Queensland Floods

I rarely find myself being dramatically affected by natural disasters. After September 11 and how deeply affected I was by that I made a resolution to not let myself get so emotionally involved with anything like that again. It hurt me and haunted me for weeks. I felt like I was walking around with a cloud over my head and wondered why we would bother living in this world at all if such things could and do happen. The images on the TV screen of people jumping from the burning buildings still haunt me. So after that if there is any kind of huge disaster I never read more than one article about it. I won’t watch it on TV and I won’t go to the galleries of pictures to upset myself over the loss of human and animal life. But I do usually donate to certain charities that support the people who have been affected so I can 'lend a hand' without getting too involved. But this time was different. 

I didn't know anyone that was directly affected by the flooding. My friends live in high rise buildings or are in areas that were unaffected even though that may have only been by a metre. I couldn't tare myself away from the TV or the Brisbane Times website or the on flow of information and pictures people were putting up on Facebook and twitter. Watching the death toll slowly rise and the number of people unaccounted for rise even faster. Reading the terrifying stories in the paper and seeing peoples tear stained and exhausted faces on television. I sat for probably two hours watching Sky News and even though it was basically the same information over and over and over again for two hours I couldn't get away. By the night time I felt so.... depressed. People were so scared and confused and it wasn't just the people being affected by the floods... I think the whole of Australia actually felt that way. This kind of thing doesn't happen in a major city in Australia let alone places that have been on water restrictions in recent years. 

I promised blogs and posts at the beginning of the week but couldn’t write and then if I found something worth posting I couldn't as I found that it might be insensitive. People are losing their homes and loved ones and I would be posting pictures of Jimmy Choos... hmmm doesn't fit. But as they say every cloud has a silver lining. The light behind the gigantic clouds that dumped more water on us than needed was people’s morale. The respect I have for the people who were standing waist deep in water in their living rooms and telling a reporter ‘we are just doing what we can to keep our spirits high and even though its not a nice thing that’s happened it has happened and we just have to get on with it’. What a brilliant attitude. It’s your attitude that can make or break you, not your circumstances. You can choose to let your circumstance’s overwhelm you and feel hopeless about the situation or you can take the attitude that things will get better, because they always do, and get on with the task at hand. The attitude of the people who have been affected by the floods has sparked something within us all and caused a ripple effect. The amount of people who have put up their hand to offer assistance is phenomenal. 

Australian’s are donating money left right and center, places designated to take food and supplies have started turning people away as there has been so much donated in such a short amount of time. Volunteers are pouring into Brisbane to help with the big clean up and there are so many people who have put their names down to foster animals until they can be returned home that I haven’t even been considered for the job yet! There are always the amazing animal advocates to help us remember that it’s not only people that were affected but animals were too so there is a large amount of people donating their money to the RSPCA to help them pay for the mounting vet bills that animals incurred because of the floods. 

Anna Bligh’s popularity is through the roof due to her reassuring words and fast acting tactics. Even the seemingly forgotten Kevin Rudd was out there helping to search for the missing. It is quite appropriate that Australia Day is drawing near as in this terrible time people are banding together to help in any way they can and ‘lending a hand’ which in turn has made people extremely proud to be an Australian. The Gold Coast had a ‘Mates in Need’ street party at Tedder Avenue in Main Beach to help raise some money. I drove to Tedder Avenue on Friday night hoping that there would be at least a few people there so I could talk to them about the floods and maybe take some happy snaps of fashionistas. I didn’t think that there would be many people there at all as I didn't remember it was actually a Friday night because the week felt like it all melded into one big day of not so great news and of course the impending chance of rain. How wrong I was! 

The street was blocked off to cars and full of people, food and entertainment! This brilliant night raised almost $1 million dollars! Gold Coasters had turned out in force to donate money to a wonderful cause that was close to our hearts. Magic Millions was also this week hence there was a few Australian Celebrities who came to lend a hand to help people empty their pockets into tins!

     Australian Miss Universe 2008 Laura Dundovic and Kerley from Channel V        

V8 Car Driver James Courtney

Face of Magic Millions Jess Hart and me!

