She never fell far.

From left to right: T by Alexander Wang Football Crop Sweatshirt - TOPSHOP Strapless Lace Corset Top - MOSCHINO Stretch-crepe Hot Pants - Cotton On Body Fancy Over the Knee Sock - Fossil Dreamweaver Feather Cuff - Proenza Schouler PS1 Pochette - F21 Robust Flower Hair Clip - Made Her Think Cage cuff - Made Her Think Vertebrae Knuckle Buster - Daisy Knights Lornie Oxidised Silver Feather Ring - Jeffrey Campbell 'Need' Ankle Boot

Since I saw (the very grown up) Dakota Fanning in V magazine a few months ago, I've been quietly (and slightly obsessively) toying with the idea of a bustier/corset worn over a less-than fitted sweater:

In my head, the balance of a reasonably chunky textured sweater and a pretty lace corset is so artistically perfect that you kind of want to... wear nothing else - which would be a bad idea. Please don't do it. Thus, the hot pants, knee high socks, and assorted lovelies that satisfy my current love of feathers, flowers and beaten up leather in the form of Campbell harness boots for boyish charm.

I made that up :)

Nonetheless, now that I've seen the image in my head in front of me, I'm seriously considering putting this into practice.

Thoughts?

Happy Monday! And my giveaway is now closed - I'll be announcing the winner tomorrow :) Get excited people!

*love*

xx

Muccia: Melanie Cutfield.

My problem is that I pick up obsessions fast, and they never leave. So, a lifelong hello to the talented designer of Muccia, Melanie Cutfield. What I loved most when I was first introduced to Muccia was the sophisticated fun that ran around between different colour palettes and flattering cuts and patterns, making it more than my pleasure to catch up with what goes on behind a real up-and-comer.

Starting Out:

“Muccia”, named after the province in Italy, was conceived from the idea of making a fashion brand that holds true to style not trend. It delivers a fashion solution that is fun yet elegant, and is obtainable. Cutfield creates her designs for women to reinforce their confidence and harness their sensuality.

The Vibe:

Muccia by Melanie Cutfield brand represents a youthful essence yet holds the subtle requirements of the mature more sophisticated customer, transcending age. We have a clear customer focus on consistency of design, quality and service and consistent price architecture.

The Philosophy:

We deliver season upon season a garment solution that empowers and revitalizes our customer’s wardrobe and exceeds their expectations in design, quality and consistency.

The Love per Piece:

There is an enormous amount of work that goes into releasing our collection which we do twice a year, every item in the collection has well thought out reason for being.

Thanks Melanie! And a big thank you to Claudia Clark as well :)

Is anyone else as besotted with the striped shorts and blazer as me? Almost as much as the nude wrap blazer, studded slouch top, and pants pants pants. This Summer 2010 lookbook blows my mind.

Check out more of Muccia HERE!

*love*

xx

Party party time.

That kind of no-reason-at-all inspiration for the half way mark in the weekend. [all images from weheartit]

My cold came back with a vengeance this morning, so I'm currently a little miserable. But hopefully lots of herbal tea will have me well on the way to a slightly less uncomfortable Sunday. Uncomfortable is the only word I can think of. You know how being stuck in bed with a cold is just... uncomfortable?

Aside from depressing weather, there really isn't very much happening in old Sydney. How about you guys?

Some fun interviews and designers to feature this week :) Oh - and one more day to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY! :) Get in there, people.

*love*

xx

Sosume: Alex Trimmer.

By now, you must all be getting sick of my blatant love of basics. Same goes for Australian labels. So I'll declare it indirectly in a very cool catch up with Alex Trimmer - one of the masterminds behind a label you're all more than familiar with: Sosume [cue sunlight filtering through rain clouds and the such]

1. How did Sosume start out?
Sosume was born after I met Paulina Petkoski in the summer of 2008 at a friends BBQ in Brooklyn, NYC where we were both living. We realised that my degree in Commerce and Paulina's Bachelor degree in Fashion Design were an awesome fit to start building a young fashion brand. As we started to grow Rachel Kozub joined the team and we started to develop the brand together. The first collection was designed in NYC, however I moved operations to Melbourne where the brand launched.

2. In all the pieces you come up with, where does your design philosophy stand?
We design versatile and fashion-forward basics. As a brand we consider our impact on the environment by using natural and organic fabrics. Just because a garment is sustainable doesn't mean it can't be stylish!

3. What would you say is the Sosume 'vibe'?
Sosume is about being modern, versatile, and effortlessly chic. The simplistic shapes of the translucent tops allow them to be easily thrown over jeans, or dressed up with metallic.

