By Alexandra Codd

It's Christmas time again, Friday nights are now filled with champagne and tinsel, summer has the temperatures rising and so to are our hemlines as we turn to our faithful party dresses to get us through the 'silly season'. One event where our old favorites just wont do however, is New Years Eve and it's fast approaching!

What we all want? To look great and feel it too. This season we look to the past for our fashion inspiration which urges us to try "sexy" in a whole new way.

The scandalous Mad Men series, in recent times has popularized 1950's-60's glamour, by showing us that lust and allure is not just created by raunchy skirt lengths or 'body con' attire.

With the use of full A-line skirts, structured bodices, pop colors and feminine florals, the Mad Men look achieves a conservative sexiness by favoring garments which enhance the female shape, not the female 'assets'.

Forget the little black dress this NYE and look to labels such as Laura Ashley's summer collection, so beautifully reminiscent of this era. Featuring royal colored silks and pinned waists, these are a few of our favorites:



Once you have channeled the 'old hollywood movie star' style on the outside, why not heighten your confidence with some gorgeous lingerie. It's amazing the difference that can be made with the right undergarments. We are loving some of Puritan's selections as shown below, which will allow us to feel 1960's glam, even when the clothes come off.



So remember this year, on your party frock endeavors, that (as inspired by our favorite Mad Men stars) true mystery and seductiveness really does come from what is left up to the imagination.  

By Alexandra Codd

Image:  Dan @ Red Eclipse Photography

Only four months since opening as a popular online boutique, the creative team at Molten Store has set its sights on an in-house label, ‘Molten Relic’.

Showcasing jewellery and accessories hand picked from around the globe, this store-exclusive range launches November 24 this year.

Channeling an ethnic and earthy colour palette of warm neutrals and burnished metallics, Molten Relic draws inspirations from the sun, surf and sand, so appropriate for the Australian girl this summer. 

Molten Store director, Jessy Cameron describes:

“Molten Relic is a treasure chest that hints at our infatuation with the bohemian, the obscure and the sentimental.”

Just in time for Christmas, this unique and enchanting range will be the perfect stocking filler with prices ranging from $29- $229.

Whether it’s a necklace, ring, clutch or beach tote that you’re after, the Molten Relic collection offers a beautiful fusion of intricate form and reliable function.

Described to be like the treasures found at a flea market, the labels mystic and charm is reflected in the creative collaboration of sterling silvers, macramé’, quartz crystal and cowrie shell embellishments.

Visit the store today at www.moltenstore.com to shop the entire collection including other inspiring labels such as Anndra Neen, Low Luv by Erin Wasson and Australian favorites, Estelle Deve’ or Maripossa.

hello@moltenstore.com

Ten years is a milestone; and in the fashion world, it’s a lifetime. Brisbane fashion hot house Denim Co, the founding fashion retailer at South Bank, next month celebrates 10 label-filled years and has launched The Great Denim Drop Off, a wonderful annual recycling program, to mark the occasion.

Denim Co is home to in-demand labels White Suede, Life with Bird, Genetic Denim, Autonomy, One Teaspoon, Shona Joy, May, Story By Tang, Marnie Skillings, JBrand (USA), Superfine (UK), Genetic Denim (USA), American Vintage (French), Won Hundred (Denmark) and more. 

During November, Denim Co wants the denim that you don’t!

At The Great Denim Drop Off, customers donating their old denim will be warmly welcomed with a free coffee for their troubles (Denim Co is almost as famous for their great coffee and pastry menu as for their fashion lineup).

All the pre-loved denim donated during November will be gifted to Brisbane’s 139 Club – the largest day centre supporting people experiencing homelessness and other social barriers throughout Queensland.

In an industry which sees many come and go over a single year, let alone a 10 year period, Denim Co is certainly fashion royalty at South Bank – forging the way in the precinct before others followed. Now South Bank is a very real fashion hub.

