Springtime Vibrance

Hello sun, floral prints and bright colours! Spring has finally sprung and it's time to drag those colourful, free flowing dresses out from the dust covered shelves of your wardrobe.

Black be gone - This spring is all about vibrant colours and clean, white accessories. From Windsor Smith's iconic white sandals and strappy heels, to fresh white nails and jewellery. It's hard to put a foot wrong when you pair these with bright blues, pinks and oranges.

The best thing about sun-dresses and shift dresses is their versatility! You can swap them from the beach to the town with just a few accessory changes. I've made minimum changes from one outfit to the next, from white lipstik sandals, to white lipstik heels. It might not sound like much but heels can makes a big difference!

So how can you wear bright colours without looking overdone?
Stick to a single bold colour and use it throughout your outfit (There is an exception if a single item of clothing has more than one colour in it). Then pair this with neutral accessories, all of the same tone. I like to keep a range of accessories in gold, silver, black and white as these can complement any outfit with simplicity.

And shift dresses even feel incredible on. This Princess Polly shift is lightweight, loose and soft on the skin - Perfect to throw on for Spring picnics or backyard parties.

Dress: Princess Polly

Handbag: Tony Bianco

Clutch: Colette by Colette Hayman

Sandals: Lipstik Shoes 

Heels: Lipstik Shoes

Sunglasses: LeSpecs

Big shoutout to my hometown of Newcastle for providing a breathtaking backdrop for this shoot. I may be a biased local but I can't help but fall in love with the bright blue colours of the Newcastle beach strip every time I see it. These photos were taken in a little spot called Strzelecki Lookout just above Bar Beach.

Also thanks to my fellow fashion blogger Jake Halpin from styledbyjake.com for being the man behind the camera. Go check out his site for more style advice!

Mads 

x

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Retro Chic: Back to the Sixties, inspired by Bebe Sydney.

 A few weeks ago, Sydney Fashion Weekend opened its doors to hundreds of fashionistas hoping to take home designer clothes, accessories and make up all for a fraction of the price. I went along for my 3rd year at the event and loved every moment of it!

Held at the Royal Hall of Industries within Sydney's Entertainment Quarter, the bargains began on Thursday night and continued until 5pm Sunday. It consisted of stalls from over 100 brands, runway shows, a beauty bar by NP Set, a pop-up photography studio by The Photo Studio Glebe and so much more.

Just some of the designers showcased during the weekend were Nicola Finetti, Shakuhachi, Ginger and Smart, Wish, Bec & Bridge, Jamie Askkar and far too many more to name. Black and white was very much the trend for this years runway show.
 

 I managed to snatch up some bargains myself, my favourite being this retro, long-sleeved dress from one of my most loved brands Bebe Sydney (follow this link to check out more of their designs!).

 

 

I love the mesmerizing patterns in this dress. They caught my eye on the rack almost immediately.  This style of symmetrical patterns and optical illusions seems to be a constant trend, particularly for those of you in the northern hemisphere currently heading into summer. This dress has just the right amount of black and warm tones that it can be worn through autumn, into winter and even the start of the spring months.

 

 

 

 

 



 

The mural above is in Hunter Street Mall in my hometown of Newcastle. It backs onto an awesome little café called Honey which is owned and run by one of my good friends. They make an amazing mocha! If ever you're in or around the Newcastle area, stop in for a coffee, a bite to eat or even just a sneak peek at the amazing street art that fills the mall. 

 



Dress - Bebe Sydney.

Hat - 'Panama Harriet' from Sportsgirl

Shoes - Betts  

 

Until next time,

 

-  Mads x



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Sewing Machines, Runway Shows and 'A Golden State of Mind': An interview with Fashion Student and Designer, Sarah White.

©SarahWhite

A few weeks ago I went for a coffee and most longed-for chat with FBI Fashion College student, Lee Jeans and Instyle Magazine Intern, Sarah White. At just 20, Sarah already has her foot firmly in the door of the fashion industry, having launched her own summer collection and previously interned for Lisa Ho.

