Kate Spade- quaint geometric prints, bold primary colours, and tiny square bags. Your thing? Then listen up sneakies!
We’ve got a Kate Spade illustrated style bible for one lucky sneaky! Want it? Just comment on this post describing your style in under 25 words! Remember to include your email address in your entry. Competition ends 22/5/13. Good luck!
Happy Easter, sneakies!
And what a delicious day it is. So delicious, in fact that we decided to create an Easter weekend outfit.
For us, this weekend will consist of an extended sesh in the garden, obscene amounts of chocolate and perhaps some pastel egg painting. So naturally, we included all of these things in our weekend outfit, from the water-colour floral print of this Sportsgirl frock to the pastel floral ears created by Goddess Flora.
We also sprinkled some whimsical weekend accessories just for funsies. And trust us, if we could somehow incorporate chocolate into our outfit without staining the crap out of the rest of our clothes, we would do it.
It’s our perfect look for a breezy Easter weekend. What’s yours?
{ Dress by Sportsgirl, headband by Goddess Flora, vintage necklace, Shoes by London Rebel }
Jaime Lee Major is crazy talented. In fact, she’s so talented that we’re struggling to fathom that she only launched her label a few years ago.
Based in Perth, Jaime Lee creates demi-couture pieces fit for a fairy queen! There are so many things we love about her aesthetic – the heavy embellishment, the use of alien-esque iridescence, the feminne tailoring and her flower motifs – we’re obsessed!
After her recent success with being selected to create her own capsule collection for Sportsgirl, we decided to chat to the dramatic designer herself. Here’s the sneakypeek.
{ How would you describe the Jaime Lee girl? }
She loves colour and sparkles and wanted to be fairy when she was 5.
{ How did you feel when Sportsgirl asked you to design a capsule collection? }
Initially I was a bit nervous to try and transpose what I do into a commercial way. The price points are considerably different so that was my biggest concern. But I was extremely flattered and had a lot of fun designing for one of Australia’s most popular retailers!
{ How did you adapt your couture aesthetic for the high street? }
I wanted to keep it bright and colourful but still add a little bit of embellishment which is signature to all my Jaime Lee pieces.
{ You’ve adorned Kimbra with unbelievably adorable frocks for 2 years. Who else do you dream of dressing? }
I would love to keep dressing Kimbra on special projects where I can. Her musical style compliments my aesthetic so its a great fit. I’d also love to dress Beyonce and Gaga! Hopefully they will make another video as epic as ‘Telephone’, I’d love to do costumes for something like that!
{ Can you spill any juicy deets about what you’ve got planned for 2013? }
I have been busy working on a very special, new body of work which I will be releasing early July. I can’t wait to show everyone, its been a year-long project and I’ve taken things in a different direction to what I usually create.
Prepare for your bells to be jingled. One of our fave illustrator goddesses, Tiffany Atkin, has created a set of free printable gift tags! Based in Brisbane, Tiffany has been featured by the likes of Yen magazine and ModCloth, and is a lover of Japanese washi paper, pastel polkadots and vanilla lattes. Plus, we’ve also been working with Tiffany this year on a special illustration project that will be revealed on the blog oh so soon. Fabulise your gifts by downloading these tags in all their PDF glory here. It’s easy to add these illustrations to your gifts- just print and cut around the dotted lines to kawaii-ify your pressie wrapping. Get to it, sneakies!
As lovers of flounce and frill, even our paired-back summer look isn’t without a touch of femme.
This summer is set to leave Sydney in sweatsville, so stay effortlessly cool with a cotton jersey tube dress, up-do and some pretty sandals. Add a pop of colour with a woven ikat print belt and a bright orange lip colour. If you want to sexy up your look a little, a dress with a mid-thigh split will flater almost every body shape. Also, remember to stay away from heavy makeup and eyeliner. That wide-eyed ‘I just woke up looking like a freakin’ goddess ‘ look is key. Whatever you do, less is definitely best when 30+ degree temperatures are involved.
Finally, adding a vintage-looking headscarf will not only add an element of girly quirk, it will hide that heinously sweaty hair-mess we’re all bound to harbour this summer. Win!
{ Dress by GAP, shoes by European Wardrobe, vintage headscarf and belt }
A little Marie Antoinette mixed with Disney princess-like perfection, Begitta is everything we could ever want in a fashion/millinery label.