Denim Co owner Fara Sutjipto said combining fashion and food was a natural for her. “Denim Co is a place where both men and women can come, shop, relax and take their time over a range of what I feel is a really interesting mix, headlined by leading Australian designers and of course including the hottest international names,” she said.

“Over 10 years I’ve seen so many trends, so many designers and labels come and go, so many retailers, and thankfully, an incredibly loyal customer base grow. Brisbane is certainly at the cutting edge of fashion in terms of our shoppers – they know the labels, they search for their labels and when they find them, they buy! So making sure Denim Co continues to stock hot names, as well as introduce new labels constantly, is absolutely crucial for retail survival. That and of course great service, and in our case, great coffee and cakes!”

Denim Co:  Fara Sutjipto opened Denim Co fashion café at South Bank in 2001, after returning from a European holiday that sparked her imagination to create something unique to Brisbane. She became one of the city’s first entrepreneurs to successfully combine a fashion boutique with a café and was the first fashion retailer on Little Stanley Street – now a hub for fashionista’s. The 10th birthday will be celebrated with a VIP fashion parade on Tuesday November 8.

What:               Denim Co’s The Great Denim Drop Off

When:              All November 2011

Address:          Shop 9a Little Stanley Street, South Bank

Contact:           (07) 3844 0302  www.denimco.com.au

Open:               Sunday to Thursday 6am - 10pm and Friday and Saturday 6am till late

Labels:             White Suede, Life with Bird, Genetic Denim, Autonomy, JBrand, One Teaspoon, Metalicus, Superfine, Shona Joy, May, Story By Tang, Marnie Skillings, JBrand (USA), Superfine (UK), Genetic Denim (USA), American Vintage (French), Samvara, Won Hundred (Denmark), Wish,  Autonomy, Karla Spetic

Take a peek inside Charlotte Smith's couture closet when the Dreaming of Chanel fashion exhibition hits Brisbane. An inheritance from her American godmother, Doris Darnell, her priceless collection includes pieces from the world's biggest fashion houses such as Chanel, Dior, and Vivienne Westwood. On show at QUT Art Museum from August 25.
www.artmuseum.qut.edu.au


 

It’s an age-old story for the fashion savvy woman of today: the bulging wardrobe, the need to shop for more, and the impossible idea of parting with those favourites that lay at the bottom of the drawer.
We’re talking about the clothes you would give to a sister or a friend – the outfits that don’t deserve the unfair dismissal of the op shop bin.
The question is; what should you do with them in the quest to buy more?
One suggestion is The Clothing Exchange, where you can swap those favourites in to a new outfit.
Created by Kate Luckins in 2004, the idea grew in to a fashion movement, and now operates in five major capital cities, Brisbane being the newest.
The concept is straightforward enough; bring your old clothes down and swap them for someone else’s pre-loved attire. The quality of your clothes determines the value of the sassy outfits you can walk away with.
Maree Kenny, host of the new Brisbane based exchange, said it is still in its early stages.
“We’ve only had two events so far, and it’s going really well. We’re going to do one every second Wednesday of each month,” she said.
“I stumbled across the [Clothing Exchange] website and realised that Brisbane did not have an organiser, so I got involved with Kate to bring it here.”
It is economically and environmentally friendly and you walk away with a brand spanking new outfit – sounds pretty good to us!
“What’s different about us to other clothes swaps is that we have a strong message we like to put across about sustainable fashion,” Maree said.
“It’s all about reusing and recycling, and being conscious of manufacturing.”
You can register at the Clothing Exchange on www.clothingexchange.com.au, or pay at the door. The next one will be on May 11, see their website for details.

A belated happy New Year to you all! If there is one thing I love about starting a new year it’s new clothes, new shoes, new lingerie, new accessories – well pretty much a new wardrobe! Moving out of my old place in January came as a blessing (firstly because I moved in with another two girls, Caitlin and Hayley, which equals three wardrobes of clothes between us! And secondly because it meant I had to sort through all my clothes and decide what was worth carting between houses).