The Queensland Premiers Disaster Relief Fund is climbing steadily and is at $64,329,927. Stars from all of the world are giving the Fund a shout out, from Tim Cahill to Nicole Richie to YouTube star Philip DeFranco encouraging people to donate money. 

The clean up is well underway and people are encouraged to donate cleaning supplies and money to help get our Queensland back to working order as soon as possible so people can return to their homes and their jobs. 

If you would like to donate some money go to 

http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

If you would like to donate your time or cleaning products go to

http://qldfloods.org/

The amazing photography is by local Brisbane Photographer Craig Scarr

http://craigscarr.com/

To see more of Craig's flood pictures go to 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Craig-Scarr-Photographer/123136487739174

Stay fabulous, stay optimistic and stay safe!

X

avandia recall

IDENTITY: An International Affair

This blog was originally done for Brisbane Threads (my first blog for another blog! Yay for me!) and they have so kindly let me post it to mine as well! 

WRAP-UP: IDENTITY: An International Affair

I am one of those people who like to know everything, is easily distracted and sometimes a little too curious. So with the mix of all these wonderful personality traits in full blast this blog has taken me a lot longer to write than it ever should have! I have actually re-written it 3 times now. This is my third attempt and I am really hoping I will be satisfied with it or I might have Danni from Brisbane Threads knocking on my door asking me what the problem is! And yes, what is the problem you might ask? It is that when you put so many amazing designs on one runway I go into a bit of a frenzy! The November IDENTITY was another huge success (of course!) and it has left me obsessing about new labels that I had never delved into. The labels included in this showcase were Easton Pearson, Catherine Malandrino, Day Birger et Mikelson, Elizabeth and James, Elie Tahari, HUGO BOSS, Maryan Mehlhorn Swimwear, Paul Smith and Tiffany & Co. So I guess I better start at the beginning before I jump into all the amazing labels I have been drooling over for a week now! After meeting Brisbane Threads wonderful photographer Carmel I grabbed a glass of Moet and an oyster and made myself at home. I had a perfect view of everyone there. If I didn't even manage to see the fashion show there is no way I would go home without my fashion fix because there was an array of stunning colour, gorgeous designs and amazing prints. I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing everyone looked! That is what I love about Brisbane, no two people looked the same in Stephens Lane. Each person expressing their own unique style with the utmost confidence and ease. I was in fashion heaven. Now to the good stuff!

Easton Pearson showcased their long awaited Cruise collection for the first time in Australia (it had already been shown in Paris!). With striking colour, unique cuts and stunning twists on classic stripes Easton Pearson certainly delivered! Lydia Pearson and Pamela Easton are Brisbane based designers so with the success of their brand it is all too fitting that they were in the exclusive IDENTITY show! I remember reading Easton Pearson's design influence on their web site a few months ago and watching their pieces come down the runway it really all made sense!

'Our references are drawn from varied terrain: from Indian, African and European sources, from historical predecessors, from vintage clothes, from museums, archives and films, from books and our own travels with our families. The possibilities offered by specific textile techniques clearly influence us in terms of what might be adapted into clothing. Simultaneously, our visual references continue to wander.'

Their collection certainly stays true to their inspiration which is part of why they are so unique and successful! I would certainly love to be spotted poolside in some of their Cruise collection!

The Catherine Malandrino collection was presented by Samantha Ogilvie and was nothing short of amazing and definitely one of my favorites on the night! Catherine was born in the French Alps and now lives and designs in New York. Her intention is to blend the romance and elegance of Paris with the energy of Manhattan and as you can see from her clothing she is certainly successful at doing so! Her pieces are modern and chic. It's elegance and sex appeal all in one outfit! The cuts and colours are flattering so her clothes could suit almost anyone!

DAY Birger et Mikelson was presented by Frock Shop and is one of Scandinavia's most successful fashion houses. The label was originally inspired by Asian tailoring and culture yet during the past few years, the global ethnicity that initially characterised DAY Birger et Mikkelsen has become urbanised to appeal to metropolitan bohemians. The fashion house has the intention of reviving craftsmanship when it comes to design and the tailoring certainly appeared immaculate from where I was sitting! The beautiful day and night dresses that paraded the runway made me want to go straight to Frock Shop and try them on so I could just feel the material against my skin! They flowed so effortlessly and you can just see that the material used is of the up most quality. The pieces were amazing and with their timeless silhouettes they are certainly pieces you would have for years.

