Aussie Models Making an Impact Overseas - My latest article for Australian Fashion Guide!

Australian models are taking the world by storm right now, snagging some of the biggest international campaigns right out from under the noses of seasoned professionals. Gone are the days of 'one look' being in vogue (think back to heroin chic, wide spaced alien eyes or even exotic Amazonian sized bronzed bombshells) as we Aussie seem to have a little something for everyone.

Our first example is the pixie-esque crowd pleaser Abbey Lee Kershaw. Discovered on Bronte Beach in 2005 by Kathy Ward of Chic Management, then going on to win the Girlfriend CoverGirl Model Search, she was catapaulted to international catwalks within the year, debuting in the Fall of 2006.

At just 23, she's got quite the lengthy resume, with campaigns for Gucci, Chanel, D&G, Ralph Lauren, Chloe, Fendi, Calvin Klein & H&M, just to name a few.

This is one young lady who epitomises the ideal of a true model, being able to morph from an ashen haired beach babe, to a mod-chic sophisticate with a sharp bob and then on to a rock'n'roll platinum blonde within a matter of months, never losing her appeal.

Managed all over the world by various agencies, her mother host being Chic Management here in Australia, however is managed by 2pm Model Management in Denmark and Next in Paris, Milan and New York.

Alice Burdeu is the flame haired winner of Australia’s Next Top Model who has gone on to huge international success with her Grace Coddington style of beauty. Becoming the face of Napoleon Cosmetics and then being the only ANTM winner to achieve a Vogue cover, she’s proven to be much more than a one-trick pony - debuting at New York Fashion Week in February 2008.

Since then she’s walked for Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Christian Lacroix, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Dolce Gabbana, Lanvin, Sonia Rykiel, Jil Sander and Alex Perry (who was very vocal in his support of Alice during her stint on ANTM).

This exposure has led her on to some very high profile campaigns with D&G, Blumarine, Sonia Rykiel and Mimco. Alice was awarded the title of one of the ‘Top 10 Newcomers’ by Models.com and the ‘Latest Rising Star’ by Style.com in 2008 With a look that is dissimilar to others, the quietly spoken model is kicking goals on the international scene with a career that looks to be a long and successful one

Standing at 5’11, Brisbane girl Catherine McNeil shot to international fame after signing an exclusive contract with famous photographer Mario Testino in 2006. Another winner of the Girlfriend CoverGirl Model Search, this self titled ‘Bogan from Logan’ then went on to debut on international catwalks in 2007, and has since appeared in campaigns for Versace, John Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, Carolina Herrera, and Narciso Rodriguez.

A high profile romance with MTV VJ Ruby Rose ensued, with the lovers tattooing each others initials on themselves before ending their relationship citing ‘they’re better off friends’, much to the relief of her Sydney agent at Chic Management, sources suggest. Claims ‘working on cars’ is her favourite pastime the controversial model recently took time off from the international modelling scene, only to return refreshed and better than ever in 2010.. She is currently ranked No.12 of the Worlds Top 50 Models.

Holier than thou!

I die for these dominatrix styled Stella McCartney perforated over-the-knee boots from the Fall of 2009. Perfect for cold weather, they're almost an alternative to pants or hosiery. Being a Melbourne girl, I do love my layers, however with these babies, you can just throw them on the look is complete!

Perfect with chunky knits or simple mini dresses. And Blake Lively, I salute you! Even Victoria Beckham is jumping on the Dominatrix bandwagon in her Antoinio Berardi PVC leather legging boots as seen here.

I want!

Glamour 24/7

Big thankyou to Angela Mollard and the Sunday Magazine for featuring me in their latest "Glamour" issue!

Susannah Murray recently had to move house. Not because she and her boyfriend were upsizing or even because they fancied a change. No, the reason they were forced to relocate was because there wasn’t enough room for her eight wardrobes.

“I have two wardrobes for dresses, jumpsuits, shoes and boots, two for jeans, pants and jodhpurs, another two for tops, blouses and cardigans, and a final two for trenches, coats and furs” says the 32 year old, smiling through perfectly glossed lips. “Oh, and I do have extra drawers and shelves for underwear, T-shirts and socks.”

With her luminous cheekbones, immaculate magenta shift dress and the sort of posture only delivered by deportment classes, Murray, a fashion writer and blogger, belongs to that rare and delicately perfumed breed of women who never dress down.

While the rest of us slap on a bit of tinted sunscreen and flop down to the beach in our Havaianas, these women go to great lengths to look glam 24/7, wearing makeup to bed, sacrificing their feet in 10cm heels, shelling out hundreds of dollars on hair extensions and repainting their nails several times a week. Or in Murray’s case, several times a night.
“Im a bit obsessive about my nails,” she laughs. “They’re really irritating me today, because Ive painted them with a white Chanel polish, but Im wearing black and gold. I cant wait to get home and repaint them.”

She recently went to an important meeting and chipped a nial as she was stepping out of the taxi. “I was beside myself. All through the meeting, I gesticulated and picked up my glass of water with my other hand.”

