Stylin' 940
NEWS
It turns out fashion can have a significant effect. See in Thailand: wearing a yellow shirt means you want to take over an airport, leaving thousands of tourists and Stylin’ writers (and by thousands we mean one) stranded in the hills for weeks on end. While wearing a red shirt means you want to throw hand grenades at the people wearing the yellow shirts. It’s ironic that when combined these colours make orange. As in, “orange you glad you got out of Thailand-” Why yes, yes I am.
We’re a little bit over this whole “designer-celebrity” schtick. After we couldn’t afford Chloe Sevigny’s line we just gave up hope. But sailing on the back of Tara Reid for Sally’s Skank Salon and Mao Zedong’s zombie for Versace comes a celebrity tie-in that just might work. We’re talking about The Chaser’s work for Mambo, a range of seven shirts that hit the stands this week. The slogans and designs range from funny ‘A pit-bull got my baby!’ to the really funny ‘Colour blind goth’ (written on a hot-pink tee), to the “Oh my gosh I just wet my pants a little, that’s so funny” ‘A funny t-shirt won’t stop you being a boring prick.’ We suggest you give that last one to someone you really uh, love, this Hanukkah/Xmas.
Speaking of celebrities, can you imagine asking Kanye to fetch your dry cleaning- And him not beating you down for it- This unlikely scenario may come to pass if he gets the internship he’s applied for at Louis Vuitton. We have to say we’re sort of impressed that he’s willing to work his career from the bottom up (with interning, rather than LV being the bottom, of course). He’s also shopped around with other major fashion houses, in the lead up to the launch of his very own label. Possibly the happiest news of all is that this new found fashion passion has caused him to put his music career on hold. It might even work out – we want every piece of Andre 3000’s range, so no one can say it’s not been done before.
In the battle between London and New York fashion weeks, it seems London is the clear winner. While New York is dropping designers at an alarming rate – most notable of late being Betsey Johnson, who’s given away her place in the Bryant Park tent, London’s line-up couldn’t be stronger. The preliminary schedule is stuffed full of new talent, as well as the emerging (and now, in the case of Christopher Kane, Luella, Richard Nicoll and company, emerged) stars the British capital is known for. We hope the British Fashion Council takes this victory with the grace and austerity the English are known for. That or they send the American’s an email with the subject “Nyeh nyeh ni nyeh nyeh.”
FEATURE
Joveeba is one of those effortlessly elegant labels that makes pretty clothes for pretty girls. Think the easy charm of a Bondi babe or Serena Van Der Woodson’s breezy New York bohemia. Already stocked in over 40 stores, Joveeba is flourishing in fashion’s harsh environment. We caught up with designer Ali Cotton to find out more.
You left fashion school early to start the label, what was that
experience like-
Turned out to be the best decision I have made! It was easy for me to leave fashion school as I was feeling really stifled there, so it felt very natural to go and do my own thing.
What direction are you going for this season-
It’s a very relaxed vibe. Washed out chambray denims, ivory lace detailing, unstructured shapes and plenty of soft ruffles.
Do you ever see people walking down the street wearing your designs-
Yes I do! Which is quite funny... especially if I am with one of my friends who points and shouts at the person going by in Joveeba.
How would you describe a Joveeba girl-
Fun, effortless, cool and a bit sexy without ever having to try too hard.
If you could dress anyone in the world – living or dead - who would it be and why-
Chloe Sevigny - she always wears the clothes, they never wear her.
What is your favourite piece of the season and how will you wear it-
The Set You Free Vest is my favourite and I have been wearing it over everything and anything. It looks great dressed down over a tank and
skinnies during the day, or over a flirty dress at night to give your look more of an edge.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a designer-
An event coordinator... I love to organise people.
If you could change one thing about the fashion industry, what would it be and why-
Probably just a bit of a reality check from time to time wouldn't be a bad thing... I mean we aren’t curing cancer here... we make clothes!
What’s your best tip for looking cool in summer-
Get on the Maxi Dress band wagon - they look great styled down with a
leather belt and thongs for day, or up the ante with vintage gold accessories for those balmy summer nights.
You inherit a billion dollars from a distantly related oil tycoon, what happens to Joveeba-
Our whole operation gets moved to a cruise ship sailing the world; that way every day would be like a holiday!
PROFILE
Caitlin Shearer is a young Sydney-based artist who renders beautiful images in watercolour and ink of androgynous boys in Peter Pan collars, adorable girls with bleeding knees and paper dolls in cutesy clothes. Inspired by curls, boy-girls, see-through clothes and plum lipstick, her aesthetic is one that is disarming, allowing the viewer entry into her fantastical dollhouse of a world. The nineteen year-old, who studies Fine Arts at COFA, has had her work featured in the David Jones display window, Vogue Girl Korea magazine, has had an interview in Paper Mag and also placed in the Top 20 young Australian designers in a Yen/MySpace competition. At her online shop, you can buy original artworks and affordable prints, and she is also taking custom orders. Caitlin has recently branched out into turning her artwork into necklaces and T-shirts, which should be an exciting treat for 2009. To buy some of her imaginary friends visit pepperminte.etsy.com.