“There is only one success in life - to be able to spend your life in your own way.”

It’s funny; this sentence perfectly encapsulates the fact that our lives are so much a direct part of our creative direction; thoughts, feelings, conditioning, expectations and the search of what we perceive as love, happiness and prosperity. To ask ourselves what we truly want out of our journey requires a readiness to strip all the onion layers and embrace a zen like bird’s eye view over the whole, not just the momentarily needs and wants of today. Sometimes these snippets of clarity come to us easily and effortlessly, at other times, akin to diamonds, they come through crushing pressure and pain that forces us to re-evaluate the motives that drive us.

When I look back on my journey on this Earth, it becomes evident that it has been a steady stream of peaks and valleys that has perpetuated my personal growth. As in most people’s lives, crushing defeat and sadnesses are superimposed with moments of pure joy and hope, both ultimately driving us to question ourselves and the world around us for clues to our personal happiness. It is not only the alchemy and transmutation of negatives or the allowance and acceptance of positives that are each of our most difficult quests but also our willingness to wrangle the reins and establish ourselves as the chosen architects of our reality by becoming aware of our thoughts and actions.

I always feel lucky to meet people who enjoy the same things as I do and have a similar aesthetic ( probably because I love talking to people about all the shades of our shared perceptions ) but I feel extra blessed to know humans with whom I click so much that even spending exorbitant amounts of time together goes by in a hilarious flash. Sometimes , an extra bonus is that these are individuals that I can create with and in doing so, weave a shared vision into the fabric of reality. My best friend, who also happens to be a photographer and videographer ( and serial M.E.L collaborator) Alice Wesley-Smith is one of those people. During fashion shoots at special locations we both felt that pictures can sometimes be too one dimensional, not allowing for the full ambiance of the experience before us and so the idea for this video was born; we wanted to conceive not only how amazing fashion is by showing the swoosh of a beautiful dress but also the magic mood of perfect light falling on us and beauty of nature before us. After all fashion and travel are complimentary bedfellows and producing this idea would selfishly allow us to invest into a shared need to travel and document the things we love.

For our first video, we chose the unforgettable Australiana of the One & Only Wolgan Valley resort; because where else can you feel dwarfed by orange cliffs and fragrant eucalyptus whilst watching kangaroos play fight in pure luxury? This place is one I hold a soft spot for because it feels like a world away from anywhere; the quiet and the simple opulence are incredibly relaxing while the eco credentials are impressive to say the least. This video encapsulates my perfect trip to Wolgan Valley, complete with horse riding, remote picnicking and swimming in the  private villa pool at dusk whilst wearing some gorgeous clothes tailored to all occasions. I hope you enjoy our labour of love! x

In order of appearance:
Picnic: Zimmermann top, Rachel Gilbert skirt, Akubra hat, Tiffany & Co smile necklace
Hotel room: Camilla & Marc leather tights, vintage jacket, Massimo Dutti shirt, Gucci slippers, Cartier Watch, Mania Mania rings
Horse riding : Levis jeans, Gucci belt, Ryder t-shirt, Coach coat, Akubra hat, Cartier watch, RM Williams boots
Sunset : Lover dress, RM Williams x Dion Lee boots, Akubra hat
Pool: Zimmermann full cover swimsuit

It has been a month since my last post - a long time to be engrossed in my daughter's school holiday activities,perpetual playdates, long afternoons on the beach and thick adventure books like the Northern Lights which I read to her in crazy voices and hushed tones so she sits at the edge of her seat and cannot go to sleep for racking her brain on what will happen next.

Anticipation is an amazing thing. I remember a study being done once on the fact that people who go on holidays actually get more joy anticipating the holiday that going on in. That may be the case, but I still get giddy waiting for next season's clothes and upon arrival, the endless combinations they provide.

This season, I'm coveting 70s fashions , now back in full force. They have always been one of my favourite style decades - a period compressed such a wide variety of ideas style-wise, that it seemed fashion took a radical turn every couple of years; from brightly coloured polyester, playful knits, paisley and the ever-present bellbottoms in the early years, to the mid-70s when denim reigned supreme and khaki and drill cotton were de rigour, down to the latter part of the decade where everything got looser and more folky.

From Chanel, Saint Laurent and Tom Ford, to Gucci, Sonia Rykel and Dries Van Noten everyone seems to have taken the retro route for the European spring/summer ’15 season - it's time once again to get out those flares, dust off your suede and prep that lamé.

