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My love for Australian Fashion Week runs deep. For 20 years now, I have participated in it in some way or another; first as a budding young model going on intimidating castings, later as a runway model with an incredibly OTT walk that I’m not even sure I could replicate now, and nowadays as a blogger who is passionate about the amazing fashion being created in our country. A lot of people think that to look stylish they need to look beyond our shores but I am finding that to be more and more untrue as time goes by. In fact, I would like to state that I believe Australian Fashion has never looked better, more well made or relevant on the world stage than it is today. The variety and ingenuity of our designers only gets deeper and wider each year, so that it is now possible to dress only in Australian fashion and look incredible each day. Fashion made in this country now covers all price points and all styles of dressing; the glamorous and the basic , not to mention sporty and swim. Without further ado, here is my review of 8 designer’s shows this year.

(above) ROMANCE WAS BORN: Set in the beautiful Carthona house and it’s magical gardens, RWB sent out otherworldly girls that belonged in the 1920s wearing romantic and whimsical yet strong and intricately detailed clothes that took my breath away. I feel RWB are really hitting their stride and capitalising on their codes; embellishments, tactility and craftsmanship mixed with sparkle, vintage aesthetic and off beat femininity. This collection is full of the sort of gowns and dresses that you will covet for life ; you know how there is always a moth eaten vintage dress that is so beautiful you just cannot part with it ,ever? These pieces are destined to become keepsakes that your children fight over. ( gown by RWB, shoes by Saint Laurent )

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KITX : To start an ecologically conscious label is no small feat in today’s world of fast fashion, yet Kit Willow has managed to mix impressive eco credentials with clothes that actually look amazing as well. This collection is full of gauzy cottons, the softest, naturally dyed leather and quirky artesian detailing,boasting perfect, breathable pieces for your next holiday along with every day staples that you’ll cherish forever ( Kit X bustier dress and boots, Dior sunglasses )

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PE NATION: Pip Edwards and her partner Claire Tregg have managed to create a sportswear label that is not only functional but also achingly cool and desirable. Think sexy,high tech, rave , 90s inspired pieces that will look just as cool at the gym as they will sipping the morning latte at your local. No wonder OS buyers have gone gaga over the brand (P.E top, skirt, bra tops and sunglasses, Tommy Hillfigher booties )

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REBECCA VALANCE: The queen of the well cut dress sent out perfect examples of her tailoring across supple leathers, a smattering of yellow, stripe and off the shoulder gowns that made me swoon. These are not clothes that reinvent the wheel but are pieces that every woman needs in her wardrobe- elegant and sexy at the same time whilst remaining well made (Rebecca Valance dress, Stuart Weitzman heels)

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TONI MATICEVSKI: The 80s trend has been building up for a while, yet no where did I feel it deconstructed in the right way as much as I did at Maticevski. Whilst bustles hail from 17th century, they made a reappearance at Maticevski in a variety of ways, building up on the designer’s love of peplum, along with all of by now famous Maticevski codes; the punky yet sexy gowns, amazing pencil skirts that do miracles to a woman’s booty and crop tops that are anything but their namesake. Maticevski does his thing and he does it well; these are clothes for grown up women who are not prepared to lose their sexuality or elegance any time soon. Blade runner vibes were punctuated by amazing crystal gags and cuffs by Ryan Storer. Because why wouldn’t put together also be irresistibly naughty? ( Maticevski skirt, top and sleeves, Giuseppe Zanotti pumps)

 

Read the full story on vogue.com.au here
Photographed by Alice Wesley-Smith

The Spy Who Loved Me was one of those definining moments in my life when I realized that skiing may not be such a bad thing to be into. The movie was 23 years old by that point, and it wasn’t James Bond’s epic skiing/ parachuting down the cliff scene that convinced me of the benefits of snow sports, it was the scene back at the chalet, the one snuggling with a gorgeous blonde on resplendent rugs by a roaring fire.  All of a sudden, skiing didn’t represent cold, snow and sweat, it meant warmth, luxury, mystique and all around sexiness. I cannot say I have made much headway into the sport since – my one and only attempt was a terrifying mulled wine fuelled snowplough down the Black Diamond run that could characteristically be labelled a complete fail. However , adapt at apres ski I most certainly am.

For this reason, when Shona Joy mentioned doing an apres ski story for the next installment of my Winter 15 edit of the collection, I jumped in wholeheartedly. And what better place to embrace the luxury of winter than the amazing One&Only Emirates Wolgan Valley resort?