We sat down to a warm latte on a chilly Saturday afternoon and Sarah, wearing an awesome fringed tee, admitted to me that it was given to her by her current intern label, Lee.

Born in a small country town 2 hours from Newcastle, Sarah moved to the Hunter region straight after finishing year 12. She completed her Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and before she knew it, was watching her own label showcased on the catwalk in front of 500 people - Go girl!
 
“I created my own label which is called 'Sarannie'. I’ll spell that out for you,” she laughed.
 
It’s not surprising that Sarah has found herself so involved in the industry so soon. She revealed to me that as a child, she would create dolls dresses by safety pinning material together and sketching designs in a book.

“One day my best friend found it (the book) and said ‘Oh my god Sarah, these are really good!’ She made me look into fashion and it all sort of spiralled from there,” she said.

She even admitted that she didn’t know how to sew before beginning her course here in Newcastle. But of course she learnt fast!

 

One of Sarah's 'evening wear' pieces ©SarahWhite

 

Sarah currently studies a Diploma in Fashion Business at FBI Fashion College in Sydney, which involves marketing, buying, styling and as Sarah put it, “a lot more of the other side of the industry”.

Through her course, she was given the opportunity to be an insider at this year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, working as a volunteer. Each day at MBFW they’d be assigned to work either 'front' or 'back' of house. 'Front of house', they would set out goodie bags for all the biggest names in the industry, lay out name tags, usher guests into the show. 'Back of house' would involve steaming clothes and prepping the models for the show.

“Back of house is quite intense because the models obviously have quick changes... Front of house is a little bit more relaxed, but they’re both really fun,” she said.

 

One of three pieces from Sarah's 'A Golden State of Mind' Collection ©SarahWhite

 

Two of three pieces in Sarah's 'A Golden State of Mind' Collection ©SarahWhite

 

 

The third and final outfit  in Sarah's 'A Golden State of Mind' collection ©SarahWhite

I took the opportunity to speak to Sarah about her incredible label, ‘Sarannie’ and the three-piece summer collection she designed and showcased at the Newcastle town hall titled ‘A Golden State of Mind’.

 

Hunter Designers are showcased at Newcastle Town Hall - 'Sarannie' summer collection. ©SarahWhite

The collection involves “a lot of floral prints,” she said, “A lot of flowy designs… It’s all based around looks that compliment your figure.”

“The nude, black and white trends were really big at the time. I liked that but I wanted to put my own little spin on it,” she said.
 

©SarahWhite

Before we wrapped up, I asked her 3 quick questions on clothes, working in the industry and advice for aspiring designers. Check it out:

1.     What’s your favourite item of clothing that you own? – “I have this pair of Shakuhachi shorts that I am in love with. I was wearing them yesterday, even though it was so cold…” (We laughed about this for a while, I think we can all relate – How many times have you ever worn a certain item merely because you love it? Guilty!) “They’re silk, high waisted, with a floral print.”

2.     What are 5 items you couldn’t live without? “Jeans, shorts, a good coat - I recently bought this really good Anarak coat which is good for anywhere - comfy tee shirts and a nice dress.”

3.      If you had one message for someone wanting to get into the fashion industry, what would it be? “Get ready to work really hard, because it is really, really hard work… Don’t listen to people if they tell you not to do it... Just be creative and work hard.”

 

Thanks to the stunning Sarah White for letting us into her world as a fashion student and designer.

I'm sure we're going to see 'Sarannie'  in stores in the future! 

 

-          Mads x

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We Love European Winters: Faux Fur and 'All White Everything'.

 

It's that time of the year again, when a chill in the air tells us that Winter is close by! We all long to perfect that European Winter style with lavish fur jackets and trench coats, but here in Australia the weather sadly doesn't always permit us to do so.

