565 Lasoo Blog

To celebrate the launch of Harper’s BAZAAR BRIDES, Georgie McCourt, deputy editor of Harper's BAZAAR, welcomed guests to leading bridal and red-carpet designer Johanna Johnson’s Paddington boutique. 

  It's a fitting collaboration given BAZAAR BRIDES aims to cater to the fashion savvy, sophisticate bride. A label synonymous with old world glamour, Joanna Johnson's signature vintage gowns are coveted by Hollywood A-listers alongside the toughest of clientele -- discerning Brides-to-be. 

  Attendees were treated to displays from Johanna Johnson's Luxor collection fresh from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. From the intricate Swarovski art deco motifs to her exquisite hand finished beading, Johanna's designs exude femininity and remind us of a bygone era of timeless grace. The Luxor pieces have an undeniable 1920s aesthetic - from flapper-esque feathered capelets to swoon-worthy cuffs and hairpieces.

While BAZAAR brides-to-be could view the latest bridal gown and veil as modelled by Samantha Harris at MBFWA, others perused Johanna's limited edition "Trousseau" collection. The luxe gowns are available at a modest price range from $985.

This Bride-To-be looked beautiful when styled by Johanna in the ivory silk satin "Flora" gown (from the Trousseau collection).  

  By this point I was silently cursing myself for already being married. When would I have my Johanna Johnson moment? I wondered…..

  And so it came as sweet relief when Georgie McCourt, who is also Editor of BAZAAR BRIDES, uttered two magic words…"Lifestyle collection".

     Johanna's new lifestyle range includes luxurious cashmeres, indulgent body products and stylish lingerie. The talented designer has also introduced sweet "Audrey" ballet flats, inspired by the elegance of style icon Audrey Hepburn. Prestigious Perrier-Jouët champagne along with canapés by ARIA catering and desert by Planet Cake materialised as if on cue - a double cause for celebration.

  Flicking through the glossy pages of BAZAAR BRIDES, the lovely Georgie McCourt's words about her own wedding resonated with me, "I loved every minute of the planning process" she said. Perhaps I will take out a subscription….for research purposes…..

The tribes had gathered. Tipped as the biggest show of the week, Camilla's "Gypset" was minutes away….

  Call it first time tent anxiety, but the line between reality and runway began to blur…. Was that funky drum beat courtesy of my throbbing temples? Was the squawking bird call part of the show or merely a disgruntled editor with no seat allocation??

  The surrealism continued. 

  Seated next to Grazia's Kellie-Hush, Susie Bubble was checking out the crowd, quietly soaking up all the little details….  Terry Biviano, Paula Joye, Kate Waterhouse and Glynnis Traill- Nash also caught my eye in the front row...

  Having managed to distribute the weight of my notebook, handbag, product samples, pile of magazines and program to one shaky leg….I could not conceal a longing glance at guests admiring their new Camilla pillows- that is one gift that should have come with a general admission media pass!

  The bird calls got louder, the rhythmic drumming more frantic. Cicadas singing in the darkness transported us to the outdoors. The crowd whistled in anticipation and we were off!…. 

  Opening dramatically with an explosion of colour, models triumphantly strutted down the catwalk in accoubra hats and psychedelic kaftans. The high energy of the show was infectious.

   While Camilla emphasised her collection would feature ready to wear separates, it was clear that they would be styled in the most theatrical way. Swarovski crystals and heavily layered jewellery were combined with Camilla's signature prints to create the dramatic "Gypesetter" look. It's an aesthetic that Camilla says combines the unconventional ethos of a 'gypsy' with the sophistication and speed of the jet setter.

  Napoleon Perdis used a metallic glitter liner under the eyes of Camilla's models and created a stain on the lip. 

"She's been biting berries because she's a gypsy and she's nomadic" said Perdis.      

  An eclectic mix of indigenous references were drawn upon with such attention to detail- from Japanese Geishas to Aztec culture. The show opened with a nod to Australiana; models wearing chunky boomerang necklaces walked to the rhythmic hum of the didgeridoo. Fluorescent yellows, pinks and blue hues popped on the catwalk.

The ultimate display of accessories were on show - colourful bandanas and chinese inspired hair pins, large feathers in textured braids…. even a playful backpack covered in flowers! See Samantha Harris in front...

The Stripping away the accessories, I can see select separates looking gorgeous for Summer. Australia's Next Top Model's Montana looked like an amazonian goddess in Camilla's new animal print swimwear.

   To the delight of the crowd Camilla was joined on stage by about 20 children debuting her S/S 12/13 children's' wear. Decked out in floral wreaths and necklaces, the kids looked adorable in her shirts and kaftans - sure to be a hit with the yummy mummy set.

