Fashfest Daily Outfit: Opening Night

It is finally here! Opening night for the largest fashion event in Canberra’s social calendar, Fashfest 2014.

As this blog post goes live I am at Canberra International Airport, Fashfest HQ, and I am snapping my way through the collections of eight designers, all under the common theme of the night “The Artist”.

Fashfest 2014: It's finally time

 

 

It’s finally time Canberra!

70 models

70 makeup artists, led by M:Artistry

30 hair artists from various salons, led by Form Hair

More than 40 individual designers (some participating in collaborations)

850 guests a night

More than 15 Fashfest photographers on deck for all four nights, each with their own assignments

Up to 60 media (including local bloggers: Closet Voyage, Heat Storm, Happy Schnapper, Men Style Manifest, Her Canberra and more) a night covering the event

An army of volunteers—front of house, back stage etc.

40 event partners, making this the biggest joint business venture in the Canberra fashion world

 

In case it isn’t immediadtely apparent – I am pretty excited for Fashfest!

 

I’m attending all four nights, and I’ll be blogging about them mere hours after the shows have finished.

I’ll also be posting my Fashfest outfits daily at 7:00 PM, the time that the doors open.

Finally, I’ll be doing in-depth reviews of each of the Menswear designers’ collections in the week after Fashfest.

 

A red-carpet fashion event like you’ve never experienced before, Welcome to FASHFEST 2014, promising to be the largest fashion event on the capital’s social calendar.

Hopefully I’ll see you there!

Daily Outfit: Navy and Orange

I really love navy and orange together. To be honest, I think that they’re the single-most perfect combination of colours, and that it is hard for anyone to look bad in a combination of the two. Today's outfit was all about navy and orange, but also about ease of wear. The day before Fashfest 2014 - I wanted to take it easy so that I can rock out sartorially for the next four night!

Daily Outfit: Scholarly Monday Look

I've unintentionally thrown together a rather scholarly look for this Monday, and all in shades of blue as well.

I didn't intentionally set out to create a collegiate look for this Monday morning, but when I was pulling the clothes on I realised that I was starting to look a bit like a dowdy professor, or worse still, like Will Schuester from Glee.

Daily Outfit: Two Tie-ms Two

Today I decided to do something a little different with my necktie, and wear two almost identical neckties at once, side by side. I have actually done this before, with two maroon silk neckties from Pierre Cardin that I thrifted years ago. I decided to try it again today with these two almost identical navy ties with crest motifs. I like this because it makes people do a double-take. I like provoking people to look again, and I'll happily admit that that stems from some inherent narcissism. It's the office environment equivalent of being able to thumb your nose and sing-song "Ha Ha, made you look!".

Daily Outfit: Déjà Vu Déjà Vu

All day I was having the strangest feeling of Déjà Vu, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. At first I thought that maybe it was because today was yet another non-descript Wednesday at work; however I soon realised that in fact, the feeling was induced entirely by my outfit for the day! About a month ago I wore almost this exact outfit to the Vinnie’s Warehouse Sale, and then a month before that again, almost the exact outfit was worn to work!

Fashfest 2014: Designer Profile – Corr Blimey

Last week I had the very great pleasure of meeting with designer Louisa de Smet and partner Steve Wright, who together in 2001 formed the label Corr Blimey. Corr Blimey is a Canberra designed, produced and sold label with an emphasis on recognizable construction and aesthetics rather than adhering to a specific style genre. 

The first thing that you notice when you look at a Corr Blimey garment is the thought that has gone into its construction. It is readily evident that these clothes don’t just happen, they are meticulously planned, designed and created to Louisa or Steve’s precise calculations, and the result is unique, sculptural street wear that makes you think. Looking at the clothes that they showed me, I couldn’t help but pull the garments apart in my mind, trying to understand how they had sewn a particular form of a shoulder, or created feathers out of neoprene fabric, or set the yoke on a pair of jeans so perfectly.

Each Corr Blimey collection is individual, but there is a tangible thread that runs through each linking them together. The garments themselves are stand-alone artworks, but when viewed together as a collection, and paired with the theatrics of how Louisa and Steve present them, you have an immersive experience for the audience that is only heightened by wearing a Corr Blimey garment. 

I can understand how reading all that from me could make it sound like a bit of an art-school wank, and that Corr Blimey is a label that is taking itself a bit too seriously. Luckily, while they strive for perfection, Louisa and Steve never take themselves too seriously.

