On a slightly grey Melbourne Sunday, The Willows in St Kilda exploded with colour as the guests at Miss Greens Garden Party gathered to celebrate sustainable fashion and the closing day of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. Having spent the past week agonising over what to wear to the Garden Party (fans of my blog will remember the article last week about the perfect lilac dress…) you will all be pleased to know I exercised some restraint and wore the Arthur Galan dress – accessorised with gunmetal grey Betts shoes, purple quilted clutch, purple driving gloves, grey ¾ sleeve coat and a purple flower for my hair. All in all I wasn’t disappointed with my outfit – although found it decidedly amusing that my green contact lenses drew more attention that my carefully planned attire!

But onto the story of the day – Miss Green – and her wonderful ability to pull together a spectacular event that was a success in every way. From the playing cards on arrival to receive your complimentary glass of Raw organic wine, to the fashion parade and auction, the afternoon flew by in a haze of laughter, meeting new people and fawning over the sustainably designed outfits that were in every way unique.
It was such a thrill to arrive at the Willows on Sunday afternoon, a gorgeous venue in itself, to see the crowd of beautifully dressed guests on the lawn clearly enjoying the ambience of the party. Miss Green herself was decked out in a black and white polka dot dress designed by Nicholangela, while others showed off all colours of the rainbow and beyond. Fascinators, hats, heels and various other adornments were spotted and admired from across the garden while photographers roamed and requested group shots – and didn’t we all feel like celebrities when chosen to pose!
T2, Love at First Bite Cupcakes and The Willows provided the yummiest of food and drinks while the bar was also busy preparing dazzling cocktails and mocktails for the masses. Time flies when you’re having fun and before long, the fashion parade was ready to begin. Designs by Alexi Freeman, Nicholangela, Nikolina, Eva Q Designs, Tiffany Treloar, Jenny Bannister, Miss Lyndel Yeo, Sideshow Design, Leonard Str, Made in Donald, K.B.A.D, Sara Victoria, Hopeless, Lady Petrova, Anna Campbell and Daviseyes  graced the runway, showcasing how vintage fabrics and thrift store finds can be transformed into magnificent works of art and completely wearable spring racing attire. Accessories by Joolz and Hair Facinators with shoes by Melissa completed the looks – the crowd oohed and ahhed as each look was paraded and secretly decided which they coveted the most. Best dressed male and female was awarded, the raffle was drawn and then to the business end of the day – auctioning the stunning designs for a fraction of their value, with 50% of the proceeds being awarded to charity.

Kristina Kukolja, MC, conducted the auction and the designs were bought out once more. Designers’ favourite charities included the RSPCA, the Kidney Foundation and Clean Up Australia, and the bidding began. Opening bids of just $100 quickly became up to $300 for some of the popular designs, while some girls snapped up a real bargain at just $100.
Miss Greens’ speech encompassed her dream and passion for all things sustainable fashion and was finished off beautifully with a glowing tribute to her dad for Fathers Day that had half the room with a tear in their eye. Her aim to raise awareness about using sustainable and ecologically friendly products is well on its way, and we can only hope that future Miss Green Wardrobe events and Garden Parties have all the success that was found at Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. I had a wonderful afternoon at the Garden Party, was thrilled to meet some of the girls I have only conversed with on Twitter. We also took home a fabulous goodie bag with plenty of sustainable products, chips and chocolate. A wonderful end to Fashion Week – only 216 days til the Loreal Fashion Festival in March!       

Visit www.missgreenswardrobe.com.au

Now it’s Thursday and I am suffering ever so slightly from Wonderful Wednesday – but in the best way a fashionista can – sore feet and champagne brain.

After the fabulous GPO shows at lunch yesterday, I was looking forward to my evening at the Designer Parade, followed by the Eco Luxe Fashion Expose. A quick wardrobe change at work (and didn’t I get some looks walking down Collins Street in my strapless frock and gold shrug during peak hour!) and it was on for a night in Melbourne.

