Letter from the Editor.....
Ah September, my favourite time of the year not only because it is my Birthday month but it is the time where my fashion drought ends and Melbourne Spring Fashion Week begins. Trotting into town with runways, after- parties, pop- up shows and generally blossoming fashion in tow from August 30th until September 5th, MSFW will be an unmissable event for every heel lovin' Melbournian girl. If you're not in the state, don't fret, we have coverage of top events happening in Sydney (Vogue's Fashion Night Out), Western Australia (Perth Fashion Festival), the Sunshine Coast (Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival) and Brisbane (Mercedes- Benz Fashion Festival).
Included in this month's issue of f.rock is Maria de Guzman, our Designer of the Month, stylist extraordinaire Bianca Christoff, Chic Executive Officer Tanya Williams of Princess Chic Shoes, and designers: The Goddess Agency, FUGU fashion, Storm in a Teacup, Mina & Katusha, Escape to Paradise, Blossom Betty and Favourite the Label.
Welcome to Spring 2010, where nudes are the new black, draping is the new silohuette, clogs are the new lace-ups and florals are the reason to play outside. Enjoy!
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designer of the month
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Maria de Guzman is an emerging, young designer who recently joined up to f.rock fashion through Launch My Label. Established earlier this year, "Maria de Guzman" is a sexy, fun and glamorous line of party dresses, comprising of bold colours such as royal purple, cobalt blue, canary yellow and seductive red.
We speak to Maria about her latest collection for Spring.
How would you describe your Spring 2010 collection?
My spring collection is flirty, fun and colourful! My current collection is a mixture of bold colours and lines with the dresses coming in structured, ruffled and strapless styles. From sweetheart necklines to halter neck styles, my designs are feminine and sexy with an aim to embrace the womanly figure.
What inspired you when making this collection?
With the hot weather approaching I wanted to create garments that were both fun and glamorous which girls could wear for all occasions.
What's your favourite thing about Spring?
The nice weather, the heat and all the fun events you can attend without being cold! Parties, races, clubs, dining and everything in between!
What's next for Maria de Guzman?
I just finalized my Summer collection and it is even more brighter and bolder than previous collections!
Visit Maria and her show- stopping dresses at www.mariadeguzman.com
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Immortalized on the big screen by Grace Coddington in the 'September Issue' and popularised by Carine Roitfield of French Vogue, it is no surprise that there are literally thousands of dreamy- eyed girls wishing to be stylists. The allure is undeniable, working with beautiful clothes and being paid to style glamorous models sounds easy, no?
Airbrushing, glamour and fashion aside, there is more to styling than meets the eye.
Introducing Bianca Christoff, Melbourne- based stylist extraordinaire who has worked with the likes of Fashion Journal, Pulp Magazine, Damselfly and ACMI, just to name a few. Budding stylists and curious cats read on.
Who is Bianca Christoff? A very lucky stylist who gets to work across publications, television, advertising, events and fashion editorial.
How did you begin your career as a stylist? I started liasing with an architect outfitting stores and restaurants. My love of fashion and styling also led to working on CD covers for bands. I then completed a visual merchandising course at RMIT and during my course I was fortunate enough to begin working in the industry. In fact, my first major client was the ANZ bank in my final year of study.
What publications/labels have you styled for?
The Age
Culture Magazine
Pulp Magazine
Chaos Magazine
Fashion Journal
Cherrie Magazine
Labels include, Fool Clothing, Damselfly, Catherine Manuelle amongst others.
What is your most recent work? I recently completed a job with ACMI working on the Tim Burton exhibition which was a fantastic experience. I have also recently worked on the Channel 10 promo for a new series called "Offspring" starring Asha Keddie.
What has been your favourite shoot to date? I think my favourite shoot is a black and white series called Unisex. It incorporated androgynous looking girls combined with a type written backdrop and strong imaginative layout that culminated in a really expressive and different style of fashion shoot.
What process is involved in styling a shoot? It really depends what the shoot is, however, after liaising with art directors, photographers and clients its down to creating and interpreting the desired look. This means sourcing product, clothing props, etc and putting it all together to create the required vision. It's satisfying to see the idea come to life.
What are some misperceptions of being a stylist? That it's glamorous and easy!
What future projects you will be working on? I will be working on a fashion editorial for Chaos Magazine and Fashion Journal, I have more television work coming up and ACMI have asked me to create another concept for the Tim Burton exhibition as well as my ongoing work as a styling teacher.
What dream projects you would love to work on? I would love to work with photographers Paolo Roversi and Ruven Afandador whose work I absolutely adore. It would be great to work on a high end fashion shoot where the clothing used was based purely around merit and style rather than the necessity of having a label attached to them.
