24.2.15

designer profile: casper & pearl

When asked to write about one of my favourite Australian brands or designers I'm not drawn to the household names of Alex Perry or Colette Dinnigan who are known to every woman and her purse around the world. I rather, find a connection with a brand that shows character, quirkiness, passion and displays traits that I can relate to on both a personal and professional level. 

Besides that, I also  love supporting more underground, smaller businesses who are ultra creative and are always striving for success while still being 100% themselves.

This is exactly how I came across Casper & Pearl.



A brand created by "self-taught designer Stacey Hendrickson" in 2011 when she was just 18 years old, Casper and Pearl is a quirky, vibrant and innovative label that isn't afraid to push the boundaries of fashion and create designs that will have every girl standing out from the crowd.
   
"Metaphors and hidden meanings are encapsulated to create archive pieces of art and expression; worth collecting and cherishing forever"
                              
I honestly couldn't tell you when I first came across Casper & Pearl, but I do know that I first fell in love with them through their instagram account and largely due to their love for cacti and the mexican culture  (which we have in common) that was a key inspiration for their 'Hola Lola' collection. Other aspects of their brand that caught my eye were their super creative and inspirational prints and images that are vibrant and exude passion and adventure. They create for me, an image of someone who is not afraid to be bold, confident, self expressive and a strong, independent woman who wants to explore the world and treasure her experiences forever.




"In each of Casper & Pearl's collections you will find more than just quirky and creative clothing, you'll find a concept and a story that is told through shapes, fabrications and exclusive prints".

In their short life as a business Casper & Pearl have achieved major success. Their product has been featured in a number of Australian magazines including the covers of Cosmopolitan and Dolly, they have showcased at Sydney Fashion Weekend and their pieces have been seen reguarly on Bambi Northwood-Blyth and Big Brother star Aisha Mckinnon.
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They have also found success on a worldwide scale, being published in a number of international publications including Attitude Magazine and have their product stocked in a number of well know, high-profile retail businesses around the world including Urban Outfitters and Revolve Clothing. They also stock in a number of boutiques throughout Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US.




 Tomorrow night they launch their newest collection 'Abracadabra' in Adelaide, Australia. As soon as I saw the first sneak peak for this collection I wanted to buy myself a ticket and go but unfortunately Adelaide is quite a distance from Sydney and an expensive trip to take by yourself. That being said I can't wait to see the photos and the collection in full that (from sneak peaks) we already know includes an incredibly awesome floral print and a red and white checked print. I know it will be a great night and another huge success for the brand.

It's businesses and inspiring woman like these that truly empower me and motivate me to keep dreaming big, staying quirky and pushing for success. 






Instagram                                          Website                                         Facebook
instagram.com/casperandpearl                www.casperandpearl.com              facebook.com/casperandpearl  
  (all images sourced from Casper&Pearl sites)





22.2.15

tom ford aw15

Last night, whilst London Fashion Week commenced and with only 2 sleeps until the Oscars, Tom Ford stopped Hollywood in their tracks and showcased his Autumn 2015 collection.You wouldn't think that it could be possible to pull of such an extravagant and detailed show, reigning in a brood of high-profile celebrities at such a busy time of the year, but that's' exactly what Ford did last night in LA at Milk Studios where he transformed the room into a romantic replica of his London showroom.

Stars including Miley Cyrus, Nicole Ritchie, Beyonce, Jay Z and Rachel Zoe, amongst many more, turned out to see the highly-anticipated show. They were treated to a high-luxe collection that gave a sneak peak of the amazing pieces we could see adorn the red-carpet at the upcoming Oscars and the more casual, bohemian style that will be on our streets throughout the coming transitional months. They also witnessed some of the hottest models in the industry walk the catwalk as Ford recruited a number of current faces in his show including Karlie Kloss, Daphne Groeneveld and not just one but both of the Hadid sisters. 

www.vanityfair.com














As always Ford presented a collection that was versatile, bold and unique and captured an array of different fabrics, prints and textures. This time around it came from his childhood and created a collection that was still consistent with his elegant pieces of the past but that presented a more youthful and funky atmosphere for the future.

We saw a serious denim overload,  from jackets to floor length skirts to even knee high boots creating a true denim on denim (on even more denim) trend for the night. A large majority of this sub-collection was incorporated with patchwork of velvet, fur and leopard print  that created a true hippie and bohemian vibe to the show and even received an impromptu applause from the LA crowd.


