Monday 12 November 2012

On the Other Foot: Lauren Burvill Interviews Me

It's no secret that I am usually more comfortable asking the questions than answering them.
 
Yours truly in Rome / photo: Sean

But, when the very cool and clever Lauren Burvill from Student Flights presented the opportunity to ask me some questions about my European sojourn at the beginning of the year...I jumped at the chance!

If you would like to find out just how obsessed I am with Paris, or why I was doing shots at a Helmut Newton whiskey bar in Berlin, click here. 

Be warned: it was the antithesis of a typical early-20s backpacker holiday. Shared accommodation is most certainly not pour moi.  

Where did you - or would you - go on your dream holiday?

By The Industry Baby with No comments

Thursday 20 September 2012

Shit Hot: Loon Lake, Stillwater Giants and Rainy Day Women @ Amplifier bar

Loon Lake are my new Australian music favourite. I don't remember the last time that I loved every song on a release, but it's happened now with the band's new EP Thirty Three.

Loon Lake frontman Sam Nolan / photo: Robert Perrone
 Luckily for me, I reviewed the final stop of the national Thirty Three tour here. There is a full gallery of photos from the night here.

The photos were taken by Robert Perrone.


Here's an excerpt that will hopefully persuade you to click my links:

 

Cherry-lipped girls (and the guys who would inevitably try to pick them up) flocked in impressive numbers to the closing show of Loon Lake’s national tour. The substantial numbers were well appreciated by the first of two local supports, Rainy Day Women, whose sweet brand of blissed-out pop kicked off the night perfectly. Live, Dylan Ollivierre’s vocals sound like almost like Julian Casablancas in pop-mode. He led his shoeless bandmates through a set of lazy (in a good way), summery songs with some heavenly keyboard thrown for good measure in by otherwise guitarist Ross Pickersgill. But the saccharine nature of their sun-soaked tunes and cute whistling hooks were well balanced by clever rhythms and unexpected arrangements. Of course, the set closer was the harmonious Triple J favourite Sleigh Bed, which sparked a light bulb moment of recognition in a happily curious crowd.

The Rainy Day boys gave way to the grand entrance of Stillwater Giants, who looked intent on pumping up the energy levels of the nearly full room. As you might expect from four guys of Margaret River, the Giants drenched punters in wicked surf rock from the very first note. But not of the cruisy Sunday roadtrip variety – no, this was a much higher-octane affair. Guitarist Tom Godden was a man possessed with the desire to party, physically throwing himself into every driving riff like a seasoned rock god. In fact, the entire outfit hit the ultimate balance between rocking out like madmen whilst still delivering a completely polished performance.

...Loon Lake's Nolan brothers and their musical mates manipulated the energy of the crowd incredibly well, giving dancing shoes a rest between party tunes. The obvious crowd favourites Bad to Me, In the Summer and the infectious “wooh!” hook of Cherry Lips had Amps boogieing down in an arm flailing frenzy. But the cherry on the cake was a blistering cover of I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness. Not a dry armpit in the house.

By The Industry Baby with No comments

Sunday 26 August 2012

What Exclusivity Gets You: Perth Fashion Festival Gift Bag

The final model has just click-clacked her path off the runway for the 2012 Sydney Fashion Festival, and soon it will be Perth’s turn to rain a week-long torrent of parades, stiletto mishaps and lurking street style photographers.

But, while VIP Sydney tickets offered an otherwise elusive ‘backstage tour’ for a bumped up price, PFF is not going to follow suit. West Aussie amoureux de la mode can buy a seat for almost all of the shows, luncheons and events, excluding a small selection of invite only industry and media events.
Of course, it’s those unattainable attendances that we mere mortals crave the most.

Imagine, then, how I kicked myself when I was lucky enough to be invited to the PFF official launch…but missed the date. I would have loved eavesdropping on the conversations of the ever-fabulous Mariella Harvey-Hanrahan, or Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Sacffidi, and gawking at Nicole Pollard, face of PFF, in all of her impossible beauty. Luckily, my internship editor, lovely woman that she is, brought a gift bag back for me.

So, it is with a little disappointment and no juicy gossip that I present: The Contents of the Perth Fashion Festival Goodie Bag.

Consolation Prize: Perth Fashion Festival 2012 Goodie Bag
 L’Oreal Professional ‘Absolut Repair Cellular’ Cleansing Balm
Want silky haired goodness?
Because who doesn’t want the shiny, bouncing blow wave of a lithe model clad in Cebiche swimwear? It’s the lactic acid in this thick, glossy crème that will supposedly have your hair looking like Brad Ngata himself has tended your tresses. The rinse-out treatment needs to be massaged into shampooed hair and left on for “a few moments,” but that seems a little optimistic. Forget the back of the pack instructions. I’m happy to use it as a leave-in conditioner, slicked through my strands and wrapped in a warm towel for 3 minutes before thoroughly rinsing out.

T2 Teas in French Earl Grey and Gorgeous Geisha Tea
Drinkin' Flowers: T2 French Earl Grey
As anybody would expect of T2, these cutesy teas smell divine. Gorgeous Geisha, in particular, has a heavenly sweet scent. The French Earl Grey tea itself is almost too pretty to brew, its lavender hued leaves sprinkled with rose petal pieces and bits of fruit. Admittedly, as delicious as Gorgeous Geisha may be, it does look a lot like weed – but, hey, potential arrest for suspected possession of an illegal substance is a small price to pay for two sachets of free tea. 

It's tea, I swear: T2 Gorgeous Geisha
Slim Secrets ‘Low Carb Fit Balls’ in Choc Mint Chip
Glamorous?
There is no delicate way to put it: this is a bizarre gift bag inclusion for any fashion event. Slim Secrets will apparently allow you to “burn it up on the gym floor with these great tasting, carb-conscious Fit Balls.” To call these little carbo-loaded rocks ‘great tasting’ is to take an extreme liberty with the truth. What they lack in palatability, they do not make up for with cheap-looking packaging and general unattractiveness. Sure, working the week-long festival would require energy-boosting snacks. But a Tupperware container of carrot sticks would have been better received than these. 


Will you be going to any of the Perth Fashion Festival shows?

By The Industry Baby with 1 comment

Friday 15 June 2012

Peace Offering: Abercrombie & Fitch Models

I've already managed to severely neglect this blog. I wouldn't be surprised it files for official emancipation.

There is a good reason though: I am currently fighting my way out of stacks of textbooks, lecture notes and an obscene amount of lined paper. Many, many trees had to die for me to survive the university exam period.

So, please accept this peace offering: Abercrombie & Fitch models miming "Call Me Maybe."



I'll be back to writing soon, but I cannot promise that any future posts will be more enjoyable than this video.

Happy Friday. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

By The Industry Baby with 2 comments

Monday 21 May 2012

Unlikely Inspiration and China Glaze 'Pelican Gray'

I asked my science-obssessed, chemist boyfriend if he liked my new China Glaze "Pelican Gray" manicure.

