My Style Philosophy #1

I have many philosophies on style.  The one philosophy I repeat most often is …

"Look like you got dressed on purpose"  

The key phrase here being ON PURPOSE!

What do I mean?   I mean that you don’t have to be in the latest fashion or trend; I just want you look like you made an effort.  

Backstage at Matcho Suba

Last week in Melbourne, former Project Runway contestant and designer extroadinaire Matcho Suba launched his Chernobyl 013 collection.

I was fortunate enough to be one of the photographers for the event, so rather than write a blog about how fabulous the collection was (which it most certainly was by the way), I thought I'd focus on, and pay homage to all the people who work behind the scenes to create such an event.

Firstly the designer.  I visited Matcho in his studio in the week leading up to the event.

Spikes & Studs

Ever feel like spiking up your look?


A spike a day probably won't keep the doctor away .. especially in my case as I'm so damn accident prone, but a few well placed spikes or studs will certainly add some sparkle to your outfit.  Albeit a slightly dangerous sparkle.


Accessories are a great way to wear spikes without looking like your about to run off and join a punk band.   However you choose to wear spikes, you can be sure that no one will mess with you!

DIY Blanket Cape

I have fond memories of sitting on the couch on frosty Saturday mornings, wrapped in a blanket with the cat curled up on my lap,watching cartoons.    In our family, if you were cold, you grabbed a blanket in preference to putting on more clothes.  Most of us still do.

With this in mind, I decided to use my love for a good Nanna blanket as inspiration for a blanket cape.

Even if you don't sew, blankets capes are extremely simple to make. I've even put a step by step guide together for you.  Enjoy x

Join the Cue

Way back in the depth of many a wardrobe, my clients almost always have a piece of Cue history lurking. I myself have jackets, skirts and shirts dating back .. well let's just say a 'while'.

So many of my clients love Cue clothing, for both the cut and affordability, and fatten up their working wardrobe whenever we head out shopping.  So, in celebration of Cue's new on-line store (finally!), I thought I'd throw a few outfits together for your work-wear inspiration.  Enjoy x

Winter Knits

Taylah from CinemaModels.com

It's cold!  

This chilly morning had me grabbing for a cozy knit and realising that I could really do with a few more before winter officially hits.

I'm not usually a jumper person, preferring to don a vintage coat or wear three thousand layers to keep warm, but with so many fun knits to choose from this winter, I am finding myself increasingly drawn to them.

Given that I have lots of [broken leg] time on my hands and am not shopping with clients in stores at the moment, I've searched on-line  for my favourite styles to share with you.

Bamboo-zle Your Style

Somewhere between yellow and mustard sits this sunny little colour sure to brighten your day.

Broken Leg Chic

drawing by my artist aunt Marj Millar

It's been a while since my last blog.  Mainly because I've been crazy busy, but also because I broke my leg.
 
That's my second fibula break, and the fifth bone in total that I have broken. You could say I'm accident prone.  Although in my defence, each break was somewhat spectacular or unusual in occurrence.  Luckily it's my left leg, so it doesn't affect driving (both car and sewing machine).

But enough about me and onto fashion!

So what does one wear with a broken leg?  Anything I can pull on without screaming or passing out is fairly high up on my criteria list, obviously.  But apart from this, all outfits must be fashioned around flat shoes.  FLAT SHOES!  For at least the next SIX WEEKS!!   *sigh*

Fall Deeply in Love With Teal

This murky mix of blue and green has been popping it's little head up all over town.  

Perfection is Flawed

I have my ranty pants on about the subject of perfection.  

The terms perfection or flawless, should only be used to describe such things as cushion placement, garment construction, bus routes, conversations, and shower curtains, but should never ever be used to describe anything organic … such as humans.

Friday Fashion Faves

All that glitters ...

The Hunt for a Great Tote

I always need to carry stuff.