 His ultra luxe leopard print fluffy jackets were  a personal favourite of mine on the runway because they created a super cool, amazonian atmosphere that screamed high-fashion and ultimate style. Khaki, beige and monochromatic colour schemes also took charge on the night whilst exquisite velvet gowns and intense fringing magically closed the show.

The collection was honestly breath-taking and expressed inspiration from a variety of sources and eras including the Victorian era, the 60's and even the 70's. A combination that you wouldn't expect to work but does because of the magic of Tom Ford.


www.style.com








17.2.15

evolving style and inspirations.

Style is something that can not solely be defined. It is an expression of our personality through clothes and accessories that can never be exactly replicated by anyone else. Just like everyone's personal style,  my style is ever evolving and changes depending on my mood, surroundings and my current inspirations and favourite trends.

I think I really started to establish a personal style when I was about 15. I was going through a lot of friendship problems at school (getting deep) and turned to rock, metal and heavier music to take my mind away from the drama and the isolation I was feeling. Bands like Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco were my go-to artists to listen to but it wasn't until I started to discover girl-fronted rock bands that my fashion and personal style truly started to evolve. 

My main and most prominent source of fashion inspiration that I looked to was Taylor Momsen. At the time she was a main character on one of my favourite TV shows Gossip Girl (XOXO),  playing sweet and innocent Jenny Humphrey. Her character had always caught my attention because she was an aspiring fashion designer just like myself, and I found I could relate to her on more than one level. She then debuted her rock band The Pretty Reckless, who ultimately defined grunge music and unveiled my undeniable love for the genre and style. I fell in love not only with their grunge-rock and rebellious music but with Taylor's undoubtedly risque/ultra cool rocker attire. Some of her fashion choices such as her stripper heels and suggestive suspenders weren't exactly elements I was anticipating to experiment with myself however I still found them rather inspiring. It was mainly her studded leather jackets, lace stockings and vintage satin nighties from the op-shop that caught my eye. There was something about the endless layers and use of multiple textures that screamed to me individuality, personality and confidence.Thanks to her inspiration, lace and leather, studded pieces and a ridiculous amount of black began to take up my wardrobe, giving me confidence to wear something a little bit different and thus starting my love affair with grunge fashion.

Panic at the Disco, Paramore and Fall Out Boy -
listal.com ; galleryhip.com ; imgarcade.com

Taylor Momsen -
 imgarcade.com ; posh24.com/ ; bitesizewriters.com

As I hit 18 and began discovering music festivals, electronic music and the fresh 18 nightlife, street wear and elements of a typical festival attire started being added to my wardrobe. My solo grunge style (or failed attempt at) began to transform into a more youthful, urban and festival approved attire that saw a lot of high-waisted shorts, colour and long sleeve shirts (mainly to tie around my waist) enter my wardrobe. Skrillex's "Scary Monsters and Nice Spirites" was truly the starting point of this change, as it bought an upbeat,  positive vibe back into my life and began my long-lasting relationship with festival fashion and electronic music.

Festival Fashion - (unknown)



 This year however is the time for a little change. As a newly crowned twenty-one year old I've realised I'm at a point in my  life where I want  to be confident enough to be brave with my fashion choices and have the courage to wear bold, statement print, experiment with my style through accessories and colour and to stop caring so much about what people think. I want to start wearing the types of clothes I'm constantly inspired by and really make my style about me. 

So right now, as I'm on this self-discovering journey, I'm currently finding inspiration from my surroundings and cultures apposed to fashion figures .I've been enjoying admiring symbols and art from the Buddhist and Hindu cultures including the hamsa hand, henna art and the mandala. I've also been loving home-grown Australian brands such as Ethel and Leo and Casper and Pearl who are more underground brands but ones that aren't afraid to be different and are creating an amazing and exceptionally inspiring array of bold print and colour to achieve success and make their mark on the fashion world.

I know my style is something that will always continue to change, and a creative outlet I will keep on using  to experiment and express my personality without words. I've really enjoyed looking back at where my personal style has been and I am certainly excited to see where it takes me in the future.

casper and pearl

ethel and leo

shantiquedesigns ; hennaearth ; flickpalmateer


15.2.15

summer trends.

Sport Luxe. 
Sports vs Luxury and described as many as 'sportswear with panache'. 
It is one of the hottest trends both on the runway and on the street this summer and a style I personally hope we continue to see in the future.

 I love the Sport Luxe trend not only because is it fashion-forward but it is also a practical and comfortable style to wear which embraces a healthy lifestyle and activity. It is the perfect trend to rock on a day-to-day basis going to uni, running errands or looking super fresh while going for your morning stroll. It is also a great style to go for when attending fashion show events or product launches as it is a bold style that will get you noticed in a 'that girl knows what's up' kind of way.