4. Anything special planned for 2010?
We've thrown a couple of new sustainable fabrics in the mix for SS10 such as Cupro and Tensel. We're also expanding on our neutral colour palettes to include a beautiful beige tone, and dark blue denim wash.

5. I'm really interested to hear - what kind of work does into designing and developing one piece for a collection?
To develop styles each season takes a lot of communication and people! The collection starts with a concept, and gets broken up into pieces that work with one another. Tons of intial sketches are made, and then we edit down the pieces to decide what will be sampled. We choose fabrication, trims, and finally make a prototype, and of course make corrections to make things perfect.

6. I really love how chilled but edgy Sosume pieces are - where do you find your inspiration?
Thank you! Our inspiration comes from almost everywhere- actually the initial inspiration behind our fabrics was a gorgeous paper-thin vintage t-shirt . We also love the way people interpret fashion trends and add their own personal style.

7. Who's your favourite style icon at the moment?
Alexa Chung, Kate Bosworth, Lady Gaga

8. What's the biggest style trend you see coming through this year?
Layering. Melbourne fashionistas love to layer. Whether it's long sleeve knits layered with a full length cardigan in winter, or a tee and a light vest in Summer - it's all about the layering.

9. What do you think of the new wave of bloggers and street stylists coming through?
We love reading blogs- Tavi, Eszter- . It's a great way to really see what people are into this minute, all over the world.

10. Sue-Ann, designer at Stylestalker, would like to know: McDonalds or KFC?
McDonalds

11. And last of all, what's a random question that you guys would like to ask he next interviewee?
How to you contribute to the environment?

Thanks Alex! And a big thank you to Rebecca Hyde, too!

How amazing are those AW10 lookbook images!!! It's love :)

Check out more of Sosume HERE.

*love*

xx

A very happy unbirthday to you. To me?

Junk Clothing Dress - Featherhead Plume Stretch Headband in 'Natural Grey' - Rubi Shoes Spider Tights

And so I somehow wound up being 17 today. How it happened, I don't know - let's keep it on the hush hush, shall we?

Kidding :) I had, I think, the most memorable birthday to date:

1. I blew out three sets of 17 candles - breakfast, lunch and dinner (thrice the wishes, people!)
2. I got more hugs, chocolate and 'Happy Birthdays' than anything I can ever remember
3. It was nice to be permanently smiling

And now, I feel the need to do a commentary. One of the beautiful gifts I got today was this dress by Junk Clothing from Rena, who wrote the sweet card and has the most beautiful handwriting. It is honestly the most perfect little black dress ever - strong shoulders, body con and all. I'm still lost for words about that one :O

This incredible plume feather headband is designed and handmade by the beautiful Philomena Kwok of Featherhead. I had the pleasure of meeting her a few weeks ago at the Fashion Forward Festival, and she sent this stunner through last week, suggesting going full boho with it. So although my hair isn't quite long enough to pull off the doubly braided and tucked style Phil suggested, I got halfway there (side braid?)... and I definitely did take on the advice of "something unexpected like a sleek LBD" - aren't you loving how everything seems to coincide so perfectly :)

Then come the tights - I treated myself to these from Rubi Shoes on the weekend. I think it's safe to say that I'm a bit obsessed with them. Am I badass enough to wear them with my new Dr Martens? Dare me. Dare taken. Watch this space :)

And with all those pretty new things, I really can't go wrong with my favourite boots, right? :)

Thank you all for the beautiful birthday wishes already - they really did make my day that much more amazing. I love you all!

*love*

xx

“There will be a rain dance Friday night, weather permitting” ~ George Carlin.

Alice in the Eve Sheer Panel Tee - AL&ALICIA X Romper in Moon Mist - Generic Sheer tights - Dr Martens Worn 1460 8 Eye Boot in Navy Worn Smooth

A double whammy in this little ensemble I wore to the chemist to buy me some ginger tablets (they are magical... I swear), and then to the supermarket to buy a red grapefruit (singular) with the excuse of Vitamin C.

But first, another AL&ALICIA piece that is right up there on the love-of-my-life list. I don't really know what else to say about this romper apart from the fact that it's mind-blowingly cool. It's so simple and sweet in a proper, tailored way - the inverted pleats, collar and pockets kick up to being perfect, and the rayon/cotton blend fabric is so soft and comfy. I've been dreaming up so many ways of layering this insanely transeasonal beauty... imagine how gorgeous it would be when Spring/Summer come around again :) - this, my friends, is why AL&ALICIA is my favourite label.