Designer Parade 2 at the town hall in Melbourne was to feature Dhini, Ginger & Smart, Gorman, Kirrily Johnston, LIFEwithBIRD and Nicola Finetti. Kicking off at the VIP bar, champagne and breadsticks were the drink and canapé de jour and we mingled with the fashion set while awaiting the arrival of the gorgeous Jess Hart. Dressed in an orange maxi dress with (very) deep purple lipstick, Jess and her sister posed for many a photograph – she was difficult to miss in the orange and everyone wanted a happy snap!

Sitting front row at the parade with Jess Hart directly opposite me, and Kirrily Johnston not 3 feet away, I had to pinch myself to stop smiling at the excitement of it all. The town hall doesn’t feature a runway as such, but an open stage/dancefloor configuration that actually gives the models some room to move when passing each other (or slipping on the polished floor in skyhigh heels).

Soft peach and pastels joined vibrant brights and flowing fabrics on the runway while an interesting choice of sandal /thong/tied up shoe structure piece adorned the boys feet at the Kirrily Johnston parade. LIFEwithBIRD reminded me somewhat of pyjamas but I imagine the girls wouldn’t be wearing the 13cm Peeptoe platforms to bed.

A quick look in at the Little Black Dress Exhibition on Little Collins Street (divine – you must see it!) and onto the Eco Luxe Fashion Expose at Alumbra, Docklands.
Sustainable fashion is an up and coming trend – fabrics made from sustainable materials, as well as processes and production methods that are carbon neutral. My personal favourite was Vintage Soul featuring dresses adorned with bows, but the boys gear – quite wearable as opposed to the earlier designer show – was a stand out. Other labels at Eco Luxe included Lady Petrova, Made in Donald, Rachael Cassar, Eva Q Design, Obikinomi, Boche Collection, Kiss Chacey, Etiko and shoes by Vivien Westwood’s Melissa.

More fun and frivolity was to come and we departed Docklands for the CBD again, headed to The Emerald Peacock on Lonsdale Street for the official after party, a great venue with a rooftop lounge area and classy décor. Also fabulous cocktails – it had vodka, juice and a flower, and likely a host of other bits and bobs but it was VERY good! I met some serious fashion folk – a doctor who takes annual leave to attend the weeks’ activities – and chatted about the earlier parades and what was to come.

As the night wound up, I fell into bed tired but happy, dreaming of all the fashion of the day and looking forward to volunteer shifts for the rest of the week. Check out www.msfw.com.au for all the events and sign up to the newsletter for daily updates!

Wonderful Wednesday started bright and early this morning – and what brilliant spring sunshine to wake up to! My day stretched before me – a feast of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week events!

First up – the Breakfast Series presented by Design Victoria and the City of Melbourne. Held at Zinc, Federation Square, the day 2 topic was Love; a seminar addressing the significance of consumer perception and consumer centeredness; and what it takes for retailers to convert products and brands into experiences. A panel of speakers presented their thoughts on brand Love, and what it means to their business – Joe Rogers, Elmwood Design; Chloe Quigley, Michi Girl; Julie Milnes & Vanessa Rochman, Metalicus & Sahil Merchant, Mag Nation.

The speakers focussed on why it’s important to create fans of your brand, the significance of being innovative and promoting interaction and feedback with your customers, and their strategies to create continual desire for their brands. 

Sahil Merchant was a particularly good presenter, showing how Mag Nation don’t take themselves too seriously and using humour as a great way to get his voice across. His discussion of strategy gave Mag Nation a human persona – they wear their heart on their sleeve, are personal, have personality and give a damn about their customer. A thoroughly entertaining start to the day, combined with great food and coffee!

Onto real work for a brief interlude, before heading to Melbourne’s GPO for the Fashion at Altitude Parades. Level one of the GPO was transformed into a spectacular u-shaped catwalk, adorned with birdcages, flowers and white garden chairs – a fabulous setting for the fabulous designers about to be on show.

Jessica Hart graced us with her presence at the early show where designers Akira, Lisa Ho, Leona Edmiston, Belinda, Gorman, Fat, Hussy, Arthur Galan AG, Wayne Cooper, Manning Cartell and Nicholangela featured the trends for the upcoming season. Orange and purple were easily noticeable among a softer colour palette, while head pieces by Paris Kyne, Master Milliner finished off many beautiful outfits all available at Melbourne’s GPO.

