Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Audrey
"I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and... I believe in miracles." - Audrey Hepburn
Australian Inspiration and Shop Updates!
From top: Incu, a pretty cool boutique in Sydney, cupcakes from Sparkle (Surry Hills, Sydney), a look from Melbourne based Lady Petrova's "Peace Hotel" collection (I am stocking her line in Audrey Grace), a look from Lover's "A Dance for One Collection," an Aussie label that is truly beautiful, still from Peter Weir's Picnic At Hanging Rock (I wrote a paper on this film for my course here), Cate Blanchett as Lucinda in Gillian Armstrong's Oscar and Lucinda, Emily Browning and Rachael Blake in Sleeping Beauty (saw it at the film festival and not crazy about the film.. but beautiful cinematography), promotional image for The Seagull at Belvoir Street Theatre (seeing this Wednesday), Judy Davis in My Brilliant Career, Miranda Otto and cast in The White Guard at Sydney Theatre Company (it was great, and also met Miranda- saw it last week), Frankie magazine- the best- don't know what I am going to do without it!, a koala- I got to cuddle one the other day, macaroons from La Belle Miette, Melbourne.
The shop is coming along so well. I have been so busy here yet still steadily working on it. I am working with so many Aussies! Have some exciting shoots coming up soon.. working with the lovely Jeannine Tan on a "Picnic at Hanging Rock/Virgin Suicides" shoot to be displayed in store as well as another with Ella Ruth Cowperthwaite inspired by Audrey and Grace. I am so excited about these shoots!
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| Also, I believe Audrey Grace will be stocking a few select pieces by the beautiful label Sretsis (above). I'm also working with the lovely Alyssa Nicole and will be stocking her adorable line named, Alyssa Nicole. |
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| Alyssa Nicole |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Cate!
Last night I met this lady.... She is amazing and we had an extended conversation (about 5 minutes!) I went to a small cocktail party at Sydney Theatre Company and she walked in.. She is such an inspiration to me. It was an amazing night. Above is Cate in Givenchy Couture at the Oscars this year. Love this dress. She looked great last night too.
Many updates on my lovely store coming very soon. I have been really busy!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Orla Kiely
Exciting news- looks like Audrey Grace will be stocking Orla Kiely in the fall! So excited! There A/W 2011 collection is amazing. I love this video styled by the amazing Leith Clark and directed by Mercedes Helnwein. It has such a great Hitchcock theme. Audrey and Grace would approve of the clothes, especially Grace since she was the most famous Hitchcock blonde.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Orla Kiely
Orla Kiely is a designer I have loved for a while. I own several Orla dresses, and they are just too perfect. I am looking it carrying the line in the store. Wouldn't that be amazing? The most recent campaign features the lovely Edie Campbell was styled by Leith Clark, editor in chief of Lula. Orla Kiely is totally a designer for a modern day Audrey or Grace! Photos below from the spring/summer ad campaign and lookbook as well as the Fall 2011 presentation.
www.orlakiely.com
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Up The Wooden Hills
I can't wait to see the designs in person! I have also ordered Lisa's regular collection for the shop too, so customers can buy both the custom dresses and the regular Up The Wooden Hills collection! Interview and more photos of the Up The Wooden Hills collection below.
Where do you live?
I live in Gothenburg, Sweden. I’ve lived here for about five years. I’m originally from a small town in southern Sweden.Can you tell me a little about your design process and where do you draw your inspiration from? Also, where did the name Up The Wooden Hills come from? My design process is a bit spontaneous, I usually don’t work after a theme or a concept - more just on influences and impressions I get during the days. I’m very inspired by music, fabrics, flowers, interior design, films, Lula, The Gentlewoman, Elaine Benes in Seinfeld, Carrie Bradshaw in SATC, people I see on the street, walks in the city, trips to the country side, my hometown, my friends, my family and especially my grandmother.
In the design process I always keep in mind how I want the clothes to feel, like when I made the Emilia dress it was more like trying to find a solution to the problem with impractical fashion. So I just focused on creating a very simple dress that was comfortable to wear and flattering for the body. A dress to feel pretty in.
