Summer’s Covergirl Cara enjoys an Aussie summer outdoor.
Summer 2009/2010
- A Word from the Editor - Dawson Ko.
- 90 Days of Summer - Stephanie Lau.
- Looking HOT when hot - Dawson Ko.
- Fashionable Days Gallery.
- Summer Collections 2009/2010 - What's Hot and What's Not - Nicole Barron.
- A Reformed Fashion Victim - Emma Fraser.
- I Wear, Therefore I Am - Tina Nguyen.
- ipod & i - Dawson Ko.
- Fashionable Nights Gallery.
- Fashion for a Cause - Katie Preston Toepfer
- Emergency Shoe Update: From a "Girly-Girl's" Point of View - Maree Jordanoski.
- End Credits.
Summer Fashionable Days
90 Days of Summer
Stephanie Lau outlines the summer essentials for 2009/2010.
Summer in Sydney is synonymous with sunsets at 8pm, spontaneous heat waves and successful (and futile) attempts in achieving the sun- kissed bronze. The credit-squeezed world of 2009 has reignited some of the very best fashion trends that surfaced in 2008 with more bold yet polished statements being made, from swimwear to asymmetric cocktail dresses. The following handful of neat suggestions should ensure that you will exude style from head to toe through the 90 days of a fashionable summer.
Do- it- thyself
Upbeat self-styling with vintage accessories and costume jewellery will endure through the season. By knotting your mum's silk scarf around your bag, to scavenging for bargain retro headbands can really make or break your personal expression. Don't be afraid to walk into your local Vinnie's to hunt for unexpected treasures or if you're feeling adventurous, Paddington and Glebe markets stock many precious hand-me-downs (but you'll have to practise combating many rummaging paws to get those to die for bargain finds). Think layering chain necklaces with textural contrasts, loading up on thin and chunky bangles on thy wrist and pinning on vintage gem brooches.
Injecting a statement hue by colour- blocking vibrant colours with softer tints is also another way to revitalise your existing wardrobe (and fund your summer lifestyle of parties, petrol and parking fines). Whether you're honey, brown or fair, you need to choose your colour palette carefully in order to flatter your natural features to the fullest. The hottest colours (pun intended) off the catwalk include pairing lavender, fuchsia and royal blues with monochromes such as navy, cream and greys.
Flower Power
This summer, botanical and garden prints are making a mind blowing comeback, adorning everything from necklace pendants and hair adornments to dress hems and waist belts. Traditionally a rather drab concept that you would often associate with Stepford wives or bad 80s sitcoms, blooming florals is one of the best ways to pay tribute to this season. If the signature flower is not embellished, then it is being weaved through the fabric print to create a striking canvas that can add flair and pizzazz to traditionally shaped pencil skirts, blouses and even swimwear.
Flora is illustrated with watercolour brushstrokes and dye blends that add a sense of dreamy haze to the lightweight satin fabrics of summer dresses and shirts, which has been seeing more layers to add volume and movement. Opt for dreamy rose prints and frills if you want to go for a whimsical, feminine aura, or pick a tunic dress with a bold floral pattern for an eclectic look. This versatile print is an ideal companion to the current revival of the 1950s A- line silhouette.
Perfect the Shoulder Pose
Summer Fashionable Nights
The bandeau bustier has given way to a more silhouette that spells elegance and sophistication- one- shoulder frocks may be getting as much widespread attention as Facebook (well, in the fashionista's bible anyway), with newer dress designs incorporating this asymmetric trend in combination with innovative fabric knits, more detailed layers with embellishments and Grecian goddess style drapes to infuse interesting textures with silk fabrics. Along with this trend is the movement towards more modest designs that offer plenty of coverage
Whispers of the Orient
No, this is not a prompt for you to don a full kimono to visit the local sushi bar. Garment details with hints of Japanese influence is emerging this season, whether it be blouses with full kimono-style sleeves or printed maxi dresses with subtle motifs that resemble the patterns you see on origami paper. This silhouette is most commonly paired with the flowing kaftan shapes to create relaxed garments perfect to adorn in the summer heat.
The key is to keep the exotic flair subtle and focused on one key statement piece (not seem like you decided to mindlessly dive head first into the oriental stash in your wardrobe).
So that rounds up pearls of wisdom spotted from the renowned fashion catwalks to the trendy fashion magazines hitting out shores. Precision and attention to detail is important to tackle these trends in order to achieve the desired outcome, so pick pieces that enhance your existing wardrobe essentials and let the frivolous patterns and shapes do the talking for you. Readers, have a fashionable summer!
