endless summer

Looks like summer is finally here...

I'm eyeing off Etoile Isabel Marant pre SS12 on La Garconne, stomping around in my favourite Chloe wedges (five years laters and I still love these guys!) and lastly wearing a new addition to my jewellery collection, the BRVTVS Claudia bracelet I have been wanting forever. Even though we said no presents this year, Rohan still managed to surprise me!

1. Backstage at IM SS12 from here, 2. Backstage at IM SS12 from here, 3. Etoile pre SS12 images from
 La Garconne, 4 & 5. Photos by me

geometric meets organic

Interior mood no.2

"Hidden in a wooded valley at the foot of the Verdugo Mountains, the redwood, concrete & glass residence opens to the oak forest that influenced the form and orientation of the design."

This is a quote from the estate agent of the famous Schaffer Residence which appeared in Tom Ford's film A Single Man. This is pretty much exactly where I want to live right now. It would be all about mixing Negronis from my own mini bar, wearing the Dress Up choker dress, and reclining in a beautiful timber and exposed brick living room. To complete the setting; fresh flowers, scented candles and a new coffee table favourite, The Travel Almanac. 

The house was built in 1949 by architect John Lautner whose style is a perfect mix of geometric and organic. His work concentrated mostly on the integration of the home with its surroundings and the relationship between people, space and nature. 

1. Cabin image from here, 2. The Travel Almanac issue 1 & 2, 3. Silk choker dress by Dress Up, 4. Curio Noir candle, 5. Gus*Modern Ossington coffee table, 6. Acacia mini bar from CB2, 7. Images of the Schaffer residence from here, 8. Film still from A Single Man, 9. Cover and internal image from Martius, book of Palms.

oui, oui

My last gift guide for the year just went up on The Vine. This one is dedicated to all things French!

While I was googling images I came across this blog dedicated to all things Carven. I have had lots of fun finding old campaign images and in-store photos. 4 weeks to go! 

1. Carven SS10 campaign, 2. illustrations by me for The Vine, 3 & 4. Carven AW11 campaign. Images from Carven.

an american girl in paris

"Paris is such a different experience. The mood is more intense. I always dress up more when I'm in Paris." 

- Lindsey Wixson for Style.com print

Just got a copy of style.com's first print issue. I love the photos of Lindsey in her hometown of Wichita, Kansas and then in New York and Paris. Not too long ago Rohan and I watched An American Werewolf in Paris, I feel like I'm seeing the Eiffel Tower everywhere!  

A lot of my favourite labels are French and I'm currently making a list of all the boutiques I'd like to visit in January. I discovered the shirt label of my dreams, Thomsen, earlier in the year. I've been wearing my print voile shirt everywhere as it's been a bit of a cool summer here so far and I can't wait to pick up some more shirts at their flagship store.

Two other favourites are Isabel Marant and Carven. MNZ store have a great selection of both labels and I just love their styling and photography. I can only imagine how cute the Carven shop must be!

Speaking of things I love, I've also got a top 10 guest post over at the Benah blog. Thanks for having me Brenda!

1 & 2. Style.com Print magazine photographed by me, 3. Collage using Carven images from MNZ, 4 & 5. Carven SS11 lookbook photographed by me, 6. Isabel Marant sweater from MNZ and photo of my Isabel Marant Yuli scarf and Thomsen shirt hanging in my room, 7. Me in my Thomsen shirt, photographed by Rohan.

the art of giving: part four

Part one: Luxury, Part two: Jewellery, Part three: Culture

Part four: Fragrance 

The Three Wise Men had something right. They travelled far and wide across the Orient and the sandy desert to deliver the gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to the infant Jesus in a Manger. Gold we’ve covered – studded with black diamonds or winking cheekily from a suede clutch – but the gift of fragrance and perfume is one that keeps on giving.

With a curved glass body and a sleek black lid, Byredo fragrances are a thing of beauty themselves, but it’s their scents – clean, clear and fresh as a daisy – that are the real draw-card. Pop Gypsy Water or Blanche into the stockings of a wild-eyed wanderer or an Acne addict. Balenciaga’s eponymous first perfume clarifies its lush, swollen green with the sweet simplicity of Violets. It’s a forest at dawn, a secret garden at dusk, and ideal for ones who love skinny jeans and Dicker boots and paint their lips red, baby, red.