He replied that he did, and that it "looks like you left a leaky blue pen in a glass of milk, and then painted your nails with said milk."

China Glaze in Pelican Gray and a gratuitous Prada shot / photo: me

If I can remember to be as succint, accurate and creative in my writing as he was in that off-the-cuff statement, I will be doing a great job.

Writing inspiration from the most unlikely source.

Milky / photo: me

By The Industry Baby with 5 comments

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Shock of the Week: Kirstie Clements No Longer Editor of Vogue Australia

Even though the print industry has been flailing for a while now, this still came from way out of left field.
After 10 years perfectly perched at the top spot of Vogue Australia, Editor in Chief Kirstie Clements has been dismissed. Say what?
Kirstie Clements a Voguette no more / photo: heraldsun.com.au
The decision to drop Australia’s most influential fashion icon came from Nicole Sheffield, the new Chief Executive Officer of the News Ltd magazine group, NewsMediaLife.
If that wasn’t surprising enough, it has already been announced that (now ex) Harper’s Bazaar EIC Edwina McCann will replace Clements.
To be honest, I’m still reeling. While it is true that Vogue’s sales have been lagging behind those of the other major Australian fashion titles (think Marie Claire, Harper’s, Madison and InStyle) many never suspected that the solution would be so ruthless.
But, such is the state of the industry.
Selfishly, I am quite sad. I’ve dreamed of writing for Vogue under Kirstie Clements; she was a real inspiration.
Not only is her work ethic infallible and her vision precise, but she is a fearless woman. Clements is a clever and sharp writer, and has boldly spoken her mind when it was called for.
She scathingly criticised the presence of the fashion blog “style-set” at major shows; urged Australian designers to “lift their game,” questioned the authority of Australian Fashion Week; and, perhaps most infamously, defended the place of thin, willowy models on the pages of Vogue.
I admire her for all of that.  But most of all, Clements deserves veneration because she is self-aware enough to acknowledge and examine the impact of her role on society.

Kirstie Clements in photo that accompanied the article below / photo: vogue.com.au
This is an excerpt from my favourite article by the industry hero:
The first girl arrived, a beautiful blonde trying to pull her skin-tight mini dress down over her thighs as she wriggled over to say hello. Giant platform shoes. The next girl arrived. Same thing.

Same shoes actually, in a different colour.

Soon the lounge room was full of drop-dead gorgeous girls with perfect figures trying to pull their tiny dresses down, keep their bosoms in, and walk in their heels. To no avail.
I was talking to some mothers of teen girls the next day and we were puzzling the origin of the little dress/ big shoe trend.

“It's our fault,” I said, meaning fashion magazines. “In fact Carine Roitfeld (ex editor-in-chief of French
Vogue) started it, getting around the RTW shows in those enormous Givenchy shoes.” I think I'll go back to the office and get the fashion editors to stamp it out. Then at next year's dance, they might be a little warmer.”
Edwina McCann certainly has big Louboutins to fill.
Were you as shocked as I by this news? What did you think of Kirstie Clements' decade at Vogue?

By The Industry Baby with No comments

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Determined Steps


Every writer has their idol. A genius scribe whose work you adore and style you’d die to emulate.
For me, when it comes to fiction (I’ve had a novel on the backburner for a while now,) that literature pin-up is Truman Capote.
To me, his work was never less than brilliant. And I don’t even question the lengths he went to for In Cold Blood. Yeah, yeah, I’m so controversial.

$9.95 well spent / photo: me

Regardless of whether you think he is evil or just committed, this excerpt from Breakfast at Tiffany’s is wonderful. Pure magic, word wizardry:
“Watching her, I remembered a girl I’d known in school, a grind, Mildred Grossman. Mildred: with her moist hair and greasy spectacles, her stained fingers that dissected frogs and carried coffee to picket lines, her flat eyes that only turned towards the stars to estimate their chemical tonnage. Earth and air could not be more opposite than Mildred and Holly, yet in my head they acquired a Siamese twinship, and the thread of thought that had sewn them together ran like this: the average personality reshapes frequently, every few years even our bodies undergo a complete overhaul – desirable or not, it is a natural thing that we should change. All right, here were two people who never would. That is what Mildred Grossman had in common with Holly Golightly. They would never change because they’d been given their character too soon; which, like sudden riches, leads to a lack of proportion: the one had splurged herself into a top heavy realist, the other a lopsided romantic. I imagined them in a restaurant of the future, Mildred still studying the menu for its nutritional value, Holly still gluttonous for everything on it. It would never be different. They would walk through life and out of it with the same determined step that took small notice of those cliffs at the left.”
Just a little inspiration for the day, and an apology for letting the end of MBFWA slip by with no posts. I will rectify that as soon as these university assignments find a spot to quietly die.
In the meantime, who is your favourite writer? Do you think Capote was a Deity, or a ruthless, slightly crazed little man?

By The Industry Baby with 5 comments

Thursday 3 May 2012

MBFWA: Day Three

It speaks volumes of the Australian fashion industry that each day of MBFWA is better than the last. And the increasing attention from international correspondents is proof that the world is taking notice, too.
Based on the photos, stories and roaring praise flooding in from the shows on Day Three, you have to wonder how they can keep upping the ante.
TOP RUNWAY LOOKS
Once again, there was no way it could be narrowed down to just one. It would have been oh so easy to pick at least four entire shows. Although, after much agonising…
Lisa Ho my God!’ Have you ever seen Australiana look so good? Lisa Ho always creates beautiful garments that are the epitome of luxurious, feminine beauty. But this is bold and unusual. It’s not often that the unlikely concepts of “bush flora” and “glamour” are so happily married. Yet, here it is.

Australian dream / photo: vogue.com.au

The dress looks as if it has been poured on to the model, thanks to those long, slinky nude panels. They create a lithe, flowing hourglass shape which hits the womanly element that Lisa Ho is so good at. Such a fluid cut is akin to the elegant gowns Elie Saab is famous for, but with a unique print grounding the dress as distinctly Aussie.
And then there was Ellery. In what was being heralded early as the best show of the week, Kym Ellery brought tough-girl cool by the metric shitload*.
*Yes, this is a scientific unit of measurement.

tough-girl cool / photo: vogue.com.au

I love this because a) Kym is a fellow West Aussie girl done good, and b) she has achieved draping that is not being tagged as sensual, opulent or soft.
No. While definitely masterful, these tinfoil silver swathes are far from soft. A tough, streetwise edge is a better way to describe it.
Whether this is something that the average woman could wear (read: probably not) is irrelevant.  It is a pure statement, an unapologetic demonstration of skill, and a damn good way to close a collection.
TOP STREET STYLE LOOK
Of course, it’s Yasmin Sewell, the Aussie expat of infinite style.
wrap it up / photo: harpersbazaar.com.au
The headscarf is where it is at. It is so, unbelievably cool, especially with hair as chic as hers. Colour me envious.
And if you didn’t think a plain, white tee could be very 'fashion' (as Rachel Zoe would say) – think again. Regimentally starch and structured as opposed to the comfy, slouch tee you would wear on a casual occasion. After all, she is dressed for the Ellery show, and MBFWA’s best show calls for a ‘very fashion’ tee.

