This week Sydney fashion writer Natalie Smith lets us in on her favourite things on GS. NZ born Natalie is the features writer for Russh magazine, the Sydney fashion writer for The Vine, the co-creator of fashion blog somuchtotellyou.co.nz, as well as a stylist and writer for advertising and film.

Read on...

ELLERY Triton leather tee in black $440 shop here

I love what Kym Ellery is doing with her label. And I love this teeshirt – I’m really into black leather at the moment, and I like that it’s not a traditional use of the fabric. It’s super soft and a bit tough – I’d wear it with a pair of denim cutoffs, opaque tights and boots, or even just with a pair of skinny trousers.

DEADLY PONIES mr stuff and tye in black $430 shop here

I grew up in New Zealand and I’ve always loved what Liam and Katie do with Deadly Ponies – they make all their pieces by hand from locally sourced leathers, they make interesting and beautifully designed and useful bags. They’re not swayed by trends, making their bags timeless and subtle. I am on the look out for a good, roomy black bag at the moment and this one ticks all the boxes.

NATHAN SMITH shirt dress $169.95 shop here

I love simple pieces like this. I wear dresses most days, and I am really into white shirts – this one would be great with tights and heels for work things, blazer over top. It reminds me of something Patti Smith would wear!

MAISE adverse pant $299 shop here

I just discovered pants! I know that sounds silly, but up until the last few months I have really only ever worn dresses and jeans. Pants seemed too…grown up. Now, I’m obsessed with them. I like high waisted pants, cuffed pants, tailored paper bag pants…you name it. I would wear these silky Maise ones with a plain teeshirt or jersey singlet, leather jacket and lace ups.

CHRONICLES OF NEVER choroid plexus sunglasses $250 shop here

Chunky, black, classic. I love these sunglasses. I would wear them with everything, all the time, except at night.




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Here's a sneak peek of the Chronicles of Never ss09/10 BLIND SILENCE AUDIBLE VISIØN eyewear campaign for your viewing pleasure. Images shot by the talented Jeff Yiu.

Eyewear will be available for purchase online mid September.

SHOP THE CURRENT CHRONICLES OF NEVER COLLECTION

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The Grand Social is happy to announce the arrival our newest label, Sydney based designer Amy Kaehne.

The label has garnered lots of attention with the gorgeous winter collection 'The Darkness Beyond'.
Focusing on the beauty found in the darkness of winter, and inspired by the dark and quirky aesthetic of Tim Burton films, Amy's collection features striking designs that range from feminine to structured with a focus on dark winter shades of black, grey and purple.

Visit Amy Kaehne's new online store to see more.

VIEW AMY KAEHNE

See above: Count Cape Top $240

Midnight Bodysuit with chiffon bow $160

Bow Dress $200

X Ray Ruffle Dress $270

Burton Vest with raw edges and black leather collar was $300 now $120

Striped Edward Tee with drape detail was $175 now $105

Lydia Dress with gathered skirt and shoulder leaf motif was $275 now $165


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Sydney fashionistas stepped out in style last night for the Australian premiere of the highly anticipated film 'Coco Avant Chanel'.

The film, which opens nationally on the 25th of June, details the rise of revolutionary French designer Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel played by the enigmatic actress Audrey Tautou (of Amélie fame).

Featuring costumes taken from the Chanel archive and new designs by Karl Lagerfeld, it seemed only natural that Sydney's fashion elite would step out in mid-week winter for such a cinematic spectacle. Attendees included designers Kym Ellery, Nicola Finetti and Akira Isogowa, stylist Pip Edwards as well as Sarah Murdoch and model Lara Bingle - both looking radiant in Chanel.

Pip Edwards, Nikky Hunter and Sass&Bide designer Sarah-Jane Clarke.

Model Lara Bingle in a Chanel Jacket and YSL Tribute boots.

Australian designer Akira Isogowa.

Model and Australia's Next Top Model host Sarah Murdoch

Kym Ellery

Nicola Finetti

Fernando Frisoni and guest

photos courtesy of Zimbio


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Welcome to the very first edition of This Week's Picks a new guest spot where each week we have a different personality choose their five favourite products available on GS and tell us what they love about them, where they'd wear them and what with.

First up is Rachel Riddle, creator of fashion blog and weekly style newsletter Style On Track.

Being surrounded by visual delights, is not a sin, but a great gift in life that we should all allow ourselves. Style on Track aims to take the best, most current and ground breaking part of the visual world, from photographers, fashion, art, magazines, nature and bring them directly to your computer screen. With a mix of news, reviews and interviews, almost every facet is covered and will hopefully will inspire a part of your life.

