A New Muse

A New Muse Heart's.....

2009-07-16T18:30:00.010+10:00

Life size Doll House by Heather Benning

Poppies

Old Believer exhibition by LU FLUX

Bea Nettles 1975 photographic Mountain Dream Tarot

Momoko Hatano jewellery

Kate Bush

LU FLUX - Innocent Merriment AW 09

2009-07-15T17:34:00.007+10:00

Ethical clothing designer Lu flux makes one off contemporary menswear and womenswear pieces from salvaged, vintage and organic fabrics using traditional techniques including patchwork, pleating and knitting.

Her environmentally friendly approach of making something new out of something old reduces waste and consumes less, a great thing to achieve in this disposable modern world!

www.luflux.com

Deadly Ponies - Hathor's Revenge

2009-07-13T18:09:00.012+10:00

Deadly Ponies represents the united creative worlds of Liam Bowden and Katie Smith. The New Zealand based accessories design duo lovingly make each piece by hand thus creating quirky idiosyncrasies which emphasize the beauty that leather beholds.
Deadly Ponies latest offering aptly titled Hathor's Revenge has drawn its inspiration from Egyptian goddesses.

My personal pick of the collection is the Mr Spider catcher bag featured below. I love the texture. The Mr Head Hanger Black Cat pendant is rather endearing too.

www.deadlyponies.com

Alex Prager

2009-07-12T23:36:00.007+10:00

Self taught photographer Alex Prager is an independent spirit who's work conjures up a retro aesthetic showcasing young, beautiful, doll like women in heightened movie still environments.

Amazing!

The photos featured here are from her 'Polyester' and 'The Big Valley' series.

www.alexprager.com

d_luxe - Summer Set 09/10

2009-07-08T16:01:00.007+10:00

Recently I introduced you to New Zealand based jewellery label d_luxe and am excited to share with you the duo's latest creative offerings titled "Summer Set"......

Exploring the fine line between feminine grace and street attitude, 'The Summer Set' embraces the colour palette of 1970's sun bleached photography through the rose-tinted vision of hip romantics. Featuring studded leather-embellished bracelets in black and nude, oversized dream catcher rings + cute little pouches, the collection is inspired by the softer side of punk's perennial icon Patti Smith.

www.d-luxe.co.nz

Carly Hunter - Apollo SS 09/10

2009-06-29T17:05:00.004+10:00

Taking inspiration from Galileo’s astronomy, lunar phases, Wolfgang Tillmans photographic series of the ‘Venus Passage’ as well as post metal and doom music, Perth designer Carly Hunter's SS 09/10 collection aptly titled Apollo explores the relationship between the sun and moon and the effects of light in space. The collection features pieces that strike the balance between masculine and feminine, hard and soft, light and dark all in perfect symmetry whilst maintaining a relaxed aesthetic.
Incorporated into some of the designs are illustrations from local Perth artist Jessyca Hutchens.

carlyhunter.blogspot.com

Kelly Thompson

2009-06-28T19:57:00.007+10:00

Kelly Thompson is a New Zealand based photographer and illustrator. Her work has been featured in publications including Curvy, Karen magazine and Semi Permanent.

Kelly has an exhibition coming up called Bookworms Never Go To Bed Alone that will be held from the 2nd July-19th July at the Gorker Gallery in Fitzroy Melbourne. Her latest body of work evokes us to reminisce our schoolyard days of being called freckle face or four eyes and the wonderful irony of getting older and growing into that beautiful ‘alternative’ geeky swan. Head down and check it out and perhaps add a piece to your art collection…

www.kellythompson.co.nz

SALE!!!!

2009-06-28T18:27:00.002+10:00

Jessie Hill SS 09/10 - Morocco 1969

2009-06-26T18:02:00.006+10:00

Jessie Hill's SS offering pays homage  to  her beautiful  grandmother who was  a  model during the  fifties  and  sixties.

Taking an original  image  from  a  shoot  she  did  in  Morocco  and  using  it  as  a  placement  print, the collection takes on a Neo 60's vibe contrasting  softness  with  tough  body‐con  silhouettes,  sporty  elements  and  heavy  embellishments. With  original  prints  by  Jessie  Hill,  the  black  and  white  pattern  is  evocative  of  traditional  Moroccan  tiles,  while  the  acid  floral  print  adds  a  psychedelic   twist. 

The  collection  is  topped off by Jessie's signature footwear,  featuring  metallic  gold  leather  wedges  with  fringing  and  lace  up  sixties  style  court  shoes  .

