MICHEL vs VUITTON

It's seems everyone has gone hopping mad.

The Alice and Wonderland fever has hit, but before we jump on the band wagon of dressing up like playboy bunnies, lets take a look at the original genius (high on life at the time of sketching) artiste.

And so the battle begins....

Maison Michel has been making headpieces since 1936 but what has really propelled him onto the teen and trend addicts radar is his lace bunny ears. Not the over the top ones (that will soon be mentioned) but the ones that you saw the Olsen twins (Ashley - mouse ears, MK - rabbit) adorning looking ever so cute and fashion forward and and good ol' Lily Allen, who I always have a big question mark over.

And then there are the attention grabbing ears. The idea behind LV's ears came down to Marc Jacobs getting inspired from an wrapped around cloth. He explains "There's a girl who works for us, Lucy, she's on the design team, and Adrian, one of the boys, was tying a little bit of fabric around and it reminded me of bunny. We were thinking of all these different things like can-can dancers, and I saw this piece of fabric wrapped around Lucy's head and said, 'Bunny ears, that's what we need to finish this look.' So we made all these radzimir bunny ears and that's how it happened. I like the kind of Playboy, French coquette aspect to it." Apparently they made 30 to 40 colors before choosing the right one for Madonnas Fall ad campaign, that's a lot of Easter props.

And just to prove how much of a modern fashion frenzy it really is, Sportsgirl and Bardot have just released their own affordable versions. Yippee! Easter has come early (sarcasm intended).

It's not that I don't like the hopping mad trend, it's just like all things, when everyone has it and pulls it off horribly (wrong outfit, wrong place, wrong person) it loses its fun and 'it' factor. But for now, I have faith. I mean, if it made the Olsens appear happier on the red carpet, it can't be all that bad.

So guess i'll be seeing you on the band wagon?

p.s. found this cool tutorial to make your own, dooo ittt!!!

Images sourced from photobucket, carmenyuen.com, lizzypeters.nl, monoxious and fabsugar.com

Big blue genie, grant me one wish

Stella McCartney oversized collarless taffetta jacket
price: too many tears

Felix & Slink

"Welcome to the new Brisbane"

F&S is the newest and coolest PR company to just come out of Brisbane. I know right? This is more of a Sydney cool thing to do. But these five Brisbane kids are unleashing their talent and drive to create a PR company worthy to rival anything Melbourne or Sydney can throw at them.

5 young co-founders: Tom O'Conner, Kate O'Conner, Brent Doolan, Laura Godwin and Sam O'Conner are proving youth is just another asset.

Their launch party was last Friday at Limes Hotel, with special guest Kate Waterhouse (style and fashion editor for The Sun Herald) mcing and guests including Julie Grbac, Talitha Cummins, Ireney Tobin and many more of Brisbane's fashion frontier.

Their launch party was a huge success with champagne flowing, delicious cupcakes and a very big buzz surrounding the whole night. Playing door bitch at the beginning of the night was soo much fun too!

With an already increasing clientele; Limes Boutique Hotel, Byron Bay Cookie House and a very close friendship with Viviens Model Management, this PR company is a force to be reckoned with.

So the big question is,
are you a slinker?

Images from felixandslink.com.au and Tom O'Connors facebook page

Wonderland

This months issue of H.B was really Edward's baby.

Edward Coutts Davidson was guest creative director for Harper's April 'Wonderland' issue. He had been working, stressing (and smoking like a chimney out the front of the Bazaar building) months prior, to create and perfect his masterpiece.

Inspired by renowned celebrity/fashion photographer Annie Leibowitzs and her Disney shoot for Vanity Fair magazine in late 2007, Edward decided to create his own interpretation.

By using only Australian designers, models, actresses and landscapes, Edward succeeded in creating his magical fashion fairytale.

Actress Teresa Palmer as Alice in Wonderland
designer: Collette Dinnigan
location: Sydney Harbour, New Years Eve 2009
photographer: David Mandelberg

Actress Rachael Taylor as Cruella DeVil in 101 Dalamatians

designer: Romance was Born

location: State Theatre Sydney

photographer: Jordan Graham

Jenny Kee, Linda Jackson and Sydney's fashion fraternity in Fantasia
designer: Michelle Jank
location: Centennial Park, Sydney
photographer: Harold David

Out of all the interns I was lucky enough to score the Fantasia gig (big thanks to Luce). The morning involved working with Cat, Lucinda and all the girls from the Artist Group plus of course the amazingly talented and modest Michelle Jank.

Michelle had asked her nearest and dearest to be apart of her shoot. They were told to dress in white and to be as outrageous as they wished. There were all white cabaret dancers, fencers, karate kids, bee keepers, a young horse rider (complete with matching white horse) dj's, other designers and former models. The props were even more outrageous; a 30cm white apple, a bathtub, snow machine, 2 white cars, white ladders, a huge stage featuring Elvis himself and much more.

My job was to help style guests who wanted a different outfit. A huge thanks to the Vintage Clothing Shop, I had so much fun picking out gorgeous vintage items such as beaded dresses, white fur vests, hats, shoes and co-ordinating pieces.

It was a huge, huge day. I was estatic to be part of the group shot but in the background with another fifty or so people. The experience was priceless and I don't doubt it will be one of the most extraordinary shoots I will ever be on.

Fashion shoot images scanned from April's issue of H.B

Edwards picture from theaustralian.com.au

Marina Afonina

If anything Marina Afonina should be applauded for is her sophisticated, classic, neutral palette she continuously brings to life in every styling shoot.

Every time I clutch my new issue of Bazaar, I immediately search, nose pressed hard against the shiny pages of colour and fantasy, until I stop at what feels like an old friend.
Reliable, dependable and neverendingly stylish chic Marina Afonina.

Her style is instantly recognisable. Beige, cream, caramel, tan, camel, taupe, (I could go on), against striking black bodysuits, man styled pants or an always crisp shirt. The models are spared the over the top makeup, Marina prefers them to appear effortlessly glamourous with an Au natural appearance. Bronze sun kissed skin, with sea water misted hair in a loose braid or bun, with natural wisps subtly framing the face. Perfection.

And boy does she practise what she preaches. I was lucky enough to work with Marina when I was in Sydney interning with Bazaar for almost two months. This lady really lives and breathes her style and projects that into every issue, photograph and story that has her byline.

For instance, I was given a package for Marina from the courier, what was in the bag were a pair of Givenchy beige wedges. These wedges were not a pair to be outdated, you can see this women knows what to invest on (to be fair she did receive them with a large discount).

She turns up to work in khaki coloured pants, mocha coloured tanks, faded leopard cotton harem pants (to die for) and her hair is always back in a small messy bun, with of course the ever noticeable wisps around her temple and ears.

It seems this once market editor for Harper's has found her true calling. In a world where fashion is often dominated by bold intense colours, prints and outrageous designs, with designers constantly trying to outdo one another at each fashion show, it is impressive to still see a stylist still work with the basics.

For Marina Afonina, it all comes down to the cut, the tone, the material and the awe inspiring effortless chic.

get the look.

From top left clockwise: Fendi leather zipper-pocket shorts, Acne acupuncture asymmetrical mini dress, Camilla Skovgaard saw suede mules, 3.1 Phillip Lim berry leather carry-all wallet, Missoni ginepro woven tank dress, James Perse paneled cotton shirt, Chloe canvas and leather sandals, Zimmermann laced silk-satin dress.

Photo shoot images scanned from March issue of H.B.