fashion obsessions

Lately I have been looking for new and innovative ways to freshen up my grungy,  leather, black and plaid based style. I was getting bored with the copious amounts of dark, bikie clothing and button-ups to tie around my waist and I was looking for elements that would keep my style unique and colourful whilst still edgy all at the same time. That's when I discovered my latest fashion obsession: 

bohemian grunge. 

A classic combination between soft, flowy shapes and hard, edgy textures and shades, I love the style because its alternate and care -free. Its a style that truly reflects my maturing self and exudes strong confidence and self assurance. A style that fills my life with joy and keeps me consistently happy and inspired.

 My Instagram feed is filled with a mix of enthusiasts who (just like me) love everything bohemian and/or grunge. They keep me in the loop with all the new and improved trends and elements of these styles on a daily basis and force me to stay motivated.  Some of my main inspirations are Youtubers Cartia Mallan and Karissa Pukas who both have impeccable personal style. Cartia is a free-spirited kitty from Brisbane and I absolutely adore her. She's always putting together fresh bohemian outfits and showcasing the latest trends. She's a huge driving force behind my bohemian traits and I always end up wanting to hunt down or replicate at least one element from her outfit creations. Karissa on the other-hand is a little more badass and brings out the darker side in me. Her grungier style mixed with bohemian accessories and breath-taking prints is a closer example of what my style has begun to evolve into. I'm constantly inspired by her cool and edgy creations and her ability to mix elements from both trends together to put bring to life outfits that always look effortlessly cool.

My biggest celebrity influence is without a doubt Kylie Jenner. In my eyes, she can do no wrong and her ultimate grunge perfection is the driving force behind the harder, more in-depth elements of my style.  I've also been obsessing over fashion sites Shantique Designs and Gypsy Warrior who both produce incredible look books showcasing respectively bohemian and grunge trends and produce aesthetics that are alternate, edgy and super cool. 

I'm literally so obsessed with this trend and can't help but share some photos of inspiration.

Let your mind run wild with the salty air in your hair and wet sand between your toes. 

Be young, be free and dream. 

salty sequin dream

Welcome to the second instalment of my photo series featuring the beautiful Maria Reboredo from thefashiontherapistx. Shot once again at Garie Beach,  this story portrays a soulful woman who has attended a gala event the night before. The quiet night turned into an all-nighter and the next morning she has found herself at her favourite locale, the beach. Its her happy place, a place where she can be free, relaxed and forget all her worries. You see her smile from ear-to-ear as the sun shines and she forgets all the troubles in the world. 

She's a dreamer and she's not afraid to be.

 She lives happy, lives free.

Photographer: Lizz Berthaly (Haus of Azile)

Model: Maria Reboredo (thefashiontherapistx)

sol sana

High quality, superb leather. That's what every girl wants in life right!?

 Well I certainly know its all I dream about. A good pair of timeless leather boots, or an edgy pair of unique metallic sandals. Its what every fashion-junkie lusts for but something that none of us actually know how to obtain or where to find. Emerging designer and entrepreneur Sara Caverley saw this gap in the footwear market 5 years ago. A gap that was screaming for higher-end designs, fabrics and styles at an attainable price. 

This is when the Australia based footwear label Sol Sana was born.

Sourcing inspiration from the industry's hottest runways and high-end design, the brand promises to bring to life high-fashion, stylish footwear that's wearable, comfortable and retailed at an affordable price. They use the most exquisite materials including luscious leathers and an array of fine materials and trims that give an expensive aesthetic to each and every design.

They're a diverse brand who are fun, bold and imaginative, fast becoming an innovative muse to the creative trendsetters of today. They expose super edgy traits that feed the cravings of the youth-driven markets, whilst also providing sophisticated pieces to the more business savvy, feminine woman. And although they've always bought something a little different to the table, their latest campaign really up-ed their game and captured the cultural edge they have over their competitors. The campaign took their images and promotional material from generic, good quality images to a raw, alternate and youthful frame. One that honestly expresses the connection they have with the pop-culture and current trends of modern society.