For this story, I played with some groovy, transeasonal items coming our way for autumn that will work dressed up or down.

This multi-tiered dress evokes languid Indian summers with its pretty pastel tones and lace cutouts. Pair with tan everything.(Zimmermann dress, Jerome Dreyfuss bag & Panama Hat co. hat.)

Now is the time to swap your skinnies for flares - the new cuts and stretchier fabrics are suprisingly slimming and flattering.

(Frame denim jeans, Miu Miu sunglasses & Romance Was Born shirt)

This khaki skirt in drill cotton works dressed up for work or dressed down with slides for weekends. Accessorise with a smattering of gold, aviator sunnies and did I mention this season there is never enough tan?

( Lover skirt, Jets bikni worn as top, Monica Vinader bracelet, Pink Lou Lou shell bracelet and Cartier love bracelet , Versace sunglasses & Karen Walker bag.)

The new 70s suit sports a wider leg with a slim fitting jacket (Asos suit, vintage Chloe platforms, Karen Walker sunglasses & Elke Kramer earrings)

 

 

 

Photographed by Alice Wesley-Smith

Summer is my favourite season. For some reason, the imaginary line between the summer period is incredibly tangible and poignant in my mind, even though I inevitably overcommit to a daily health and fitness routine that I never ever really try to implement (no sugar in January is one of these –as soon as the Pavlova comes out at New Year’s day BBQ, I forget all about my resolution )

Still, in my mind, the start of summer is like a second birthday – a time to reflect on the year that has been, review lessons, express gratitude, set goals and send hopes and wishes off to the heavens. Most importantly however, it’s a time to strap on some high heels, put on a gorgeous dress and party like it’s 1999!

Here are my picks of the dresses I want to dance the nights away in this summer…

Above: This Alex Perry number is a floor length, one-shouldered, fire engine red bombshell – perfect for trail blazing the night.

White is always beautiful for summer but this Ellery dress has a sweetheart neckline and a beautiful fluted bottom in the oh-so-now midi length that puts it ahead of the competition.

Choose a brightly coloured bag to pop against the dress and classic gold hardwear as arm candy (Hermès bag and Le chien cuff, Cartier Love bracelet).

A backless dress is one of the sexiest silhouettes on the horizon for 2015 - this Lover dress plays on the trend with beautiful lace. ( Gucci bag and shoes )
 
View the full story and more pictures now up on vogue.com.au here!
photographed by Kasia Werstak

David Bowie sang : "Heaven loves ya, The clouds part for ya, Nothing stands in your way when you're a boy" and that may be true but even if  women today are still treated like possessions, abused, murdered and taken advantage of, I still, deep down , feel completely privileged and honored to be a woman. We are less violent, more communicative , more nurturing and open and, well let's face it - actually have exciting fashion (and of course shooeeeesss! ).

Maybe I am innately optimistic or perhaps I feel like things are changing quicker today in a technology saturated world where remaining an island of ignorance on an increasingly clued in planet Earth is becoming near impossible. Possibly, I feel like violence is on it's way out and people are becoming more conscious of their ingrained but outdated hatreds. Perhaps we as women are getting smarter, learning more , emancipating ourselves, supporting each other. Or conceivably I am disillusioned because I live in a country where misogyny is not publicly cool, although still sometimes practiced.

Last week, however,  I attended the In Style Women of Style awards and was left completely gobsmacked by the achievements of incredibly smart, beautiful women in a myriad of categories including business, beauty, fashion, charity and community, entertainment, arts and culture, environment and more. Seeing these inspiring women who successfully tackle work, children and charity take the stage , I got a little teary in a way that only pride can make your chest feel like it might explode. Would you believe, in this room, no glass ceiling existed, no tall poppy syndrome, no misogyny. Women celebrated women and spurred them on, providing incentives and platforms to strive for even more. Then a man took the stage to accept an award on behalf of his wife who couldn't make it and made a rousing speech that exalted his strong, highly achieving woman in a way that would , I am sure , guarantee him back rubs and more for the rest of his life. Let's face it, the guy was our hero. Women swooned, men shifted in their seats.

Females, very often guilty of undermining and judging other women out of jealousy ,resentment, religion and traditions need to make the first move and unite - after all we do make up 50% of the world and without us the world as it is couldn't go on. Men, very often shaped by the same traditions, religions and patriarchal attitudes need to follow suit, because today needs not only feminist women, it needs feminist men too. History need not be repeated, beliefs need not stay the same and if any century can and will rewrite the rules it is this one. Girls : Keep swinging', we always work it out!