A candle is the best gift for someone who is hard to buy for – who could resist the little extravagance of burning something from Diptyque or Malin+Goetz or Curio Noir for a few minutes every day? We love Otto, with its pink-hued scent of grapefruit, geranium and rose, and Figuier, white as a northern Christmas, and Vetyver Bouquet, a wood-thatched church the day after a wedding.

Help someone start their very own Top Shelf by gifting a few Aesop products. That refreshing ‘zing’ of the Geranium Leaf products abounds from the Celestial gift kit, and the A.P.C fine fabric care collaboration is a must-have to hand-wash all of those Araks lingerie sets and silk shirts. And a bunch of flowers, peonies or orchids or whatever is fresh at Poho, in brown paper and tied up with a grosgrain ribbon. Hand them over and watch a smile magically appear on the receiver’s face. It’s the little things that make the most impact.

Clockwise from top, Byredo Gypsy Water and Blanche, $145 (US) 100ml from Byredo Parfums, Aesop Special Relativity Kit, $95 from Aesop, Orchids, prices upon request from Poho, Malin+Goetz Otto candle, $78 from Mecca Cosmetica, Curio Noir Vetyver Bouquet candle, $105 from My Chameleon, Diptyque Figuier candle, $99 from Mecca Cosmetica, A.P.C x Aesop Fine Fabric Care, $37 from Aesop, Balenciaga Eau de Parfum, 
$134 from Strawberry Net.

words by Hannah and collage by me

the art of giving: part one

Hannah and I have collaborated on a holiday gift guide, this is part one; luxury, with the next one to follow on Hannah's blog...

Apparently, luxury, like all things good, is going out of fashion, but we just don’t agree. For everything there is a season, and luxury’s season is surely – surely – Christmas. Eating too much pudding, drinking too much mulled wine, laughing too hard at a bad cracker joke, these things are all luxuries and extravagances in their own ways. But luxury in its more material forms should – and must – find its way to the foot of the bed on the 25th.

Araks lingerie for Francophiles who will revel in their silky slip-of-a-thing bras and knickers, all cast in the colours of a Vermeer painting, or the Turkish delight sunsets of the Australian countryside. A Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton clutch for the girl who has everything she needs but nothing she wants. The Isabel Marant Atea Jacket, who will charm someone with simple tastes through its broody French Navy wool and its discreet, covered buttons.

A Benah cuff in basic black, a poised full stop for every wacky outfit with its brushed gold hardware and utilitarian design. A chic 3.1 Phillip Lim satchel – a glorious mixture of glossy patent and smooth pony-hair – just because it’s pretty, and you like it. In fact, why not give – or receive – all of these together and make the perfect Christmas day outfit out of things which, only yesterday, had been shrouded in candy-cane-covered paper? Things that yesterday you could only dream of owning? Surely that is luxury, no?

But, actually, real luxury is dinner for two, with starters, mains and dessert to share, a few drinks, a few more, and not worrying one single iota about getting the right deal, or a good price, or a student special. We’d love it if, this Christmas, someone splashed out and bought us a beautiful, luxurious dinner at Sydney’s Restaurant of the Year, Sepia, and an overnight stay at The Park Hyatt. Real luxury is a beautiful meal, and time to enjoy it.

Clockwise from top, Araks Lara Bra-let, $168 (US) and Lyona Knickers, $98 (US) in Pomegranate, from Araks, Dinner at Sepia, $150 pp for a Degustation Menu and overnight stay at the Park Hyatt, prices upon request, Isabel Marant Atea Jacket, €360 (EUR) from Mytheresa, Benah Black Kodi Cuff, $120 from Benah, Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton Clutch, prices upon request from Louis Vuitton, 3.1 Phillip Lim Abichi Satchel, 
$1050 (US) from La Garconne.

words by Hannah and collage by me

personal style

This marks the second of my personal style posts, something which I have been meaning to get around to for a while. I love getting glimpses into peoples closets and I though it was about time I started doing it myself!