By The Industry Baby with 2 comments

MBFWA: Day Two


Personally, I found Day Two of MBFWA much more inspiring than Day One. Perennial Australian favourite Zimmermann delivered yet another collection of perfection. Is there a girl out there who doesn’t love Zimmermann’s eternal-summer pieces? If there is, I haven’t met her.
However, the top runway looks* of the day came from elsewhere.
*Multiple because I was torn between them, so decided to just roll with it.
TOP RUNWAY LOOK(S)
At Bowie, the devil was in the detail. Or, perhaps more appropriately, an angel.

Celestial butterflies / photo: vogue.com.au
Just look at those fragile, wispy butterflies emerging delicately from their transparent cocoon. They seem almost alive, drying freshly wet wings and ready to soar into sartorial freedom. The regal, soft shell of white butterflies creates suspense, but not drama. It is as if, in only a moment, they could take off and all be gone.
Exquisite detail / photo: vogue.com.au
The texture in this gown is surreal. That lush, full coverage of delicate petals lend a Mother Nature softness to the sharp, precise shoulders and cut. And yet, as a solid block of white it provides an emphatic statement against the flimsy translucency of the neck, shoulders and chest. Bowie is taking us away on a dream with this Garden of Eden detail; one which I don’t want to wake up from.

wear me! / photo: vogue.com.au
 Michael Lo Sordo offered an ensemble with more spunk. If it wasn’t already blindingly obvious, an assorted paintbox of prints is going to be fundamental to Spring/Summer 2012/2013. Unless you are an Alt (Emmanuelle, that is), there is no escaping it.
This is one of the cleaner, clearer prints used by any designer – most others tend towards the busier, blended styles favoured by Zimmermann and last season Camilla and Marc.
But the clincher for this outfit is that sporty red bralet worn unabashedly under the open blazer. It is the sexy quirk that turns an otherwise demure silhouette on its head. It's true, this is not a new concept. But the prints and colour let you see the idea with new eyes and a fresh angle.

TOP STREET STYLE LOOK
Soon-to-be reality TV star Lara Bingle got ragged for this outfit on the Madison Australia website. Ouch.
At the Toni Maticevski show / photo: madisonmag.com.au
A simple boat stripe has never failed in my books, and it does not fail Lara either. It is simple and effortless in that very French way; while that sounds completely unoriginal, it really is true.
Ms. Bingle is a case in point. She has fashion ease about her in this jumpsuit, like she barely had to try to look so chic.

But my favourite element? The way her red lipstick picks up the little brooch at her chest and those Louboutin soles at her feet. Such panache.

By The Industry Baby with 2 comments

Wednesday 2 May 2012

MBFWA: Day One

If the fantastical and sometimes unwearable creations of MBFWA opener Romance Was Born are not for you – rest assured, you are not alone. Their boldness is always inspiring, but an RWB piece will only hang in a particular kind of wardrobe. As Tim Blanks so succinctly wrote for Vogue Australia, “discipline a superpower, and you'll usually get more from less."

TOP RUNWAY LOOK

So white / photo: vogue.com.au

It was the dual subtlety and power of this Ginger & Smart ensemble that made me look twice.

All the attitude of a technicolour superhero effortlessly rendered in lush, monochromatic tailoring.

From its sixties origins, the shift dress has never had a bigger moment than right now. And the brocade pattern seems instantly fresh in white on white.


photo: vogue.com.au

But the blazer is the truly swoon-worthy piece here. As we have come to expect from Ginger & Smart, the fabric falls just so. Also, please note: refusing to put your arms through the sleeves is the way to wear a jacket. Don’t let boyfriends or mothers tell you otherwise. #chictothemax. (Get the reference?)


watch me walk away / photo: vogue.com.au

As for the phat blue hoops and stack of bangles – you can take it or leave it. As long as I can have the shoes (an ankle and toe strap is all I need); a lesson in modern simplicity.


TOP STREET STYLE LOOK

Zanita Morgan of fellt.com/zanita

Firstly, Zanita is clearly stunning. Blessed genetics aside, this outfit is not only simple and stylish, but also honest.

Zanita Morgan / photo: Candice Lake from candicelake.com


Leather panels make that jacket deliciously luxe, but what I love most is that she is wearing Kmart boyfriend jeans. Yes, that’s honest.

If it looks great (which it does), then off to fashion week you strut.

By The Industry Baby with 4 comments

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia 2012: Intentions

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia kicked off to a stylish start in Sydney on Monday, and I’ve been left positively green-eyed by the photos flooding through on instagram.  True, the lead-up to the event was not without some drama – major names such as Dion Lee, Josh Goot and the ever-vocal Alex Perry pulling out of MBFWA, citing a misalignment with the international fashion schedule. But the production values of the fashion week shows seem to sharpen each year, which is exciting to watch (even from afar!)

Pre-show caffeine fix / photo: fashionweekuncut.com

For the rest of this fabulous week, I will be keeping it simple. My one favourite runway look, and my one favourite ‘street-style’ look. Although, let’s be honest. If it were me, my outfit would be less “spontaneous-street-style” and more “highly-styled-and-agonised-over.”
In fact, the very witty Vogue Australia editor Kirstie Clements took a tongue-in-cheek stab at street style while writing about MBFWA here:
"There are a few tricks for the uninitiated visitor should one feel the burning desire to be snapped and posted on websites.

Wearing bright, clashing colours head-to-toe will generally work. Add a huge must-have “It'' shoe that is extremely difficult to navigate. (In years past it used to be an “It'' bag, but that disappeared. Too easy for the masses I guess.) Incorporate garments from Alexander Wang or Givenchy. Or sport a weird headpiece. That might do it.

In fact, wear anything you like. The shows have become a fashion safari – if it moves, someone will photograph it.


Make sure you're always on the mobile though, so it looks like you have a proper job."

It almost sounds like a journos vs. bloggers jibe. Clements has, in my opinion, been downright fearless in commenting on some sticky issues recently. And I admire it.

By The Industry Baby with No comments

Saturday 28 April 2012

Amongst Nature and Music: RTRFM In The Pines 2012 Review


If this blog is about anything, it is shameless self promotion.

Any fellow Perth residents will probably know that the fantastic local station RTRFM 92.1 runs a great gig every year called In The Pines. Twenty (generally) awesome local artists play for freezles (!), and all the money raised by punters drinking $7 Coopers goes to support the station which is such a champion of great WA music.


If you are not reading from Perth/didn't know about this before, you can now continue with your day content in this new knowledge. You're welcome.


I wrote a review of the event for FasterLouder here. There is a full gallery of photos from the day here.

The photos were taken by emkatphotography

If you are too time poor for all of that (I feel ya!), here is an excerpt from my captivating review:




...As the sun was going down and the night getting much cooler, The Leap Year gave a gritty rock performance with their no-nonsense attitude. Apricot Rail followed up with quite the opposite – blissed out, calming tunes. Clarinettist Mayuka Juber and trumpeter Jack Quirk both gave performances that reverberated off the trees, creating an uplifting atmosphere.