Visit Style On Track here

Maise - Diamond Ring $25 shop here

As miss Monroe wisely said, Diamonds are a girls best friend. And with this stunning ring, who needs real diamonds, when this is more likely to catch the attention of a room then naked pictures of Miley Cyrus. This thick chunky ring is the epitome of sexy, with its thick bold lines and sharp pyramid design, how can you wear this ring and not know you are wearing the hottest ring in the whole room, yes, even hotter then that girls expensive engagement ring.

Nicola Finetti - Sequin Tank Dress $281.60 (on sale was $352) shop here

As soon as I laid eyes on this dress, my heart had a mini 23 year old girl heart attack. Nothing turns on my senses more then dresses, sparkles, glamor and an unexpected twist, which is exactly what this dress entails. With my heart pounding out of my chest, I flicked through all the occasions in my mind, to wear a dress like this at, a birthday with a pair of black heels, a wedding with some white lacy kitten heels or a David Bowie concert with a pair of REALLY high platform heels and not to mention matched with that diamond Maise ring, this dress is my psychadelic dream come true.

Strummer - Sergeant P's Jacket $345 shop here

Well who ever knew Sergeant Pepper had such stylish taste in clothes, I would have been a member of that lonely hearts club to, if only to steal this amazing jacket. With its tailored look and slight stretch (important for cold days when you need layers underneath), this jacket is SO versatile. You could match it with a pair of skinny jeans and military boots for work or match it with a cool evening dress at night. Why should the military have all the fashion fun?

Amy Kaehne - Count Cape Top $240 shop here

There is something so charming and mysterious about this top, perhaps it is because it reminds me of the Adams Family mixed with Count Dracula. The sheer black material matched with the delicate draping arms, create such a carefree elegant look that I'm sure would suit almost anyone of any size. The inspiration for this collection was Tim Burton films (edward scissorhands, nightmare before Christmas....) and this would be the perfect top to wear when Johnny Depp decides to whisk you away on his magic ghost boat.

Deadly Ponies - Petunia Bud Pendent $210 shop here

It was hard to pick one item from this beautiful collection, but I couldn't stop thinking about this beautiful necklace, yes I even dreamt about it the night after seeing it. The long, delicate, thin sterling silver chain draping down into a beautiful hand carved bone petunia, almost as if it where a teardrop. For me, this is the perfect example of women, the gorgeous light pink colour creates such a contrast to the thick pendent it is so fragile, yet it is also so bold and strong.




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The Council of Fashion Designers America Awards has just wrapped at the Lincoln Centre in New York in a celebration of the rising stars of American fashion and a peoples choice nod for an American fashion legend. The awards recognize the outstanding contributions made by individuals to American fashion. To announce the nominees this year the CFDA decided to do away with models and have Craig McDean shoot the designers in their own creations, resulting in a crossdressing Jason Wu in a sheer chiffon gown and black suit, Marc Jacobs in his infamous Louis Vuitton bunny ears, and a raunchy shot of Alexander Wang in a chest-revealing torn up black tee.

Rodarte designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy took out the Womenswear Designer of the Year title ahead of industry veterans Narcisco Rodrigeuz and Marc Jacobs for Marc Jacobs. An impressive feat considering only last year the sisters won the CFDA award for emerging talent and it was only three years ago that they began making clothes together in their loungeroom. Rodarte fan Kirsten Dunst showed her support posing on the red carpet with the girls in a structured marble leather weaved creation from their Fall 09 RTW collection.

Alexander Wang added to last years CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund win by nabbing the Swarovski Award for Womenswear ahead of Jason Wu and Anna Wintour favourite Thakoon Panichgul. Wang looked cute with his take on the evening suit, swapping dress pants for black shorts for a more relaxed look.

New York design pair Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Scholeur were awarded Accessory Designer of the Year for their modern, sexy collection of shoes, handbags, sunglasses, gloves and belts. Extra kudos to McCollough for his win over nominee Marc Jacobs, who McCollough once interned for whilst studying at Parsons School of Design. Vera Wang was also nominated.

Marc Jacobs didn't go home empty handed, taking out the International Award in recognition of his work for Louis Vuitton.

The Menswear Designer of the Year was jointly awarded to Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein and Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders.

A particularly pale-faced Jack White presented Anna Sui with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Dressed in a sparkly checked brown suit White expressed his admiration for Sui's style for being timely rather than trendy.

This year saw the introduction of the Popular Vote Award, with 16,000 online voters naming Ralph Lauren as their favourite American designer. Lauren, the only designer to receive the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s four highest honors (the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Womenswear Designer of the Year Award, the Menswear Designer of the Year Award and the Retailer of the Year Award) can now add Mr Popularity to the list.

