colourmeskinny

stoned in love

2011-10-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

colour block me

2011-07-28T05:49:00.001-07:00

I'm black and white through and through with minimal shades of grey and beige and the occasional ruby red lip. This season's pops of colour don't sit well with me and have me retreating even further into my ready to wear 'funeral appropriate' wardrobe. It's not that colour scares me, its just that black is like the best friend that never fails me. Having said that, the above photos with their rainbows of fuchsia, orange and aqua have me lime green with envy (bodacious tan included). Perhaps with the right amount of bronzer the all sombre ensemble can be laid to rest for one evening...

in abbundance

2011-05-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

Recently I was asked to pen a summary of myself for Onya Magazine. I was met with a touch of writer's block but what eventually came out went a little something like what is listed HERE (under Contributor: Jade Rose Leopoldo).

Had I just been asked to submit photos that best described me instead it would have been a great deal easier (cue the above). Some would say owning and wearing 5 different rings at the one time is to live a life in abundance, others would say it is a shining example of materialism.

In fact, Doug Horton once said, "materialism is the only form of distraction from true bliss". Unfortunately I have to disagree, a) I don't exactly know who Doug Horton is, and b) if I owned each of those 5 rings displayed in image 4 my bliss would be...well, abundant.

urban upbringing

2011-04-04T05:25:00.000-07:00

Sunday nights are usually reserved for flaking on the couch and nursing a sore head from the night before. This is exactly how I intended to spend my Sunday night last week. Instead I found myself in a graffitied Melbourne laneway rubbing shoulders with the uber cool and exceptionally fashionable at La Carte Blanche's Urban Upbringing fashion show.

If you didn't know any better you would have thought the invitation stressed black only (with a hint of Gothic), as there was barely a soul who wasn't dressed in the typical Melbourne uniform.

Walking past the beautiful people (who evidently existed that day to make me feel even worse) I made my way to my seat - a silver beer keg, which visually looked great but when your legs can barely touch the ground it doesn't make for very eloquent front row seating.

What followed was a parade of some of the most promising up and coming designers - all who managed to display that distinct Melbourne feel in each of their collections. Joseph Jang, Kosta J. Peters, Geoffrey Haining and Miss Lyndel Yeo provided us with lots of black, lots of leather, lots of structural pieces and even themes of fetish fashion.

For a review on the event and fashions head to Onya Magazine.

Photo credits: www.fashionising.com

laneway photo diary

2011-02-15T23:37:00.000-08:00

For the last two weeks I have travelled around Australia scoping the fashion and music at several St Jerome's Laneway Music Festivals thanks to the insane opportunity offered to me by Rimmel London Au. What I did, was write and photograph what I saw. What I saw was a great kaleidoscope of the bohemian, the feminine, the gothic and the grunge (and that is only scratching the surface of what was witnessed). What I found was that my beloved home town of Melbourne not only offered up a delicious taste of what was on the agenda for Autumn/Winter 2011 (thanks to a most un-summer like day) but also an untoward touch of the "to be seen and seen only". If only my dear city had been able to remove the pole from out of itself long enough to realize that a simple smile is actually the most fashionable accessory one can posses. Oh and please play it simple next time, we don't need a Russian fur hat paired with a leather vest, high-waisted jodphurs and leopard print boots to prove that we are one of the most fashionable cities in the world :))

Head to the Rimmel London Au Facebook Page to see more posts on the St Jerome's Laneway festivals.

house and garden

2011-01-13T13:36:00.001-08:00

I have soon begun to discover (not long after I first started) that apartment hunting isn't as fun as I thought it might be. It's all good and well until that all too familiar wave of rejection comes crashing down upon you when you are told that you didn't get the place you have been gunning for/obsessing over/dreaming about for the last few days.

Nevertheless you move on and onto the next art deco, north facing, "stunning" two bedroom apartment and repeat the same continuous cycle. The one bright side of the rent cycle is that it brings out your inner interior design smarts. And by this I mean it has you frantically blog stalking other peoples design ideas and racking your brain trying to think where you can source an ornate bathtub, those black and white tiles in Kate Spade's kitchen, and airy fairy lights to hang over your 4- poster antique bed.

