ELYSE TAYLOR & PURPLE MAGAZINE

Elyse Taylor, shot by Matteo Montanari in an NYC apartment.

Things to note: 1. Elyse is a hands-down babe. 2. I am falling more and more in love with those furry Celine shoes, no matter how inappropriate they may be. And 3. That Vivienne Westwood headdress may just be the flower crown to end all flower crowns.

Images via Purple Magazine

CHOP IT OFF

This is how my hair looked circa 3 days ago. Because 3 days ago I went for the "chop". And boy, oh boy, do I feel like a new woman! There's nothing like lopping off a couple of inches to make you feel great about life. 

Saying goodbye to the locks and a big fat hello to feeling and looking more like a "grown up". I've got to be honest too, I get very bored, very, very easily. If I could have cut my hair myself (ok, to a decent standard) weeks ago, I would have. But the fear of Stuart never speaking to me again quickly put the brakes on that proverbial runaway train. Train, why? I don't know. 

Sometimes I feel like I am, as much as it breaks my heart to admit it, not destined to be one of those ladies with a beautiful, thick head of long ass hair. 

But you know what, I don't think I care. 

Shoulder length hair is liberating as shit. You should do it too.  

I will leave you with a quote from the good old Man Repeller on her new found confidence after cutting her own hair (because she writes way way WAY better than I ever could).

"Everything is always about confidence, isn’t it? If you feel good, you will look good, and if you look good, because you feel good, you will rule the fucking world. There really is something to stepping away from your comfort zone and recognizing that wherever you settle feels somehow…better than where you’d previously kicked up your feet."

The end.

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THE CLOSING OF LMFF

Don't hate me, but, I am going to start this report with a negative. A negative that I spoke about on the night with a few of my lady friends. And that is whether or not the magic of a runway show is taken away with the knowledge that you can, the very next day, walk into the store of the brand you saw, and buy whatever item it was that took your fancy? No? Just me? Ok I'm glad we covered that. And on a side note, I do think it is infact great that Melbourne has it's very own fashion week. Have I won you back yet? 

Anyway, back to the task at hand and that is my opinion on the brands we saw and loved (or hated) at the closing night of L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival. To open the show, we were graced with she who I personally was most excited for, Karen Walker.

What did we learn? Suits are in and as such, I need one. After lusting after something printed for oh, the last 6 or so months, I am now questioning whether a block colour of say... Tangerine, may just be a little better. 

Side notes: I definitely need to invest in a second pair of sunnies by this brand. If 80 year old's can rock 'em (see here), then god damn it so can I.

To follow, Kuwaii. What did we learn? In a world, ok city, where the colour black reigns supreme, this brand is teaching us something new for Autumn and that is, pastels are cool too. Especially lime cape-come-coats. And that's a fact. 

Oh Leonard St, thank you for reminding me why I intend on purchasing at least 3 beanies in an assortment of colours for our impending cold season. Thank you, thank you. What else did we learn? A fear of birds should not, in anyway, shape or form, hinder your undying love for that swan print. I just know you want it and don't worry, I'm right there with you. 

I won't even lie, I hadn't heard of Limedrop before approximately 7.45pm on Sunday evening. Embarrassing yes, but at least I was pleasantly surprised. What did we learn? Florals might have been stealing the thunder of every other print for, I don't know, ever, but this bright and bold beauty is certainly something to consider for your Autumn wardrobe. Most notably, that bomber. 

The offerings from Gorman were as to be expected, and that means wonderful. Much like the show I had seen previously in the week, they stuck to their tried and trusted method of fun and quirky styling to highlight this seasons offerings. Plus, they had silver shoes, and that is only ever a good thing.

Second to last (or were they, I can't remember), is Jolet. Sticking to a more traditional colour palette for Autum and a graphic print as a means of injecting some vibrance, this collection was well put together in terms of it's overall aesthetic, but I've not yet decided whether or not that is a good thing.  

 

Now, according to Secret South, orange is in, and I for one, am fine with that. So that's, well, that. Another thing to note, the above may or may not be the perfect casual-yet-formal-enough coat to see anyone through an Autumn or Winter. Thoughts?

Finally, as my camera was being as tempermental as a 15 year old girl, the above images have been sourced from Melbgirl, courtesy of Jessieobialor

#LMFFNOW

Ah L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Week, this countries little sister to Sydney's Mercedez Benz Fashion Week. And she's back! Last night, courtesy of the hosts of the Famous For Fashion event, Fashion Journal, I found myself situated with 2 free tickets. Have I told you how much I enjoy free shit? No? Well I do, a lot. 

This show featured a fine (oh so fine) selection of retailers situated along the Chapel St strip of fashion. To open the night however, we had the divine opportunity to listen to the musings of one very heavily 80's influenced duo (synths and turtlenecks were definitely a key theme, and I for one was not disappointed). But I disgress. The first retailer of the night was the eccentric vintage store we like to call Shag. A wild selection of garments thrown together to create some colourful and damn right crazy outfits which I was very much impressed by. 

Next up on my list of cool shit for the eyeballs is Alice McCall. With the combination of applique and lace, this collection is surely going to get the ladies all fired up this season. 

Almost last and definitely not least, actually my favourites of the night, Gorman. This brands use of fresh and exotic prints never fails to lure me in and this collection was no exception. I will also be seeing these guys on Sunday at the closing night for the festival and am very intrigued to see what they will produce for a longer show. Also, on a side note, they gave away FREE socks in our goodie bags. FREE. 

To close the night we had Shakuhachi. I know what your thinking... Shaku-who? Crazy name. Crazy clothes (kind of). There was a lot of sequins and sparkle in this collection and it was definitely one for making that grand entrance at an event. And that orange number? Hello favourite item of the night.

And just like that, the recap is over and I am going to sit my ass down for the rest of the night, in preparation for one hell'a busy weekend.

LET'S TALK ABOUT TURTLENECKS...

Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist has gifted upon us all some inspiration should we (we being those of us residing in the Southern Hemisphere) be pre-planning the ways in which we intend to keep warm during the impending winter before us. 

I don't think I've worn a turtleneck since sometime in the 1990's and I definitely (obviously) didn't do it with the same level of chic in which this, presumably French woman, is. I will never look like her, but god damn it if I don't spend the next 6 months trying.

Image via The Sartorialist