a summer favourite

Preen's SS 2010 collection was apparently inspired by feminist novelist Virginia Woolf. It supposedly embodies the idea of women defying the expectations of society while appearing to obey the rules on the surface. Anyway.. bullshit aside, I think it's a great collection. With just enough nods to the 40s, 50s and 60sto keep you on your toes, plus unusual pairings of gelati colours and textures, this collection is a step away from Preen's usual masculinity.

close to home

Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke have taken their label, and catapulted Sass&Bide into the world spotlight. This video is a teaser for their SS 2012 collection, and by the looks there is a lot of spots, sequins, longer lengths and metallic leathers.. and let's not forget the structured brows! I have a feeling this may be there best yet. Kudos girls!

there's something about mary.

Mary Katranzou really nails opulence. In the current fashion climate whereby designers seem to be constantly striving for reduction, it is refreshing. Mary is a London-based designer and caught my eye a year or two ago, and since then she seems to be excellent at producing really interesting clothes. This collection takes her signature concept of hyper real print and takes it to its most beautiful and extreme. Whether it be an English country garden, photoshopped into seeming borderline virtual, mosaic formations or paradisical floral prints - she layered prints on prints on prints. She gave method to her madness through the highly structured cuts with lampshade-esque skirts and body plates. I can't wait for Spring! Florals and prints here I come.

some new additions

A recent trip to Sydney proved quite fruitful in terms of shopping, although quite the opposite in terms of everything else. I had my purse stolen at the Sydney Opera House (who would think, in one of the classiest venues in Sydney!?) and to top it off I lost my Nikon D40 at the airport. Sometimes I wonder where I leave my brain! Anyway after a lovely stroll around Darlinghurst and Paddington we stumbled upon the Shakuhachi flagship store. I just had to mark my visit with a purchase... the Luxe Utility Blazer in creme.

This might just be my favourite purchase of all time. I found this beauty in an amazing vintage shop in Sydney called Shag. You can find their site here. They have some stunning items. This original 1970s rabbit fur coat only set me back $180 and no words can explain how soft it is.

A Camilla and Marc skirt I found in The Loft in Brisbane a few weeks ago. Draped silk + bright coral + 75% off = pure happiness!

Friday cynicism

Just a little warning: the following content may be considered blasphemous among 99% of fashion-lovers... but it dawned on me the other day as I was wandering around an antique market with my mother and sister - I find vintage shopping quite annoying. Actually it's a bit more than annoying, it's just plain awful. I know this would cause most to have closed their internet window by now, but it's sad but true. 

Not only do you have to sift through mountains of tinsel, faux leather and shoulder-padded disasters, but because when you do find something that is remotely attractive you are tempted to try it on and buy it just because it looks okay compared to everything else you've seen.

Maybe it's because in Brisbane, vintage shopping is difficult, and it has proven to be more fruitful in places such as London and New York of course. But then again does location really matter? In the past I have found some hidden gems in west Brisbane's Paddington - a pair of leather pants and a rabbit fur clutch bag (which ensues the occasional disapproving glance).

I think perhaps the reason is because, as a typical Gen-Y-er, I have become accustomed to the ever-so convenient (and more so dangerous) nature of online shopping. These days I'm simply too lazy to physically dig through piles of clothes in the hope of finding something nice, when I could have bought something online in a click. Maybe I'll rekindle my love someday, I'll just have to stop being so lazy I guess!

(Ps - the photograph at the top is a beautiful print by Brett Weston from 1947 entitled Vintage White Sands - how apt!)

daisy chain

I apologise for the unoriginality of this post, as Shakuhachi is not exactly an unfamiliar brand to many these days but I just had to share my love of this dress. For those who need a little getting-up-to-speed, Shakuhachi are an Indonesian brand and since their inception in 2000 have accumulated quite a following. Their newest collection Shoot Me! incorporates an array of great textures like leather, lace, draped silks and mesh embroidery with equally great colours (jewel greens and coppers, etc.) and shapes.

This bell-sleeve daisy chain dress is a complete stand-out for me, I've wanted something completely sheer like this for a long time (despite this it does come with a slip, which would probably need to be worn if you didn't want to attract too much unwanted attention!) 

Go check out the rest of the collection, I'm also quite partial to the maxi dresses, macrame fringe dresses and some of the drapey blazers.

winter wish list

Waking up on Monday morning it suddenly dawned on me that winter is on it's way, while some time ago the thought of that would have made me quite frankly depressed - having to psyche yourself up to leave the house, and having to plan out your layers, etc. I have come to not only an acceptance of the change in seasons but in actual fact it's a pretty nice and refreshing change... There's something so nice about winter that I always forget, and it's not just the clothes!

Exhibit A: Cream botanical flower print kimono dress (courtesy of Topshop of course). This dress doesn't only kill two birds with one stone, in the sense that it combines a bold print with an oriental feel (both big looks) but it's also incredibly cheap at only 45 pounds (about $70, go the Aussie dollar!) I'd love this with some big turquoise jewelled earrings and 70's wooden platform wedges.