To herald the start of the Pines’ ‘main attractions,’
The Sunshine Brothers brought out their big, international sound. Their set took an eager audience on a magical, musical journey: middle eastern and Arabian flavours, touches of tropical island sounds, and a tribute to a tugboat (complete with sound effects and pirate commentary.)

The dancing mood continued with ever-perky
Boys, Boys, Boys. Their particular brand of sugar-pop-meets-riot-grrl was infectiously energetic and super-tight. The entire group fit the stereotype for every tween TV show ever made, which is actually part of their charm. The popsters made up for the shockingly daggy choreography by closing their set with a Running Man dance contest.

There is no denying that
San Cisco were one of the main drawcards for most punters. And the performance they gave proved their worth to anyone who might have been doubting. Surprisingly, the audience preferred to soak it all in instead of singing along to Golden Revolver and Tongue Tied Awkward. New song Fred Astaire was as endearingly sweet as you would expect. And even though Toast was written about an arch enemy of Jordi Davieson, it’s hard to imagine these genuine kids ever getting aggressive.

Considering San Cisco’s set, it’s fair to say
Ghost Hotel had a tough act to follow. And while their Americana-inspired rock was easy to listen to, it was not a standout set.

The
Kill Devil Hills, however, were as on-point as ever. Opening low and smooth with Change in the Weather, they then set a completely eerie atmosphere with Heathen Song. It became apparent very quickly that this is where the standard of performance would be set. And if you’ve ever wondered what an akubra-wearing, bearded man’s sex face looks like…watch Alex Archer while he plays violin.

By The Industry Baby with No comments

Wednesday 25 April 2012

'Brave Winter' Photoshoot

I realise that not everyone loves words as much as I do.
In an effort to make myself multi-skilled for the fashion journalism world which I so love, I dabble in some styling from time to time.
These are from a shoot with two incredibly talented friends of mine.
Ben is just so good. We had minimal light at the location, but he worked it anyway. Kid is going to be a superstar.
Ellie is my oldest friend. She worked as a model for a few years, but eventually decided that it wasn’t for her. How amazing is she, though?
Brave Winter
Photographer / Ben Murdock
Model / Ellie Knapp
Styling / Me



I do love an exaggerated shoulder / ben murdock
All images credited to Ben Murdock

By The Industry Baby with 2 comments

Saturday 21 April 2012

Never Let Me Go

There it was. In the midst of a fervent wardrobe cull – unwanted, ill-fitting and downright daggy vêtements strewn left and right – I saw it for the first time in years. Through a protective sheath of plastic it seemed to shine with a halo from the furthermost corner of my wardrobe. My year 12 ball dress.

To me, this dress is near perfection. A liquid-like gown of delicate ivory silk, sweetheart neckline, with a thick black sash pinned just so in an elaborate bow at the rear.
 
my beloved and now useless ball dress / photo: me

In all the years it has been hanging in my closet, I have worn the dress a total of twice. Once, of course, for my fairytale-esque school ball. Then many years later to a black tie themed pub crawl.
My (ongoing) wardrobe cull has only two rules. 1: The item has to fit my body, and style. 2: The item must have been worn in the past 18 months. I knew instinctively that the pool of silk in my hands would satisfy neither clause. And yet, I could not bear to cast it off. The dress seemed to whisper “never let me go…”
It’s purchase had been poetic: after a long, unsuccessful day trawling garish gown boutiques, my mother and my 17 year-old self ducked into a forgetful looking store on our way home. Mum’s keen eye spied a glimpse of ivory on a rack and asked me to try it on. When I came out of the change room, I knew. Even better, it was but a fraction of our budget. 
On the night of my formal, it clung to my girlish figure like a glove. I felt like a movie star, and my friends told me I looked like one, too. In this magical dress I danced with the boy who soon after became my boyfriend (and is, for the record, still by my side.)
The memories tied to my ball dress are the very reasons it is still proudly hanging up  post-cull. Gazing at it, I can recall just how beautiful I felt that night. I remember dancing with friends, laughing, and beaming from ear to ear.
However, the truth of the present day is that the fabric sags from my now leaner, thinner frame. The colour washes me out. And I have absolutely nowhere to wear it in the foreseeable future. Is nostalgia a good enough excuse to cling to the garments that no longer fit our life?
You could argue that my ball gown was a ‘special occasion’ piece which could earn its place in my room for that reason alone. Not so for another treasured item of mine.

As I got older, my friends and I fell in love with the spirit and atmosphere of camping music festivals. Three day affairs involving joy-filled road trips, poorly-pitched tents and sunshine drenched days. Grungy style à la Kurt Cobain was the order of the day.

It was on one of these escapades that a dear friend gifted me a slightly tattered, and unbelievably soft, red tartan flannelette shirt. At about 10pm, I was feeling cold. He handed it to me, told me it had belonged to his late grandfather and that I could keep it.
Bogan-chic? My old, red flannelette shirt / photo: me

Today, it lies folded on the bottom shelf. It is even softer now, and features an enormous gaping hole in the back that I never got around to mending.
My style has (thankfully) evolved from grunge youth to that of a more refined rockstar. One who, I like to think, might sit front row at Chanel. Suffice to say, the red flanno no longer gets worn. And yet I cannot bring myself to bin it.
To me, it represents warm days, cool nights and a friendship that still stands. Something I can’t, nor want, to donate to the Salvation Army.
For the most part, my wardrobe cull has been a success. However, there are still a few pieces floating around that you might think were taking up valuable space. It is how I imagine married women feel; as anniversary after anniversary passes, their wedding dress remains tucked away in a dark corner, safe from the harsh light of day.
Although it may seem silly to hold on to something that is no longer useful, I am far too sentimental to have a truly minimalist, function-only wardrobe.
I still need a few hangers to bear treasured memories from my sartorial past.
Do you have anything in your wardrobe that begs you to “never let me go?

By The Industry Baby with 5 comments

Sunday 25 March 2012

Introductions are in order


How I spend any rare snatches of free time / photo: me

Introductions are never easy, so I'm just going to jump right in.

I'm CJ, and I live in beautiful, ever-sunny Perth, Western Australia. I know, I would be jealous of me too.

Yet, despite the glorious beaches, Perth has not yet offered me the bedazzling writing career of my dreams.

But this city is not entirely to blame.

With only a little experience behind me, it's no wonder Vogue is not banging down the door and offering $4.50 a word like they did for Carrie Bradshaw.

So, this blog is here for a few reasons:

1. To ge me writing something - anything! - that is not a University graded, critical analysis of Australian literature.

2. To share articles, photography and other miscellaneous items that I find inspiring.

3. To entertain you, dear reader! And allow you to procrastinate on Blogger until you forget what you were originally doing.

So, please, if you like something - comment!
If you hate something, still comment; but please be nice and use good grammar.

