Cham Cham a go go

A stellar line up at the Chambord Shine Awards was on display on Wednesday the 19th November with 10 designers selected by French liqueur Chambord to create one of pieces for auction with all proceeds going to the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer charity.

Antipodium, Friedrich Gray and Romance Was Born were in the mix alongside designers including Jessie Hill and winner Carl Kapp.

Chambord spared no expense with Cham Cham martinis and champagne cocktails as well as the most delicious cheesecake we've ever tasted! Fun and charitable we enjoyed the community spirit amongst the 10 designers who all put their own signature spin on the Chambord brief to create their one off dress.

Geoffrey J. Finch wins SOYA Award

Geoffrey J. Finch of Antipodium was named the fashion winner of the Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards.

The SOYA Awards honour young talent under 30 in the areas of music, photography, film, industrial design and visual arts along with fashion and aim to provide mentors who are leaders in the field. Nominees for fashion this year also included Dion Lee and Reiss Radvanyi.

The very modest Finch was presented with a mentorship from Peter Morrissey, $5000 as well as $5000 worth of travel with Qantas. The voucher would have come in handy as Finch jetted to London the next day to start work on the spring summer collection to be shown at next years Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.

This is a double whammy for Little Hero as last year's winner was Ben Pollitt of Friedrich Gray (pictured above with Geoffrey J. Finch).

ARIA Apocalypso

A big congratulations to The Presets who've just finished ruling this years ARIAs.
Wearing pieces from their 'Namaste' collection as well as customised pieces, Romance Was Born helped the mighty duo clean up the award ceremony.

Complete with their totally beyond costumes by Romance Was Born, The Presets capped off an already mammoth year scooping up Album of The Year, Best Dance Album, and Group of The Year. To add to the gong, they already have one for Best Producer, Best Cover Art and Best Video.

For those of us who missed it on TV, check out their performance of My People below, complete with Romance Was Born costumes and completely nuts choreography!

Romance On The Corner...

Romance Was Born launched their Spring Summer 2008/09 collection 'Namaste' at The Corner Shop in The Strand on September 25, 2008.

Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales installed their collection which overtook the store for a 10 day residency including 'museum' one off pieces, tribal head pieces and their first season drop now available to buy in store.

The Corner Shop

Level 1, The Strand Arcade 

414 George Street, Sydney

www.romancewasborn.com

Elbows Out

The Yen Young Woman of the Year awards are now open for voting and the fashion section is sure to be tightly contested.

There are a total of 10 categories for uber-women under 35, covering areas including business, film, music, sport and community vision. The designer finalists include our favourites Therese Rawsthorne and Anna Plunkett of Romance Was Born. 

Winners of each category are then back in the pool to be dubbed overall Woman of the Year.

Vote now!

www.ywya.com.au

Linda Revisited

Therese Rawsthorne's summer collection is the first to use a print from the Linda Jackson archives. The Waratah print from 1985 features on tulip skirts, zip-front biker jackets and veiled under sheer cotton on drop-waist dresses. 

"I've loved Linda's work for ages", Rawsthorne said. "I think a lot of people in my age group aren't really familiar with Linda's work. It's good to get those people a bit more in the know". 

While all the initial talks and organisation took place by email and phone, Rawsthorne admits that coming face-to-face with Jackson was a tiny bit daunting. "I didn't meet her until I picked her up from the airport the night before my Fashion Week show. I was quite nervous because she hadn't seen the finished pieces. She was really lovely and seemed very supportive".

Other highlights of Rawsthorne's collection include a hot-pink washed silk gape-fronted dress and laser-cut tiered-sleeve blouses.

www.thereserawsthorne.com

Metalicus Stretches Out

Sydney and Melbourne style icons rejoice - Metalicus has just unveiled new stores near you!
Thursday September 18 saw the opening of the latest store to hit Melbourne, Metalicus GPO, and Sydney was in for a treat with the doors swinging open to their new store in Sydney Central Plaza on September 24.

With the warm Spring days now upon us, guests snapped up this season's latest collection.

For supreme comfort and style, head on down to the new Metalicus stores...

Sydney - Shop 19G, Westfield Sydney Central Plaza 450 George St, Sydney

Melbourne - GPO Mezzanine GPO building, Shop M03 350 Bourke St, Melbourne

Doncaster - Shop 1059 Westfield SC, 619 Doncaster Road, Doncaster

Perth - Shop T8 Wesley Quarter 1002 Hay Street, Perth - opens November

Hollywood Gang Wars

The Hollywood Hotel was turned upside down recently as Sydney's roughest rockers and finest rappers battled it out at Rae Begley's Rock vs Rap birthday party.

Guests spat rhymes, jammed air guitars, crumped and rocked out in a vicious attempt to show up the opposition.

The night included special appearances by MC Hammer, Lady Sovereign, Snoop Dogg, a few David Bowie's, a trio of rockabillies, and Baz Luhrmann...naturally.

All in all the night was a huge success with the rappin' crew taking home the crowning glory!

We Love...Sydney Theatre Company!

Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton have been having a bit of a Spring clean lately at Sydney Theatre Company. They've rearranged the cupboards, thrown stuff out and put some new labels on the jars. They've blown the dust off....you get the picture.
There will be some new things, some reworked things with new names and a clearer purpose.

It looks like a truly exciting season ahead for the crew at Sydney Theatre Company with an awesome line up of plays like Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (with Cate Blanchett and Joel Edgerton), Tom Stoppard's hit 'Travesties', Steven Soderbergh's 'An Untitled Project', and a new program that gives emerging artists, smaller companies and experimental work a platform.

Pictured above, Cate Blanchett wears Romance Was Born in the Sydney Theatre Company program released yesterday.
http://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/

Spring Sprouts New Talent For Little Hero

While some of us have been busily cleaning out wardrobes to make way for new season threads, the team at Little Hero were busy worker bees adding new designers to their stellar cast...

It's official: the innovative creations of Therese Rawsthorne, Marsu Homme and Chip Chop! are starting a fresh new life in our lively lead-lit church showroom in Surry Hills.

THERESE RAWSTHORNE

With stints both at Issey Miyake and Oswald Boateng in London, Therese Rawsthorne is dedicated to providing an alternative view point to the prevalent mode for trend-based and retro-centric fashion. With a focus on crafting modern classics that will remain stylish impervious to trends, the classic archetypes of clothing are looked to for inspiration. Known for her edgy and unique street-chic aesthetic, Therese Rawsthorne's latest collection 'Undone' exhibits her signature contemporary designs finished with a natural rawness, originating from washed silks and cottons with unfinished hems and detailing, as well as our pick - Linda Jackson's iconic 'Waratah' print (as pictured).
http://www.thereserawsthorne.com

CHIP CHOP!
Chip Chop! is the brainchild of Melbourne-based designer Hannah Chipkin and reflects her colourful, left field perspective on all things big and small. Chip Chop! creates its signature style totes and tees through a balanced mix of thoughtful design, bold prints, clever word play and typography. Latest collections 'Isn't It Iconic?' and capsule collection 'I Heart Art" for Sportsgirl are effortless, fun and stylish essentials this Summer.

http://www.chipchop.com.au

MARSU HOMME
With over 10 years experience in hand making shoes, designer Chrissy Hammond has honed her skills working for prestigious designers including Comme des Garcon. The result is Marsu Homme; a collection of footwear for the stylish, well-travelled man (soon to be available for women this Winter) with an appreciation for exceptional quality and design. Marsu Homme's forms are hand-shaped and sculpted to marry comfort and style using the highest quality leathers and an uncompromising approach to production.

http://www.marsuhomme.com.au