What defines 'good' personal style? The people that dress for themselves and ignore fads, trends and the latest and greatest.
What advice would you give to someone who was interested in styling?Prepare to work long and hard, have a thick skin, a great drive, an excitement about everything and a back up trust fund for when youre starting out and do it for the love of it!
Famous last words?
As in the words of Talullah Bankhead, "Nobody can be exactly like me. Sometimes even I have trouble doing it".
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designer opportunities
SWIMSHOW
SWIMSHOW Australia 2011 - 24th-26th February 2011
Showcasing a juried assortment of the southern hemispheres best brands brought together for the boutique swimwear
and resort wear markets. Expressions of interest are invited: info@swimshowaustralia.com
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f.rock designer news
Designer and director of f.rock fashion Helen Sattler will be releasing her entire contents of her vintage design studio in a two-day sale. With over 30 years of collecting under her belt, the result is a truckload of vintage fabrics from the 1920's to the 1980's, collectable clothing, hats, shoes, bags, handmade quilts, aprons and travel trunks, just to name a few! Held over the weekend of August 28- 29th at Shop 1/31 Bulcock St, Caloundra
(behind the Health Food Shop), this is a sale not to be missed!
f.rock designers Escape to Paradise and Mina & Katusha will be showcasing their lines at Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival from the 6-11th September. More information under f.rock events.
Independent Melbourne accessories label Double Dutch have officially launched their new website at www.doubledutchdesign.com.au. Consisting of re-worked vintage jewellery, whimsical printed tops, and dresses and quirky homewares, each collection shares the same aesthetic through and through. Inspired by the likes of David Bowie to Marie Antoinette, this eclectic range encompasses a variety of styles and influences, ranging from exotic cultures, antiquity, pop culture, social movements to stories from yesteryear. Not for the faint- hearted, Double Dutch was made for "blue bloods, gypsies and misfits". Make sure you check out their new site and subscribe to their mailing list here : Double Dutch Design
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The team at f.rock fashion have three copies of the latest Fashion Trend magazine to giveaway. Entitled 'Nocturne' and worth $24.95, this is every budding fashionista's bible. To be in the chance to win, join our Facebook group at f.rock fashion and tell/upload us your favourite look after hours (for the fans) OR give us a successful tip about launching your label (for the designers!). Good luck!
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fashion events
Four words that make the sun shine brighter, the birds sing louder and the daisies bloom: Melbourne Spring Fashion Week! Melbourne Spring Fashion Week confirms why Melbourne is Australia's retail and fashion capital. The best part is that everything you see on the catwalk is available from local fashion retailers.
Melbourne Spring Fashion Week is a time to celebrate the outstanding talent that is the essence of Australia's fashion capital.
With more than 100 free and ticketed public events scheduled to celebrate the arrival of the Spring/Summer fashion season, there is something for every budding fashionista, day or night - from glamorous official parades at the MSFW Designer Series (Melbourne Town Hall), intimate millinery workshops, and film festivals to lunch-time fashion shows, street parades, shopping tours, markets, after- parties at Melbourne's most stylish venues and much, much more!
As Janis Joplin sang, 'Oh Lord won't you buy me Mercedes-Benz. My friends all drive porsches, I must make amends.' Well, we probably can't afford to get you a Mercedes Miss Joplin but could we entice you with some Spring/Summer shows at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival in Brisbane? From the 7-13th of August, MBFF will feature an exciting array of the best local, national and international design talent, events and parades to the masses.
This year, to allow more people an opportunity to experience the festival, a large marquee with raked seating will be housed at South Bank's Cultural Forecourt, the new home for MBFF.
The 2010 festival will feature nine group shows, a swimwear/resort parade, a National Media Luncheon, a series of fashionable high teas, an Australian Fashion Graduate of the Year competition, a fashion highlights parade, and a 'fashion after hours' program. There are a broad selection of accessible fashion events to choose from and attend, including free events in Queen Street Mall and tickets ranging in price from $33 to $130.
For further information, visit
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/whats-on/mbff-feature or email
info@mbff.com.au
Moving up north, let's say hello to sunny Queensland! It's your time to shine at the Gold Coast Fashion Festival! In just two years, The Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival has become the most prestigious fashion event on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, showcasing local designers alongside national guest labels.
