Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2013 (MSFW)

Spring has finally sprung and in Melbourne that means only one thing - Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. Fashion fever takes over City Square and Swanston Street is filled with well-dressed people in towering heels tottering down the street.

                 

As you know, I'm a contributor to a fantastic online magazine called Onya Magazine. This year, I'm lucky enough to be attending five shows for them - Designer Runway 1, RMIT Student Runway, Wittner Shoes Runway, Designer Runway 2 and the Resort Show.

My reviews and pieces on these shows will all be on Onya, so I thought I'd use my blog to share my outfits (so much pressure on deciding what to wear to these events!) and the behind the scenes snaps. Before I had the opportunity to attend any fashion shows, I was always highly curious about what they were like. Hopefully if any of you feel the same, I can satisfy that curiosity! One tip - they rarely ever start on time. Still, I suppose that's why they call it fashionably late!

I hope you enjoy these posts. I'll be posting links to my Onya reviews as they go up. If you've got anything specific you want to know/ask, just leave me a comment!

Brittany x

Circus Tricks: Film Noir

The other week I was lucky enough to review the National Institute of Circus Arts' show 'One False Move'. Performed entirely by second year students, it was an amazing show featuring flexibility and strength that was almost unbelievable! As it was the opening evening, the invitation requested guests to dress in "film noir" style, a genre that greatly inspired the performance (think chicago gangsters, femme fatales, many gun shots etc). You can check out my review and some amazing pictures at Onya Magazine.

So what did I wear?

 I only realised the evening was themed a few hours before it started, so had a mad search through my wardrobe to pull an outfit together. With the collar of my coat pulled up and a fresh coat of red lipstick, I felt ready to tackle any crime.

Beige coat - H&M

Sequin clutch - Forever New

Black Dress - Boutique in Chadstone (will find name!)

Shoes - Wittner

Faux fur wrap - Sportsgirl

Lipstick - Sportsgirl

It was a fabulous evening with everyone dressed in their finest attire. And if you ever hear of a NICA show - go, I can't recommend it highly enough!

Brittany x

Venture Down The Garden Path...

Two weekends ago, I was lucky enough to embark on a 'discover your own backyard' tour of the city of Stonnington. It's a council initiative to encourage people to opt to shop in their local area, by unmasking all the hidden gems that can often be overlooked.

After the tour I can say without any doubt that Stonnington definitely has some unmissable places on offer - not only for fashion but also for food and general experiences. (and is it really any surprise with chapel street, prahan and Armadale all within its boundaries!)

My write up of the day is now up on Onya Magazine, but thought I'd also share with you some pictures of the day.

Me in the sunshine of Prahran. Wearing FCUK dress, Sportsgirl sunglasses. Photo kindly taken by thejulietreport

My first taste of coffee! From the coffee connoisseurs at Market Lane

Cool plant hangings at CYLK

Behind the scenes at Lisa Barron

Best burger I have ever eaten - Parlour Diner on Chapel St

Gorgeous illustrations at Lisa Barron

Homemade candy from The Red Ballon, Prahan

March On

Fashion fever has finally faded in Melbourne as the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival drew to a close last week.

If you've read my last few posts, you'll know that I was lucky enough to attend a few of the events. Obviously I haven't had the luxury of attending multiple fashion weeks around the world, but I love LMFF largely for its accessibility and proximity. So often fashion can be so involved with itself that it forgets that the public and the consumers are actually some of the most important people in the industry. LMFF celebrates that - with runways and seminars that anyone can buy tickets to, as well as a huge range of free pop-up and cultural events all over the city.

My mum and I have been going every year since we moved to Melbourne from London (coming up to five years now!) and it's something that I really look forward to doing. We've been to a range of runways, presented by Vogue, Instyle, Grazia and this year Madison. There's always a fantastic atmosphere and a luxurious feel to the evening and this year was no different. We went to the later show, which meant we missed the opportunity for beautiful sunset photos over the docklands but did enjoy some champagne in the Woolshed Pub. I'm yet to see a runway show in which all the clothes bowl me over, but i love the atmosphere and excitement associated with seeing a catwalk show live, as it's something you normally associate with VIP and exclusivity.

The Madison show had an impressive line-up of models including Alice Burdeu, Cassie van den Dungen and Rachel Rutt modelling the collections of designers Megan Park, Flannel, Alannah Hill, Hardwick, Jayson Brunsdon, Aurelio Costarella and Kirrily Johnston.

My favourite would probably have to be Hardwick, who I hadn't heard of before but I thought their collection to be extremely wearable - with lots of sheer, black and lace. Alannah Hill too had some gorgeous coats in bright colours, but looked similar to ones I've already soon before. I'm a massive fan of playsuits (current count is at least 6 in my wardrobe) so I enjoyed the silk brocade jumpsuits from Jayson Brunsdon as well.

Alice Burdeu in Hardwick

Jayson Brunsdon

Cassi van den Dungen in Jayson Brunsdon

All photography from LMFF official photographer Lucas Dawson

Not the best photo (mum photography!) but what I wore to the Madison show. I went for a blue silk floral patterned shorts and peplum top, white Zara jacket, black tights and heels, salmon clutch, bright accessories and a cheeky Topshop lipstick in 'Brighton Rock'.

My write up of the High Fashion High Tea is also now up online on Onya Magazine, which I hope you'll have a read of...the food was absolutely to die for and has affirmed that afternoon tea is most certainly back on the menu!

High Fashion High Tea - LMFF event

I also covered the 2013 LMFF National Designers Award for a university assignment and was lucky enough to interview two finalists (and hugely talented designers!) Livia Arena and Michael Lo Sordo. I was only able to use a few quotes in my assignment but found them both so interesting to talk to that I will hopefully write up a profile of them here for you to enjoy... stay tuned!

