All posts by thisislandlife
Who's up for some Nookie?
The latest collection from Nookie made me anxious. When three models stormed onto the catwalk in draped jersey mini dresses, long capes cinched in with skinny belts and matching strapped booties, I knew that I would not feel at ease until the entire ensemble was mine. Nikita Sernack’s label had well and truly hit my radar. Not that I’m surprised. Since its debut in 2003, the label has gained a reputation amongst buyers as one of the most wearable around. And judging by the rest of this collection, I’d have to agree. Sernack’s floral prints are some of the prettiest I’ve seen, which can only mean one thing. We’ve got some serious purchasing decisions to make.
Madeline Weinrib's Ikat Clutches
Well well well, what do we have here? It looks like the buyers from Country Road may have paid a little visit to the Madeline Weinrib store in New York, because their Ikat clutch looks suspiciously familiar. And after a good hard peruse at the American designer’s Ikat clutch collection, I don’t blame them. One glance at these babies and you won’t want to settle. And why should you? Made out of a luxurious silk blend, Madeline Weinrib’s are worth every penny.
The tie-dye-like patterns of these colourful clutches will instantly transport you somewhere exotic. With my eye on the saffron yellow variety, it looks like the Albino Burmese Python’s homeland of Southeast Asia could be my next stop.
Jeffrey Campbell's Mary Roks
Yesterday I didn’t even know these shoes existed. Today, they’re all I can think about. Perforated suede, luxe animal prints, a chunky four-inch wedge and a summery peep toe front – it’s like Jeffrey Campbell invaded my shoe dreams and brought them to life. Had I not made a rookie error, I would have saved myself a chunk of cash and a hell of a lot of time.
Unfortunately, my first reaction was to write about these magnificent lace-up bootie wedges and halfway through writing this post, the nude sold out in my size. So with a half written article and a serious case of shoe anxiety, I did what any fashion obsessed writer would do – I put my life on hold to track them down.
Jess Hart in printed maxi dresses
After stumbling across these beautiful images of Jessica Hart on her blog, I don’t know what’s more fabulous: her or the dresses. While we can’t get a good look at the sand-skimming number she’s wearing on the beach, we can be sure that it’s an Aussie label. She’s on location in Hamilton Island for the MYER Spring/Summer 2010/11 catalogue shoot; but her patriotism for Australian fashion doesn’t stop there.
The loose and billowing floral version is from Sydney-based designers Zimmermann, who this season are working some of the nicest florals around. And the good news is that you don’t need to be a supermodel to pull one off, because maxi dresses come in a multitude of flattering styles and prints.
Trading Faces
I’m sorry, but since when did it become acceptable to bump one person’s face out for another? I know magazines switch bodies and heads quite regularly, but it’s so much creepier when it’s just the face.
It all started when I was flipping through an Australian men’s magazine (don’t ask) and stumbled upon a badly Photoshopped image which on closer inspection was the face of Poh Ling from Masterchef pasted onto the head of a stripper to see what she would look like with implants. WTF?! But it wasn’t until I came across these images from Vogue Nippon (Japanese Vogue) that I realised it had gone too far.
Littledoe is Love
Forget digging through piles of over-priced feathers, tulle, lace and whatever other crap can be glued to a clip. If you’re going to splash out on something new for racing season in Australia, it should be something handmade, not mass-produced. Take a peek at the pieces from American label Littledoe and you’ll see what I mean.
Created by inspiring designer Chase Cohl, these feathered headdresses and floral halos have a distinct Little House on the Prairie vibe going on. And they’re definitely not to be restricted to just your race day ensemble. Balmy summer nights, bonfires on the beach and dreamy vintage dresses are all perfect companions for exotic headgear. Whether you’re trackside or seaside, feathers and flowers are bound to make your summer that little more playful.
The bed of your dreams
Nothing says tropical holiday quite like a Balinese canopy bed. With its simple clean lines and warm teak wood, it’s not hard to imagine it draped in soft cotton netting. This one’s been handcrafted in Bali by the local and international design team at Tarita Furniture, who I’m pretty sure don’t ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Because anyone who’s been to this Indonesian island will tell you about the magical energy it possesses. Now I’m no expert in the transference of energy matter, but I’m certain that you’ll find that same life force in this bed. Well, that’s what I’ll be telling my boyfriend when I need to justify shipping one over into our tiny one-bedder. It really is the bed of your dreams.
Pousada Agua de Coco, Brazil
If you’ve ever thought about trading everything in to go and live in a hut on a beach somewhere, then you need to read on. Close your eyes and imagine a place worth relocating for, a place where you could truly embody the South Americans passion for life; somewhere where you wouldn’t let life pass you by in a blur of back-to-back meetings and traffic jams. Open your eyes to Pousada Agua de Coco.
Set at the end of a 30-kilometer potholed track in Icaraizinho de Amontada in the Northeast Region of Brazil, this is the kind of place you arrange your entire itinerary around. Three wooden bungalows sit on a picturesque palm fringed beach, facing the clear turquoise waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Spend your days relaxing in your own personal hammock and your nights feasting on stone-cooked fish and vegetables at their restaurant.
Camilla Franks
It’s hard to believe that a sans-style man could influence a whole crop of fashion designers, but then again we are talking about James ‘King of the Universe’ Cameron. Since the release of Avatar, the world of Pandora has become a popular muse for designers who aren’t afraid of a little colour palette experimentation. So it’s no surprise that the latest collection from Sydney label Camilla, reveals an awe-inspiring ensemble of kaftans and thigh-exposing playsuits that are out of this world. Camilla brings the vibrancy of this fictional planet to life by pairing extravagant silk prints with shattered-crystal necklines. It looks like we’re in for a colourful summer.