They are able to back up the rhetoric with which their garments are discussed with a solid ethos. Looking at the problem of the fashion system and of the individual's interactions with their garments, and supporting their approach with their own ethical production philosophy. CorrBlimey is a label for a customer who understands the importance of slow fashion and recognises the need break away from disposable fashion; but who does not want to look like they do. It is one thing to care about the disposable nature of fashion, it is another entirely to get around looking like you have cobbled together an outfit out of scraps of rag and litter at your latest Crafternoon.

So what can we expect from Corr Blimey at Fashfest 2014? Well, naturally, neither Louisa nor Steve were giving much away, and everything for the 2014 collection was packed well away by the time I arrived. I can say that Corr Blimey will have almost double the looks in 2014 than they did the year before, making for a really engaging catwalk presence. We can expect both men's and women's looks, and the whole collection is based around the city of Berlin. There will also be more colour in this collection than in the 2013.

2014 will be Corr Blimey’s second year at Fashfest, making the label official Fashfest Alumni. There is a really exciting edge to Louisa and Steve’s work, and I am really looking forward to seeing what they are offering this year. Especially in regards to what jeans they will be showing. Corr Blimey jeans are a little bit amazing, and I am kicking myself for not discovering this earlier.

Fashfest 2014 is just over a week away now, and will run over four nights from April 30 at the striking location of Canberra International Airport. Tickets can still be purchased at www.fashfest.com.au

Photos for this post were provided by Corr Blimey and Fashfest. Except for those two shitty detail ones. Those are my own :(

Daily Outfit: Volatile Patchwork

Patchwork is volatile. It is one of those design elements that needs to be treated with respect and handled carefully, much like explosives. The volatile nature of patchwork stems from the fact that it can look incredibly scruffy, or worse still incredibly crafty, if it is not done properly. It takes a daring dresser or someone with advanced style to pull this compound fabric off, and in all honesty I am neither of these things. That is why I take volatile in small doses, like I have today with this vintage Gap necktie.

Daily Outfit and weekend travel announcement

Today's daily outfit was all about comfort for travel, as the boyfriend and I left for Berry after work today, to spend the long weekend with his folks. 

I wanted to take at least one blazer this weekend, because they're so versatile and can be dressed up or down. In the end I went with my oversized Oxford blazer in a navy wool, because it it much more casual than my others, and it's quite warm as well. Berry is a beautiful coastal town, and it does get quite chilly, so I wanted to make sure that I will be warm if we head out to the beach. I also wanted to at least look like I had tried to dress with work in mind. I probably failed in that regard though.

Daily Outfit: Michigan Blues

I bought this vintage Pintail necktie knowing absolutely nothing about the company, and nothing about Michigan, other than that it is a State in North America. I still know nothing about either. Some might say that it's a little on the nose wearing such a tie, like wearing the T-shirt of a band whose music you do not like or listen to. And it probably is. But I just really love this stile of necktie.

Daily Outfit: Terrible Tuesdays

Terrible, terrible Tuesdays.

I honestly think that Tuesdays are the worst day of the week, and not Monday's as everyone would have you believe. This morning I woke up groggy after little sleep the night before, and when I got to work I realised I had not only failed to brush my teeth, but I'd also put my underwear on back to front and inside out!

Being the second day of the working week, Tuesday's are the day that public servants, and anyone who works Monday-to-Friday, are at their most morose. Tuesdays are terrible. My Tuesday today was no different at all, I have a huge chunk of work due soon and the deadline is beating me down, and I'm still recovering from this prolonged gay-man-flu as well. Not even the cheery glow of my most vibrant necktie was enough to lift my spirits today.

Daily Outfit: Dictators in scarves

I'm not sure what possessed me to try wearing a scarf in this fashion to work, given how Dictatorial it makes me look. I'm thinking that somewhere between my morbid curiosity with Robert Mugabe and the Game of Thrones episode that I watched Saturday night, some synapses got crossed and this is the sartorial result. It certainly made for some next-level Monday Morning dressing, and it is sure to set the tone for the rest of the week. Whether that is for better or for worse remains to be seen though.

FASHFEST 2014: DESIGNER PROFILE – SZN

I was so thrilled to meet with Suzan Dlouhy, the mind and creative force behind Canberra based label SZN, earlier this week at the Three Birds and Little Boy Blue concept store in New Acton. In the time that I spent with Susan we discussed her work to date, and a little of what we can expect from her upcoming show for Fashfest 2014.

