EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW | BOWIE Q&A | PAPER CRANE 2011/12 COLLECTION | RAFW 2011

Yesterday, I was extremely honoured to be invited by Bowie himself to be the first of seven people to exclusively preview his "PAPER CRANE" 2011/12 Collection at his studio, before his show that will be closing Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) this year.

Unfortunately I was unable to take any sneak peak photos for you guys to see, as Bowie would like to keep it all a big surprise and trust me, it will be a surprise!! However, I can give you a tell you a little bit of what you will be expecting! He took me through each piece one by one, and it's construction was amazing! I also asked him a few questions about the collection which you can listen by pressing the play button under the image above.

Bowie's showing back in RAFW this year, will be quite a bang with 40 highly hand crafted couture pieces that took 10 months (2000 hours) to complete. Going to Japan, 2 or 3 times a year, in this collection, he takes inspiration from the Japanese origami- "Paper Crane" and you will see a lot of resemblances through the colour of black, red, silver, lots of white and geometric architectural shapes representing origami. The use of white symbolises the purity and hope, the black representing the strong warrior and silver for ice and snow. His collection will be historical and current with the happenings in Japan, where there will always be hope.

Of course I will not give too much away! But expect to see real paper cut outs incorporated into the pieces and also mixed combination of manipulated vintage Kimono with a modern western edge! Just think, beading, sparkle, laser cutting, fabrics from all over the world, extreme detail construction and a piece completely made of individually sewn ribbon.

This will be the show you will not want to miss!! It has the best show time - an amazing Friday evening, with an after party to follow and no rush to another show!! I certainly can't wait!! There will also be a special guest - Kelly Osbourne!

I would like to thank Bowie for his time and the invitation to exclusively view his work and his show!

Follow his Twitter and Facebook for updates!

ZEM BY SAMIRA ALGOE AW 11/12 | THE SOUND OF MOUNTAINS

Photography: Marco Van Rijt; Hair and make-up: Iris Houben ; models Eli & Boaz

Samira Algoe is a new designer from Holland, I introduced to you last season here. This season she draws inspiration of cowboys and interpret it in her way mixing it with some Japanese fabrics. I asked her to tell a little bit about her collection, inspiration, fabrics used and colours she prefers. I do like the bag, and the first white transparent-like jacket.

"ZEM stands for, minimalism, subtleness, unconventionality and last but definitely not least: classic with a surprisingly modern twist. I give a lot of care and attention to the fit and technique of my designs.

In the beginning of a creative process I don’t have a clear vision, but the further I get the more concrete it gets. To get inspired when designing a new collection, I look at ordinary clothing of other decades. But not the fashion shown on the catwalks, personally I don’t find it is pure. Simply, because it’s already someone else’s interpretation.

Looking into the past is an important principle for me, it keeps my vision fresh. ‘Who didn’t had a past, can’t have a future. If you don’t look back, you can’t look ahead.’

The winter accompanied by cold and cowboys was my inspiration. If you place cowboys in this cold environment, they instantly become vulnerable. Not the tough young men who concur over land and animal but men who plough for hours or days through snow, looking for “something”, an adventure maybe. In the “The sound of the Mountains” I’ve introduced a new view on the woolies worn by cowboys, these are large leather or fur leg pieces which are worn over the legs. The paper is called “Washi”, originally used in traditional Japanese interior design. It had that snowflake pattern and transparent frosty kind of feel that perfectly blended with the concept of my collection.

I have a preference for “off-colors” or “in between colors”, for example when shadow is cascading on a white wall. The parts covered by the shadow are much darker and deeper and you will see different shades of white, grey and black. The same when a wall is layered with sunshine, you witness the very play of colors caused by over- and underexposion. Those shades are my “in between” colors.

Materials I chose are fabrics which reminded me of powdery snow such as light corduroy. I used that material on the shoulder-area of my designs to refer to snow that’s falling onto you. Other fabrics used were materials nature provides us such as cotton, wool and leather.

Currently I’m working on a new collection that will be finished in the summer. Another focus this year is establishing my label, working on the base of my brand. Practically this means working a lot ‘behind the scenes’, research for point of sales and sponsoring. I’m aiming to produce a collection twice a year."

DROPDEADGORGEOUSDAILY.COM | COMPETITION

Today, I received an email from Dropdeadgorgeousdaily.com, an online edit of the best things to buy online and serving as inspirations to shoppers looking for the latest trends. Right now, they are running a competition giving a lucky reader the chance to the Editor-At-Large of Dropdeadgorgeousdaily.com with also a prize package that is worth $4000 to giveaway.


This competition will be asking DDGDs fashion-forward members (free membership, just sign up within seconds) to contribute and
rate their favourite stylish items as well as post photos of their
favourite outfits in exchange for a bunch of
prizes and DDGD dollars.