Alpha60 SS 09/10

2009-06-26T14:24:00.012+10:00

Recently I viewed Alpha60's latest offerings at RAFW and was incredibly inspired. So this time I'd like to give you a bit more insight into the collections inspirations and aesthetic....

Taking inspiration from the classic Parisian street film La Haine, Summer 09/10 raises the level of sophistication from Alpha60 yet again.

While there are no unexpected bursts of colour, there is a subtle divergence from blacks and greys to muted golds and blues. Menswear presents a strong element of tailoring whilst on the contrary womenswear features jersey draping of varied lengths. Pulling the collection together is Alpha's artistically provocative yet elegant spliced garments and hair inspired digital prints.

If you can imagine the lovechild of La Haine’s Vinz (Vincent Cassel) and Maya Deren- then that's what visually sums up Alpha60's summer collection.

The first drop of the SS collection will be in September with drops continuing through to November.

www.alpha60.com.au

Undercover SS/10

2009-06-21T20:50:00.008+10:00

Jun Takahashi has drawn upon industrial designer Dieter Rams' ever influential Bauhaus minimalism. An interpretation of popular modernism from an arch-postmodernist.

Brokenfab Jewellery

2009-06-20T17:53:00.006+10:00

Brokenfab specialises in textile design and hand-beaded jewellery that crosses the boundaries of conventional textile designing and beadwork by putting it in a social context.
For this collection Brokenfab let herself be inspired by the soulful underground music, style and fashion scene with references to Disco, Boogie, Synth, Funk + more...

The Brokenfab web store will be open from the 21st June!!!!

www.brokenfab.com/jewellery.html

oki-ni Secret Sale

2009-06-20T15:49:00.007+10:00

This is one for the boys....

oki-ni are currently having a secret sale and are giving A New Muse readers a chance to be in on it!
All you need to do is follow this link, http://www.oki-ni.com/page/emailsecretsignup, sign up and get your sale code, then you are ready to shop!
Enjoy x

myPetsQuare- All The Way SS 09/10 Sneak Peek!

2009-06-12T20:19:00.006+10:00

So here is sneak peek number two, this time from quirky label myPetsQuare.
It's another amazing range by creative brains Angelique and Vicki who kindly invited me to view their collections during Fashion Week.
I'm allowed to show you guys one piece. My pick from the ALL THE WAY range is the Stephanie K dress in black, I'm loving those cut outs.
The girls have also shared some visual inspiration that influenced the collection, featured below.

Stay tuned to view the entire collection here soon...

All Of Our Lives Winter 09 - Happy Bow Day

2009-06-12T13:25:00.009+10:00

Inspired by the imaginative and colourful days of childhood, this whimsical collection titled HAPPY BOW DAY features bows + neckties centered around pleats, bright colours and exaggerated proportions that are designed to take us back to the days of crayons, Jack in the boxes, Lego and Lewis Carroll fairy tales to help stimulate the playful nature in all of us.

www.myspace.com/allofourlives

Lover - White Moon Rising SS 09/10

2009-06-07T15:15:00.000+10:00

Cult label Lover's upcoming offering evokes a sense of underlying magick within its minimalistic forms. The name itself "White Moon Rising"conjures up this vibe.
Staying true to its signature aesthetic of clean cut with the hint of rock 'n' roll edge, this collection simultaneously explores two personalities, the good girl and the wild child through its mix of innocent lace contrasted against ruby velvet, leather and leopard prints.

This underlying theme is conveyed in a subtle manner, allowing the wearer to explore the aesthetic in their own unique way. Most pieces remain timeless in the wardrobe, making each item a staple. In my opinion that is what makes the perfect label and is why I love Lover.

I can see myself channeling Stevie Nicks circa 1975 in some of the velvet and lace pieces...

www.loverthelabel.com

Banal Chic Bizarre AW/09

2009-06-05T20:11:00.008+10:00

A great follow up to the indie Japanese label's unisex SS/09 collection. I've noticed that the label is featured a lot on Tokyo street style websites.

A New Muse Heart's....

2009-05-30T16:03:00.005+10:00

Karen Walker Resort o9/10

Heather Kosch Jewellery

Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes)

Jordan Askill Sculpture & Jewellery Design

SALE!!!!

2009-05-27T20:51:00.004+10:00

This one is definitely worth checking out!

Karina Pires

2009-05-24T22:29:00.005+10:00

Drawing inspiration from her favorite summer things, like the ocean and the sun, Karina Pires explores hand dyed fabrics, a water-colour print, hand crafted ruffles and ribbon applied texture for Spring Summer 09-10. This summer it is the contrast between soft and structured that creates an “airy” sort of feel, presented in the form of simple yet strong silhouettes.