Brittany x

My Week Living The Dream

This week has been an amazing one - full of interviews, events and writing that have totally reassured and convinced me that a career in (fashion/arts&culture/music) journalism is exactly what I want to do.

To read more about it, scroll down or click the links below.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

These are my three very different looks I wore for my three fashion related assignments for Onya Magazine.

1. The opening of The Woodsfolk in Hawthorn on Wednesday evening.
I'm wearing a white long top from a boutique in Phillip Island, leather skater skirt from H&M, My favourite Wittner shoes and a studded leather clutch, also Wittner.
 - See Part 2 or the full review on Onya Magazine.

2. VIP Launch of the Wardrobe Weekender, Captains of Industry on Thursday evening.
I'm wearing my mum's black silk draped top, skinny herringbone trousers, the same Wittner shoes and an electric pink, black and white clutch from Dangerfield.
- See Part 3 or the full review on Onya Magazine.

3. High Fashion High Tea, L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival at the Park Hyatt on Sunday afternoon.
I'm wearing a monochrome silk shirt from H&M, leather skater skirt also from H&M, black/silver chanel-style jacket from Sportsgirl, red suede heels from Novo and a red leather/leopard print bag - a christmas gift from mum!
- See Part 4 or look out on Onya Magazine for a full review very soon...


Which one is your favourite? Would love to hear your feedback!

Brittany x

My Week Living The Dream - Part 4

This is a fashion-related part of a larger series of four blog posts about 'My Week Living the Dream' - don't forget to check out Part 1 , Part 2 and Part 3

Just as I thought the fashion assignments for Onya magazine couldn't get any better, I found myself waiting in the lobby of the Park Hyatt for the High Fashion High Tea event presented by Fashionista's Australia (Emily Power) as part of the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival. It was absolutely surreal. I was sat on Table 1 - the official media table - surrounded by extremely stylish women (and a few men!) about to have afternoon tea at one of Melbourne's most luxurious hotels. Pinch me!

Although I was doing it stag this time, it was a glorious afternoon. I was sat alongside many fashion bloggers who I admire, including Phoebe Montague of Lady Melbourne, Sarah Willcocks of Style Melbourne and met some new ones that I quickly became fans of, including Cecylia. There were finger sandwiches, tarts, cakes and scones galore - as well as a catwalk show, shopping avenue and amazing goodie bags. Watch out for my full review, to appear on Onya Magazine very soon....

That concludes my week living the dream! It's been absolutely amazing and has made me even more determined than ever to work hard and be successful in I believe is the most interesting and exciting career paths I could possibly have chosen.

Brittany x

My Week Living The Dream - Part 3

This is a fashion-related part of a larger series of four blog posts about 'My Week Living the Dream' - don't forget to check out Part 1 and Part 2

The fashion fun for Onya Magazine continued on Thursday night, this time at the VIP launch of The Wardrobe Weekender, a highlight of the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival's cultural program.

This time I had my mum by my side as my +1 and we had a lovely evening. The basic philosophy of the event, organised by Lala productions and The Clothing Exchange, is a simple 'swap-shop' format. Everyone brings clothes they no longer wear to swap with others. I was a bit confused and ever so slight weirded out by the idea at first, not being a particular lover of second hand clothes, but after attending I can honestly say I'm a changed woman (limitations and exclusions apply!). I got myself two new (to me) items of clothing that i can't wait to wear and cleared out things in my wardrobe that were taking up unnecessary space. Not only that, there were also stalls of local boutiques and designers offering fantastic one-night only discounts, a complimentary glass of bubbly and vintage frocks for hire! Check out my review and please keep an eye out for any similar events coming to a town near you - can't recommend them highly enough!

1. My outfit for the evening. Recognise those trousers!? 2. Vintage clothes for hire 3. Mum and I went for dinner afterwards and had what I reckon is the best pizza outside Italy. Maybe even in Italy as well. The place is called +39 on Little Bourke Street. Thin bases, delicious tomato base and the speediest service i've had in a long time!

Firstly, I'm so grateful that i'm able to be getting experience in the industry by writing things for Onya as a contributor. I'm also hearing about and attending events that i would never have heard of otherwise - and hopefully by writing about it, am doing the same for you! I would really love a career in fashion journalism, so to be attending the events i'm attending and getting the opportunities i currently am is absolutely a dream come true.

My Week Living the Dream - Part 2

This is a fashion-related part of a larger series of blog posts about 'My Week Living the Dream' - check out Part 1 on my other (media focused) blog 'The Brit Estate'

For those of you who read my other blog, you'll know that the past week has been like a dream for me - full of assignments and interviews that have given me a taster of what a career in journalism could be like. This week I was given a number of fashion events to cover for online magazine, Onya. The adventure continues on...

Wednesday

Today was the first of three events I was assigned by my lovely editor Sandi Seiger at Onya Magazine. The event in question was the opening of a new 'family store' called The Woodsfolk in Hawthorn. It was a lovely evening - the shop looked fantastic, decorated with fairy lights and full of quirky items such as toadstool shaped lamps, pom-pom rugs and wine-bottled shaped candles. My auntie visiting from Canada was my +1 for the evening and together we enjoyed the delicious food on offer (my personal favourite being the homemade chocolate brownies and mini chic tops!). You can check out my full review on Onya Magazine.

I believe they were also visited by the contestants from the latest series of Nine's 'The Block' - which isn't much of a surprise given how lovely their stuff is! Watch out for the show later this year to see them featured.

Keep reading for Parts 3 & 4!