The competition runs for 10 weeks with each week selecting 2 finalists.
At the end of the 10 weeks all 20 selected finalist will be showcased
on DDGDaily.com and it will be up to a combination of reader staff
votes to decide who is most deserving of the title of DDGD Editor At
Large along with all those amazing prizes!

BUT even if you are not a finalist, you
still can win big just by participating and accumulate DDG$ dollars
which can be swapped in The Editor's Swag Shop for fashion items by
Sportsgirl, Marc by Marc Jacobs and many more!

DO IT!! Who doesn't want to have fun and win!?

For the full competition details, go to the website below:
http://dropdeadgorgeousdaily.com/community/win-be-the-ddgd-editor-at-large/

MIMCO INTERPRETATION II | WHISPERS & ANARCHY

Photography & Styling: Darren Luk (BOY MOMENTS)

Make Up: Niña Zozobrado

Model: Pia

Clothes and Accessories: Orbit Eclipse Neck by Mimco; Pleats Pants by Lovers&Collaborators; The Rique Dress by Brooke Daniels; Tacka Coat by Pol, Crosby Jacket by Cooper St. All other clothing stylists own.

I was honoured to be asked by Mimco for the second time (my first Mimco interpretation here) to interpret their collection Whispers & Anarchy, which I enjoyed, despite the fact I only had one hour to shoot because of the rain. I chose the Orbit Eclipse Neck piece to style because I love accessories!

The story and muse of this collection is of a diva from another dimension who has veered off course and stumbled into our lives. She is a time traveler and her mission is to research and explore the last 50 years of fashion on our planet. She has mastered our language, and human movement, but lost her guide on how to look and dress. She has come to me for help in her appearance, allowing her to travel from present day to the fifties and back.

Yet again, I have tried to make the character a bit androgynous and choosing someone with a darker skin tone to contrast the neck piece. I drew different aspects for inspirations from different periods of time, in our last 50 years of fashion. I have mixed the 80's shoulder pads look, sheer and black lips, with wide legs pants from the 70s and fitting a little bit of 60's boyish slicked hair, also a kind of Twiggy feel with the mini black dress with the coat. To me, our time traveler is almost alien like, and she is well aware of her new surroundings. I have chosen to photograph in nature, because, as building and infrastructures change within time, nature and plants, change the least and I think shooting at Centennial Park, gives a timeless feeling, and a place where it can transport her from one decade to the other.

It was overall a little hectic to get the shots doing the styling and photographing myself aswell as DIY hair with no hairstylist. Most of the time we spent hiding under a big tree because the weather had a sudden change and started pour with rain within minutes of starting. But with my little rant there haha, I am happy with these shots and I hope they are okay! What do you think?

Thanks to my friend who modelled for me, withstanding the blazing cold and to my make up artist!!

Those pleat pants are soo amazing!

DESIGNER INTERVIEW | ELLISON

Ellison is a label based in Melbourne by designer Felicity Ellison. She is quite new to the scene having her label just started in 2010. After studying Product Development and Merchandising she turned to her passion of design. She likes "strong lines with a masculine touch" and describes herself as not being not so much a girly girl with a wardrobe full of dresses but rather a lot of pants. Ellison is inspired by music, film, photography and the past. This collection's inspiration was taken from her favourite childhood film The Labyrinth, David Bowie and gemstones as represented in the sheer, metallic and leather. Take a read of the interview we did!

Personally just LOVE that whole look above. The leather tee and those pants- I really want them! I would wear most of her pieces.

Her designs are currently stocked at Alice Euphemia in Melbourne and The Corner Shop in Sydney.

What is your name?
Felicity

Age?
24

Where are you based?
Melbourne

When and how did you decide on design as your career?
I always wanted to be in fashion and explored the business side of it first. Then I went and did a semester in New York at the Fashion Institute of Technology where I took more creative classes. This is were I decided that design was the right path for me.

What was the process in beginning your label and why did you call it Ellison?
When I got back from New York I was a bit confused as to exactly what steps to take. Its a very hard thing starting a business especially when you are doing it alone. So i just registered the name and started sewing. It naturally progressed from there. Ellison is my surname, so easy natural progression.

Tell us a little bit about your style.
I wear a mix of designer and vintage (as most people do) and Ellison of course. I wear pants alot. I love pants. Guilty pleasure. I'm not a girly girl so dresses aren't a huge part of my wardrobe or label for that matter. There are other labels who do dresses so well, so I'll leave it to them. I like strong lines with a masculine touch.

Tips for aspiring designers, like me?
It's important to make your aspirations reality otherwise you'll end up thinking 'what if' for the rest of your life. The fashion industry is cut throat and you have to be a true and strong believer in your craft to survive. If you don't believe in yourself, no one else will either. In saying that, anyone who knows me would say I should take my own advice. We really are our own hardest critics.



Did you have any education in fashion? if so, where? if not, how did you learn the technical aspects?
I studied Product Development and Merchandising at RMIT which gave me a strong base in how the fashion industry works and the business behind it. So the technical aspects of design is what I learn about every day. And probably will continue to learn about for the rest of my career.

