Summer fun on the horizon

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Hello peeps! Long time between posts for me. There has been way too much going on in my brain so I thought I would spare you all the outlook into that and concentrate on trying to tick off my mega to-do list. 

I always like to stop and reflect though on the changing of the seasons. We here in Australia just celebrated our 1st day of Summer yesterday-and it sure was hot indeed! Today it is going to be 36 degrees and I'm already wondering what it was I had against cooler weather? Yes- you get more done because you are not collapsing wishing you were sitting under a palm tree with a cool drink in hand!

Tiptoe through the Tulips!

 September has been a rather jam packed month. It began a new season, the colours changed, the weather became more warmer if not more windy, fashion week rolled out, my blog turned 2 (let's hope it's not the terrible two's) and many many more occasions and happenings to list here. So, when it all just gets too much, sometimes you just have to bake yourself some gluten free muffins and hit the road for a scenic road trip moving far away from the bustle of the city. That's what we set out to do last Sunday when our intention was to visit the National Rhododendron Gardens in Olinda, up in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges. It was a special day to celebrate Hanami day, when the cherry blossoms were to be in full bloom, only Melbourne weather sprung early and the blossoms had already had their peak, leaving only 20% of them left. Once we got off the train though to catch the connecting bus and saw the cue of Japanese who were not deterred by the lack of blooms, we knew there was no chance of getting on a bus that only runs 1 per hour! So-back on the train where another wonder of nature awaited at the Tesselaar Tulip Festival in Silvan.

Fashion schools grace the runway at MSFW

Wrapping up MSFW, which already feels like a long time ago with a first for Melbourne Spring Fashion Week history. A show featuring students from varying fashion institutions in Melbourne, giving them a platform to share their designs with the retail hungry punters which filled the Melbourne Town Hall. The avant-garde met with street wear and ready to wear all the while wowing the crowd with their creativity and expression in design. A high standard to come out of these schools and I hope a continuing staple in the MSFW calendar.

The weird and wonderful on show from RMIT at MSFW

Each year, this runway show draws a crowd of enthusiasts hoping to witness some bold, unique and daringly wacky fashion catapult down the runway. Well, this year was no exception. The 4th year RMIT school of fashion and textiles students provided us with a spectacle that we expect, clothes that may never be seen other than on a runway and practicalities of fashion that in this instance, get thrown out the window.  It's a chance for these students to throw creative caution to the wind and let their imaginations run free(I think some may have let them run wild) before the reality of creating a lucrative career in the fashion fickle world begins upon leaving the safety of the institution. Good luck to them all I say, it is a bold endeavour and always great to see unbridled creative freedom.

Levi's rock the runway at MSFW

This is a show I look forward to- being a free show is a bonus indeed, but the Levi's runway show at the MSFW hub in the city square always draws a fashionable crowd both on and of the stage.

I absolutely love denim as I think it just looks good on anyone and is easy to dress up or down. Levi's have been carving out great denim ensembles year after year and their clothes tell a story for me which is what I love-and rather appeals to the tomboy in me.

MSFW Designer Series Runway 2

When you think how much fashion passes down the runway by the end of fashion week, it is staggering, and also sometimes a bit of a blur. Hence it is always nice to look back at your photos and re-live the event and study the clothes further. Wednesday night was the 2nd designer series runway with a great collection of designers on show. Lots of digital prints, animal prints, metallics, white was a dominant colour with splashes of blue, orange and green thrown in the mix.

MSFW Designer Series Runway 1

What may already seem like a long time ago in fashion circles, last Saturday night was the official opening of MSFW with the 1st runway show gracing the Melbourne Town Hall. It's hard to keep up sometimes but as each model whizzed past me and my camera struggled to click on time, I was rather pleased with what I was seeing come down the runway, with both the clothes, hair/make-up and styling.

Dress yourself in red, white and blue-the Brits are coming to Acmi!

