Edith Cowan University Contemporary Fashion Graduation Exhibition

The bow (above) was designed by ECU fash grad Jessica Carlucci.

The graduating contemporary fashion students from ECU put on a thought-out and well executed exhibition and runway show, entitled Bare, on Saturday night.

Style Voyeur was there to capture what was one of the most chilled out backstage areas I have ever seen. 3 years lead-up and preparation for this event made the whole evening run smoothly and (seemingly) effortlessly. The relaxed behind-the-scenes vibe (which carried through to the catwalk) lent itself to the mood of the surrounds and translated the semi-bohemian 60's atmosphere exceptionally well.

Too cool for school.


I thought I would take this opportunity to say I despise the term 'cool kids.' It implies a sense of negativity towards expression and individuality.
Sure superficiality is the lowest form of being but the people who bandy this term about should first consider that sometimes style is substance. It's one of the few ways you can say something without words and isn't being cool all about not giving a shit what anyone else is doing? Yeah we're into fashion, what the F is it to you? The way I see it is you can hardly stand up on your high horse wearing olive green crocs and a ratty old Telstra sports cap now can you? 

This boy looks to me like a human blank canvas. I could imagine him in any style. If he dyed his hair lighter and donned a bit of worn leather he could even channel River Pheonix.


Designer Tim Watson wears his own trousers with the best necklace I have ever seen rocked by a dude.




Installation piece exhibited. I wouldn't be surprised if this resembles Meghan Hoise's own bedroom.

(Above centre & right) Designs by Meghan Hoise.


Sarah (above) in Caldi Design.
(Below) Getting the final adjustments before flaunting a Grace Loo creation.


Design by Grace Loo.


Jessica Carlucci's couture-like dress.


Designer Esther Lane was my favourite of the evening. Her designs most closely match my aesthetic. Her print work was inspired by the explorer/author Edward Packard who I discovered (upon researching) was responsible for the Choose Your Own Adventure children's series. The scar on the model's leg is perfect.


Victoria Vidovich's design brings character to fashion.
The neckpiece is so delicate and beautiful.


Alysia Harvey.

Do you remember this page of the Perth Fashion Festival's '09 program?
What did you think?

Write to me, comment, talk to each other!
All you have to do to subscribe to Style Voyeur and be able to comment on posts is click the 'comments' section, go to sign in and follow the prompts. Add a funny name for yourself, some details and then type away!

Perth's Up-and-Coming Modelling Sensations

Chadwick Models have some serious talent on their books.
Recently Thom Kerr (photographer), Rebekah Clark (beauty) and I shot many of Chadwick Models' new talent. All of the girls presented to us were stunning, professional and had fantastic personalities. It was very impressive and a joy working with them all.

Two of the girls, including Nichole H and Beth have been with Chadwick for a brief time whereas models including Shelby, Jessi and Paige were discovered at
Perth Fashion Festival Chadwick Model Search.

Chadwick Models signed a whopping 24 new faces discovered at the event, proving the standard of models in Perth is so high it is always going to be hard to choose just one winner at any given time. 

While all of these girls have huge potential, Nicole H (pictured above and below) is a rare beauty and Thom was so enamoured by the Adriana Lima look-a-like we booked her for a beauty shoot that will appear in a major Australian publication early next year.

Watch this space! 

(above images)
Nicole H

Jessi

A big thank you to Carly Hunter
and Winifred & Bance!

Photography: Thom Kerr @ Vendrame
Styling: Style Voyeur
Beauty: Rebekah Clark
Model: Sarah Pauley @ Viviens

Curtin University Fashion & Textiles Graduation 2009 - Thursday 26/11/09

Kiara Thomson (right) with models wearing her collection.
 

Boots by Lok Man Suen (Moon). Very clever detail.
I absolutely adore this idea and love the trousers too.
The wax looks so cool.

Designs (above and below) by Daniella Caputi.

Caputi (below right) prepares her models in the line-up backstage.
This girl has next-big-thing status written all over her, I love her work! She is an absolute delight to be around (and a devoted fan of SV!)


When I arrived backstage before the show so many of the models were engrossed in their books. It seems pathetic to highlight this fact, as why wouldn't they be but almost every girl sitting down was reading. Take that critics!


Off to school says designer Elizabeth West.


This garment by Rebecca Timson is inspired by the work of Sandra Backlund. It is stunning, surprisingly flattering and a very fashion forward design.
I absolutely love the contrast of the knit and satin combination!

Kate Townsend creations (above and below)


Kimberley Gouges


Sarah Munday design


I do like the theatrical element to these two garments by Rebecca Timson (above and below.) There is certainly room for costume-type design in fashion.


Kathryn Bell (above and below). What a storyteller!


Detail shot of Emma Brown's design.
Possibly inspired by Versace's Spring/Summer 09 heart shaped open zip detail, Brown's take on this look is original and well played. Lights which were embedded in the fabric added a creative edge and gave it the stand-out element necessary for making an impression on the catwalk!
I will be keeping my eye on her.
The digital prints used by the designer were also impressive.