How did your friends/family react to you turning to fashion design?
My family was and still is immensely supportive of what I am doing. It's really nice to make them proud. My friends are my rocks. They not only encourage and support me, they are also a really talented bunch that often help me with the many other aspects needed to run a label. Like photography, graphic design, or even loaning their bodies out for me to poke and prod.

How do you approach your designs each season and what inspires you?
I am heavily inspired by music, film and photography. I find I look to the past a lot and focus a lot of my attention on art that was happening in the 60's 70's and 80's. Not the fashion itself, but the art and music that came about during those times.

Where do you source fabrics and what kind of fabrics do you use?
Fabrics are the most important thing for me. They are what i get excited about. I love lurex. About a quarter of my own wardrobe is made from lurex. Which is a high ratio considering what lurex looks like. However it is very hard to find in Australia. I also love working with leather and silk. Silk is beautiful on the skin and just cannot be substituted by anything else.



How do you think your is label unique from others in Australia or abroad?
I think every independent label is unique in it's own way. No one will ever be alike as we are all inspired and drawn to different things. My brand is pretty much me in a nutshell. And if you ever met me you would know that. I design true to my own style and aesthetic, which I believe is the most important thing for any designer to do.

Who is your target market? what/why do you think your products appeals to them? Well I wear my clothes, and my mum wears my clothes (she's 61) and I have it on good authority that boys have bought my clothes so I don't really want to narrow myself down into a particular target market. If you like my stuff, your in my target market. Simple as that.

What is your favourite piece from your designs so far?
Probably the Hoggle Leather Tshirt from AW11. The leather I found for it was just out of this world. Expect to see a bit more of it next season!

I believe good models help a lot in selling the clothes. What kind of models' outlook do you choose for your label?
Models are SO important to each season. They are your face and will stick around with your brand seasons after they have appeared. I choose my models very carefully for this reason. They MUST have cool, fun personalities not just pretty faces.



What will the public expect to see next season?
Lurex, leather, linen, lace and a digital printed silk, which is a first for me. And very exiting.

What futures avenues are you looking into for Ellison?
One day at a time is my motto. I don't like thinking about the future because you miss opportunities that might not be in your ideal plan and get disappointed when things you planned don't happen.

Looking at some of your pieces, they are quite androgynous, have you ever thought of looking into designing menswear?
I adore menswear! It is actually what drew me to fashion in the first place. There is something so wonderful about a well dressed man. Maybe because they are a lot rarer than a well dressed woman. One day?

Favourite designer/s and why?
Dries Van Noten is amazing at both mens and womanswear. He dresses the human form how it should be dressed. He is pretty much perfect to me. He also takes crafts from all around the world and weaves them into his collections so you never really know what you're going to get each season. Proenza Schouler are also impressing me season after season with their colour palettes and prints. True leaders. These are amongst the many talented Australian designers doing great things! I think we are the masters of creating affordable, wearable, beautiful quality garments for the everyday man and woman.

Describe next season in one sentence.
Shine on you crazy diamond

OFF WITH THE NESPRESSO PIXIES | NESPRESSO PIXIE LAUNCH EVENT

Last night, I was invited to the launch of the Nespresso PIXIE. When I received the invitation mentioning zorb balls and a dress code of bright and bold, I was sold! Following from the dramatic presentation when Nespresso launched it's Sydney City Westfield store, the night ended up as one of the most interesting and entertaining launches I have been to! Last night's "moments" were most fun capturing.

Heading into The Pavilion where the event was held, glowing pink magenta lights, zorb balls and glistering sounds of a live harp (I always wished I had the chance to play the harp), transported you to a magical world. Walking around absorbing in the atmosphere, I realised there were sleeping pixies inside the zorb balls. Slowly as intrigue built and everyone was mingling, the Pixies emerged from the zorb balls and gathered for a magical dance movement that interacted with us ending with a bang of silver confetti. My friend Tania described her feelings as if she was in Harry Potter, I guess that sums it up! There was no better way to present Nespresso PIXIE than like this. As the night went on, the magical harp progressed into upbeat music by a DJ. With amazing and interesting presented food by Stephan Mueller plus Pixie inspired drinks designed by Marco Faraone, the magical night was complete. But maybe next time George Clooney could be there too? haha

The chic new Nespresso PIXIE comes in 6 vibrant colours and consumes 40% less energy than average A class machines. It encapsulates the perfect luxury coffee consumption in it's sleek and compact design. I just eyed the Swarovski crystal Nespresso PIXIE.. I want THAT one! haha. For Sydneysiders, check it out in the new City Westfield store.

Once again some amazing choreography and dancers from The Squared Division (previously seen at the Esprit store launch) and magical make up by Martin Bray. Great work to Torstar! I thought some of the pixies looked like Lady Gaga! Also adored Carla Zampatti's fur paired with a Chanel bag and meeting Elke Kramer in person was wonderful.