Oh - and all photos that appear on this blog are my own, unless otherwise credited.

And if you do work in Mag Land and would like to bang down my door about a story, freelancing or (gasp!) a job, please email me. For the love of God.

I'm just a baby in this industry, who hopes to one day be a giant.

cj.

By The Industry Baby with 4 comments

Monday 12 November 2012

On the Other Foot: Lauren Burvill Interviews Me

It's no secret that I am usually more comfortable asking the questions than answering them.
 
Yours truly in Rome / photo: Sean

But, when the very cool and clever Lauren Burvill from Student Flights presented the opportunity to ask me some questions about my European sojourn at the beginning of the year...I jumped at the chance!

If you would like to find out just how obsessed I am with Paris, or why I was doing shots at a Helmut Newton whiskey bar in Berlin, click here. 

Be warned: it was the antithesis of a typical early-20s backpacker holiday. Shared accommodation is most certainly not pour moi.  

Where did you - or would you - go on your dream holiday?

Thursday 20 September 2012

Shit Hot: Loon Lake, Stillwater Giants and Rainy Day Women @ Amplifier bar

Loon Lake are my new Australian music favourite. I don't remember the last time that I loved every song on a release, but it's happened now with the band's new EP Thirty Three.

Loon Lake frontman Sam Nolan / photo: Robert Perrone
 Luckily for me, I reviewed the final stop of the national Thirty Three tour here. There is a full gallery of photos from the night here.

The photos were taken by Robert Perrone.


Here's an excerpt that will hopefully persuade you to click my links:

 

Cherry-lipped girls (and the guys who would inevitably try to pick them up) flocked in impressive numbers to the closing show of Loon Lake’s national tour. The substantial numbers were well appreciated by the first of two local supports, Rainy Day Women, whose sweet brand of blissed-out pop kicked off the night perfectly. Live, Dylan Ollivierre’s vocals sound like almost like Julian Casablancas in pop-mode. He led his shoeless bandmates through a set of lazy (in a good way), summery songs with some heavenly keyboard thrown for good measure in by otherwise guitarist Ross Pickersgill. But the saccharine nature of their sun-soaked tunes and cute whistling hooks were well balanced by clever rhythms and unexpected arrangements. Of course, the set closer was the harmonious Triple J favourite Sleigh Bed, which sparked a light bulb moment of recognition in a happily curious crowd.

The Rainy Day boys gave way to the grand entrance of Stillwater Giants, who looked intent on pumping up the energy levels of the nearly full room. As you might expect from four guys of Margaret River, the Giants drenched punters in wicked surf rock from the very first note. But not of the cruisy Sunday roadtrip variety – no, this was a much higher-octane affair. Guitarist Tom Godden was a man possessed with the desire to party, physically throwing himself into every driving riff like a seasoned rock god. In fact, the entire outfit hit the ultimate balance between rocking out like madmen whilst still delivering a completely polished performance.

...Loon Lake's Nolan brothers and their musical mates manipulated the energy of the crowd incredibly well, giving dancing shoes a rest between party tunes. The obvious crowd favourites Bad to Me, In the Summer and the infectious “wooh!” hook of Cherry Lips had Amps boogieing down in an arm flailing frenzy. But the cherry on the cake was a blistering cover of I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness. Not a dry armpit in the house.

Sunday 26 August 2012

What Exclusivity Gets You: Perth Fashion Festival Gift Bag

The final model has just click-clacked her path off the runway for the 2012 Sydney Fashion Festival, and soon it will be Perth’s turn to rain a week-long torrent of parades, stiletto mishaps and lurking street style photographers.

But, while VIP Sydney tickets offered an otherwise elusive ‘backstage tour’ for a bumped up price, PFF is not going to follow suit. West Aussie amoureux de la mode can buy a seat for almost all of the shows, luncheons and events, excluding a small selection of invite only industry and media events.
Of course, it’s those unattainable attendances that we mere mortals crave the most.

Imagine, then, how I kicked myself when I was lucky enough to be invited to the PFF official launch…but missed the date. I would have loved eavesdropping on the conversations of the ever-fabulous Mariella Harvey-Hanrahan, or Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Sacffidi, and gawking at Nicole Pollard, face of PFF, in all of her impossible beauty. Luckily, my internship editor, lovely woman that she is, brought a gift bag back for me.

So, it is with a little disappointment and no juicy gossip that I present: The Contents of the Perth Fashion Festival Goodie Bag.

Consolation Prize: Perth Fashion Festival 2012 Goodie Bag
 L’Oreal Professional ‘Absolut Repair Cellular’ Cleansing Balm
Want silky haired goodness?
Because who doesn’t want the shiny, bouncing blow wave of a lithe model clad in Cebiche swimwear? It’s the lactic acid in this thick, glossy crème that will supposedly have your hair looking like Brad Ngata himself has tended your tresses. The rinse-out treatment needs to be massaged into shampooed hair and left on for “a few moments,” but that seems a little optimistic. Forget the back of the pack instructions. I’m happy to use it as a leave-in conditioner, slicked through my strands and wrapped in a warm towel for 3 minutes before thoroughly rinsing out.

T2 Teas in French Earl Grey and Gorgeous Geisha Tea
Drinkin' Flowers: T2 French Earl Grey
As anybody would expect of T2, these cutesy teas smell divine. Gorgeous Geisha, in particular, has a heavenly sweet scent. The French Earl Grey tea itself is almost too pretty to brew, its lavender hued leaves sprinkled with rose petal pieces and bits of fruit. Admittedly, as delicious as Gorgeous Geisha may be, it does look a lot like weed – but, hey, potential arrest for suspected possession of an illegal substance is a small price to pay for two sachets of free tea. 

It's tea, I swear: T2 Gorgeous Geisha
Slim Secrets ‘Low Carb Fit Balls’ in Choc Mint Chip
Glamorous?
There is no delicate way to put it: this is a bizarre gift bag inclusion for any fashion event. Slim Secrets will apparently allow you to “burn it up on the gym floor with these great tasting, carb-conscious Fit Balls.” To call these little carbo-loaded rocks ‘great tasting’ is to take an extreme liberty with the truth. What they lack in palatability, they do not make up for with cheap-looking packaging and general unattractiveness. Sure, working the week-long festival would require energy-boosting snacks. But a Tupperware container of carrot sticks would have been better received than these. 


Will you be going to any of the Perth Fashion Festival shows?

Friday 15 June 2012

Peace Offering: Abercrombie & Fitch Models

I've already managed to severely neglect this blog. I wouldn't be surprised it files for official emancipation.

There is a good reason though: I am currently fighting my way out of stacks of textbooks, lecture notes and an obscene amount of lined paper. Many, many trees had to die for me to survive the university exam period.

So, please accept this peace offering: Abercrombie & Fitch models miming "Call Me Maybe."



I'll be back to writing soon, but I cannot promise that any future posts will be more enjoyable than this video.

Happy Friday. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Monday 21 May 2012

Unlikely Inspiration and China Glaze 'Pelican Gray'

I asked my science-obssessed, chemist boyfriend if he liked my new China Glaze "Pelican Gray" manicure.