Unlike so many other designers, Begitta Stolk understands the meaning of ‘cutting off the boring crusts and sprinkling your fairy-bread right to the edge’. Her designs are pure, untarnished whimsy. And that’s just the kind of deliciousness we love.
In 2008, Australian designer Begitta Stolk’s super-femme aesthetic won her a finalist position in the Australian National Retail Awards. She’s studied with the hautest of haute in Paris and London and has dressed countless belles-of-the-balls in completely couture, made-to-measure pieces.
We had a little gab with Begitta herself. Here’s the sneakypeek.
{ Your fairytale dresses are works of femme perfection! What inspired your latest collection? }
The Spring Summer 12/13 Collection “Ethereal Dreams” is inspired by dreams, purity and light. Clouds of silk sparkling with an effervescent glow. The iridescent colours in pale pastels which we have created by completely hand-dyeing all of the collection silks, satins and laces in light sorbets with adornments of Swarovski crystals, rhinestones, beads, pearls, hand-made silk flowers and full ruffles.
{ What is your design process? }
The Design process is my time of relish in. Where I can dream up the impossible and make it possible. I always start with an idea and bring it to life by delving into different aspects of that idea. The inspiration of Ethereal Dreams came from a book I saw whilst in a bookshop about 2-3 years ago called The Little Lost Unicorn. I bought it because it sparked something in my imagination that I loved. I have been subconsciously designing the collection in my head since!
Once I have the idea I research the different avenues of the idea- unicorns, fantasy, dreams, air, light, floating. Then dream up and sketch designs that make me feel these things whether by cut and style or by the adornment and detailing put on the piece.
{ What drew you to creating millinery? }
When I was in college creating my graduation collection I really wanted to accessorise and create pieces that complimented the outfits and brought something different to the table, to be able to create something that can be worn separately or with one of the creations. I started making crowns embellished with Swarovski crystals and pearls. Then, I decided that it was such a great creative outlet and studied a millinery course!
I also studied under Monsieur Jean-Pierre Tritz in Paris last year. He works with Jean-Paul Guiltier creating his head pieces for the haute couture collections. He is a master at his craft and so inspiring!
{ You recently studied haute couture design techniques in Paris. How do these techniques differ from general design processes? }
I found it absolutely astonishing to work with some of Paris’ finest couture hands. I really think that if Couture and Made-To-Measure is a career path you wish to take that you should learn these techniques “straight from the horses mouth” so to speak and that is exactly what took me to Paris. I got to experience living, breathing and loving Paris and all the inspiration and fashion it had to offer. These are experiences that have made me a better designer and have increased my skills in couture and it’s specialised techniques incredibly.
{ If you could dress any fairytale princess, who would it be and why? }
Cinderella! Sometimes it is like a Cinderella story when you go to a collection launch or a runway show and it is all glitz, glamour and gorgeous people. What this doesn’t show is all the hard work it takes to get there. It feels like a dream that you have produced something for someone to wear and feel beautiful. When you know how much work is put in to get there, every bead you thread, every seam you sew. But as Cinderella says, “a dream is a wish your heart makes’ and if you dream and work hard it will all come true.
Some designers get it so right it hurts to even contemplate their fabulosity. But the contemplatory pain is definitely worth it this time.
Designed by Melbourne lass Kelsey Menadue, Gwenadue is an edgy/girly gem in the Australian market rough. Featuring imported, digi-print fabrics and a sprinkling of pom poms, this label is an explosion of pretty. Worn by no less than Lana Del Rey on her recent Australian tour and featuring in Covet magazine, Gwenadue is the young label to watch.
Here’s the whats-what from the world of Gwenadue.
{ Your fabrics are so unique! Where do you find them? }
I am very inspired by fabric, it is normally what gives me ideas. I love bold, different and exciting prints. One of my favourite fabric stores is Tessuti Fabrics.
{ Who is the Gwenadue girl? }
The Gwenadue girl is always fun and playful. A little risky and not afraid to stand out, she is whimsical and loves to dress up. Colour and prints are always a heavy influence in her daily look. She takes every occasion as an excuse to create a new outfit. She mixes the old with the new and loves to add a touch of novelty.
{ Your lookbooks are impeccably styled! What inspires them? }
The lookbook was a really fun process. I started with making the grass wall background with pom poms, flowers and yo-yo’s. It was an explosion of colour and I spray painted all of the flowers. My stylist, Simone Vinski and I put all the outfits and accessories together and created the look we wanted. On the day of shooting I worked with a really talented team, the vibe was really great and it showed through the photos.