Tom and Jessi wearing Emma Brown designs.
The pants are cool. I can see myself using these in a shoot some time in the near future.

His Majesty's Theatre - Monday 23/11/09

Backstage - Monday - 23/11/09

(Above) Eve Goh's collection 'Windows'

This year Central TAFE's graduating class presented predominantly what was a dark and eery showing of garments. The mood was offset by the resulting stand out collections from Chloe Jones, Natalie Fardella and another favourite, Eve Goh's 'Windows.'

To use a tired but fitting cliche`, it appeared as though a number of TAFE students had been influenced by the recently gloomy economic times, with a somewhat melancholic air to the work being shown. This did not detract from the fact that as always a spectacular presentation was offered. It did, however, bring a more theatrical mood to the night where anything goes creatively.

 The talent displayed on the night was indicative of a rich up-and-coming creative culture present in Perth fashion.

Thanks to Central TAFE and the hard working student designers in the graduating class of 2009 it is clear that this flair is sure to see us entertained for many decades to come!

Hannah Mcgrath's 'Of Dappled Woods and Magic Air'


(Above and Below) Ash Reader

I loved the hair and make-up for all the collections. Artistic Visions and Kit Cosmetics did a fantastic job.

Chloe Jone's 'Whimsical Confections'


Tim Watson's Flaneurism

Chadwick Models

(Chadwick Model Search entrant)
SHELBY

Photography: Thom Kerr
Beauty: Rebekah Clark
Styling: Style Voyeur
...
Top Australian/NZ fashion photographer Thom Kerr has been in town to shoot dozens of new faces for Chadwick Models.

This year In conjunction with Perth Fashion Festival, Chadwick Models conducted their first model search during the festival to find Perth's next modelling sensations, and they sure did succeed.

Along with the oh-so-talented Perth based make-up artist Rebekah Clark and myself styling, Thom has been putting Chadwick's new talent behind the camera and the results so far have been impressive. Clearly the standard of models in Perth is exceptional and it is a lot of fun for all of us working with girls who are confident, happy, gorgeous and intelligent. The new faces at Chadwick all seem to be just that!
  

(Above and below)
NICOLE

This afternoon we are doing a Beauty shoot with Nicole (above). With the combination of her stunning features and Thom's out of this world talent in photography the story is sure to be a winner!

(Above and below)
BETH
Beth promised me she would go home and listen to some Ramones songs!

(Below Chadwick Model Search entrant)
PAIGE

NICOLE wearing Jessie Hill Boots, cut off shorts from Good Sammy's, T-shirt from Winifred & Bance, necklace Forever New.

Short suit design by contemporary WA Designer Carly Hunter.

TIFFANY who came third in the Chadwick Model Search wears a vintage sequined dress and bow tie with bobby socks from David Jones.

BETH in a Ralph Lauren inspired outfit from Winifred & Bance with Nine West wedges.

JESSI rocking her own sporty booties, Rebekah's Rolling Stones T-shirt, 1940's style skirt from Winifred & Bance and my bangles from Planet.

Animal Print Overload!
 Style is about knowing all of the rules and then breaking them one by one.

InStyle Magazine

Shakespeare asked "What's in a name?" Not a lot really unless your name is used in the same sentence as THE SARTORIALIST!

I happened upon this in the latest edition of InStyle Magazine. I am shooting a fashion story for InStyle in a week (using Burberry SS 2010 just off the London runway no less ;-) so it is a funny coincidence that they have used my name as a heading. In relation to the most famous fashion blogger on the planet though, one does not mind a bit.

Maybe they know of SV, maybe they don't but as the daughter of a hippy
(see here) to me it just says THE UNIVERSE IS LISTENING!

pEaCe.

xx your one and only SV xx

Sneak Peak

For Autumn/Winter 2010 Carly Hunter refines her aesthetic, bringing elegance and diversity to the collection this upcoming season.

The fetish and grunge collection takes on a new direction for the label with the addition of unisex pieces being incorporated into the range. The usual design ethos, Hunter's obsessions with symmetry, the 1990's, minimalism and menswear is still apparent, although this time around garments have a darker, more sophisticated style.

Style Voyur got the lowdown from the designer on her sixth collection to date.

" I've been listening to a lot of SWANS and Michael Gira music so there is a very dark, gothic look to it. There is a whole lot of industrial detailing like metallic zippers and chains, cross rope back ties (playing on the fetish reference) and there is a ghostly image on a unisex T of a girl's legs and wrists. There is also some Kurt and Courtney in there."

Quote from Michael Gira: "Swans are majestic, beautiful looking creatures. With really ugly temperaments." 



Backstage photography: Carly Hunter
Models: Jessi Moloney @ Scene & Royce.
Shoes: Zomp