Canberra: VIP at Lucky's Local Fashion Trail

My look for the night. Photo by Closet Voyage.

On Thursday evening last week I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the Lucky's Local Fashion Trail event at Lucky's Speakeasy in the new QT Canberra Hotel.

The evening was full of delicious cocktails from the Lucky's menu, bite-sized snacks, and of course the very best on offer from some of Canberra's most interesting boutiques. 

StageLabel Model Casting at Lucky's:

This afternoon Jiawa from Closet Voyage and I took a late-lunch and headed over to Lucky's Speakeasy, not for a liquid lunch, but to check out the Model Casting for Melbourne-based crowd-funded fashion house StageLabel.

Luxury: Braddon Tailors Trunk Show

On Thursday evening past I headed to the Braddon Tailors' studio in Canberra's CBD for their new-season Trunk Show, held in conjunction with Henry Carter neckwear and accessories.

Luxury: Braddon Tailors Trunk Show this Thursday

This is something of a public service announcement for any men or women in Canberra looking to get their hands on the best bespoke suits, ties and accessories that Canberra has to offer.

This Thursday 24 July, two Canberra companies are joining forces to showcase their impressive wears for men who appreciate the finer-side of mens fashion and who understand that first impressions really do last.

I will be joining Pip Morgan and Tarun Charker of Braddon Tailors, along with Jason Sergott of Henry Cater, and more than 50 Canberran gentlemen; and heading to the studio of Braddon Tailors for a unique trunk show of some of the best men’s winter fashion available in the nation’s capital.

Daily Outfit: Canadian Tuxedo

This evening I donned a Canadian Tuxedo and the boyfriend and I headed down to New Acton to check out the Hustle & Scout Twilight Markets, as well as The Forage.

I must admit that I didn't stay very long at all. Both the boyfriend and I are a mite claustrophobic, and the sheer number of people at Hustle & Scout, and the freezing temperature and lack of eftpos at The Forage, mean that we had both had our fill pretty quickly. BUT, Hustle and Scout was going off! There was a really awesome turn out, and I was really impressed with the designers that were showing their stuff. It was really great to see so many Canberrans out supporting such a fantastic and home-grown event!

Daily Outfit: Tallinn, Estonia

After a very brief ferry ride from Helsinki, we arrive in Tallinn, Estonia, where we will be for two nights and three days.

My outfit for today was planned around two different forecasts for the weather, with Helsinki promising 14 degrees and potential rain, and Tallinn 20 degrees and cloudless skies. I wanted to be prepared for anything.

I'm not exactly sure that the outfit was a success though, especially not in the style sense...

Daily Outfit: Sibelius Monument, Helsinki

Greetings from Helsinki, Finland!

It has been an action packed 24 hours since arriving in Helsinki, but aside from just being here, the standout for me was taking a walk with my best friend to a park on the opposite side of Helsinki to see the Sibelius Monument, and to take my daily outfit photos there.

Daily Outfit: Sports Luxe

I've always been curious about trying Sports Luxe as a style, and with incorporating this look into my own wardrobe.

This jersey was a last-ditch effort to try and salvage an otherwise dismal thrifting adventure (for me) that I had recently with Heather and Jiawa. My chief issue has always been that I'm just not sports savvy: It took me several Google searches to narrow down which team this jersey represents (the Dallas Cowboys) and then more to figure out which sport they play (Gridiron, apparently). Trying Sports Luxe as a look has always felt a little disingenuous to me.

Fashfest 2014: Designer Review – Perpetually Five

If there is one thing Canberra has come to expect from Fashfest Allumni Mitch Thompson and his label Perpetually Five, it is a bit of spectacle, and that is certainly what was delivered for the finale of Fashfest2014 Night Two – The Scientist.

Fashfest 2014: Designer Review - Mont

Reviewing a line of Adventure Wear/Equipment, from the lens of a luxury and menswear blogger, was always going to be problematic.

To be honest, it has been really difficult for me to review the collection presented by Mont at Fashfest 2014 objectively. In fact, with all my reviews I'm really asking two questions: Is it wearable, and would I wear it? As I am not a remotely active person, and the idea of going and climbing a mountain, sleeping in a tent, and most of all having to invest in special clothes so that I wont get frostbite and loose toes or worse; well, it just doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest.

I will, however, do my best to keep the bias of my own sedentary lifestyle out of this review.

Fashfest 2014: Designer Review – Braddon Tailors

I am kicking off my in-depth reviews of the Fashfest 2014 menswear collections with Braddon Tailors, as this was the first Menswear collection shown.

The photos for this post were generously provided by the amazing Ash from Silque Photography and Design.

