Fashion Musings

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2012

It might be (it is) a little chilly these days and we might be (we are) extremely disappointed in society to hear that Lara Bingle is getting her own reality television show and we are most definitely dying a slow death fuelled by jealousy toward all those lucky people who will be at Groovin The Moo this weekend and get to bask in the handsomely hairy glory that is Matt Corby BUT... then we remember that little ray of sunshine, that faint beacon of hope, that feeling when you get when you go to the register and find out that that everything is actually an extra 40% off which also comes in the form of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Of course we were all a little devastated when we heard that Dion Lee and Alex Perry wouldn't be showing but the amazing opening show by Romance Was Born certainly lifted our spirits:

It seems like everyone's getting in on the whole superhero thing but we'll let Romance Was Born get away with being 'tho mainstream' just because this show is everything you'd ever want a fashion week to start with. It was fun and fresh and as Jes would say, a little cray cray.

These are just a few of our other favourites from the rest of the week:

Nana Judy:

While this show wasn't nearly as 'cray' as Romance Was Born, in their own right, Nana Judy did well to show off their colourful casual clothes (lame alliteration right there). I do love all those dyed pants in the final picture but I sincerly hope that we don't have to start writing posts about how bras are not shirts. :/

Blessed Are The Meek:

After Tupac's cameo at Coachella, it looks like holograms are yet another trend which we're going to start seeing a lot more at live shows of all kinds. Kudos to Laser Vision for their amazing light show which only made Blessed Are The Meek's show even better.

Despite the fact that those eyebrows look like they belong on that creepy Cadbury ad.

Seriously that's just creepy.

And to divert our eyes from the death above, Akira:

SO MUCH COLOUR!! :D :D :D

Ginger and Smart:

Who doesn't love Ginger and Smart? That first blue dress is crazy beautiful!!

Even though I said we were picking out our favourites, I just wanted to share a few looks from Lisa Ho:

I'm more than a little devastated to say that I didn't really like much of what Lisa Ho put on. :(( But it's Lisa Ho! I know!I Hence the double sad face! I do like the colours it's just... I don't know. To me it all seems a little dated... Also I really hate those streaky under-dye hair thingos the models have going on. I hope for their sake that they're just clip ons or extensions so they can head straight for the bin. Where they belong. Seriously this isn't the 90's and you are not a bratz doll.

Ok I should stop being mean. Let's end on something positive and pleasing to the eye.

As if you didn't see that one coming.

I really will stop being mean now (there are people out there who love you Nicki Minaj, you and all of your... uniqueness). Anyway, this last collection is by Zimmerman and is probably my absolute favourite.

Miranda (who is a god in my eyes) from The Devil Wears Prada says, "Florals, in spring? How original." *shoots look of derision which makes me whimper from the couch*

Is my god wrong? I hate to say it, but yes. These are the nicest florals and pastels I have seen in a long time!! And somehow, they look extremely original, and not in the Nikki Minaj kind of way (see above photo if you're not sure what I mean).

And this is my absolute absolute favourite dress by Zimmerman:

How is it even that pretty?! I have no idea what that paint flicky technique thing is called but whatever it is, I love it. And that colour is so spot on!

Gosh and that's only really just touching on the amazing-ness (at a slight loss for adjectives) that was Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Next time round it would be lovely to actually go... (mostly because I want some gift bags because lets face it, who doesn't love gift bags?!)

I think it's time to stalk down these designers' online stores now! And eat some cake and listen to Teenage Dirtbag (don't judge me- I know you're all going to rummage through your CD collection and reminisce on the good old days when Wheatus was cool). But do comment and let us know which show was your favourite!

- Varsh

DJ's Autumn/Winter Looks for 2012

So yesterday was the David Jones autumn/winter runway show featuring the ever-so-lovely Miranda Kerr.

Now think about that sentence.

Runway show. Autumn/winter. Miranda Kerr.

How much better could life get?!

Oh that's right, maybe if the sentence read:

"So yesterday, Jes and I were at the David Jones autumn/winter runway show featuring the ever-so-lovely Miranda Kerr where we were served macarons and cupcakes by Ryan Gosling all night."

Oh well...