I thought I would start with what is probably my number one footwear staple, ankle boots. These are a few of my favourite pairs that I wear all year round.

1. Chloe - I found these on ebay a few years ago and I'm so glad I got them. The heel is a little high which makes them not so comfortable for wearing all day, but they're great for going out.

2. Dries Van Noten - I bought these two years ago (on sale from Belinda!) and haven't stopped wearing them since. I love the contrast elastic, particularly with a tan coat in winter.

3. Rag and Bone - I wanted a really functional pair of all black boots and these have been perfect. They are amazingly comfortable and still look great after lots of wear.

4. Isabel Marant - I've had my Dicker boots for a few years now and for suede they have held up so well. I was lucky enough to get them on sale and despite not usually wearing a lot of khaki they go with almost everything.

Also I have a little style profile in the January 12 issue of Shop Til You Drop magazine. I'm usually a little camera shy when it comes to the blog but it here it is....

industriale

Dress Up AW12

When Hannah and I got a glimpse of this collection in the Under the Wing showroom I knew it was love. Dress Up is one of those labels I can count on every season to produce timeless and luxurious basics. I can see the corduroy shirt fitting perfectly into my wardrobe, paired with jeans and under my favourite Isabel Marant coat. I usually don't wear much colour in winter either, so the the cherry red sweater and tapered pants are on my wishlist for sure. 

summer loving

"I opened my eyes: the sky was white, shimmering with heat. I made no reply, because I did not want to speak to him, nor to anyone. I was nailed to the sand by all the forces of summer."

Fracoise Sagan, Bonjour Tristesse

A round of of some favourites from Resort 12 and Spring Summer 12. 

Can't stop thinking about Yves Saint Laurent shoes, beach days, Phillip Lim everything, Givenchy sparkle eyes, Celine tri-pochette in blush pink (thanks Hannah for the tip!), road trips across America and dreamy photographs by Cass Bird.

Listening to the Drive soundtrack and having the time of my life. Happy December !

1. Backstage at Phillip Lim SS12 via capture the castle, type and Celine tri-pochette Illustration by me, 2. Bambi photographed by Cass Bird, Backstage at Phillip Lim SS12 via capture the castle, 3. Givenchy SS12 from google images search, photograph by Cass Bird, 5. Yves Saint Laurent shoe illustrated by me, photograph by Cass Bird, 6. Freja Photograph by Cass Bird,Yves Saint Laurent heels from google images search,  7. Phillip Lim clutch, handwriting and watercolour wash by me, photo backstage at Phillip Lim SS12 via capture the castle, Illustration and handwriting by me, Freja photograph by Cass Bird, Givnechy SS12 backstage from google images search. 

born to be

Russh December / January 11.12
Bambi Northwood Blyth by Stephen Ward, styling by Christine Thornton.

Images from The Vine

blush

A little while ago, Hannah wrote a lovely review of Amy Kaehne's AW12 'Just Kids' collection. I finally got around to taking a few photos of the lookbook I designed and have fallen for the soft blush tones and bright salmon pink alongside usual winter favourites white, beige and black.

The best part is that this colour palette will also be perfect for summer, it sort of reminds me of the dreamy pastels in Robert Altman's 3 Women (1977). Set in California it's one of the most beautiful and haunting seventies films.

1. Cicely Telman in Vogue Paris August 2007 by Max Farago, watercolour pattern by me, 2, 3, 4 & 6. Amy Kaehne AW12 lookbook designed and photographed by me, 5. Collage by me with images from l'officel Russia June issue, Style Me Romy and Emmas design blog. 7. Film still and poster from Robert Altman's 3 Women.

infra

I've been seeing these around the web recently, assuming they were just photoshopped vintage photos. They're actually part of photographer Richard Mosse's Infra series, of Eastern Congo warzones taken using Kodak Aerochrome infrared film. Aerochrome was used by the military to discover camouflaged buildings, as while healthy vegetation turns out in pinks or reds, the camouflage turns out darker purples or blues. Anyway, it's beautiful.

Photos by Richard Mosse via Gizmodo