He replied that he did, and that it "looks like you left a leaky blue pen in a glass of milk, and then painted your nails with said milk."

China Glaze in Pelican Gray and a gratuitous Prada shot / photo: me

If I can remember to be as succint, accurate and creative in my writing as he was in that off-the-cuff statement, I will be doing a great job.

Writing inspiration from the most unlikely source.

Milky / photo: me

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Shock of the Week: Kirstie Clements No Longer Editor of Vogue Australia

Even though the print industry has been flailing for a while now, this still came from way out of left field.
After 10 years perfectly perched at the top spot of Vogue Australia, Editor in Chief Kirstie Clements has been dismissed. Say what?
Kirstie Clements a Voguette no more / photo: heraldsun.com.au
The decision to drop Australia’s most influential fashion icon came from Nicole Sheffield, the new Chief Executive Officer of the News Ltd magazine group, NewsMediaLife.
If that wasn’t surprising enough, it has already been announced that (now ex) Harper’s Bazaar EIC Edwina McCann will replace Clements.
To be honest, I’m still reeling. While it is true that Vogue’s sales have been lagging behind those of the other major Australian fashion titles (think Marie Claire, Harper’s, Madison and InStyle) many never suspected that the solution would be so ruthless.
But, such is the state of the industry.
Selfishly, I am quite sad. I’ve dreamed of writing for Vogue under Kirstie Clements; she was a real inspiration.
Not only is her work ethic infallible and her vision precise, but she is a fearless woman. Clements is a clever and sharp writer, and has boldly spoken her mind when it was called for.
She scathingly criticised the presence of the fashion blog “style-set” at major shows; urged Australian designers to “lift their game,” questioned the authority of Australian Fashion Week; and, perhaps most infamously, defended the place of thin, willowy models on the pages of Vogue.
I admire her for all of that.  But most of all, Clements deserves veneration because she is self-aware enough to acknowledge and examine the impact of her role on society.

Kirstie Clements in photo that accompanied the article below / photo: vogue.com.au
This is an excerpt from my favourite article by the industry hero:
The first girl arrived, a beautiful blonde trying to pull her skin-tight mini dress down over her thighs as she wriggled over to say hello. Giant platform shoes. The next girl arrived. Same thing.

Same shoes actually, in a different colour.

Soon the lounge room was full of drop-dead gorgeous girls with perfect figures trying to pull their tiny dresses down, keep their bosoms in, and walk in their heels. To no avail.
I was talking to some mothers of teen girls the next day and we were puzzling the origin of the little dress/ big shoe trend.

“It's our fault,” I said, meaning fashion magazines. “In fact Carine Roitfeld (ex editor-in-chief of French
Vogue) started it, getting around the RTW shows in those enormous Givenchy shoes.” I think I'll go back to the office and get the fashion editors to stamp it out. Then at next year's dance, they might be a little warmer.”
Edwina McCann certainly has big Louboutins to fill.
Were you as shocked as I by this news? What did you think of Kirstie Clements' decade at Vogue?

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Determined Steps


Every writer has their idol. A genius scribe whose work you adore and style you’d die to emulate.
For me, when it comes to fiction (I’ve had a novel on the backburner for a while now,) that literature pin-up is Truman Capote.
To me, his work was never less than brilliant. And I don’t even question the lengths he went to for In Cold Blood. Yeah, yeah, I’m so controversial.

$9.95 well spent / photo: me

Regardless of whether you think he is evil or just committed, this excerpt from Breakfast at Tiffany’s is wonderful. Pure magic, word wizardry:
“Watching her, I remembered a girl I’d known in school, a grind, Mildred Grossman. Mildred: with her moist hair and greasy spectacles, her stained fingers that dissected frogs and carried coffee to picket lines, her flat eyes that only turned towards the stars to estimate their chemical tonnage. Earth and air could not be more opposite than Mildred and Holly, yet in my head they acquired a Siamese twinship, and the thread of thought that had sewn them together ran like this: the average personality reshapes frequently, every few years even our bodies undergo a complete overhaul – desirable or not, it is a natural thing that we should change. All right, here were two people who never would. That is what Mildred Grossman had in common with Holly Golightly. They would never change because they’d been given their character too soon; which, like sudden riches, leads to a lack of proportion: the one had splurged herself into a top heavy realist, the other a lopsided romantic. I imagined them in a restaurant of the future, Mildred still studying the menu for its nutritional value, Holly still gluttonous for everything on it. It would never be different. They would walk through life and out of it with the same determined step that took small notice of those cliffs at the left.”
Just a little inspiration for the day, and an apology for letting the end of MBFWA slip by with no posts. I will rectify that as soon as these university assignments find a spot to quietly die.
In the meantime, who is your favourite writer? Do you think Capote was a Deity, or a ruthless, slightly crazed little man?

Thursday 3 May 2012

MBFWA: Day Three

It speaks volumes of the Australian fashion industry that each day of MBFWA is better than the last. And the increasing attention from international correspondents is proof that the world is taking notice, too.
Based on the photos, stories and roaring praise flooding in from the shows on Day Three, you have to wonder how they can keep upping the ante.
TOP RUNWAY LOOKS
Once again, there was no way it could be narrowed down to just one. It would have been oh so easy to pick at least four entire shows. Although, after much agonising…
Lisa Ho my God!’ Have you ever seen Australiana look so good? Lisa Ho always creates beautiful garments that are the epitome of luxurious, feminine beauty. But this is bold and unusual. It’s not often that the unlikely concepts of “bush flora” and “glamour” are so happily married. Yet, here it is.

Australian dream / photo: vogue.com.au

The dress looks as if it has been poured on to the model, thanks to those long, slinky nude panels. They create a lithe, flowing hourglass shape which hits the womanly element that Lisa Ho is so good at. Such a fluid cut is akin to the elegant gowns Elie Saab is famous for, but with a unique print grounding the dress as distinctly Aussie.
And then there was Ellery. In what was being heralded early as the best show of the week, Kym Ellery brought tough-girl cool by the metric shitload*.
*Yes, this is a scientific unit of measurement.

tough-girl cool / photo: vogue.com.au

I love this because a) Kym is a fellow West Aussie girl done good, and b) she has achieved draping that is not being tagged as sensual, opulent or soft.
No. While definitely masterful, these tinfoil silver swathes are far from soft. A tough, streetwise edge is a better way to describe it.
Whether this is something that the average woman could wear (read: probably not) is irrelevant.  It is a pure statement, an unapologetic demonstration of skill, and a damn good way to close a collection.
TOP STREET STYLE LOOK
Of course, it’s Yasmin Sewell, the Aussie expat of infinite style.
wrap it up / photo: harpersbazaar.com.au
The headscarf is where it is at. It is so, unbelievably cool, especially with hair as chic as hers. Colour me envious.
And if you didn’t think a plain, white tee could be very 'fashion' (as Rachel Zoe would say) – think again. Regimentally starch and structured as opposed to the comfy, slouch tee you would wear on a casual occasion. After all, she is dressed for the Ellery show, and MBFWA’s best show calls for a ‘very fashion’ tee.