Whammy number two: guess who is the proud owner of Dr Martens :) I bought them off a friend just yesterday for $20 (I died) because she never wears them (I died) and wanted to make some room in her wardrobe for more shoes (I died). Not only that - when she handed them to me, I realised that they:

1. were from the Dr Marten Worn Collection
2. had a Made in England stamp on the sole
3. would not leave my feet for quite some time

So what if one shoe doesn't have laces :)

And do pardon my miserable hair and puffy face on account of depressing weather and being more than a little sick.

I turn 17 tomorrow and I feel like I'm still 10. :)

*love*

xx

I saw Katie A and Katie B today.

A lot of the suggestions that came through with comments and emails with the 1st Blog Birthday post asked that I post more of my photography. Granted.

Katie is one of my best friends and is amazing in every possible way. I'm biased, but I'm pretty sure these photos prove my point. I shot these of her a couple of weeks ago, and wanted to share some pretty sunlight (seeing a trend, anyone?) with you all :)

Love you, Katie! And I remain jealous of your shoe collection.

Hope you've all had a fantastic week - I started vomiting this afternoon so I might take the day off tomorrow so I'm better by my birthday :)

P.S. Don't forget to ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

*love*

xx

Enviart.

Something for the boys today :) but girls are totally included because:

1. I would wear all of Enviart's guys stuff anyway because the prints are that cool
2. They're expanding their work to girls' tees too :)

Starting Out:

Enviart was initially the brainchild of a bunch of like minded individuals wanting to do something creative. We had all worked in the fashion retail landscape and had a good feel for the market but became increasingly disappointed by the stagnation in the in the T-shirt scene. There was and still is a saturation of sports themed and branded logo based tees and we wanted something different and unique for ourselves to wear. We understood early on the importance of a great cut and the essence of good quality and consistency so it was really a matter of pursuing the idea further. The label slowly grew into my personal passion as I began to integrate my own influences and many experiences from living overseas and travelling the globe. I was inspired by the rich histories and cultures I encountered and the powerful way art is used for expressing beliefs and ideas. For me art was the ultimate form of individual expression, and I began to see Art as anything that you use to represent yourself in life and collective culture. And little by little the designs and philosophy took shape and Enviart was born.

The Philosophy:

Overall we see the world through the lens of an artist and define our existence in these terms:

Art is Life,

You are the Artist

Let the world Envy your Art..

The t-shirt is a blank canvas I use to tell a story so it’s not only a design or print but a little piece of history. The collections are inspired by the world of art and culture and shaped by these rich ideas and influences. Some designs are more than just a print on a t-shirt but a living entity is many ways, recapturing an event, a story or place in time.

Our designs set out to appeal to an individual’s cognisance, for people who want to wear something that is intrinsically symbolic or meaningful and says a little about who they are. Some designs therefore follow the goal of spiking social awareness on important issues and using art to express these ideas such as supporting Wild Tiger Conservation with our Elements t-shirt. Others are simply inspired by culture, politics, ideas and people or by collaboration with other artists and designers. In the end we hope to create streetwear that is artistic, cutting edge and stylish but moreover expressive, powerful and meaningful to the person who wears it.

The Plans: 

We have a few collaborations in the pipeline with some emerging artists and NGO’s, which should hopefully be out later in the year. We also have continued our partnership with 21^st Century Tiger to raise awareness on tiger conservation and we will be releasing a limited edition t-shirt with sales proceeds donated to support this work. This coincides with an important date as 2010 is also the Chinese Year of the Tiger so it’s a great opportunity to really drive support and attention to their plight.

Beyond this we aim to continue to grow and diversify the collections adding more styles to the ranges and continue our push into New Zealand and Asia.

For the girls: 

We actually released a limited edition range of scoops necks and singlets last season after we had a lot of demand from the girlfriends and sisters of the guys who wear our stuff. We had a lot of women asking for the same prints for girls so we decided to make a very limited run. The response was very positive and I think as we grow we will definitely look to enter this market but for now we want to concentrate on the Men’s lines as it’s really our strength and background. Sorry ladies.

On Bloggers 

I think they are an integral part of the scene, people who live, breathe and eat fashion can deliver that passion and insight to others who are keen to listen. What’s more they can give a platform and a voice to emerging designers who are doing great work on the fringe but are not necessarily so well known by the mainstream, as they don’t spend a fortune on marketing. 

That's a staple if I ever saw one :) I've wasted so much time thinking about possibilities with these more-than-awesome tees (like the print inside the hood!? :O Genius, much).

Check out more of their work HERE.