Apologies for the crap quality picture, it's all I could find. But these Topshop Boutique Black silk Chinese print wide leg trousers are truly beautiful. That print is stunning, I want it on the walls in my room! You can get the dress equivalent here which is nearly as amazing.

 

They are starting to begin filtering through to Australian shores but that doesn't diminish my love of the cape. I'm currently eying a couple off on eBay, but do I go for the camel or black?!

 Okay, I really surprised myself with these Topshop metallic Logan platforms (but seriously why the ugly name 'Logan'?) While the rest of the world is in a mass wedge-induced frenzy I saw these and thought they were amazing! I haven't seen a decent stiletto in a while that's for sure. Then I realised they are a near-copy of these jewel-toned stilettos seen at Gucci S/S '11 - saving us a lot of money there, thanks Topshop!

 I have a distinct feeling these Topshop shorts would go with everything... wierd. Such a great winter short and the terracotta colour is my favourite.

Ahhhh my heart still skips a beat whenever I looks at these haha. Definitely up there on the wish list but I think they have nearly sold out everywhere. They were gone from Pixiemarket in just a few short hours. I think they would look equally cool with or without a big pair of cable-knit socks. 

 Karen Walker is another that never fails to disappoint, with her designs that incorporate the masculine and feminine, bright and monochrome colours and geometric shapes. Her latest collection is a sort of extension of her last 'Sun Gods' collection, with some recurring shapes. These are my favourites. Mickey Mouse ears... but for your face! I don't think my bank will allow me to get another pair of Karen Walkers anytime soon so there are a near identical pair on Cobra Shop and the 'Stevie' Mink Pink ones are a little less mod and a little  more 'Almost Famous' but are great all the same.

This Topshop fringed bag is a lot like a designer one I saw in Grazia recently but for the life of me can't remember the brand. Anyway it's amazing and real suede and would be the best winter investment!

vivid.

Just a little warning: this post will be very loosely related to fashion. In fact that's a lie... it won't be related to fashion at all! This is just something that's too cool to not post. I heard about Vivid LIVE a while ago but wasn't all to sure what it was, but upon listening to Triple J yesterday I then understood it's actually a part of VIVID SYDNEY, the city's annual cultural festival. Every year Vivid LIVE asks a different artist or individual to curate a program of events in and around the Sydney Opera House. Last year it was Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson and the year before that Brian Eno, and this year Stephen Pavlovic (founder of hugely successful Sydney-based record label Modular, and local music guru in his own right) has picked an eclectic mix of artists to take the stage. 

I'm not going to lie I'm pretty excited about this, mainly for 2ManyDJs and Azari & III, (their first Aus show yay!) it would be so worth the 2 hour flight.

Disco!

Track of the day: Backseat (Duff Disco Remix) - Duffstep

ten things

I feel like this page is a little naked and needs some dressing up with another post! And inspired by an old article on fashiontoast, I've decided to introduce myself (in an ever-so-organised way) with 10 things about me/my style that I feel I need to get out there before I really get cracking.

1. I am completely, utterly and irrevocably in love with Topshop. I apologise in advance for the amount of times I'll probably refer to their clothing but I really think that no other store has ever made cutting edge trends more available to (for lack of a better phrase) the mass market - and to me that is very important! Dressing-well shouldn't be dependent on the amount of cash you have to spend! I am a firm believer in that. Also, their new collection launching at present is making me want to live Summer all over again... sigh! I really think I need to speak to them about joining their promotions team or something..

2. I have a new-found love of colour. After many of my late teen years spent skulking around in head-to-toe black, (because my friends and I convinced ourselves it was cool and mysterious), seeing in colour again is incredibly exciting!

3. I think accessories (or a strategic lack-there-of) can make or break an outfit. At the moment I'm loving big jewelled earrings in bright colours and I'm hanging out to find a (cheaper!) cuff like this.

4. I never thought I would say I like the socks with shoes look... But I do!

5. The 1970s is my current favourite era. I think Anja Rubik in this Stella McCartney dress really encapsulates the era too.

  6. I have never really taken to eatern-influenced styling but the April Australia Vogue editorial shoot "Orient Excess" by Nicole Bentley has changed and blown my mind.

7. I dream of working at a fashion magazine one day.

8. I'll always choose gold over silver jewellery

9.  I would wear every single piece from the Topshop Unique S/S 2011 collection, no joke... see, obsessed! The team at Unique never cease to amaze me with their sheer creativity and this collection is inspired by a blend of 1970s prints, proportions and embellishments and the ethereal cosmos. Each element of each look is so thought out in creating this mythical feel whether it be from the cloud of fairy-floss like hair on each model or the stacked perspex wedge heels which make them seem like they are floating... so so beautiful.

 

10. When I'm lying around the pool on a summer's day I will always want to look like I am out of the Jets Swimwear summer 2010 campaign. You can't go wrong with a turban and tan haha

Ready... set... go!

Yes, so I seem to have jumped on the bandwagon that is fashion-blogging! I hope that whoever stumbles upon this page enjoys reading this, however I'm really just doing this for myself to better my writing and stretch my legs as a future (fingers crossed) fashion writer and journalist. Most of my posts will probably just be random (and not always so fashion-related) musings, but anyway I'll just have to see how it all goes. So here it is... my first post!