Bridget

I am wearing a Morgan and Taylor fascinator and a Sass and Bide dress.

Giselle, Model

I am wearing an Alannah Hill dress and hat.

Emily, Orthodontist

I am wearing a Manning Cartell top, Kookai dress and a Mimco Hat. I can’t remember where I got my blazer from.

Kate, Pr

I am wearing a Boss Black for Hugo Boss dress.

Monica, Model

I am wearing a Herve Leger dress, a Mimco Hat and Peep Toe shoes.

Sarah, Pr

I am wearing a Cohen et Sabine dress and a Alexis Belcher hat.

Guess what? I have a scoop! Katani has just opened at West Beach St Kilda on 330A Beaconsfield Parade. Formerly an old 1920s bathing pavillion the building will now house Katani a Melbourne beach and lifestyle shop, with a high end cafe next door. I met up with Bec van der Sluys the co-manager of the store a week ago and got a sneak peek before the opening.

With a background in Marketing, Event Management and Retail you can see that Bec is ideal for the position of co-manager. The sunfilled store is filled with goodies and sits right on the beach with a magnificent outlook of kiteboarders in the water. ’With a lot of surf stores they have to bring the feel of the beach into the store with photos and posters’ Bec told me ‘but we actually have it right outside the door’. With that in mind, the store’s fittings are minimalistic. Together with co-manager James Weight, Bec has found a perfect balance between a beach lifestyle and surf store. The store stocks men and women’s clothing, accessories and surf gear with labels such as Quicksilver, Tiger Lily, Jets, Analog, Roxy, Hurley, insight and many other labels including State of Georgia.

Not your typical surf store the store also stocks left of centre pieces such as Polli jewelllery, Sanuk shoes and Little Misek cards and artwork. 7 years in the making, a lot of thought and time has gone into Katani and it shows, from the 70s iconic Australiana style couch and furniture pieces to the urban photographs from Melbourne photographer Natalie Jeffcott.

Katani also hold their own kiteboarding classes and stock their own in house label boards and clothing. James has an extensive background in Kitesurfing (he and his Kiteboarding partner Ben Morrison-Jack hold the world record for crossing the Bass Strait).

I also got to see behind the scenes and check out Bec and James’ view from their office (see below). A wall is dedicated to newspaper clippings documenting the process involving the site and the area.

I am totally in love with this recent addition to the Melbourne retail scene. I envison making a day of it, with a meal at the next door cafe, a shop and a laze on the beach in my new bikini!

Katani, 330A Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda VIC 3182, 0409 792 244

Super Cool. and Digging for Gold.

Check it out, all you super cool men out there and cutting edge females. I am totally digging Frances Rose Is…’s Digging for Gold collection. Think hipster ties, super cool cravats and western-style-with-an-edge tie pins. Just launched the label has only just made it into a couple of stores in old Melbourne (so your best bet is to contact them directly at this early stage), but I am sure we are likely to see much more of Frances Rose Is… Oh and by the way - you should definitely visit their website, the campaign seems to be channelling Brandon Flowers, The Killers and their Sam’s Town album….need I say more…. hot.

This very first collection by designer Amy Gopperth is inspired by the television series Deadwood, and is the Old West meets the Dandy in a modern world, with unique neckpieces and tie-pins which are hand crafted using one off, high quality fabrics and precious metals.

Amy’s has an extensive background in Visual Communication Design (Illustration) and Fine Art (Jewellery and Metals) so with many years of study, work and travelling behind her, she decided to settle down and plan her label. A year in the making the pieces are exquisitely made

I say contact Frances Rose Is… now and get a one of kind extremely special piece for yourself or a man friend. You/He will look hot…

Pieces retail from $55 to $350.

Frances Rose Is… contact@frances-rose-is.com +61404 296 253

Sorry Melbourne girls this little gem I found in Fremantle, Perth while I was there recently. Hidden at the back of the New Edition book shop is the Fremantle brach of Fi and Co a delightful store filled with vintage treasures and new special pieces.

I was immediatelly attracted to the book store which is in a beautiful old building, formerly the Fremantle bank branch. I also admit the gorgeous white fitted bodice dress also caught my eye.

Amongst the deco style book store, Fi and Co sits enticingly at the back of the store and if you venture further within into the bowels of former bank vaults you can find further treasures.

