On a trip to WA earlier this year, LMFF were lucky enough to catch up with Kristy and John from Flannel at their new space in a converted chapel. The space is as light and airy as a Flannel collection and we couldn’t help but get excited for the cooler months ahead as we took a look at their autumn/winter 2012 collection.

Thank you for showing us around your anjelic studio. Visit Flannel.

Photos by Britt Singleton.

Fenella peacock greets us at her beautiful store, Nells Emporium, on a bright sunny Perth day and welcomes us inside for some deliciousness (of the fashion & food variety)!  Packed with whimsical jewelleryand floaty frocks just made for escapism, Nells is a little slice of heaven for foodies and fashionistas alike. We recommend a silk Fenella Peacock dress for a breezy getaway and a tall glass of nell’s homemade lemonade with your lunch!

A big thank you to Fenella for welcoming LMFF to getaway and share your beautiful surrounds. Visit Fenella Peacock.

More studio visits to come on the LMFF blog.

Post courtesy  of Brittany Singleton.

Internationally acclaimed Australian models Myf Shepherd, Nicole Trunfio and Alexandra Agoston headline the campaign alongside “Friends of the Festival” artist Vincent Fantauzzo, Principal Dancer for The Australian Ballet Andrew Killian, Restaurateur Sharon van Haandel, blogger, personal shopper and stylist Micah Gianneli, DJ/Producer Andy Murphy and Radio Journalist and Newsreader Lauren Brain.

Supporting the still imagery is a rich series of induvidual videos used to profile our friends – look out for the release of these videos in the coming months.

Alex (below) wears Aurelio Costarella jacket & pant, Mimco clutch.

Andrew (below) wears Calibre jacket, Vanishing Elephant t-shirt, own pant.

Andy (below) wears Calibre blazer under own trench.

Lauren (below) wears Kuwaii dress, Gorman belts, own jewellery.

Micah (below) wears Alex Perry dress, own vest.

Myf (below) wears Manning Cartell jacket, Alice McCall dress.

Nicole (below) wears Carl Kapp dress.

Sharon (below) wears Thurley jacket, own pants.

Vincent (below) wears Calibre blazer, own top and pant.

Make-up direction from Rae Morris for L’Oréal Paris, Photography by Adrian Mesko & Jordan Graeme, Art direction and production by Paper Stone Scissors.

Bridget and Nick, the team behind LIFEwithBIRD, greet us at the top of the staircase that leads up into their loft-style Abbotsford studio space.  With white walls and glistening wood floors, the LIFEwithBIRD team is spread out across a spacious studio, scattered with art books, trinkets and treasures.  As we explore their space, they let us in on the development of the new collection, and let us know what’s exciting in their world right now.

Thank you Bridget and Nick for showing us around your beautiful studio. Visit LIFEwithBIRD.

Photos by Britt Singleton.

Aurelio Costarella’s space in North Perth is a hive of activity on the day we stop by for a Studio Visit.  Bridal fittings, shoppers browsing through his store, Post Emporium, and the team working in the studio to bring the next collection to life.  On this bright, sunny day, light streams through the window and brings the multicoloured silks of Aurelio’s collection to life on the racks – it’s a rich mix of silk, leather and marabou feather.  While clients try on dress after dress, we explore his store and studio space stacked to the rafters with treasures like scented candles and precious jewellery.

Thank’s to Aurelio for looking after us in Perth.  Visit Aurelio Costarella.

Photos by Britt Singleton.

The Limedrop duo, Nathan & Clea, welcome us into their Fitzroy studio space on a cool Melbourne day and the cherry blossoms dotted along the window sill instantly brighten the mood!  The team show us around their studio where they work (alongside a small team of skilled and loyal interns) and catch us up on what’s happening in the world of Limedrop.

Thank’s Nathan & Clea for letting us hang in your studio – we love it! Visit Limedrop.

Photos by Britt Singleton

Today I am in Paris and heading to the  Madame Grés Retrospective at Musée Bourdelle. I was surprised to find out that this was the 1st retrospective in Paris of this visionary couturier.  Her work was renowned for having sculptural qualities. Even her fluid draping had very much of a sculptural feel to it. She herself wanted to be a sculptor and was often quoted as saying “I want to be a sculptor. For me, it’s the same thing to work the fabric or the stone”

The museum itself is within the buildings and gardens, which used to be the atelier of the French Classical sculpture Antoine Bourdelle, who trained under Rodin. The museum features incredible marble, plaster and bronze sculptures within the buildings and out in the courtyards and gardens. Madame Grès symbolizes the very essence of couture and really was one of the first examples of Minimalism in fashion.