Image courtesy HBO

Spring is rolling around once more, and the annual way to celebrate it is with the launch of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week! And what better way to dress than in red,white and blue as we celebrate the newly fashioned film season at ACMI, curated by James Nolen, From Twiggy to Westwood-great British fashion on film. A highlight event in the MSFW calendar, and presented in association with MSFW and Great Britain Arts 13, each year we are presented with fashion films to highlight a week of runway festivities and cultural exhibitions, giving us time to pause and experience fashion from a behind the scenes angle, which is always far more interesting than what is presented front and centre on show.

Only want to see you bathing in the purple rain

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Let me take you back to 1984, when a certain movie by the name of Purple Rain came out, starring my all time favourite musician Prince. Also released that year, was an album by the same name with Prince and the Revolution. It totally changed my world. It is in my Top 5 all time most listened to and loved albums and I still get chills whenever I listen to the title track and love doing a zany dance to Let's go crazy.

Melbourne opens its doors once again with Open House 2013

I look forward to this calendar event every year as I like being a tourist in my own town. How often do you actually go exploring your own city, looking up at details of architecture, taking lots and lots and lots of photos? Well-actually, I do that all the time, but sometimes I see tourists get so excited about our city and yet others just walk along not noticing anything as we 'live' in it and take it for granted. Open House Melbourne is a great excuse to stop, look up and appreciate our wondrous city with fresh eyes and perhaps learn a little of its history along the way.

Welcome to GT GADABOUT!!

Well I have certainly dreamt about this day for a very, very long time and I'm glad it has finally come! As I hinted at in my last post, something new began for me on the night of the winter solstice. I officially opened up an Etsy store under the name of gt gadabout of course!

Winter solstice, longer days and new beginnings

A calendar year has dates that etch time and give reason to pause or celebrate. June marks for me two of them, the 1st being my birthday which is almost like a mini New Year half way through to stop and think how the year is panning out. Then followed on the 21st of June with the Winter Solstice- the shortest day of the year, but the one that is rich with hope of what lies ahead as we crawl towards longer days willing those Spring buds to take shape as we remove our heavy literal and philosophical Winter layers.

Birthdays shared and delighting in the Sun of Gemini

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Hello! I've been a naughty little Gemini and actually committed something a Gemini wouldn't normally do- be anti social and tuck themselves away from the world. But for good reason, as I am also a very easily distracted Gemini and have been busily working on a project that has been long playing on my mind and needs to be birthed quick smart! More on that soon, I do plan on sharing soon with all you lovely people. I must say you are patient bunch with my erratic postings and I thank you so for it.

The wonderful world of Cannes

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As another year folds at Cannes, deals are being finalised, worst and best dressed lists are being composed, actresses are ringing up their stylists in hysterics, a few champagne sore heads and the red carpet gets rolled up, it is always fascinating to see what hype gets created out of the season. It seems to me that this year, the fashions and apparent poor taste in hairstyles dominated the fortnight as opposed to the films that were being showcased on the big screens.

Good evening Europe! The votes are in for the Eurovision Song Contest!

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Ah, the year rolls by and before you know it, you have a strange craving for bad pop songs, over the top pyrotechnics and weird and wonderful outfits that can never be worn again in mainstream society. Yes- its Eurovision time again. I use it as a marker for the year, I know when it comes, the year is almost at the half way mark and Winter is approaching, so I look forward to snuggling in for 3 glorious long nights of predictable, unexpected showcasing fun while brushing up on my geography come voting time. What better way to learn who ones neighbour is than when they dish out 12 points to them?

Sleeping Beauty

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Late last month, I was stopped in my tracks when I heard the news report that the singer from the Australian band, the Divinyls, Chrissy Amphlett had died. I knew she had been battling breast cancer for two years and had complications with having Multiple Sclerosis as well, but I thought, this chick is indestructible, she'll be right. Sadly not.

