Nine Daughters
As they strut with purpose (one that is not quite clear) through a sun drenched field while grass dances around them, these models might look like your everyday suicidal virgin or school girl missing at notorious Australian rock, but they are actually the model, pseudo- sisters of new creative consultancy company, Nine Daughters.
During golden hour, a team of creatives including myself as stylist, or self- appointed tenth daughter of the day, set out to lense the Nine Daughters launch campaign shoot. I wanted to make sure that there was a consistent story within the styling while at the same time giving each girl an individual personality, just like nonfictional, non gene- pool winning siblings. I looked to different labels to put together a wardrobe for the shoot that would marry vintage, bohemian and luxe pieces with a neutral colour palette and an overall femininity.
Second Photo, L- R clockwise Jessica wears Ela Hawke Vintage dress | Lauren wears Lilya lace dress | Jocelyn wears Ela Hawke Vintage lace dress | Chloe wears Lisa Brown dress | Becky wears Farron dress | Jacquie wears Farron top and leather skirt | Ebony wears Lilya dress | Kate wears Farron leather bustier and skirt | Natasha wears Ela Hawke Vintage top and Lisa Brown tights.
Creative Director/ Nine Daughters founder Celia Lucas
Talent Jessica Rosaria, Lauren Taylor, Jocelyn Neuendorf, Chloe Molan, Becky Mync, Jacquie McLaren, Ebony Nave, Kate Tuttle, Natasha Pruchniewicz.
Photographer Liam O’Donnell
Photography Assistant Daniel Sgualdino
Beauty Kayla Elefson & Courtney Shepherd
Fashion yours truly
Photos by Liam O’Donnell, layout by me.
Spring Breakers
I’ve considered changing the name of this blog to ‘Opening Brijet’ as it seems to have become more of an Opening Ceremony fan club than a fashion blog but I have a whole other X rated business venture planned under that title. Opening Ceremony’s creative directors Humberto Leon and Carol Lim are behind almost everything exciting in fashion at the moment. Their partnerships with Yoko Ono, Kenzo Paris and Adidas Originals has well and truly earned them the title as Mayors of collaboration nation.
Harmony Korine is mostly known for his dark & gritty cult films ‘Gummo’ and ‘Kids’ and in the fashion world he is responsible for the chillingly, repulsive, art house films he created for Proenza Schouler. If you’re familiar with his work then you will understand how only he could interpret a celebration like Spring Break into a twisted, white trash, crime fuelled, teen flick, that if any of his previous films have to indicate, is that by the end of it you will be in the corner of the room, rocking back and forth in the foetal position, and not only because you’ve just watched your favourite Disney channel tween shoot up a convenience store.
Costume designer for the film, Heidi Bivens collaborated with Opening Ceremony to create a Spring Breakers capsule collection. Artists Todd James designed exclusive illustrations for the t-shirts while Ice cream cones, marijuana leaves, alien heads, inverted crosses and dolphins glow in the dark on tracksuits and playful bikinis contrast the idea of the innocence and corruption of teen girls that know their power. My favourite piece and the most signifying of this is the baby pink ski mask emblazoned with a unicorn. It’s like the ready-to-wear version of this Maison Martin Margiela jewelled balaclava moment. Completely fucked up, but so right.
Cosmic Punk
My favourite thing (and I’m sure you’ve heard me say this before, so sorry I’m not sorry) about fashion is that it allows us to take the artwork of someone else and interpret it in a way that is completely and solely expressive of ourselves. It gives you the freedom to define yourself as an individual or brand you as part of a group. There are so many sub cultures that can be defined by their style and I think it’s interesting that wether it be the music you listen to or your social class that defines the clique you run in, fashion can completely set you apart from the pack while at the same time including you in another.
In the last year I’ve become fascinated with one of these sub cultures. Seapunk was spawned online as a genre of ravers and escalated into its own appreciation of music and aesthetic. I must admit to never being a fan of electronic music as I’m much more of an indie rock kid and mostly just an underlying fear of experiencing some sort of spontaneous epileptic fit induced by flashing lights and ecstasy, but the style interpreted is something I was drawn to. Like a hopeless excuse for a Bower bird- dangle something pretty in my face and I’ll follow. I started researching the different extensions of the rave lifestyle & belief system (yes, there is actually a belief system past furry leg warmers) and became enamored with the rainbow beaded bracelets of kandi kids and bright kuwaii threads of the social movement.
These trends begged to be explored so I called on the talents of exclusively Australian labels, retailers and local creatives to re-imagine this unique aesthetic in the very first Brijet fashion editorial; Cosmic Punk.