Elizibeth and James was also presented by Frock Shop and for those of you who are not familiar with the label I know you will be familiar with the labels designers Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Although I had read a little about their label I had never actually made the effort to see any of their pieces as the idea of their fashion line takes me back to my Target days when they had their own children's line which I used to loathe finger spacing the coat hangers just for a little girl to run up to excitedly and completely mess up so I was well and truly sick of the Olsen twins. But now I have taken the time to browse their women's collection and even their lovely accessories. Their designs have certainly matured and are really gorgeous. I watched a few youtube videos on their design process and how hard these girls work. They are certainly inspirational and their designs most definitely reflect their hard work! Their pieces range from business woman chic to plaid shirt casual and I was very impressed by all of their designs! They certainly reflect the fashion of young working women today... gorgeous!

Elie Tahari was presented by Samantha Olgivie. Elie takes what you know about fashion and then ups it a level. He takes the cuts, the material, the colours and just the mere presence of the clothes one step further than your average designer. The brand offers elegance and timeless sophistication. Elie's story is certainly incredible and if  you ever have time to delve into it I suggest you do, especially if you are a budding designer and need some inspiration to keep on doing what you love. Elie was born in Israel and after a tumultuous childhood ended up moving to New York as an electrician. He was homeless, sleeping on park benches in Central Parka and the YMCA Hotel when he could. He now owns a $500 million dollar luxury brand. His life experience and travels are reflected in his designs and it is just a pleasure to see his work in the thread!

Hugo Boss, well, does he really need an introduction? This is another designer story that if you don't know it you should check it out. Considering he was a Nazi I am incredibly surprised the Fashion House survived Hugo's death let alone being one of the most famous luxury brands in the world over 60 years later! It was the Boss Black Label which was showcased and let me tell you... a man in a Boss suit is, well... dreamy! Clearly this label is not going any where as it prides itself on innovative yet classic design to the highest of high standards. The Mens range is masculine, classy, swarve and stylish and the women's range is sophisticated, beautiful, edgy and innocently sexy yet packed with Boss attitude. The Boss collection showcased would probably have to be my favourite!

Maryan Mehlhorn Swimwear was showcased again with Tiffany and Co Jewellery. What a combination! Mayran's swimwear is immaculate and timeless. It oozes class and the jewelry you put with her swimwear, well, you wouldn't want anything less than something Tiffany. The cuts, colours and little details that go into Maryan Melhorn's pieces make them the perfect high fashion poolside must have. The Tiffany Jewelry was of course amazing. They even gave away a silver Tiffany Key Pendant and chain as a lucky door prize! Why oh why was my number not called out! I also have to mention the Tiffany sunglasses which are the gorgeous classic over sized sunnies which I have now added to my wish list along side the Tiffany Oval Key Platinum Pendant with Diamonds! 

And finally last but not least Paul Smith presented by Mitchell Ogilvie Menswear. Yes I have to say it again.. another amazing designer story about overcoming the odds but I will let you google this one! I always thought that if Burberry had a punk rock, street wise, yet educated brother... it would be Paul Smith. You can clearly see the, for lack of a better word I am going to make one up, Britishness in Paul's designs but he is so daring! For a man to be a Paul Smith man he needs to be confident and calm, easy and educated, playful but cool. The designs sent down the runway on the gorgeous chiseled male models made women's hearts flutter and made the men actually pay attention. If you ever need to buy clothes for a Man go to Mitchell Ogilvie in Brisbane and you will never look back.

This IDENTITY was certainly in the Christmas spirit as models bopped down the runway at one stage to Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas Is You (love Mariah's Christmas Carols!) as the hostess with the mostess Di Cant said that we could use the Tiffany Jewelry as stocking fillers! Love it! As you can see from this gigantic blog (the biggest fashion blog I have ever written!) that I was not kidding when I said it sent me into a frenzy! IDENTITY remains my favourite fashion show I have ever been to and I will certainly continue to attend next years showcases as the night is full of class, glamour, good food, Moet and truly amazing fashion (both on and off the catwalk!). The venue is gorgeous and the models are incredible. I cannot speak highly enough of this event! I cannot wait for its return in 2011!  