Just when we thought it was time to head back to the desk, the 1pm show gave us more to lust after, showcasing Max & Co, Karen Millen, Metalicus, Ben Sherman, Baccini & Hill, IM, Jigsaw, Veronica Maine, Digby’s, Christopher Chronis and finishing with spectacular creations from Brides of Melbourne. Evening wear and frocks for the Racing Carnival paraded past us and while the boys walked a bit faster, all the amazing outfits on show make you want to stop buying food and walk everywhere just to be able to purchase a few of the gems we were witness to today.

One also can’t go past the accessories provided by Georg Jensen, Mandarina Duck, Mimco, Occhio, Pandora and Secrets shhh…; or the shoes by Camper Footwear, Mimco and Nude Footwear. Accessories, shoes and hair (brilliant 50s updo’s, teasing and romanticism provided by Heading Out Hair and Beauty) really do make an outfit and the designers at GPO couldn’t possibly have done without them!

So back to the office for a few hours in my flat shoes before heading out tonight for the Designer Parade at the Town Hall at 6.30pm, followed by the Eco Luxe Parade at Docklands soon after. Tickets are still available for both, visit www.msfw.com.au, or perhaps you would rather return to the GPO for the exclusive offers only available today? Visit www.melbournesgpo.com for all the sales, discounts and VIP offers, or to find out more information on any of the designers showcased today.

Every time I receive an invitation, a little switch in my brain ticks over and I am desperate for a new outfit to wear to that event. There might be things in my wardrobe that haven’t seen the light of day, dresses with tags on and tops that deserve a night on the town, but still the notion to buy something new takes over. I want that feeling of trying something on and imagining the accessories to go with it. Of standing in the change rooms of a store believing that this outfit will make me the belle of the ball. Hearing the shop assistant tell you how amazing you look, and would you like some shoes or a jacket to try on with that?

I realise that this switch in my brain should in theory be operated by me. That I should be able to turn it on and off as I please and understand the difference between needing a new outfit and wanting one. I just prefer to ignore the little voices saying ‘You don’t need it!’, and embrace the ones telling me ‘oooh, pretty dress’ or ‘wow, knockout shoes!’

The event I am agonising over at the moment is Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. I am attending a number of events this week, both as a ticket holding fashion lover and as a uniform wearing volunteer. It’s because of the uniform wearing events that I feel the need to put extra effort into the ones I am attending as a paying customer. The big event of the week for me? Miss Greens Garden Party on Sunday, at the Willows in St Kilda. I contemplated the outfits in my wardrobe but nothing seemed to quite make the cut. A garden party says pastels and flowing fabrics – and though I have things that might make the grade on one or the other – nothing I own seems fitting for the event.

And so, girlfriend in tow, I hit the shops. I tried on dress after dress, nothing fitting the image I had in my mind of the perfect garden party dress – until there it was.

Lilac. Flowing. Perfect.

My friend took mobile phone pictures – I turned this way and that in the store mirrors. My brain turned over the accessories – champagne in colour – that would work best with this shade of purple. I imagined what the other girls at the party would be wearing – was this my Cinderella frock? The dress made the shortlist and I set about justifying my want over need for the rest of the weekend.

While contemplating my dilemma, I did recall an Arthur Galan pale pink silk dress I had bought some time ago that still had its tags on and probably deserved to be bought out at least once. I rescued the dress from storage at mum and dads, and started the accessories thought pattern – what shoes, which bag, whose coat?

I seemed to have won the need vs. want debate – the Arthur Galan dress emerged victorious. I left mum and dads happy with my decision and was halfway home before I realised my pink silk number was still hanging on the door frame 30km away. A sign of forgetfulness? Or a sign that the little lilac number is destined to be mine?

You’ll just have to wait til Sunday to see.

It’s been a long time between champagnes but finally Melbourne Spring Fashion Week is nearly upon us. I hope you all have your heels ready and frocks dusted off for a week of glamour, style and fun! 