New York City Style in Melbourne

Phew, it's amazing how time flies when you are distracted by so many projects on the go! I have been meaning to give you this post sooner and not deprive you of another fabulous fashion fix, but alas have only just gotten to it now. Back in March, I was thrilled to hear that my favourite stylist Patricia Field curated a world premiere exhibition entitled New York City Style showcasing 20 iconic outfits worn in the Sex and the City movie.

The day history was made!

As I mentioned in my previous post, after years of wishing, hoping, signing petitions, having Tweet-a-thons and begging Warner Brothers to make a Veronica Mars movie- the day has finally come! Since 2007 when the last season aired, the fans have wanted this. Well today, the Veronica Mars Kickstarter campaign ended, and all over the world fans united right up to the last second was counted donating whatever funds they had to see this dream come true!

A long time ago, we used to be friends-and I've thought a lot of you lately Veronica Mars!

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If ever there was the most perfect example of if you believe in something strong enough- never-EVER Give Up!Veronica Mars has always been my reference point for inspiring characters, brilliant comeback lines and dry humour, particularly from a female role, and now it also provides me with real life inspiration of the power of humanity. Lately I have found myself saying more often than not, that it is easy to just roll over and accept something as it is, blame it on the way of the world and just use the excuse that there is nothing that can be done about it, it's just the way it is. Wrong. If you choose to believe that, then yes it will be the way it is.

The Independent Man on show at LMFF

Ksubi

As one fashion festival ends, another begins, but before we get into that, lets take a look at the Independent Runway show which was the last show to cap off the week at LMFF. In my previous post, I showed you the womenswear on show, now it's time to focus on the menswear. From what went down the runway, it had a definite street edge appeal geared towards the younger consumer with denim, sweats and prints.

Happy Easter!

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Happy Easter everyone! Well the day is almost over here in Melbourne and I'm relaxing in an easy chair wearing comfortable clothing to allow for the enormous consumption of food eaten today to not get its revenge on me! After all the preparations,decorations, baking, watching yeast rise and filling the house with the aromas, then eating the results and deciding which cute bunny rabbit chocolate you are going to unwrap and eat, then feel guilty for eating it- can be rather exhausting work indeed! We had a taste of all seasons here with a cool, cloudy morning, rainy afternoon followed by breaks of sunshine that allowed for a nice long nature walk to stretch the legs and stop and sniff the flowers along the way. I hope wherever you are that you spent the day in good company, great food and in peaceful relaxation looking forward to new beginnings, and a new month on our doorstep! xGT 

The Independent Woman on show at LMFF

Trois 

Last Sunday night saw LMFF close a week long fashion extravaganza at Melbourne's Docklands with the Independent Runway, showcasing Australia's emerging and established designers. It's always a buzz to arrive to an empty runway awaiting what will be delivered down its long white path, camera finger eagerly poised and ready. I was not disappointed with the women's wear on offer and started creating mental outfits in my head with each snap on my camera.

Fashion on show at Highpoint

Well there has certainly been no shortage of fashion of late. With LMFF wrapping up just last night with a fabulous runway show(post on that soon) and more and more shops opening up to satiate the retail appetite.

West side has a new stylish address

Last Thursday morning I was invited to attend the opening ceremony of the new Highpoint fashion precinct in Maribynong in Melbourne's West. As I mentioned in my previous post, I did not expect that I would end up spending close to 13 hours at the shopping centre, mostly on my feet wandering around. But that is a great testament to the new design and shops on offer that there was so much to see and there was a great flow and energy to the new space.

Get interactive with ETSY

If you are in Melbourne at the moment, you might be aware that a certain fashion festival by the name of LMFF-Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival begins tomorrow. But what you might not know is that there is more to the calendar of events than just runway shows. ETSY, the world's handmade market place has presented an interactive space in Federation Square in the Atrium in conjunction with LMFF which brings together some of Australia's handmade sellers showing off their wares to the public.

Fashion dances to a new beat at Highpoint

Thursday morning I was thrilled to be able to start the day in a shopping centre so close to home that I have been eagerly awaiting the unveiling of. Highpoint Shopping Centre in Melbourne was launching their new fashion precinct after 4 years in the making and 2 years in construction, the $300 million dollar development is set to become the newest and most fashionable address for all your shopping needs. 

