A Silver Logie of a Lady!

This post is not so much a look at my work but a 'behind the scenes' peek into the spontaneity of my life! This last Sunday I was sitting with my wonderful friend Nigel Stanislaus, Director of Make Up at Maybelline NY Australia having brunch and catching up when the gorgeous Charlotte Dawson of Australia's Next Top Model (and many other tv shows) called to say she was in Melbourne to present an award at Australian TV's night of nights, The Logie Awards! (For you international readers The Logies are Australia's version of The Emmy Awards)
If you are regular reader of this blog you would know that I made a guest appearance on last years ANTM and also blogged a visit I made to Sydney and caught up with Charlotte. I simply adore Charlotte and her quick wit and hysterical humour and hope that one day those television execs give her her own chat show, I think she would give America's Chelsea Handler a run for her money!!!
ANYWAY Charlotte called and Nigel offered to create his magic and do Charlotte's make up, I tagged along to give my assistance but mostly to catch up with Charlotte, the above photo(yes blurred, can't see wrinkles then!) Nigel and I joked was us posing as a crack, creative, SWAT team(or just hamming it up as usual!)
The gorgeous Charlotte Dawson in all her glory! She joked she was a living breathing Silver Logie!
Nigel Stanislaus Make Up Artist extraordinaire and Charlotte in her stunning Alex Perry gown
The mistress of accessorizing, Charlotte with Alexander McQueen evening bag and ring with skull detail. By the way I would like to point out that I am not Charlotte's stylist but would jump at the chance to be!
If you're a regular viewer of ANTM you will know last years winner Tahni Atkinson who was attending the Logies as well, how short am I next to this tall beautiful girl! She WAS wearing high platform heels! Thats my excuse anyway! We caught up in the Lobby before she walked the red carpet, it was great seeing her and you'll see some beautiful photo's of her in the May issue of Harpers Bazaar Australia.
Both Nigel and I had a great day and I personally thank Charlotte for a fun filled afternoon!

the latest showing...

Ahead of next weeks RAFW (Rosemount Australian Fashion Week) in Sydney I thought I would give you a glimpse of one of the collections that will be shown there, my friend Aurelio Costarella. A few weeks back I was shown the collection by the man himself and head of marketing Paul O Connor, the whole collection looks amazing but I must say I was blown away by the gowns particularly! Ray has again created beautiful couture pieces that I could imagine gracing the red carpet on any of my celebrity clients. I've already spoken to a few of the actresses I work with about upcoming red carpet events!
I can't wait to use some of these pieces in upcoming editorial.
Paul O Connor of 'Aurelio Costarella' showing me the collection in the showroom
The exquisite detail of one of the evening pieces
Beading and detail is something Aurelio Costarella has come to be known for over the years and this collection does not disappoint!
Unfortunately I am not going to make it to next weeks RAFW and to the Aurelio Costarella Show on the Monday night because of my schedule, which I am very disappointed about but I wish Ray, Paul and Sonia Audino of Aurelio Costarella lots of luck for a wonderful show and I will certainly be there in spirit.

www.aureliocostarella.com
www.rafw.com.au

oooooooohJAMIE!

A great part of my career has been working with young creative people and a few weeks back I had the chance to work with up and coming photographer/blogger/fashion identity Jamie Wdziekonski on his 100th blog post. I met Jamie about a year and a half ago when he started work experience with my Agents at Miss Bossy Boots, they loved his work and asked him to be a regular part of the team. Since then I have seen him evolve into an amazing creative young man who has turned his talents to photography and then as the hottest blogger around! I can't tell you how many movers and shakers in the fashion industry have whispered to me during Melbourne Fashion Week that he is someone to watch!
Jamie had an idea to create a 'Alexander Wang style' shoot for his 100th blog post and we sat down an chatted about styling concepts, models, bloggers and designers that he wanted to feature. As you can see by the images I think he chose an up to the minute snapshot of new, creative talented types of Melbourne.
My lovely friend Jordan Moore, Fashion Editor of Spook Magazine came along to cover it and the latest issue features Jamie's blog, OhJamie.com
Designers from Limedrop, Trimapee and From Britten, owners from super hot store Comeback Kid and models from Viviens and FRM. IT Girl about town, the heaven Mia Veur and her bestie Andrew Moller
Featured Bloggers include the gorgeous Candice DeVille of SuperKawaiiMama.com, Michelle and Steph from Sickboots.blogspot.com, Phoebe and Georgia from Streetparty.tv
You must check out OhJamie.com it really is the way of the future and I'm so proud to see Jamie's progress into this big creative world of fashion, I can't wait to work on more Jamie!


