It all started a little while ago, when suddenly my old bleached mini was starting to look shiny and new again. But more recently it has become a full blown obsession whereupon I spend many hours discussing bleaching techniques with strangers and randomly fossick through my wardrobe deciding which items to sacrifice to the beaching gods. To those who want to keep their towels stain free and bathrooms stink free I suggest sticking to the numerous already bleached to perfection pieces out there in town…..

As you know I love to shop. So last Saturday afternoon at the jewellery counter at David Jones while I was quizzing a poor sales assistant about bracelets, a fellow shopping kindred spirit interrupted said ‘you should really try Mara Cino on Moonee Ponds they have the best stuff’. Sometimes the best information about shopping is through strangers I find, because once you have shared all your fashion and shopping secrets with your friends it is rare that they have any new information (no offence). So armed with this new found knowledge I rushed over to Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds to see this shop which had been given such rave reviews.

I wasn’t disappointed. Mara Cino is filled with plenty of bling and accessories galore from jewellery, bags to belts and even shoes. I was immediately transported to STUD heaven, and I am not talking about the male kind, this kind of studding was infinitely better (yes it is possible) with amazing studded bags and jewellery. With its black fittings and walls everything in the store seems to gleam and shine. I felt a bit like a 3 year old getting constantly distracted by different ’shiney’ things.

 The hot tip definetly wasn’t wrong with a huge range of bracelets from bangles to cuffs to beads and charms on display. There were amazing statement pieces, and a huge cabinet devoted to CC Skye - an american celebrity favourite, think bold and brassy 80s - just how i like it!

I am giving it the thumbs up - drop by and pick up something shiney - I did.

Mara Cino, 18 Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds, Victoria +613 9370 2227

Check it out! Together Alone at the Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia, Federation Square, starting 1 October 2009 until 18 April 2009. Together Alone brings together a selection of work of eight leading Australian and New Zealand fashion houses, Akira Isogawa, Toni Maticevski, MaterialByProduct, Romance Was Born, Doris de Pont, World, Nom*D and Zambesi. Resisting the need to follow dominant fashion trends, these designers have developed their own signature style and look and gathered a following locally and on a global stage.

Featuring over 40 works from the NGV Collection and a number of key loans, this exhibition brings together a selection of designs spanning the last decade and looks at and contrasts the varying sources of inspiration which lie behind these designs.  Together and alone, Australian and New Zealand share common fashion ground with similar inspiration but their own entirely individual identities.

Myer Fashion & Textiles Gallery 12, Level 2, The Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia, Federation Square, Melbourne
Free entry, open 10am-5pm, closed Mondays.

Whenever I am on High Street, Armadale, a must visit is Arabella Ramsay. One of the most gorgeous shops on the street, her store is a little bit whimsical and a little bit cool all at once. There are always at least three things I want to get, however generally I want to buy the whole store!

Last week I was a lucky girl and got to visit her at her beautiful terrace house and talk about what she had bought recently….

Vintage Patchwork Jacket

I just got back recently from India where I was working on my leather collection. My leather pieces are always so popular so I thought I might put together a capsule collection with leather clothing pieces. While I was there the grandmother of the owner one of the factories I work with took me shopping. I asked her to take me somewhere to find vintage pieces, so she took me to a secret back street lined with people selling antique clothes. This antique jacket/vest is quilted. I am always on the lookout for beautiful vintage pieces as I sell them at my store on High Street, Armadale.

Yves Saint Laurent, Satchel Bag

While I was away I also bought this Yves Saint Laurent satchel bag in Dubai. It is a beautiful worn leather which I love. It is such a great shape and size - not too big. There were some great sales in Dubai while I was there - this bag was half price! My cousin who was with me bought it as well in black patent.

Junya Watanabe, Comme Des Garcons MAN, Wool Hat

I bought this hat while I was in Sydney, it is a great bowler style. I don’t buy a lot of things while I am here in Melbourne, I tend to get things from my store. So while I am away I like to have a look around. It was sitting in the display cabinets in Assin and looked great. It is made in the Czech Republic.

White Vintage Top

I got this white vintage top from a friend. We swapped some pieces from each other’s wardrobes. It is from the 70s I think. It will be great in the summer with denim shorts and sandles.

Arabella Ramsay, Leather Jackets

These leather jackets just came into store and will be in my pop-up store which I will be opening in the CBD in a few weeks. I can’t decide which I like more - you can’t go wrong with a leather jacket. The black is quite classic and the brown is a little bit different. I wear them all the time. My wardrobe is slowly becoming solely made up of leather jackets and nothing else!

Balenciaga, Flat Sandles

I bought these while I was in Dubai as well, also on sale. They have awesome sales - and you don’t have to pay sales tax.  I think Nicholas Ghesquiere is a great designer.

Vintage, Indian Skirt

While I was at the antique market in India I also bought this skirt. The embroidery and mirrored detail is beautiful. I think this skirt would look great over jeans.

Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood  and What I talk about when I talk about running

I literally just bought these two this afternoon from Avenue Bookstore. I read Kafta on the Store while I was overseas and really enjoyed it. Haruki Murakami is a really quirky writer and writes just  how you think.  