And on a completely unrelated note - aren't these outfits divine?

jaci bailey

2011-01-12T00:51:00.000-08:00

We have yet to see some semblance of summer in Melbourne just yet. However I have faith she is still coming...if so it's best to be prepared for those hot summer nights and sweltering days, grab the last of the seasons offerings from Jaci Bailey. Head to the website HERE to scope her summer 10/11 collection or head to Laneway Magazine to hear about the lady behind the label (of the same name) in my pre-christmas craziness interview.

back from blogger exile

2011-01-12T00:43:00.000-08:00

Feliz Ano Nuevo children of the sun x

colour me goot

2010-11-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

I met Josh Goot a few months back at the Belinda Store launch of his latest collection. In the time since then, I have somehow managed to track down the man in question for a few words somewhere between his hometown of Sydney and the haute couture set in Paris where he has been showing his collection. We discussed everything from Paris showings, to pop-up stores and even the task of breaking his very colourful label into the black market...otherwise known as Melbourne.

Click HERE to check out my words with the formidable, the talented, the ever so lovely...Josh Goot.

'cause i try and i try and i try

2010-11-23T03:35:00.000-08:00

The Rolling Stones sang it true when they uttered the words, 'I can't get no satisfaction' because just when the weather turns and I get those deliciously balmy 30+ degree days that I have been so longing for I get a strong craving for chunky woolen knits. The kind of knits you throw on over Bassike tees, your most worn jeans and weathered boots, open fire place not included.

It is in my experience to never ignore cravings...so I'm just going to go with it. I'll just counterbalance my most favourite winter knits with some ripped summer shorts, a refreshing mojito and some serious air-conditioning.

celebrating centuries

2010-11-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

"The face you have at age 25 is the face that God gave you, but the face you have at 50 is the face you earned"
- Cindy Crawford -

Celebrating 100 followers got me thinking about what even triggered my deep infatuation for models, pretty pictures and fashion. Then I remembered Cindy Crawford in 'that' 90's Pepsi Ad...and so my obsession begun. I had that commercial taped and it was replayed constantly, I stole my mum's Cleo and stuck pictures of Crawford all around my room (much to my parents credit they said nothing about the fact that a 7 year old girl had half naked pictures of a model in her room) and I begged my mum to draw a mole on my face with black eyeliner mirroring the infamous Crawford spot.

To this day, to say that I have a crush on Crawford is putting mildly.

would you like a side of fake with that?

2010-11-08T23:25:00.001-08:00

Last week, a friend of mine made the comment that he rarely reads an article these days that doesn't ridiculously over-praise the likes of someone in the fashion industry. He said it is a great deal rare to find articles that truly critique the likes of a designers collection. He said we were all in it for our name on a guest list, a plus one and the freebies involved in the praise.

I disputed this to a degree. I love to write, I love fashion, pure and simple. But I guess its a bit of a catch 22. When you're a wannabe fashion journalist, making contacts is like the Wang without the Alexander...without contacts you have no spine to hold your back up. Praising people makes you more friends (facebook friends that is), more friends means more contacts, more contacts, means more work, more work means more happiness right?

Doesn't it...

ineed. iwant.

2010-11-03T06:15:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA...Bali, Perth and the like...mostly just sheer laziness though to be honest, because getting back from holidays is soul destroying. It's like that feeling you get when you're 3 months into spring and your still wearing woolen knits...or is that just reality Melbourne?

Either way, I HEART THESE SHORTS. Maybe these shorts will help relieve my post holiday lull. I need. I want. You know the drill

"She who wears leather belted, studded, laced up short shorts has the last laugh".

bali belly and a bout of zimmerman

2010-10-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

Heading to Bali tomorrow and so very much wishing my suitcase contained every single pair of these bikinis for Zimmerman's Summer 2010-11 collection.