 

My solution? Faux fur vests (cue love heart eyes).

 

Fur vests can emulate that classic European style without making you pass out from heat exhaustion (Now, that's always a bonus). You'll be speaking Italian in no time. Bellissimo!

 

  

 

 

 

 I'm loving crisp, white and cream shades paired together. There once was a day when pairing 'white on white' was seen as a fashion fail, but that day is not today! A prime example of this season's 'neutrals' trend is the recent Cameo the Label collection which was showcased at the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. If you haven't already had a peek at this collection, I would highly recommend that you do! 

 

 

I'm a bit of a softie when it comes to sheer materials, so I completely fell for this sheer blouse from Bardot. Clean, white blouse's are a popular trend at current and we don't have to guess why. A simple, sleek blouse can speak elegance, professionalism, femininity and street style combined. Who wouldn't want to give off those vibes?

Browns and deep, rustic tones can add warmth to a neutral inspired outfit. Use these colours to give your 'endless white' attire a balanced feel and create contrast without turning the outfit into monochrome mania. A bright colour on the nails and lips also never hurt anyone! (I love bright pinks and reds but darker colours like crimson or deep purple can also have the same bold effect).

 

 

Anyone else super excited to watch the Logies tonight? For those of you not familiar with the Australian TV Week Logie Awards, they're basically the biggest Aussie TV awards of the year! For most of us, they're also a forum to check out the most stunning dresses by all of Australia's biggest designers. You may even catch my review of the red carpet glamour from tonight's event up on the blog in the next few weeks.

That's all from me for today. Don't forget to check out the Instagram page for daily details! http://instagram.com/thecrystalcollar#

Ciao!

Mads
x

Brands and Stores:
Sunglasses: Mink Pink (http://minkpink.com/au)
Sheer blouse: 'Pussy Bow Shirt' from Bardot (http://www.bardot.com.au/Home.aspx)
Skirt: Similar Mink Pink 'White Wistow skirt' is available from (http://shopmarkethq.com/products/white-wistow-skirt)
Vest: Ice Designs (no longer available - similar design available here http://www.gluestore.com.au/luluandrose-giulia-fur-gilet-in-brown.html)
Shoes: Windsor Smith (http://www.windsorsmith.com.au/)

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Barefoot Bliss: A Sun-Soaked Easter Sunday by the Beach

 

What a wonderful Easter weekend it was! I spent Easter Sunday soaking up the sun amongst the rock pools of Pearl Beach on the Central Coast of Australia. I hope everyone else had as much fun as I did exploring the beach and sandstone cliffs with my family (and eating too much chocolate - Phew, time to put those joggers on!)

 

Inspired by the cool, blue shades of the seaside, I thought it was appropriate to

head to the beach wearing my baby blue blouse from United Colours of Benetton. This lightweight, frilled blouse is perfect for a sunny Autumn day, either buttoned at the wrists for a traditional 'boyfriend' look, or rolled to the elbow to create comfy three-quarter sleeves - a more casual look that I prefer to wear.

 

 

And the 'Panama Harriet' hat is back! Yes, as you have probably noticed from my previous post, I love this little black hat to death. It can turn a dull, plain outfit into the epitome of style. (It took my greatest efforts however, to battle against the sea winds and keep it on my head throughout the day. I came far too close to losing it in the waves - Talk about tragedy!)

Another of my favourites are these Le Specs 'Cat Eye' sunglasses. Their feminine shape is slightly retro but also super chic and glamorous AND they take sun safety into consideration (so you can feel responsible while wearing them). They suit just about any face shape, and I know we all sacrifice comfort for fashion, but with these babies you don't have to. They're nice and comfy, unlike some other sunglasses which can cut into the ridge of your nose and leave you with awful red lines.
#1 sunnies of the year in my book!

