July 2009 archive

Lyrical Locations

The ultimate pairing; Converse sneakers and jeans. The ultimate road trip companion; the owner of the above pair of Converse sneakers and jeans- my cousin and fellow wandering soul, Kit, With maps in hand, gas tank full, and a soundtrack to rival any Cameron Crowe movie...we left the Melbourne sky line in our rear view mirror and headed west. The goal: to find some more locations for me to shoot in...and to have another possible contender for a Top 5 Day ;) The end result: definitely a Top 5 Day...with the bonus of finding a location!

Our route took us passed forgotten houses, through sheep covered pastures and between the thickest forests that guided us toward one of the most important tourist requirements and one of the most picturesque highways (think car commercial); Great Ocean Road. It was built between World War I and World War II by returned servicemen in honor of their fallen comrades. The road took 16 years to build by using hand picks, shovels and dynamite. This road is definitely not intended for driver's with indecisive tendencies! After passing generous amounts of scenic lookouts, we pulled off of the dizzying path onto an off-the-beaten path. " Where are you going?...Where do you go?...Tell me where are you going?...Where...Let's go." - Where Are You Going? Dave Matthews Band

So there we sat...on a log in the middle of a stream- gnats flying around our heads, the smell of previous canine visitors, and Kit's shoe soaked through from the delicate (and sparse) path to our hangout. All the while- up stream on the other side of the bridge was the brightest blue ocean water kissing the Australian coast line with it's calm waves- and I had no desire to change my tiny hard seat for the soft empty beach. " Turns out not where- but who you are with-that really matters." - Best of What's Around DMB

"Oh, but tonight we're dancing in the faint light. Don't you rob yourself of what you're feeling. Don't rob yourself of all that you could be".- 'So Right' DMB

"The future is no place to place your better days"- Cry Freedom DMB

Jeander Bending

well, I finally found my place behind my camera again! As you can see...my Aussie model for the day, Tim, is speaking the Universal Language of Denim in his ripped jeans. Finding a stylist for my shoot was really tough, so I ended up taking it into my own hands...and I found myself pulling clothes from the women's section because the choice of men's clothes was lacking in that certain je ne sais quoi! I was aiming for the layered style that Australians have mastered - which I'm finding out has to do more with the temperamental weather patterns than what I had originally thought! I know some of you gents out there are partial to the cut and fit of women's jeans...but do you also look to the ladies' choices when it comes to shirts and jackets- or is it just jeans? 

Recipe for a Top 5 day

For me, the beauty of being in a foreign place is that getting lost is not scary. Every neighborhood is innocent, every alley way seems magical and the phrase 'wrong side of the tracks'  is nothing more than a song title. Yes- I have a tendency to be a little naive sometimes...but if I wasn't, I wouldn't have stumbled into a contender for my Top 5 Best Tuesday's!  I like to think of myself as a simple girl with simple happiness...so any day that involves an uncontrollable laugh, holding hands or a really good breakfast is definitely up for a vote :)

 After too many minutes of dodging my way through packs of off-duty school girls in the latest off-duty uniform - denim leggings (yuck!!) - I ducked away from the main street...followed the sound of a band rehearsal...chose the left side of the street so the sun wouldn't be in my eyes...turned left to avoid someone with a clipboard...and ended up at the beginning of my brilliant Tuesday; an afternoon in Mag Nation. From matte to glossy, boating to fashion, weekly to annual...every possible magazine you could be looking for (including the one that you have always wanted to start up yourself!) is lining the walls of this little slice of heaven. The free wireless internet, decedent coffees and plush seating pale in comparison to the thousands of local and international magazine titles inviting you into their pages. Not planning on coming to Melbourne anytime soon?! No worries! ;) Mag Nation recently launched an online shop- where you can order subscriptions or single issues of most of the 4000+ magazines that they stock. 

 With a copy of Australia's Russh Magazine in hand and a beautiful collage in my head of everything I just soaked up...my cloud 9 floated down the street to my next unexpected sweet destination. Picnic Cafe- home to what has been haunting my cravings ever since i walked out the door; a scrumptious Kiwi fruit and white chocolate muffin!! Words cannot describe this culinary experience....so here is a similar recipe for you to try out while you wait for your magazines to be delivered ;)

 By the way- I have learned (thankfully not the hard way) that "G'day" in Australia is like "Yo" in America- an expired stereotype! So along with ignoring travel books on how to speak the lingo on your next vacation- how about re-discovering your own back yard and giving the other side of the tracks a new perspective: your own. Create a soundtrack for your walking tour, and add a little something from Australian band Empire of the Sun to hopefully influence your day into becoming a Top 5 contender ;) I look forward to hearing about any magazine recommendations...how your muffins came out...if you discovered a new corner to your hometown...and if you share the same sentiment about denim leggings as me. Painted on pockets! Really?! 

LBE | Little Black Everything

Turns out, word on the street was true! The water does go down the opposite way here in Australia! I know I know...now you can go on with your day right?! ;)

 For the past few weeks I have been location scouting for photo shoots, mastering the Melbourne tram system, discussing the taste of Vegemite with makeup artists...and all the while, keeping a keen eye on the Australian style surrounding me. With winter in the air, there is a heavy dose of leather motorcycle jackets, floppy knitted berets, fingerless gloves and flat boots. Not impressed? well- it's what's underneath that will have your mind wandering to your own wardrobe trying to conjure up new combination of layers! The main vein of the Melbourne style is saturated in black...with a heavy emphasis on cut and shape. From oversized arm holes and skewed hemlines to off the shoulder sweaters and strategically draped tunics....wading in this black pool is not for the cautious! Layering is not really about warmth, but more about creating a sculpture. The unassuming simplicity is where the beauty lies within Melbournians-you'll be hard pressed to find a perfect up 'do or cascading bohemian waves; the messier the hair, the better! The bobby pin has never been so over exposed...and having bed head has never been less judged. There is a delicacy and a strength to the people of Melbourne- from their style to the way they carry themselves....the confidence that permeates through the streets is incredible!

 Last week I ducked into a bookstore to get out of a random Melbourne rain storm. I was immediately drawn to a girl wearing a long multi layered tulle dress, leather jacket and perfectly scuffed boots. Fortunately for her, she was on the cover of the Harper's Bazaar Australia Style book- so there was no need for her to fend off the inspired photographer and boot enthusiast! For the next hour, I was invited to experience Australian style through the passion of local photographers, designers and authors. It was the perfect way to spend time protecting my "messy" hair from getting ruined by the rain- hehe. 

Over the next couple of weeks, I hope to share some images from my fashion shoots with you! In the meantime, I'm going to leave you with some Australian fashion labels to look over (images show below)  www.sassandbide.com  www.willowltd.com  www.trimapee.com   

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