Unfortunately I will just have to make do with my Zimmerman bikinis circa two seasons ago and my non size zero body...

colour me violet and i

2010-10-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

Melbourne label Violet and I embodies all that is feminine and floaty, a contrast to the style that one usually envisions when they think of our great city. So it is somewhat refreshing that designer Anna Linklater has bucked the typical Melbourne trend (black on top of lashings of black) and instead embraced a palette of vibrant colours and summer pastels that leave you with a hankering for ice cream, hot summer nights and garden tea parties.

For a info on Rose of the Taj, the latest collection from Violet and I check out my article here at Laneway Magazine.

i am that in love with you

2010-09-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

More often than not I have noticed there is little simplicity to my blog, it's all about how many photos I can cram into the one post. This is mainly because I am all about the visual, I rarely go a day without sourcing that next 'amazing' photo. Sometimes however, one photo of one moment captured in time, haunts you in the best way possible.

Atlanta De Cadenet Taylor in all her nineties meets seventies glory does that for me in this photo, and I am unabashed to admit I have fallen head over heels for her hippie luxe charm.

i hate myself for loving you

2010-09-16T01:46:00.000-07:00

"Can't break free from the things that you do. I wanna walk but I run back to you, that's why, I hate myself for loving you".

Choice words from Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and as it turns out inspiration for the new Damselfly collection, 'I Hate Myself For Loving You'. Eschewing the more romantic, whimsical style of previous collections, I Hate Myself for Loving You presents itself as an ultra sexy rock inspired range of jewellery and accessories, drawing inspiration from Jett, and perhaps a few toxic relationships in the process.

From over sized embellished neck plates, to inky leather vests dripping in silver chains, Damselfly presents a range that will leave you decorated in dangerous forms of leather, chains, feathers and antique silver plated metals fashioned into raw, sculptural pieces that ooze insouciant sex appeal....louche rock star lover not included.

Designer Christianna Heideman was kind enough to send me the look book and as such I have included a few of my favourite things...

For more info on the collection, check out my interview with Heideman HERE at Laneway Magazine.

great minds have purpose, others have wishes

2010-09-09T16:15:00.001-07:00

Bodkin 'caos' braided sweater

Bodkin 'nuetrino' sheer sweater

Scanlan & Theodore clog

YourEyesLie digital galaxy vest

Hathway wedges

Topshop 'anticlog stirrup' ankle boots

Topshop sheer maxi skirt

Topshop oversized knit jumper

Pixe Market 'dot mesh' dress

Shakuhachi drape cutaway dress

Jeffrey Campbell 'Lita' platform

Pixe Market lace scalloped vest

Lonely Hearts bra set

Shakuhachi luxe utility blazer

Topshop 'Marvin' front lace boots

Onward tusk ring

Boutique 'oversized jumper' for Topshop

Pamela Love cross ring

Pamela Love 'crow' cross ring

Unique pleat maxi skirt for Topshop

Shakuhachi army mesh shirt dress

She Bible marle grey arbus tee

Pixie Market 'silk georgette' tail blouse

Pixie Market white sheer blouse

Tax cheque received, credit card cleared, wish list created.

Let the cycle continue....

so help me.

love JRL

she for herself, not for others

2010-08-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

A few years back an idea was born during a period of reflection in the hills of a lush Thai island. It was here that Melbournians, Lane and Adele Palmer decided to create a range of beautiful non-temporal pieces, including clothing, bags and kaftans.

What came next was Lane Palmer Green.

Largely inspired by the effortless grace and laissez-faire style of European women, LPG is not only functional and easy on the eye, but also managers to fit the caper of being environmentally friendly. This is by far no easy feat, but the ladies at LPG seem to pull it off with aplomb, all the while being morally responsible fashionably clad.

Their ethos, 'we love fashion, we love function, we love green', essentially says it all.

