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. 

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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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)