There are some absolute treasures in this collection. My picks are the digitally printed leggings and the ruffle dress.

www.karinapires.com

Ferm Living

2009-05-23T22:05:00.004+10:00

I am a big fan of Scandinavian design so I was thrilled to find Danish home-ware company Ferm Living. They cover everything from wallpaper and decals to funky cushions and bedspreads, this is really inspiring stuff.

www.fermliving.com.au

Miss Unkon

2009-05-23T16:24:00.010+10:00

Recently I caught up with Brisbane's newest design talent Courtney Meyer to discuss her creative world and her SS 09/10 collection titled 'The life of a colourful lady"

1. Describe yourself in a sentence.

A girl that loves to be colourful, creative and passionate and loves to be a little over the top!!!

2. What is the first thing you ever designed?

I designed a lot of clothes for the shared little dolls and barbies with my sisters. But the first thing I designed and made for myself was a skirt and top when I was 12. It was rather hilarious. It was bright purple from a scrap piece of fabric I found. I made my own pattern, then created these little tabs that could be snapped into the side of the skirt so you could have two types of skirts. My grandmother took a photo of me wearing it and always kept it on her mantle piece. She and my family were so proud.

3. How was your label conceived?

Miss Unkon was created out of my passion to create a brand that makes a difference to people’s lives through being colourfully creative. As a self taught designer, Miss Unkon launched in 2008. I met this amazing girl Taree Birse at RAFW last year when volunteering and everything just propelled since then through hard work, determination & passion.

Unkon is the shortened word of Unkonventional in german spelling. My father’s background is German and our essence is be passionate, and create something a little bit different and exciting.

4. Describe your labels aesthetic.

Fun, creative, sparkling and fashion that tells a story and makes you want to get up and dance. For a girl that loves to be unique and create her own style and reflects where she is at in love, life and her career.

5. Tell us about your current collection.

The collection is called “The Life of a Colourful Lady” and is a dedication to my beautiful grandmother who passed away last year. She was a lady that always lived each day with colour, passion for life, adventure and just loved fashion. Her stories inspired me with beautiful and vibrant memories which influenced me on this fashion journey. The show is a representation of her essence and a way of life that we can all live by.

6. Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Inspiration comes from everywhere, art, movies, young fabulous girls, vintage. A lot of the times it will be little things I see, memories and fashion I see in my dreams. I also see a whole story, like a movie in my head and then I want to create that story into a fashion style

7. What is the best thing about what you do?

I love creating with the beautiful Miss Unkon team – Nelly pro photography, Becca Gilmartin for the amazing hair and make-up, Taree my amazing assistant, Jesselle management !!! I love turning all the ideas into real life and creating the visual story with the photo-shoot. Having the opportunity to create with such amazing talented people who are so passionate brings such excitement and appreciation to everyday!!

8. What are you working on right now?

We are starting to design for A/W next year. We also support the amazing Amira Project charity Princess Parties which is an inspirational and informative event designed to enhance the self esteem of young women. So we are doing whatever we can to support this amazing event.

www.amiraproject.com

missunkon.blogspot.com

Amy Kaehne SS 09/10 - The Kerouac Collection

2009-05-18T21:05:00.007+10:00

The collection is inspired by the counterculture movement of the 1950s Beat Generation & its father of the movement, Poet/Writer Jack Kerouac.
Jack Kerouac's masterpiece "On The Road" inspired the collection by eastern influences, art, literature, music and most importantly the idea of bohemian nonconformity in the era of independence & experimentation.
Most beat generation writers and poets were struggling artists that were satisfied by creating literature that was both challenging & eclectic.

I love the inspiration that has influenced this collection. The range itself is very interesting up close. Such amazing detail...

www.amykaehne.com

Rachel Carley Ceramics

2009-05-16T12:00:00.004+10:00

Check out these gorgeous ceramic dishes from Auckland based designer Rachel Carley.
Each piece is handcrafted in New Zealand and can be ordered directly from www.sabato.co.nz.
These would be a really cute addition to your kitchen or around your apartment alike.

www.rachelcarley.co.nz

sQ- Meet Me At The Pool At Midnight SS 09/10 Sneak Peek!

2009-05-13T20:03:00.013+10:00

Recently I caught up with the lovely Angelique and Vicki from sQ to view their latest offerings, and it looks amazing.
I'm excited to share with you an exclusive sneak peek at my favourite piece from the collection, the beautiful sheer 'Jackie Blazer' in Khaki .
The girls have also shared some visual inspiration that influenced the collection, featured below.

Stay tuned to view the entire collection here in a few months time....