Street Fashion Sydney

Woman’s Day Miss Country Girl Australia 2011 - SFS On-board for the Final

2011-12-08T15:29:00.000-08:00

Woman's Day Miss Country Girl Australia 2011, thirty finalists, thirty Australian country girls putting their hopes on the line.. I am certainly getting the feeling that the beauty pageant has returned to Australia and is here to stay for the immediate future at least.

Yes this pageant has cast its net very wide indeed to let the girls who are not closeted in the city; a chance for country girls to shine and perhaps be the next Miranda Kerr, a country girl herself; top modelling talent is out there!

This was a very well run show (other than the inclusion of the very annoying steady cam operator who was everywhere-all-the-time); how so many young contestants managed this hours long final with its pretty complex E-on-its-back runway is a mystery to me but they did and they did it well. Or perhaps it had something to do with family support which I am pleased to say was very much in evidence on the night.

It is tough on the contestants, you do have to put your heart and hopes on the line. Congratulations to winner Belinda Adams and all the contestants; you are all winners in Street Fashion Sydney's eyes! I am very much looking forward to following the careers of those who made it through (and some who will make their own way). And I am equally looking forward to Miss Country Girl Australia in 2012.

Winners Parents, Mr & Mrs Adams.

All pictures copyright Kent Johnson and Soyoun Kim 2011 for Street Fashion Sydney.

Miss Country Girl Australia
www.misscountrygirlaustralia.com.au

Woman's Day www.womansday.ninemsn.com.au

Chic Management www.chicmanagement.com.au

Scoop Management www.scoopmanagement.com.au

Sea Folly www.seafolly.com

Forever New www.forevernew.com.au

Street Fashion Sydney's Photography & Art Roundup, Nov-Dec 2011

2011-12-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

Looking at photography and art over the last 4 weeks; or something like that...

Well I clearly did not make it to every photography show in town in the last month but I did make it to a few and some other art events as well including Elodie Silberstien's White Ribbon Day performance piece which I had the pleasure of shooting the promotional photographs for..

But lets go back to the 11 11, always an important calandar day (forget fashion parades at Northies...) and the launch date for what I think it would be fair to call the most recent installment in North Sullivan's ongoing urban/community portrait project. This time titled 'Doorstop Portraits in Glebe' it was a porch project incorporating the immediate architecture or the 'sitters' front porch or veranda; all shot on an iPhone 4 (!!!) and beautifully printed. I have long admired much of the council housing of the Glebe area and North has captured this architecture as beautifuly as he has the residents themselves. Some of the shots are a wee tad on the sentimental side but what can I say, they work! Lovingly crafted community projects like this is something Sydney needs more of. You can still see much of the show online here, 'Doorstop Portraits in Glebe'.

Next up I attended 'Round 2' A.R.P Artists Residency Program on Oxford Street. I am becoming a big fan of Rachel Park's work since first seeing her installation piece at SNO in 2010. lets face it anyone who can use that much toilet paper is MORE than a legend in their own bathroom and Rachel is taking it to the world!

I can't say I felt the same about Anna Laerkesen's photographs from her 'Strangelands' series, one of which you can see reflected in the mirror in the gallery shot below. It was the first of two occasions reported here where I was quite deeply conflicted over what I saw, on this occasion a fairly low technical quality & inconsistency of approach to the photography that seemed to undermine the artist's intent. Or perhaps it was just me... How can you love waving toilet paper and be deeply conflicted over a few photographic prints? Well it's all in how you look at it.

I also took a look at Cherine Fahd's laneway text art which scopes about a modern paranoia; of course there were a few jokes made at the arts expense but I suspect Cherine would have been quite OK with that.

On 26th November as part of White Ribbon day Memorium #2. This would have to be one of the first times where part of the art was the delivery of information about the death of women (and some men) from domestic violence! The procession began with Patricia rather aptly singing Summertime (and the living is easy) from Porgy & Bess "...It deals with his attempts to rescue Bess from the clutches of Crown, her violent and possessive lover, and Sportin' Life, the drug dealer."

Next was Dan Stock's 'Echoes of Unknown Thought' at index space; large prints of Dan's photographs of rare (mostly military use) Valves; which for those of you unfamiliar with the history of electronics were the larger less stable precursor to the transistor-which eventually made portable computing possible! And this was the second look-at-photography this month that left me feeling a little uncomfortable with the technical side of the art process.

Still I got more of an impression that Dr Dan Stock was more of a fan of the Valve and the giant (or fairly large) prints were more of an Homage, a bloody big fanzine to 'The Valve' which was great as I am quite a big fan myself! Not to mention is was nice to talk to someone who knows that William Shockley (along with John Bardeen and Walter Houser Brattain) invented the first-world-powerhouse, the Transistor. And that Steve Jobs actually invented nothing at all...

And on Friday night I attended Alex Wisser's first solo at MOP gallery in Chippendale. Alex's large scale giclée prints were as beautiful and intoxicating as the works themselves; empty rooms, a distant past 'found' in the present as these homes were placed on the market.

The A.R.P., Dan Stock's, and Alex Wisser shows are on NOW!

Sydney Lingerie & Swimwear Launch, Freya, Fantasie, elomi, FAUVE - Up to JJ & K Cup Sizing

2011-11-10T18:48:00.000-08:00

You might as well call this blog the 'Cityrail-blog' for the next week or so as all posts are behind-schedule and very definitely, out-of-timetable-order. Oh the hardship of the commuters life in Sydney!

But what the on earth could have possessed me to leave this fab Freya, FANTASIE, elomi, FAUVE lingerie & swimwear post on the back-burner for the past 2 to 3 weeks? Well I have been busy (yawn) and I have had a devilishly slow computer. Or is that a dervish-ly possessed computer that has had me spinning round-and-round - never mind I have come to my senses and here is what Kat & I saw at that Freya FAUVE FANTASIE and elomi launch which also spun us both round and round and round...

Fortunately I had the company of Miss Katerina Roth again & as always bow to her superior knowledge of all things under the outerwear. Both our opinions on the quality and style of what we saw was reinforced while chatting with Janine from Eveden Group after the show and it went a little like this; Quality, Fit, Quality, Fit; and of course beautiful and fabulous styles! And all this in real womens sizes; for, you know, real women! Apparently they did have some trouble finding the right /real sized models for the parade; but as you can see they triumphed in the end.

Thanks Eveden & Symbol PR for having Street Fashion Sydney again at a simply fabulous Sydney launch. And girls, ladies, women; click those links at the top of the page to visit the lingerie brand websites to see all the styles sizing and fitting information.

Elodie Silberstein, Patricia Alvarez - MEMORIUM #2

2011-11-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

MEMORIUM #2

Performance 3pm to 4pm
26th November 2011

Camperdown Cemetery
189 Church Street
Newtown 2042

Free admission but RSVP essential:
elodiesilberstein@westnet.com.au

http://elodiesilberstein.blogspot.com/
www.elodiesilberstein.com

Press Release

From 3pm to 4pm on the 26th November, a limited audience will take part in a Victorian funeral procession orchestrated by artists Elodie Silberstein and Patricia Alvarez in Camperdown Cemetery. As would have occurred during a mourning ceremony in the 19th century, the audience will receive a black rosette to wear and mourning cookies to share.

Memorium #2 is to be a part of White Ribbon Day, the Australian campaign which seeks to prevent violence against women. The project investigates the mortality rate arising from domestic violence in the developed world. Intimate partner homicides account for one-fifth of all homicides in Australia. Of these, four out of five involve a man killing his female partner.

http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/uploads/media/Fact%20Sheet%205%20Facts%20and%20Figures%20What%20is%20violence%20against%20women%202009.pdf

During the remembrance ceremony, Elodie Silberstein will position a clay sculpture in the cemetery; this sculpture will steadily decay and in so doing will raise issues of loss, rituality, humanity and collective responsibility. The highlight of the event will be the singing performance of Patricia Alvarez.

During her creative process, Elodie photographed historic cemeteries such as Cimetière du Père Lachaise (France) and La Recoleta cemetery (Argentina). She collected pearl memorial flowers; and post-mortem photography which was used to help people cope with grief. This theatrical celebration of death shows a drastic contrast with that of the contemporary post modern pragmatic and individualist society in which death has disappeared from the familial and social spheres to move into the medical one. Elodie’s creative process is documented on her blog: http://elodiesilberstein.blogspot.com/.

Patricia described the project as “a wonderful opportunity to honour death and the cyclical nature of life. Although the subject matter is sombre and sorrowful, to lead a procession that commemorates life and death is a noble act. The sharing of ritual immortalises the intangible and is a reaffirmation to those that have died, that we too will die, and perhaps see them again. To grieve with others, acknowledges and unifies our connection to nature, and how in life, death is an eternal phenomena”.

Photography by Kent Johnson

Icon Brand - Hunky Dory - Pieces of Nowhere - Social Club !~)

2011-10-02T16:29:00.000-07:00

Hip, Happening, with some restrained hipsterism meets surf culture (?) and inner city cool. Sure that's an unlikely culture-combo but the Icon boys seem to know how to make it happen. Or to put it another way, the Pieces of Nowhere, Icon Brand HS11 launch went off. As it did last time only this time more so! Yes its been a while since I went out and enjoyed myself quite like this.

So part in homage to the previous post 'its a mans world' I started this post with a series of portraits from the night, some of the people you may recognise, yes I'm sure you will. AND I am having a little Icon Brand giveaway-see the bottom of the page...

And the bands played on, Jack Dawson, The Money Smokers - who seem'd to channel Mick Jagger and Angus 'Bon Scott' (lived and Drank) Young together..(last shot below). And Bridgemary Kiss all playing the very cool Darlinghurst rooftop venue, Hunky Dory Social Club!

If you see someone in the portrait shots you know, please get them to drop me a line; I think these shots may have a future well beyond this brief blog post. And- well, you-know; its nice to have a name on the picture if you get it hung in a major exhibition.. Well it would not be the first time!

Thanks to all the guys from Icon Brand, I don't know how you do it but do it you do! And thanks to the bands and DJs and the friendly barmen with the Sol beer and, well I din't try the Rekorderlig Cider but it looked very popular. and thanks guys for the goodie bag; mine contained not one but two little camera on chains! I cannot possibly wear two so I am giving one of the little cameras on a chain away, perfect for photographers; see T&C below.

Icon Brand
Jack Dawson
The Money Smokers
Bridgemary Kiss
Hunky Dory Social Club
Icon Brand on FB

All you have to do is 'like' my page and leave a comment under the Icon brands picture 'where you can buy Icon brand'. I will put your names in a hat at the end of the week (Sat 8th) and pull out a winner!

.

Hush Hush - Gossip Couture - Italian Pre-War Elegance..

2011-09-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

Out of the Past and into the NOW!

When I received the invitation from Mauricio Alpizar for the Gossip Couture AW 2012 parade with a picture of I think the Andrews Sisters seated, all three in profile with those fabulous 1940s blouses and hairstyles; I immediately wanted to be there! But this was never going to be a show about that Golden period of the USA; no, it was about a far more European, luxurious and decadent period and place, the card was quite simply a teaser! Mauricio has drawn his inspiration from pre-war Italy; and if my cinema going experiences are anything to go by; it was very decadent indeed.

This collection has all the retro style and elegance I had hoped for, and although looking-back for inspiration it moves inexorably forward to a new modernity. This ability to move forward (while taking inspiration from the past), is to my mind one of the greatest hurdles for any designer to clear if they are going to make a success of New-Retro designs without simply being a mimic of the past.

The show opened with what seems to be a peek behind the curtain into a rather exclusive and luxurious Men's Club or was it the fantacy of a gilmpse into an exotic 1940s Italian Bordello? Who cares, the stage was set - Decadence Full Seam Ahead! Lace dresses with gold silk slips, silk dresses, silk and wool blends, "turquoise and gold satin jackets with the softest of gold silk lining, little black dresses with the most intricate of beading," and menswear too...

But what is beautiful and desirable that can't be made even more so by the select addition of a few lovely jewels; Necks, Wrists, Fingers and Lobes where dressed by Tancredi Jewellers creating that final luxurious touch.

"for men, this time offering the lads cashmere and wool knits in vivid hues of jet red, gold and emerald, epiletted trenches of wool blend with highly detailed check lining, and gangster pants with intricate detail pockets front and back".

Thank you Mauricio for a wonderful evening and an even more wonderful viewing. And a thank you to my friend Katerina who assisted as a second set of eyes as I worked the camera making sure that no detail would be missed.

www.mauricioalpizar.com.au
www.tancredijewellers.com
www.theartlounge.com.au

.

Bespoke Fashion Sydney - William Street Laneway Festival 2011

2011-09-26T00:41:00.000-07:00

William St Paddington is Sydney's Fashion Street. I have been coming here for years and years often with a friend or stylist in tow.. These first portraits below are from the William Street Ateliers, yes - fashion made right here, made for you, designed-checked-fitted, and made right here in William Street. Neil Grigg and hats that set mens hearts racing on the head of their favourite filly. Andrew McDonald's fabulous and creatively designed leather shoes and bags; the moment you walk through the door you can smell all that real leather. Sylvia Chan, who (unless you have some kind of magical power of persuasion) only makes a dress once, because why would you do the same thing twice. Can you say Couturier... And I think we can all see what is happening at Matthew Lawrence Bespoke..

That of course is not the end of the handmade on William Street Paddington but if you are in a bit more of a rush, there is no shortage of designers and labels to take your pick from. I'm not going to go crazy trying to describe which-what-wear; you can choose. I do wonder though; even with the sun playing hide-and-seek all day Saturday, if opening up the street to pedestrian traffic in a more full time manner might not be a good idea. Perhaps even if it were simply from 9 till 5... No doubt that will stir the pot a bit; with pros & cons, of dropping things to the door...

And while as with any (or is that every) fashion event there were some DJs DJing. STOP. Listen. There was also the beautiful strains of the Bach Cello Suites floating down and following you along, being played on the street by the equally beautiful Markela Panegyres, who apparently comes all the way from Perth. What are they putting in the water over there.. So here it all is; Lingerie and Shoes, the Casual to what-we-wear when-we-go-out; boutique and bespoke; it's all here. The only real Fashion Street; William Street Paddington in Sydney? Take a trip, take your time; you decide.