Moomba Madness!

March has really kicked off in full swing. It really is March Madness! I can't believe it is already the middle of the month and there is so much in my diary it looks like a mess, I sometimes just need to close it from fear of being overwhelmed! All that coupled with having to cope with a record heatwave here in Melbourne of 9 consecutive days over 30 degrees! Sleep has been an elusive dream and I am yet to catch up on it.

Get yourself Deeper in Vogue!

DRESSED FOR SUMMER 2013

Courtesy: ARTE France

It's time to dip your fashion toes back into the stylish waters with the biannual Fashion on Film Season Deeper In Vogue. Screening as part of the cultural program of the 2013 Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF), many of the films are premiere screenings in Australia which is all the more reason to head on down to ACMI in Melbourne from Friday 8th to Wednesday 13th March to see them.

Farewell Summer, its been fun!

Today is the last day of Summer here in Melbourne, but for all those on the other side of the world, you will be cheering the last day of Winter. Transitions of seasons are always an interesting time, I find it sad leaving Summer behind, feeling that carefree spirit of outdoors dining, reading a book under a tree and longer days and nights that seem like they can go on forever while wearing light clothes and leaving windows open fully to welcome in the warm breeze.

Melbourne gets its own White Night!

Just when you think Melbourne can't get any more exciting, or cram in another event into its jam packed calendar- we welcomed in a new addition to the mix! Experienced in several cities across the world, White Night made its first appearance in Melbourne celebrating arts, culture, music, lights, projections and a city closed off to traffic, but filled with spectators from 7pm-7am! 12 hours to watch a city transform from the various hours of energetic wonderment to weary stragglers needing to rest their heads by about 3am.

It's all in the stripe!

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I just love stripes. Always have and always will. And what's not to love. They have a cheery positive vibe about them and are classic staples that will never ever date! My closet is full of striped clothes sorted by colours & striped accessories so it only makes sense that houses too get decorated in striped awnings which I call them fashion for houses! I recently made some myself and spend many an hour enjoying the cosy feel it gives while offering me protection from the sun. A striped awning can make the most drab house all of a sudden come alive, a shop front appear more welcoming and a market stall all the more cosmopolitan.

Happy Valentines Day!

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Happy Valentines Day! I hope it is a purr-fect day spent doing what you love with the people or pets you love and treasure.

Nature, Friends, Wine and Fashion! What more can you want!

Last Friday I did the opposite to what most people would be doing at about 6pm. I left the hustle and bustle of the city noise and bars and headed towards the tranquillity of the mountain backdrops in the Yarra Valley. My fashionable companion on this mini road trip was my good friend James Nolen who had a rather special jacket to launch at the event. As you will see below, it's quite luminous and reflected the backdrop beautifully. We were on our way to a rather unique fashion event, where unlike most which are set in urban surrounds, this one was being held at the picturesque Yering Station Cellar Door Gallery space.

Heatwave classics to cool you down

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Australia is having somewhat of a record breaking heatwave at the moment and with that has unfortunately come bush fires, a sad companion to summer heat. Today in Melbourne, I was woken by rain at 5am followed by strong winds and heat predicted to be 37 degrees just to keep things interesting. Sometimes when the heat can get you down, I like to think of the aspects of summer that are memorable and joyous, like those great swims, yummy ice-creams, not needing to wear socks and layers and layers of clothes and the films I tend to want to watch.

Many Happy Returns!

Hello everyone! Its been a while since I have posted anything, I must say the month of December flew past faster than a woman on her way to a shoe sale! But late is better than never I say, a motto I seem to live by, and even though there are Easter eggs already on the shelves in the shops, it feels odd bringing you a belated Christmas post, but I wanted to share with you a few pics of how I spent my Christmas Day in love with my wonderful city in all her decked out glory!