Daily Outfit: Shades of Blue

I'm starting to live my life in shades of blue, and I love it.

My outfit today is probably the first all-blue outfit that I have worn in a while that I have felt really pleased with, and not at all like I have forced the monochromatic upon myself. I wanted to play with the different shades of blue that I have access to and with the different proportions of the pieces of clothing, and I think that it worked out pretty well. What do you think?

Daily Outfit: Checkmate

I love checks. I’m a little bit obsessive about it. I have an alarming amount of checked clothing in its various forms, and whenever I shop for clothes I find myself drawn towards checked fabrics. That said, I have been hesitant to wear this gingham suit to work, on account of the pants not fitting particularly well. I was concerned that moving too quickly, or at all, in the pants might cause them to explode apart at the seams, which would not be a fantastic look. Frankly, the suit was clearly made with some old southern man in mind, some bony old guy with no hips or arse!

Daily Outfit: Playing with proportions

Sometimes I feel like I am just playing dress ups every day. I've been really interested in playing around with the proportions of my clothes lately, and so today I decided to try something a little ridiculous and to see how it went. I grabbed one of my Boyfriend's shirts, which has really long sleeves with French cuffs, and wore that with the sleeves rolled back over the cuffs of an over-sized blazer. I also made a point of tying my necktie considerably shorter than is the fashion for most men.

Fashfest 2014: Designer Profile – Braddon Tailors

On Saturday I was lucky enough to catch up with Pip Morgan and Tarun Charker, the minds and passion behind three-years-young made-to-measure and bespoke atelier Braddon Tailors, located right in the heart of the Canberra CBD.

Haven't heard of them? Neither had I, and yet Braddon Tailors have filled more than 400 orders for tailored and bespoke suiting since opening in 2009. As the boys explained, their relative anonymity has been a conscious decision, not advertising at all and relying instead on word of mouth and client referrals to build a stable of savvy customers who know what they are looking for in fine-cut garments.

Daily Outfit: Monday Morning triple threat

Monday mornings call for something a little out of the ordinary. I didn't want to start the week off on a dull note, knowing ahead of time that it would be hectic and that I would have a lot of running around and a lot of potential stress to deal with, especially being such a strong believer in the way you dress on a Monday having an effect on the way the rest of your week plays out.

Daily Outfit: Navy wool

I realised that I have had this navy shawl-neck sweater sitting in my wardrobe, unworn, for a while now; and so I decided that today was the perfect time to drag it out and into circulation. It was overcast all day here in Canberra and I had to head into the city to meet with the guys from Braddon Tailors for a Designer Profile for Fashfest. I'm still a little under the weather, so keeping warm was absolutely essential.

Fashfest 2014: Designer Profile – Perpetually Five

Perpetually Five is a Canberra based and made Menswear label which challenges our conceptions of what is age-appropriate, and celebrates the ingenuity and freedom of a spirit that is young at heart. I was lucky enough to meet with designer Mitchell Thompson at the 'Three birds and little Boy Blue' pop-up store/studio this Tuesday past, and to gain a little more of an insight into what Perpetually Five is all about, and what we can expect for Fashfest 2014.

Daily Outfit: Raining and Pouring

I knew it would be raining and pouring today, and still feeling a little under the weather from Wednesday, I thought it would be best to layer a little and to keep myself snug and warm. Don’t get me wrong, I love the rain and I’m happy to endure it to see the grass green and my garden healthy; I am, however, a terrible patient and the worst company in the world when I am sick. Trying to keep myself healthy is a top priority as a result.

Daily Outfit: Orange Alert

There was something of an Orange Alert in my building today, and no, I don't mean any sort of terrorist activity. It seems that my sartorial choice for the day of almost head-to-toe orange struck something of a chord with my colleagues. I have never received so much attention for an outfit that I have worn to work than for what I wore today, even my pants that are embroidered all over with lobsters garnered less interest. I very nearly decided not to wear this today as well! I'm so glad that I didn't listen to my inner critic on this one.

Daily Outfit: Fashfest 2014 coverage outfit

I’m excited to say that I spent some time this afternoon interviewing one of the talented designers who will be showing their work at Fashfest 2014. Well, not so much interviewing as babbling awkwardly at and snapping a few candid photos of, but you get the general picture. Of course, this begged the question, what does one wear to meet a designer? Someone whose job it is to live and breathe fashion and design.