Fabrications

Givenchy sweatshirt, Damir Doma trousers, Grenson boots

McQ by Alexander McQueen bomber, Givenchy shirt, Balmain trousers, Underground boots

The eerily surrealist painting style of LA based artist, Alex G. Paradise, has been utilised in the latest editorial for online fashion retailer, SSENSE. The paintings, drawing inspiration from the retailer's best selling pieces of the season rather than blatantly presenting the products to the customer, are an interesting series most likely aimed at showing how fashion feeds on other creative industries (art especially). What stands out the most is the anonymous figures who model the clothes, who in my opinion blanks out the delightfully distracting fashion models and highlights the beauty of the garments themselves, which fashion is ultimately about.

McQ by Alexander McQueen polo, Kenzo trousers, Raf Simons backpack, Mr. Hare shoes

Stella McCartney blouse, Dion Lee mini skirt, Marni flats

View the complete series of paintings at SSENSE.com

View more works from Alex at www.alexgparadise.com

Images courtesy of SSENSE

Architectural Musings

The femininely mechanical vision of Dion Lee has earned him a place as one of the most respected Australian fashion designers. His collections always present to women the possibilities of fashion in the future - three-dimensional appliqué, fluidly shaped cuts and geometric detailing all features of his garments. Even though Mr. Lee admits he does not draw inspiration from the orderly discipline of architectural design, the aesthetic he is so famous for is reflective of modern, post-modern and futurist architecture. He has collaborated with photographer, Zac Handley, to show off his favourite structural sites in Sydney in an editorial for underdog fashion e-tailer, SSENSE - a few of the images featured here.

To view the interview and complete editorial, CLICK HERE

Images courtesy of SSENSE

Best of New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014 Pt. 2

The second half of the week boasted some big names, including Victoria Beckham, Thakoon, Y-3, Edun, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan and Thom Browne. Amongst these highly regarded designers, a few stood out for me:

Carolina Herrera

Carolina Herrera is one of those designers who herself is a fashion icon, and she has directly translated her undeniably modern and chic style into her upcoming collection. The collection features a discreet selection of colours, which almost conceal the finer details of the pieces, such as sheer panels, multi-layering and use of delicate yet sturdy fabrics. People who know Carolina know that she is not opulent nor ornate, but rather the embodiment of true minimal style, and now she has offered that to women in the coming Spring/Summer season.

3.1 Phillip Lim

Phillip Lim - a powerhouse in the New York fashion scene, has unveiled an interestingly composed collection. A number of details stand out - hidden sheer panels amongst rivers of colour, moody iridescence and the risky tie-dye. Despite these understated details, the effortlessness of these looks is apparent. Phillip may have also started another trend - the uneven decollatage. 

Vera Wang

A master of dresses, Vera Wang has once again delivered an outstanding collection. She has deliberately overused flowing sheers, often seen in bridal dresses, in a variety of colours to create a series of nonchalant dresses perfect for the warmer months. Layering and overlapping different colours equate to a collection conveying modern etherealness.

Proenza Schouler

There's a wonderful earthiness that exudes from Proenza Schouler's Spring/Summer 2014 collection, which is more grounded than what most designers' are showing nowadays. Despite this atmosphere, the urban influences of New York show on some of the pieces - the artificiality of botanical prints, paint-covered seams and the odd metallic. The origami-style construction of some of the dresses are juxtaposed the somewhat Greco-Roman inspired silhouettes, whilst the colour palette keeps the collection low-key yet highly striking.

Dion Lee

Dion Lee - Australia's most prized designer in this day and age, has finally shown the fashion elite of the Big Apple what he is capable of achieving. Seeing this designer grow, both in his market success and design aesthetic, has influenced my appreciation and love for his collections. His technological approach to historical design create garments that are absolutely perfect for the modern woman. His take on the dying trend of peplum is tied in with his ability to weave fabric into beautiful contorted pieces, and paired with skirt-pant hybrids and layered skirts, this collection has emerged as one of my favourites not only for the coming season, but from Mr. Lee.

