Exploring the back alleys of Brisbane City in search of textured backdrops, Melissa (Mirror Mirror Agencies, Brisbane) and I did a quick shoot in preparation for an upcoming project. I will be collaborating with Ally Dunlop of Wanderlusting blog who is a fashion blogger and stylist extraordinaire!

All I can say is that the next shoot you see this lovely lady featured in, will be edgy, dark and a different style to what I usually do. I am always trying to grow as a photographer so I thought it was time to push my creative boundaries, what better way to start the new year?

This is my favourite shot of 2013, I love the colour and how much awesome attitude Aicha has in this image.

2013 was a huge first year for BNE Style! Thanks to everyone who has followed my blog, participated in shoots, submitted content and been supportive of my new obsession with photography! As a creative outlet it is more than I expected, not just learning a new skill but meeting interesting people through attending events and setting up shoots.

2014 holds plenty more exciting shoots to feast your eyes on with lots of creative Brisbane folk!

Here are some of my favourite images from the year! Let me know which are your favourites

My favourite shoot of the year for its simplicity and great location was in a graffiti filled alley in Fortitude Valley, Date With The Sun with Aicha of The Fashion Heist.

This was my first shoot with Ashleigh of The Blonde Silhouette but definitely not my last! From Catch Me If You Can.

Looking Over Her Shoulder was a gothic fairytale shoot with Jessica Tovey clothing, models Ashleigh from The Blonde Silhouette and Claire from Fashion’s Sweethart.

Brisbane Writer, Freya Wright-Brough shone on a sunny afternoon in West End.

Alisha van Bone (my sister and creative collaborator) in She and Him.

Aicha from The Fashion Heist in a Jessica Tovey clothing shoot. We had some fun with the amazing Charlotte Reeves and we got a furry model in on the action in Dog Days Are Over.

Sunkissed Afternoon featuring Jemma Lily in lush green gardens.

My first shoot with Amber from Amber Fashion Avenue in Spring Flowers in Bloom with a perfect afternoon sunset.

My first published online editorial (on Flanelle Magazine) with Declan Kluver from Vivien’s Brisbane in Desolate Station.

Parisian Holiday with my blogger friend and all around lovely lady, Ashleigh from The Blonde Silhouette.

An editorial for The Gallery Boutique with the Brisbane River as a backdrop in Gallery Boutique – Dresses by Kuku. This was my favourite shot, the way her dress blew in the breeze was perfect!

My brother-in-law and all around nice guy, Jareth van Bone in Industrie Man.

My gorgeous cousins, Sarah and Clare in Powerhouse Beauties.

A lookbook shoot for BeBitko Clothing at the beach on a stormy day, making the bright colours pop even more!

Which colours or prints are sizzling this season?

Tartan has made a large resurgence from that London influence, sequins are being used in a variety of colours, often bright for summer or black for a luxe look. Pattern clash in florals and geometric prints is also super popular. You can’t go past the futuristic appeal of holographic textiles in accessories.

What are your favourite party dresses for the christmas season?

Futuristic textiles in retro cuts, we have a great range of metallic finishes in 1950 and 60s silhouettes, perfect for Christmas and NYE.

What are your must have items for Brisbane summer?

I’m looking forward to living in my lightweight kimono, with a jumpsuit for the evening and bikini for the beach. Otherwise you can’t go wrong with bleached denim in short-shorts, boyfriend jeans or a little cropped jacket, perfect for summer.

How does Topshop cater for different sized women?

One of the strongest points of difference in Topshop is its diverse style and size range. We offer Petite sizing’s in majority of our pieces as well the Maternity capsule for mums-to-be. There is also a variety of lengths to choose from in our vast denim range. Making use of the Personal Shoppers is a great way to be sure you are informed about all the size and style options within the store.

Images courtesy of Topshop.

Frock Paper Scissors cover 2012 (left) and The Quintessential Woman from a 2012 shoot photographed by Hayley McGill (right).

Frock Paper Scissors is the annual fashion / lifestyle publication created by the students at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. The magazine is produced by students within the Creative Industries faculty and this year’s editors are Catherine Keating and Brittany Meale. Publishing Frock Paper Scissors offers students the opportunity to gain experience in magazine production, to create pieces for their portfolios and showcases fashion editors, stylist and photographers to put on the watch list!

Frock Paper Scissors will be launching its eighth issue, One But Many, on November 21 2013, keep an eye on their Facebook page for more details.

“One But Many seeks to encapsulate the authenticity and raw beauty of Australia, its landscapes and its creative inhabitants”
- Catherine Keating

Frock Paper Scissors campaign launch October 24 2013 at the QUT Kelvin Grove campus.
Frock: Emily Lang, paper: Jacqueline Connors, scissors: Diyanti Camilla, photographer: Sophie Jeays

5 Minutes with the Editors of Frock Paper Scissors

What can we expect from this year’s issue?

Frock Issue 8 celebrates Australia and its diversity – paying homage to our uniquely diverse homeland and it’s creative inhabitants.

Environment sustainability in the fashion industry is a hot topic at the moment, will there be any coverage of this topic?