>

William Street Paddington

www.sylviachan.com.au
www.neilgriggmillinery.com
andrewmcdonald.com.au

www.jacandjack.com
www.whitesuede.com
www.dportfolio.com.au
www.thecornershop.com.au
www.nudiejeans.com
www.samiandsita.com
www.dearwood.com.au

Markela Panegyres Cello

.

The Russian Standard / Shop Til You Drop + Vodka = 30 Daze of Fashion..

2011-09-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

You know I think I really have been being a little spoiled of late. And while its true that I was not gifted a huge fat complimentary Shop Til You Drop - World Square gift voucher to go shopping with.. I had my gaily coloured pink wrist band on, I was in the VIP enclosure (or corral as I have been calling them lately) I was surrounded by a bevvy of beauties; not least the lovely ladies from Russian Standard Vodka and their mesmerizing smiles.

As luck would have it I ran into a friend of recent acquaintanceship, fellow Miss Universe Australia judge Peter Sereno and together we saw our way through some Nandos Chicken Pita Pockets (say that fast with a mouth full) and a few responsibly served Russian Standard Vodka drinks. There was superb DJing from DJ Duo 'Rogers' from the stairs above our heads, a catwalk out in front with; mid way, the beautiful Sarah Stephens, MCing the event for fashionistas one and all.

But it all seemed a little like Zeno's Paradox; I was moving forward but getting no closer to the finish line, or not close enough to cross over to break the ribbon. Perhaps it had something to do with that other shopping night out. However if you are simply wondering what the night looked like; scroll down because it looked something like this...

Thanks to World Square, Shop Til You Drop, Nandos Chicken Pita Pockets & Russian Standard Vodka.

Fashion is Complex - Changing, The Wearer's Right - Trade Show - We Were there...

2011-09-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

I can never understand when talking to some people and you mention fashion and; they just seem to think its a special realm for no-brain-pixies and well nothing-smart-or-intelligent could ever happen there. But the deeper I get inside of fashion; I realize just how complex it really is - and if you are going to represent fashion, visually; you need a pretty high Fashion IQ which is not an oxymoron, no its something that is incredibly rare and no doubt something of a creative gift...

My reason for clearing the air is that when you are walking around a trade show, EVERYTHING is competing for your attention. Sure you could just look for stuff you like but thats for shoppers not for stylists, commentators, buyers etc... And all 'new' designers or designers 'planning' on launching a range of anything should attend a trade show before they do anything else and meet the competition because; it is fierce!

There were of course some labels that really caught my attention the first being Francis Leon who are designing wonderfully structured Jackets in leather, leather and wool combined jackets, pants, dresses.. And all from Brisbane. I was gob smacked, "its too hot to wear this in Brisbane" I said. Thankfully they have distribution in Melbourne and no doubt here to soon...

New Zealand was powering all over - Lela Jacobs offering with elegant sleek and a little quirky Yves Klein Blue High/second Summer shirts and blouses; 'riddle me this' had sweet 'cotton ball' jackets in cool colours and pretty vintage styled dresses. Kathryn Wilson was showing her shoes, two ranges (more in a separate post to come).

It seems I do have a bit of a shoe fetish if the stands I engaged with most is anything to go by, French shoe makers Twins have a unique (I think) marketing position, buy a pair - a second pair goes to a child in need in a developing country. While Melissa make all their shoes from plastic, not a new brand but new to me.

On the home front, I had a chat to shoemaker Andrew McDonald (last portrait below) about his lovely Mens Shoes; I always find myself ogling his William St shop window, and we also discussed hats, as I was wearing my new hat! Mr Carter had almost every youth marketing to males trick in the book ticked off box by box. I also met and had a fabulous and extended chat to designer Amanda Garrett who is after many years of "going Bridal" yes that was a quote is back doing some fashion for AW12. Affordable lux Gothic inspired pieces. Sorry, no pictures, I was far to busy talking! I have provided a link below to Amanda's site, you might need to email her to see the look-book.

>

The Wearer's Right

potmeetspopdenim.com
riddlemethis.co.nz
The Wearer's Right
twinsforpeace.com
mrcarter.com.au/
lelajacobs.co.n
melissaaustralia.com.au
kathrynwilson.com
francisleon.com
andrewmcdonald.com.au

amandagarrett.com

So some fabulous Brands, beautiful Fashion and clever Marketing! All at Sydney's newest fashion trade show. And did I metion I attened after spending the day as a judge for Miss Universe !~) Will wonders ever cease...

.

Elodie Silberstein - Sydney Fringe 2011 - CarriageWorks

2011-09-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

The exhibition is called IMMERSE and it is a group show at CarriageWorks, part of Sydney Fringe 2011.

Elodies work "The Lost World, 2010" is an instillation (and for the opening) a performance piece which I found to be a completely immersive and mildly disturbing experience. While the three pictures below provide some visual clues as to content of the work and some of its intimate nature, they are but clues and clues alone. The artwork itself is like some-kind-of perfect-fusion; Marcel Duchamp's 'Etant donnés', and George Bataille's 'Story of the Eye' with Grimm's fairy tail'Hansel and Gretel'. This is very much an experiential piece taking in elements of all the five senses...

And being a group show there is additional video, photographic works, Collage based works and the audience-collaborative work pictured below, 'Eleventh Hour' by 'Archrival' of trellis and thread.

I will be heading back to take another look at this exhibition before it closes on the 17th of September. CarriageWorks, Bay 19, 245 Wilson Street
Eveleigh NSW

Elodie Silberstein.

VOGUE FNO Sydney - The People's Fashion Night!

2011-09-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

A people's fashion night by VOGUE! Well why not and if there was going to be a People's VOGUE Fashion's Night Out I think Sydney is a great place for it. Lets face it, in Sydney we are all a bit equally snobby which puts us all more-or-less on an equal playing field - and once you get over going naked, well its time to think about what you are going to wear - and what what you wear says about YOU!

So thank god that while doing a tour-of-duty last week on Diesel Island I noticed my poor-old much-loved Stetson 'Open Road' was no longer saying the right things about me... Fortunately the Gentlemen at Strand Hatters were able to fit me for a new Australian Akubra 'Squatter' (appropriate or what) hat which is a lovely new grey Fedora which you can see Pete putting a final spit and polish on in a picture below.

But my hat problem was and is in no way unique. And hats for men are really the same as handbags for the ladies, one is never enough! Or shoes or jewelry or skirts or dresses or anything that is fun and looks good and makes you feel like a million dollars. And there is NOTHING wrong with feeling like a million dollars at all, in fact I think if we were all walking around feeling like a million dollars the world would be a much better, much happier place indeed.

So thank you very much VOGUE for getting so many people out doing what is good for them, putting some money back into the economy and getting them looking good!

Thanks to VOGUE, Canturi for the Gelato and Jewels, Strand Hatters, Laurent-Perrier for the lovely drinkies, Mulberry (where I ran into friend Miranda Otto whom I have not seen in person for many years), CK and their Orange Mango Vodka, all the DJs DJaying and all the lovely people I met during the evening; thanks for making Fashion in Sydney what it is.

Thanks to OMEGA for their lovely hospitality and sweet Ladymatic goodie bag.

Lets do it all again soon!

Kent Johnson
Street Fashion Sydney.

.

Melanie E. Khava at Factory 49 - Richard Dunn at SNO 74

2011-09-07T20:36:00.001-07:00

Melanie E. Khava at Factory 49

Factory 49, 49 Shepherd St Marrickville, untill Saturday 17 September.

SNO 74-Richard Dunn presents Polygon.
When: Until 25 September
Where: First Floor, 175 Marrickville Rd Marrickville

Artist in Residence Sophie Keeling in her Studio at SNO, Sophie will be exhibiting in SNO's next show.

The Sydney presentation of What is Post-Formalism? is a collaborative social project by Billy Gruner and Sarah Keighery. The audience was invited to participate in the painting performance. Ran from 26 August 4 September 497 Parramatta Road Leichhardt

Is there something in the water in the Inner West? Could be, there is a lot of Non Objective/Abstract Art happening at the moment with two great shows on right now to check out.

Factory 49
SNO Centre

Vogue #FNO Now with Street Fashion Sydney..

2011-09-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

UPDATED, READ ALL ABOUT OUR NIGHT AT VOGUE FNO SYDNEY HERE,
Vogue Fashion's Night Out, The Peoples Fashion Night

Yes the rumours are true, Street Fashion Sydney will be starting Fashion's Night
Out in the Vogue Marquee or wherever the other-side-of-the-rope and the 'door'
list is. And I am really looking forward to this big fashion event and blogging
some great shots and views of the event.

LOCATIONS:Westfield Sydney, Pitt Street Mall, Martin Place, David Jones, Myer, Midcity Centre, The Galeries, Chifley Plaza, Strand Arcade, MLC Centre, QVB, Castlereagh, George and King Streets

KEY TIMES:
4.45PM David Jones - Swimwear Parade – David Jones Sydney
5.00PM Black carpet celebrity arrivals - Pitt Street Mall
5.30PM: OFFICIAL MEDIA LAUNCH – Pitt Street Mall

5.45PM: Hyundai Car Boot Sale – Martin Place
6.00PM: Paspaley Polo in the City Party – Martin Place
6.15PM: Bally Retrospective 160 years – Pitt Street Mall
6.30PM: MasterChef Live Challenge – Pitt Street Mall – on stage
6.45PM: Cartier and Whitehouse students – Castlereagh Street
7.00PM: Ruby Rose live on the decks – Pitt Street Mall – on stage
7.15PM: Ksubi live atelier in David Jones Market Street window
7.30PM: Zimmermann in-store special one-night-only offers – Westfield Sydney
7.45PM: Canturi– champagne and gelato – Castlereagh Street
8.00PM: Ferragamo – bespoke shoe service – Westfield Sydney
8.15PM: Myer – Kym Ellery in store – Myer Sydney
8.30PM: Tiffany & Co. Studio 57 event – Castlereagh Street
8.45PM: KitchenAid Cupcakery – Pitt Street Mall
9.00PM: Burberry 30th anniversary party – George Street

ACCESS: THERE IS UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO THIS EVENT

And speaking of future events, this Fashion Competition, some-sort-of, go-to-New-York
kind of thing dropped into my inbox a few days ago. Apparently there are associated
ROCK concerts across Australia too... So if you are interested the links are all laid out below.

WEB: www.theboroughs.com
FB: www.facebook.com/theboroughs
TICKETS: www.moshtix.com.au/newyorkdolls
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/theboroughsfest
FASHION INFO: http://theboroughs.com.au/?category_name=fashions

SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER – MANNING BAR, SYDNEY, NSW
With special guests -

Bonvines (The Vines DJ Set)
Fait Accompli - www.facebook.com/FAITACCOMPLIMUSIC?ref=ts Straight
Arrows - www.myspace.com/thestraightarrows The
Salvagers - www.facebook.com/pages/The-Salvagers/117612638992 Bloody
Lovely Audrey - www.facebook.com/bloodylovelyaudrey

Plus art and fashion activation!

Walk The Plank - At China Heights Gallery

2011-09-02T16:32:00.000-07:00

On NOW, and a fantastic collection of stools, console tables, dining, coffee tables all made from recycled teak boats as detailed in the press release below.

"A Furniture collection designed by Michael Perry for Walk the Plank.

The collection is Hand Crafted using reclaimed woods from unseaworthy fishing vessels found around the Java Sea. A culmination of experience and eclectic aesthetic brought together to create a casual and fun environment for life. Our furniture collection represents a new beginning in the mindset of products manufactured in Indonesia"...

I loved the metal framed stools, great structures-big round head rivets, fab colours & a solid teak seat; just the thing for in the studio or, wherever! Its unusual to find industrial inspired furniture that is proportioned so well, great designs by Michael photographed by yours truly below.

And of course scroll down for some lovely fashion too, shows on this sat & sun so be quick.

Opening Friday September 2, from 5pm
Continues 12-5pm following Saturday and Sunday.

Walk The Plank

www.chinaheights.com

BIO-DIESEL ISLAND - The New Green Option...

2011-08-31T21:07:00.002-07:00

If this campaign is meant to piss off people over a certain age, well I guess it works, well at least from a copy-writing point of view it works at pissing me off. "THE LEAST F*****D UP COUNTRY IN THE WORLD" Fuck yeah, the world IS FUCKED! I mean Hello... But is that really going to sell more jeans? I guess that depends on your demographic, the worlds sucks, I know, lets go shopping. The worlds sucks, I think i'm gunna slash my wrists!

Thank god there were plenty of Peroni Beers, no end of great catering including the biggest (but only just) paella I have ever seen, cocktails, and security to keep the wild natives of Sydney (no problem with the Melbourne or Perth ring-ins) on track and on-message for the onslaught of Diesel Island Downunder.

Special DJ Alexandra Richards spun real vinyl, The 'Pioneers' sung the anthem of the island, now that was interesting! And by and large I had a great time and meet some lovely people too. And while doing my research, I 'discovered' like a great Pioneer myself that the fantastic photography for the campaign was shot by Guy Aroch (link below), now if I could just land myself a nice little gig like the Diesel Island campaign I might be able to afford more negativity in my life too !~)

www.guyaroch.com/
www.diesel.com/island

But then, this is fashion, we have been there before, this time its the same, same only different. A bonus tune from back-in-the-day..

The Fall of Rome & Fashion Follows - It didn't happen overnight...

2011-08-28T18:08:00.000-07:00

Or is that the fall of fashion photography, it didn't happen overnight but it did happen! While SFS does not normally critique the bad in the world, after all, mother always said "if you haven't something nice to say dear then its best to say nothing at all". But enough I say; when that bellwether of Fashion Photography, superstar shooter Steve Meisel starts to bend to the pressures of what looks to me like; lets shoot the stills and the video together AKA, the top end of fashion is trying to save money-while hoping you will keep spending yours...

Yes I know this sort of campaign shooting business of stills with video-on-set has been going on for quite a while (& yes this seems to be video with stills (OK?)), but it has created all sorts of worrying trends. What worries me most about this campaign and you can view it yourself below, is that we have an indisputable Master of Fashion Photography; Meisel sacrificing first rate stills for second rate video. Turn down the sound and watch its not pretty. Sure its a bit of fun, nothing wrong with that. And if this is a campaign designed around the idea of; "if you can't dance at least you can wear Lanvin", then that would be great but I would be surprised if that were the case.