They've also recently started designing clutches and bags to go alongside their footwear. These accessories exude the same quality and appeal as the shoes and use similar materials to create that luxe vibe. They are the perfect addition to compliment their range and a great starting point to begin expanding their product offering. Sol Sana are continuing to expose their brand to a wide audience which is evident through their impressive lists of recognisable and diverse stockists including the likes of Urban Outfitters, Gypsy Warrior, General Pants, The Iconic and David Jones. 

This past weekend they also showcased their products and ran a pop-up store at one of Sydney's most exciting fashion events, Fashion Weekend. Held at the Royal Hall of Industries in Moore Park, the event brings an impressive list of Australian brands and designers together under one roof to showcase their collections and offer their products to the public for a heavily discounted price. This year Sol Sana sat pretty alongside the likes of By Johnny, Bec and Bridge and C/MEO Collective just to name a few and put loads of happy smiles of the faces on fashion-crazed Aussies who got the chance to snag a bargain piece.

A brand of diversity and immense creativity, Sol Sana are an incredibly inspiring and innovative company. Their designs continue to evolve and surpass my expectations with every collection they put out and I'm always in awe of each and every piece. As they continue to be a standout in the footwear field and reach a broad range of consumers, I'll be keeping watch to see them rise to the top and become one of the leading footwear labels Australia has to offer.

For more information about Sol Sana and where you can find their product near you head to
www.sol-sana.com

fashion ethics

When it comes to fashion and the basic clothing we continuously consume, we don't often think about the ethics of our clothing; what the working standards and wages are like where the product is made, if any animals get harmed in the production process or if the packaging we take the product away in damages our environment.

One company that is an inspirational advocate for ethical fashion and is described by the head of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Karen Walker,  as a "pioneer of sustainable fashion" is home grown boutique label Gorman.

Founded in 1999 by fashion enthusiast Lisa Gorman, the Gorman label is filled with eclectic clothing that screams individuality and gives a modern nod to tribal prints and textile art. Already an established and well-loved brand for the free-spirited hippie, Gorman introduced their "Gorman Organic" range in 2007 to comply with the ethical demands of the evolving fashion industry and their environmentally friendly clientele. 

Gorman insist that all their factories and manufacturers must adhere to a strict social and ethical code of conduct that covers a number of issues that are controversial and unacceptable in today's modern society. All Gorman suppliers must meet the following standards to continually work alongside the brand. These standards include that: the workplace is safe and hygienic, no child labour is used, there's no discrimination, living wages are paid, working hours are regular but not excessive, there is no bribery or corruption and no inhumane or harsh treatment is practiced. To ensure companies comply with these standards, Gorman undertakes an audit at least once a year on every manufacturer and factory they source from and if any issues are discovered an action plan is put in place to correct the problems with several more audits (both announced and un-announced) followed to be certain that all standards are being met.

In terms of animal welfare, unlike your typical ethical company who may compromise the use of leather and fur to stay ethical, Gorman still stocks products of this substance but insists they go to great and impressive lengths to ensure that all animals are treated in a humane manner and are not viciously harmed in the process. The company is very strict that all leather and hide is solely sourced from New Zealand where they have strict guidelines in place to ensure all animals are treated in a humane manner. 

Also unlike alot of ethically friendly brands, Gorman continues to use angora fibres for some of their woollen products. The use of angora is quite a controversial topic and has sparked a fire over on their Facebook page but despite the controversy, Gorman insists that all their angora wool is ethically sourced and their suppliers shave the fur from the angora rabbits back rather than plucking it or ripping the fibres straight from their skin.  They also hire one of the world's leading independent inspection companies to monitor and regularly check up on their angora suppliers to ensure they comply with the Five Freedoms policy which ensures the rabbits are free from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, injury and disease, are free from fear and distress and are able to express their normal animalistic behaviours. However when Gorman does not release details of their suppliers location and 90% of angora is sourced from Asia (where there is no penalties for abuse of animals) it is hard to be sure that this ethical standard is truly met.

