INTERVIEW

STYLE PONY ON STYLESTALKER. Behind the scenes of Australian brand stylestalker...an interview with designer Sue-Ann. 

Have you ever wondered how you actually run a creative business? I know I have, so I decided to ask the gorgeous Sue-Ann, one half of stylestalker, a few questions about what happens behind closed doors at stylestalker HQ. 

1. What are your backgrounds? What path led you to establishing the stylestalker brand? Rachel and I come from a marketing background. We were working together at an Ad agency and found we were spending all our time on blogs. We've always loved clothes so when we couldn't find what we wanted to buy, we decided to make it. 

2. What does creating and designing for a fashion brand involve? I'm interested in mundane and amazing! 

1. Inspiration

2. Research. 

3. Fabric and trim sourcing (china)

4. Designing (the hardest part is culling cause we always have a billion ideas). 

5. Getting the samples done and getting stuff made. 

3. You have an active online presence with your blog, twitter, Facebook and lookbook accounts. Is this the main way you market your brand?

We are incredibly passionate about online and stylestalker started as a small online store. We find that this medium of communication is relevant and engaging to us and our customers. We also do PR for offline presence as well. 

4. You create campaigns with some fantastic Australian models. At what stage of crewing a collection do you decide on the model? Does this influence or inspire the designs in any way?

Of course! Every collection has a muse, a girl who embodies the kind of girl we're designing for. Our models strongly reflect that. 

5. Stylestalker seems to have come so far since its inception. What has been the most exciting moment so far? What goals do you have for the brand in the next five years?

Being able to afford staff members has been a massive highlight! Also, seeing our stuff in Selfridges, David Jones and on celebs like Sienna Miller. Over the next five years we want to keep doing what we're doing, making cool stuff that people want to buy and keep having fun. 

Thanks so much Sue-Ann, very insightful. Keep doing what you are doing! x

FASHION

SPRING RACING CONUNDRUM. With Derby day only three sleeps away, and no outfit organised, I had a serious fashion crisis. That is, until I saw these gorgeous 1920's dresses at LEONARD JOEL. 

CRISIS AVERTED.  

If, of course, I decide which dress I like the best and IF I win the auction tomorrow. Leonard Joel also has the most amazing fascinators and hats at the moment. I went down there today and tried them all on, my favourite being the one shown above. They are SO much better and less expensive (if they sell in the estimated price range) then anything half decent you could buy new. 

Of course, there is still my grand plan of making a fresh floral headpiece. I asked Flowers Vasette what flowers they would recommend..."we recommend orchids, phalaenopsis, cymbidiums or vandas as being the lustiest lasers. Roses are really hardy too!". I might save this for Stakes day. 

FASHION

SOMETHING ELSE FROM SOMETHING ELSE. 

While re-reading Russh October/November 2011 last night, I came across a little interview with the people behind the Something Else /Ken Done collaboration.

The creators of the dress I raved about:
Natalie Wood (Something Else designer)
George Barnes (Something Else in-house artist)
Ken Done

The Russh interview:

What is your favourite piece from the the collection?

Ken Done: I love them all but I particularly enjoyed the Kaleidadone Kimono. Maybe I could wear one swanning around the studio?

What was your desire in reinterpreting the works?

George Barnes: To keep the essence of what Ken Done is in my eyes - which is fun, joyful, carefree art, rich in colour and texture. I wanted to adapt these characteristics into my work, for each design to look as good as I could make them. Hopefully it appeals to the generation that grew up with a piece of Done and to the generation about to discover his work!

Why did you approach Ken Done to do a collaboration?

Natalie Wood: We wanted to do a really fun collaboration for summer. We already had a theme, which was about this marine girl superhero character who protects all the coral reefs and sea creatures. So we were already looking at beautiful coral pictures... then we chatted about what sort of artist could work with that theme, and the Ken Done name came up. It was pretty instant that it would be such an amazing collaboration. He is a true icon in Australia so we thought we would launch the first of a series of high profile collaborations on homegrown soil. I also really liked the nostalgic feel to the project; it really stirred something inside people and there was a lot of reminiscing. I was really quite starstruck when I first met him, and to find ourselves in the midst of the Ken Done archives was truly magical. His reef series paintings that he personally showed me through took my breath away.

FASHION

KEN DONE X SOMETHING ELSE. When I think Ken Done I think tacky, touristy, tragic. However, that all changed when I laid eyes on his latest collaboration. 

The ethos of Australian brand Something Else by Natalie Wood, is based on the merging of art and fashion. The brand collaborates with both emerging and renowned artists to create unique, incomparable pieces. Their latest collection, Submerged, sees Art Director George Barnes take Ken Done's coral reef paintings and digitally manipulate them into something new. The result? Fun, bold and colourful pieces with a vaguely familiar Ken Done edge. 

NOTEBOOK

TRELISE COOPER. Infatuation.

The skirt and I met yesterday at David Jones, I have already been back to visit her. She also comes in a dress and pant version, but I feel like the skirt is for me. Do I commit myself and make her mine?? 

trelisecooper.com

GOLD MINE

DID IT ALL START WITH COMME DE GARCON FALL 2011? According to Tim Blanks in his style.com review, Rei Kawakubu stated that "gold is the new colour". 

However it started, gold leaf has been prevalent at the Spring/Summer 2012 shows. Seen at Fendi on the eyelids and eyebrows, it just looks SO FUN. 

Perhaps more wearable, if gold leaf can be at all wearable, is the Topshop Unique gold leaf hair. I definitely want to try this, I think I will have to pop into Eckersley's in the near future. 

On another note, I am so in love with Charlotte Free's pink hair. 

photo source: style.com (last photo unknown)

PATTERN

CALVIN KLEIN SPRING 2012. Francisco Costa has created what every girl is looking for: effortlessness (or the appearance of effortlessness).

Everyone wants to look gorgeous, but not like they tried. From the soft and feminine slipdresses to the natural hair and makeup, he has produced a delightful, ethereal collection. I want to be the character he has created.

collage by me. 

images from style.com