Yet far from being annoying or self-obsessed, Murray’s evident pleasure in dressing up and looking her best is rather infectious. She admits some elements of her routine are borderline ridiculous, from taking two hours to get ready, to wearing makeup to the gym and matching her sport socks to her training outfits.

“I’d never risk being caught without makeup,” she says. “Yes, Im sure it may seem a bit vain, but Im not forcing this on anyone else. I can laugh at myself and Im not hurting anyone.”
Having appeared in Big Brother in 2007, where her fastidious grooming was a source of amusement among housemates, Murray subsequently moved from Brisbane to Melbourne because of the fashion.

Rather than envying Murray, friends see her as a constant source of styling advice. But what about the men in her life? Surely all this primping and preening must have ruined the odd romance or two? “It never cost me a boyfriend but I can guarantee its gained me a few,” she says. “My boyfriend, Thomas, doesn’t mind at all. “If any guy thinks he can come between me and my fashion, its all over.”

In fact, far from ditching a high-maintenance partner, it seems certain men find this attention to glamour and grooming alluring. David Beckham has spent 13 years with a perma-tanned wife whose feet constantly teeter in sky-high stilettos and whose carb-starved body is zipped into figure-hugging frocks of her own design. Actor Liz Hurley, who says she always wears makeup because she “doesn’t see the point of looking less than your best,” appears happily married, while 77 year old Joan Collins has no shortage of (younger) husbands trailing in her polished and fragrant wake.

pictures courtesy of Sunday Magazine

All for a good cause!

All for a good cause!

Inspired by football legend Shane Crawford’s run from South Australia to Victoria which raised over $400,000 for Breast Cancer Research, stylist extroadinaire Mia Jones decided to ‘give a little back’ herself. Funded with purchases from a recent trip to Paris Fashion Week, and a few pieces from her own collection, she’s created an ebay store, with labels such as Chloe, Dior, Gucci, Alexander Wang, Louis Vuitton and Proezna Schouler up for grabs.

All proceeds will be donated to the Breast Cancer Network of Australia, so consider this a little guilt free shopping! And hey, if I score an Alexander Wang clutch AND its considered a good dead for charity, then I’m creating a good karma, right?

Get bidding ladies! http://myworld.ebay.com.au/mia.jones/

Can leggings be considered pants?

Can leggings be considered pants?

Ok, I admit it, I’m one of those girls who considers leggings to be pants. In my defence, if I’m spending close to $300 on a pair of (enter ridiculously expensive designer leggings here), then damn it, I’m wearing them!

My partner however, has different ideas. For he has seen too many near-sheer leggings strutting down Chapel Street, fluoro Mickey Mouse G-string on show in certain shades of sunlight. Rolling his eyes & groaning, he’s even got the most unpleasant term for plus sized girls who dare bare those wet look leggings. “A baby whale trapped in an oil slick” – this is about the time I switch off, cringing at his political incorrectness**.

Me however, I wear my leggings with pride. Studded, panels, leather, zippered, you name it, i love it all and if worn right, leggings are a perfect alternative to jeans or pants. However, there are a couple of simple rules to live by.

1. If you aren’t comfortable exposing your behind in a swimsuit, then perhaps its best to wear a long tee, cardi or blazer to hide this trouble spot.

2. For the love of God, please check your leggings aren’t see-through! Hold them up to the light if you’re unsure.

Check out some of my favourite legging looks above!

** Apologies go out to anyone offended by my boyfriend. What does he know about fashion anyway?

Photos courtesy of Sass & Bide http://www.sassandbide.com/

And the winner of Australia's Next Top Model is?

Aussie viewers are still reeling in shock at the utter 'balls up' of last nights ANTM finale, when the ever gracious Sarah Murdoch announced the winner, only to recant as the young model was giving her thankyou speech.

This isnt the first time voting systems have failed the viewing public. I myself was voted out of Big Brother using a phone/text system, with the terms and conditions clearly stating that any text votes with housemates names being mispelt would be rendered invalid, only to discover upon my exit that on the official BB website they were spelling my name 2 different ways (depending on which page you clicked on).

And lets not forget the infamous Bree Amer disaster. Being voted out of the house, only to return a week later due to a miscount.

So who is responsible for these sorts of mishaps? All I know is that someone at ANTM is probably getting their marching orders today.

Footage courtesy of FOX 8 & Youtube

Miss Lyndel Yeo's 5th Birthday @ MSFW 2010

One girl with her star on the rise is designer Miss Lyndel Yeo (MLY) - who in August 2005 was a finalist at the Mercedes Benz Start Up Parade, then going on to be awarded 'Designer of the year 2005’ for the Federation Square Fashion Showcase Series.

This week, along with Melbourne's fashion elite, the gorgeous designer celebrated her 5th birthday in style, by throwing a very exclusive event to launch her 2010 Spring Collection. The range is very tribal inspired, with flowing fabrics and edgy pieces, but dont hear it from me - you can check out all the footage here! Oh and I may make an appearance in there somewhere!

thanks to 4horseMEN for the footage xoxo