The name of my brand comes from the title of an EP from my favorite band Saint Etienne that came together with an album called Tales from Turnpike House that was released in 2005. I still remember the day when I took a trip to Malmö with my dad and bought the album in a record store there, I was about 19 at the time. In the beginning I used the name for my blog and after a while it just felt natural to have the same name for the label. Besides Saint Etienne's music the name also makes me think of childhood memories from a forest near my hometown in southern Sweden where we always went on day trips and had picknicks with my school. That forest was also the shooting location for the S/S '11 shoot.
How long have you been designing? I’ve been designing for about five years but in the beginning it was more on a basic level and I didn’t start my own brand until December last year. My grandmother was very much into sewing, embrodidery, knitting and crochet so I learned that when I was a child and later on the interest for designing clothes emerged.
Have you always been interested in fashion? I’ve been interested in style, clothes and combining different outfits since I was a child and I’ve always loved to sew, but it wasn’t until I was about 19 years old and had just started studying at the university when my fashion interest evolved for real and I started to read fashion magazines and books and become more interested in designers and historical and sociological perspectives of fashion. A few years later I also started to make patterns and sew clothes for real and that’s when I realised that I wanted to design clothes of my own, and start my own business. I think it was something I knew I wanted to do since I was a child, it just took me several years to realise it. What type of girl do you see wearing Up The Wooden Hills? What is her aesthetic? I want to think of the girl who wears Up The Wooden Hills as a girl that is happy with herself in her everyday life and who wants to have an easy and more comfortable lifestyle. She is playful, dreamy, sympatic, empatic and curious and she surrounds herself with people and/or things that makes her feel good, calm and happy. She likes beautiful things, flowers and pastels. Who would be the ultimate celebrity (or even a style icon from the past) that you would love to dress? It would actually be Audrey Hepburn. I’ve always loved her style and beautiful look and I always think of her as a very sweet, sympatic and wonderful person. It would be a great honour to dress her up in my designs. Since the boutique is called Audrey Grace what are your favorite Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly films or even specific outfits they have worn? My favorite Audrey Hepburn movie is definitely Breakfast at Tiffany’s and I like every outfit in that film - the black Givenchy dress with the big hat and sunglasses, the orange 1960's coat, the pink coctail dress and the beige trenchcoat just to mention a few. I also like the movies Funny Face, Charade, How To Steal A Million and Roman Holiday a lot. In Funny Face there is a scene were Hepburn wears a beige hood parka, black pants and black neat shoes. I really like that outfit, so simple and yet very classy.
My favorite Grace Kelly movie is Rear Window and I love every outfit she wears in that film too, especially the black short sleeved, v-necklined top with a white full skirt and black pumps. I like that she combines the outfit with white silk gloves and a white scarf - so stunningly beautiful. Can you tell me a little bit about the Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn dresses you are creating for the boutique. The custom dresses for Audrey Grace are more a reference to a 1940’s and 1950’s dress silhouette with a bit of a longer full skirt. I've used the same dress silhouette as the one for my regular dresses but I've added little details to the design like ribbons, different necklines and visible pockets. The Liberty fabrics that will be used has a lot of different shades of pink in them. In a way these dresses might be an attempt to create a more cute vintage version of Up The Wooden Hills that I think goes really well with the Audrey Grace concept. I'm very excited about finishing the samples soon. Who are your favorite artists? Sigrid Hjertén, Carl Hammoud and David Hockney. Who are your favorite designers? Margaret Howell, Nadinoo, TBA, Lover, Twenty-Seven Names and A.P.C. What (music) are you listening to now? Saint Etienne, Robyn, Au Revoir Simone, Kate Bush, Adele, Empire of the Sun, Ivy, Florence + The Machine, Ellie Goulding, Imogen Heap, Astrud Gilberto, Monica Zetterlund, She & Him, The Splendor, Heart, Massive Attack, Fleetwood Mac, The Honey Trees, Feist and Phoenix. Tell me about the Liberty fabrics you use in your designs. I've loved Liberty Fabrics for many years and since I love flower prints so much I realised that it was hard to find other fabrics that was just as beautiful as the Liberty ones. It was actually just a coincidence that I made the first sample of the Emilia dress in a Liberty fabric, but from that moment I knew I wanted to use Liberty fabrics for my designs. The good quality of the fabrics also goes hand in hand with the values of my brand. Who is your style icon? I think Elaine Benes in Seinfeld might be my style icon, even though she is just a character and not a real person. She has the typical Gentlewoman style that I like so much with long skirts, long coats, beautiful silk blouses, floral dresses, blazers and brogues or penny loafers combined with white ankle socks. Lastly, what can we expect in the future from you? I'm very excited that Audrey Grace Boutique is going to carry my dresses - it's my first stockists so it feels like a really big thing since I'm also creating custom dresses for the boutique. I’m soon going to start working on my A/W 2011 collection which will be a more regular collection with more dress models and a little addition of blouses and skirts. The A/W collection will be released sometime during the end of summer. During these last few weeks I have also been working on a little project with some friends of mine that will be revealed on my blog soon.