Lanvin Fall 2011 Campaign | Raquel Zimmermann & Karen Elson by Steven Meisel

You can view the not-what-you-would-expect stills from Steven Meisel over here at Fashion Gone Rouge, and rouge indeed it is this time!

Come on Steve; fashion needs you; lets not all have our heads turned by moving pictures, Stills still have their place and retain their power; you-can't-tell the-girls-can't-dance in a great still shot like we have come to expect from you.

So Is Fashion Photography Dead?

We will leave that for you to decide, but remember dear readers; you heard it here first at Street Fashion Sydney. Sometimes it helps to be a long way from Paris and New York!

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Oh, and remember, its Fashion, its all been done before!

Cigdem Aydemir - Burqa Clad Rickshaw...

2011-08-28T00:02:00.000-07:00

I first met 'Ciggie' back in 2007 when I shot her COFA graduate pieces, Dressing the Void which was also one of my earliest blog posts. loved this performance piece, thanks for more great thought provoking art Ciggie!

Contested Territory 11 - 28 August 2011 Curated by Luisa Velasco, At The Vanishing Point Newtown Sydney.

Five Days in Pommery - Champagne Cube Westfield Sydney..

2011-08-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

Well I do wish I was spending the next f~~ive~~, Four days at the Westfield, Pommery 'Pop-Up' Champagne Cube! It's here for less than a week so you will need to be quick! And as readers will know from when I attended the Esprit ICON store launch here last December, I remarked how much it was like dropping into that friendly boutique, where-they-know-you and you know them; having a glass of wine or champagne and its all very much a real, and yes I will repeat those words; a friendly and real relationship. Its great to see this collaboration between Westfield and Pommery who for a short time are recreating this fabulous laid-back shopping experience. Actually the very first thing my friend Kat my said after arriving was "they should keep this here", and I think I tend to agree. But then it would-not be a Pop-Up would it.

All this kind of wonderful is taking place on level 3, the Luxury level of Westfield Sydney; I am not even going to begin to start mentioning the Labels and Brands, its enough to say that as an art student and aspiring fashion photographer 'back in the day' these were the Brands you could only experience overseas! But as an older and hopefully wiser man (and a photographer who just is and no longer aspiring); I also tend to think of wider concerns than that of fashion alone.

So one of the things I really loved about this launch was discovering that Pommery is supporting and collaborating with artists thorough label design for the 'POP' range of champagne, and the next limited edition range has been designed by Australian Aboriginal artist Sarrita King. Street Fashion Sydney is proud to have exclusive shots of the designs shown below.

Artist Sarrita King, Pommery POP Label, picture EXCLUSIVE!

Well I had a great time (so did Kat), the Champers was, yes Divine! And all the while; I was also thinking about Valda's and Andrew's Opera Recital from the night before.. How great it is that we have the Arts, we have Fashion, we have Music, we have Voices, and we have voices like Andrew's and Valda's (who by next week will be two Aussies back singing in Germany) and whom in Pommery we have a commercial voice supporting the Arts. Now thats something I really Love, Love, Love!

Much thanks to,

Baker
Westfield Sydney
Pommery

West Newtown AKA Enmore + Paddington Too..

2011-08-10T18:57:00.002-07:00

For our International readers I think its important to point out that in good Ol' Sydney town the term 'West' is often used in a pejorative sense. Western Sydney is not just a place west of the CBD it is a whole other world &, thank-whomever that Sydney University is only just west of the CBD because this writer at least has heard of people who have NEVER been further west than than those hallowed halls of education... Yes there is right here in Sydney something of a classic East West divide and while once it was more to do with wealth and possibly education it now plays out, so-I-believe along more international lines as well. And why am I telling you all this (quite dubious) information? Possibly its because while I have heard of North Newtown and South Newtown; I have never heard of East or West Newtown, and in a free association kind of way as-you-do or as I do anyway I started thinking about 'this' and 'that' and if you never went west of Sydney Uni you would probably never have the opportunity to try the amazingly lovely and tastey Gelato at the Moon & Cow Gelato bar on Enmore Road-now officially unofficially christened by me as West Newtown Road!!!

Anyway as you can see in the picture(s) above taken one recent evening at the 'Cow Bar' or 'Moon' if you more hipply prefer, ppl do wear a range of shoes, pants and leggings (yet to see Meggings) to the 'Cow' and as this is Street Fashion Sydney I thought it best I show you some of those shoes! And speaking of Street Fashion I managed to get-off a shot of Paul Adair at the launch of his show at Stills gallery in Paddington; I quite liked his Fred Perry polo shirt and dapper beret. His show as best I could tell was traditional film based photographs of fountains even more traditionally printed in a yellow colour. Possibly not a show you want to free associate the colour scheme and subject matter; at least if you are on the sensitive side when thinking of bodily function.

Paul Adir @ Stills

Continuing on with the footwear and Newtown theme; a friend recently returned from Argentina dropped by to visit wearing her new Argentine boots which (said with a lovely South American accent),
"have been getting a lot of attention from the other women when I go walking along King Street". Well no surprise there!

And a few weeks ago (sorry I really should have posted this one much earlier) I got to meet Del Kathryn Barton at her floor talk about her show at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery. What a sweetie, not only did she allow me to snap a portrait of her with one of her works; I asked her if they were all self portraits of a sort & imagined I heard her reply "yes" though I think she really said nothing on the matter at all... And perhaps being a former resident of North-West Newtown (with a left hand turn) AKA Stanmore; she politely listend to my little theory about how she was totally on top of the game by bringing together busy (think what ppl do on facebook) and Classic art not to mention that Klimt Vienna Secession thing too..

And if you managed to read through all that and understood any of it at all, perhaps you would be kind enough to leave a brief synopsis of this post in the comments section below. I really don't know why we don't get more...

Cow and the Moon

Stills Gallery

Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery

sixtoeight review Del & Marley Dawson at, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery

Till next time. Or maybe see you at the Cow!

huit8 Lingerie Launch at The Winery on Crown...

2011-07-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

Mrs Wang, China Girl; Opium & Love in Shanghai!!! All served with songs from Chanteuse Caroline Nin, glasses of Moet, Quiche Loraine & Rocket Salad... And some simply stunning Women walking by us with nothing on-only thier underwear. Well Surry Hills does have something of a reputation for these kind of goings-on but this was something new for me!

Paris lingerie label huit8 have officially launched in Australia. One of the first things to really strike me about this range from huit8 was its femininity without going all girly ribbons and bows bringing a French sensuality and sophistication. Emerging designers please take note; "Less is More", it's all about the quality and design, the fabrics and the Vision. Tradition blended with inspiration.

And of course I think, there is something for the man in a womans life here too if you follow my thinking; as well as the kind of 'day wear' lingerie that is feminine and comfortable. Or so my female companion informed me..

Now on with the show!

www.huit.com
www.symbolpr.com.au
www.carolinenin.com

Yes sometimes it seems I need to pinch myself and remind myself I am not dreaming; this really is real! Thanks to Symbol PR for having me along.

Enmore Sunday Night, Long Coat & Bowler Hat

2011-07-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

Yes its been getting pretty cold out on the street at night. Much thanks to this fabulously attired person unknown who allowed me to photograph them at around 11.30 PM last night! Long black coat, black knit scarf & finger-less gloves, black shoes and bowler hat with a 'Mad Hatter' tag in the hat band. And some nice piercings too! Well were in the hip Enmore/Newtown hood say no more. The tree shots from another cold night a few weeks ago in Enmore Park; could not resist putting it up as well.

Style, You Got it or you Ain't!

2011-07-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

Style, yes you've got it or you haven't; and this is cool & laid back style personified. Of course great style is always personal and there are quite a few style quotes about, Fashion being for those without a sense of style... Fashionistas beware!

And so it was while I was playing pool last Saturday at the Carlisle Hotel in Newtown when I spotted this guy with his fabulous man bag phone holster. No problem checking his style he was playing pool on the other table. The whole ensemble is great, just check that vest out too. Speaking of fashion; it seems shooting pool is way way out-of-fashion these days as its now super easy to get a table even on open-table free-pool nights. Which suits me fine; my game needs all the practice I can get, seems my youth was not quite as miss-spent as it should have been.

Desperately Seeking Cate Blanchett - Sydney Film Festival 2011

2011-06-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

What really* happens during a Red Carpet film launch...

I can't believe it has been a whole year since I last helped out my mate (we will call him Bob for this post) shooting the red carpet for the Sydney Film Festival. This year he could not make it at all and sent me along in his place. Yes its true; you need to be there at least an hour before the scheduled *start* of the whole shebang and then probably a good two odd hours before its all over.

Seasoned Pros just zone-out and check their phones from time to time but what is interesting is that there really is a bit of talking going on between the celebrities on 'the carpet' and the media in the corral! And of course the big celebrity of the night was Cate Blanchett and she was the main reason about a good half of the media where there for.

Of course I did not get there early because I am VERY tall and can shoot over the top of even the very LARGE photographer I did choose to stand behind. But this did make it tricky to get a shot off of Cate when she did come at a somewhat different pace and rhythm to all who had come before-and the photographers pit did go crazy!

No one actually said the things I have 'speech ballooned' them with but... everyone in the pit was very much wondering about Cate, when, if; have you got a good shot before; Cate, Cate, Cate... So I have had a bit of fun with that! Some fabulous frocks and the men by and large were very well turned out fashion wise as well; so many more shots I could have shown. Oh and April; so sorry, I just couldn't resist, and your dress was so lovely too.

Enjoy; and till next time...

Rapture in Sydenham - a love story..

2011-06-06T19:19:00.000-07:00

Our first dedicated fashion editorial for Street Fashion Sydney.

We hope you enjoy Street Fashion Sydney's first dedicated and exclusive Fashion Editorial story. A big thank you to Ivo from Milk Models, Nina from Dani Lombard PR and Alica from Alicia Hollen. Also thanks to our models, H&MU and everyone who assisted in working on the production of this story, the first of many more to come.

If you would like your fashion to feature on Street Fashion Sydney please don't hesitate to contact us at Street Fashion Sydney.

Rapture in Sydenham, Fashion Details.

Photographer, Kent Johnson
Hair & Make Up, Sabrina Scheuer
Stylist, Kent Johnson
Models, Cole & Myv @ Milk Models
Photography Assistant, Hugh Baulderstone

Title Shot
Same as shot 3

Shot 1
Cole against Breeze Block Wall
Vintage woollen Military Beret & DAKS London Blazer (stylists own), MERC Maroon Card Polo Shirt & Winston Pant Brown.

Shot 2
Same as shot 3

Shot 3
Cole wears, MERC Jenkins Reversible Jacket Black, Avi Trousers Charcoal,
DUCK AND COVER Hubble Red Polo, Adidas ROM runners.
Myv wears, Alicia Hollen Spider Dress,
Shoes Kmart, ‘New’ Thrift shop pink clutch.

Shot 4
Alicia Hollen Lenin Top & Black Ra Ra Skirt. MERC Jenkins Reversible Jacket Tartan/Black, Boots models own.

Shot 5
MERC Pyland Pink Knit Jumper & Sneath Charcoal Knit button front Cardigan. Thrift shop ‘new’ Red SAUCONY Tee, pants & Shoes same as shot 3.

Shot 6
MERC Jenz Grey Knit Vest, Thrift shop ‘new’ Vintage Blue Nike Track pants & Red SAUCONY Tee

Shot 7
Alicia Hollen Adeola (Rung) Top & Black Bella Skirt, Thrift Shop ‘New’ Engineers Cap & Silver Handbag, Boots models own.

Shot 8
MERC Check Worthing Jacket, Models own Black Tee & Jeans

Shot 9
Alicia Hollen ‘Wrap Me Up’ Top & Gypsy Ra Ra Skirt, Cap & Bag (shot 7)
Cole, MERC Jenz Grey Knit Vest, Charcoal Knit button front Cardigan, Nike Track Pants (6).

All shots, Tights Kmart

Fashion Stockists,

Alicia Hollen,
240 Oxford St, PADDINGTON,
NSW, 2021
(02) 9332 2044

MERC, Duck & Cover
http://rarebreed.net.au/stockists.html

The, Marrickville Road Thrift Shops,
Marrickville road Marrickville.

Thanks to
Alicia Hollen,
Dani Lombard PR, www.danilombard.com.au

Blondie - Rapture by EMI_Music

Medium : Vinyl - Hardware/Plump Galleries Enmore

2011-05-20T06:31:00.000-07:00

What a difference 24 hours and a move to The West makes; well the inner west of the very-in Newtown/Enmore stretch-the area we never thought could manage to be cool! 'Medium : Vinyl' takes Street Fashion Sydney from Camilla's BoHo Chic you-can-buy to BoHo-Land proper and an exhibition split across Enmore Road and two exhibition spaces; Plump Space & Hardware Gallery. And although I have attended shows at Hardware before it was my first visit to Plump, though being a bit of a westie I have seen a few openings taking place as I cycled my way home.

Hardware has the saleable art and there are some great pieces I loved, a 50's dress made from 45s; still unsold when I left, a large Binary piece [0001 100 000] that sort of thing cut from, yes, records. And 'Stop Play Pause' tape deck controls on Vinyl; a double homage to analogue that was so clever and sleek I bought it myself!

Plump had the 'Art Happening' happening and the records stuck to the wall; was that an obscure Phil Spector 'Wall of Sound' reference...

www.hardwaregallery.com.au/

And considering everything 'West is Left' or at least used to be 'back-in-the-day' I will leave this post with a video of Australia's very talented Robyn Archer who's Hans Eisler/Bertolt Brecht recordings dominated my turntable in the 80s...

On till 11-06-2011, Enjoy!

Camilla, from Kaftan Queen to Fully-Frocked Full-Service Rock Stardom!

2011-05-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

Camilla's AW11

Since viewing this range yesterday I have been wondering where you can go-the next step up the ladder-where do you go if you are already the Queen? Well I don't think its time for any kind of Sainthood yet but things at Camilla have definitely changed; its not just about the Kaftan anymore, no-matter how glorious they have been and continue to be.

With the Woodstock AW11 range Camilla can and will now dress you top-to-toe, layer upon layer; you can put them on-take them off; well if your gonna be that Woodstock kind of WOMAN; lets face it it could go either way. Beautiful, Glamorous and Sexy; the Woodstock Hippy & Rock & Roll feeling powers on through ranges and fully transmits that feeling; the one that really counts, that was a time of Peace & love!

