GPV GOES FLUORO

Fluorescent fashion brings on a wave of nausea for me, as heinous flashbacks of my fourteen-year-old self haunt me. Those were the days when my besties and I would collectively customise trashy, oversized singlets from Supre, (the Australian equivalent of Tammy, or one of those shops you'd never be caught dead walking into after the age of thirteen), to create matching outfits for a school disco. 

However, fluoro is a trend that's caught my eye over the past couple of seasons, creeping back into fashion's good books with subtlety as its secret weapon. Gary Pepper Vintage is an e-boutique that snaps up style ruthlessly in an instant, so it's no surprise that their blog follows suit and makes me froth over seasonal trends during my coffee break.

Their latest spread pays homage to the most coveted blast from my wardrobe's past, but hallelujah, there are no leg warmers or sweat bands in lieu with fluoro's revival. Featuring the the most stunning citrus coloured tailored suit with a a structured lime green jacket slung over the shoulders, Gary Pepper Vintage has made realise that mistakes do deserve to inherit a second chance, because this is fucking (whatever, colourful language is all too appropriate here) phenomenal.

PURITY

Angelic, immaculate and uh - daring? White palettes have become somewhat of a paradoxical statement floating graciously down the runway of almost every designer this season.

I say this because it's easy to inject oneself with the vivacity of colour, or slink into the chic of a strictly black mantra.

And yet, what about white? Where does it fit into the scale of chromatic camouflage? There's always that innocent sense of purity when opting for white. Think whimsical brides and Sunday schools.

Givenchy S/S 2012

Chloé S/S 2012

Chloé S/S 2012

Chanel S/S 2012

Designers have really transformed the essence of neutrality in fashion this past few seasons. It's all about exquisite structure, minimalism and contrast. Plum coloured lips and smokey eyes against the crisp, clean glow of a white blouse. 

Perfection.

ADVANCED STYLE

After my too much coffee and dwelling on amaaaaaazing beach times over the weekend, my wonderful friend JoJo posted a video link on my facebook page and instantly propelled my spirits into infinite happiness.


Advanced Style is a blog that captures the essence of style and age and reveals that some of the most well-dressed women we see on the street are also the oldest.


I don't know about you, but I often perpetuate the idea that with age invites succumbing to the inevitability of a drab and lifeless wardrobe, as one lusts over the colour of their youth. There is an inescapable fear of growing old and losing touch with the little pieces of ourselves that made us feel somewhat electric. 


I watched one of the many short excerpt's that Ari Seth Cohen, the curator of Advanced Style, has put together to inspire both young and mature women to hold onto the vivacious sense of life that we can create through our own style consciousness. 

So inspired by the fearlessness with which these women approach age. It's a testament to the way people's attitudes towards life are reflected in the way they dress themselves. 


I'm going to keep my eyes peeled on the streets of Brisbane to see how many mature women are living by the mantra that style and grace defy the limits of age.

Thin it to win it

Up until a few months ago, I was blissfully unaware about the concept of "thinspiration". I had a haunting inclination that friends who had suffered from eating disorders in the past had access to corners of the internet where they interacted with others suffering from anorexia or bulimia. In reality though, I've been oblivious to the horrifying world of pro-anorexia websites and blogs that aim to engrain in young women and even men for that matter, a mentality that thin is in and eating is cheating. 


I'm infuriated. It's heartbreaking, it's despicable and it's terrifying. How can those recovering from eating disorders do so when the temptation to relapse into self-depravation of food is a mere mouse-click away? How aware are our governments that these websites are infiltrating pro-anorexia propaganda throughout cyberspace? 


There needs to be legislation passed to ensure the removal and banning of thinspo sites, all across the globe.


I typed the phrase "thinspiration" into google and in 0.14 seconds, 1,590,000 results appeared before me. 


"Real thinspiration - fat girls guide"
"Pro-thinspiration - pro ana tips to lose weight the right way"
"Thinspo: let me be empty and weightless and maybe i'll find some peace tonight"


These are 3 links out of millions available to readers anywhere around the world when they hit search.


(The text, images and quotes posted on these online publications are shocking, however I don't feel it necessary to post them here and further the scale of pro-ana influence).


I scrolled through a number of these websites and I honestly felt sick to my stomach. The faces behind these thinspo blogs are leading young women in particular down a path of death. These girls are literally dying to be thin. Although the mental health of the administrators running these websites may be hindered by eating disorders such as anorexia, their influence on young women around the world is going to be detrimental and should not be excused.


Countries such as France and the USA are now seeing to pass legislation that will ban the horror of pro-anorexia websites, something which has been supported endlessly by Italian Vogue. In an age where the media is often blamed for bombarding us with a falsehood of physical perfection, which to an extent it does, perhaps we forget that there is a whole other world, the interweb, where any human being, in any place, in any state of mind, is free to impose their view on anyone who is there to listen.


Of course eating disorders pre-date the birth of the internet and whether thinspiration exists or not, it's an illness that is going to plague young women especially until the end of time. However, if the scale of influence of reduced and the risk of relapse lessened, the push of pro-ana poison is one less evil which will cease to exist at the touch of a key. 

Franca Sozzani: editor of Vogue Italia supporting ban on thinspo

I Heard They Eat Cigarettes

I was ridiculously stoked and keen-as-beans to work with Melbourne label I Heard They Eat Cigarettes recently, as the fierce and fresh street label take on Asia to join their army of lace'n'leather ridden style junkies. I Heard They Eat Cigarettes is sex, lust and vivacity stitched into garments that are laid-back and cool; street style that isn't superfluous but always has a certain presence about it. 


Founder and designer Chris Brooks, was telling me about how influence is transported from certain eras, reviving the best bits of retro street style - fuck yeah . The label's bloodline was born in the 70s skate & surf scene in California as well as British punk circa Sex Pistols - Hnnnng! Perhaps that's the most badass thing about I Heard They Eat Cigarettes, that it's born out of influence from an era of pervasive influence through art, music, film, and culture beyond comprehension. Substance: it's a fucking powerful trait to have been blessed with, don't you think?

Frothing over those black lace ankle boots until a magic money tree grows in my garden. What's your favourite piece?

Coveting crystals

Many of you may follow the wonderful and talented Madeleine Jones at wekilledCOUTURE and saw her posts about the beautiful titanium aura crystal that she crafted into a ring during her silversmithing course. The crystal itself is absolutely amazing; spanning over three fingers, it catches light and changes colour, looking like solidified petrol in sunlight. 

This is perhaps one of the most amazing pieces of jewellery that I've ever come across and in a few weeks, it will be sitting pretty as the trophy piece amongst my collectables. I'll definitely be wearing it out and about - it's too stunning not to want to show off to the world. Eeeeep!

Images: Madeleine Jones at wekilledCOUTURE.com

Dazed is the right word

So the latest cover of Dazed & Confused just got released featuring Beyoncé dressed head to well, thigh, in Givenchy, dripping ice-cream down that oh-so expensive sleeve of hers. Yeah, I'm drooling.