I love the above video! How much fun does it look! It was a great shoot with lots of great people! Many thanks to all the wonderful designers for giving their creations so freely and to all the crew!

Styled by Philip Boon
Assistant Joshua Koko

Make up Narelle Hall
Blonde Gamon
Ellinda Corbisiero

One Hot Director!

Well as I mentioned in my last blog post I was lucky to be granted access to the not yet completed(a month ago) 'Olsen Hotel' to shoot a story for a yet to be named magazine(you should know the deal with these things now if you're a regular reader) on female 'Hot Directors', and if you are also a regular reader you will realize that I have a close friend who is one of those 'Hot Directors' , the gorgeous Helen Clemens! Helen and I have worked together for years on many different projects and continue to be firm friends as well as creative contemporaries. So when the opportunity came up to shoot this story I made a few calls to the great people at 'The Olsen Hotel', in particular the lovely Emma Beattie to arrange our entrance to the worksite that was 'The Olsen Hotel' at that time, luckily a few suites were completed and we proceeded to create an 'LA feel' in and around this now great hotel!
My publicist/producer Dean Drieberg and myself thought the talented photographer Christian Blanchard would capture Helen in this setting at her best and he graciously accepted the assignment. I wanted the feel of the shoot to evoke a modern, LA style that could be seen on an international level.
Accessorizing Helen for our first shot which I declared could be used when Helen wins her first Oscar, her dress is by Madam Virtue & Co Couture and chain bracelet by House of Baulch
I love this shot, Melbourne looks like LA(lacking the smog tho) and Helen looks super sleek!

The stunning Olsen pool and Christian working his magic, me working hard too!
Talk about 'Hot Directors', Christian Blanchard is one hot photographer at the moment recently being named one of Melbourne's best dressed men and ending up on the cover of M Magazine himself!
Dress by Madam Virtue & Co and boots by Zomp, bracelet at Glitzern
The gorgeous Helen Clemens! Helen is probably best known as a video clip director, her credits Sneaky Sound System, Josh Pike, Eskimo Joe and Kasey Chambers to name a few. She is also breaking out into feature film and is taking on the corporate world with some exciting new projects coming up for major clients.

Styling/Concept Philip Boon
Photographer Christian Blanchard
Producer Dean Drieberg
Hair and Make up Narelle Hall

Please check out Helen Clemen's wonderful work at www.plazafilms.com.au

The Olsen Hotel Opening

Firstly I have to apologize for this blog being dormant for the last month, my excuse is that it was a mix of losing my phone(most of the images are taken by my iphone!), the madness of L'oreal Melbourne Fashion Week and a multitude of personal issues! ANYWAY I'm back on board and ready to bombard you with a plethora of new and hopefully interesting posts on my life and what I've been up to in the absence!
Last Thursday I was invited to the grand opening of the amazing new 'Olsen Hotel', part of the Art Series Hotel Group, and what a night it was! I had a few weeks earlier been the lucky first person to organise and shoot a fashion story in the hotel before it was completed and opened.( In the next few days I will post this behind the scenes story) At that time I was amazed at how fantastic the hotel was looking and couldn't wait to see it completed, and so last Thursday I saw 'The Olsen Hotel" in all its glory. Now to give you a bit of background, The Olsen is named after one of Australia's living legend artists, John Olsen and his beautiful landscapes are featured throughout the hotel. What made this night more memorable was that the 83 year old John Olsen himself was there to open it! The picture above is the view from the Penthouse, where of course I was quite at home!
The living room of the Penthouse with amazing city skyline view, just need to add Martini!
Penthouse Dining Room
The charming man himself John Olsen in the Penthouse chatting with guests
The Deague Family and John Olsen cutting the ribbon for the official Opening!
PR Darling Susie Robinson of 'PR Darling' and great friend 'man about town' Joshua Koko
The pool at The Olsen Hotel is an architectural marvel, jutting out over Chapel Street South Yarra with glass bottom and sides.
Very Esther Williams! Synchronized swimmers performance in the pool
Art Series Group's chic Beckie Mitchell striking a pose at the after party
Myself and Beckie Mitchell at the after party getting close!