  Another reason I can't get enough of Sport Luxe is because it combines aspects of both my other favourite summer trends; 90's grunge and bohemian, into one.
 A mixture of soft and natural fabrics like cottons and silks that we see in a bohemian closet are paired with bold statement fabrics such as neoprene, PU, jersey and mesh to create an outfit that screams style and sporty urbanity. 

Creating the ultimate Sport Luxe outfit is all in the accessories and you can easily turn a plain luxurious outfit into a high fashion sport luxe masterpiece by adding a baseball cap or bucket bag to your outfit or simply swapping your pumps for high-top Nikes or sneakers.

 fitup.com.auplatform-online.netbreakfastwithaudrey.com.au

dfwstyledaily.combreakfastwithaudrey.com.au ; pinterest.com
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Gone are the days of having to wear a designer gown and Jimmy Choo heels to high profile fashion launches and events. In this day and age it is just as acceptable to wear your Adidas sports-bra, a high waisted pencil skirt and nude heels. In-fact these types of parties are where we find one of the greatest sources of inspiration for Sport Luxe. In 2014 a majority of Sport Luxe style was spotted both in the crowd and on the runway at fashion week shows including Chanel, Emilio Pucci and DKNY and at desginer collaboration launch parties such as the the Alexander Wang for H&M launch.

Alexander Wang for H&M Launch Party - Hapers Bazaar

A small amount of this trend can also be spotted amongst the tie-dye riddled crowd at fashion driven festivals such as Coachella, EDC and Ultra.  

Refinery 29

When it comes to style icons and celebrity influences it is pretty hard to narrow it down to just one person. I have found that alot of industry figures don't stick strictly to the Sport Luxe style and either rock the trend on an irregular basis or favour some elements of the style more then others. The best style icons and well known faces I have come across are Cheryl Cole and Rita Ora. They both capture the trend impeccably however I feel that Rita captures more of the 'sport' portion of the trend while Cheryl embraces the 'luxe'. 

By taking influence and inspiration from both these women I believe the ultimate sport luxe ensemble can be achieved.

celebmafia.com ; handbag.com instyle.co.uk
fashionbombdaily.com ; entertainmentwise.com ; handbag.com
Sport Luxe is a super cool, urban trend that I hope will continue to take the fashion world by storm, empowering women to be bold and unique in their fashion choices and allowing the world to witness a number of styles being mixed together to create more extraordinary trends in the future.

breakfastwithaudrey.com.au ; lipstickandlouboutins5.blogspot.com.au










10.2.15

grammys

www.billboard.com
Yesterday the 57th Annual Grammy Awards took place.
 Music's night of nights bought together the industry's hottest stars from past and present under one roof to celebrate the year's amazing musical productions and recognize the extraordinary accomplishments that were made.

As per any awards show, the media's eye was solely on the stars, paying particular attention to who they were with and what they were wearing. Unfortunately this year I was rather disappointed with the fashion that was displayed on the infamous Grammy's red carpet, although it certainly delivered what it is known for - boobs, blinding metallic gowns, raunchy cut-outs and a tonne of fashion controversy.

This year's hot trends of the night consisted of monochrome and metallic colour schemes, suggestive cutouts, embellished gowns and lace detailing. We saw celebs including Miley Cyrus (surprisingly modest), Beyonce and Katy Perry pull of these styles to perfection with grace and elegance while other stars along the lines of Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga and Madonna dropped the ball and left us all (or at least me) with our jaws flat on the floor.

My favourite looks of the night however were a surprising bunch consisting of Taylor Swift, Chrissy Teigen and Jessie J. They all arrived in absolutely breathtaking gowns that screamed class while still presenting a strong sense of edge and style.

Taylor Swift went against the trends in an absolutely stunning Elie Saab aqua gown which she subtly contrasted with bright purple heels while Jessie J rocked an amazing black embellished piece from Ralph and Russo. My ultimate favourite, Chrissy Teigen opted for an amazing white number from Emilio Pucci keeping with the monochrome and cutout trends of the night that continued her amazing run of great fashion she has displayed throughout the awards season so far. She was also on my best dressed list from the Golden Globes and I'm am absolutely loving witnessing more of her style on the red-carpet scene.  