The hair styling was completed by the legendary Goldwell Hair Director Sharon Blain, who combined intricate fishtail braids with eclectic hair extensions and  intricate beaded accessories.

And now for my must have item of the season - it's Camilla's pillow! 

Perfect for the exhausted journo on the go at fashion week, this pillow strapped to the back is calling to me (see fourth from back.)

MBFW kicked off yesterday with Australia's fashion elite making the annual pilgrimage to the Overseas Passenger Terminal in the heart of Sydney's Harbour.

There was a sensational line up including, Camilla, Gail Sorronda, Kirrily Johnston and the anticipated debut of Dylan Cooper's fashion line.

The Camilla show was a highly anticipated event and featured he signature brights and detailed prints. Influences from around the globe became centrepieces for collection including, cowboy hats, geisha styled head pieces, Indian statement jewellery and African influenced beaded accessories.

Guests were treated to travel pillows made from signature prints from her latest collection,make up from Napoleon Perdis who completed the make up for the show and Goldwell styling products which were used to create the intricate braided styles.

The finale had Camilla Frank herself glide along the catwalk with 20 children donned in Camilla's collection.  

April 26th marked the launch of the new PUMA by Hussein Chalayan in Melbourne. Guests were treated to an exclusive first-look at the latest Puma collection available exclusively at Marais Melbourne.

There are few spectacles as arresting as Sydney’s Circular Quay. However, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia is set to be one of them. In the last week of April, the iconic venue will serve as a backdrop for the country’s largest gathering of established and emerging designers, who will bring their spring/summer collections to an audience of global buyers, editors and fashion lovers.

  The event will see Australia’s biggest fashion players take centre stage, with Akira, Zimmerman, Lisa Ho and Tony Maticevski showcasing their latest offerings along with the design nous that secured their status among the country’s fashion establishment. These luminaries will be joined by the likes of Camilla, Romance Was Born and Ellery – designers widely billed as the new guard of Australian fashion.

  The week is set to begin with a show by Romance Was Born, a Sydney design duo known for their quirky, expressive styling and disregard for the fashion rules, and will culminate in a VIP finale by Brazilian talent Fernando Frissoni. But there are plenty of highlights to choose from in between, including shows from Manning Cartell, evening wear maverick Aurelio Costarella, cult label Miss Unkon and Paris-inspired design house Toi et Moi. Mark your diaries.

Call it foresight, but perhaps The Kinks captured fashion’s lingering fascination with androgyny best when they sang “Girls will be boys and boys will be girls” in their ode to Lola, back in 1973.

  Encapsulated by style icons including Patti Smith, Jane Birkin, Katharine Hepburn and Francoise Hardy, and reinterpreted by the likes of Alexa Chung and Charlotte Gainsbourg, the tomboy trend continues to be resurrected season after season. And this winter is set to be no different judging by recent AW12 collections turned out by Costume National, Donna Karan and Roksanda Ilincic.

  Those wanting to inject a unisex sensibility to their style should play with proportion and shape. Team an oversized blazer with slim line trousers, a classic white shirt with loose rolled hem denim, or an oversized tee with shorts and chunky boots for borrowed-from the-boys style.

Australia may suffer from the tyranny of distance, but when it comes to fashion it seems to work in our favour. Our antipodean lifestyle has always fostered wild creativity and it seems like the world is finally catching on. Although names such as Sass & Bide and Collette Dinnigan have long commanded overseas runways, a new breed of fashion upstarts are now flying the local flag.

  Hollywood starlets Michelle Williams and Rose Byrne have both embraced Lover, a Sydney-based label fronted by design duo Nic Briand and Susien Chong. The pair’s timeless, feminine approach to womenswear has attracted attention from high-profile fashion bloggers as well as Vogue and The New York Times.

  Melbournian Dion Lee is also making global waves, taking his stunning AW2012 collection ‘Sequence Breathing’ to this year’s London Fashion Week. And it seems that the world still can’t get enough of Josh Goot, whose sleek body-con aesthetic continues to win over the world’s most respected fashion press.

Hermes last month released one of the world’s most expensive handbags. Made in collaboration with jeweller and shoe designer Pierre Hardy, the bags are valued at €1.5 million each and took two years to make. The twelve bags, of which there are four styles, include one made of solid rose gold adorned with 1160 diamonds and another made of intertwining chains with 11,000 diamonds.

  While the bags sound nothing short of extravagant and amazing, at a size big enough to only fit a small wallet, they are not the most functional handbags in terms of size or price. So what’s a girl to look for when investing in a new handbag?

  Go classic

  If you’re looking for a keeper – a bag that will wear with you in the long term – then make it a classic. Assess what you carry with you on an average day and consider this the size you should veer towards. There’s no point spending up on a beautiful petite bag only to have to carry another bag with you every day with all your other extras.

