orana college

I can't believe it's almost been a year since I started my journey at Orana College and that my time as a student there has just about to come to an end.

This time twelve months ago I was a young, shy 20 year old who'd just moved to the big smoke to follow her dreams. I was an aspiring stylist but had no idea how to get my foot in the door of the fashion industry let alone gain the skills to one-day fufil this type of role. Every fashion course I had looked at was either heavily focused on design or strictly running a fashion business, non of which included topics on fashion styling or any other subjects I was interested in. That's when magically (thanks to Google) I came across Orana College. 

"Orana is a private Fashion Business College located in Ultimo, the education hub of Sydney. We offer a part-time accredited Fashion Business Course committed to giving our students practical skills, pathways and connections useful for their future in the fashion industry and beyond"

 The college was a perfect fit for my course requirements and current lifestyle. A part-time course, only requiring you to attend one day a week that allowed me to continue working, had a heavy focus on styling and still presented me with a qualification at the end. I loved the course because it was also only a short term commitment (one year) and it gave me the chance not only to explore my interest in styling but also gave me the opportunity to learn about different career paths and sectors of the industry that I made not have thought about or considered beforehand. But my absolute favourite part about the college was the feeling I got as soon as I stepped through the door. A feeling of certainty, a feeling of happiness and comfort. I straight away knew this college was for me and that it was everything I had been looking for.

Throughout my journey at Orana I have met so many amazing people and have created numerous life experiences that I will never forget. If it wasn't for the opportunities presented to me by Orana I would never of been able to sit front row at a show as Jennifer Hawkins and Nicole Trunfio walked  past. I would never of had the opportunity to assist on photo-shoots and styling for runways shows and I definitely would not have been able to present professional social media accounts that would go on to opens doors for future networking and exciting opportunities including attending my first ever show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia and being an editorial contributor for New York based online magazine Electrify Mag.

In just one year I've managed to transform from a shy, uncertain girl with big dreams and aspirations into a confident, self assured and happy young woman who is chasing those dreams and ticking off goals one day at a time. Attending the college gave me the chance to explore my passion for photography, visual merchandising and writing all in one and allowed me to realise that I actually don't want to be a stylist but I want to be an all round fashion creative and someone that dabbles in it all. I've learnt that if having a balance in a number of different fields is what I need to do to be happy then thats ok and that I can do whatever I want to do as long as it makes me feel good.

Without the guidence and support of my Orana College teachers, mentors and friends in the past year I would never of been exposed to such amazing opportunities or be as happy, confident and content with my life as I am right now. I'm headed in the most amazing direction to keep chasing my dreams and I can't wait to continue the relationships I've made and find out what the future holds.

For more information on Orana College, what they are all about and the amazing experiences they have to offer head to www.oranacollege.com.au/ 

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)

"A brand for the Bondi Bohemian in all of us"

Three of Something is an Australian label created by three talented and ambitious women who met by chance and share an incredible passion for classic bohemia.

Since starting up the brand in 2012 not only have these women become incredible friends but they have built a company that is a standout in it's field and is taking the fashion world by storm both nationally and on an international scale. Three of Something brings to life a  "feminine but edgy aesthetic" combining bold patterns, colours and prints with classic, minimalistic silhouettes to create classy bohemian pieces that scream sophistication whilst bringing to life every woman's inner bohemian soul. 

These woman work hard, they hustle and its the reason why they have already achieved such great success. Working from a super cute studio in culture hub Alexandria, the trio pump out a new collection every month of the year, that's designing, producing and shooting a brand new collection every 4 weeks (yep I told you they hustle). They're incredibly driven and their passion has allowed them to make some amazing connections within the business. They have over 100 stockists throughout the country including online powerhouses The Iconic, Revolve Clothing, Surf Stitch and Lalabazaar, just to name a few and also have a number of stockists in the U.S. They recently exhibited at the ENK International Tradeshow in Las Vegas - catapulting themselves into an international market and putting their name out there to be recognised by passionate fashion figures and companies around the globe.

Their current collection celebrates classic prints, sophisticated silhouettes and a youthful edginess, focussing on two of the biggest trends of the moment; pattern clash and denim as well as adding a modern colour pop and incorporating detailed structural elements to their timeless pieces. Its the perfect transitional collection and one that will seamlessly slide into any woman's wardrobe.