Thanks, Lisa! Lisa has created a beautiful little short film that reflect her spring designs. You can watch it on her blog. Follow her lovely blog here: Up The Wooden Hills
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Interview with Caitlin Shearer
All artwork, Caitlin Shearer: www.caitlinquiet.blogspot.com
Caitlin Shearer is a wonderfully talented young artist. I am so excited to be working with her on some special projects for Audrey Grace. I can't reveal everything yet, but the Audrey Hepburn portrait featured above was created for me. Interview with the artist herself below...
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I was born in Sydney, Australia, and now i live a few hours away, by the ocean.
Can you tell me a little about your drawing/painting process and where do you draw your inspiration from?
I'm inspired by Vintage fashion, 1940's-50's cinema, Loneliness, flowers, Glamour, femininity, Longing, Brilliant women throughout history, the supernatural and the absurd. My painting process usually consists of me sitting at my desk, listening to music, and drawing with pencil until i get the right lines. Then I'll fill everything in with watercolour paint and then go on to adding details.
I notice that your drawings have a fairy tale quality about them. Is that something you have always been interested in? What is your favorite fairy tale?
As a kid i loved reading fairytales because they were often quite weird (like when the little mermaid kills herself in the end) and also beautifully illustrated - They were so unlike the world as i knew it and i found that captivating. I think today i also like to use my paintings as a form of escapism - so they are my own fairytales and stories which i can create and then delve into. I think my favourite fairytale has always been the little mermaid. It's so tragic and cyclical and shocked me as a child because when she jumps overboard and turns back into sea foam i just couldn't believe it and aways had to re-read the last page - as if that would change the circumstances.
How long have you been drawing?
As a kid i drew lots of fairies, ballerinas and mermaids, then in highschool i used to draw to pass the time, which then grew into an obsession and the dominating factor of my life. I've been working as an illustrator for about two years now.
I notice alot of your drawings have beautiful clothes. Have you always been interested in fashion?
I wouldn't say i'm overly interested in the trend oriented side of fashion, but i do admire the beauty and craftsmanship in beautiful dresses and shoes. I'm particularly fond of the decadent costumes in old films and the charm of vintage clothing. As a kid i used to draw pictures of my friends all standing in a line, dressed in clothes i had designed myself, so i suppose outfits have always meant alot to me. Plus, i've always been very picky about what i wear. I used to throw tantrums if someone tried to put me in a dress, and now i have a regimented wardrobe made up of dresses in only one silhouette.
What kind of girl do you see hanging one of your paintings on her wall. What is her aestheic?
I would imagine that she is the type of girl who appreciates both beauty and sadness in equal amounts. Her aesthetics - maybe her bedroom is white and sparse and she has a huge four poster bed covered in plush velvet pillows. Then there would be a special space on the wall dedicated to photos and art that she treasures.
Who would be the ulitimate celebrity (or even a style icon from the past) that you would love to draw?:
Jean Simmons, actress from films such as Angel Face and Guys and Dolls. She has a beautiful angular face and a sombre but charming demeanour which i would like to try and capture.
Are there any favorite places you like to shop or eat in your hometown of Australia (or Sydney)? Any reccomendations?
I love a cafe on oxford street (Sydney) called 'The Falconer' because it has records playing in the background, comfortable booths, is dimly lit and serves amazing bannoffee pies. I also love Pepper Lunch on george street, where you partially cook your own meat and rice dishes. Shopping wise, I love looking at boutiques like Wheels and Dollbaby and Alannah Hill and any place stocking vintage dresses.
Since the boutique is called "Audrey Grace" what are your favorite Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly films or even specific outfits they have worn?
