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.

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.

Retro Summer Dreaming

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The last few days we have had a taste of Summer weather finally here in Melbourne, although as I type this, the heater is back on, so it didn't last for long. But Spring has certainly been a busy time whipping through every aspect of my life and giving it a good clean out- if it no longer serves you well, is useful, makes you happy- then it's time to go. A philosophy that can be adopted to more than just things and clothes but people too. It is a very cathartic, cleansing and empowering thing to do for yourself, and you actually find that life goes on, you don't miss these things but you have created space to think, see clearly and allow room for the new into your life. As Carrie said in Sex and the City movie, she had been cheating on fashion with interiors, well, I feel the same lately. The weather getting warmer just makes you want to jazz up the home and create little nooks and cosy spots in the garden you can imagine enjoying a good book and an iced tea in. My inspiration always comes from the past. Retro homes and style always evoke a playful creative energy of possibility and livability to me that can be lacking in some of today's modern cookie cutter homes. The colours are a form of therapy in itself and you can't feel sad surrounded by cheery yellows and pale blues. Life's too short to spend it in drab interiors, you spend money on clothes, but you are not in them as long as you spend in your home. You don't like one outfit, you can go to the closet and change it, but you don't like your home-well, you are stuck with it until you roll up your creative sleeves and get to work. I'm all for thrifty, nifty ways of creating subtle shifts without shifting your bank balance too dramatically. So, the easiest way to start that actually does not cost you any money is to start by removing ALL clutter! Hard one for me, but I'm learning that you don't actually need everything you use out on display, it can be put in a drawer where it is still easily accessible. Only have out the things you love to see each day you wake up, and not a bad idea to have a monthly rotation where if you feel sad you don't have enough space to display everything at once, treat your home like a gallery and curate your own space, changing over objects which keeps your possessions fresh and your other items don't feel left out that they have been packed away. Then you can play with some textiles and if you are handy with a sewing machine, whip up some new cushion covers or curtains to instantly add some pop to a room. Outdoors, the amazing invention of solar lights have revolutionised my backyard with coloured lights hanging and fairy lights wrapped around the trunks of trees, I always look forward to nighttime to see the magic that a night garden can deliver, for after all, a garden is magical at any time of the day, but most people don't show them off at night where nature is at its most magical. So think about what little things you can do to shift your space and you will be amazed where the other shifts in your life can also start to manifest, and best of all, you can sit back and think about it enjoying that nice iced tea, in the garden at night lit up by fairy lights! Here's to summer!

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The Grandness of The Hotel Windsor at Open House Melbourne

As mentioned in my previous post, last weekend Melbourne hosted Open House 2012, an initiative where the general public are allowed access into restricted buildings or off limits areas within buildings. This is a once a year opportunity to explore your city for free and look at it from a different angle- quite literally and for me, always walk away with a greater appreciation and love for it. You may be wondering 'What has architecture got to do with fashion GT?' Well, in my opinion- everything! Good design can be translated to many things, but just like architecture and fashion, the facade  has to be appealing, perform some sort of function, while beneath it lies all the construction and detail holding it all together, just like a great garment does. I believe your environment also plays part in how your dress and the mood your outfit evokes. For example, exploring the great majestic and historic Hotel Windsor, with its wide hallways which was to enable the women with the full skirts to walk side by side gossipping with each other, made me think that you would have to up your game and dress accordingly in order to do your surroundings justice. It would not be the same to be strolling down the halls in thongs and jeans and a t-shirt. Hmmm, really not quite the same I'm sure you'll agree. Sometimes, great architecture or a venue inspires the outfit you will wear so I believe that just like great art, music, fashion, architecture- all these things influence each other. So it's nice to explore all facets and allow the inspiration to filter through in other ways. I was taken aback by the sheer luminous grandeur of the lighting fixtures alone in this hotel. It really helped set the mood that you were somewhere special. The use of stain glass which was taken out and one point due to it being 'unfashionable' and put back in years later (proving that style revolves around once more) and the detail in the paint work and carpets were exquisite. I hope you enjoy just a small taste of what lies behind the grand walls of Melbourne's Hotel Windsor.