WRONG TURN - MARCH 2015

I was lucky enough to assist these ladies on one of their recent campaign/look book photo shoots (which you'll have to wait til August to see) and I can't express how much fun it was. As a fashion student it's crucial for me to undertake workplace training and working with Three of Something has definitely been my most memorable experience to date. Not only were the ladies super friendly, genuine and kind but they were extremely talented and you could see in their eyes that they have an incredible passion for the industry and extraordinary love for what they do. 

The opportunity gave me the chance to experience what it was like working for a smaller label and engage in the photographic atmosphere that my inner photographer has been dying to explore. It was truly an incredible day, bringing together a number of talented creatives to produce true fashion magic. I enjoyed every minute of being involved with the shoot and I cannot wait to take part in another creative day like this. 

I'll be continuing to follow the Three of Something journey and look forward to seeing what their April collection has instore. For more information on the brand, stockists or to purchase their pieces

 head to threeofsomething.com

(All images sourced from Three of Something sites)

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Leila Joy.

There are many inspirational and talented creatives in the fashion industry however when asked to write about just one it can be a little hard to chose. As I've said before I'm not necessarily your typical mainstream girl, I feel inspired by people who are a little bit off centre, beat to their own drum and achieve success with an edge. I don't typically go for the industry house-hold names and I'd much rather support someone who is a quiet achiever, modest and an undiscovered, underground success. 

These inspirational souls are the people I search for and tend to love best. It was by chance I came across this creative gem but I've followed her journey and continued to be inspired by her ever since.

Please allow me to introduce Leila Joy Berney.

A self-taught photographer living in Sydney,  Leila is a free-spirited, edgy, raw and brave creative who has a deep passion for "people, exploring the world and telling a story through words and images". She isn't afraid to push the boundaries or expectations of any industry and stays true to herself through the purity and rawness of her photographs.

"Trying to capture the essence of a person or place, their vulnerability, their whole, the life inside them."

I first discovered Leila through local Sydney beauty (and my ultimate girl-crush at the time) Dj Tigerlily. I was obsessing over her blog when I came across pictures they had taken together. The images had a gypsy-like bohemian feel, telling a story of a wanderer through the sun, sand and sea.  These elements combined with the juxtaposed environment really caught my eye. Tigerlily's unconventional green-tiped dyed hair mixed with high fashion pieces and a rustic background all bought together this unbelieveable beauty, a combination of high-end luxuries and ultra cool urbanity.  I simply could not believe the breath-taking beauty Leila had created and I loved that they portrayed an unconventional, care-free world.

Another aspect that I love about Leila is that she hasn't permanently dropped herself into one box. She combines her two passions; writing and photography to tell stories. Stories of fashion, nightlife, travel and personal adventure to share and inspire others. Her stories have the ability to connect with the viewer and penetrate deep emotion within their bones, all giving off an incredible energy and defining her unique style.

"With a camera in one hand and a pen in the other, I capture and record little sparks of life and share them with others."

Her editorial work has been published in a number of both Australian and international online platforms and digital magazines including Nylon Japan Magazine, MINC Magazine, The Feed and David Jones online, just to name a few. Aside from fashion Leila has also gained great exposure through the Sydney nightlife and Dj scene by photographing some iconic faces and events including regular shootings of Dj Tigerlily and last year's sold out Alison Wonderland Warehouse Project.

Her style is free-spirited, edgy and raw, and captures the essence of a person or place and moments of “spontaneity and purity”.  She firmly believes that "what is raw is beautiful" and that quote of her's consistently continues to inspire me. Just like Leila has done, I too one day aspire to combine all my passions into one, sharing my obsessions, personality and loves with the world through images and text.

Leila Joy is an absolutely incredible talent and I cant wait to see what she can produce and where her journey takes her next. Its motivational woman like her that push me to keep dreaming big and strive for success.

 For more information about Leila or to explore even more of her amazing content head to her blog:  followthezephyr.com

(all images sourced from Leila Joy sites)

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how to rock : purple haze

Today is Purple Day. The international awareness day for epilepsy.

Epilepsy is "a neurological disorder marked by sudden reccurrent episodes assosciated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain" (google) and affects 1 in 26 people around the world. Sparked by her own battles with the disorder, Cassidy Megan founded the annual event in 2008 with the goal to "get people talking about epilepsy in an effort to dispel myths and inform those with seizures that they are not alone.” The day encourages the public to wear an item of purple to share their awareness for this disorder.

Purple has also been a major trend on our fashion runways lately, mainly in the beauty department, and is one we are seeing more frequently as we move into the cooler months. To help you master both how to incorporate this trend into everyday life and to show support for a worthy cause I've decided to share my style advice on the trend "Purple Haze".