And despite creating their label in one of the world's most fashionable cities (Melbourne) they ask that when one commits to a piece from the LPG range, that they subscribe to a feeling rather than a fashion. When I ask what the LPG woman is like, I am told that she, 'dresses for herself, not for others'.

This concept has me captivated, as it seems dressing for others, for fashion or fad, is something that I and undoubtedly many others, fall victim to, often in our lives. Intrigued I tracked down Lane Palmer in order to delver further into a world filled with swatches of silk, hemp and organic cotton...

The birth of LPG//How did the idea come about?

I've always had an interest in clothing and a sustainable lifestyle. I had a dream of combining these two elements of my life into a business. It took quite a lot of research before we got it off the ground.

Collating a collection//How do the initial workings of a collection begin?

We look to film, art and design to influence our work. Adele and I begin sketching and making notes of the shapes, colours and themes we are interested in separately. We then meet and collaborate, often finding that we are on the same page.

It's a very organic and flexible process. At the early stages of the design process we work closely with a dying specialist; a lot of experimentation occurs when working with the botanical dyes. Often we will have a print concept or colour in mind and through the sampling stage it will change completely as we are shown different swatches.

The Lane Palmer Green woman//What might she be like?

She is of any age, but her mindset is timeless and she enjoys an open minded attitude to life. Her interest is in the beauty and practicality of individual pieces, rather than the latest trends and fads. She dresses for herself, not for others.

Environmentally conscious, fashionably clad//How important is it to design and produce environmentally friendly pieces?

It really is very important to us both. We want to extend this ethos of 'treading lightly on the earth' to our work.

Selecting process and material which are environmentally responsible is certainly a challenge. Unfortunately sourcing great fabrics that are environmentally responsible is quite difficult, particularly in Australia. We are still learning how to best be green, and we don't always get things 100%. However, we set out to create a brand that was different from the mass market and we are committed to this.

Material World//What kind of materials do you tend to choose when it comes to your designs?

We use a lot of organic cotton and 100% silk in our ranges. I love hemp, and this is used for shoes and bags. We are looking at using hemp/recycled PET fabrics for our clothing, as it is already used to line some of our bags.

We consider the environment in our design process as well. For example we have a tshirt and a dress with detachable beaded sleeves. This way, not only do you get to wear a garment in two different ways, but the detachable beading means the garment can be washed rather than dry cleaned.

Island inspirations//You have said that you are often inspired by summer time wanderings around Europe. Where is your favourite place to draw inspiration?

I got a lot of inspiration in Salina, Sicily. I have always wanted to go there as it featured heavily in one of my favourite books, The Leopard. There was a real clarity to the light there; cobalt blue skies, white buildings, bougainvillea, cactus and grape vines. Very simple and energising.

Paris is always a source of inspiration, just the beauty of the buildings, the art and the city's history is such a joy. Last time I was there, a friend and I took bikes, rode all through Paris to the woods and felt like we were in the countryside.

Walk this way//The gladiator sandal wedges are to die for. Is this your first foray into footwear?

They are really comfortable as well! And yes this is our first footwear venture. We work closely with an Australian maker in Indonesia who does a lot of footwear in Italy and collaborate on using the hemp in a completely unexpected way.

Future, its a time to think//What's next on the agenda for LPG?

We are researching new fabrics and dye methods and ways to streamline our process for minimal environmental impact. We are very excited that our winter range will include some 100% wool knits made in Australia from Australian wool.

josh goot be mine, not belinda's

2010-08-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

I was invited to the Belinda store at GPO Building last night for the Josh Goot Autumn Winter 2010/11 collection.

As it turns out, Goot likes to keep things on European time (presumably so he can continue his in-like relationship with London Fashion Week). So whilst other Aussie designers are putting forth their spring/summer collections, Goot's autumn is our spring, with a few tran-seasonal pieces thrown in for good measure.

Formalities aside, Goot's collection was nothing short of jaw dropping. His embellishment of colour was ever present, as loud, bright and bold as ever and boy did we fall in love. This time his patterns were a result of one of Mother Nature's most beautiful lightening storms, a storm of psychedelic proportions. Thus, further proving that his pieces are an art form unto themselves. Structurally they are made to fit with impeccable perfection and yet aesthetically, they are simply a canvas of sheer beauty.

