Proponents of earthing believe that we need to allow our bodies a bare skin connection to planet's magnetic field regularly so we can release stress and electrical charge from our bodies. They say that barefoot walking is a fantastical way to release our energies into Earth leading to greater wellbeing and health.

I'm pretty sure that's true, since I always feel happiest in places I can slip my shoes off and dance barefoot ; sink feet into grass, wriggle toes into sand or sway legs in a refreshing body of water. Summer becomes a time when footwear becomes superfluous and I turn into a shoeless hippy, often a painful exercise like when you realize running across hot asphalt really does burn or when a monster bindi pierces your foot in dry grass. But being barefoot also means being free, yes, even for a girl like me who loves heels and thinks that she could outrun or outdance anyone in a pair of stilettos even if they were Louboutin Pigalle 120s, that sexy pump that makes me feel like a goddess on stilts. Yet who wouldn't rather take them off and salsa onto the beach in wild abandon ?

For one of my last collaborations of the year, I paired with Eastland, the new shopping destination encompassing a state of the art cultural and library facility in the newly redeveloped Town Square. With over 100 retailers such as Mecca Maxima, Mac, Sass & Bide, Scanlan & Theodore, David Jones, Oroton etc, Eastland also unveiled a world-class level of art to Eastern Melbourne, with a series of works from celebrated artists David Bromely and Joost Bakker- David Bromley having revealed his largest mural project to date; a whooping 1,600 metres appearing throughout Eastland. I wonder if this state of the art culture, food and fashion hub allows bare feet, because I have gone and pulled my designer favorite barefoot outfits for this story; ones that shun shoes and relish summer in all it's unstructured chaos. Just add a red nail polish for color pop!

Why wear a little black dress when a little blue one totally wins summer? Cinch in that waist and show some leg, because this silk baby will stay footloose all night long ( Rodeo Show dress )

I love a messy linen suit on a woman in the summertime, especially when worn with sandals off. Wear yours with nothing underneath or a little bralette for ultimate androgynous elegance (Skin and Threads pants and jacket )

With a cinched in waist and long, flowing layers, this Sass & Bide dress will work the breeze to it's advantage

There is something about a simple linen pinstripe dress that spells relaxed chic ( Veronika Maine dress )

What would summer be without a good bikini and cover up? I have been loving everything Tigerlilly has been doing lately, including this version of the wrap around dress that doubles as a beautiful robe for the beach

 

Check out more about Eastland here!
photographed by Alice Wesley- Smith

Whether it's the smell of opening jasmine, warm northerly breezes or the still shy crickets' song ; summer is on it's way and let's face it- boy does it feel good. I travelled to Paris recently to shoot some fun stories (that I cannot wait to share with you) but before I left Sydney I had to move house and nearly froze in the weird coldsnap storm that gripped the city in it's frosty clutches. Coming back home was a delightful and decidedly beachy welcome and my only plans for this weekend include assuming the lazy lizard pose on the Bondi Beach sands ( oh please stay sunny! )

This summer's edit for Shona Joy was such a hoot to make. Shot  at the hip Beach Club resort on Hamilton Island, my photographer and I ran around the beach and grounds of the hotel while I pretended I was a spoilt heiress with all the funds and time in the world to enjoy being absolutely languidly fabulous. I feel Shona's clothes have been going from strength to strength with amazing new silhouettes and I have had so much fun shooting the edit this year in fabulous locations around Australia. This season, revel in flippy hems, high thigh splits and exuberant print - a summerliscious SJ affair indeed

above: pop white with red for a Billy Idol kind of white wedding ( Shona joy dress, Christian Louboutin heels)

Wide legged pants and tunic tops are what leisurely summer days are made of ( Shona Joy top and pants, Chloe wedges, vintage hat, Sarah and Sebastian jewellery )

Hello sailor! Don't be afraid to play it sexy this summer ( Shona Joy dress, Sarah and Sebastian necklace )

A simple dress gets tricky with side detailing and mixed print while staying firmly boy friendly with a deep neckline ( Shona Joy dress, Amber Sceats necklace, Pushmataaha bracelet and ring )

Whether it's lazing on a yacht or surveying the beach, this dress is on the prowl ( Shona Joy dress, Dita eyewear sunglasses, vintage Prada sandals )