- Dress Shayli Harrison x Style Cult | Watches Ice Watch | Rings Molten Store | Bracelets stylists own (worn throughout)
- Top//Skirt Taylah Hasaballah x Tiger Temple
- Top//Skirt Taylah Hasaballah x Tiger Temple | Cuff Alexandra Blak x Save The Last Pinker | Watches Ice Watch
- Dress Gail Sorronda | Shoes Doc Martens x Downes Shoes | Necklace//Choker Molten Store
- Top Taylah Hasaballah x Tiger Temple | Pants Gail Sorronda | Shoes Doc Martens x Downes Shoes | Necklaces Alexandra Blak x Save The Last Pinker | Watches Ice Watch | Jacket stylists own
- Dress//Shorts Shayli Harrison x Style Cult | Shoes Doc Martens x Downes Shoes | Rings Molten Store | Collar Love in Leather | Cuff Alexandra Blak x Save The Last Pinker | Watch Ice Watch
- Dress Gail Sorronda | Choker Molten Store
Photography James Barlow | Model Elize O’Connor | Beauty Kathleen James | Fashion//Artwork Brigitte Hill | Location Kippa- Ring Motel
Comeback Kid
Achieving the exact opposite of it’s purpose, camouflage print has captured the attention of the street style set, high street retailers and designers alike. The print was featured heavily in the 2012/13 mens collections but until now was kept within rather masculine confines. When I first saw this street style image I was inspired to adopt a little military pattern myself. High street was yet to catch onto the trend so I went straight to the source, the local Army disposal. Staying far away from camo pants, as they are just all too closely related to the horrific cargo pant family of the ’90s and after a laborious conversation with the elderly shopkeeper in which I had to explain to him that the shirt was actually for me to wear normally and not as a uniform for myself or the assumed boyfriend in the Army, I acquired some camo. The look of displeasure on his face was the sign that finally convinced me of camouflage. There is nothing I love more than to sartorially offend the greater community.
Since then the infamous print has been featured in the Spring Summer ’13 collections of Donna Karen, Edun and Lela Rose and you cannot walk into Zara without being accosted by a sea of abstract Army green. Featured on feminine silhouettes, camo adds a dose of attitude. I slightly re-worked the shirt and styled it with sporty leather running shorts to keep the look simple and urban to avoid any G.I. Jane complex.
With a print as recognisable and traditional as camouflage it was the perfect opportunity to get back to the old skool in a collaboration with photographer Matt O’Donnell. Stripping back to the bare essentials of the art form, Matt works with the sunlight, shadows and angles to lense naturally striking photos that require little or no editing in post production, allowing any flaws to add to the unrefined beauty of a real moment. His love of classic photography saw us in a leafy street on a warm Melbourne afternoon capturing digitals and polaroids.
Shirt similar here | Shorts Sportsgirl | Sunglasses House of Holland | Shoes Converse
Photography by Matt O’Donnell
It’s Always Sunny In Southern Hemisphere
It may be that we’re now seeing S/S ’13 pieces trickling into international retailers and editorials or possibly my desperate attempt to cling onto the warmer seasons as our Southern hemisphere begin to talk A/W but I have decided to bring to you my findings, the absolute creme de la creme from hours of trawling through every show for Spring Summer 2013.
Some might say discussing Summer trends when we are coming to the end of ours may be a little irrelevant & that so much has happened since the international S/S shows, like S/S Haute Couture and Pre-Fall, but to that I say this; what is Pre-Fall anyway?! The precursor to Fall is Summer, so they can just fuck right off with that. We are also lucky that the weather in Australia, when not inducing floods or fires en masse, is quite pleasant & as we’re a season behind, Autumn Winter trends seem to have come and gone by the time we feel the cold pinch, so Summer trends are generally relevant all year round.
A focus on top- heavy and boxy silhouettes, curved and shaped hemlines, patchwork, geometric stripes and checks where all common themes but I took great restraint in editing the lineup of incredible fashion that was displayed to share the most coveted, prevailing and wearable trends for next Summer.
B A R I N G I T A L L
Hints of bare skin where subtly sexy with sheer segments and overlays of mesh and feminine organza. Alexander Wang’s praised collection featured conveniently placed panels joined by splices of plastic and Emilio Pucci turned the traditional trench coat plastic fantastic and emblazoned it with a Chinese dragon.
P L A I D I N G I T C O O L
If you thought plaid was exclusive to the grunge scene of the ’90s or Groundskeeper Willy, think again. The S/S runways were cross hatched with variations of the traditional pattern in luxurious fabrics and colour ways. Clashed with pretty florals at Phillip Lim and in a distorted neon at Richard Nicoll, this is far from your dad’s checked flannel.
R U F F L E D U P
Voluminous ruffles came in the form of structured thigh high flamenco skirts at Balenciaga and snaked around dresses at J W Anderson, Givenchy and Peter Pilotto while feminine ruffles floated on top at Dries Van Noten and Chloe.