Melbourne opens its doors and welcomes everyone in

Last weekend Melbourne opened its doors over two days to allow the general public a chance to sticky beak into buildings generally deemed off limits-for free. Open House is part of a global family initiative which includes countries such as England, USA, Ireland, Finland, Spain, Italy and Portugal who all participate by allowing the public a chance to explore the architecture and forbidden areas. Melbourne Open House 2012 is in its fifth year and has increased in the number of buildings available starting with just 8 in 2008, to 100 this year. It is a great opportunity to appreciate your city's architecture, history and take pride in your surroundings by understanding the architectural work that has gone into building our city. For an architectural nerd like me, it is a highlight in my calender year, and the most photographed weekend by far. The only time I see that many photographers is in a room full of bloggers at a fashion event! But there is a great spirit of inquisitive minded people who appreciate and respect architecture, students, children, elderly, something for young and old, and a great place to meet people and chat in the long cues. You need a few survival items to get through the day which starts from 10am-4pm. First and foremost is comfortable shoes, as you will be standing and walking for the entire day. (My pedometer went through the roof those two days!)Next, your program guide and a plan on which buildings you wish to see- and a plan B when you see the cues will be too long, and of course a camera to document it all-because there is plenty! Then you need to practise patience while you wait to enter the building, but the wait is always worth it, once you see the smiles on the faces of the group that just finished the tour. You knew you were in for something good. I thought I would share with you some of my highlights- granted this will have to take place over two posts as there is just too many. Melbourne also put on one of its famous weather shows this weekend with heavy rain, sunshine and even a rainbow was thrown in, so in some photos you see rain on the windows, followed by blue sky and sunshine. That's Melbourne! I hope you enjoy the scenic views as much as I did- of course nothing beats seeing it with your own eyes, but hope you enjoy looking at it through mine! Enjoy!

The views below are from the 33rd Floor of the building 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne

The views below are from the Council House 2 Building- CH2 

The Grace of Bendigo

Last Sunday saw an end to what was a rather popular exhibition for the Bendigo Gallery- Grace Kelly: Style Icon. Beyond their expectations, the exhibit sold out weeks before it closed as fashionistas and retro glamour lovers took the 2 hour trek from Melbourne to go to regional Victoria and the charming town of Bendigo. I was so excited to be going back to Bendigo as the first time I went there, was also to see a costume exhibit at the gallery, but I fell in love with the old school charm of this historic town. I thought it was fitting that Bendigo became Grace Town, as the town itself has a grace about it. The exhibition was sensational but unfortunately you could not take photos inside. What I did learn is that Grace Kelly had a sustainable view on fashion, buying key pieces she loved and wearing them for years. She also knitted and painted her own nails and make-up as a Princess and I found that to be utterly refreshing. She truly had an eye for fashion and made anything look good on her.

The streets were lined with Grace Kelly banners for the exhibition, making it truly- Grace Town.

One of the landmarks that I always enjoy coming to is this beautiful old fountain that sits in the middle of the road. Why have a plain old roundabout when you can drive past and have a bevy of beautiful women wave you by. Yes, given they are made of stone and have water spurting out from underneath them, but that's beside the point. The wide open boulevard streets create such a sense of space and sky you almost feel like you can think straight, unlike the bustle of the city with skyscrapers closing in on you. As an architecture junkie, it is also delightful to see these historic buildings functioning amongst modern day business and shopping giving a sense that you have stepped back in time, even though you have stepped out of a regular store.

The gardens are also a definite stop on the itinerary with bold palm trees and a rose garden and greenhouse that makes you want to sit in it with a frilly full skirted dress on reading classic literature. 

Love the old signs and font

It was a day of frocks as on the way to the gallery, we passed another gallery space where artist Suzie O'Shea makes dresses out of paper and ceramic! Amazing. A lot of creativity and hard work has gone into those.

The clouds were out in full splendor on the day, and the sun decided to appear after being absent for too long, so felt very blessed with the weather. Amazed me on the way to just see wide open fields, mountains and swirling cloud formations.

Nothing beats a bit of a road trip, or should I say train trip, great architecture, nature and the glamour of exquisite gowns and a time long gone. A very memorable day. I do hope some of you were able to experience it.