Fashion Week kicks off with the opening gala on Sunday, and then its full steam ahead for parades, workshops, films, exhibitions, breakfasts, launches and parties! My week is looking manic – showcases in lunchbreaks, designers in the evening, garden parties on the weekend – and fitting all this around my day job, studying and being a volunteer at the festival!

What events are you headed to? And which ones are you most looking forward to?

I have a double pass to Marc Jacobs on film at ACMI, Federation Square to give away; just follow me here at Sarah’s Style Emporium and leave a comment about MSFW – I will draw the winner at noon on Sunday 30th August!

The pass admits 2 to one of the following features:
>Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton
>Louis Vuitton, Champs-Elysees, The Countdown
>Marc Jacobs’ New York
>The Darjeeling Limited
>Marc Jacobs – Designer Marathon
>Slaves of New York
All are being screened at ACMI, Federation Square Melbourne at various times between Sunday Aug 29 and Sun Sept 6. Visit www.acmi.net.au for up-to-date session information, film synopses and further information.

Draw is random and prize can be collected from Melbourne CBD or mailed to you.
Prize is not transferable to other films and must be used during MSFW.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a brilliant networking and PR event, held to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Girls night out, organised by Jess Hunichen and her fresh new PR firm, honeyPR, bought together ladies from across Melbourne for a drink, manicures, eyebrow work, lip makeovers and most importantly, to raise money for a great cause.

Held at the Hotel Barkly in St Kilda on a rather cool Melbourne evening, the event took place on the 4th floor function space – a modern oasis in busy St Kilda. Where the lights are always bright and everyone is on the go, this spacious room took in brilliant views from three sides, housed couches and bar tables, an enclosed deck area and fascinating light fittings that sparked the imagination.

As the ladies arrived, frocked up and fitted out in their highest heels, they were treated to manicures with Bloom nail polish and invited to try new lip and eyebrow products by home-grown label byAngelique. Espresso martinis and champagne were served and while the girls sipped their drinks, much networking was done and many business cards exchanged.

A raffle was held with prizes ranging from a night out in town, to a night in with a case of wine, while a ‘mystery box’ sale took place – boxes of all shapes and sizes for $25 – a surprise in store for every buyer! And all proceeds from the evening went straight to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Of course a few glasses of wine should be complemented by excellent canapés and the Hotel Barkly delivered. The Thai green curry chicken skewers were my personal favourite – and I hear the risotto balls also had many girls going back for seconds. 

All too soon our time was up, and Jess wrapped up the evening thanking sponsors and guests alike for supporting such a great cause.  If you would like to make a donation, or support any of the companies that helped make this event such a great night, please find all their website details below.

honeyPR, www.honeypr.com.au
Hotel Barkly, St Kilda www.hotelbarkly.com
National Breast Cancer Foundation, www.nbcf.org.au
byAngelique, www.byangelique.com.au

Melbournes GPO

This weekend was my last AFL game for the year. The last time I will see Hawthorn run out onto the MCG for Season 2009 (unless by some miracle Fremantle beats Essendon, we beat Essendon next week and pigs fly). After such a stellar season least year, it’s hard to believe we sucked so much this year, but AFL is one of those sports that, thou we try, is completely unpredictable from week to week.

But the underlying subject of this blog is not Hawthorns ‘one hit wonder’ status (although we could debate that all day), or whether the Grand Final this year will be Geelong and St Kilda – its about what one wears to the game. Melburnian through and through, I never fail to dress for fashion rather than warmth to attend a football game. On trend as I might look, I am always freezing, sitting Southern Stand level 1 at the G and wondering why I don’t learn from week to week.

This week jeans, a long sleeve t shirt, cardi, flats and Hawks scarf seemed a great idea at 5.30pm when I left the house and it was still daylight. Come siren for quarter time, my bare feet had turned an eerie shade of purple and the person next to me was stuttering with the vibrations from my shivers. When will I learn that footy season = winter and winter = cold! Double layers of socks are required, and long sleeve t shirts and cardigans should be paired with coats and scarves.

But as cold as I was, a brief look around the spectators yielded girls in Hawthorn (and Richmond) Guernseys with bare arms, one girl in knee high boots and short shorts, and another in a dress clearly designed for a nightclub and not a night football game.