After the cull, I was left with approximately 120 dresses, 30 tops, 35 bottoms and 32 pairs of shoes (yes I counted) which in my eyes, is just not enough.
With the culled clothes I took some pics and chucked them up on Facebook and eBay and sold them for a steal.
With the chosen clothing items I sorted them by colour, style and length then closed my wardrobe doors and opened up my laptop to begin some much needed online shopping. Because I am a near perfect size 10 in dresses, size eight in tops and 10 in bottoms I feel safe buying clothes online. First I headed to my two favourite stores Urban Outfitters and My Catwalk to see what they had to offer.
Hundreds of dollars were spent and thousands more could have been spent so below are a few of my favourite things!
 

It’s that time of year again – the eagerly awaited for festival season! Just when the sun starts to shine its brightest, djs and artists from all over the world make their way to sunny Queensland to give us festival goers some of the best days of our lives.
Sure, I love the music, the hot summer weather and the shirtless boys (not to mention a great day out with my friends), but most of all I love planning my perfect festival outfit. From cute dresses to denim shorts teamed with stylish cut bodysuits, there really is a world of options when it comes to looking the part for the party of all parties.
With about 10 festivals coming up - ranging from Big Day Out on the Gold Coast to Future Music (featuring one of my favourite artists Ke$ha) - there are a few outfits to plan. So I have included some tips for you to keep in mind this festival season:
1.  Bodysuits – only wear them if you aren’t drinking! Body suits at festivals may look amazing, but they are a nuisance when it comes to toilet trips. So unless you are cool with stripping down and getting naked – avoid bodysuits at all costs.
2.  Whites – don’t even bother! Chances are your white clothes will drink someone else’s beverage when jumping along with everyone in the mosh pits, if your fake tan hasn’t already sweated off onto your once-cute clothes.
3.  Comfy shoes – there is no way you should ever wear heels to a festival. Please, don’t let the dirt, mud, grass, beer and wine ruin a good pair of pumps. Don't forget thongs aren't much better, unless you are prepared to lose them within the first five minutes of arriving when someone steps on the back of them.
And lastly, don’t forget to put sunscreen on and wait 30 minutes before getting changed. I can’t stress the importance of wearing sunscreen enough – don’t be the friend that ruins everyone else’s day by suffering from sun-stroke and don't ruin your own day by turning into a tomato.
Enjoy your festival season!

I recently had the privilege of attending Talulah's Desert Dreams Summer fashion launch and if the experience in itself wasn’t mind-blowing, then the hot looks set to hit the store were. As I walked into Siana Valley (in Fortitude Valley) I was greeted by a group of girls wearing an array of Talulah’s stunning gowns and cocktail dresses. And after an hour or so of meeting and greeting I took my seat alongside the catwalk to see just what Brisbane-based designer Kelli Wharton had in stall for us; and boy was it amazing. Kelli’s latest collection includes vibrant graphic and animal prints in elegant and stylish cuts ranging from leggings to harem pants and from body con-style to maxi length skirts (that when partnered with a new Talulah bodysuit will be sure to make a statement). It’s quite obvious that maxi-length anythings will be the big thing this summer, and if that’s your style then Kelli’s new range is guaranteed to leave you penny-less. A definite favourite of the night would have been the “kiss me twice” baby doll dress (pictured on the left) which opened the show. The bustier style mini dress presents a soft woven bodice
with a built-in rope band and flowing skirt, which of course is available in maxi-length as well.

For the full collection head to www.talulah.com.au 

Give me a blistering hot shoot in the middle of the Nevada Desert with a sizzling hot model wearing sexy lingerie, sky-high pumps  and a sinful fur coat any day of the week. Random, yes, but the juxtapositioning of a shoot like that makes me want to run out and purchase a little fur for myself. Is that weird? For me, fur gives such a sexy exuberance of luxury and style... but I'm torn, as I know it takes the lives of so many innocent and, well, rather cute animals.