Goot mingled with guests freely and was by far one of the nicer designers I have come across. When we asked if he gets down to Melbourne often he said, "not as much as I should, maybe every 4 months or so". When we complained about the tragic weather outside, he laughed and claimed that the weather was what made our great city. We had to agree...(until of course we made the trek back to the car in gale force winds). When we told him we had fallen desperately in love with his high wasted (lightening strike) mini, he told us to choose the black version over the white as it more suited our colouring. Oh and did I mention he will be back in town next week for the week long pop-up sale store at Melbourne Central??

Worth a look, if you much like me, go gaga over Josh Goot and his label of art.

p.s. my new iphone4 was used to take these shots, its good but nothing like my beloved Canon!!

what do barbie and abbey lee kershaw have in common?

2010-08-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

I remember a time when, the nineties lost its cool and style was most definitely not in the form of dip dyed coloured hair.

Fast forward to the year of two thousand and ten however and the nineties have returned with a vengeance, thanks to the likes of Abbey Lee Kershaw, championing highlights of pink and blue (much to my disdain).

I haven't toyed with this idea since I last played with my Malibu Barbie. And we all know Barbie is no barometer for all things reality, especially if her size zero waist and ample bust are anything to go by.

Forget the dye I say, we should all just make like Alexander Wang and plait our hair instead or sport a bohemian braid with a side of daisies. Better yet, let's burn our brushes and wear tousled bed hair with pride. I'm sure Barbie and Abbey Lee won't approve but at least we don't need to colour coordinate our hair with our flare.

who is harley viera newton?

2010-08-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

Her myspace reads: Female/97/London/New York

her face suggests she is much younger than these 97 years

Google her and the words 'it girl', DJ, musician and muse litter the page

because what 'it' girl isn't a faux musician?

Her mother is Brazilian, her father British, she was raised in LA and currently resides in NY

the classic upbringing of a socialite

She graduated high school in an Azzedine Alaïa cat suit

and so the headlines began at an early age

She juggles classes at NYU (where she studies Egyptology) with her sometimes role as bassist in the Lissy Trullie band, regular guest DJ appearances, ambassador for Christian Dior, co host of New York radio show 'Teenage Kicks" and just the general beings of an IT girl/style icon/muse.

So who is Harley Viera Newton?

the epitome of New York city style, the epitome of New York city cool.

sunshine on my window

2010-07-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

Dear summer,

Please hurry back. I am freezing to within an inch of my life and no amount of chunky knits and gas heaters will compensate for your delightfully balmy 30+ degree days.

I want to be where Jennifer Aniston is on that beach, I want to be back in Sicily floating in the Mediterranean sea, I want my skin to be golden, I want to be clothed in nothing but bikinis and sand, I want freckles and skin bathed in sunscreen, I want to feel burnt and look like I'm forever blushing, I want red and yellow sunsets and wide brimmed hats because...

sunshine on my window, makes me happy, like i should be.

Yours truly,

Jade Rose

Sunshine On My Window - Spiderbait lyrics

Photo credits, yours truly and as per below

Damselfly, a girl's best friend

2010-07-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend but personally I would much prefer the Stalactite ring from the latest Damselfly collection, Black Magic Woman. Apparently so too, would the likes of Kate Bosworth, Miranda Kerr and Gwen Stefani, all of whom have been spotted adorned in some form of Damselfly jewellery.

Quite remarkable for a label that was launched by a young Christianna Heideman fresh out of high school. Role forward ten years and it would appear that this born and bred Melbourne girl has a budding empire on her hands, one that now extends to a men's collection and an up and coming foray into leather ware.

Each collection is different unto its own, from the whimsical, to the bohemian, to the edgy, it is clear that inspiration flows thick and freely through a number of mediums. "It could be anything from a song, a piece of artwork, vintage jewellery, travel, or just people watching", claims Heideman.