Fiona, ‘Fi’ the owner has found the perfect delicate balance between new finds from both overseas and locally and colourful vintage pieces. There are two jewellery cabinets filled with beautiful pieces - I got a gorgeous vintage style Peter Lang necklace! Appropriately the fashion and shoes books from New Edition sit together with Fi and Co’s gorgeous dresses (see below).

Likewise littered throughout the store some of Fi and Co dresses sit with the books.

I might go back to Fremantle just for another shop. Bring on the cheap airfares!

Fi and Co, 82 High Street, Fremantle  (At the back vaults of New Edition Bookshop)

I was in sunny Perth a week or so ago and it was 38 degrees….it was a bit of a shock to my melbourne system to be honest. Gasp! Horror! The light…the sun….OMG are those my legs? I took a few photos of some gorgeous Perthies with whom I glowed pearly white in comparison.

As promised I said I would share some of the beautifully dressed individuals at Chitra’s Spring Soiree! Thanks to all the lovely people below who posed for a photo.

Anna (left)

I am wearing a dress and cardigan from Clara Fox, she has a great store on St Georges Road.

Cat (right)

I am wearing a Venus Vixen skirt and my top was a gift from Chitra. My feather headpiece is by Sydney milliner, you can buy and order her stuff from Chitra’s store.

Sharlene

I am wearing a vest from Topshop. My top is Willow and my pants are Chitra’s pants!

Jacinta

I am helping Chitra today. I am wearing a fairy costume which I made myself.

Cimone

Most of my stuff is from the op shop. My hat is from this little french store in South Melbourne, near the markets. My shoes are from Kinki Gerlinki.

Oh I am I got a snap of the  Joelle Moran Trio looking particularly dapper.

Gabrielle (left)

I am wearing a dress from the states, you can buy their stuff on line at www.pinupgirlclothing.com.

Catrina

I am wearing a Stop staring dress and a pair of Scanlan and Theodore shoes.

Once upon a time in a small Thailand town there lived a little girl who loved pretty things. She dreamt of vintage brocade, extravagance and colour and contrast. So when she moved to Australia she opened a little shop on Victoria Street. One day she grew too big for her little store and had to move to Sydney road where she still lives today. The little girl was Chitra, Chitra of Chitra’s Closet!

Yesterday Chitra Manga staged another one of her fabulous fairytale shows complete with a dreamy Jazz band the Jolene Moran Trio, a wonderland theme, extravagant fashion show with choereographed models and a Michael Bubble singing, cha cha dancing  fairy godmother host. ‘I just wanted something spring related and wonderful, a Chitra in Wonderland and for all my customers to by happy and enjoy themselves’. Chitra told me.

Demonstrative of her increasing popularity Chitra has plans for a another store to a open in January at 159 Elgin Street Carlton.

Models paraded the checker board runway in a garden enclosure with teacups resting on the side. The frocks, skirts and tailored pants were feminine (ofcouse!) with bows, rufffles and beautiful fabrics - something Chitra is famous for. With Elaine Forwarder millinery and accessories all available at Chitra’s Sydney Road store the beautiful clothes on display were as delectable as the tiny pink cupcakes available for Chitra’s attendees.

Above Marika, Pitra (Chitra’s fairy godmother) and Chitra.

We even got to see the fairy godmother get some ‘fairy godmother action’ on the catwalk with a gentleman.  So while this concludes the fairytale, I promise I will post some photos of the beautiful attendees all decked out in their spring finery tommorrow!

Chitra’s Closet, 97 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Vic +613 9387 3135

Well, if you are fishing for a gorgeous frock is can be found at Who fish. I went to their cocktail party the other night and was innundated with frocks galore, and shoes and accessories too. I took a few snaps of gorgeous attendees and staff, some wearing Rebecca Thompson (host for the night) and Zimmermann.

Who Fish, 497 Malvern Road, South Yarra VIC 3141 +613 9824 2763 and 191 Carlisle Street, Balaclava, VIC 3182 +613 9531 4299

Natalie, 23, Student

I am wearing a Lover dress, Repetto shoes, Chanel bag and a hat and belt from Savers.

Annabel, 21, Student

I am wearing an Leona Edminston dress which I cut.

Rosie, 24, Retail

I am wearing a hat which I bought in New York, my friend’s jumper and RM Williams boots.

Crystal, 19, Student

I am wearing a Natasha Gan top, Manning Cartell jacket and shorts from Lover. My bag is from Dior and my shoes are Chanel.