In light of the devastating Rana Plaza collapse, we’ve looked into corporate social responsibility and it’s importance in today’s fashion word. Similarly, the online team have brought this closer to home, investigating how Brisbanites are tackling these issues with recent sustainability event, Undress Brisbane.

Can you name any of the designers or photographers that will be featured in the upcoming issue?

Without giving too much away, Frock has aimed to diversify it’s approach to Australian fashion. Readers can expect everything from Brisbane locals like Alexis Dawn and Lack of Colour, to established Australian greats like Easton Pearson. You’ll have to pick up the issue for more!

How do you feel about the fashion industry in Brisbane? Do you think it’s growing and how do we compare with the rest of Australia / Internationally?

There’s no denying Brisbane is no match for the fashion meccas of the world; but in comparison to the likes of Sydney and Melbourne, we are definitely catching up. We believe Brisbane is a little underestimated when it comes to it’s contribution to the fashion world. All you have to do is look at the recent success of Lack of Colour – both nationally and around the world – to see we really do have a lot to give.

BNE Style spoke to Lucy Glade-Wright, one of the co-founders of Melbourne based online store, Hunting For George about how she and her sister (Jo Harris) started their store and what keeps these talented ladies inspired.

Why did you to start Hunting For George?
Jo and I have always talked about starting up a shop together and I guess one day the talking turned into action. That was 3 years ago now and we’re both so glad that we took the plunge!

Hunting for George was started by sisters Jo and Lucy, is it difficult working so closely with your sibling?
Actually it’s quite good because most of the time we know what each other is thinking which makes it very easier to work together. Plus if we happen to get angry at each other we don’t really have to worry about offending each other. We bounce back to normal pretty quick.

“Love Hate create endlessly beautiful must have products”.

How would you describe Hunting For George’s aesthetic?
A friend of mine once called us ‘Wholesome hipsters’ I’m not quite sure if I’m comfortable with the term hipster but we’re definitely wholesome. Our signature Hunting for George lifestyle brand (cactus clock pictured above) is quite classic and fresh. Our stunning Kip and Co collection (bed spread pictured above) is very playful and fun. Our Alice Berry prints are hilariously funny and Love Hate (adorable accessories and stockings pictured above) create endlessly beautiful must have products too.

What do you look for when sourcing new brands / products for Hunting For George?
We always look for things that we haven’t seen before. And try to seek out high quality products that have the ‘wow’ factor.

What are your favourite spring items?
Without a doubt our Love Hate petite hanging vase, perfect for spring to display all your beautiful fresh flowers! We also love our Peaches and Keen Cream and Gold earrings, perfect for the spring racing carnival and wedding season.

Who are your style icons / someone who inspires you?
We’re constantly inspired by the people around us. We have a lot of creative friends doing amazing things. Some of our favourites that keep us inspired are Cos We Can, Jonno Rodd, Santiago Sunbird, Peaches and Keen.

All images supplied by Hunting For George.

Hi readers, Ashleigh here from The Blonde Silhouette excited to be sharing some styling tips for our beautiful Brisbane weather!

It’s official, we are half way through the last month of winter! With the return of spring quickly approaching it’s important to get the most out of those wintery seasonal pieces and transition them into a spring must-have! So that gorgeous leather jacket you bought this year, it’s not just a winter accessory but also a fashion investment, a piece that will drive your style throughout another season.

Open those Pinterest tabs fashionistas and take note, as I am about to demonstrate your personal guide to restyling a winter piece into your spring look book.

In the winter…

This Jasu West 14th leather jacket has been pinned, clipped, screenshot and linked many times throughout the past 3 weeks and after much deliberation, it has joined my wardrobe as a staple piece. For the next month I plan to team it with my favourite winter pieces – jeans, knits, textured ballet flats and large tote bags.

Style tip: Hints of wine or berry, (AW13/14’s featured colour palette), will add warmth and depth to an edgy outfit while still keeping the look sophisticated and feminine. Finish with some bold, dark shades and minimalistic jewelry: think cuffs, statement rings and cute studs.

In the spring…

This spring, expect to see a recurrence of the monochrome trend in anything from apparel, to footwear and accessories. While that leather jacket became the focus of your winter styling, consider its role reversed to a cool, chic accessory by teaming it with a light, spring dress. This monochrome print kimono dress makes the perfect statement given its artistic and edgy nature.

Style tip: Remember KISS? Keep it simple and stylish; add a casual feel with some on trend flatforms and silver, stacked rings. Don’t forget it is spring so add a splash of colour to the mix. A bright cobalt blue will keep you effortlessly cool and ahead of the fashpack without being OTT.

Remember, fashion is cyclic, trends are always repeated and it is more than ok to team your last season favourite pieces with new seasonal threads. Feel inspired to transition your wardrobe and get the most out of your clothes!

Ashleigh will be writing monthly articles to give you amazing styling tips about how to wear this season’s latest trends.About Ashleigh: The Blonde Silhouette presents the inner fashion monologue of Brisbane based blogger, Ashleigh McCallum. From savvy street style to haute couture lustings, Ashleigh advocates impeccable taste with witty fashion savoir-faire.