The show was streamed live though, (if you missed it check out some of the highlights here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knoMFyBH8jc) which is rather convenient, and I have to say I was more than a little impressed!

Here are a few of my favourites from the night:

(Pictures from SMH)

Besides the neutrals, lace and prints, another trend we were starting to see again is the tailored suit.

Miranda Kerr opened with this Josh Goot piece:

Which I thought was rather bold. (Then again its Miranda Kerr so she can kind of do/wear whatever pleases her).

But then I saw these and... well...

I don't really know what to think, to be honest.

Anyway, a final special mention to Rachael Finch in Deon Lee before we head off!!

Lots of love for that dress right there!!

- Varsh

Clothes you can feel really, really good about!

Now I don't mean to alarm you but I have some shocking information. Both Varsh and myself love...clothes. A shocking revelation, isn't it?

And I'm sure that my fellow clothes-lovers would have probably also spent a little too much a boxing day sales. Well check the tags on those items because if they have the ECA logo on them, you needn't feel too guilty!

We had a chat to Eloise from Ethical Clothing Australia to find out a little bit more about this fantastic organisation!

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FM: Tell us about ECA:

Eloise: Ethical Clothing Australia provides ethical brands and clothing manufacturers with a way to help ensure legal obligations and standards are met throughout the supply chain. When you see the Ethical Clothing Australia trademark on a product, it means it was made in Australia and everyone involved in its production received, as a minimum, the legal rates of pay and conditions.  There are currently a total of 63 Australian clothing and footwear businesses accredited.

FM: What are the long-term aims of ECA?

Eloise: Ethical Clothing Australia looks forward to continuing its work with the Australian textile, clothing and footwear industry, and building on the number of businesses that are certified as having  provided workers with fair wages and decent conditions.

FM: What are some of the campaigns ECA has organised?

Eloise: Ethical Clothing Australia launched its first consumer awareness campaign, Meet Your Maker, in October 2011.  The campaign aims to educate consumers about the importance of ethical manufacturing in the Australia textile, clothing and footwear industry, and assist them to make an informed choice for shopping ethically. Contrary to common opinion, ‘Australian-made’ does not always mean ethically made. The Ethical Clothing Australia program ensures that these workers receive fair pay and conditions.

FM: That sounds exciting! Tell us more about Meet Your Maker!

Eloise: The Meet Your Maker campaign aims to connect consumers with the people who have been involved behind the scenes in making their clothing and footwear.  In highlighting the individual makers that work for Ethical Clothing Australia accredited brands and manufacturers, we hope to showcase the high degree of skill and expertise that they use every day to do their work.  We want consumers to value these makers’ work and the Ethical Clothing Australia accredited businesses that employ them.  These are businesses that are committed to ethical manufacturing in Australia.  The Meet Your Maker website www.meetyourmaker.org.au is the key platform of the campaign, which is then promoted by the accredited business online and in store.  We want consumers to engage with the brand and makers involvement with the campaign website.

FM: How can readers get involved?

Eloise: Consumers are encouraged to visit the campaign website, or more specifically the brand or makers’ own website pages.  If the brand is using swing tags in their stores, consumers can follow the URL or use the scannable QR code using their smart phone to go directly to these pages.

Most importantly, consumers are encouraged to interact with their makers by:

-  Taking a photo of themselves with their new purchase and upload it to the brand or maker’s page

- Making a comment about their purchase or the campaign on the brand or maker’s page

FM: How do businesses get involved?

Eloise: By registering with Ethical Clothing Australia, clothing businesses are committing to take certain steps to keep their Australian-based supply chains transparent and ensure that they and any sub-contractors are compliant with the relevant Australian laws.

Once compliant, accredited brands are licensed to display the Ethical Clothing Australia trademark on their Australian-made products, providing consumers and buyers with a way to identify and support ethical Australian-made products.

FM: What exciting initiatives are planned for 2012?

Eloise: The year ahead is shaping up to be a big one for Ethical Clothing Australia.  If the past year is anything to go by, which saw Ethical Clothing Australia more than double the number of applications for accreditation, there are positive indicators that support for ethical manufacturing in Australia is increasing, which is perhaps consistent with the growing trend for ethical and sustainable products worldwide.