Waiting for your heart on the dance floor is this little number- just wait 'till you see it twirl! ( Shona Joy dress, Chloe sandals, Pushmataaha bracelets )

 

Shot by Alice Wesley - Smith

With thanks to Hamilton Island and Beach Club Resort
beauty note : Charlotte Tilbury's lipstick in Lost Cherry and Beach Stick in Formentera will brighten up day or night

Editing these pictures has taken me nearly a month to do- there were so many visceral moments to remember while looking through the files that I would find myself procrastinating and daydreaming; memories of eating ice cream in wet bathers, running barefoot around little cobblestone streets of "my" little island, the intense heatwave, bargaining for cold watermelon with a stoic grandma clad in black, the anticipation of arriving somewhere on a ferry you've never been to before or that serenely exhilarating feeling after an evening shower, sun kissed oiled skin cooled by an evening breeze,getting dressed in evening attire to run out into a dusk befallen night promising fun.

When I started this blog, it was as a hobby that I never thought would grow into work ; simply, I wanted to chronicle my life as it unfolded and preserve all the feelings and memories of my travels and experiences. I never knew my little blog would amount to anything except an online diary- especially since I used to post only a few times per year!

M-E-L has morphed into a business and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with brands in a multi dimensional way whilst creating beautiful pictures with talented people and carving out my aesthetic. Still, it is important to me to take time out and really see the world; document and devour it, be a traveller, a tourist; an open mouthed, awed and enthralled piece of this Universe.
Since I've been back, I have shot so many stories that I cannot wait to share with you ; life has been a blur of activity. This is why the moments on this page are so golden to me - they encapsulate a fantasy; a bubble where clocks don't exist.

Bower swimwear one piece

Coco wears a Coach t-shirt

Lack of Colors boater, Kate Sylvester peasant top, Bianca Spender skirt

Zimmermann x net-a-porter swimsuit, One Teaspoon shorts

River swimming in the Rastoke region

With thanks to my little photographer Coco

A breton striped t-shirt is always on trend; either as a low key basic, rock ‘n’ roll staple or sailor-esque addition. Whereas a pinstriped shirt always works tucked into a suit for the workday or loose and oversize on the weekend. This spring/summer, stripes were all over the catwalks in a myriad of variations, but to me stripes always represent being on a vacation– whether at a resort or holiday house, stripes add a cheeky yet elegant touch to any look.
Above:A pinstripe shirt is always a good idea – keep it unbuttoned on holidays, a nod to riviera chic. Or keep your cool in a wide legged pant, the perfect getaway cover up. (Massimo Dutti shirt,Zimmermann lace shorts, Thomas Saboo anklet )

There is nothing like a backless maxi for warm spring afternoons – this one pairs stripes and florals, yet looks suprisingly minimalistic. (Ruby Sees All dress)

Forget all you knew about playsuits – the new crop features soft upscale tailoring and clean lines. (Zimmermann playsuit, Nomadic State of Mind rope sandals & Ray Ban sunglasses)

Raffia is always a good choice for holidays – this stripey combo works well with straw and navy (Shona Joy skirt and bralette, Kate Sylvester jacket, Lack of Colors hat & Chloe wedges)

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

The holidays are nearly upon us and with them the inevitable search for the perfect swimsuit. Living on Bondi beach, I tend to live in mine ; if I’m not actually lying on the beach in it, it is always underneath a dress, denim cut-offs, or a kaftan. Here, in Australia, we are so lucky to have a myrad of amazing swimwear labels that produce the best, most flattering swimwear in high quality materials. For this story, I collaborated with JETS, a legendary Australian swimwear label that is not just fashionable but ecologically conscious too. I feel that introducing sustainable technologies in fashion is so important , after all we all wear clothes but producing them can come with a substantial environmental footprint.

JETS proudly facilitate the latest approach in green and sustainable manufacturing practices utilizing digital textile printing at the JETS HQ and printing on recycled fabric with the  fabric off-cuts also recycled into alternate uses, such as sporting equipment, as opposed to being disposed at landfills. Proudly Ethical Clothing Australia Accredited , Jets’ printing process uses substantially less ink than screen printing methods, leading to less waste and water consumption, paving the way for conscious, responsible fashion practices.
In this editorial, I played around with swimwear from both the JETS by Jessika Allen and JETS White Label, a high fashion Luce style swim range in creating 5 distinct characters to match the personalities of the swimsuits, all hitting the beach in their own fun and glamorous way.