Well Camilla already has a clientele of Stars of Screen & Rock; looks like its time to join the party; with Bad Moon Rising, Voodoo Child, Kozmic Blue and more. There are some pieces here that I have my beady little eyes on too; having already sent some snaps off to my Stylist with a view to our next shoot... "Awesome, Beautiful, YES!"

Well in my goodie bag along with a 'Camilla' bottle of Tempus Two Pinot Chardonnay (I'll be keeping that) and some JOIWHIP & ASAYANA Tanning Lotion (well you never know) I found a Camilla Gift Voucher for $100.00! Now as they are all out of Mantans I think I will give this Voucher away to the first person who emails me here with the Address of Camilla's Flagship Store in Bondi! Too easy & the link to the Camilla website is below.

www.camilla.com.au/

And if you are wondering if Classics can be reinterpreted and made new; I will leave you with this video of Bettye LaVette covering a (Woodstock?) Led Zep song and leave the decision up to you.

MEGA - Longing To Be.. at China Heights

2011-05-13T21:59:00.000-07:00

MEGA - Longing To Be Knotted Together at China Heights Gallery.

MEGA is from out of town and as there was just Nyk, myself, 'Dot' Girl and this guy with a neckerchief pulled over his face AKA a mask; I just knew it had to be the artist. This show fitted in quite well with my current Box-Set-Viewing of classic Spaghetti Westerns & it really was I suppose remiss of me not to ask MEGA around to knock-over a couple of Spag Westerns with me, seeing as how he is a stranger 'round these parts and all that.

But of course it would be remiss of YOU if you did not get your buttskie over to China Heights to see his show. And if you are in other parts of Australia and want to find out more about the 'Lost Boys of Bali' and their tribal ways then you are in luck; national show dates can be found here - www.ilovemega.com/. www.chinaheights.com/

Its a Mans World - Icon Brand - Ox Art Facts

2011-05-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

But it wouldn't be nothing; NOTHING without a Woman or a Girl. So sayest The Godfather of Soul Mr James Brown and who am I to disagree!

And while I did not hear the DJs spinning any James Brown at the Oxford Art Factory on Wednesday night, they were quite rightly heavily into the Rolling Stones, who lets face it are something of a Mans Mans kind of a band who have never shied away from acknowledging their debt to The Godfather of Soul himself...

Just one look around the room and I knew it was going to be a MAN post as there were some very stylish gentlemen in attendance and of course a bevy of babes as well...

So forget all that girly RAFW-Woo-Ha ; check out a Man's World instead. And should you require more shots you can see them at Life Without Andy here and get your fill of Icon Brand's Man's World here.

Icon Brand HS11 Pieces Of Nowhere Launch..

.

The Fashion Bargain - A Revolution Begins

2011-04-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

Report filed by our special correspondent Harry Perlich.

A Street Fashion Sydney delegation attended a Fashion "Revolution” at Vinnies in Paddington on Saturday. The revolution is set to be rolled out across NSW for the next two months, but it doesn’t involve armed struggle or cluster bombs. According to the media release at hand this is a revolution to make you “look good, feel good and save dollars.”

On midday Saturday, the Vinnies Paddo shop ran a runway show on its upper gallery for the benefit of teeming shoppers below. The models, including Miss Teen Australia winner Tahlia Giumelli; wearing seasonally styled assortments of recycled, re-loved fashion demonstrated how easy it is to match the season’s new looks, and at a fraction of the cost of new. (Put that in your pipe and smoke it Zara!) We didn’t jot down the details of every outfit, but names like Gucci and, obscure (to this reporter) much-coveted-shoe-labels were mentioned during the parade. All ensembles were not more than $130 and in some cases much much less. Shoppers were able to buy the clothes modelled after the parade. The money for sales is going to a good cause and of course the recycling of Gucci, Mambo and other fashion helps you build your carbon credits.

Vinnies has done something creative that’s a natural extension of their activity of selling second-hand clothes, to students-the-poor-and, the tight of wallet. They’re helping us to appreciate the cutting edge looks you can create for yourself by running these mini-runway shows. Karmyn Pembridge, Vinnie stylist, was also on hand to spruik the outfits and offer tips for different sized women to optimise their own look.

Specifically identified trends at the show included Camel, described as the “new nude”. And of course no objection to that. Plus Aviator, the Tailored look and "Precious Stones.

For News on further “Styled by Vinnies” events, www.visitvinnies.org.au.

Runs until July

Thanks to
Karmyn Pembridge: stylist
Julie McDonald, Community & Corporate Relations Manager
www.visitvinnies.org.au

Lolita Sunglasses & Leather Jacket Sydney

2011-04-14T04:46:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or have I been seeing quite a bit of these heart shaped 'Lolita' glasses around town of late? Well thats just fine, especially when they are teamed in a great urban assault outfit like this; Black Skivvy, Leather Jacket, Blue Jeans and Pixie-style Biker-rrr Boots-you are ready for anything.

And while on the subject of Lolita or at least the Kubrick film version (which I have not seen for many years)... I turned up the interesting tit-bit of info that the Master of 60's Photography Burt Stern was behind the lens (& me thinks the glasses idea too cause he was that kind of guy) of the publicity shot. The glasses were not used in the film itself! I know what you are thinking, "Kent, thats the photographer who did the Marilyn Monroe 'Last Sitting' shoot isn't it?" Well yes indeed it is.

Isn't it interesting how things go together; from here to there and back again!

Mr Bhu Where are You? Marrickville...

2011-03-19T21:24:00.000-07:00

Not only do new and different things happen when you leave your house on a wet and blustery day. Even if you didn't want to... "What things happen?" I hear you ask, well all sorts of things. Firstly Street Fashion Sydney is going to perform a community announcement for the first time. Mr Bhu is missing-and it would seem that being a Koala-shaped-Teddy-Bear, it is unlikely that he will be able to make it home all by himself! Please check out image #4 in our series, he's a cute fellow and the contact # is there. If you have seen him and have a lead on his whereabouts, please let the owner know.

Anyway, post seeing the Mr Bhu poster I dropped into my Fav Marrickville 'Vintage' clothing shop. Its run by a lovely lady by the name of Kwan, if you are buying something from her say hello from Street Fashion Sydney, we are becoming great friends. In fact Kwan has such great stuff I wonder why I am letting the cat out of the bag; I have been getting some great shoes and Man-Boots at rock bottom prices!

So post Mr Bhu, and post a trip to SNO & Kwan at YHK Fashion (264 Marrickville Rd) I actually took some Street Fashion in the Street. I know its been a while LOL & everyone is wearing boots! My flatmate from Chile, me in my 'new' man-boots & a charming German girl who just happened along as per Street Fashion's Raison d'être. And if these shots don't keep the Hipsters out of Marrickville I don't know what will !~))

Enjoy.

Ruby Rose (fashion designer) we Love You!

2011-03-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

Honestly I have said it before and I will say it again. If you want to see a fashion show; well for goodness sake, watch and maybe take notes because if you try taking pictures you will see nothing at all!

This was proven to me yet again after the Ruby Rose 'Alley-Way' show when speaking to one of the lovely ppl from Milk & Honey I commented on the absence of the Flannel Shirt on the runway. What is it that Hommer Simpson does after coming out with a clanger; Doh! Of course everything Ruby (who by the way is really nice and really lovely) was wearing is from her range; and, there it was when I was going through the pictures... Flannel shirt under denim jacket with black slashed jeans. Hot or what!

I think instead of taking a friend with me as my +1, in future I will take a photographer trained in the dark arts of blurry runway shots as-only-Street-Fashion-Sydney can do them. That way I can enjoy the parade more and get a better idea of just whats going on.

This was an incredibly laid back event, we had four alleys at Strike Bowling Bar Moore Park. Three for doing all manner of ball tossing (the models were particularly good at it post parade) and one for the runway show, possibly a first?

Ruby's range Sexy and Edgy, clearly has all the Classics and Basics covered for a night out on the town and if you are naughty, a not too out-of-place trip home next morning in the same gear... I love it, well its a wild world out there people!

Thanks to Ruby Rose, Milk & Honey & the equally lovely people from Saunders & Co PR.

Sartorial Splendor in The Rocks Sydney

2011-03-04T15:14:00.000-08:00

This is certainly my kind of Australian style. The real deal, no pretending, no faking. And as you can see, time is kind to those with their own sense of style. This gentleman started asking me where I was from from as I was photographing my legs in a window reflection. I kid you not; but, he was more than happy to pose for me for the blog for which I am very much obliged.

Spotted while shooting location shots in The Rocks, Sydney Australia. Just up near the Lord Nelson Hotel.

Lisa Blue & Whales Call Too..

2011-02-28T21:31:00.000-08:00

Well when I received the invitation for this launch I immediately wondered "how will they pull-off a launch at the Andrew Boy Charlton pool?" I had visions of Femme fatale models swimming laps while we Fashionista types sipped our Champagne (or was that Australian sparkling white wine I forgot to check) and puffed away on long impossibly thin cigarettes while shielding ourselves from the blinding-white harbour-light; as we stood, watching, on the old concrete bleachers that were (yes were) such an Iconic part of the Old-Boy Charlton pool.

Yes you are right, I had forgotten its all been renovated! And years ago at that; so no such fate awaited us or the quiver of models who where there to strut their stuff for the Lisa Blue swim label 2012 collection! Two thousand and twelve! And I was just getting used to 2011. This was the launch but if you were not there, fear not; come Rosemount Fashion Week you can can get a look too, but till then here is my (special custom blurry) look at a mere six of the many suits we saw on the day.

[As you may notice I managed to find myself a nice picture taking pozzie where I was able to get the old Garden Island crane in some shots too! I so love that crane; note to self, organise a fashion shoot at Garden Island Navy base, maybe something with a military theme... Keep idea to self!]

Lisa Blue - Call of the Whale is more than just a name, 25% of profits are going to saving Whales and Dolphins so you get your swimmers and you get to help the ocean's biggest people you love at the same time. Not sure if anyone has done something as bold as that before but there you go. I like the idea!

For more info, etc click Lisa Blue here.

Thanks to Faith & everyone at RAW Fashion Agency, you guys rock!

St Peters - Barcelona-South Newtown

2011-02-08T21:08:00.000-08:00

A tale of two (private) parties...

Well I wanted to title this (and I could have) 'St Peters Sur Barcelona' but I thought "no thats far too wanky!" Still the whole point of this blog is that it seems that tiny tiny not-clubs, not-bars that host private parties are popping up as kinda pop-up clubs! Now I know that the Mayor of Sydney City has been trying to make Sydney cool like Melbourne (will this Syd-Melbs thing ever stop?) with laneway bars and small bars etc but lets face it the coolest parties of all were and it seems still are the kind of party you have in your own house! Welll at least if you are that sort of cool person who can pull off that sort of party!

Back in the day when Jo was still in power and I was still at art school we used to judge a parties success by the number of police that were sent to shut it down... I think the all time top party I attended was over 10 cars and it was just a tiny party-I think the moral is don't set up a band in the backyard on Thursday night just 5 min from the cop shop.

That was a great party and its nice to see that this policing tradition is alive and well though I must say that the NSW Police service seem much nicer than their QLD counterparts of olden times. Yes both these parties were asked to keep it down but keep on going; well I am not surprised as St Peters, May St or otherwise is pretty damn industrial anyway.

In fact Party One was so like a time warp back to the 80's its was almost possible to believe I had once again slipped through one of those time warp thinggies. It was all 45's on a single 80's turntable, mid 70's Sony Amp looking pretty cool and sounding great. People smoking, drinking... A PARTY! the only giveaway that I had not traveled back in time was the Chilean DJ was not adhering to the 'correct' politics of Pop music. As danceable as all the selections where I keep finding myself thinking, "you can't play that song after that one, thats just not right" again and again!

Party One

Party Two

So last Saturday night I had an awesome time attending one party then crashing another. Everyone was so so nice, the music was great but one of the coolest things of all was that it was all happening in the decidedly uncool toilet-block-of-the-world down St Peters way. Oh the times they are a changin! St Peters now has some Barcelona-Bar-like places... That said, if there are any Real Estate agents reading this, Waterloo & Alexandria are not the Eastern Suburbs. Just sayin !~)

Cheers, see you way down South...

Peter Elfes, Desert and Water & MY NEW SHIRT !~)

2011-01-31T14:34:00.000-08:00

And if you want to know why Peter is wearing such a lovely lairy shirt you should definitely get along to see his photographs of Lake Eyre and the Tirari Desert. It all makes perfect sense.

"The Arrival", photography exhibition at Palm House Sydney Botanic Gardens.
This major exhibition by photographer Peter Elfes documents his journey
across Lake Eyre and the Tirari Desert in South Australia.

28 January 9 February 2011,
Location: Palm House, Royal
Botanic Gardens, Sydney 2000

www.peterelfesphotography.com

Two Becks Please!

2011-01-30T18:18:00.000-08:00

Spotted digging for their tickets for the Beck's Bar at Hyde Park Barracks on Saturday evening...

Loving the detail on the sleeve(s) of the blue dress, which was what caught my eye.

Silly Season Portraits

2011-01-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

Yes it is the season to be silly. Just add Music and lots and lots of drinks & bingo! There you have it. I took theses shots against my favorite wall though really I suppose I could have taken them almost anywhere. Much of the music on the night supplied by a Nokia phone transmitting directly into my FM tuner... WTF! "Thats why I got this model" Oh yeah!!! Sure beats the hell out of turning up with your old C-90 party tapes for those of you who can remember... And if you think there is a bit of a Latin American feel to the visage of most of these portraits (there certainly was to the music) well, you may just be right.

RePosted...

Zipporra + Love & Luck at The Club!

2010-12-10T18:45:00.000-08:00

Two Hot hot, New new labels paraded their stuff together at 'The Club' in Sydney's Kings Cross last night. I know they are hot and I know they are new because-I have just finished shooting the Fashion Campaign for Love & Luck and our model Rochelle is part of the Zipporra team-as I understand it. Actually you can check out the BTS Video from the L&L shoot Here. This was a very pleasantly chilled out evening thanks in part to the Chambord & Champagne drinkie poos. You all know by now I love the Chambord since first trying it out at the Carl Kapp show last year, and there have been some big Chambord nights since...

And, the parade was spot on with models who can walk and a sizzling DJ set of heavy 70s classics, Hedrix, The Doors-like a scene, fuck no; like being-there, in the boat, "Appocalypse Now" style, very trippy...