Ethical Clothing Australia will also be building on the resources for TCF (textile, clothing, footwear) industry to assist Australian textile, clothing and footwear businesses ensure their legal obligations and standards are met throughout the supply chain.

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If you would like to know more about ECA's work, head to their website! We can't wait for their 2012 initiatives to start so we can back this organisation as soon as possible! Why wouldn't you?! As far as we are concerned, the more accredited brands there are, the better we can feel about our insane shopping sprees!

- Jessica

RAFW: Sequins, zombies, blue shoes, big hair and more

RAFW is just another one of those things that makes me proud to be Australian. I know we have a reputation for loving BBQs, having strange native animals and making up funny words (à la crikey and g'day) but the talent of Aussie designers is another thing that contributes to our global reputation.

Alex Perry

Wow. Just wow. Oh Alex Perry, despite your diffusion lines for Diva and Specsavers, you obviously haven't lost your taste for magnficent high fashion. I loved the show-stopping flowy dresses with sequined bodices

Morrison

I did not enjoy the Morrison show.

BUT...

I do like the idea of fashion with a story - even if it wasn't the designer's intention to have some kooky blogger make up a crazy story of her own.

Obviously we have an average woman who has made the unfortunate mistake of going without undergarments. She has then been taken to a hospital of some sort (I'm guessing because of her strong desire to go without undergarments).

She is obviously then realised from hospital and commences work as a construction worker of some sort who wears cool shoes. Everyone has the ambition of becoming a detective at some point in their lives and in the end this kooky lady gets her chance to be a detective (who continues to wear funky blue shoes).

THE END.

My story-telling skills are impressive, I know.

Bowie

The final show for RAFW, Bowie showcased BIG hair and a very interesting collection. Models walked along the perimeter of the runway (because for some strange but no doubt artistic reason, there was rock salt strewn across the middle) and those in the front-row could literally touch the gowns. Not that you would, it would be rude.

Rachel Gilbert

The Rachel Gilbert show just radiated elegance.

An opening from an electric violin set the tone of the show - sophisticated and chic. All of the dresses featured some sort of beautiful embellishment and as hem-lines started to shorten, the violin was coupled with a little bit of rap music. Clever.

Lisa Ho

Samantha Harris is one of the most beautiful Aussie models. So why did she look like one of the living dead? Bad styling, that's why. The dresses, however, were quite nice.

Dion Lee

Ah Dion Lee. This is why you are my favourite Australian designer. Attention to structure and bold colours. Intriguing without being costumey. ♥

Poppy Lissiman

Newbie Poppy Lissiman put on a very cute and colourful show. Seriously, it actually made me feel happy.

AND IS THAT ORANGE AND PINK COLOUR BLOCKING I SEE?! I told you - I'm like a fashion seer.

I loved the fact that the models actually looked healthy and genuinely happy. But when you're wearing blue shoes, how can you not be happy?

Which designer do you think had the best collection at RAFW? Let us know!

- Jesie-A

E.T: Rocking the look that's out of this world

I'll admit, I've never been one for science but despite my old science teaching explaining to me that stars are really just giant balls of gas... I still think stars are really pretty! Obviously top designer Christopher Kane agrees with me - his Resort 2011 collection featured a number of kooky but nonetheless, cute galaxy printed ensembles.

Finding a galaxy printed number at an Australian retailer is pretty difficult, at least for now. But think of this post as more of a forewarning! Remember the post on orange-and-pink colour blocking? Well guess what trend made an appearence at Lisa Ho's show at Rosemount Fashion Week? I hate to say I told you so... just kidding, it is actually incredibly gratifying.

Anyhoo, my point is, galaxy print is most definitely going to be major in Australia AT SOME POINT IN TIME! You can thank me and my amazing gift of foresight later.

Need more inspiration? Check out the lovely Basso & Brooke S/S Collection as shown at London Fashion Week 2011:

As a result of that truly amazing show (bouncy, healthy hair + out-there starry prints = a very happy blogger) , Basso & Brooke has now become one of my favourite designers! Yes, I really like stars!

Milk & Honey was one of the first Aussie designers to jump on the galaxy-printed bandwagon:

- Jesie-A