PURPLE EYES
Purple is the most universal and flattering colour to use on the eyes. Brown, green or blue eyes, brunette or blonde, it doesn't matter purple will still make you're eyes pop and is the an exciting colour to play around with! Another great thing about purple on the eyes is that it can easily be taken from day to night.

If you are looking to start incorporating colour into your makeup routine, eyeshadow is a great way to start, and why not choose a shade thats not only universally flattering but is a supportive colour of such a great organisation.

How To: 

If you want to go bold and daring look,  a full on purple smokey eye is the way to go. Have a play with a bright violet or lavender all over the lid and under the lashes for an intense night time look. Alternately incorporate a deep purple into the outer v and crease for a deeper smokey look that is still acceptable to wear throughout the day. 

Minimalistic gals should look at placing a purple shadow under the lash line using a purple eyeliner either on the waterline or on the lid to create a unique purple cat-eye look.

Perfect products to achieve any of these looks include the Nars eyeshadow duo "Jolie Poupee" or the shade "Urban" from the Urban Decay Electric Palette which you can find at mecca.com.au.

BOLD LIPS.
Bold lips, as always in the winter months, are a huge trend for the coming season. Not only is it a trend that is easy to pull off but it's simple, quick and can be perfected in under 5 minutes! Moving into Autumn we start to steer away from bright oranges and hot pinks and begin bringing out bolder, darker shades including burgundies and deep purples.

Rocking a purple lip is an easy way to show your support for purple day whilst still looking on trend and fabulous.

How To: 

For those of you still holding onto summer, reaching for a bright violet or blue based purple is the perfect route for you! Go for shades like "Gangsta Rap" from Australis or "Gemma" by Stila.

If you are more of a winter soul, go right ahead and pull out those deeper hues of purples, violets and indigoes. Perfect shades include Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in "Train Blue" or Mac "Cyber".

PURPLE CLOTHES

Purple clothing is perhaps the most obvious way to incorporate the colour into our everyday lives. Surprisingly though, it is not the biggest trend when it comes to fashion. Acting as more of a vintage hue, a true purple is only rarely seen on our streets through celebrities or on runways at international fashion events. 

These days we most commonly see pastel purples take hold of the fashion scene. The shade was a huge trend last season and one that I personally would be happy to see come back through again. So if you're a vintage dreamer and love to incorporate old pieces with the new, breaking all the current fashion rules then the purple clothing route is the ideal match for you.

How To:

If you are a true fashionista and are ready to take a bold move, go for a  vibrant violet or deep purple 2 piece or dress. Its the perfect colour to make a statement and show your support for epilepsy in style. Perfect products for you include the T by Alexander Wang leather top or the Sister Jane Purple Flow Flower dress from Topshop.

For those of you wanting to keep the purple soft and relevant, stick to the pastel hues. This trend is still current leading into the winter months and it makes for a perfect time to pull out last seasons pastel pieces. The absolute go-to piece to pull off this look is a pale lavender overcoat. Think along the lines of this gorgeous over-sized cocoon coat from Misguided or this snug violet cardigan from ROMWE.com.

PURPLE SHOES
My final way to rock purple hues is though killer shoes. Its the perfect way to continue to keep your work attire professional and appropriate through monochromatic tones whilst still giving off a subtle hint of colour and totally rocking the purple trend.

 Its also a great way to go from day-to-night or office-to-playground without needing to bring another pair of heels.

I also think purple footwear is the most beautiful way to share your support for purple day as it reinforces Cassidy's goal, to empower those who live with epilepsy and to ensure them they are not alone and walk together with many in this world.


How To:
If you are looking to rock this trend in a more corporate setting opting for a
classic pair of purple pumps or heels is the perfect way to go. If you can hunt down the Aquazzura lace-up purple shoes (pictured above) then these would be the most amazing shoes for you!

On the other hand if you're more of an edgy girl, opt for a pair of lace-up purple ankle boots. The laces will really satisfy you're rockstar flare whilst the purple will keep it looking on trend and give you a unique style that everyone will be wanting to get. These styles are hard to source, but trust me once you've trolled Ebay and Amazon you will find your perfect pair and fall in love.

Purple is such a fun and edgy colour to play around with and one that will always be present in a number of fashion outlets. To have a whole day dedicated to wearing this gorgeous colour is so amazing and it couldn't be for a better cause! 

For more information visit www.purpleday.org

Don't forget to throw on a bit of vintage purple today to show you're love and support.

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.