M O N O C H R O M A T I C
With a distinct nod to the ’60s style; mod, contrasting black and whites featured in stripes and checks at Moschino, Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs while the colour combination in suits and dresses at Jason Wu, Celine, Givenchy and Yves Saint Lauren made for timeless elegance.
A S I A N P E R S U A S I O N
Hints of traditional Asian dress in the form of oriental florals, silk and vibrant colours played out against modern, origami like construction. While there were no paper cranes around, Rodarte did manage a brocade chest funnel for what one can only assume as optimum breast feeding.
M E T A L L I C A
Light reflecting, coloured organza at Dior, crushed gold leather at Giambattista Valli and an array of brightly coloured foils at Burberry took metallics to shimmering new heights but it was the holographic material featured throughout Jonathan Saunders collection that had the runways illuminated. Sure to be a street style favourite.
G L A D I A T O R
Isabel Marant, Band of Outsiders and Altuzarra brought the traditional Roman sandal back to life while Versace and Phillip Lim incorporated fierce pointed toes. Alexander Wang featured boot and sandal variations of the gladiator in his collection and Victoria Beckham created the ambiguous, slightly unwearable, leg gauntlet- flip- flop hybrid.
T O U C H M E
Surface areas where highly embellished at Spring Summer. Fringing swept across draped fabrics and sequinned scales at Altuzarra, hung glistening from the neck line at Versace and what looked like a sliced garbage bag, boldly stuck out from black and ox-blood mesh at Marios Schwab. Dolce & Gabbana kept on with their signature Italian style in this woven raffia two piece. Many designers accented pieces with flowers and beading and Chanel created fabric feathers that hung from the bottom of bell sleeves and pants like a giant Karl Lagerfeld mating call.
New Tribes
A few months ago I attended the beautiful surrounds of Molten Stores Pop- up shop. Laid amongst the trinkets and jewels was this silver necklace. Long, tubular, metal beads formed a shining halo of ambiguity. It’s split personality displayed signs of tribal, bohemian and punk style that I was immediately attracted to. Being slightly unstable myself, I was soon distracted by other sparkly things and moved on. A week later Molten Store posted a photo on Instagram of Chantelle Cox, designer of label; Farron and owner of boutique Haut Boheme, wearing the gold version of my prior angelic vision with a thick collar made of intricately sewn together white shells from her own label. The combination had me awe struck.
When I mercilessly tried to get my hands on the ‘La Femme’ shell collar I was told that it was sold out. I was absolutely devastated (hash tag first world problems). My dreams of looking like Brooke Sheilds in The Blue Lagoon were shattered but little did I know my sister who had had to listen to my maniacal ravings about a necklace had conspired with Chantelle to get me one for Christmas before I could buy it for myself. There were almost tears on Christmas morning- fantastic accessories will do that to a girl.
One would think that a whopping collar typical of some sort of Tahitian tribal goddess would be enough adornment for the rather small area that occupy’s the air space between our head and body, but mine is rather greedy. During the pleasant surprise of Molten Stores Boxing Day sale, I acquired the silver ‘Bohemian’ collar.
These pieces are so beautiful they needed not to be worn with anything other than a simple outfit. A perfect example of my uniform dressing and a great canvas for these babies was a grey marle muscle singlet and understated metallic skirt. Styled here, the way that initiated this entire love affair, the ‘La Femme’ and ‘Bohemian’ collars are layered in the ultimate chiropractic sin. A gold metal cuff that I had wrapped in fluoro orange ‘brickies line’ for the Jet Accessories shoot added the perfect pop of colour. The thing that makes my heart flutter more than anything is that both of these treasures are from local Brisbane designers and stores. Something about wearing a piece from a label in my home city makes it all the more special.
Singlet Sportsgirl | Skirt COS | ‘La Femme’ shell collar Farron | ‘Bohemia’ silver collar Molten Store | Cuff DIY
Photos by Jordan Hill
New Moon
A new year; resolutions, new beginnings and the Facebook status affirmation that ’2013 will be my year’. More reliable than our usual short-lived resolutions to eat ‘clean’ or to read more is the new lunar year. I thought this the perfect opportunity to break my blogging hiatus with something big. Not Britney-shaved-head-come-back big, but big. Inspired by new moons, the Summer heat and my current obsession with Egyptology and extraterrestrial theories (yes, I’m still riding that whack job train), I decided to shoot a new campaign for my bag label, Jet Accessories.
Set on a red, jagged outcrop, we shot these images with beautiful model Tamara Simovic. The vast use of texture, and metal details throughout the collection was emphasised by the styling and scenery. Try explaining this as a brief; “You’re an ancient alien washed up on the Egyptian sands…and you’re super chic” and not looking like a complete fucking head case.
To celebrate the new year and our new campaign, we are holding a competition to win $100 worth of Jet Accessories goodness. ‘Like’ the Jet Accessories Facebook page and repost the competition image on the @brigittesydney Instagram and you could win prizes, prizes, prizes.