It was just amazing for me to see in the flesh her pieces. As a student at RMIT when I was first learning about drape in my 2^nd year of study, I was so inspired  by a particular style of her pleating. And now being able to actually see the pieces that I’d read so much about, it really was incredible to me!

One of her signatures were cut-outs in gowns that made exposed skin part of the design. This idea has influenced so many current designers…including me!  The exhibition is quite vast – there’s about 80 pieces of her work, as well as photographs from Henry Clarke, Richard Avedon and Cecil Beaton and a selection of drawings from the house’s archives.

Images: Taken at the Madame Grés Retrospective at Musée Bourdelle by Dhini.

Thanks for the pics Dhini, so inspirational. Ahhh Paris…

Visit Dhini’s Website.

Jesus Echevarria chief communications officer spreads the word at an press meeting preluding the opening.

Opening day and the wait is over…

Zara is now open in Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne.

Thank you to Monty Coles for sharing these fabulous images – fore more images visit theloupe.org.

A fresh faced Kate Moss in the CK Jeans campaign, 1998

Gisele Bundchen in ‘And God Created Gisele’, Vanity Fair, May 2009

Michelle Obama, G20 summit, July 2009

Burberry SS2011

Anjelina Jolie, American Vogue, December 2010

Prince William and Kate Middleton, 2011

A huge credit to Mario Testino and his amazing photography. For more of his amazing work visit mariotestino.com.

We recieved a high calibre of entries and are happy to congratulate the following winners who got to hang out and explore their talent with us on the red carpet, backstage and front row at LMFF’s Opening Runway, Fashion Full Stop!  The prize also includes enrollment to the Nikon School Editorial Fashion Photography Course (valued at $349 RRP) with renowned fashion photographer and Nikon School lecturer Christian Blanchard.

Below are our three winners with just a couple of their best shots, please visit their websites to see more from this talented and lovely bunch!

Aleisha Zoumaras

SEE MORE ON ALEISHA’S WEBSITE

Jeremy Kid

SEE MORE ON JEREMY’S WEBSITE

Damien Loverso

SEE MORE ON DAMIEN’S WEBSITE

Read more about the winners and view all entries at the Nikon website www.mynikonlife.com.au/lmff.

Congratulations on your fantastic success overseas, tell us what you’ve been up to since we saw you at LMFF?

I was studying with the Institut Français de la Mode in Paris for one year in accessories before being offered an internship with Dior.  We worked with major fashion houses in Paris to design collection of collections of sunglasses, shoes and bags, and then they made our prototypesa as part of this study I was required to create designs for some of the major fashion houses in Paris to which the Institut is well linked with. After completion, Dior offered me a 6 month internship programme as the design assistant for sunglasses.  I have been in Paris for one year now and love it - especially for the opportunities that Paris provides for the fashion world, however I do miss home a lot.

How did participating in the LMFF Student Showcase help shape your career?

I was really happy to take part in the Festival and found it was a great opportunity to create and showcase a new collection for the first time.  It was the perfect stepping stone after leaving university to get exposure in the fashion world.

What brings you home to Melbourne?

Friends and family. I love Paris but Melbourne will always be my home.

How do you find the Paris style in comparison to Melbourne?

I think in Paris there is amazing designer clothing worn by those who can afford it and people in the fashion industry, but the average person cares more about being classic or chic rather than about fashion. I think there is a big gap in the French market between Chanel and H&M, where as in Australia we have all our middle range Australian designers where you can get great, innovative clothes for reasonable prices. People in Australia seem much more into dressing up and with a sense of personality.

When did you first learn you had a desire to work in fashion?

My mum has clothes I started to make for myself and dolls at about 3 years old, so I think I always wanted to do this! I decided I wanted to move to Paris when I was 7.

Will you be coming back to Melbourne for the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival in March 2011?

I wish I was! But sadly I don’t think I will be able to get back. I think the Festival is great being an event that everyone can attend, so everyone can be a part of fashion.  Paris Fashion Week is purely for industry.

What is the best fashion advice you’ve been given?

Never wear tracksuit pants down the street, because guaranteed it will be the only day in a whole year you run into someone important!

Who is your favorite designer right now?

Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, especially his couture collections.

What is your favorite city in the world?

Paris for its looks but Melbourne for its people! I also love Florence, it’s so beautiful and so welcoming and the food is amazing.

If you could have any celebrity wardrobe whose would it be?

Anna Dello Russos (the editor of Japanese Vogue) since I swear she owns more clothes then anyone on this planet! I love her style, so colourful and almost bordering on inappropriate and bad taste.

What are your plans from here?

I am still designing and growing my portfolio.  I love designing clothes and enjoyed shoe designing while studying – I can see myself doing this in the future.

We wish Sarah all the best for her internship and look forward to seeing more great things from her.