The primary focus of the SCFF is to celebrate the creative talent of the Coast, while also lifting the focus of local labels both on a local and national level, through the attention of the local community, retail buyers, local and national media, while promoting a strong networking and community building ethos amongst designers and industry personnel nationally. The event showcases these labels new season designs before they are seen or available anywhere else on the Sunshine Coast. A line up of solo events, networking opportunities, Apex Australian Teenage Fashion Awards and the main event of the week, the Group Show is not to be missed!
The SCFF 2010 is held September 6th- 11th and tickets are SOLD OUT!
For more information, visit www.sunshinecoastfashionfestival.com and forward enquiries to scff@optusnet.com.au
From the 9- 15th September, the natural, beautiful landscape of Western Australia will serve as the backdrop to Perth Fashion Festival. With the stunning Sarah Pauley fronting as the face and featuring Launch My Label designers Amore & Sorvete (www.amoreandsorvete.com), this year's event will be a glamorous walk on the beach, with blue skies and kaleidoscope eyes!
For more information: http://www.perthfashionfestival.com.au/index.htm
Vogue Australia presents Vogue Fashion's Night Out, a fabulous night of fashion and fun in Sydney's CBD on September 9th. With an impressive list of designers involved: Dion Lee, Kym Ellery, Romance Was Born, Sass & Bide, Carla Zampatti, Bianca Spender, Akira Isogawa, Jayson Brunsdon, Camilla & Marc, Lover and Collette Dinnigan involved, this is an event not to be missed!
The crème de la crème of the Australian fashion industry and Vogue will be inviting you to join in-store events, fashion shows, pop-ups and exclusive offers throughout the CBD starting from 6pm.
For more information: http://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/news/fashions+night+out,3409
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Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival (SCFF)
In collaboration SCFF, we are proud to present four of the top emerging designers who will be featuring on the runway on the Sunshine Coast (including two f.rock designers: Escape to Paradise and Mina & Katusha).
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Princess Chic Shoes
(www.princesschic.com.au)
FACT: Women love shoes!! Now they can design their own shoes to suit their unique style and personality thanks to Princess Chic Shoes!
There is no denying that it can be pretty frustrating when looking for a particular colour or shoe style for an event or just because.. Well, luckily for you, here comes Princess Chic to the rescue!
Princess Chic is an online shoe boutique that specialises in unique heels for women. Their newest offering is the 'Design Your Own Shoe' service. This service allows ladies to customise their own fabulous pair of footwear, it's as easy as one, shoe, three! All you have to do is choose from their pre-selected styles (from the classic stiletto, to peep toe and ballet flats), and then select material, colour, heel height, shoe size and VOILA!
I speak to Tanya Williams, CEO of Princess Chic and self- confessed shoe-a-holic
How many pairs of shoes do you own?
You don't get that answer out of me without many cocktails! And to be honest I stopped counting at 100! I have gotten many more since, lets just say I have a great shoe-drobe!
What pair of shoes are your most prized possession?
My pair of silver Manolo Blahnik sandals with encrusted Swarovski crystals and my nude Princess Chic peep- toes.
Princess Chic motto?
"Shoes are our religion"
What are the shoe- essentials in every fashionista's collection?
There are a few shoe styles that every girl needs to have in her wardrobe: classic nude peeptoes, ballet flats, sky high party heels, corporate heels, classic knee high boots and a pair of cute kitten heels.
For more information please contact Tanya Williams, Chic Executive Officer, Princess Chic on chic@princesschic.com.au or 0413 022488.
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 Handmade in London, take an imaginary walk through the gardens of Paris and watch romance blossom under the Eiffel Tower.With 3 gorgeous charms hanging delicately from a beautifully detailed, vintage 60's brass bracelet; bwith a watering- can and bow-filled heart, fallin love with Storm in a Teacup Môn Cherie!
Buy now at our f.rock online store
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Reminiscent of Jimmy Dean's headwear in Giant, add a bit of wild, wild west to your blazer with this vintage brass cowboy hat, complete with rope detailing.Fixed with a gold plated brooch pin, this brass hat shows signs of its age. Oh the stories it could tell!
Buy now at our f.rock online store
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 With outerwear catapulted into equal importance as outerwear in recent times, The Goddess Agency introduces sexy Selmark lingerie from the Cascais Collection.Standing out for the simplicity of its lines and shaping, and free from hems, Selmark lingerie give an 'invisible' effect underneath clothes, not only making it an indulgent purchase but a practical one too! Buy now at our f.rock online store
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 Bursting with oriental florals, this Mizuki purse from FUGU fashion is perfect to celebrate the arrival of Spring!Teamed up with your favourite black dress, you will be blossoming with delight at the amount of compliments you will receive!
Buy now at our f.rock online store
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