For this edit, my heroine was Barbara Bach’s feisty 70s beauty playing a double agent in the beforementioned spy film – I wanted to connect the delicious tweed, sexy lame dresses and loose 70s suits with a powerful woman waiting for her spy, calculating her next move…

MELMELSH1She spotted him skiing down the slope towards her. He is sure not to suspect anything whilst she wears trustworthy tweed

MELMELSH6In retrospect, stealing the documents was easy when she looked so elegant in her neutrals doing it

MELMELSH5Could she even trust him? At least her leather enveloped her with the sort of protection she always wanted from a man

MELMELSH2Tonight is the night. She is sure to find out his deepest secrets when she slips him the truth serum at dinner

MELMELSH4Is Is that right? She feigned surprise as the truth serum started to take hold

MELMELSH3Was she right to betray him? Her mind was unwavering but her heart longed to see him again...

 

 

Photographed by Alice Wesley- Smith
With thanks to the One and Only Emirates Wolgan Valley resort

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The new Ellery resort collection is the stuff sartorial dreams are made of. Sumptuous, thick satins, bonded Lycra on foam, skinny zipped flares, sundresses that are voluminous, wide and optimistic but somehow dressy,cool and nonchalant, to die for suits and intricate corsets,made for summer dinner shorts, booties that go with everything and a lot of fashion's favorite new length - the midi - incarnated in immaculately cut skirts and dresses. This collection is a return to Ellery's covetable codes: the desirable mix of luxury, je ne sais quoi, irreverence, modernism and femininity. I'm sorry to break this to you, but this is the collection that you will want to spend a lot of money on. The prints in the collection are vibrant and exciting too - inspired by David Hockney's brush strokes and block colors they jump off the fabric and add a bold, architectural feel to the resort collection.

This season, Ellery has partnered with Vittoria Coffee on launching the Vittoria Coffee Summer Fashion Series ; a collection of limited edition designer takeaway cups created by some of Australia's best design talent (other designers lending their signature prints is the swimwear brand We Are Handsome, menswear label Insted We Smile, and recently launched fashion label We Are Kindred). The cups come in 8 designs and represent a visual experience for Vittoria customers, not to mention Vittoria Coffee's ongoing partnership with leading and emerging designers each season.

In this story, I have a play with the new collection, the amazing prints and Kym Ellery herself. I truly loved the clothes so much that I still have recurring fantasies of disappearing with all the samples...Oh Kym, you did it again!

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Booties that go with everything and the amazing printed sundress ( Ellery boots and dress, Dior earrings)

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Blue is the warmest colour when paired with cropped pants and exaggerated collars

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Monochrome should never default to mean boring. This pretty dress features a gorgeous print and mesh detailing on the back ( Ellery dress and shoes, Sarina Suriano earrings )

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Post shoot fun with Kym Ellery showcasing her Vittoria Summer Fashion Series prints

Photographed by Kasia Werstak

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To me a good holiday conveys the following experiences in no particular order: sunny, beachy days and moonlit nights full of starlight and romance, the promise of spontaneous adventure and no set schedules or obligations, the allowance of laziness but never at the expense of a new experience, feeling languid and lost in thought as if caught in a constant daydream, a giddy excitement that feels like radiating warmth straight from the belly, that thrilling book you’ve been meaning to read for like, forever, now actually read every day with fervour and commitment, a rediscovery of pleasures that ought to be slow like eating and drinking and diving under the sea, the chance to connect with family and friends old and new and above all - what I love about holidays most is that moment you catch yourself feeling alive, really, truly alive in the current moment.

But let’s face it, holiday time also requires some amazing fashion essentials. Resort is my favourite collection of the year – clothes are generally more colourful and exciting – not to mention more affordable. For this story, I wanted to focus on some of my holiday necessities and I was fortunate enough to shoot on the beautiful beach of the stunning and utterly luxurious Qualia resort on Hamilton Island utilising the must-have pieces to covet now for a stylish getaway.

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A humble denim shirt works hard dressed up or down, on a boat or in a taverna. Just unbutton and wear with a bikini underneath to highlight jewellery and a tanned decolettage.(Levi’s shirt, Zulu & Zephyr bikini, Dion Lee skirt, Prism sunglasses, Lucy Folk necklace and bracelet, Monica Vinader bracelet, Pushmataaha ring, Stuart Weitzman gladiator sandals.)

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A gorgeous dress in a maxi length is my first choice for relaxed elegance and easy glamour. Leopard print is always a print de jour, but this season more is more. (Roberto Cavalli dress and cuff, Nina Ricci fur coat, Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses -all from Net-A-Porter.)

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Once the temperatures cool with nightfall a cosy knit is a must. This cashmere/merino wool blend is soft and beautiful with its ribbed, pleated detailing. (Gasparre cashmere sweater, Prism bikini bottom, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi sunglasses, Prism espadrilles. )

See the full story, now up on Vogue.com.au here!
Photographed by Scott Lowe

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