Despite feeling a little let down from the fashion delivered on the night the awards show itself was an incredible evening celebrating the music industry and showed the love and respect they all have for each other. I'd like to personally congratulate (not that they'll ever see this) Sam Smith and Beyonce who took out a large portion of the awards presented on the night. Unfortunately no Aussies received a trophy of gold this year but our music has definitely been taking over America in the past 12 months and I'm sure we will pick some up next time around.

I can't wait to see what the music industry and it's creative minds have to offer this year and to discover new tunes that could potentially become musical icons of the future.


BEST DRESSED 
Taylor Swift, Chrissy Teigen and Jessie J
www.vogue.com.au ; www.billboard.com

CREATIVE CUTOUTS
Iggy Azaelia, Miley Cyrus and Paris Hilton
www.billboard.com ; celebrity.yahoo.com

METALLIC MADNESS
Rita Ora, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry
www.vogue.com.au ; www.billboard.com

MAGESTIC MONOCHROME
Beyonce, Haim and Nicki Minaj
www.vogue.com.au ; www.billboard.com






AND THE REST
Rihanna, Meghan Trainor and Madonna
www.vogue.com.au ; www.billboard.com
Ed Sheeran, Disclosure and Sam Smith

Diplo, Madonna and Nas
www.heraldsun.com.au















8.2.15


Last Wednesday David Jones showcased their Autumn/Winter 2015 collection at Carriageworks in Eveleigh, Sydney. The launch showcased a number of the department store's hottest designer brands including Camilla and Marc, Michael Losordo, Ginger and Smart, Romance Was Born and Lover - just to name a few and saw designers, models, bloggers and well-known Australian faces come together under one roof to witness the hottest trends and styles for the changing seasons ahead.

This season, majority of the designers continued to stick with the traditional winter colour schemes consisting of monochrome and neautral tones such as grey, taupe and nude as well as introducing beautiful pops of navy, blues and maroon shades to the winter wardobe scene. Pastel hues of lavender, blue and yellow were also seen on the runway by labels Willow and Lover which is a trend I personally am excited to see sticking around. 

Another trend I am thrilled to see staying on our streets is lace, a fabric that is very near and dear to my heart and is always a staple in my wardrobe. Its returning to the runway thanks to Manning Cartell and Rachael Gilbert who are translating it into a beautiful feminine and sultry style.



We are also seeing a couple of statement style's continuing to trend on the runway. Menswear for women or the 'boys are back' (as per David Jones) trend will continue to evolve this season. Its a trend we've seen continue to emerge for quite a while now, especially during the cooler months, that embraces high-fashion structure and girl power. The combination of harder and more masculine pieces such as blazers, chunky knits and matching pant-suits take up a huge portion of the runway and allows women to feel empowered, sexy and comfortable all at the same time.

My favourite trend of the moment, Sport Luxe, also looks like it will be sticking around this season through brands such as The Upside, Mimco and Sabatini who use a combination of fabrics and textures to create their breath-takingly beautiful looks that represent urban style and youthful appeal.


The event also paid homage to one of the industry's greats, Carla Zampatti who celebrated 50 years in the business. She was honoured with both opening and the coveted closing slot of the night with her latest collection of 70's inspired pieces bursting with beautiful bright royal blue hues, taking the audience by storm and ending the night in a luxurious and graceful style. 

Next up is rival Myer, who I'm sure will put up an extremely convincing fight to take out the prize for best department store autumn/winter launch of 2015. It will be a battle and one I truly cannot wait to see.











4.2.15

festival essentials.

Attending music festivals is definitely one of my favourite summer activities with my obsession for these events starting with my love affair with electronic music. I enjoy music festivals so much because its a place I can go to solely enjoy good music, good people and good vibes. When I'm in the atmosphere I can easily have no care in the world and forget about any insecurities or problems I may have in my life. Attending Stereosonic is a must on my yearly calender but with only having attended 2 other festivals I'm itching to grow my experience and venture into the more chilled out festival scene and explore the international festival atmosphere. 

So with Laneway taking place over the past weekend, the Tomorrowland lineup being announced and Groovin the Moo tickets going on sale today I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share my festival essentials. 

I'm a minimal festival girl and I certainly don't carry around a backpack full of first aid kits, makeup and snacks for all my friends, I much prefer taking a simple over the shoulder bag that I can only fit the bare essentials in and I can keep close to me throughout the day without it getting in the way of my killer dance moves or the view of fellow festival attendees.



WATER
First up and the most obvious and important product that you've gotta have to get through the shortest of music festivals is water. With alcoholic drinks flowing and moshing to your favourite peformer amongst a hot and sweaty crowd (especially at an inside stage) its easy to become dehydrated within a blink of an eye. Having water on your the entire time is essential in keeping your body healthy and allows you to enjoy the day without having to take a trip to the first aid tent. I like to buy a bottle as soon as a get through the gates and refill it throughout the day whenever I come across a bubbler or refill station.