All this begs the question – what is appropriate footy attire? Quite often we go for a meal before or after the game, and trackies with your team jumper won’t cut it on Hardware Lane. If you are lucky enough to be MCC or in a corporate box, suits are the order of the day – but how can one show team support in a Peter Jackson number?

With Melbourne being the home of football, and football being a winter sport, I really think the only way to go to the football is to choose warmth over fashion. It’s ok to wear multiple layers and several scarves. Ultimately, it’s about showing support for your team. Bring out the colour – yellow and brown for me – and banish the dreary Melbourne black for a few nights a year. Pull on the striped jumpers, beanies and scarves, and wave your flags with passion and pride. You might look like you’ve gained 10 kilos and yellow and brown might not be the most flattering of colours but you are part of something bigger.

The irony of this blog is that the reason I can’t attend the games in the coming weeks is because the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week is on, and I am a volunteer. So it really does come down to choosing footy or fashion – and given the choice – I’m all about the fashion.

Tomorrow is the big day. A new beginning. The first day of the rest of my life. No, I’m not getting married just yet, but I am starting a new chapter in my life – in a different way. Tomorrow I will leave the suburb I have lived my whole life; where I went to primary school and high school; where my family and friends reside; where I know all the streets like the back of my hand, and move to a new suburb, about an hour away. The physical distance is easy to cross, freeways and public transport will make the trip short; the biggest hurdle I have found is knowing that my best friend will no longer be at the other end of the street, or mum and dad just round the corner. What if I need a shoulder to cry on, or I run out of money before pay day? If I lock myself out or my car breaks down? I have lived a very sheltered life up until now, and all that is about to change.

When I first moved out of the parental home at age 22, I thought I knew it all. It was a case of I am young, I am free and I want to be out on my own!! My first realisation I simply didn’t know it all came on my first day in the new house – I was finally alone with the boxes and all I could think was I had no one to talk to! I burst into tears and called my girlfriend, tearing her away from an afternoon of shopping with hubby to let me cry on her shoulder. My initial shock that I was on my own and an adult now subsided and I have had nearly 4 amazing years in that house. Some alone, and some with housemates, the memories I have made in that house – my first ‘own’ home – will be things I can remember forever.

I can’t say I outgrew the house, it’s a 3 bedder with a double carport and I’m about to shift into a 1 bedroom with barely any wardrobe and no backyard, but I think perhaps I outgrew the area. The eastern suburbs are a great place to live and raise a family, all developments with parks and lakes; but I have bigger fish to fry. All the action is in the city – work, nightlife, fashion and food – Melbourne has it all and I want to experience it.

My commute will drop from an hour each way, to approximately 20 minutes. The extra hour in bed will be a godsend – I am hoping my stress levels will drop – and proximity to city means I don’t have to worry about catching trains home alone in the dead of night. I can pop into work on the weekends to use my computer for study, and quit my gym membership and stroll (ok, run) Albert Park Lake. I can cancel my paper delivery on a Sunday and wander to a café for coffee and sunshine by the beach.  

I can find so many positives with my move tomorrow, I am unsure if I am more nervous about the big change, or if I will like it so much I won’t want to leave. At the moment I am so tired from 8 days of rapid packing and organising that I am losing the will to be excited and just want to be in there already. Unpacking looms before me, but I have lot’s of friends and family to help me – they know they have all already been such a mammoth help to me over the past four years!

And so, a roll call of my nearest and dearest – thank you for everything you have done for me in the past and for everything you will (probably, definitely, maybe) do for me in the future. Love you all xo

Mum and Dad- for being there, for financial support, for fixing broken things, lifting heavy things and loving me

My brothers – for endless hours of hard labour, mowing lawns, decking and general maintenance, and just for being ace brothers

Jacqui, Nick, John, Neil and Tim – for painting, electrical work, plumbing and other associated household stuff when you were so generous with your time and skills

Kelly and Wendy – the fun we had cleaning when I moved in, any chance you are free on Sunday?

Wendy and Kerryn – for being awesome housemates and brilliant friends

Wendy and Geoff – moving day buddies and people with a truck. Thank you.