MBFWA: Day Two


Personally, I found Day Two of MBFWA much more inspiring than Day One. Perennial Australian favourite Zimmermann delivered yet another collection of perfection. Is there a girl out there who doesn’t love Zimmermann’s eternal-summer pieces? If there is, I haven’t met her.
However, the top runway looks* of the day came from elsewhere.
*Multiple because I was torn between them, so decided to just roll with it.
TOP RUNWAY LOOK(S)
At Bowie, the devil was in the detail. Or, perhaps more appropriately, an angel.

Celestial butterflies / photo: vogue.com.au
Just look at those fragile, wispy butterflies emerging delicately from their transparent cocoon. They seem almost alive, drying freshly wet wings and ready to soar into sartorial freedom. The regal, soft shell of white butterflies creates suspense, but not drama. It is as if, in only a moment, they could take off and all be gone.
Exquisite detail / photo: vogue.com.au
The texture in this gown is surreal. That lush, full coverage of delicate petals lend a Mother Nature softness to the sharp, precise shoulders and cut. And yet, as a solid block of white it provides an emphatic statement against the flimsy translucency of the neck, shoulders and chest. Bowie is taking us away on a dream with this Garden of Eden detail; one which I don’t want to wake up from.

wear me! / photo: vogue.com.au
 Michael Lo Sordo offered an ensemble with more spunk. If it wasn’t already blindingly obvious, an assorted paintbox of prints is going to be fundamental to Spring/Summer 2012/2013. Unless you are an Alt (Emmanuelle, that is), there is no escaping it.
This is one of the cleaner, clearer prints used by any designer – most others tend towards the busier, blended styles favoured by Zimmermann and last season Camilla and Marc.
But the clincher for this outfit is that sporty red bralet worn unabashedly under the open blazer. It is the sexy quirk that turns an otherwise demure silhouette on its head. It's true, this is not a new concept. But the prints and colour let you see the idea with new eyes and a fresh angle.

TOP STREET STYLE LOOK
Soon-to-be reality TV star Lara Bingle got ragged for this outfit on the Madison Australia website. Ouch.
At the Toni Maticevski show / photo: madisonmag.com.au
A simple boat stripe has never failed in my books, and it does not fail Lara either. It is simple and effortless in that very French way; while that sounds completely unoriginal, it really is true.
Ms. Bingle is a case in point. She has fashion ease about her in this jumpsuit, like she barely had to try to look so chic.

But my favourite element? The way her red lipstick picks up the little brooch at her chest and those Louboutin soles at her feet. Such panache.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

MBFWA: Day One

If the fantastical and sometimes unwearable creations of MBFWA opener Romance Was Born are not for you – rest assured, you are not alone. Their boldness is always inspiring, but an RWB piece will only hang in a particular kind of wardrobe. As Tim Blanks so succinctly wrote for Vogue Australia, “discipline a superpower, and you'll usually get more from less."

TOP RUNWAY LOOK

So white / photo: vogue.com.au

It was the dual subtlety and power of this Ginger & Smart ensemble that made me look twice.

All the attitude of a technicolour superhero effortlessly rendered in lush, monochromatic tailoring.

From its sixties origins, the shift dress has never had a bigger moment than right now. And the brocade pattern seems instantly fresh in white on white.


photo: vogue.com.au

But the blazer is the truly swoon-worthy piece here. As we have come to expect from Ginger & Smart, the fabric falls just so. Also, please note: refusing to put your arms through the sleeves is the way to wear a jacket. Don’t let boyfriends or mothers tell you otherwise. #chictothemax. (Get the reference?)


watch me walk away / photo: vogue.com.au

As for the phat blue hoops and stack of bangles – you can take it or leave it. As long as I can have the shoes (an ankle and toe strap is all I need); a lesson in modern simplicity.


TOP STREET STYLE LOOK

Zanita Morgan of fellt.com/zanita

Firstly, Zanita is clearly stunning. Blessed genetics aside, this outfit is not only simple and stylish, but also honest.

Zanita Morgan / photo: Candice Lake from candicelake.com


Leather panels make that jacket deliciously luxe, but what I love most is that she is wearing Kmart boyfriend jeans. Yes, that’s honest.

If it looks great (which it does), then off to fashion week you strut.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia 2012: Intentions

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia kicked off to a stylish start in Sydney on Monday, and I’ve been left positively green-eyed by the photos flooding through on instagram.  True, the lead-up to the event was not without some drama – major names such as Dion Lee, Josh Goot and the ever-vocal Alex Perry pulling out of MBFWA, citing a misalignment with the international fashion schedule. But the production values of the fashion week shows seem to sharpen each year, which is exciting to watch (even from afar!)

Pre-show caffeine fix / photo: fashionweekuncut.com

For the rest of this fabulous week, I will be keeping it simple. My one favourite runway look, and my one favourite ‘street-style’ look. Although, let’s be honest. If it were me, my outfit would be less “spontaneous-street-style” and more “highly-styled-and-agonised-over.”
In fact, the very witty Vogue Australia editor Kirstie Clements took a tongue-in-cheek stab at street style while writing about MBFWA here:
"There are a few tricks for the uninitiated visitor should one feel the burning desire to be snapped and posted on websites.

Wearing bright, clashing colours head-to-toe will generally work. Add a huge must-have “It'' shoe that is extremely difficult to navigate. (In years past it used to be an “It'' bag, but that disappeared. Too easy for the masses I guess.) Incorporate garments from Alexander Wang or Givenchy. Or sport a weird headpiece. That might do it.

In fact, wear anything you like. The shows have become a fashion safari – if it moves, someone will photograph it.


Make sure you're always on the mobile though, so it looks like you have a proper job."

It almost sounds like a journos vs. bloggers jibe. Clements has, in my opinion, been downright fearless in commenting on some sticky issues recently. And I admire it.

Saturday 28 April 2012

Amongst Nature and Music: RTRFM In The Pines 2012 Review


If this blog is about anything, it is shameless self promotion.

Any fellow Perth residents will probably know that the fantastic local station RTRFM 92.1 runs a great gig every year called In The Pines. Twenty (generally) awesome local artists play for freezles (!), and all the money raised by punters drinking $7 Coopers goes to support the station which is such a champion of great WA music.


If you are not reading from Perth/didn't know about this before, you can now continue with your day content in this new knowledge. You're welcome.


I wrote a review of the event for FasterLouder here. There is a full gallery of photos from the day here.

The photos were taken by emkatphotography

If you are too time poor for all of that (I feel ya!), here is an excerpt from my captivating review:




...As the sun was going down and the night getting much cooler, The Leap Year gave a gritty rock performance with their no-nonsense attitude. Apricot Rail followed up with quite the opposite – blissed out, calming tunes. Clarinettist Mayuka Juber and trumpeter Jack Quirk both gave performances that reverberated off the trees, creating an uplifting atmosphere.