Visit Sarah’s website at www.sarahschofield.com

Images: Produced by Christian Dior 2010

Editor of Harper’s BAZAAR, Edwina McCann was also in attendance as she enlightened the audience with insight into a Fashion Fairytale Exhibition displayed in the bar. The exhibition was of photographs that captured the breathtaking shoot in the April issue of the Harper’s BAZAAR which featured the likes of Natalie Imgruglia, Emma Lung, Rachel Taylor and Sophie Lowe.

Famous faces won’t be the only people spotted throughout the week as Westfield Doncaster is drawing on the importance of YOU with its photographic exhibition, ‘Faces of the Festival’.  The exhibition showcases patrons of the Festival including fashion lovers, stylists, designers and models – make sure you get your photo taken!

Author, Anna Riordan, Partnerships Executive

Collette Dinnigan

Photos by Lucas Dawson www.lucasdawson.com.au

For more beautiful insights into the amazing talent of the Australian fashion industry visit Monty Coles at http://www.theloupe.org/

The last couple of weeks  are always jam-packed with launches and parties as everyone sneaks in the coming months’ celebrations before Festive Season fatigue sets in through December and beyond

What:                Versace at Crown cocktail party & store opening

Where:             Crown Casino

When:               Nov 17

The Wrap:

A gorgeously dressed crowd, plenty of Veuve and oysters, a rather generous gift in the bags – we must be at Versace!  Arriving at the recently opened store at Crown we were attentively received, allowed an appropriate time to mingle with the beautiful and beautifully tanned, then shown the way to the after-party at Le Bar so we didn’t leave too many sticky prints on the luxury goodies that were so very tempting to paw and purr over.  Très sleek to be sure.

What:                Somewhere store grand opening

Where:             Lvl 2, Royal Arcade, 314 Little Collins Street, CITY

When:               Nov 18

The Wrap:

I love going to any shindig where, despite the sauna-like conditions in the top floor, non-airconditioned gallery/store space it’s held, the kids will still not undo their top button because that would ruin their bowtie with tailored short and exquisite Italian laceup shoe combo.  The cool kids keep getting cooler and the Somewhere opening was prime hunting ground for sartorialist bloggers and style profilers – here’s me in front of one such style snapping moment, happening on Little Collins St while Jens Lekman did his thing on the DJ decks upstairs.

Yolanda Finch

Jens Lekman

The opening was great but the store itself is greater.  Head in and remind yourself that retail spaces can be inspiring and I challenge you to leave without some hyper-cool Scandinavian fashion or snapping up a Craig Dermody artwork (which is #1 on my Christmas list if my family/friends are reading).

Craig Dermody, “Shapes in the Sky”

What:                Arnsdorf pop-up store launch

Where:             69 Gertrude Street, FITZROY

When:               Nov 19

The Wrap:

Jade: Let’s do a pop-up store before Christmas.  Kat: Um, ok, where?  Jade: I dunno, let’s have a look on Gumtree.  Kat: Hey here’s one we could take next week!  Jade: Let’s do it, you send the email and I’ll gather some mates to completely renovate the well-positioned but purple & yellow walled space on Gertrude into a gorgeous, chic, light and airy store suitable to house my exquisitely cool S/S collection in time to open in one week.  Don’t forget the strawberries and champagne.  Kat: I love my job, I love my job, I love my job…

Jade Sarita Arnott proves she’s a can-do kind of designer with an excellent team to realise the vision that is the genius of Arnsdorf.

What:                Limedrop pop-up store launch

Where:             Level 1 GPO, 350 Bourke Street, CITY

When:               Nov 20

The Wrap:

Thank goodness for some extra assistance with the nightmare that can be Christmas shopping – Limedrop is temporarily coming to the rescue with a pop-up store in the GPO that’ll be there from November to the end of January.

Karen Webster, LMFF Director and Geraldine Frater, LMFF Project Manager

Limedrop Designers, Clea Carrick and Nathan Price.

What:                RMIT Fashion Graduate Exhibition

Where:             The Carlton Club Hotel, 193 Bourke Street, CITY

When:               Nov 20

The Wrap:

An astonishing and encouraging amount of fashion design talent has just graduated from RMIT and before being unleashed upon the world they set up their wares, installation style, in a series of rooms I never knew existed half way up the stairs between The Carlton main and rooftop bars.  It was a 2 day only affair and exceptionally well done.

(And if you haven’t been to the new Carlton rooftop which is now 2 levels, summer beverage yourself the next time the clouds lift!)

1^st Prize – Federal Coffee Palace by Stefan Stordal

2^nd Prize – Carlton Espresso Bar by Haydn Cattach

3^rd Prize – Thirty Eight café by Craig Banks

Creativity Award – Cafe Panette by Jake Lowe