Paula – for picking up the boxes, Nicole – I’m sorry I had to cancel dinner, Meaghan and Beth – for offering to help, baking or offering to bake and to everyone within hearing distance at work who has listened to me complain about public transport for the past two years – relief is in sight!

Disclaimer – If I have left you off this list, I am not ungrateful! I just have 100 zillion things in my head and chances are you are under a box or tucked away in a cupboard. I still love you and appreciate your help – let me know and I will acknowledge you publicly! xx

Much is written about boy weekends – fishing and camping trips to the middle of nowhere, drinking competitions and strippers, not changing underwear for three days and the golden rule of what happens on the man trip, stays on the man trip – but it is a  rare occurrence to hear about a girl’s weekend. Us ladies are usually far too busy being wives and mothers (although not me, not sure what my excuse is) to be able to take a few days out of the schedule and get away from it all.

Usually reserved for a hen’s celebration, the girl’s weekend is growing in popularity. Why should the boys have all the fun? I have had the pleasure of being invited the last two years on an annual girl trip, where the laughs never end and you come home feeling brighter and better educated than when you left.

Our destination is Daylesford, spa capital of Victoria. Our group ranges in age from 18 to 80 (okay, 70, but 80 reads better!). Our mission is a weekend of relaxation, shopping and generally a good excuse to get away from work, significant others and the hustle and bustle of the city.

The girls on this trip have been getting together for a number of years. What started out as a mother daughter getaway now consists of girlfriends, aunts and colleagues sharing one big house for 3 days, and learning life lessons in the process.  That’s the beauty of having such a wide range of ages and experiences – what the eldest attendee can teach the youngest about love is a complete contrast to what the youngest can impart about technology.

We stay at a homestead just outside of Daylesford, ‘The Gums’, which sleeps 16 (http://www.escapesdaylesford.com.au/PropDetail.asp?ID=Gums) and includes 2 living areas, a spa and miles of open space. You won’t find another residence within seeing distance and mobile phone reception is scarce. Friday sees us filter in over the course of the afternoon after a lunch stop in Woodend, and dinner brings us all together at the local hotel in Daylesford Township.

Plenty of wine, a good meal and a years worth of catching up later, we are back at The Gums for the first DVD of the weekend, and a dip for those willing to brave the 10 metres of cold pathway to the spa house.

Saturday morning is bright and sunny, and we head back into Daylesford for a 2 hour massage and foot treatment at Eagle Therapies (www.eagletherapies.com). Some shopping along the strip follows, and lunch at the Food Gallery, before our group breaks up and I head to The Mill Markets, a giant treasure trove of second hand goods and antiques.

As dusk hits, we all make our way back to the house where more DVDs are viewed, while champagne corks are popped and vodka is bought into the mix. A big dinner is prepared with everyone helping – roast lamb and vegies, greek salad and sticky date pudding followed by more DVDs and plenty of laughs.

The noise of 16 women talking is phenomenal, but for someone who only sees these girls once a year, we have so much to talk about and a lot of ground to cover. There have been weddings, divorces and babies, new boyfriends, ex boyfriends, job changes and house moves. It is just before midnight when the younger contingent returns to the spa for an alcohol inspired trip, and long after when we all fall into bed.

Sunday proved to be lacklustre weatherwise, so a sleep in and cooked breakfast kept us warm and toasty while we pack up the evidence of a wonderful weekend. Our final stop is Rubens at Hepburn Springs for a long lunch before the drive home. The restaurant is heated by an open fire and has an authentic, rustic feel to it – quite nice when outside looks miserable and grey.

As we say our goodbyes for another year, we make tentative plans to catch up for coffee in November, but we all know we will get too busy and it will be 12 months before we meet again in Daylesford. We are wives and mothers after all (well, some of us are, some of us are just plain busy) and the Daylesford weekend is our getaway.

So ladies, grab a group of your nearest and dearest – get them to bring their mum or a favourite aunt or close friend, and find a destination that you can get away to for a few days. The experience is lots of fun
and when you get home and your other half says, ‘so, how was it?’, you will just have to tell him – ‘what happens on a girl’s weekend…’