I really enjoyed meeting Pip and Tarun before Fashfest kicked off for the year, and learning about their business and what it offers Canberra was a highlight of the year so far for me. I was really excited to see what the boys had in store for their runway show.

Fashfest 2014: Night Four - The Visionary

It is hard to believe that Fashfest 2014 has drawn to a close.

Tonight was Night Four - The Visionary - and I have to say I can see why every designer who appeared tonight fit under this moniker. The atmosphere was positively thrumming at 3 Molonglo Drive, Brindabella Business Park at Canberra International Airport, and it was such a pleasure to be present to see-out the final night of Canberras most dynamic and exciting fashion event.

Fashfest 2014 Daily Outfit: Eye on Canberra

The final night of Fashfest 2014 called for something flamboyant and a little over the top. Logic would dictate that I should have worn my sequined hoodie on closing night, but knowing that I had this puppy chilling in the back of my wardrobe, I decided to go this the bird for the final night.

I purchased this top back in 2010 when I attended the (then) L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival. I saw this jumper walk down the runway at the Alpha60 show and was instantly mesmerised, and I knew that I wouldn't be happy until I owned it.

I've worn it twice. It cost almost a quarter of what I was being paid a week back then, and I was so terrified that I would destroy it that it has sat in the back of my wardrobe, unworn. It seemed fitting to bring it out tonight.

Fashfest 2014: Night Three - The Philosopher

Night three of Fashfest 2014 - The Philosopher - was a real surprise for me. I went into the night thinking that there really wouldn't be much to interest me, and came away thoroughly surprised. Not only was there menswear that I wasn't expecting, but there was a huge diversity in the styles of the designers that made for a unique and engaging show.

Once again the Fashfest team went above and beyond, providing a world-class event that I know that they are proud of, and with good reason. Everything ran smoothly, everything looked amazing, and the atmosphere never dropped once. Thank you so much for all your amazing work.

Fashfest 2014: An open letter on Front Row Etiquette

Fashfest night three has drawn to a close, and instead of the exhilarating high and desire to relive the collections that nights one and two left me with; I find myself despondent, and frankly a little pissed.

Let me make this blatantly clear before I go on—this has nothing to do with the wonderful Fashfest team who have put their all into every night and element of the event and who have, for what it's worth, blown my mind.

No. The anger I am feeling tonight is directed firmly at my fellow audience members. Specifically, this is aimed at four men seated across the catwalk from me, who went ahead and ruined my perfect streak of meeting interesting, lovely people seated in the front row, with a catty and raucous attempt at living up to every 'bitchy-gay-fashion-guy' stereotype ever penned in the most basic of sitcoms.

Fashfest Daily Outfit: 50 Shades of Orange

Well, 5 shades of orange actually.

For the third night of Fashfest 2014, I decided to try out an all-orange outfit, just to see how it is received. I can't say that this is something that I would wear really, although recently I wore this outfit almost exactly, and received quite a bit of praise from my colleagues. I'm not convinced that this is a solid way to go for every-day wear, but it's fun to bust out on appropriate occasions. And if Fashfest isn't an appropriate occasion, then I don't know what is!

Fashfest 2014: Night Two – The Scientist

Night two of Fashfest 2014 is done and dusted, but what a fantastic night it was. The talent on display last night was mesmerizing, and the crowd could sense that they were in for a truly remarkable experience of what Canberra has to offer.

Once again the Fashfest team went above and beyond, providing a world-class event that I know that they are proud of, and with good reason. Everything ran smoothly, everything looked amazing, and the atmosphere never dropped once. Thank you so much for all your amazing work.

I was delighted to meet two local ladies, sitting beside me in the front row, who were there as a treat for themselves for the second year in a row. If you read this, thanks for your company and conversation, and it was lovely to meet you both.

Fashfest Daily Outfit: Tied up in silk

It is the second night of Fashfest 2014 tonight, and I am off to 3 Molonglo Drive, Brindabella Business Park in the Canberra International Airport precinct for another night of front-row coverage of Canberra's premier fashion event.

Fashfest 2014: Night One - The Artist

 The first night of Fashfest 2014 was a great night out, showcasing the talent that Canberra has to offer in an exciting venue, to a live music soundtrack, attended by those Canberrans with a love for fashion and design. The work on show was impressive, and the looks both on and off the catwalk were really inspiring.

The Fashfest team put on a really great evening, and I was so thrilled to attend amd see just what Canberra can do. I will admit that being a born and bred Canberra, I can be a little jaded about events that the ACT puts on. Any reservations I had about Fashfest were completely obliterated last night, and I had a fantastic time ctaching up with Bloggers, Designers and the Fashfest team.

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”.