Love & Luck styled the Accessories and Bags from their new ranges while Zipporra sent out Swimwear and Summer 10. Enjoy the besy of the blurry shots as ony Street Fashion Sydney can do them!

I can't wait to see more for both of these lables they are both off to a superb start.

Zipporra

Love & Luck Blog

Esprit Icon Store - Sydney Opening

2010-12-01T19:08:00.000-08:00

The terms Icon, Iconic, Classic, (and even ironic) seem to have sadly been rather beaten about about for some time now. One only need to think of the popular term 'instant classic' to know language has taken a real beating. Lets face it, 'instant classic' is an oxymoron! It takes time to become a classic and no matter how you may feeel about something new; only the passage of time and society's take on that thing; film, art, fashion, architecture, song, whatever-will reveal if something becomes a classic or not.

Now the word Icon also follows all the same rules as for the word Classic. It takes time to build an Icon just as it does to create a true Classic, it doesn't happen overnight. So as you can imagine it was with a little trepidation that I attended the launch of the brand new Esprit Icon store at Wesfield in the Sydney CBD last week. Whilst in my minds eye I knew the new Esprit store would be a fabulous shop front opening onto the mall, the still continuing construction work, lolly-pop-people-&-cement-trucks nature of the Pitt St Mall forced me off of Pitt St and directly into the bowels of the new New NEW Wesfield in the city. Not such a bad thing really as whilst wandering about looking for the Esprit store I did get to see just how BIG this new shopping development in Sydney really is. Its HUGE, but as I soon found a touch screen directory it was not long before I was standing before the lower ground entrance to Esprit and a solitary security person who, as a veteran of many many nights of Night Clubbing, I chose to completely ignore as I strode towards the small gap of an entrance before me. Well I am clearly losing my touch as I was stopped and asked if I had been in here before... "No, but I am on the list". I was required to make my way back up to the Pitt St entrance where surprise surprise a red carpet arrival awaited 'me'.

I won't say much about my arrival other than to say that to everyone I met who remembered me from the Ford Connect launch party; I apologised to and promised I would behave myself tonight!

The good news is that it seems the people at Esprit really do know what the word Icon means. They know that you cannot become an Icon overnight and that it takes time and effort-that to be an Icon means raising the bar to a particularly high place, a place well above and beyond what you would expect and more than that as well. This was immediately born out Vis-à-vis by experiencing just how nice everyone was at the store. If it was not that I know every stop on the train ride from Marrickville to St James station where I alighted my trip, I could have sworn I had slipped into some sort of space-time-continuum-vortex and emerged at a store opening in Melbourne! Yes, people were so nice I almost forgot I was in Sydney & thought, "my god, its just like I am in Melbourne"!

The press release said that the launch would have something for everyone-kids welcome! And I must say that I did think that was a pretty big call; and yet they delivered. Apart from topless male models strolling around the store, yes there is for-the-first-time-in-Australia an Esprit menswear section (on the third floor). The fashion show had both teen and kid dancers who also doubled as models, doing their thing kitted out head-to-toe in Esprit. Between the dance routines came your more typical runway show; all in all it there was something for everyone and everyone in attendance seem to be like-me having a pretty good time.

The funny thing is, or was, although this was a great big opening of a great big store. Something has stuck with me over the past week. And it kind of goes without saying that if I had posted a story about this opening next-day, well... I have been mentioning to friends that this opening was a lot like dropping into your fav small boutique where they know you, they offer you a glass of champagne. I thought those days were gone but my friends assure me they are still alive and well. The opening, no; the store felt personal. And that is something special; if you want to be an Icon store, that has to be a truly great start. Anyway, enough of my blather, if you have read this much of such a long post even if you are on a slow connection all the pictures must have loaded by now. Enjoy!

Out & About at Grantpirrie Gallery

2010-11-18T16:58:00.000-08:00

Samuel Villalobos
PAN PAN / MAYDAY MAYDAY

Grantpirrie Gallery
86 George Street
Redfern NSW 2016 Australia.
GRANTPIRRIE

Crisp Clean Professional

2010-11-12T14:57:00.000-08:00

Spotted this poster in Dulwich Hill a couple of nights ago & just love it!

We will return to normal programming shortly!

Class A, Class A, Australian Carcaine!

2010-10-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

Oh NERVO, you naughty DJing Girls. Imagine starting your corporate Gig with "This is Class A, Class A, Class A, Class A, Columbian..." Well you know. It's a voice over Mash up thing from Scarface the Movie or whatever. Of course seeing just how addicted Australians are to their cars perhaps this Anthemic start to the Set was more apt than they could have possibly imagined.

It was a glamorous crowd of indeterminate age (though definitely) on the cool side of 30. The lovely Erin McNaught was busy greeting people as they arrived, the warm up DJ was doing his thing as we all stood around the guest of honor, the New Red Ford Fiesta, rotating like a DJs disk in the middle of the room. The stage was set for one big private party and, I have to say, because I noticed and could not get over it... That was the best sound system I have ever heard at a warehouse event. Whoever set that system up, congratulations you really know your stuff!

The theme was Red and Blue and when I finally developed the courage to unfreeze myself from my wallflower wall I did manage do some moody portraits and document the video crew playing a game of 'how many of us can we fit in a Ford Fiesta'. I did not count but someone may be able to work it out from the pictures, it looked like it could fit quite a few.

I think the outstanding outfit of the night was Olivia Nervo's tight fitting animal print inspired attire teamed with a little leather blouson, Tres Chic. (Or was it Miriam, they are twins OMG!) Bag Raiders also played live running through a set that reminded me of days long past and The Mega Men doing Gigs at Marilyn's Nightclub up in Brisbane during those wonderful art school years.

And the art school memories came flooding back as with some new-best-friends I stashed my bag under the back of the fiesta and hit the dance floor; wondering just a little why the new Ford Fiesta was not perhaps spinning from the ceiling like a giant red mirror ball in the sky...

Much thanks to the lovely people at Ann Morrison PR for the invite and everyone who made the launch such a fabulous night.

Street Fashion Sydney's Ideal Spring Weekend

2010-10-19T16:57:00.000-07:00

I have a guest blog up on Concrete Playground,

"I must say I was completely chuffed when Concrete Playground approached me and asked if I could write a guest blog about my Ideal Spring Weekend in Sydney. “Of course I would love to” I thought, but then I noticed there was one slightly disturbing problem..."

its right HERE, clickity click the link to read more!

We will return to normal programming here soon.

There were more than SIX, I am sure!

2010-09-24T21:28:00.000-07:00

Rachael Cassar SIX, 2010 Ecouture Collection.

"Gothic Hijinx" photographed & transformed by Kent Johnson.

I have met Rachael a few times now and she is every bit as charming and lovely as her 'new' Couture Collection or Ecouture as she calls it. I think the E is for Eco as all the fabrics are from deconstructed garments which is also why I wrote new as 'new'. Although the garments have never been seen before the fabrics have had a past life and what beautiful rare and exquisite fabrics they are. I first came across Rachael's vintage inspired (and vintage fabric) creations shooting the Alices Dreamtime fashion story. Thanks to Estelle & Klaus from Design Fed for the heads up and collabo opportunity again. Love you guys. Oh and I am guessing here but I suspect the SIX is Rachael's sixth range. I am sure there will be many many more.

Behind the scenes shots,

Parade,

Design Federation on Flickr, the complete 20 shots from the show.
Rachael Cassar

Design Federation

And LASTLY! Hope that all caps word grabbed your attention... I am guest blogging for To-Be-Revealed 'A perfect spring weekend' October 23-24 1010. SOooo if you have an event of any kind you would like Street Fashion Sydney to support or attend over said weekend please email me kent@artcommunication.com.au, should be lots of fun and great exposure on a great Aussie Artz'n'Kulture blog.

Cheers from Street Fashion Sydney.

"get a dog up ya!"

2010-09-18T21:24:00.000-07:00

I have no idea at all as to why I decided to title this blog "get a dog up ya" other than on occasion I do become a little sentimental about times past. Yes sadly the day when I was just about the only cyclist on the streets is long long gone. Such was the novelty in those by-gone-(non-PC)-days that when a motorist came across a cyclist winding their way passively along our great city's pot holed roads that they would routinely sing out a greeting like "get a dog up ya", or "get off the bloody road." Of course now everyone has a bike and an awful lot of those people have actually taken to riding them.

Along with the popularity of cycling has come the popularity of dedicated cycling clothing. Now while I did not see any Lycra clad art patrons at China Heights last Friday night I did spot a number of people sporting that classic piece of two wheeled accoutrement, the Cycling Cap.

It does seem mildly perverse that after my last blog on attending an opening at China Heights was about hats that this blog too is about fashion you can wear on your head. But there was not a single Fedora in sight & indeed my Stetson Open Road was resting on my bed post at home as I too had cycled to the event. Even one of Terence Chin's large format photographs had a cycling cap in it and although the show is titled "The Beauty Of The Banal" I am sure he is not making any statements at all regarding the nature of Cycling Caps. In fact I do believe Terence may very well be a cyclist himself which may go some way to explaining the caps other than inner city Hipsterism.

Well with the absence of Woolen Beanies, Fedoras or any hats at all I suppose it is safe to say 'Spring has Sprung', its time to get on your bike & get a dog up ya !~)

Launch My Label- Flash Kapow!

2010-08-31T17:47:00.000-07:00

I was going to title this Blog, 'Why I am the ~~worst~~ best runway photographer in the Universe' but then I decided that would be far to controversial a title and decided to go with the more pedestrian one above. Yes I have been coaxed yet again to attend a Fashion Show, this time Launch My Label by Chic Petite Events. "This is a quarterly event ,etc etc etc emerging artists, organisations and talented young people to effectively launch their label in the Australian market."

Well that is definitely a good thing & as my readers will know I am becoming quite familiar with the new phenomenon of Fashion as Entertainment! This time I found myself in the photographers 'pit' with a view to doing some real runway shots, well why not. The problem was that I was a bit lazy last night and while I did take my bigger camera I decided to leave my flash behind as I hate carrying too much stuff around. I thought well, I will just make-do.

Making-Do has its own special surprises though and last night it was that as the models made their way to the end of the (short) Runway the spotlights which were only on one side only really illuminated their bodies not their heads. Of course if you were just watching the show you probably would not even notice this but my camera certainly did and I very quickly had to decide if my next Blog would be about 'Headless models on the Catwalk, We only show the clothes'. Ah Catwalk, thats a phrase I far prefer to Runway!

No; headless models would never do, they would never forgive me. Everyone else with a camera was however using flash, they were firing off all around me from every conceivable direction. I thought "you know theres plenty of light going on here I just need to use it", and so I did setting my camera to long exposure and coming up with a kind of beautiful, 'Village of the Dammed' version of Launch My Label that I am sure will be far more entertaining to my readers than any normal runway pictures could ever be.

After the show we, (my photographer friend & I) headed backstage to meet the designers & models and congratulate everyone on a job well done. I was telling everyone "no I don't shoot runway I'm a photographer, but I do have a blog called Street Fashion Sydney". And we were all swapping cards and stories as you do! My cards which are quite big and look like this,

or this
or this

Seemed to go down quite well.

But its not about us, its about the designers who last night were,
Carmen Steane
ZarBe
Clover Love
Laura Maidment
Samantha Chan
Rebekah Anne Fashion
Thulie

Accessories,
Coco Liberace
Featherhead
Danyelle

As these are emerging designers I think the best way to find them will be to cut and paste their names into that search bar thingie at the top of your Facebook page. Everyone has a Facebook page & I suspect they do too. You can 'follow' Chic Petite Here.

And if you are at a loose end tonight, The Amnesty International Australia Artists Network has a photography exhibition at Carriageworks, Journey To Freedom. See you all there.

Dream Girl 2010 Sydney Australia

2010-08-29T19:05:00.000-07:00

20 Girls... From 15 different parts of the world ...

A series of 10 portraits I took of the participants in the inaugural Dream Girl Pageant launch last week. Full details about the pageant can be found below along with a link to the Dream Girl website. And yes I have reproduced the press release in full. Street Fashion Sydney had a lovely time at the opening at Bay Leaf restaurant in Crows Nest, all the participants seemed very well informed about the issues Dream Girl is addressing and then there was some very tasty food as well.

Dream Girl 2010

Australia's first ever multi cultural beauty pageant, Dream Girl 2010 is bought to you by Pratibimb (Indian Cultural Community Inc). Indian Cultural Community is a Non Profit organization that helps and supports cultural and multi cultural events to showcase diverse local and national talents. It is established to help discover, and promote different cultures around Australia.

This Pageant is designed to showcase talents of today's modern girls in Australia, who are well aware of their culture as well as their present surroundings. It will embrace the Australian culture, as well as other cultures involved to show the best of both the worlds. The event will be held on 23rd October 2010. We're looking for one girl who is diverse, refined and creative. She has to have a vision; she has to be out of this world, and of course, she has to be dreamy…

Our final winner, the Dream Girl 2010 will get the chance of a life time to visit Bollywood and meet the biggest stars and watch them shoot (all expenses paid), and that's not all, we'll also be giving her two days at the best acting school in Bombay, and the opportunity to star as a lead in an upcoming Bollywood movie!

Because Dream Girl 2010 is multi cultural and focuses on women from different backgrounds living in Australia, we would like to take this opportunity to promote crucial matters regarding women all over the world. Our 20 participants will be raising money for Breast Cancer, as well as creating awareness for IWDA (International Womens Development Agency) through out the next two months, until the 23rd October, 2010, which is when the final event will take place.

Dream Girl 2010

Best of luck to all the participants in Dream Girl 2010.

'Bro Tie Night' now with ACP & RSFF!

2010-08-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

A well rounded night indeed. Nyc & I started out at a floor talk at the Australian Center of Photography (ACP). While not my Fav talk I have attended at the ACP it was as usual informative & I particularly enjoyed hearing about Robyn Beech's experiences as to how she went about creating her iconic 80s photographs with Make Up Artist Richard Sharah. The front gallery is full of Robyn's wonderful and familiar work and as such, its a little confronting to hear her say, "I never got booked for a job because of this work". Or something just like that.

The current line up also includes "Zeitgeist Becomes Form German Fashion Photography 1945 - 1995". For those of you who have only experienced photography in the digital age this is a must see show. Well the whole lot is must see, tomorrow is the last day so go go GO!