The video above is the inside of the Penthouse including the artist John Olsen

The Olsen Hotel
637 - 641 Chapel Street South Yarra Victoria

'Japanese Couture Master Designers'

My great friend Dean Hewitt is presenting an installation of his archive collection of the great Japanese Designers: Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Comme De Garcon, Kenzo and many more at his wonderful store Madam Virtue & Co, 5 Crossley Street Melbourne from the 8th March 2010 to 20th March 2010 as part of the LMFF Cultural Program.
Dean and his partner JC Lloyd Southwell D'Anvers have the most amazing collection of couture pieces in their store and I continually find it a fantastic source of inspiration to my work. They understand that fashion at this level verges on art and buy accordingly to reflect their aesthetic.
Over many years and over many continents Dean has collected some of the most creative, influential designer pieces of Japanese clothing and will showcase in this exhibition some designs that have never been available in this country before.
The photographs in this post are by the wonderfully talented Robyn Lea, so beautifully shot and I thought it might be nice to see images on here that are not taken by me with my iphone!
This is the press release for the exhibition
'Japanese design first burst onto the fashion scene to make a lasting impression back in 1982, when some 12 designers showed their collections at the Paris Pret a Porter shows. Today fashion is dominated by such Japanese designers as Issey Miyake, Kenzo, Yohji Yamamoto, Comme De Garcons, Tsumori Chisato and Hanae Mori. The refreshing use of inventive shapes and monochrome tones, particularly black, has shocked revitalised and stimulated the fashion world to reach new heights'
This exhibition is a must see for any fashionista, fashion student or lover of all things fashion. I can't recommend it enough, please make time to pop past and enthrall in Dean's very special collection.
'Japanese Couture Master Designers' at Madam Virtue & Co, 5 Crossley Street Melbourne VIC
03 96638669 www.madamvirtue.com.au
8th March 2010 to 20th March 2010
Mon to Thurs 11am to 6pm
Fri 11am to 7pm
Sat 11am to 5pm

Exhibition Piece

Last week I received a phone call from my publicist and producer Dean Drieberg regarding an upcoming fashion shoot for one of the amazing photographers on my agency, Miss Bossy Boots books. Photographer Amelia Soegijono is represented by MBB and Dean in Sydney and asked if I would be interested in working with her on a exhibition piece for this years Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) titled 'Desire'. I jumped at the chance to work with a great photographer like Amelia and to work with someone new, so Amelia flew me to Sydney where we proceeded to make her concept come to life!
Amelia chose Slovakian model Alina @ Chic Management(above) and as you can see yourself she is an incredible beauty!
The outfit Alina is wearing above is a piece of sheer cotton fabric I fashioned into a dress by wrapping and cutting, making a strong shouldered, asymmetrical look.

As the exhibition is to be featured during LMFF the focus I thought needed to be on a high end fashion look and decided to use only one designer, Aurelio Costarella, couturier to the stars like Jennifer Hawkins, Rihanna and Sharon Stone to name a few! I have featured Aurelio in this blog before and continue to love his work, as I do his PR director Paul O Connor for getting these couture pieces to me on time!
Aurelio Costarella gown with background fabric flowing
Slovakian beauty Alina from Chic Management
Some of the couture gowns by wonderful friend Aurelio Costarella

Make up artist Aliza creating our third look on Alina, a demonic, dark moody character.

Diminutive, talented photographer Amelia Soegijono creating magic!
Two versions of the dress, one black, one white giving a good/bad feel to the 'Desire' theme

The above photo may look a little odd but once Amelia works her post production magic and the full picture is released at the exhibition it will all make sense when you see the finished product!

I loved working with Amelia and the team in Sydney and thank Dean Drieberg for making it happen, not to mention his company in a very humid Sydney town! 95 % humidity is something special, its almost water!
The exhibition details to come very soon!