{ What do you have planned for the end of 2012? }
I am really excited for the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Creating headpieces and girly, lady like designs is always something I have loved to do. This year my spring carnival range is currently stocked at a Melbourne Boutique, Lady Petrova. I can’t wait to see Gwenadue girls dressed up in during racing season.
We love spotlighting new illustrators. Mainly because we hope that once they become famous, world-dominatingly dictatorial and the leaders of an army of autocratically artistic robots, that they will spare us from an untimely end.
Luckily, Susie Julia’s general loveliness is an indicator that this will never happen.
Instead, we’re spotlighting this young illustrator/photographer because of her pure, liquid talent!
With an incredibly whimsical eye for design, Susie Julia creates collages and illustrations filled with printed dresses, swirling hairstyles and vintage photo cut-outs. She’s a student at Ontario College of Art and Design, but we’re betting that this lovely lady’s work is going to end up on the front of adorable magazines and in quirky fashion campaigns. You heard it hear first! (Now please, artistic robot army, spare us?).
{ How did you learn how to draw? }
I have been drawing since a very early age. Ever since I could remember, I have always had a pencil and paper in my hand. I would draw everything and anything! My family comes from a long line of artists and creators. My grandmother used to make commissioned portraits, my father attended a fine arts academy for interior design, and my mother designs handmade jewellery. Drawing runs in the family and it was only natural for me to become involved in it.
{ What artists and eras inspire your illustrations? }
I am in love with the art nouveau era. Artists like Alphonse Mucha greatly inspire me: the detail and craftsmanship in his drawings simply amaze me. The organic and flowery motifs are something that I am very drawn to. His rendering of the feminine form is beautiful.
I also admire Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Rene Magritte. From more recent illustrators, I am very attracted to Stina Persson’s illustrative style. She works with watercolour to create very simple yet striking fashion portraits. Cate Parr has a similar style which I also admire.
{ Tell us a bit about your illustration style }
It is fashion illustration that is quirky, colourful, very feminine, decorative and delicate. I like to draw the figure and portrait with a twist. So whether it is a fun pattern or texture, splash of colour, or bright pink hair, there is always something in my illustrations that stands out.
{ Your collages are so quirky! Where do you find the images that you use in them? }
I have only recently begun to work in the collage medium, but I have been fascinated by it for a while now. There are many collage artists that are featured regularly on artist websites such as booooooom.com that have inspired me greatly. I take my images from various old magazines that I have in my house, or that I find in thrift stores. All the collages are made digitally. I scan in the images and rework them in photoshop. For my latest collage series, I worked with the idea of juxtaposition and surreal landscape.
{ We’ve also heard that you’re a magnificent baker! Do baked goods feature in any of your illustrations? }
Thank you! Baking and the pastry arts are a current passion of mine that I would like to continue and possibly transform into a future career. I love baking cupcakes, and have made a few watercolour cupcake illustrations in the past. I plan on making more ‘dessert illustrations’, so keep checking back! Make sure to check out my baking blog, Pastel Macaron!
You can drink up Susie’s creative concoctions via her Etsy page.
Emma Bazan named her illustration business ‘Bella & Bunny‘ after her cat, Bella and her Bunny, Midge. We wanted to sit down with all three of them, but unfortunately ran out of time to learn how to decipher the english meanings of meows and hops. So instead, we settled for the lady-artist herself, Emma Bazan. A Brooklyn-based illustrator/makeup artist with an eye for the delicate and feminine, Emma knows how to wield a paintbrush or two. She also has a thing for cute frocks and animals- think ‘fairytale-style princess slash zoo keeper woman’.
Here’s a sneakypeek into Bella & Bunny’s whimsical world.
{ How did you learn to paint? }
Well, I started painting at an early age. When I was in elementary school, I was in an art club that met weekly, this is where I was exposed to paint as a way of creating art. It came natural to me, and I enjoyed it very much. I experimented with different mediums throughout out my life. Art school helped me understand composition, while my painting techniques were developed on their own and has been influenced by other artist.
{ Describe your artistic style }
I like pretty dainty girly things; anything with pastel colors, lace, and floral prints. But, I also like things that have strong lines, graphic shapes and bold colors. I do my best to balance the two.