After the talk we headed down to the Sydney Town Hall for a drink at the Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival & shot the last runway show of the night. Once again I only had my little G10 on me but it seems to have been more or less up to the challenge though I will let you be the judge of that. Although these are the same frocks from Fashion Week in July it was my first time seeing them in the flesh & there was some lovely pieces on offer from the designers.

After all that excitement it was time to retire to a bar and debrief the evenings events. We nipped just around the corner to Hotel Sweeney's on the corner of Clarence & Druitt Streets which if you can believe it I have never been in before.

So over a couple of beers and the sweet music of a road-saw cutting through the roadway on Druitt Street we discussed the awesomeness of the show at the ACP. Clients and money LOL! How well Sam Harris is doing as a model & the T&C on the Chic Models website...

Then out of the darkness of the night and through the pub doors strolled a posse of terribly well dressed Gentlemen in Dinner Suits & Bow Ties. It was a little like being plunged into an episode of Brideshead Revisited; only everyone had grown up and moved to Australia! My friend David Gofton used to say, "Culture, you want Culture, just go down to the TAB, theres plenty of Culture down there". And so it was and we were in the thick of it, Aussie culture, no longer the European Culture so many seem to hunger for.

Of course if you want a serving of Australian and European culture, be quick and catch the last two days of the show at the ACP in Paddingtion. Its well worth the effort.

'de MéXICO' at China Heights... Sydney!

2010-08-06T18:21:00.000-07:00

A geographically confusing blog title I know.

Well who would have thought you would be able to attend two photographic exhibitions of Mexican 'landscape' photography in Sydney in one week! I certainly would not have thought it very likely. In fact I think its about as unlikely as turning up to a show at the very edgy indi China Heights Gallery in Surry Hills sans necktie only to find out that in this world of skinny jeans and tee-shirts as the shirt De rigueur the well dressed and cravatted male has made his return to youth culture. Its also nice to see hats and caps making a return, even that grey knit beannie is kind of dressed up with the addition of the lovely velvet jacket.

No doubt you can imagine my surprise (yes I say that all the time but I am easily surprised) when my new best friend in his red cap identified my hat as an Open Road, "and its a Stetson right". Completely right! Well he does work at the Strand Hatters as it turns out so there you go. Of course mine came from Gowings RIP sometime in the mid to late 80s but he knew that too. Apparently you can still get my hat by special order, same same including the narrow ribbon, not that wide ribbon that personally I find a little vulgar on most hats. Well worth keeping in mind for the next time I get too-drunk and sentimental and give my hat away to a friend...

Its so nice to see some young men dressed so nicely yet still retaining that artsy look. Even our artist Lance was wearing a tie, just as I did at my opening a couple of months ago. Men dressing with style is clearly back.

The Artist, Lance Richardson.

Some shoes!

Thanks to Grolsch for the beer, yum!

'de MéXICO' Photographs by Lance Richardson

OPENS FRI 6-9PM, AUGUST 6
CONT'D DAILY 12-5PM, UNTIL AUGUST 8
CHINA HEIGHTS GALLERY
LEVEL 3, 16-28 FOSTER ST, SURRY HILLS
www.chinaheights.com
www.freelancerichardson.com

Island of the Dolls - Beautiful & Scary at the same time...

2010-08-02T21:07:00.000-07:00

Monday night openings are a little unusual so thanks to Nyk for taking me along to this very interesting photography exhibition last night in Surry Hills. Sure it was absolutely terrible out in the wind and rain but once we arrived inside the gallery everything was fine. Nyk had told me that the show was documentary photography and as I took a first glance around the walls I certainly had my doubts. It was pictures of dolls! On closer inspection however these were like no other dolly pictures I had seen before, strange, macabre, inhabiting a very peculiar and particular landscape.

As it turns out they are indeed a series of documentary photographs taken by the talented photographer David Maurice Smith a few years ago on a trip to Mexico City. David had used his camera to frame the 'work' of one man who had left countless dolls over a period of 50 years, an offering to a child who had tragically drowned in a near by canal!

Its a beautiful series of images, the exhibition is on untill the 21st of August at 65 Foveaux st Surry Hills. Thats about 50 meters from Central, just before the Taxi service station, I am sure you all know the spot.

And something that has not happened yet...

Dutch Artists at SNO, opening this Saturday afternoon the 7th from 3PM, Level 1 175 Marrickville Rd Marrickville. if you like colour, lines, non objective art, this one is for you!

CARLiTOS Presents, Estilo at Soho

2010-07-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

Well I nearly didn't make it to this event, what with doing what I do on Friday day and then heading home and settling in with a few beers... But then Kat from Design Federation txt'd me that she will be there at Nine... Well I just had to sort myself out and make my way to Kings X lickity split!

Anyway, or as American educated young blogging people say, anyways... It was clearly a great opportunity for me to slip into my newly acquired (new!) circa 1983 quarter silk lined baggy pleated Grey Flannel woolen trousers and team them with my circa 1983 New Romantic Full-Catastrophe leather jacket. Yes I was on my way to another fashion parade and free drinks.

Of course catching the train to Kings X is thirsty business and so the first thing I did after getting my name ticked off at the door was head to the bar and my free Smirnoff Black Label No.55 cocktail that had been promised in the promotional material. "Smirnoff Black Label No.55, the alcohol sponsor for the event will have their gorgeous promo girls to ensure that all guests have a French Martini in their hand to help party the night away." You can no doubt imagine my utter horror when I was told at the bar that I needed a card to receive my complimentary drink. "But they took my card at the door". "No you need a black one". Fortunately Carlos the promoter was on hand and kicked in with a 'Black Card' for Street Fashion Sydney and my first Vodka Cocktail of the night was mine.

It was a Nine O'Clock start for an 11 PM fashion show; Kat and Michael settled in with a couple of Vodka drinks from the bar and played 'where's the iPhone reception' (see how happy they were when they found it) while we waited for the mysterious Smirnoff Girls to appear. This however was not such a bad thing. As the club filled up, the temperature rose as well. On my way back from a ciggie break upstairs I discovered one of the rarest of rare things in Sydney this side of the Sydney Opera House itself... A cloak room! Well rather than risk having my oh-so-cool, New Romantic Full-Catastrophe leather jacket slip off my bag and be lost forever I checked it into the cloak room for the tiny tiny fee of $3! We need more of these in Sydney people, are you listening!

Finally the Smirnoff Girls did at last appear and we relieved them of three very tasty Pink Vodka Cocktails in Martini glasses. The Pink bit was Chambord and I have to say I think their marketing is really working and its only a matter of time before I crack the Chambord miniature I received in my Carl Kapp goodie bag last November and start mixing Chambord Cocktails at home myself.

But on with the show. The parade actually started pretty much on-time. I had been warned that fashion shows in night clubs in Kings X routinely started at least an hour late. This was not the case last night.

The crowd crushed in, the music played, the MC MC'd, the girls walked, the photographers fired their flashes & I waved my camera around over my head in my oh-so-inimitable-style to bring you only the best blurry fashion shots from the back of the room that several free cocktails can buy!

A lot of pictures this time I know! I am not really sure how well these night club fashion shows do in terms of promoting fashion but; if the name of the game is entertainment I think they are doing very well indeed. The crowd certainly had a great time and I did too. So by way of helping the designers and promoter out I am going to paste another line from the press release in here now and if you can see anything you like you can play cut-&-paste into Google and check the individual designers out.

"The highlight of the evening will be the runway fashion show that will showcase the latest collections from designers Thulie and Pennie M, who were both a part of Australian Fashion Week. Maria De Guzman, who showed in Fashion Forward Festival and Underwear of Sweden, who are launching there new shoe range, Sunday Shoes.

J Models will provide the models for the fashion show, makeup by the Academy of Makeup and hair styling by Christopher Hanna Platinum Stylists."

Thanks to all who made the night happen in such a big way. Till next time, enjoy!

Chambord Shine Award Sydney - Design Federation InDaHouse.

2010-07-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

Lucky me!

I was asked by my friends at Design Federation to help them cover the 2010 Chambord Shine Awards on Wednesday night at The Loft bar in Sydney. It was a lovely evening with plenty of fashion, nibblies and Chambord cocktails all night long. Being in the company of lovely Design Fed ladies Jordan (Twitter operations on the night) and Kat Roth (notes and commentary) was of course a very agreeable bonus as well. As was; a chance to catch up with Carl Kapp (Judge), Shadie from Lulu in Chains (made it through to the next round) and Kath Purkis from online boutique Le Black Book (and publisher of Le Magazine).

Design Federation have put up a complete set of my shots on their Flickr account here if you would like to see more of the fashion and selected portraits from the night. Design Fed's report from the Melbourne and Sydney parades is here. Or vote & follow the updates on the Chambord Facebook page here.

Till next time. Enjoy!

Sydney Film Festival - Red Carpet Fashion

2010-06-07T01:23:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday night I commented to my friend Nyk that I really should get out more often and do more 'Photographer' things, not just fashion.. Maybe..
Lo and behold the very next afternoon I get a call from Nyk asking me if I would #2 for him shooting the Red Carpet at the 57th Sydney Film Festival. Of course I just happened to already be in the city but the equipment was split between the studio in Glebe and my house in Marrickville. Off I rushed to grab all the bits I needed (Old School Style : 2 Bodies, Fixed focal length lenses; no zooms)! What with the atrocious weather we have been having in Sydney I only just made the cut-off for being locked in/out of the media pit, not such a bad thing, everyone else had already been standing around checking their equipment, comparing folios on their iPhones etc forever!

Although I had started having mixed feelings about helping out as I was reminded I was running too late; I surprised my self and ended up having a great time. And since I arrived a little late I was at the back of the narrow pit, no worries there at 6'6" in my Cuban Heels. There was great fashion on both sides of the Red Carpet. My 'proper' shots have been sent off to the USA but the Street Fashion Sydney (yes I called that name out proud) shots from the other side delivered some lovely outfits and my fav the man in the check suit. Fantastic. Not to mention some shots of my friend Yianni working the mike for his show Yianni's City Life on TVS. Yes its just a little further down the dial.

Yianni's interview with Miranda Otto.

And by the way, last week I heard that Blogging is Dead! Well that very well may be true though I rather get the feeling that it is the bloggers are dead tired of writing every day for free... Makes me happy that I only ever post when I think I have something to say and some original 'content' to share. After all it takes time to make, collect and collate good content. As a matter of fact I think thats what the Sydney Film Festival is all about; collecting, collating and sharing. It's on until the 14th so go get yourself some filmic goodness and don't forget to dress up, you never know who's watching.

Top Hats, NG Gallery

2010-06-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

Some interesting hats on 'show' at the Lizzie Buckmaster Dove & Roger Foley-Fogg exhibition at NG Gallery. Background for our Top Hat is one of Foley-Fogg's ‘Lumino Kinetics’ installation pieces.

Two lovely shows and it's NG's third birthday. Congratulations!

NG Gallery Sydney

Friday Night - It's all in the details.

2010-05-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

China Heights was packed as always so I thought I would treat my readers to some fashion details, its about all I had room to get!

Great show, great crowd, sadly Mark Drew was already back in Japan!

THERE'S ALWAYS A LAST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Joseph Allen Shea
Stephanie Anderson
Dave Ladd
We Buy Your Kids
Mark Drew

Opens Friday May 21, 6-9pm
Continues following Saturday and Sunday, 1-5pm

China Heights Gallery
L3, 16-28 Foster Street
Surry Hills

WWW.CHINAHEIGHTS.COM

As Winter falls it's time to visit The Doc+ors...

2010-05-19T17:22:00.000-07:00

As a younger man growing up in Brisbane winter was my favourite time of year. In the Sub Tropics it's the only time of year you get to layer up with jackets, coats, shirts and neckties. I loved it then & I still do. And of course no one can break a heart quite like a Brisbane girl... And so perhaps it was in some way appropriate having recently had my heart broken by a beautiful and stylish Brisbane-girl-in-Sydney that I should set off to the Doc+ors to mix and mend my broken winter’s heart.

It was nice to see so many splashes of colour mixed in with winter coats and jackets. Even I made a special effort last night donning a vintage 80s leather Blouson, the full New Romantic catastrophe over a bright yellow checked shirt with vintage cotton knit necktie. The splashes of colour, Reds, Blues, Greens, reminded me that Rhiannon was quite right, winter doesn't need to be dark at all but can instead be about 'All The Colours Of The Rainbow' as styled in our editorial shoot for Le Magazine.

Of course another reason for the colour splashes may have been that we were at the opening of 'Evolve Already' with Antochrist – the “Madonna of the art world”...

Evolve Already
6pm May 19
"The Doctors"
102 Burton Street
East Sydney

And a little plug for me; SNAP my solo Artist Portrait show is on until the the 30th of this month.

Bill Henson : Untiltled 2010

2010-05-06T23:15:00.000-07:00

Last night I had my first chance to attend a Bill Henson opening. Yes I am a fan, yes I have been following him since the early 80s & love his work. I am certainly not alone there; this was the biggest crowd I have ever seen at Roslyn Oxley9 and possibly the biggest opening crowd I have seen outside a major art event.

The show was opened by Edmund Capon and I was fortunate enough to witness a rather beautiful moment on E.C.s arrival. Quite a wonderful greeting, Bill, Edmund, Roslyn; at the top of the stairs, a show of intimate solidarity. Then everyone that could made there way toward the already very full main gallery. Edmund gave an inspired speech reported in part in the Sydney Morning Herald Here & Here. I am not sure about Miranda Devine's comment in the SMH about no cameras in the gallery. I waved my G10 around over my 6'4" head and no-one said boo to me!

E.C. set the record straight right off the bat with, in a nutshell something like,

They are big, they all have the same title (untitled) and they are 30K each. They are beautiful, they speak to us and they are not porn (they never have been).

The show is beautiful. Some critics seem to be making with the idea that the show is turned down. I think Bill has always been about beauty and the volume has been turned up! Yes, I got a bit of a feeling of, well just can't say it... OK a big FU to those who think the work is just about nudes. But I can't imagine Bill actually saying that.

It's a brilliant show. The prints are his first using digital printing technology which is quite significant in and of itself. Master prints of course.

Roslyn Oxley9 Go see it for yourself till June 5.

