department store in NYC.

Summer or winter fashion?

Both.

Denim or dresses?

Both.

Heels or sneakers?

Both.

Is there anything in your wardrobe you have regretted throwing out?

No. Once it’s gone, I don’t regret it.

David Panton and Julie Bishop attend Hamilton. Picture: Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images

How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Too many!

Favourite fashion era?

I love classic and timeless fashion that transcends short-term trends.

What does style mean to you?

Style reflects individual tastes and choices – curating my own look.