Fur – it's a touchy subject. There are haters, lovers and then there are the fence-sitters (me included). I love the look and feel of a luxe fur coat or vest. I get a great '70s vibe from anything with fur and I'm a massive sucker for ANYTHING from the '70s (an era I would gladly head back in time to, while in my mid-20s, but that's a whole other blog) and although I have only ever worn faux fur, I'm sure if I got the chance to put on the real deal I would... or would I?

Fur was all over European catwalks for Fall 2010 with dresses, coats, skirts, hats and handbags covered in it from designers such as Chanel, D&G, Thakoon and Roberto Cavalli, and now it has headed south in the form of footwear. As a fence-sitter and not really much of an animal lover, I wanted to see what your thoughts were on such a subject because although I don't follow all trends off the catwalk, this is definitely an easy trend to pull off. If you can pull it off mentally, that is.

I recently watched an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians to which Khloe was emotionally torn between the "to fur or not to fur" question after being asked to participate in the PETA campaign, "I'd rather go naked then wear fur". A campaign that I love but wouldn't necessarily be influenced by. She was a little self-conscious of her gorgeous womanly figure and didn't know if she wanted to step out of her comfort zone for a little fox or rabbit. She then watched a video of the furmaking processand was mortified, promptly ripping off her clothes for the shoot (in the comfort of a closed set). They showed snippets of that same footage that Khloe watched on the show and it seemed extremely brutal. While I'm not an animal lover, I'm also not an advocate for the cruelty these animals have to face for fashion.

So I'm thinking fence-sitter = faux fur wearer? Right? I'm not sure I could actually purchase real fur, but I could probably try it on and prance around in a shop with it draping over my body for five minutes – don't hate me!

Send me your thoughts.

Love. x

 source: fashionising.com 

What are our thoughts on the emerging winter/fall trend – socks with sandals/heels? I must admit, when I first saw the images from London Fashion Week I immediately had flashbacks of the '90s when, weirdly enough, a lot of very unstylish men were walking around in their socks under sandals for comfort. Hmm comfort... Every fashionista out there knows that fashion doesn't always equal comfort, hello?

It's probably not a trend to try if you don't like attention, as it's safe to say you would get some looks. This is not the first time the socks and sandals have become apparent in the fashion world, though. Sass & bide rocked them on the catwalk a while back now, with thigh-high socks over fishnet stockings with heels (which I loved and rushed out and bought some thigh-highs straight away). Although I purchased the socks back in 2009 I only recently decided to test drive them outside. In public. I think it was a success? When I walked into the office on a Friday morning, pretty much the entire office stopped me  and commented on my new look. Possibly a few utterances of, "What the hell is she wearing" crossed with "She is such a sucker for fashion trends"? All in all, my inner model LOVED the new look, plus they are so comfy and warm to wear on a cold day.

All fashion trends seem to do the circle of life, with many haters saying they should be left in their respective eras, but maybe we need to consider this trend as a cheap alternative to a stylish outfit updater? After all, socks are super cheap compared to a new bag or dress, am I right? Instead of purchasing a new frock for Saturday night drinks with the girls, why not go the cheaper route and swap frockage for sockage! Who knows, you might be pleasantly suprised. Unleash your inner model, ladies!

 

This week we are totally crushing on (and can't get enough of) Northern NSW beauty Samantha Harris. This young lady, shy of 20, is simply stunning and we can't wait to see her grace the catwalks of Paris, Milan and New York alongside other Aussie bombshells like Abbey Lee Kershaw and Miranda Kerr. We can feel it in our waters that this natural beauty will be the next big thing - I mean, she's already gracing Vogue covers and high-end fashion editorials, and recently became the face of the Seafolly summer 2010 collection! Go Sam!

Hear hear, Alexander! This is exactly why we Stylers are snapping randoms on the street – we're intrigued to see what everyone is wearing on their days off.

Head to our online mag page and flick to pg.28 of Brisbane style and pg. 12 of Gold Coast for some outfit inspiration this winter. 

Happy Friday, peeps! A ritual at Style HQ on Fridays is to play Lionel Ritchie's Dancing on the Ceiling to get us excited for the weekend and when I came across this picture it was so perfect I had to post it! It's fabulous fashion fun! Although obviously this is not what the Style office looks like. Haha.