{ What techniques do you use to create your artworks? }
My work is hand drawn and painted with mostly watercolors, inks on watercolor paper. Sometimes I’ll refine lines with colored pencils, gouache or acrylic paints, depending on my mood. Most of my work is then digitally finished ,whether that is collaging pieces together to create a final piece or tweak colors. In the end, I like my work to look crisp and clean.
{ You feature a number of cute creatures in your prints. What is it about nature that inspires you? }
I always had a great appreciation and interest in nature. I can watch any show about nature for hours, or read about birds, and insects, and never lose interest. I’m kind of nerdy that way. I also think nature is a good source of information for an artist. There is lots of colour combinations, textures and shapes provided everywhere. I recently went to the beach and found it interesting how the waves would leave a pattern on the sand it just crossed over. It looked like a knitted sweater. Things like that fascinate me.
{ If you could borrow the hands of a famous artist, who would it be? }
Ah, there are so many artists- it’s so hard to choose! But right now if I had to choose, it would be Rene Gruau. Not that my work is heavy on the fashion illustration side, but I really admire his use of elegant silhouette, graphic lines and bold colours. He really had an eye for great composition.
It’s here. The ultimate of all ultimate stationery-related Xmas pressies. Behold!
Samantha Wills (crafter of gorgeous bohemian jewellery) and fashion illustrator Kelly Smith have created a stationery collection to die for. The series features sets of cards decorated with illustrated gypsy girls dripping in SWjewellery. Complete with quaint wax seals and decorative royal stamps, these babies are a perfect Xmas gift for the lass you adore.
We sat down with the crafty collaborators themselves for a little sneakypeek.
{ So lovely ladies, what made you both decide to work together? How have you collaborated in the past? }
Samantha: From the moment I decided I wanted to create an SW stationery line, I couldn’t see myself collaborating with any other artist! Kelly is such a humble, down to earth person and her creative mind absolutely blows me away. When working together, we’ll be constantly emailing back and forth with concepts, and she interprets my creative vision perfectly.
Kelly: Samantha approached me with the seed of an idea for a range of stationery that she wanted to incorporate into the SW brand. I, of course loved it and jumped at the chance to work with her, having such a huge admiration for both her designs and her aesthetic. We spent months emailing each other back and forth with ideas, inspirations etc, and during this time we also worked on a little side project for SW Bridal – which was released earlier in the year. I absolutely love working with her, it’s incredibly inspiring to work with someone who is so passionate and driven.
{ Samantha, why did you decide to create a stationery collection? }
Samantha: I’ve been obsessed with handwritten notes, ink and paper for as long as I can remember, so this was a very natural and organic decision for the brand. I was posting photos of my own personal projects on Facebook, and the overwhelmingly positive response meant that it made sense to incorporate this as part of the SW brand.
{ And what are the collection’s key features? }
Samantha: The stationery pieces are sold separately, or in sets that are packaged in our signature hand carved wooden box.
Our stationery features beautiful watercolour illustrations by the amazing Kelly Smith, and we worked together to create three SW girls and three SW birds. These illustrations are printed on notes and cards. The cards are sold individually, but also in packs that include lace, twine and faux postage stamps. Everything you need to create your own beautiful projects!
{ Kelly, how did you create illustrations that mesh with the Samantha Wills aesthetic? }
Kelly: It was one of the most seamless transitions between a client brief and the actual illustrations i’ve ever had the joy of experiencing! I think the greatest thing about working with Samantha is that visually we both have very similar tastes, so literally everything she sent me to reference I loved. My part in it all was to try to capture this signature SW ‘bohemian luxe’ aesthetic in the form of the ideal ‘SW Girl’ while incorporating the elements that are so strongly linked to the mood of the brand.
This untamed, dreamy mix of feminine and masculine. It’s a little bit Beauty & the Beast, which I love, and is also kind of perfect for me, as my own work is so heavily inspired by fairy tales and the like. It’s all about mixing these wild, raw elements with the feminine softness of blooms and gemstones. I think the organic nature of the pencil illustrations and water colour elements enhances that.
{ And what’s your favourite Samantha Wills piece at the moment? }
Kelly: I have so many! I love the Sweet Surrender necklace. I own about 6 different ‘Bohemian Bardot’ rings, in varying shades of pink,peach, turquoise and mint – all faves! I’m also enjoying my the SW Fine range – I like layering them up for every day wear.
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