( Pinstripe jumpsuit by Lover, feather cuff by H&M,Giuseppe Zanotti heels from Miss Louise )

( Josh Goot bustier and pants, Maison Michel hat, Pushmataaha serpent bracelet, Alexander McQueen bag from Miss Louise)

( Candidate by Candice Lake top, Dior Homme jacket, Swarovski ring )

If you would like to contribute to the development of women around the world, check out the charity that directly empowers girls where it counts : by providing education , jobs and infrastructure here !

Double denim is one of those trends that was labelled as “wrong” and “tacky” for far too long thanks to embezzled jeans and jackets, bad cuts and awkward styling ( ahem Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, I'm looking at you )

Thankfully, designers have decided to look past this and embrace denim for what it is – a beautiful, hardwearing and versatile fabric that is soft, comfortable and cool. Double denim is back! Seen throughout resort ‘14 lookbooks like Chloe, Balmain, Christopher Kane and Alexander McQueen, this look is looking far more polished and restrained than its ‘80s and ‘90s faux pas friends.
Above: Mix a light chambray shirt with some pink accessories ( Maison Scotch shirt, Proenza Schouler bag from Land's End store and Pink Lou Lou necklaces)

Play around with different jean washes and textures and cool accessories ( Bassike jeans, Celine bag from Land's End store, Oscar Wylee x Kahlo sunglasses ((top)),Persol sunglasses ((bottom))

A combo of a well cut boxy top and pencil skirt works as well off duty as it does on ( Lover skirt and top, Gianvitto Rossi heels, Proenza Schouler bag from Land's End and Lovisa jewellery )

Check out the full story and 5 more pictures up now on vogue.com.au here!

The warmer months are upon us and there is nothing as refreshing as an all white palette on a sunny day - no matter what the ocassion is. No longer just the domain of tennis players and doctors, white has been having a moment for a few seasons and it shows no sings of disappearing. The crispness of the cleansing palette and the way it pops against a tan is unbeatable. This Camilla and Marc jacket is elegant biker chic when paired with a cute pleated Lover skirt. I also added a crock print Rachel Ruddick clutch and a silver vintage Kramer ring as understated but punchy accessories.

There is nothing wrong with a little bit of flirt - especially when it is done in a demure way. I paired a kicky Lover skirt with this luxe silk Tome top , Scanlan & Theodore heels and U.n.i.f.o.r.m leather cap for a look that goes from day to night and feels like summer personified.

Check out the full story and another five all white looks on Vogue.com.au here !

Ahhh, New York! City that never sleeps, the ultimate urban jungle, the place where dreams come true and anything is possible...My history with the city goes way back to the late 90s when I lived there for a few years, so whenever I go back, I love to check out my old haunts ( East Village I'm lookin at you ), do some awesome shopping and generally tap into that crazy Big Apple electricity. This time, I made a decision to visit NY Fashion Week at the last possible minute, hopping on the plane while hoping I packed my brain.The few days I had there were fashion packed and cray cray, so I didn't have time to indulge myself ( oh, Natural History Museum, I miss you ), but I squeezed in this shoot on an industrial roof in Soho , showcasing some of my fave outfits that week.The funny thing was, a building was going up on one side and the workmen thought my shoot was great entertainment, especially during their lunch hour, when they cheered with every new outfit. I played it tough and aloof , like a true New Yorker and put on my I-can't-see-you face...

 
Josh Goot says : hello tiger! - with this awesome bustier and pencil skirt duo that is as polished as it is cool and right on animal trend.  Keep the accessories  punchy but minimal . (Dolce & Gabbana sandals , Celine necklace )
 

 
Tough meets elegant. Dion Lee's intricately platted white leather skirt hugs in all the right places , with gorgeous detailing and an impeccable cut, while Lover's silk top keeps things light and ladylike ( Giuseppe Zanotti shoes )
 

 
Monochrome doesn't need to be boring. Case in point ; Josh Goot's collection features cool, interchangeable separates that work well together or separately ( Josh Goot top, skirt and bustier. Valentino heels, Jordan Askill bracelet and rings )
 

Pink has become a mainstay colour the last few seasons and it doesn't seem to be leaving.This season invest in a rose hued coat and throw it over any old thing. Here I go OTT in honour of NYFW and paint the town pink ( vintage coat, Fendi bag, Sheriff & Cherry sunglasses, Giuseppe Zanotti pumps )
 
 
Self shot with a Nikon D7000