These photos are courtesy of Brisbane Threads and to see the whole gallery go to

http://www.brisbanethreads.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=253+&Itemid=92

Third time lucky!

Stay fabulous!

CLE

avandia recall

IDENTITY

Fashion is not just a piece of clothing or jewelry. It's not a hat or a pair of Jimmy Choos. It is us. Our own personal identity mixed with the clothes, accessories and shoes we choose to adorn our body with. That is fashion. So how fitting to have named the Treasury Casino's exclusive preview of stunning seasonal collections from International designers and world -renowned brands, IDENTITY. I attended this show last month and I must say it is my favourite Runway Show to date. Yes I am sure the free flowing Moet Chandon may have something to do with why I loved it so much! But who would not love to go and see a runway show with Ralph Lauren, Chantelle of Paris lingerie presented by Arianne, Maryan Mehlhorn Swimwear, Mitchell Ogilvie Menswear, Samantha Ogilvie, Tiffany and Co and XILE! The venue was amazing, the models were superb and the garments were nothing short of stunning. What makes the night even more exhilarating is that these clothes are part of an identity that screams sophistication, class, allure and elegance. To adorn your body with such garments is a pleasure. They are not just pieces of fabric... they reflect a lifestyle, an attitude and in their timeless quality they share with you their own identity. Needless to say I cannot wait for the next Identity!

Here are some of the pictures courtesy of Brisbane Threads! 


Ralph Lauren

Maryann Mehlhorn Swimwear

Samantha Ogilvie

 Mitchell Ogilvie Menswear

Tiffany & Co and Maryan Mehlhorn Swimwear 2011

Valentino presented by XILE

For lots more pictures you can check out 

IDENTITY Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=103390018355

and Brisbane Threads
http://www.brisbanethreads.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=216&Itemid=92


The next IDENTITY is on Friday November 19, tickets are $70.
Get in quick as it is worth every cent!
http://www.treasurybrisbane.com.au/Whats_On-PAGE__Whats_On__Entertainment-PAGE__Fashion.htm

Stay fabulous!

avandia recall

VIP FASHION NIGHT BRISBANE ARCADE

 I was on holiday relaxing by the beach in Byron Bay when I received a message from the gorgeous stylist Linda Lola asking me if I wanted to go to the VIP Fashion Night at the Brisbane Arcade. My initial response was no as I was in complete holiday mode and I had walked past the little nook off the Queen Street Mall a thousand times and had never ventured in. When I got back to the beach house I did a little research and snapped myself out of holiday mode long enough to realise I would be crazy not to go.

I ended up really excited as an amazing photographer, Craig Scarr, agreed to come along and take some pictures for me (which is why the pictures are awesome!) and I was informed that there were going to be a few designers there as well! The night was held to showcase the new seasons collections from the various designers in the arcade. 

When I first walked into the beautiful heritage-listed Arcade I was surprised. For starters I had no idea what to expect as I had never been there and I had no idea that half the designers I saw at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival were in one spot!

There were more shops than I expected and I didn't manage to get around every single one in the 2 hour time frame we had but I did get into three good ones!
The first boutique I went into was Darb Bridal Couture.

I love wedding gowns and I am sure every person has some kind of appreciation for gorgeous bridal couture, even if they don't believe in marriage there is something magical about a wedding dress. All the different shades of whites, materials and embellishments... the choices really are endless and the result is pure beauty made just for you! It's a shame we only get to do it once... with the different dresses that come out every season I would be wanting to renew my vows every year! Especially after browsing Darb's stunning collection.

Designer and owner Brad Webb has been designing for over 15 years and has won many awards for his bridal couture. I was lucky enough to meet Brad on the night and he was lovely! So warm, welcoming and passionate about what he does! His pieces in the shop are there merely for display to give a future bride an idea of what some of her endless options are and as a guide as to what she might like. A Darb wedding gown is designed over a series of private consultations with Brad himself and then the magic begins!

"There are a few people in Australia doing work of this level. His craftsmanship, design, fabrics are equivalent to what the top designers in Paris do." George Gross
To see Brad's latest creations go to www.darbbridalcouture.com.au
You wont be disappointed!