Stephanie Lau
Marcia wears a summer cotton lilac halter.
Looking HOT when hot!
Dawson Ko explores the question of: "How to remain looking good when it’s 40 degrees?"
This is a question I'd been pondering throughout the lead up to summer. Honestly in this heat the previously best kept people are starting to look a little worse for wear. The sweaty, flustered, smelly look which is the product of an Aussie summer is affecting everyone!
Let’s start off with the appropriate clothing for summer days outdoors in Australia. For both girls and guys, wear summer friendly colours. That is easy, everyone knows that, but sometimes it still needs to be mentioned. So whites, pale anything and bright summary colours, they all deflect the heat, instead of the dark colours which absorb it and would only make you hotter (temperature wise).
Fabrics & Fit- consider light and breatheable fabrics so your body doesn't feel like a Dutch oven! Looser fitting clothing is actually advisable as it allows some space for your skin to breathe and sweat patches are less evident when your clothing is looser compared to tight fitted items.
Length- obviously in summer girls and guys are going to wear short shorts and small tops, obviously this is ideal as it allows our body to breathe, however the direct Aussie sun can be very harsh on our skin, so if you do decide to go with the "Less is best" approach to summer, please remember to apply at least 30+ sunscreen. These days you can get multi-purpose sunscreens which contain moisturising properties, thus your skin will remain smooth after and better off! Or on the market today are grease free sunscreens that avoids the whole sticky feeling which people were turned off by. And some girl's make-ups now contain 30+ protection, so applying sunscreen before going out isn't just reserved for those days at the beach, but should become a normal habit when going out during summer days in Australia.
So these tip bits were useful when thinking ahead before we go out, but what happens when we're out and start to feel the 40 degree temps, how can we sustain our look? Realistically I think its difficult to keep that immaculate look all day long. My personal plan is just to remain looking good until I arrive at my destination, or remain looking good until I finally meet that person I was catching up with. So the first impression I give off is pristine and well groomed. So it showed that I did go to some effort to look good for them, however if you're look starts to falter after, so be it!
Dawson at Sydney's Town Hall, he wears a purple Ben Sherman shirt and jeans.
So I'd personally advise to leave home early when getting to an arranged meet up during summer, this provides yourself a lot of time to travel, so avoiding the need to rush or feelings of anxiety which results in sweat and the look of being flustered. So leaving home with time to spare allows you to calmly walk/drive to that location, without breaking out in a sweat. On top of this, add the spiritual mind set of "inner peace".... I know! It sounds silly, but remaining calm and feeling patient will slow down our breathing and heart rates, which conserves energy thus reducing the feeling of heat and production of sweat. So if you have arrived at the location early, but your friend is running late, no problems, remain cool and calm, and you'll be able to prolong your immaculate look for your friend. And if you're waiting, its sensible to wait under shade, so if the meeting place is Town Hall steps at noon, then perhaps wait under the stairs until its time to go up, and perhaps just do a quick circuit, and if your friend isn't there, then go back to your shaded hidey-hole, and give them a buzz on the mobile to see where they are. It’s better than standing out in the sun for ten or fifteen minutes, slowly getting hotter and hotter and more irritable.
Lastly, when you're with your friend for several hours and you're well made-up face is starting to melt, or from personal experience, in heat my face really starts to grease up, perhaps keep some of those packaged wet towelettes handy. You know, like those little packets you get from KFC? Just excuse yourself to the bathroom, crack open one of these refreshers, and give your face a quick wipe down, it would freshen your look, remove the sweat and grease from your face and it would give you back your sense of confidence. For girls perhaps try dabbing, as you don't want to smear or wipe off your make-up completely? Do you?
And lastly, the smell! We all like to think that we don't smell, but in reality we all do. Perhaps this is more difficult for guys, as we don't have a bag to hold a spray of deodorant on us, as most times we don't carry a bag. But for the girls, you have the luxury of refreshing your odor with spray/roll-on deodorant which you guys keep in those huge hand bags of yours! Personally I'd advise for the roll on, as it doesn't add to the already present moisture on your body, when you're trying to avoid or eliminate sweat. While recently I was at work and my manager went to the gym at lunch time, during a 40+ day, but when she came back she smelt nice, as she had applied some baby powder, which I hadn't considered before, but that is another real option, to absorb any present moisture and to mask any smells. One last solution- if you're out for an entire day, for girls, perhaps keep a rolled up change of clothing in your bags, a singlet or t-shirt, so you look fresh all over again for the night time, for just a little bit more fun!
Hopefully these simple and no-brainer tip bits might assist you to remain looking HOT when hot! I know I will!
Dawson Ko