SNAP @ SNO Artists Portrait Show

2010-04-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

SNAP my Portrait show opens next Saturday. Please come and join me at the opening.

An exhibition of artist portraits taken at SNO openings since 2005. SNAP is a combined project with SNO and Australian Centre for Photography's Head On Photo Festival at galleries in and around Sydney.

LEVEL 1, 175 MARRICKVILLE ROAD
MARRICKVILLE
SYDNEY, NSW 2204
AUSTRALIA

T. +61 (2) 9560 3470
E. info@sno.org.au
W. www.sno.org.au

Being Born Again, RAFW Prequel...Hallelujah!

2010-04-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

Art & Fashion mixed it up big time in this designing duos x 10 Couture collabo extravaganza at NAS, the National Art School last night in Sydney. As I think you my wonderful readers are fully aware by now. Most of the 'street style' I blog about here usually happens when I am out at art openings; personally I think this is just fine as the art crowd usually have a mind of their own & tend to do things a little differently anyway. So last night at the NAS where I have attended many memorable openings (one of my most memorable experiences was beating author & art critic Robert Hughes to the very last glass of red wine one night by the slimmest of margins), was an event stylish, fun and quite I think outside of the usual.

We knew we were in for a stylish night right off the bat when we saw one of the shows Creative Directors Emily Fitzgerald in a stunning dress (which I shall describe later) and the most serious set of door people I have ever seen at an NAS opening. There was going to be no sneaking into this show!

And so it was that even though I had asked exhibiting designer & photography client of mine Shadi Tambrchi of Lulu in Chains if she could 'get me in' unfortunately this was a strictly +1 event. I even asked Emily a few weeks ago at another opening if she could slip Street Fashion Sydney a press pass only to find out I had left it too late, the event was already over subscribed. Fortunately, Freelance Stylist/FashionWriter/Editor extraordinaire (and personal friend) Rhiannon Bulley had a +1 press pass for Tangent Mag. And so it came to pass that a handbag I was to become, or at least a friend that could carry one.

Rather than doing the oh-so-boring thing of putting a picture up with the designer info below it I am going to give you all the the link to the 'Being Born Again' website (navigate to the Artist/Designer Collabbo page) and see if anyone out there; can can guess/see/work-out which dress belongs to who. I think the (mildly blurry atmospheric) shots contain all the clues you need; the magic link is HERE.

But enough already, on with the show!

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

So there are your nine Designer/Artist Collabo shots (the 10th is the Jewelery)
Lets see how you go & in about a week I will post the who is who under the shots in informative style.

Lindy Lee and Emily Fitzgerald.

And as I promised a few words about Emily's dress which as you can see has a face on the front. This dress was causing quite a stir due to the nature of its extremely low cut back. I am not sure if many people noticed but I fancied I could see a face on the back as well! But it was not just the dress it was a combination of the lowness of the cut of the back which made a deep scoop like a smile way down south, if you can imagine for a moment two cheeks together and a line a little like a tiny nose and two petite dimples just above and there you have it; a smile a nose between the cheeks and a pair of eyes. A very daring look but Emily pulled it off with complete Panache. I guess when you have been a Vogue cover girl you just do it! Perhaps surprisingly this was one picture I was a little worried about taking with my camera so you will have to create the vision in your minds eye instead.

Enjoy the shots, visit the Being Born Again website for lots more information about the project. And please post your thoughts about the show in the comments section below.

Thanks to Emily, Davina Reichman, the Designers and Artists and all the people who made the show happen. Congratulations on a great show, lets do it all again next year.

Nude, is the New Black!

2010-04-14T22:33:00.000-07:00

I suppose it had to happen & I am not referring to garments in a skin tone style. Nudity it seems is everywhere in fashion right now. Not just the flash of a breast or of a pretty young quim as photographed for Vogue France by Mario Testino. We are talking about full nudity, whatever happened to the clothes! Over the past couple of days I have been perusing the editorial photo stories over on Fashionising & can you imagine my shock and horror to find full frontal female nudity! OK Helmut Newton probably got there first in a strictly fashion sense with shots like "The Unclothed and the Clothed" for Vogue France circa 1981 or; even earlier with "Laura dressed in a fox cape, Avenue George V, Paris, 1974".

I am not sure why they always put NSFW next to these stories but being a photographer and being quite frankly mildly dishlexic; I always think the story has something to do with NSW the Australian state I live in and always click to see what is going on. Of course being so socially minded and a touch touched, as the saying goes as you can well image I get to see an aweful lot of nudity every single day! It kind of reminds me of my first job where there was a pile of Playboy magazines in the lunch room, I mean that was at work... Not to mention the first photographer I ever worked for shot for both Playboy & Penthouse & that was work! Sure it was a dirty job but someone had to do it...

So as you can probably imagine I was quite overcome; in a William Burroughs and Brion Gysin, "Cut Up" kind of way, when I attended last night; the 'Qualia' show at Mils Gallery near Central Station in Surry Hills.

Not only was there a B&W nude floating in the galleries display window; but once inside there was all manner of phsyco-sexual imagery! But enough of my talk, here are the shots from last night.

Art Performance.

The Vulvic Knitting Nancy

The phallic Rorschach Blot, (there was also a wombic one).

My own attempt at a photographic Rorschach test outside!

J.G. Ballard would be proud; no?

Picture (from the show) by Ella Condon. There's a theme er I think...

I always have a soft spot for Houndstooth Tweed.

This shoe and tights como reminded me of one of the great loves of my life. Meagan; come on lets talk, its been forever!

Ernest Aaron photographed in front of his work. Strangely I Perceived no Psyco-Sexual nature to this work at all (it could just be me) and asked him how he got to be hung in this show? However I did invite him to my show at SNO. BIG PLUG

I am having a solo show of my SNO portraits at SNO on the 8-05-2010, thats next month! Its my second solo and will feature over 30 of my SNO portraits taken over the last 4+ years. The show is also part of the Head On Photography Festival.

Opening is 3 till 6 pm on the 8th, all welcome. See you there.

Sydney Non Objective Gallery
First Floor 175 Marrickville
Road Marrickville.

All I can say is the 90s porn of Terryworld is gone. Black is Back. And it's wearing such a fine thread, no-one can see it at all.

http://milsgallery.com/ Great show. on NOW!

MCA, Gaffa Gallery & The Sydney High Lock

2010-02-28T18:43:00.000-08:00

When heading out and running late the quickest way for me to get into the city is to cycle over to Sydenham Station, lock up my bike and catch the train. Last Thursday on my way to the new Gaffa Gallery in Sydney that is exactly what I did but imagine my complete surprise when arriving at the lock-up-spot at the station I saw my first 'High Locked' bike in Sydney. Apparently this is an imported idea from the NYC cycling scene. Whilst I was delighted in how the bike framed a curious composition with the city in the background; I was at the same time rather bemused as to why someone had taken so much trouble locking up such a basic commuter bike. We shall most likely never know.

The new Gaffa Gallery is a multi storied wonder and the MCA Staff Show was a great way for me to experience Gaffa's new gallery spaces. After photographing artist Mark Booth downstairs (The B&W Portrait) we able to head upstairs and cavort with the artists and friends on the roof top.

Portrait of Mark Booth

Gaffa Gallery, THE MCA STAFF SHOW
25 February - 9 March 2010

ime Launch 'At Perry Lane'

2010-02-18T16:36:00.000-08:00

I have attended a few launches and shows at 'At Perry Lane' now. Its a rather sweet courtyard cafe on the weekend and a funky public/private gallery space during the week. On Wednesday the 17th it was Daniele Blaauw's and her new ime jewellery ranges turn to bask in the spotlight. Of course as usual I was doing a fair bit of people watching in between knocking over a few Coopers beers.

Strangely I seemed to find the men winning in style stakes on this night; or maybe it was just that the men had some unique Aussie style (no, mens Aussie style is not an oxymoron) at this launch that got the better of my cameras attention.

Of course the jewellery got plenty of attention as well and after sending a phone camera pic to stylist Rhiannon Bulley I was instructed to secure a couple of pieces for our 'Le Magazine' photoshoot this weekend.

You can see the ime jewellery range for yourself at Akwa Avenue, 78 Enmore Rd Newtown or call 9565 5803.

Crosses in the X with Anthony Bartok!

2010-01-21T16:29:00.000-08:00

Christan neck wear was thick on the ground, or is that loosely displayed around many necks! A lovely warm evening sipping sparkling white wine at World Bar Kings Cross for Anthony Bartok's 'New & Old Work' exhibition. Some great art at bargain prices.

Anthony Bartok and friends at World Bar Kings Cross.

Sydney's best balcony. Paris in Kings Cross! I love it.

Anthony Bartok Website

The Psychic Photobooth 2009 - Mixed Dozen

2009-11-27T16:41:00.000-08:00

Friday night Opening of Mixed Dozen, Nov 27 to Dec 8 at Gaffa Gallery. I loved Malcolm's Photobooth piece which was clearly the hit of the show. Art can be fun too! There's some great photography work by Torunn Momtazi, Emma Furno and Diego Ibanez amongst others, well worth a look.

Portrait of Malcolm Smith, curator of 'The Psychic Photobooth 2009'

'Psychic Photobooth' portraits.

Portrait punters!

Gaffa Gallery.

"The Psychic Photobooth 2009
A breakthrough in advanced supernatural technology...
Enter if you dare. If you can't handle the truth, don't bother".

Gaffa Gallery

Serpent and the Swan : Label Launch

2009-11-26T16:18:00.000-08:00

Serpent and the Swan launch at Blender Gallery in Paddington Sydney. A nice line of knit and jersey tops for boys and girls. My little PR pack had the double headed wolf brooch which; as I went with lovely company I actually got to keep! (Some friends just have to raid everyones goodie bags).

I loved the instillation in the window; the 'product' photography on the walls was certainly edgy enough to fit in with the current rock photography show on at Blender. Another successful art gallery fashion launch!

Serpent and the Swan

2 Cynics, Movember Madness

2009-11-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

Checked out the Cynics Jewelry launch in Paddington last Thursday. Designer Amanda and Cynic helper Rhiannon do 'Chicks' into Movember! Go girls.
And... if you think it looks like they are wearing zips around their neck you are for the most part right, works rather well and reminds me of the good-old days of Punk.

Cynics Accessories Blog

Bank Hotel Newtown

2009-11-13T17:28:00.000-08:00

Late Friday Night.

Palmer Street East Sydney, Thursday Night.

2009-11-05T16:02:00.000-08:00

Movember begins,

movember.com

A Big Avo Out...

2009-10-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

It all started out with some location scouting in Kings X with Stylist, Fashion Writer and sometimes Artist's Muse Rhiannon Bulley. We had spent a couple of hours or so checking out a few spots for a four shot Web-etorial planned for Friday before meeting up with Nyk and Rachael at the Green Park Hotel.

We then rolled down the hill (in an orderly fashion) to Stills Gallery to see Trent Parke's 'Please step quietly everyone can hear you'; "This year Magnum photographer Trent Parke, one of Australia's best-known and most original photographers, was commissioned by Sydney Opera House, as an artist in residence, to shoot behind the scenes..."

Its a great exhibition, well worth seeing and we all got to meet Trent too. Now you don't get to meet Magnum Photographers every day so I seized the opportunity to ask Trent if he would 'pose' for one of my 'Artists and Openings' shots and kindly he said yes. But you can't get an artist set up for a portrait shot at a photography opening without one or two camera handy people getting in on the action too as Trent was letting me with a, "She's stealing your shot". Not that I mind in the least. When the lady beside me mentioned his eyes were shut in her shots I recommended 'tapping' the button faster only to find out the lady 'stealing' my shots was Trent's wife (and photographer extraordinaire) Narelle Autio! It was all fine however as apparently Trent is (not surprisingly) often on hand to offer Narelle similar advice. Hmmm...

Well after all the excitement at Stills, Nyk took us over to a Pop-Up Shop launch on the corner of Riley & Oxford St for 'desordre'. And curiously, speaking of 'stealing' shots over peoples shoulders; it looks like I managed to do just that with Nyk's set-up of the proprietors at the launch of this store. even more curiously, it looks like we managed almost the same portrait set-up from stills. What a strange and wonderful world.

Rachael Contemplates

2009-10-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

Rachael Contemplates what needs to be done before end of term at National Art School. Photographed in her backyard in Marrickville. I keep telling her not to worry, shes got the work!

Rachael's work

Relax, its all good.

You can also check out her blog on my blog roll on the right.

Waiting for the Bus, Broadway Sydney

2009-09-30T05:58:00.000-07:00

Blue eye shadow with green snake skin shirt & Yin Yang ring.

Spoke + Spool Launch & Art Collabo

2009-09-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

What a difference a week makes and what a week its been. South Australia decided to share its top soil with the whole of the eastern seaboard of Australia and New Zealand too. I got lucky with two of my dust storm shots being published in a magazine in the States called Strange Light, and last night I stepped out to the launch of Spoke + Spool, a new range of retro inspired lycra-less cycling clothes (In the shots below these "Street Fashion" portraits taken at the opening) at Frasers Studio in Chippendale Sydney.

As I mentioned last week, if you are going to launch a commercial product in an art gallery space it is probably a good idea to get some artists involved too by way of collaboration. Now this is exactly what happened at the Spoke + Spool launch under the banner of “Where To From Here?” Though to be honest I am not sure if Spoke + Spool is really a commercial product or an Art Project designed to look like a commercial product, however the clothes do look really nice. But I digress.

As someone who gets from point A to point B by bike (and who's current fav blog is Bike Snob NYC) I was very excited at the prospect of attending an event that fused Fashion with Bikes & Installation Art & Performance not to mention Free Beer! And speaking of free beer, as I also said last week, usually the “promotion” is for the beer and so it was this week with a beer I had never heard of before called RAW beer.

In fact every photographer that I spoke to that evening (and there were quite a few) could not help but make the connection between RAW files and RAW beer & what with the beers being kept cold and served from a filing cabinet... No doubt with a few RAW beers under the belt “Batch” processing may never be the same again!

But as I was saying my current fav blog is BSNYC which has helped me make sense of a whole raft of "things" I have been noticing around the city of late such as people walking their shiny track bikes or “Fixies” around Newtown & Darlinghurst/Surry Hills. I for one would never ride a fixed wheel bike around Newtown or in traffic in general (it was bad enough doing it for one off-season on the Camperdown Velodrome RIP) so I think these dudes walking their bikes are quite smart really. And so it seems are Spoke + Spool who are creating stylish clothes for cycling from vintage clothing and fabrics with tricky reversible bits and fashion details in reflector strips; so you don't get run-down heading home at night when you realise your flashers are tucked away in your other bag.