Images courtesy of Fashionising

Lines of Neoclassicism

The coveted Australian fashion designer label, Dion Lee, has released previews of their collaboration with collage artist, Mason Mulholland, for their diffusion line, Line II. The new collection is called "Neoclassical", and that theme is apparent throughout, especially in the skewed prints that are reminiscent of the exploration of the human form in the Classical period. Classicism is further appropriated in the design of the garments, featuring a more geometric take on the draping that was prevalent in Classical fashion and a colour palette reflective of the Grecian peninsula. Dion Lee has once again demonstrated his ability to creatively influence fashion's future, and this collection will most likely be a hit amongst loyalists and newbies to the label.

Images courtesy of Dion Lee

David Jones' 175 Year History

Left to right: A recreation of Dior's "New Look", Woolmark Prize winner Dion Lee and Carla Zampatti's houndstooth dress

Dior press clippings

The historically prestigious Australian department store, David Jones, has marked their 175th Anniversary with a wonderful visual story about their fashionable history. Unbeknownst to some people, the friendships David Jones himself built with the many fashion designers, artists, graphic designers, royalty and political figures in our time and times past have built the high pedestal which the department store stands upon.

The archives of the department store are now open, giving people a chance to see who have contributed to the past and continuing success of David Jones. The exhibition gives thanks to artists such as Auguste Rodin, famous fashion photographer Max Dupain, and luxury fashion designers Pierre Cardin and Christian Dior, by showing their most coveted contributive work to the department store. Seeing the store's diverse history, particularly their involvement in World War II, playing host to Queen Elizabeth II's Australian banquet in 1954, and their questionable yet successful in-store zoo, makes you soak in the true grandeur of David Jones.

The exhibition is now on Level 7, David Jones Sydney (Elizabeth St. store) until June 23rd

For more information on the exhibition, head to What's On at David Jones

Photography by Christoffer Aguilar

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Going Beyond the Lens with Vogue Australia

Australian fashion design exports, Sass & Bide, on display

A revealing yet demure dress by Willow

Two influential forces of Australian fashion - Westfield and Vogue Australia, have teamed up to present the best Australian and International fashion designers that have been featured in the Fashion Bible. Spreading across 3 floors in the ultra-modern Westfield Sydney, top Australian designers such as Willow, Collette Dinnigan, Christopher Esber, Ksubi and LVMH's newly bought bush oufitters, R.M. WIlliams and International luxury labels such as Prada, Calvin Klein, Salvatore Ferragamo and Bottega Veneta's designs are exhibited in fashion photographs that encapsulate the personality and aesthetic of the designer and label itself. As you walk around the centre, commentary on the photographs and the future of fashion and its place in society by the recently appointed Fashion Editor of Vogue Australia and street style superstar, Christine Centenera and Genevra Leek are available to watch, further increasing the exhibition's interactivity and viewer's insight into the often overlooked fashion industry. My 3 favourite Australian designers were featured in the exhibition, all revolutionary in their vision and are leaders of Australian fashion - Josh Goot, Romance Was Born and Dion Lee (pictured below).

Kaleidoscopic pattern King, Josh Goot's dress 

Eccentric Australian fashion label, Romance Was Born

Australian supermodel, Jullia Nobis, in Australia's future of fashion and Woolmark Prize 2012 winner, Dion Lee's design

VISIT VOGUE: BEYOND THE LENS AT WESTFIELD SYDNEY (LEVELS 2,3,4) BEFORE APRIL 21ST TO WIN A HOLIDAY AT THE DIANE VON FURSTENBERG PENTHOUSE ON HAYMAN ISLAND!

Photography of the exhibition by me

(Photographers, stylists, models and assistants credits for individual photographs in the exhibition)

For more details on the exhibition, CLICK HERE