Needing to know more (as I so often do) I dug a little deeper and decided to find out what goes on behind the semi precious stones, the fossilized material and the leather...

ONCE UPON A TIME//

The name Damselfly is an indication of Heideman's life long fascination with insects or anything with wings. "From a young age, I liked to draw and paint butterflies, damselflies, birds...I was pretty obsessed for a while! (Actually I still am...) I just thought the name fit well, as it was feminine but also had personal significance for me".

YOUNG LOVE AND EDIBLE CANDY//

Don't be surprised should Damselfly's next collection be entirely edible. Heideman's earliest memory of gifted jewellery was exactly that - a candy necklace from her first crush in primary school. "It was made of pink musk love hearts and I kept it for about two weeks before eating it! (I must have really liked him...). In terms of my first piece of non-edible jewellery, when I was about 6 I was given a sterling silver bracelet and matching necklace with little blue birds on it from my mum. I remember wearing them everyday and feeling like a princess".

TIMES, THEY ARE A CHANGING//

According to Heideman there is no one way to describe Damselfly as a whole, ideas change from season to season. "It's really dependant on my inspirations at the time. However, I would describe the Damselfly woman as urban, confident, creative, nomadic, and free spirited.

BLACK MAGIC WOMAN//

The latest collection Black Magic Woman, is decidedly darker and edgier, eschewing the romantic, whimsical style of some of Damselfly's previous collections. This was done to more reflect Heideman's own personal style. "I have been studying the geological side of precious and semi precious stones and have become fascinated with raw, fossilized shells/stones as opposed to the highly polished, faceted stones that would generally be used in jewellery making. Many of the stones used, particularly Pyrite, Stibnite and fossilized shell, are in a very raw form and almost look like something you would find in outer space!"

Asked to pick her favourite from her latest collection and she says its almost too hard, but is drawn to the Pyrite sun stone pendant, "It is such an amazing stone, I could look at it for hours! Also the fossilized shell Nautilus ring is definitely a favourite".

MATERIAL WORLD//

When it comes to sourcing materials, Heideman is forever on the hunt for that something unique. "I travel a lot sourcing components but I would have to say I am constantly "sourcing" and thinking about potential collections. I spend a lot of time scouring through op shops, antique stores, markets and basically anyone that will let me know look through their jewellery boxes..."

FROM LITTLE THINGS, BIG THINGS GROW//

Fast becoming something of a multi-tasker, Heideman also caters for the men in our lives, having launched Elias in 2005. "It began as a men's jewellery label but has also expanded into belts and wallets. I am now working on a leather ware range with plans to launch the collection next year.

As it would appear, ventures into overseas markets are also on the horizon. "We have just been picked up by an Asian based agent who has plans to expand the label throughout Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. We have previously dealt with all overseas sales in-house but I really do think you need an agent based in the country you're dealing with, otherwise it just gets a bit much to handle.

So whilst Heideman sticks to Pyrite rather than Diamonds, I'm sure that Diamonds or not, the likes of Marilyn Monroe would still approve.

Click HERE to visit Damselfly

Riccardo Tisci ruined my day

2010-07-11T04:53:00.000-07:00

Givenchy's autumn winter 2010/2011 couture collection by Riccardo Tisci. Need I say more?

Oh but I will.

Tumbling kilo grams of gold sequins, seventies flapper style fringing, chards of chantilly lace, feathers of the most exquisite kind and all this draped on the bodies of the eternally beautiful, falling to perfection on their tiny, elegant shoulders.

Just for one day I would like to be one of these models in one of these dresses. Is that too much to ask? Instead I spent my day at the Victoria Market, haggling to get $5 off a new straw trilby, ogling the array of cheeses on display and buying ricotta gnocchi from a lady who could barely be seen from underneath the hanging pasta that adorned her shop front window.

I thought this day was pretty much bliss until I saw these photos. Dam you Riccardo Tisci and your impossible haute couture perfection.