To herald the start of the Pines’ ‘main attractions,’
The Sunshine Brothers brought out their big, international sound. Their set took an eager audience on a magical, musical journey: middle eastern and Arabian flavours, touches of tropical island sounds, and a tribute to a tugboat (complete with sound effects and pirate commentary.)

The dancing mood continued with ever-perky
Boys, Boys, Boys. Their particular brand of sugar-pop-meets-riot-grrl was infectiously energetic and super-tight. The entire group fit the stereotype for every tween TV show ever made, which is actually part of their charm. The popsters made up for the shockingly daggy choreography by closing their set with a Running Man dance contest.

There is no denying that
San Cisco were one of the main drawcards for most punters. And the performance they gave proved their worth to anyone who might have been doubting. Surprisingly, the audience preferred to soak it all in instead of singing along to Golden Revolver and Tongue Tied Awkward. New song Fred Astaire was as endearingly sweet as you would expect. And even though Toast was written about an arch enemy of Jordi Davieson, it’s hard to imagine these genuine kids ever getting aggressive.

Considering San Cisco’s set, it’s fair to say
Ghost Hotel had a tough act to follow. And while their Americana-inspired rock was easy to listen to, it was not a standout set.

The
Kill Devil Hills, however, were as on-point as ever. Opening low and smooth with Change in the Weather, they then set a completely eerie atmosphere with Heathen Song. It became apparent very quickly that this is where the standard of performance would be set. And if you’ve ever wondered what an akubra-wearing, bearded man’s sex face looks like…watch Alex Archer while he plays violin.

Wednesday 25 April 2012

'Brave Winter' Photoshoot

I realise that not everyone loves words as much as I do.
In an effort to make myself multi-skilled for the fashion journalism world which I so love, I dabble in some styling from time to time.
These are from a shoot with two incredibly talented friends of mine.
Ben is just so good. We had minimal light at the location, but he worked it anyway. Kid is going to be a superstar.
Ellie is my oldest friend. She worked as a model for a few years, but eventually decided that it wasn’t for her. How amazing is she, though?
Brave Winter
Photographer / Ben Murdock
Model / Ellie Knapp
Styling / Me



I do love an exaggerated shoulder / ben murdock
All images credited to Ben Murdock

Saturday 21 April 2012

Never Let Me Go

There it was. In the midst of a fervent wardrobe cull – unwanted, ill-fitting and downright daggy vêtements strewn left and right – I saw it for the first time in years. Through a protective sheath of plastic it seemed to shine with a halo from the furthermost corner of my wardrobe. My year 12 ball dress.

To me, this dress is near perfection. A liquid-like gown of delicate ivory silk, sweetheart neckline, with a thick black sash pinned just so in an elaborate bow at the rear.
 
my beloved and now useless ball dress / photo: me

In all the years it has been hanging in my closet, I have worn the dress a total of twice. Once, of course, for my fairytale-esque school ball. Then many years later to a black tie themed pub crawl.
My (ongoing) wardrobe cull has only two rules. 1: The item has to fit my body, and style. 2: The item must have been worn in the past 18 months. I knew instinctively that the pool of silk in my hands would satisfy neither clause. And yet, I could not bear to cast it off. The dress seemed to whisper “never let me go…”
It’s purchase had been poetic: after a long, unsuccessful day trawling garish gown boutiques, my mother and my 17 year-old self ducked into a forgetful looking store on our way home. Mum’s keen eye spied a glimpse of ivory on a rack and asked me to try it on. When I came out of the change room, I knew. Even better, it was but a fraction of our budget. 
On the night of my formal, it clung to my girlish figure like a glove. I felt like a movie star, and my friends told me I looked like one, too. In this magical dress I danced with the boy who soon after became my boyfriend (and is, for the record, still by my side.)
The memories tied to my ball dress are the very reasons it is still proudly hanging up  post-cull. Gazing at it, I can recall just how beautiful I felt that night. I remember dancing with friends, laughing, and beaming from ear to ear.
However, the truth of the present day is that the fabric sags from my now leaner, thinner frame. The colour washes me out. And I have absolutely nowhere to wear it in the foreseeable future. Is nostalgia a good enough excuse to cling to the garments that no longer fit our life?
You could argue that my ball gown was a ‘special occasion’ piece which could earn its place in my room for that reason alone. Not so for another treasured item of mine.

As I got older, my friends and I fell in love with the spirit and atmosphere of camping music festivals. Three day affairs involving joy-filled road trips, poorly-pitched tents and sunshine drenched days. Grungy style à la Kurt Cobain was the order of the day.

It was on one of these escapades that a dear friend gifted me a slightly tattered, and unbelievably soft, red tartan flannelette shirt. At about 10pm, I was feeling cold. He handed it to me, told me it had belonged to his late grandfather and that I could keep it.
Bogan-chic? My old, red flannelette shirt / photo: me

Today, it lies folded on the bottom shelf. It is even softer now, and features an enormous gaping hole in the back that I never got around to mending.
My style has (thankfully) evolved from grunge youth to that of a more refined rockstar. One who, I like to think, might sit front row at Chanel. Suffice to say, the red flanno no longer gets worn. And yet I cannot bring myself to bin it.
To me, it represents warm days, cool nights and a friendship that still stands. Something I can’t, nor want, to donate to the Salvation Army.
For the most part, my wardrobe cull has been a success. However, there are still a few pieces floating around that you might think were taking up valuable space. It is how I imagine married women feel; as anniversary after anniversary passes, their wedding dress remains tucked away in a dark corner, safe from the harsh light of day.
Although it may seem silly to hold on to something that is no longer useful, I am far too sentimental to have a truly minimalist, function-only wardrobe.
I still need a few hangers to bear treasured memories from my sartorial past.
Do you have anything in your wardrobe that begs you to “never let me go?

Sunday 25 March 2012

Introductions are in order


How I spend any rare snatches of free time / photo: me

Introductions are never easy, so I'm just going to jump right in.

I'm CJ, and I live in beautiful, ever-sunny Perth, Western Australia. I know, I would be jealous of me too.

Yet, despite the glorious beaches, Perth has not yet offered me the bedazzling writing career of my dreams.

But this city is not entirely to blame.

With only a little experience behind me, it's no wonder Vogue is not banging down the door and offering $4.50 a word like they did for Carrie Bradshaw.

So, this blog is here for a few reasons:

1. To ge me writing something - anything! - that is not a University graded, critical analysis of Australian literature.

2. To share articles, photography and other miscellaneous items that I find inspiring.

3. To entertain you, dear reader! And allow you to procrastinate on Blogger until you forget what you were originally doing.

So, please, if you like something - comment!
If you hate something, still comment; but please be nice and use good grammar.

Oh - and all photos that appear on this blog are my own, unless otherwise credited.

And if you do work in Mag Land and would like to bang down my door about a story, freelancing or (gasp!) a job, please email me. For the love of God.

I'm just a baby in this industry, who hopes to one day be a giant.

cj.