Arabella Ramsay, Leather Brogues

These brogues are from my store. They are a men’s style. I wear these with a summer dress and sweater. I like to mix masculine and feminine looks. By wearing these brogues with a dress, it is not too girly.  

The below images are from Arabella Ramsay’s spring/spring collection May West in store now.

Arabella Ramsay, 1073 High Street, Armadale

Cheyne, 25, Sales

I am wearing a Jack London jacket and shirt and Lee jeans.

Else, 22, Bartender

I am wearing mostly op shop stuff. My tights are from my cousin and my boots are from Cotton On.

I have been meaning to drop by Nevada Duffy’s shop for a few months since a little birdy told me about its quiet existence. Just opened for 6 months and only on Friday and Saturdays Nevada Duffy’s shop is a real Fitzroy secret.

Hidden away on a back street in Fitzroy, the shop has previously housed only two other tenants, a milk bar and a dental surgery. It is a beautiful old building making it a fantastic place and environment to spend a Saturday playing with beautiful garments in a quiet inner city location.

The shop stocks Nevada’s own label and Angela Thirlwell.  Nevada uses her many years of experience in the rag trade to constantly experiment with new shapes and fabrics making each piece extremely original and highly desirable. Pieces of her summer collection have started coming into store with animal print leggings and plenty of black, sequins, silver and a gorgeous top with detachable epauletts.

Her summer collection is called Lady Stardust and is based on 70s glam rock and inspired by David Bowie’s alter ego Ziggy Stardust.

In the window is Nevada’s exhibit from ‘the black show’ a group exhibition at the C3 gallery, Abbotsford Convent Gallery. Instead of her usual calico mockups Nevada worked with black fabric to create a number of pieces for her summer range. The pieces are a little peek into the extensive process she goes through to create a collection. Each piece involves different ideas and shapes which were eventually incorporated into her final range.

Pictures from the actual exhibition can be seen on her site. Keeping all the scraps of fabrics left behind the garments or ‘ideas’ rise quite literally from the scraps.

Nevada Duffy, 165 Gore St Fitzroy 3066

I  had a long hard think about this last night and couldn’t decide whether to conveniently ignore that football’s night of nights occured (kind of like pretending a big white elephant isn’t in the room - or more appropriately a big bejewelled flesh baring elephant WAG wasn’t in the room), but after much sole searching and inner turmoil I decided as a Melbourne Fashionista I really should acknowledge that for many fashion retailers in Melbourne (and tanning salons) the Brownlow Medal count is one of the big nights of the year. Afterall when I previously worked in a office full of extremely fashionable females the morning conversation never got more heated than after the Brownlows (even the Oscars did not incite such extreme reactions…).

Some of my favourites:

 As usual the outfits tended to steer away from any main fashion trends - focusing mainly on satin, flesh and ‘bling’. I guess for any wannabee model a flesh baring dress is always a goer- look what Twigley’s dress did for her….As a side issue is anyone else extremely tired of hearing about Twigley’s red dress? - boooorrrinng. Lauren Phillips always looks lovely and wore Thurley for the third year running. Flesh tones and neutrals are big for summer so it was a great look for her. Thurley’s feminine pieces are always classic and great red carpet dresses. I also loved Stephanie Wakefield’s Willow dress. Rebecca Twigley’s J’aton dress was gorgeous - but with a figure like hers and J’Aton gown you really can’t go wrong I suppose (though I really did feel like sending her some chicken nuggets).

One shoulder gowns, a nod to their ubiquity on the runways, were plentiful though some were better than others. I give ‘props’ to Justine Viney for having some fun and giving the current 80s trend a nod in a sequin one shouldered number. Simone Demetriou’s Scanlan and Theodore sequin dress was a fashionista favourite.

I wouldn’t have minded seeing a little bit of leg (hemlines have been rising rapidly recently) - in a classy fashionable way ofcourse  - think Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow’s more successful red carpet short dresses. A beautiful printed or super brights number from Lisa Ho wouldn’t have gone amiss.

The ‘no comments’…. (except perhaps I think someone was channelling Anna Nicole Smith - who generally isn’t the best style muse I feel).

Images from www.theage.com.au, www.news.com.au, www.heraldsun.com.au

 Reece, 25, Retail

 I am wearing a Jack London top and pants. My shoes from Givenchy.  

Steven, Owner of Hairdressing Salon

I shop at OTB, Currency and Hunter and Gatherer.

On Wednesday Hussy launched their Winter 2010 collection ‘The Killing Moon’ at the Bowerbird showroom in Collingwood. Consistent with the label Marie Hatzis showed sexy outfits with an edge.

O

The collection hits stores in early next year. 

HUSSY designer Marie Hatzis with Project Runway winner Anthony Capon

Ryan Ritchie and Paris Wells

 Julia Fraser and Daanen Nootenboom

Anna, 28, Artist

I am selling my headpieces and brooches here at the market. My label is called Matta. I am wearing mostly vintage and some of my hairpieces. My dress is from Hunter and Gatherer on Brunswick Street.

 Skye, 28, Designer

I am wearing all pieces from my label Hellpixie. I sell at the market, online and also at in.cube8r gallery on Smith Street. I make to measure 50s inspired garments and also hair pieces.