Gorman don't only practice ethical values in the production of their products, they also share these values in their boutiques. The interiors of their stores are created with recycled or locally sourced timbers, their dressing rooms are adorned with unbleached linen curtains and all their lighting is energy efficient, vintage pendants that have either be recycled or are salvaged goods.

Gorman also show their appreciation for the environment and enforce customers to opt for no baggage by planting a tree in a South American eco-reserve for every 3 customers who say no to a bag. In 2010 they reduced their use of plastic on packaging by 90% in one year which they describe as "one of our proudest manoeuvres to date". They've also cut their sea-freighted orders down to 63% which is marginally less than many other companies around the world and they actively work to combine deliveries so that shipping and trucking can be less frequent. Finally Gorman tirelessly work  to ensure a high-quality product that is going to last for an impressive amount of time is produced and they love seeing people wearing their vintage Gorman pieces 2, 5 and even 10 years down the track. They also compile a bundle every month of pre-loved or returned pieces to give to charity stores and allow the less fortunate to be able to experience the Gorman world.

It's fair to say that Gorman is an incredibly inspirational brand that really value the ethics of fashion and are an amazing example of how sustainable fashion can be achieved. As the ethics of the industry continue to be more considered in everyday purchasing, it will be interesting to see how Gorman, and the rest of the fashion industry adapt to the demands of the environmentally aware consumer of today.

white shirt campaign.

You can't go wrong with the colour white. It's plain, it's simple and a modern day essential in any fashion junkie's wardrobe. A good quality, basic button up white shirt is the perfect staple piece for any occasion and with a number of variations and styles being created in a more youth-driven society, it really allows this piece to fit into any woman's collection. 

 Leading Australian fashion label, Witchery are known for their ultimate luxe quality and structured white shirts. Knowing it was an essential for every woman's wardrobe, they started the "White Shirt Day" campaign 7 years ago to create awareness about ovarian cancer and raise money towards ongoing research for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF). Each year Witchery design and produce a range of white button up shirts of varying styles and prices that are sold both in their retail spaces and on their online store with 100% of the proceeds going to OCRF and their research into this deadly disease. 

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death of all gynaecological cancers with 1 woman dying every 10hrs from the devastating disease and a lower survival rate then both breast cancer and cervical cancer. Unfortunately there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer therefore extensive research into the disease is our only hope in catching the cancer in its tracks before it is too late.

This year Witchery has released a combination of 9 shirts (8 womens, 1 men) ranging in price ($99.95 - $149.95) and style. Depending on your own personal style you can tailor one of the white shirts to your desired look. If you are more of a classic gal, you could go for the basic button up in either a feminine or manstyle cut or if you prefer a more girly and romantic look the drape front shirt or bow tie button up will be perfect for you. The mesh spot shirt is the perfect option if you want to show just a touch of skin or you can even make the white shirt sexy with the zip front shirt. 

Personally my favourites are the double layered button up and the cutwork shirt. The double layer allows for a sophisticated, timeless look and provides a number of options to wear, for example you could pair it with basic black jeans, heels and a blazer for an ultimate sophisticated look or you could tuck the shirt into a leather skirt, paired with a denim jacket and converses for a more casual, day-to-day look. The cutwork shirt is the perfect piece for a high-fashion look and one that defines the popular sport luxe trend. Pair this shirt with a luxe silk pleated skirt and a leather cap to achieve the perfect sport-luxe attire.

 This year the White Shirt Day campaign ran from the 8th April to the 1st May and has so far raised an outstanding $12,793.90 for the the OCRF and their research. Unbelievably so, there are still a small number of shirts up for grabs if you are still yet to make your donation. The funds and awareness generated throughout this campaign are truly a crucial and essential part in finding a cure for this disease. I hope to see a spotlight continuously be cast on this cancer until we reach the ultimate goal of finding a method of early detection or (in an ideal world) complete eradication. 

For more information about the campaign or to make a donation head to ocrf.com.au or witchery.com.au

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.