MONEY & PHONE
Having money and your phone on you is definitely the second most important thing to have on you at a music festival. I like to have my cash already withdrawn and on me when I arrive so that I don't have to wait in the RIDICULOUS line for the ATM before I have to wait in the RIDICULOUS line again for food and drink. It is also important to have just in-case myself or someone in my group starts to feel sick as it allows someone to be able to quickly go grab them something or help them get a cab home. Personally I take about $50 and it seems to cover me for something to eat, a bottle of water and about 2-4 drinks depending on what I have (FYI drinks are expensive). 

Your phone is also essential to have because what if you lose your friends? or your friends lose you. Its important to be able to contact them or anyone, especially if an emergency situation arises. 
Alot of festivals also create apps to keep you up-to-date with the days proceedings and set-times for artists performing. I also like to keep my phone handy just in-case of the off chance I run into my current Instagram crush and to take photos of the memories created on the day.

FESTIVAL TIP - create a meeting point with your friends so that if someone does get lost you have a mutual and common place to find them again.


SUNGLASSES, SUNSCREEN AND A HAT.
Most music festivals across the world occur in the summer when the sun is shining and everyone is keen to come out and play so it is important that you protect yourself from those nasty rays. 
Sunscreen is pretty much a given when it comes to sun protection and its a great idea to keep a small roll on bottle in your bag so you can reapply during the day. However if you don't have your own bottle of sunscreen it is usually provided at various points around the venue.

Sunnies and a hat are also a great way to protect you from the sun and the best part is you can incorporare them into your outfit in a fashionable way. Sunglasses come in so many shapes and sizes that you will easily be able to find something to suit your style and the look you are trying to achieve. Hats are also super on trend right now with big floppy hats and bucket hats being seen on the regular at festivals around the world. My favourites are these awesome blue reflector aviators from Sportsgirl and my super rad printed bucket hat from streetwear brand (and my pals) over at Ratlife


ENCLOSED SHOES.
Lets be realistic for a second, when you're attending a festival there's alot people, alot of jumping around in the mosh pit and alot of open drinks flowing therefore wearing open toe sandals or thongs is not exactly the smartest idea. Majority of festival goers wear sand shoes such as vans, converses or cheap pairs that they can happily see get ruined however I always opt for combat boots or lately (because im short) my favourite platform boots from Lipstik shoes. I just find these so easy to run about in, I can wear them all day long and they go with every outfit I choose. They are also great at keeping my feet dry and clean from sticky, alcoholic substances, rain and mud.


TAN & BRONZER.
As a beauty lover typically I enjoy fake tanning and looking bronzed, especially for special occasions so having a freshly applied tan and glowing bronzed skin is a personal essential for me. I just think a tan adds to the overall summer lifestyle and makes you not only look slimmer than you already are but makes the colours of your clothes become more vibrant and noticeable 
My all-time favourite tan is the Bondi Sands tanning mousse in medium/dark which I like to apply the night before a festival so its as dark as it can possibly be for the fun day ahead. To ensure my legs are looking super glowy and dark I also like to add a layer of Sugar Baby Bronze Radiance Cream before I leave the house.

 If you are lucky enough to have naturally tanned skin then obviously this doesn't apply to you but personally I love a good tan and believe it adds to creating the ultimate festival look.


ACCESSORIES!
Last but certainly not the least are accessories.
Accessories, in my opinion are the funniest and most exciting essential for festival attending. Flower crowns, flash tattoos and bohemian crystals and gems are trending like crazy at music festivals at the moment and can transform your outfit from simple festival attire to fashion statement mayhem. Now *guilty admission* I'm one of those girls that has their outfit planned out at least 2 weeks before the festival takes place. I like being prepared and not having to stress for hours before about what I'm going to wear. Whilst outfit planning, I like to keep in mind fashionability and functionality and if I'm finding an outfit is looking a bit casual or plain I simply add a belt to my shorts or a flower crown to my hair and I instantly get a festival vibe. 

My favoruite gems at the moment are the two crystal beauties on the right from Shantique Designs. This online store offers a huge variety of unique crystal creations that I constantly get compliments on and is the perfect place to shop for on-trend bohemian jewellery.

For those of you attending Future Music Festival in just a few weeks, I hope my festival essentials has helped you prepare and get excited for the fun-filled, free-spirited day ahead.