Next up.... THE HAT BOX!

With Melbourne Cup coming up I am all too happy to talk about hats! Usually I am not a hat person but when I walked into this store I felt like a child in a candy shop! So many colours and features! It really was a visual delight! I actually, in all honesty, had never heard the term millinery let alone knew what it meant until I saw The Hat Box showcase their pieces at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival! For those of you (if there are any?) who did not know the term (like me!) Millinery refers to hatmaking, particularly the making of women's hats.

 I met the owner of The Hat Box Dale Olsson (pictured right) who explained to me that she does not make the hats herself but she employs over 15 of the finest milliners from around Australia (Patricia Balmer, Ann Boyle, Minette Collins, Kim Fletcher, Petrea Gordon, Neil Grigg, Jonathan Howard, Claire Luttrell, Meredith McMaster, Kathy Neumann, Richard Nylon, Elizabeth Reynolds, Phillip Rhodes, Sandra Robson, Peggy Stone and Karen Valentine) and is now also stocking hats from Stephen Jones, London.
You can check out Dale's stunning range of hats, fascinators and other bits and pieces at http://www.thehatbox.com.au but I do suggest you go to the shop and have a look. I certainly am going back there to get something special for Melbourne Cup!

Now to talk shoes!!

I went into Vein Shoe Store, had a browse and met my first shoe designers! Christopher and Szuting McCallum are the owners of the store which holds Christopher's men's range labelled 'Vein' and Szuting's women's range 'Kitty Croquet'! The boots pictured above I fell in love with! They were so unique and carefully crafted...! The shoes in this store really were nothing like I had ever seen before and it was all so impressive! I had a bit of a chat to Christopher who informed me that when he was thinking of a name for his designer label he realised that there really were not too many men's shoe stores in Brisbane and that men should take more pride in their appearance and basically get a little more 'vein'! Love it!

Christopher's range of men's shoes are nothing short of brilliant and I am so glad I went into this store because it really is a treasure trove of shoes! Christopher also informed me his shoes can be customised to meet your needs and taste!
You must must must (especially with fathers day coming up!) check out the website http://www.veinwear.com/
and for the women http://www.kittycroquet.com

 It was a great night and I only wish we had a bit more time to get around and I had asked for photos of the designers... doh! Rookie mistake and I will remember that for next time!

Stay fabulous! x

avandia recall

Lisa Ho

 Lisa Ho

Lisa Ho has been Australia's golden girl of fashion for 24 years, is from Albury NSW and began sewing at the age of four. Her Grandmother, a tailor, was her inspiration and by age 10 Lisa was making patterns out of newspaper and had a sewing machine which she used to make every day pieces for herself and her sisters!

In 1981 Lisa graduated from East Sydney Technical College, trained in fashion design she spent a year working for another company before going out on her own.

Lisa started her career at the Paddington markets in Sydney and her designs quickly brought her retail and media attention and the Lisa Ho brand was born. Lisa Ho has continued to build into one of the most recognised brands in Australia and has a strong celebrity following with the signature pieces being worn by Delta Goodrem, Nicole Scherzinger, Sarah Wynter, Tyra Banks, Carmen Electra, Elle Macpherson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Olivia Newton-John and Jennifer Lopez. 

Her international reputation was first recognized during the Sydney 2000 opening ceremony, which featured a special Lisa Ho designed segment celebrating her role in Australian fashion.  Lisa was also asked to design the gown worn by Olivia Newton-John for her performance to welcome the Olympic athletes.

 The pictures are from Lisa's SS 10/11 collection which was showcased at Rosemount Australian Fashion week. I loved every piece in her collection. Lisa Ho really is going from strength to strength with her designs and there is only one way for Lisa and that is up!

When asked who a Lisa Ho customer is and what makes her distinctive Lisa answered-

"She is stylish, sophisticated and always glamorous. She has an appreciation for detail and knows the importance of building on her wardrobe staples - she looks for investment pieces."

 That really is how we all should be when it comes to fashion! 

Lisa will be showcasing her gorgeous designs at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Brisbane in Group Show 1 on Saturday the 7th of August at 6pm.

Much to my dismay and disappointment the tickets to Group Show 1 have sold out!