With a title like that I bet you thought I would be featuring animal prints. Instead, the furry friends I visited at Alma Park Zoo recently inspired me to create this collection influenced by the beautiful colours in their fur and feathers.

The peacock is a fashion statement in itself. They have so many beautiful coloured feathers, this electric blue shift dress epitomises the peacock’s ability to turn heads. Don’t expect to go unnoticed in this little number!

Koalas are my favourite furry fauna and this mum and her joey were adorable and inseparable. This Ginger and Smart skirt steals their great combo of light and dark grey colours, for a sliming colour blocked bottom.

The ring-tailed lemur’s most identifiable feature is its fluffy striped tail. In these Carly Hunter striped pants you can be as comfy as mr lemur while rocking his stripy style.

The eastern quoll is also known as the eastern native cat, and is just as cute as a sleepy kitten. This white spotty blouse uses white on white for a subtle metallic pattern with my favourite Disney characters’ style collar.

If this dress was not inspired by a red panda I don’t know what is. Orange and white on the top and black on the bottom, it’s uncanny. I love the sweetheart neckline on this dress and even though it’s short, long sleeves means you can convince yourself this is a winter dress!

Animal photos and words by Alisha van Kimmenade.

Kim from Kijaro is a lover of all things vintage, she spends her weekends rummaging through forgotten homewares and knick knacks to bring her customer’s a collection that would make any vintage lover drool.

Kim also collects the stories of each item’s history to pass on to their new owners, giving each piece a greater sense of worth.

She also loves to create items like accessories (such as bowties) using vintage fabrics. A love of printing (from studying fine art and printmaking at uni, and dabbling in book binding) leads her to create handmade cards and invitations. These photos were taken at the Love Vintage Show where she was an exhibitor.

Bowties made from vintage fabrics, what more could a dapper young man (or woman) need!

These vintage suitcases fill me with a yearning to take off around the world!

1. Neon Hart studded biker jacket from General Pants – $159.95
2. Equipment Slim Signature Leopard Chiffon Top from The Iconic – $260
3. Mimi Loves Jimi, see me rollin loafer from General Pants – $59.95
4. Windsor Smith Envy Boots from The Iconic – $179.95
5. tribal rise necklace from Coco Kitten – $39.95
6. Mary Leather Bag from Coco Kitten – $79
7. Riders By Lee Bumster Vegas Jeans from The Iconic – $89.95

I’m not going to lie, all this rain is getting me down a little, I guess at least it’s great for my vegetable garden! So I decided to try something a little different today and post some of the things that I am coveting because online shopping is always fun on a rainy day!

I was inspired by this post about Sky Ferreira at the NME Awards from Nylon Mag’s blog and my own desire to channel my inner rock chick! Leather, leopard print and studs, what could be more rockin’?

Teresa from Bess Georgette in a 1960s ‘Swirl’ wrap dress.

Get this gorgeous piece: 1960s ‘Lady Fern’ blue and green floral dress by Carol Brent, I love the neck detail!

1960s ‘Timeless Bloom’ blue floral dress by Jean Lang

As a lover of good quality vintage I have been following Teresa from Bess Georgette via her blog and Instagram. Even though she doesn’t live in Brisbane anymore, the fact that she sells her vintage finds online make it easy for any of us to have one of these amazing pieces! Keep reading for an insight into her love of vintage fashion and what inspires her personal style.

How would you describe your style? Vintage fashion influences so much of todays’ and for this reason it’s so easy to incorporate it into your wardrobe, while still looking unique. I wear vintage and tend to mix eras with some modern staples… so I guess you could call that my self-described style. I love the full skirts of the 1950s and early 60s and if I could, I would wear a pretty vintage frock with a cardigan all year round!

What are you wearing today? A pretty vintage frock but no cardigan because it’s sadly too hot. (I can’t wait for summer to end!) The dress is a 1960s ‘Swirl’ wrap dress with a red and white polka dot bodice, chambray skirt and… a tulip pocket. Not only do I love full skirts but I also love them with pockets!

Favourite stores? Being a vintage collector and seller I would have to say my own online store *wink* and as for physical… op shops! I am a dedicated thrifter and if I haven’t fossicked through an op shop in few days I start to get a little fidgety. I also have a soft spot for Uniqlo. Their staples last forever and I have quite a few t-shirts and cardigans from there.

Who is your style icon or someone that inspires you? I’m not sure if I have one particular style icon. Audrey Hepburn, Carey Mulligan and Michelle Williams are three very stylish ladies I personally find inspiring. I spend a lot of time flipping through vintage magazines and sites like Pinterest, and I find a lot of my inspiration from there.

Why did you start Bess Georgette and what do you love about having your own business? I’ve been collecting vintage for years but it wasn’t until a few years ago, when I was selling the odd piece or two, I thought I should start sharing my obsession with others.

I originally started it as a part-time business while I was working as a graphic designer in Brisbane and it didn’t take me long to realise where my true passion lay. Bess Georgette is now my full-time business and I love being able to share my love for vintage with others! Nothing makes me happier then finding a vintage item and seeing it start a new journey with one of my lovely customers.

Images courtesy of Teresa from Bess Georgette