From Spoke + Spool, “The aim is to use as little factory-new products as humanly possible, which results in one off low-tech pieces forming a collection of unique concoctions that are unusual in style, as well as comfortable, practical and durable.”

But back to Free Beer and art openings, one of the barometers of success I use for judging if an Opening has really "gone-off" or "not" is how long the free beer lasts. As I reported last week, at the Sneaker Freaker headphone launch the Becks never ran out. Oh happy days (or happy nights) I hear you say. No, that is not quite right although it does allow one to “enjoy beer responsibly” for-free for-longer. Sadly if the free beer does not run out, the launch/opening/promotion has not been a success! So I am pleased to say that even though RAW beer appears to be a new form of that Aussie sure-fire hangover-rendering “Classic” beer VB, in the fullness of time the RAW beer finally did run out; and after an enjoyable and informative night out so then did we.

Street Fashion and Cultural Enlightenment

2009-09-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

Last night my posse & I headed out for a night of art, free beers, street fashion and cultural enlightenment. Yes it was Friday night in Sydney and China Heights Gallery was launching “Old Friends New Minds” a new solo show by Mark Alsweiler. This is a very quirky show & I was able to knock off a quick “Artists and Openings” portrait of Mark himself with one of his large cut out works. Mark was pretty easy to spot as the artist too since as you can see from the portrait he was wearing a curiously similar hat as his painted subject (right behind him) is depicted wearing.

As regular readers of this blog would know I use art openings not only to keep up-to-date with new creative work, I also like going to art openings to see what people are wearing. Recently I have been noticing the return of the extreme tight jean, well extremely tight jean leg anyway; it seems the crotch may still ride low 90s style if you like them like that. For those of you who may not be aware I am a tragically old man and I must say its nice to see the tight legged jean back in style. Back in the early 80s I became something of a dab hand at tapering the legs of my jeans on my mothers trusty Husqvana sewing machine and, short of actually asking someone I suspect these “New” tapered leg jeans are available off-the-shelf and probably in stretch denim which was yet to be invented back in my day... No doubt stretch denim makes the logistically difficult task of getting the jeans on and off a much more simple affair.

Whilst checking out Marks charming art and art patrons jeans and shoes at China Heights we “discovered” Sneaker Freaker was having a “Cool” new product launch at another favorite gallery of ours, Palmer Projects just a little way down the hill.

Its an interesting proposition launching a product at a hip indi gallery space. Usually the art is real art and the “promotion” is just the beer. Sadly this was not the case down the hill at Palmer Projects although the good people at Becks seem to have provided quite a few cases of beer to help make the night a big success...

On our arrival at the Sneaker Freaker launch we were confronted with just four large “Portraits” of “Cool” people wearing ear-bud headphones & some clear display cases with, yes you guessed it, ear-bud headphones inside.

Now apart from the fact that I am a bit miffed that no-one asked me to shoot the portraits for a very reasonable advertising day rate; there is some pretty serious competition in the people-wearing-ear-bud-headphone world of advertising and photography. Also am not sure that presenting audio equipment “Under Glass” like it was precious artwork or some kind of jewelry is a particularly enlightened idea. Lets face it, even if like me you might just be turning up for a few free drinks and a bit of social intercourse; even the type of "Style Influencer" that this sort of launch is meant to impress is hardly going to be "influenced" by a few pack shots on the wall, no art and no Artist!

So I got to thinking about art and sound & I thought that if I wanted to have a cool launch of some headphones at an art gallery, it just might be a good idea to get some sound artists involved with the project instead of a photographer! Now as cool as sound artist Rik Rue (photographed here at SNO Gallery in Marrickville) certainly is, I suspect he is quite likely outside of Sneaker Freakers target demographic.

Still, there are plenty of sound artists around and a real art collaboration would have brought a level of true credibility to an audio products launch in an art gallery. And if we could have “sampled” the product (not just the Becks) we might have gotten a much better idea of just how “Cool” these new headphone are...

By way of lending a helping hand I decided that I myself would “collaborate” with the Sneaker Freaker installation and “re-curate” one of the jewel cases which I have duly documented here. And funnily enough, people just love collaborating with "art"; within minutes of my “indi-collab” the Ear-Bud-Jewel-Boxes were literally bristling with empty Becks bottles!

www.chinaheights.com

www.palmerprojects.com.au

Joolz + Vintage Luggage Company + Oncology Children's Foundation

2009-08-31T21:39:00.000-07:00

JOOLZ collection THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM at the VINTAGE LUGGAGE COMPANY + Fund Raising Auction for the Oncology Children's Foundation.

Not quite street fashions normal stomping ground but its all in support of a good cause. Vintage Luggage joined with the new Joolz Collection jewelry launch to support the Oncology Children's Foundation. There was no shortage of Teddy Bear buyers in support of the Foundation and the auction of a vintage LV trunk secured an additional $5000.

If you spot anything here that tickles your fancy you can check it all out at 18 Bay Street Double Bay darlings.

Oncology Bears, Sydney Models and Jewels by Joolz

The Auction begins!

The Vintage Vuitton

The Auction continues...

How high will it go?

Can we bear the excitment !~)

My Fav 'street' fashion piece of the night, the Red Shawl.

Jewels by Joolz

More Vintage Luggage

From their web site

"Oncology Children's Foundation
Make tomorrow a reality for kids with cancer

The Oncology Children's Foundation (OCF) is a not-for-profit children's charity dedicated to finding a cure for sick and critically ill children suffering from cancer, leukaemia and other serious cancer related illnesses. In Australia today more children die of oncology related conditions than any other disease."

If you would like to make a donation please contact the foundation using the link below.

http://www.ocf.com.au/

Thanks to Rosemary for the invite & everyone who made it such a great night.

Art, Art Students & Styling the Shoe.

2009-08-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

Is it the Global Financial Crisis or just that I have not been attending enough Art Student shows? I don't know what it is but Cool is Back! All the mixing and matching from thrift shop to the high street. I love it!

Great show, affordable art work, worth a look.

Mils Gallery.

Love Want launch at Blank Space.

2009-04-23T01:35:00.000-07:00

Street Fashion spent a couple of very pleasant hours last night at the launch of 'Love Want', Bec Parsons & Imogene Barron (photographer & stylist). The launch was a one night only event. If there was any doubt about that I think the Sydney City Council rangers that 'closed' the show where a nice touch!

Mums hand made Vintage Bolero Jacket with Rope Braiding.

No its not me, really!

A fantastic turnout and some splendid fashion all round. Click the pictures to see them a little larger.

www.lovewantmagazine.com
www.imogenebarron.com
Bec Parsons
www.blankspace.com.au/

Street Fashion & Yen Curvy Launch @ Mori Gallery

2009-04-02T18:55:00.000-07:00

Thank you Elodie for sending Street Fashion Sydney the invite for the Yen Curvy opening at Mori Gallery last night . This has to have been one of the most packed openings I have attended in quite a while. The humidity in the gallery was unbelivable but luckily we were there in time to grab a couple of beers to cool us down. Woe to those who came late the free beer never lasts long!

More about curvy here, http://www.yenmag.net/events/2/

Street Fashion at the Gaslight Inn

2009-03-14T04:17:00.000-07:00

Yes its true. Most nights after an opening at China Heights Gallery I slip across the road to the Gaslight for a(nother) beer and cigge. And as is usually the case there is a great selection of fashion conscious inner city types to be photographed.

Fashion & Photography at Monster Children Gallery

2009-03-07T15:31:00.000-08:00

It was a big night out, or in (depending on your take on things) at Monster Children Gallery Fridaynight for the opening of "Predator' and 'Home Alone'. A double featureof photographs by The Cobrasnake and The Selby. Being young Jet Setting photography types, the turnout for the show had plentyof fashion forward art lovers on hand with some great taste in shoes and of course a smattering of the old Aussie Thong (that’s a rubber flip flop shoething); mostly of the ‘Dress’ variety.

Iloved the girls wearing the Sass & Bide Tees with the mirror bits allover them. I referred to them as BigBling, as in “I love your BigBlingtee”. Try saying that fast after a few complimentary Asahi Beers!

Street Fashion at The Australian Centre for Photography

2009-01-30T17:09:00.000-08:00

Thursday the 29th was a big day for photography for me. I spent my first full day at my new studio, 'The Photo Studio ' in Sydney. This is my new base where I will be producing my commercial fashion photography. I spent most of the day working on a couple of Editorial submissions that are looking great.

In the evening I headed off to the Australian Centre for Photography in Paddington for the opening of the new series of exhibitions, Batteries Not Included | Angry Black Snake | Big Butch Billboard. Three great shows well worth stopping by to check out. I love art openings and I love the hip cool gallery openings in particular as you can always be certain of seeing some great fashion forward art lovers, or are they just Art Students!

Really it doesn't matter who they are the fashion is always great. It looks like light summer boots are all the range along with the old student fav, the Aussie Blundstone work boot. You can wear them anywhere, well at least you can if you are a chic.

I knew it was going to be a stylish opening from some of the people I saw making there way up Oxford Street towards the gallery from the bus on my there. Including, I kid you not, the lovely girl in the brown lace up boots photographed was one of those spotted on my way.

Unfortunately although I was in the studio all day I only had my tiny Canon IXUS 330 (circa 2002) to shoot with so apologies for the rather raw rough and ready quality of the shots.

Evening Gowns at The Strand Arcade

2008-10-29T23:59:00.001-07:00

Last night was the Final Year Ultimo TAFE Student, Ball Gown Parade at the Strand Arcade in Sydney. As I photographed one of the students ranges about ten days ago I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to this Gala event. As one would expect the fashion students had pulled out all stops in creating some truly dazzling evening gowns.

However, when wearing my 'Street Photography' hat its not the Gowns that I am there to shoot its the people in attendance. I spotted these two with a couple of their friends early on in the night and was managed to get off a shot of them in Pitt Street during a ciggie break after the show, before the final announcements. As it turned out the both work for a well known Sydney designer with the lovely lady on the right having completed the same design course only two years ago.

Two of the models from the parade. Agh; it seems runway make-up is a lot heavier than the make-up we use for shooting fashion! I have had the pleasure of photographing Sarah on the left several times in the studio & on location.

There's no point going for the shots someone else will get. Here's a top down view of the runway running right down the center of the Strand Arcade; my 'brother' photographers are forming a tight posse in the photographers pit at the bottom of the shot.

Thanks to the Students, Teachers and Sponsers for putting on a great show

Medium Rare Fashion (With Extra Cheeese)!

2008-10-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

It can be hard work finding people on the street with great fashion sense. But if you get along to a cool group art exhibition chances are you are going to be spoilt for choices in the style stakes.
That was exactly the case when Street Fashion Sydney took their camera along to the Extra Cheeese (with three e’s) opening at Medium Rare Gallery in Redfern Sydney on a very warm Friday night.
Light cotton sun frocks were in abundance along with shift dresses, tee shirts with great graphic prints and a whole host of groovy footwear from runners to heels to work boots (with floral print sun dress). Kaori was a tough taskmaster on the night making sure I did as many full length shots as possible. Thanks to everyone who stood still for the camera, Medium Rare gallery and all the Artists for hanging a great show and for all the Grolsch beer which seems to have made its way into almost every shot LOL!

Wanda & Peter from the new Tonkï label. Wearing Tonkï of course.

Enjoy the pictures, click the image to view the larger size. And please do leave comments we love them.

Rock 'n' Roll in the Pitt St Mall

2008-09-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

Late night shopping in the Pitt Street Mall really but I couldn't help think of the mighty Finn brothers & Split Enz when I saw these three strolling along. Its all about the hair, and the clothes and thats one fine bike too! OK, 'I See Red' might have been released in 1979 but that doesn't mean the 80s aren't back. If you want the proof check out the video at the bottom of this post.

Click on the picture for a larger view.

This Man hails from Brooklyn but we found him working the shoes in the shop right behind him in this shot. We needed to wait for him to finish his shift before we could get his shot and I have to say this store is doing great trade!

Well while Kaori & I were waiting for Simon(?) above to finish work we decided the shoe shop made a great background for the nights shots so here they are.

Its all about the accessories!

The Enz :~))

Marrickville Fashion @ The Factory

2008-09-24T02:14:00.000-07:00

I shot these three cool guys taking a ciggie break (me and them) during the 'Sounds of Failure' gig late last month. it was a stylin' night in more ways than one.

Buttons on the Circle Line.

2008-09-09T23:26:00.001-07:00

Well not quite the city circle which its great because it would have been too dark in the tunnel to get this great shot. But enough about the photography lets talk about the fashion.

I love this wonderful gray coat with oversize buttons, detail pleating and quilted sash belt. Its a lovely coat but when teamed with a giant 'Button' bag and black flats with, yes a big circle buckle (or is it another giant button!) you end up with a great looking outfit.

Kudos to the wearer who not only allowed herself to be photographed by the slightly strange guy reading British Vogue, but was also kind enough to change seats so I could get a better shot!

I spotted a similar gray wool coat being sported by another young lady as I continued my journey out to North Sydney. Unfortunately this shy creature was not prepared to commit to a photograph so I will have to report her outfit from memory.

Similar coat (I thought it was the same at the time). Tight blue jeans with ripping around the knees, white tee and white plimsolls. teamed with, wait for it; a lovely black leather bag with large silver/chrome rings!

All in one train trip, lucky me.

Off the Streets & into the Gallery

2008-08-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

Art Openings aren't just great for viewing art they are also great venues for seeing how the art world likes to dress. This is not the world of slavish followers of fashion this is where people can get downright creative with their dress sense. Though I am not sure I nailed those shots last night as I was busy shmoozing with the artists.

Adidas tracky jacket with beanie. Akira dress, boots from OS & Beret.

Artisit Tracy Moffat wears an knit Maxie Dress with pearls (yours truly in need of a new suit). Artist Newell Harry with his mum, in a Denim & Tee look.

Moffat & Harry Opening, Roslyn Oxley 9 Gallery Paddington Sydney. 21-08-2008.

www.roslynoxley9.com.au/

Moffat & (me) photo by Nyk Sykes.