Enjoy your weekend.

LOVE. x

source: sassandbide.com

URGH... Pretty sure I am desperately waiting for the sass & bide, Tomorrow the Great, spring/summer 2010 collection to drop in stores! The homegrown (Brisbane - woo!) talent that is the gorgeous Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Milddleton have done it again, melding feminine chic looks with tribal fantasy.

It's safe to say I would like every single piece hanging up in my wardrobe come spring/summer! I'm not sure if the long fingerless leather gloves would be climate appropriate for our sunshine state but, hell, if you feel the need, why not?

Now where are all my fashionistas at? Who else is obsessing with me right now? Would love to hear all your opinions!!!

 LOVE. x 

P.S. Follow us on twitter at twitter.com/stylemagazines to be the first to read our new postings!

Who loves skulls? The likes of McQueen may still live on thanks to the very talented Philipp Plein. Assuming that Plein may have been influenced by the late Alexander McQueen, he's put together one rocking, skull lovin' spring/summer couture collection that would make every goth/rock chick out there swoon, not to mention the entire office here at Style HQ.

A collection made up mostly of soft cottons, gorgeous silks, sequins and jewelled embellishments makes for a sophisticated, sexy look with a slight edge. Each cardigan or long-sleeve pullover would be fantastic worn with leggings or jeans if you are a little thigh shy, and the dresses... well, they might be more for the ladies who aren't afraid to show a little leg!

Style's favourite is the long-sleeve, mauve, skull print dress -- perfect for dinner with the girls.

To check out the entire collection head to www.philipp-plein-shop.com. From what I gather, the fashion ships to Australia, but a word of warning... it's a little on the exxy side, but if you're up for a little fashion indulgence, this is definitely your site!

 Oh, and the man not only does fashion, he also does homewares, furniture, fantastic accessories and even has his own limited edition Philipp Plein Barbie Doll for purchase  -- WOO!

By Fiona Hiette, senior graphic designer and in-house fashion fiend

OK, so who’s seen Sex and The City 2? Admittedly I’ve seen it four times already. I know, I know, you think I’m crazy, especially seeing as the reviews reckon the movie is more like a badly constructed martini than a smooth cosmo. It’s definitely mixed emotions within the Style office too, with diehard fans loving it and others claiming it’s a movie dedicated to mutton dressed up as lamb. I chose to ignore those people as I LOVED it (hence going four times) and more importantly I LOVED the extravagant fashion, and I know I am not the only one, right?

This is why I’ve dedicated this post to sharing some insider knowledge to where you can get your hands of some HOT SATC 2 pieces. WOO!

There were so many gorgeous labels showcased in the movie, from Christian Dior and Balmain to the very known and loved Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin and Alexander Wang, but the one label that Carrie got “Carried away” with most was Halston Heritage. This is a label with a divine ’70s presence that’s classic, fresh, sexy and feminine all at once. You can’t ask for much more. You can find this label and all the Halston Heritage dresses from the movie through online boutiquessuch as frockshop.com.au, singer22.com, and netaporter.com to name a few. The one I’m lusting over is the one-shoulder peach number Carrie flaunted when arriving in Abu Dhabi. Die!!!

I’ve done my research and found many of the fabulous key items from the movie online and I’m bringing it to all you Style devotees! The Gold Mykita aviators scream sex appeal along with every shoe that was present. Gold was the colour of the moment and one that I will definitely be happy to adopt. Who doesn’t love a bit of glam? Create your next stylish outfit with a hint of gold and you’ll be sure to turn heads. Whether sunglasses or shoes or bling, get your gold on, ladies!

WARNING: ONLINE SHOPPING IS ADDICTIVE. I know this as I am one lady that needs daily fixes. To all my fellow addicts... Enjoy, and please feel free to contact me if you are having trouble searching for items you’ve spotted on celebs or in overseas mags. I would be more than happy to help you search for it.

LOVE x