Australian Fashion Week: Day 3

I apologise for being a tad misleading about posting a designer that showed on a previous day- I'm only as good as the Vogue updates. Reliable as the SMH is, their pictures are not so forthcoming.

I was so excited to see what Antipodium had to offer yesterday as they are so spot on in delivering a sassy, yet commonsense outfit for a gal like me. Having said that, I found their collection quite fussy and at times, not altogether original. I think I've seen half their look in Zara already and I know the Antipodium girl is more aware than that!

Nerd that I am though, damn I am loving the socks and sandals look. So comfortable for the toots and utterly eye catching.

Marnie Skillings delighted me in the most terrific of garden party ways. She makes you feel like skipping and drinking tea, whilst eyeing off a cucumber sandwich. Her prints are heroines and patterns are flattering. The Skilling's girl went to charm school!

Onto the lovely kiwi Kate Sylvester.

If only we could all be this good looking whilst being outdoorsy! Those prints, colours and cute-as-a-button knee high socks serves this designer a tremendous thumbs up from me. Never dull, her desire to explore outside what is currently popular (ie, florals), gives Kate fashion longevity. And I applaud her for coming back and showing at RAFW, after her less than favourable reviews last year. The more Kiwi's the better, I say.

Oh, one more gush- to Kate's model booker, I salute you. Your ladies (and gents) were lovely, fresh and nourished. Yay!

Now onto the 'widowed/bride and her mean daughter' collection of Konstantina Mittas. I just named the look right there on the basis of what popped into my head, though in fact the show was titled 'The Strangeness'...I concur. A look of fierce hair (not Tyra finger shaking fierce, but actually scary fierce) and awesome gold eye coverage helped me enjoy the show, though I'm just about done with cut-out, peek-a-boo gaps thank you very much.

Overall Konstantina's look did catch my eye in a good way, though I'm not backing her tailoring. Too much drapery doesn't really do a lot for our ever increasing waistlines. I do love her bottoms, I think it was just her tops that let her down in my eyes. Meh, a simple white jersey tee would have been tres beau with that little gold mini. Vogue's Damien Woolnough sums it up nicely- 'Like Jerry Seinfeld, I don't need to see another pirate shirt...'

Aurelio Costarella- extremely short collection that left me wanting more. See all 11 looks here.

Images courtesy of Vogue.

Australian Fashion Week: Day 2

Well might as well pack up camp, Zimmermann have walked and now I could care less about those to come*.

I want to be their sister; the right angle can become a triangle. Surely my logic can be delivered to them somehow?

Sadly we have no family ties, which indeed forces me to purchase a Zimmermann piece every season or so (ok ok, I know where the factory outlet is, but that makes me savvy). Their ability to know the female body and as such, create truly tailorific garments, constantly makes me beam. Looks that scream 'sex' yet also 'class' are hard to pull off, though man do these ladies know how to kick it. Damn I ♥ you, Zimmermann.

As with anything I love however, there are always imperfections and Zimmermann does not escape. Some of their collection was a tad too 'Bondi', ie, the contradiction of glam beach girl who doesn't work and just seems to sit around and distress her skin cells. Due to the cut out intricacy of their design, I'm not sure if their swimsuits were meant for the laidback Australian lady or for their American market (they've shown at Miami Fashion Week several times). Funny tan lines they shall create.

Anyway, here are the items that caught my eye.

On a side note, the Zimmermann catwalk must have had some pumpin' music! Pictures suggest their models are about to take off and fly far far away, given the swing that those gals had swung.

Onto the man that everyone is talking about, Dion Lee and his debut collection.

Of course, when sitting in a King's Cross carpark where it is probably on the chilly side and no glam to speak of, you've got to work pretty hard to impress and be relevant. Touted as one to watch, this collection did seem to impress though in my opinion...it's a bit samey-samey.

I'm getting the blazer and space influence (I know, my references are out of this world- no pun intended) though do these clothes make me want to run out and scream 'Stockist! For pity sake, TELL ME?!' Nope, sadly not and it's funny because I despise exactly what Vogue are gushing over- cut outs and futuristic visions. I'm sorry Dion, you bored me.

Illionaire 'we're too cool for any damn M's', give me a high five. The Satoralist posted a picture of an adorable girl sporting a bow tie not too long ago and now Illionaire have gone and done it too. Ain't no one too cool for bow ties. Yessssss.


There were a few 'Is that a swimsuit or a dress?' moments, though generally I was loving the originality of this collection. With no preconceived ideas of Illionaire, I thought their work had the edge.

Yesterday also saw Arnsdorf showing. Lovvvvved it. Reminded me of APC simplicity. Which of course is a thumbs up from me.


Zambesi also showed today, though their collection didn't inspire any words from me.

*I kid, I kid. Respect to all, RAFW.

Pictures from Vogue, darlings.

A + B

Focusing on the things that are most important can be lost when things are emotionally difficult. The negativity and excuses set like glue and before there is a chance to look up, one is stuck and seemingly struggles to unleash. I say seemingly because there are always solutions- you either remain complacent or you make a break for it.

Like most people, I have visions and dreams and get pulled back when negative forces flow into my world. That's a choice though, so why does it feel like I choose it? I want to think that there is good in people and tend to make excuses for behaviour that is less than satisfactory. Perhaps I should learn to take things at face value instead of interpreting them and reasoning.

On a brighter note, the Australian Fashion Week has started in Sydney!

I'll just skip over Wayne Cooper because not only do I not like his clothes (he seems to be stuck in his heyday), but I wouldn't support him as a person.

Camilla and Marc seem to be nodding towards the edgy, Balmain-inspired ware. I like their casual pieces, though their more formal look is dominated by too many angles and not enough flow. That's just my opinion simply because my body can't wear it. Having said that, I would look at any lass who chose to wear the below dresses and think either she was a model and can get away with it, or is fooling herself.

Bec and Bridge were impressive- I enjoyed their silhouettes and high-waisted zipped skirts. However, what was going on with their models? Half of them looked a little malnourished to me and the other half looked a bit 'blah'. Sexy detailing though B +B.

Ginger and Smart were the day one winners for me. Surprisingly so, as their show was a mix of sorts between Versace and Chloe (when Stella was behind the wheel). Kaftan-style dresses with killer shoulder detail, hot pink high-waisted pants, body suits and Willow-inspired necks! Oh my!

(Pictures courtesy of SMH)

mood

Beauty

I was so drawn in by these photographs.

And affected.

I can't look away.

American photographer Steven Meisel's editorial featured in Italian Vogue in July 2008, though not being a purchaser of said magazine, it eluded me until about a month ago. It is a narrative of beauties gone mad - shaving their heads (one model actually shaves her own head in a bathroom mirror), flashing their crotches while exiting their Town Cars, lolling around town in head-to-toe black with the heat bearing down.

Sound familiar?

As Italian Vogue goes, there's tasteful nudity, plenty of ciggies and above and beyond styling. Plus, it's friggin' 52 pages long.

I'm trying to ignore the fact that I'm so behind the style times. I'm just concentrating on the twisted, mental (no pun) brilliance. Some more images here.