Tapping into the medieval, chainmail, gold encrusted trend currently sweeping Fall Winter 14/15 , this one piece from the JETS' White Label is heavy on cool detailing. Joan of Arc would approve. (Celine necklace, Balmain cuff)

With overtones of Marrakesh and beautiful colors, this triangle bikini is slightly padded too, providing lift as well as insta boho cred. Beads optional.

Sailor ahoy! I love high waisted,vintage inspired swimmers and this gorgeous bikini also comes with a cool wrap around top that can double as a cute stripy crop for afternoon cocktails ( Jets bikini, greek fisherman's hat, Adidas slides, Cartier Love bracelet)

Lazing on a yacht or in a 5 star resort never looked more glamorous.This black one piece from the White label collection is universally flattering with it's beautiful detailing. Throw on a maxi skirt and delicate sandals - why not use this swimsuit as a luxury bodysuit too?

A girl certainly won't be a wallflower in this high waisted, retro style, floral strewn print bikini that screams summer fun. Fields of flowers not necessary

Photographed by Alice Wesley-Smith

As soon as the weather gets enticingly warm, my mind evokes pictures of weekends away lazing on windswept beaches, dancing under brightly coloured lanterns, midnight swims, and salty beach hair. Holidays are the best part of summer but planning the right outfits for a chic escape can be tricky. My holiday styling tip this season is to go monochrome. You can mix and match each piece for endless outfit combinations. Here are my holiday essentials for a stylish getaway.

Above: White on white is always a fresh, go-to look for summer. Relaxed pieces in a mix of fabrics will elevate this look.

Tank tops and shorts are a classic combination; add a little detailing like a belt and go for fabrics with a satiny finish and it will work for evening too. For shoes, leopard print sandals add texture in a subtle way.

Every girl needs a gorgeous relaxed slip dress. This backless number is gorgeous day or night.

 

Photographed by Kasia Werstak
See the full story with all the shopping links now up on the Witchery Blog here!

Tory Burch is an American label best known for it's preppy boho luxe aesthetic and clean but elegant tailoring. I have long admired Tory Burch the woman and philanthropic owner behind the business for her work which supports the economic empowerment of women in the U.S. through small business loans, mentoring and entrepreneurial education, not to mention the enviable chutzpah and business drive that made her label a billion dollar business. Naturally, when I was contacted by Tory Burch to feature on their blog, I was honored to share a few tips on fashion, holidays and traveling with kids.

Read the full interview here!
xxT

Wearing : Tory Burch pants, Stella McCartney jacket, Equipment shirt, Gianvito Rossi shoes,vintage Versace bag, Dawn Is Mine necklace, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi sunglasses, Monica Vinader bracelet

photographed by : Alice Wesley- Smith

All hail 2014! Most people I know look backwards at 2013 with a big "phew thank God that's over" backward glance but I really relished taking the time these past 2 weeks of holidays to go over everything 2013 taught me...including the uncomfortable, the painful and the downright bad because this is where most growth happens.

It is said that there is no happiness without it's polar opposite so as much as I cherished the wonderful opportunities , fun travel, success and fabulous clothes 2013 brought, I also enjoyed reflecting on the lessons it's contrasting emotions brought. I feel like now, after taking time to meditate on these, I stretched out past the limitations and connotations they brought so they ultimately set me free. The New Year started with a New Moon, traditionally the best time to set intentions and wishes for the future, so if you missed this opportunity, January brings another one as it holds a rare second new moon on the 30th. Go forth and wish away!

The New Year also brings new clothes, like this new SS14 collection by Josh Goot I shot right before the holidays..Swirling colours, painterly splashes and amazing cuts define this beautiful collection that looks right at home under the wide open Australian sky...
Happy New Year everybody!

All clothes by Josh Goot
Jewellery by Amber Sceats
sandals by Vionett
photographed by : Ana Suntay Tanedo