600 followers today! I don't think I can stress enough how amazing you all are :D don't forget to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY!

*love*

xx

Kick in the head.

Vintage Knit Sweater - sQ Dress - Tony Bianco Dodge Ash Suede Boots

These were taken a while ago on my day mucking around avec my gorgeous friend Katie. Shutter speed, ridiculous exposure and the mission to find you guys as many weird brick walls as possible, is very. very. fun. You should try it some time :)

I am yet to find a way of layering this gorgeous sQ dress in such a way that:

1. I won't look like a fat pidgeon (if I'm layering a tee underneath, that is)
2. I won't obscure the pretty pink and purple acid wash fabric

To comprise, I messed around with this vintage knit of mine for no practical reason at all. It makes for a pretty silhouette though, right?

So much love for shutter speed and sunlight on white walls.

Hope you've all had amazing weekends! My little pile of to-be-altered vintage stuff is growing slightly alarmingly.

P.S. Don't forget to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY!

*love*

xx

Evil Twin.

Who has an Evil Twin? ME. They're taking over the world :) I'm so in love with their latest FW1o collection that is so fun, badass and pretty at the same time - definition of versatile, friends. Eat it up :) Rather than picking up a trend, Evil Twin is picking up a vibe and magically transforming it into awesome and outrageously individual pieces that are more than a little convenient for layering this Winter. But hold up, it's all gloriously transeasonal! So when September rolls in and the rest of my Winter wardrobe goes into hiding for another 6 months, all of these shall still be glued to me... when I own them all, that is.

Just to kick off your weekend wants :D because Evil Twin is actually taking over the world (springing up in international stores everywhere - they'll be stocked at Urban Outfitters UK and ASOS very soon!)

Check out more of Evil Twin HERE.

Hope everybody has had a fantastic week! What's planned for the weekend? ENTERING MY GIVEAWAY! That's what :D

*love*

xx

Debacle |diˈbakəl; -ˈbäkəl| n. a sudden and ignominious failure.

Sweet Acacia Batwing top - myPetsQuare Elastic skirt - Tony Bianco Dodge Suede ankle boots

More love for the batwing-bodycon combination, and even more for black and white. And, I suppose, even more again for the Bianco boots that have not left my feet since I got them a few weeks ago (as evident, I'm sure). This elastic skirt, courtesy of the lovely Vicki over at myPetsQuare, is such a perfect fit and has renewed my guilty love of stripes that I never really got around to fulfilling. But now I have :D and I want more.

I've also noticed that I have (involuntary) neglected wearing a stack of rings and bracelets every time I leave the house, simply because (more often than not) I'm in a ridiculous rush. I need to get on top of that. Any ideas for places to get crazy rings and bracelets that won't make my wrists look ridiculously thin?





Whoops. Falling over :) and a credit to my dear Katie for snapping these for me at the same time as being concerned for my well-being when I decided to climb up on a pile of bricks.

I wanted to thank you all so much for the gorgeous comments and emails about my first blog birthday! I'm definitely taking all your feedback on board (more outfit posts seems to be one of them, so I'd say I'm doing pretty well :D)

Speaking of which, don't forget to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY and follow me on Bloglovin' and Twitter!

*love*

xx

First Blog Birthday and GIVEAWAY.

So, friends, it's been a year (contrary to the candles on the cuppy cake above). One whole year since I wrote my first (almost laughable) post on this beloved blog of mine. I have nobody to thank but all of you for your love, comments and emails that make my days smilier :)

Yesterday I was thinking about how I could possibly thank you all properly, and it occurred to me that I haven't ever held a giveaway on this blog of mine! So what better to celebrate my first blog birthday than to treat the most wonderful people in the world do my first blog giveaway:



These are two gorgeous vintage pieces I searched long and hard for this afternoon - just for you guys. The first is a copper necklace with amazing details that I was so tempted to keep for moi to hippy/fortune-teller my Winter wardrobe. The second is a very pretty bangle with pretty flowers all along it.




One lucky follower will win both of these. This is open to my gorgeous readers from anywhere in the world, and you can enter by doing the following:

1. Be a public follower (Google Friends Connect)
2. Comment on this post with your name and email, as well as a sentence or so on what you'd like to see more of on the blog :)

Easy enough? I think so. Extra entries for:

• Following on Bloglovin'
• Following on Twitter
• Tweeting, blogging or linking this giveaway

Make sure you tell me in your comment which of the above you've done.

Entries will close on May 30th at 12pm, and the winner will be drawn and announced on May 31st. Tell all your friends!

Hope you're all having a fantastic week :D

Good luck!

*love*

xx