  Take into account your wardrobe and the colours you wear on a regular basis. This might see you opt for black, navy or tan over an easily dirtied white or bone shade or more seasonal, trend-driven colour (though there’s nothing wrong with rocking some colour if you love it!)

  Don’t skimp on straps

  Straps do matter. While in the store, short straps may seem like a fine idea, but they won’t in the long run if you are conventionally an ‘over-the-shoulder tote’ girl. The fabric of your bag is important too – something like leather has a long lifespan and will age well. Even suede, with a little TLC, can go the distance.

2012 is shaping up to be quite a year for British songstress Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, who – like most artists of a certain pedigree – is known simply by her first name: Adele. Discovered on MySpace back in 2006 after her friend posted a video of her singing, she released her first album, 19, in 2008, followed by 21 in 2011. (The albums take their name from the age she was when she wrote them). While 19 was highly acclaimed, 21 is a ten-times platinum record and made Adele the highest-selling artist of 2011.

  The 23-year old graced the cover of fashion bible American Vogue in February (as well as UK Vogue in October 2011) and cleaned up at the Grammys in March, taking home six of the prestigious awards. She is celebrated not only for her singing talent but also as a beautiful role model for fuller-figured women.

  Envied for her creamy alabaster skin, high cheekbones and glossy mane, Adele favours an ‘Old Hollywood’ approach to style, particularly when she’s hitting the red carpet. The striking black sequinned floor-length Armani evening gown she wore to the Grammys best captured this and put her on ‘best dressed’ lists around the world.

Sydney Couturist Alex Perry debuted his Spring/Summer 2012/13 Ready to Wear Collection in a glamorous catwalk show at Melbourne’s Docklands.Inspired by imagery of the Italian Islands, Perry’s designs featured floral embroidery and sparkling beading reminiscent of the “flowers and vines” of Sardinia.

Corsetry and feminine, fitted bodices dominated the collection.  When teamed with sheer overlays and textured embellishments, pieces evoked a whimsical, ethereal quality on the runway. A ‘butterfly effect’ resulted as models glided down the catwalk, with delicate floral motifs appearing to fan open and closed as they walked.

As expected, the soft billowy movement of Perry’s signature floor length gowns provided the wow factor. Former Australia’s Next Top model winner Alice Burdeu looked radiant in red in this dazzling sequined evening gown.

This slinky black dress with its patent ‘wet’ finish was another crowd pleaser, illiciting gasps of admiration amongst attendees.

With structured cocktail dresses to red - carpet ready gowns on display, the colour palette progressed from muted creams and golds to hues of lime green and crimson. Black and white colour blocking and use of lace detailing gave the collection a modern, on trend look.

The show was well received by attendees including “Perry Girl” Megan Gale and fellow A-listers Paula Joye, Grazia’s Kellie Hush, Naomi Robson and Australia’s Next Top Model’s Josh Flynn.

Perry says his design philosophy is to make women “look and feel beautiful and glamorous”. Judging by this collection, mission accomplished.

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Bright summer palettes and lightweight fabrics need to make way for essential autumn trends. So prepare your wardrobe now and don't get caught short when the season strikes. The good news is you don't have to spend a fortune to have an amazing autumn clothing collection. The secret is investing in staple pieces and must-have accessories to add an autumn feel to what you already own.

  Animal instincts Exotic animal prints are back. So play up any outfit with a leopard, zebra, giraffe or cheetah piece – be it a tee, leggings, blazer or bodycon dress. Don't forget the wonders of accessories. An animal print scarf is cheap and effective; wear it around your neck or in your hair and turn an outfit from old to autumn.

   Animal-print cotton-blend T-shirt

$145.00

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A trusty trench The cool is about to creep up, which means women need a khaki trench that's light enough to wear during the day and warm enough to get through a chillier night. Opt for olive or burgundy colours – or a bold leopard print trench if you're daring.

  Webbed detailing It's all about creating texture – and webbed detailing will create this sought-after weighted look, only without the heaviness. This elegant web lace bodycon dress and tweed skirt are both sexy enough to wear in autumn, but don't scream summer.

From Posh Spice to Queen Bee of the WAGs (wives and girlfriends of the English football team) to an award-winning fashion designer, Victoria Beckham's style has earned her an official place in the pop culture ranks. After all, the paparazzi are constantly on her tail and she is revered by millions around the world for her fashion choices alone.

  It's been a long and successful journey sprinkled with many memorable outfits and style reinventions – the hair, the clothes, the shoes, the handbags and the shades. However eyebrow-raising it's been, she's worn it with enough conviction to pull it off. "If you haven't got it, fake it! Too short? Wear big high heels, but do practice walking," Beckham advises.