Also honoured at the event was Michelle Obama in a Special Tribute to the First Lady's 'meteroic rise as a fashion icon', in a pre-recorded video speech Obama praised fashion as an American 'art form'.

Justin Timberlake appears to be building respect in fashion circles adding to his cochairing of the Costume Institute's Model as Muse gig by honouring the work of GQ Creative Director Jim Moore (we haven't all so easily forgotten Justin's 'N Sync days or the Britney Spears matchy matchy double denim disaster not so many years ago).

Red seemed to be the colour of the moment for the award attendees. Diane Kruger looked cute in a Jason Wu red mini dress with black beaded shoulders presenting the Womenswear award, presenter Tracey Ullman did well in a red Doo.Ri number, Agyness Deyn looked fairly lacklustre in gold sequins and motorcycle boots, Dutch model Doutzen Kroes looked comparibly OTT in red Zac Posen, Demi's youngest daughter Tallulah Willis looked sweet in Calvin Klein, Ashley Olsen pulled out a bold heavy shouldered red vintage number and Coco Rocha looked hot in black and red Michael Kors and dark locks.

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The Trimäpee Online Store has arrived!

The androgynous Melbourne cult label have just launched their online store with a huge collection of men's and women's denim, cotton basics, jackets, shirts and accessories from their AW09 collection Prostitution Institution.

Key pieces include a great range of the perfect skinny denims in high, mid and low rise, the ankle swooping long wrap cardi, the heavy collared cropped leather jacket and the party-time sheer sequined sleeveless hooded shirt.

SHOP THE TRIMAPEE MEN'S COLLECTION

SHOP THE TRIMAPEE WOMEN'S COLLECTION

The Side Pleat Shirt $220 available in Black and White

Double Heart Zipper Legs in Black with back pockets below the bum $200
Multizip Bomber in Crushed Sportswear $350

Women's High Waist Heart Jeans in Grey, also available in Indigo and Washed Indigo $240
Armadillo Vest in Black with drawstring hood and pockets $300
Multizip Bomber Wetlook in Black $350 worn over vest

Sleeveless Hooded Shirt with Black Sequins $250 for the girls or the party boys

Long Wrap Cardi in Black $240 long unisex cardi with buttons to wear hanging long, wrapped in front or wrapped at back

The Queen of Hearts Crop Jacket in Black Leather $495

Braided Parker in Navy Blue $550 the utlimate winter raincoat


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The Grand Social recently attended a roundtable discussion for fashion bloggers staged to spark debate around the highly contentious issue of clothing sizes in Australia. Up for discussion was the issue of widespread clothing irregularities across labels in Australia, the changing shape of Australian women and the need for a new national sizing survey. The discussion was hosted by Australian Consumer magazine CHOICE and attended by Melissa Hoyer, Sassy Bella's Helen Lee, freelance writer Natalie Smith and chaired by Rag Trader editor Tracey Porter (Frockwriter's Patty Huttington was also to attend but sent her apologies).

CHOICE staged a shadow shop exercise around Sydney's Pitt St Mall, where reporter Kate Browne shopped for a simple black skirt across five major Australian labels resulting in Kate finding herself to range from a size 10 to a size 14 depending on the label. The most recent sizing survey in Australia was way back in 1975 and evidence of heavier population and examples such as above demonstrate the need for a new for new data to be collected. The government has recently announced plans in the budget to seek advice from the National Measurement Institute on the costs and benefits of forming a voluntary industry standard.

Designers that The Grand Social spoke with on the issue were all very welcoming of the idea of a new national sizing survey and although they saw the enforcing of a standardised sizing scheme as problematic they were in consensus that the information would be beneficial for their business, in particular with regard to online sales.

Also raised at the roundtable was the existence of vanity sizing within larger mainstream clothing labels compared to relatively smaller sizing existing within high-end Australian labels and the lack of larger sizes in our boutique labels. We asked several designers whether they have ever considered offering size 14s in their collections and the three labels we spoke with said they had all looked into it at some stage but upon offering it to their retailers they had not had enough interest to justify it financially against the production costs of grading to another size.

We would love to hear your opinions on the issue of sizing in Australia just log in to your GS account and leave your comments below. As an etailer this is a particularly pertinent one for us so we would love to hear your thoughts!

View the full report at the CHOICE website

Natalie Smith's blog So Much To Tell You
Helen Lee's blog Sassy Bella
Melissa Hoyer's blog Melissa Hoyer
Tracey Porter editor of Rag Trader

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