In addition to my standard handbag staples, I always seem to have other stuff to carry like magazines, bits and pieces to give  back to people, notebooks, fabric swatches, sketchbook etc.  So naturally I am always on the hunt for a fun and stylish tote.

When my friend, designer Nico Wilsdon showed me his textile design entitled 'The Hunt' and told me of his plans to locally produce a fabulous tote bag, I got excited!

Finally a tote bag that I actually like!

Easter Parade

There are very few musical movies that I can watch without wanting to jam knitting needles in my ears.  A little dramatic I know, but show tunes just make me irrationally cranky.

There are of course exceptions to every rule.  Singing in The Rain, The Wizard of Oz and Easter Parade remain some of my favourite movies.

I don't watch Easter Parade every Easter, but if it's on and I happen to be watching TV, then I can't go past it. This year was one of those times.  

As with all movies of this vintage, the fashion captures my heart the most.

Print Envy

Well LMFF is over for another year - (at least the runway portion is over, the cultural program continues until the end of the month).

There was so much goodness that graced the runways, but one designer in particular has most of the fashion gals I know in an envy frenzy.

The designer is Jolet, and the object of everyone's desire is this soft, pretty and completely desirable original print entitled Artificial Elements.

Print Pants Not Paste Pants

While busily snapping away at Loreal Melbourne Fashion week, (which by the way, is better than shopping), I am having a winter love affair with printed pants.

They have been around for a little while, and I am loving the over-the-top designs and patterns available this coming season.

There is a print and a style available to suit everyone, so next time you're shopping, go on, try on a pair!

Here are some of the styles seen on the runway thus far:

30 days : 30 outfits Round-up

Even though February was a short month, it didn't seem so short for those of us participating in my
30 days : 30 outfits challenge.

The challenge was to wear 30 different outfits in 30 days.  It wasn't about having a huge wardrobe of clothes, it was about exploring the possibilities within your own wardrobe and creating new and different outfits with the items you already had.

Why?  Because sometimes we get stuck in a rut and tend to wear the same things over and over in the same combinations.  This challenge was aimed at breaking old habits, and seeing all items in your wardrobe as 'options'.

Your Attitude Makes You Pretty!

A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly.  

You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.  ~Roald Dahl

Today's post has nothing (and everything) do with fashion.   


I thought we would pause from the physical world of fashion for a moment and talk about our attitudes toward fashion, and more importantly, our attitudes toward ourselves.  
*cue Dr Phil music     

Geofantastic

I'm a big fan of geometric prints.  Take this pint by Andy Gilmore.  It's colourful and fun ... and if you squint really hard it looks like a crowd of people!  

 Maybe it's because I grew up with bright orange geometric wallpaper in our lounge-room.   At the time I thought it was all kinds of groovy, by the 80's it was hideous and now I wish I had it in my house!

While consuming all things fashion from the current Fall 2012 runway shows, like the good little stylist that I am, I was thrilled to see Prada present a vast array of clashing wallpaper style geometric prints.

Flowery Fashion

Regular readers of this blog will know that I often find outfit and colour inspiration from everyday items and places.

Today I'm inspired by the big vase of fresh lillies on my dining room table.  Not only do they smell fantastic, but I adore the combination of soft green and white against the mix of pinks.

Winter stock is flooding the stores, and although I am excited for the season ahead (for the fashion, not the weather), I am not quite ready to let go of summer.  

Pink, green and white look fresh and bright together. What a great way to celebrate summer past, and make the most of the warm days we have to come.

Want to dress like a lily?

Seeing Spots

The big fashion round-a-bout has stopped once again at polka dots.   Not just for babies or 6 year old girls, polka dots are fun!

There's a smattering of polka dots in stores right now, so I hope retailers will introduce more of this trend as we head into the season.    Gorman probably have my favourite version of polka dots at the moment, as they are the closest in style to the king of dots, Marc Jacobs.

I actually don't own anything polka dot, but the image to the left is the stash of polka dot fabric I have, so who knows, you may just see me sporting a dot or two in the near future.