  It's no coincidence her own dress collection (already worn by the likes of Cameron Diaz and Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester) sold out. Unlike many celebrities, Beckham has a genuine love for and interest in her own fashion lines. This is reflected in her role as spokeswoman/model for an array of labels (before she started her own) and her personal friendships with designer buddies Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld and Roberto Cavalli to name a few.

  Still, Beckham doesn't believe there is a relationship between a person's fashion and the amount of dollars in their purse. "Looking good isn't about money, it's about style. And style never goes out of fashion."

  Beckham was fortunate enough to develop a strong sense of style from her mother who showed her how clothes should fit, never to wear horizontal stripes and avoid eating beetroot because it stains.

Faux Fur: Is Faking it, Making it?

  While design houses such as Michael Kors, Mulberry and Issa continue to use fur in their collections (as seen during their shows at London and New York Fashion Weeks this month), faux fur also revealed itself as a key trend for autumn with labels like Vera Wang and Calvin Klein joining the push towards fake. However, some claim that wearing faux fur is just as bad, as it sends the message that real fur is fashionable. So is buying faux fur wrong?

  Critics argue that wearing of faux fur indirectly stimulates the fur trade, as it reinforces it as a fashion trend and contributes to the idea that it’s culturally acceptable. Advancements in the production of faux fur have developed at an astonishing rate in recent years and many people are now unable to tell the difference between a real skin and a fake. It begs the question that if shoppers can’t tell the difference – perhaps they will, if they choose to check the tag – how will the ordinary person on the street?

  On the other side of the debate are those that believe anything that saves animals’ lives is worthwhile. A view shared by lifelong vegetarian, animal rights campaigner and fashion designer Stella McCartney, who does not use any animal skins in her collection, but has used faux fur in the past. Those who are pro-faux believe that fur lovers are more likely to choose a fake, cruel-free alternative, rather than give it up.

  It’s food for thought either way the next time you find yourself softly stroking a fur (faux or real) jacket, vest or accessory.

From Lady Gaga’s meat dress at the MTV Awards last year to Nicky Minaj’s bizarre red cape, blonde wig and Pope-inspired date at the Grammy awards last week, some celebs take a strange and sometimes not so successful approach to dressing for the red carpet. While most of us don’t have to contend with screaming fans and paparazzi like celebs do, it’s safe to assume you want to look and feel gorgeous when heading out to a big event. So what are the golden rules to getting it right?

  The showstopper

Dresses are the easy go-to for evening glam – and the choices are endless. Whether you opt for the fail-safe little black dress or something bright, bold or printed, ensure you’re comfortable and not conscious in it. Dress to flatter your body and keep it chic; if it’s low-cut on top, avoid a high-riding hem. Don’t be afraid of colour or to stray from the norm and play with pantsuits (sexy tux anyone?) or separates like skirts and pretty blouses.

  Handbags

Perhaps Project Runway mentor and all-round man of style Tim Gunn said it best when he told Marie Claire: “There is an easy prescription for getting this [handbags] right: The dressier the affair, the smaller the handbag.” Avoid big, heavy distracting handbags for formal evenings out. Instead, opt for something small and elegant, with enough room for the essentials: lipstick, purse, keys and phone.

  Shoes

Forgot the fussy old rule that you need to match your shoes to your dress or handbag, anything goes, as long as it works. Try different shape heels and colours and see what complements your outfit as a whole. Make sure your shoes are reasonably comfortable; you want to be able to at least walk around or enjoy a dance. If they’re new shoes, try break them in a little before the big night. There’s nothing pretty about bleeding heels and blisters.

  Accessories

Accessories can completely change an outfit. Lift a classic black number with a cool belt, a striking necklace or add an element of sparkle with diamonds. If you’re going bright and bold, keep it simple with subtle jewellery that don’t clash or override the main event: you.

Not too short, not too long, the midi skirt brings together all the good things about life in the middle. Spotted on the runway at Rag & Bone and Derek Lam at this month’s New York Fashion Week and favoured by the likes of celebs including Sarah Jessica Parker and Keira Knightley, the midi (mid-length skirt) sits anywhere between below the knees and mid-calf and is flattering on most body shapes and heights.

  Midis come in a myriad of styles. The key to this look is to not make it look matronly. Avoid midi skirts with added bulk like pockets and heavy embellishment. Draw attention to your waist – cinch it with a belt, tuck in blouses or pair it with a cropped knit or tank. Team it with heels or ankle boots for extra height. Experiment with print, colour and accessories for a fun, modern look.

  Those looking for a retro silhouette should take inspiration from the ladies of Mad Men. Choose a slim fitted midi and team it with a pretty blouse or twinset for a sexy and sophisticated silhouette or go full skirted for a more romantic interpretation. Those looking for a more casual take on the midi trend should opt for a pleated, a-line or gently flared skirt for an easy wearing look that is as appropriate for work as it is the weekend.