I am in love with Audrey and would count Funny Face as my favourite of her films. I also like Grace Kelly in Rear Window. I would love to be able to dress like Audrey on a daily basis. Whenever I think chic and simple she is always at the forefront of my mind.
Who are your favorite artists?:
J.W Waterhouse, Enoch Bolles, Norman Rockwell, Al Parker, David Downton.
What (music) are you listening to now?
Early PJ Harvey, Alex Turner, Anna Calvi, Blonde Redhead.
Lastly, what are you working on now? Anything exciting?
Some textile designs for a NZ fashion designer, some wedding portraits, and a collection of other personal girls with pressed flowers.
Thank you, Caitlin!
In more Audrey Grace news here is a sneak peek at what EmmaKisstina has been creating for the shop:
Hope you are enjoying all the blogposts!
Here's a little more of Caitlin's beautiful work:
Friday, June 10, 2011
Sydney Film Festival, Part Two
Stills from Attenberg and Hanna. Two beautiful and totally different films that I have seen at the festival. I highly recommend them if you haven't seen them yet!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Interview with Kelsey Genna
Kelsey is a beautiful designer from New Zealand who I've had the interview of working with on some custom dresses for the shop. Photos and interview below!
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| All photography by Kelsey Genna and Jeannine Tan. www.kelseygenna.com and kelseygenna.tumblr.com |
Can you tell me a little about your design process and where you draw your inspiration from?
I get a lot of inspiration from photography, music, and fashion history. I would also say I source a lot of inspiration from things around me. The music I listen to, the films I watch, the people I surround myself with. I live in the country amoungst a lot of greenery and nature... so there is a lot of beauty to be discovered. Maybe this is one of the reasons I am so greatly influenced by flowers? I spend as much time as I possibly can travelling, and without fail always return with a fresh perspective and full of new ideas.
How long have you been designing? It is something I have always loved and been interested in. I didn't begin learning how to sew until I was at high school.
What type of girl do you see wearing Kelsey Genna? What is her aesthetic? I would certainly say the 'Kelsey Genna girl' is a reflection of myself... my personal style and the clothing I want to be wearing.
Who would be the ultimate celebrity (or even a style icon from the past) that you would love to dress? This isn't something I spend a lot of time mulling over. It would have to be someone of the past ... a sixties icon. I find it to hard to choose... I have too many favourites.
Since the boutique is called Audrey Grace what are your favorite Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly films or even specific outfits they have worn? Funny Face is probably my favourite. I must admit I haven't seen too many Grace Kelly films... sadly my video store has a very limited selection.
Can you tell me a little bit about the Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn designs you are creating for the boutique? I am working on two speical pieces for the launch of the Audrey Grace boutique. Each one is a tribute to these two wonderful icons. The dresses are still a work in progress ... but I am hoping to create something that personifies both Audrey and Grace whilst having my personal touch to them.
Who are your favorite artists? Caitlin Shearer is my all time favourite. But there are so many artists I love particuarly from past movements like the Pre Raphaelites.
Who are your favorite designers? There are many designers I admire for many different reasons. But when possible I do my best to support handmade and independent designers and artists.
What (music) are you listening to now? At this very moment? The National.
I see your collections always have beautiful, elegant qualities about them and each piece has a different character. Is that something you've always tried to achieve? To be honest it actually isn't... but it is so lovely that is something you pick up on.
Lastly, what can we expect in the future from you? I am really looking forward to developing my label further. I hope to alway be able to keep the handmade and bespoke touches a part of Kelsey Genna.
More specifically... you can expect a lovely new collection September/October.
Thanks Kelsey!
In more Audrey Grace news, the lovely Lisa Maria Andersson of Up the Wooden Hills did a lovely post on the boutique here:
More exciting news and interviews coming soon!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Melbourne
I visited Melbourne this weekend with my new lovely friend Lauren. We had so much fun! We went all over the city. I loved taking photos and exploring The Royal Botanical Gardens, shopping at Lady Petrova, Retrostar and Fame Agenda, having tea at Hopetoun Tea Rooms with the lovely Katie-Louise Ford and Lina Maria Carillo, dinner at Nobu with friends, seeing Love Never Dies, champagne at Madame Brussels, The Australian Centre for the Moving Image at Federation Square, macaroons from La Belle Miete, and wandering around Fitzroy. I can't wait for my next visit!
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