Another post coming soon involving faux fur and "all white everything". Stay tuned for an ultra glamorous, chic look that breaks all the rules of white on white (ooh, anyone feeling rebellious?) You can follow me on Instagram at TheCrystalCollar for fast-tracked photo posts and more insights into my interpretations of style.

Remember to always wear that lovely smile no matter where you're headed today!

Mads
x

Brands and Stores:
Hat: Sportsgirl (http://www.sportsgirl.com.au/)
Sunglasses: Le Specs (http://lespecs.com.au/)
Blouse: United Colours of Benetton (http://www.benetton.com/)
Skirt: Dotti (http://www.dotti.com.au/shop/en/dotti)
Lipstick: 'Eros' by Napoleon Perdis. (http://napoleonperdis.com/)
Necklace and Bracelet: Tiffany&Co. (http://www.tiffany.com.au/)

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Autumn Antics

Happy, happy, happy.
I don't think there's any other way to describe today's vibe. Happy Friday, happy long weekend and a very happy start to the two week semester break for all those mentally drained and relieved Uni students like me (Although my holidays will still be filled with work on assignments due straight after break, ugh!). With this being said, I think today is a perfect day to share my first post with you all, so welcome to The Crystal Collar! 

Monochrome, gold and denim. I'm loving this combination almost as much as the new show I recently discovered called 'Super Tiny Animals' (You should check it out. It has only intensified my unhealthy obsession with teacup sized animals - uh oh), especially for that awkward Autumn weather that just can't decide whether it wants to be warm or bitterly cold.

I couldn't resist pairing this number with a little gem I found recently in Sportsgirl, my black 'Harriet Panama' floppy hat. I had spent weeks searching top to tail for a Winter statement hat that was suitable for everyday wear, so as I walked through Sportsgirl's doors just the other day, it's safe to say that I almost shed a few tears of happiness. Hats of all different colours and sizes were stacked across the shelves, rich maroons, smoky greys, wide brims and caps. If you're looking for a hat to keep up with the current headwear trend, Sportsgirl is the place to start your search. From beanies to panamas, hats are definitely a hot trend for the winter season! (Plus, they're a handy tool for lazy "I can't be bothered to do my hair" days - Can I hear a hell yeah?)

Pairing monochrome with gold accessories is a simple and subtle way to speak the language of street glamour. Add trashed denim to the scene and you have yourself an edgy 'street style' outfit with a dash of class and a teaspoon of character. I have combined various textures to keep the eye busy, contrasting the currently popular black and white striped tee with a transparent black lace blouse to add sophistication to a trending look.

Three quarter length and boyfriend style jeans are another big staple trend for this Autumn. Pair them with ankle boots for an everyday look, or heeled boots and chunky, statement accessories for a night out. The high-waist on these versatile 'Ziggy Denim' jeans from Glue Store is such a flattering cut, it can make any outfit look exceptional. These denim baby's are probably the most worn item in my wardrobe at the moment!

Hope you're all making the most of this flawless, sunny weather today. Let's hope it hangs around for the rest of the long weekend! Have a safe and relaxing Easter with your family and friends, and don't listen to anyone who tells you not to eat too much chocolate (Come on, it's Easter, we can do what we want). Look out for my next post, coming soon.


Mads
x


Brands and Stores:
Hat - Sportsgirl (http://www.sportsgirl.com.au/)
Necklace and watch - Lovisa (http://www.lovisa.com.au/)
Tee - Mink
Lace Blouse - Ladakh (Purchased from http://www.gluestore.com.au/)
Jeans - Ziggy Denim, Sticks & Bones Jeans in Vintage Trashed Denim (http://www.gluestore.com.au/)
Boots - Lipstik shoes

I also taught myself how to fish-tail braid thanks to a wonderful invention called YouTube. I followed an easy, five minute tutorial by Luxy Hair at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTrE-lrStGA.  Check out her channel for more simple and flattering hairstyles!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black and Gold Details and Lacework

       

Looking for another way to style your jeans and ankle boots? Here's an example I prepared.

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