Culture Magazine

I am featured in the "Style File" section of the August/September 2007 issue of Culture Magazine, the premier hair fashion magazine in Australia. The photo below, which accompanies the article, was taken by Kylie Coutts at my studio. Here is an excerpt from the article:

How would you describe your style?
I am definitely interested in theatrical and dramatic expression - let it be larger than life.
Define a 'fashion tragedy'?
Somebody who does not try! It's a tragedy to live life without passion.
Who do you think has great style?
John Galliano's recent collection for Dior demonstrates such stylish vision; the whole team must be exceptional. The opening scenes of Madonna's Confessions Tour concert in London took my breath away-mixing tailoring, bondage and equestrian sytle. The music videos of Christina Aguilera also show greating styling.
What do you think is your best feature?
My imagination. I have been accused of living in 'la la' land, but I believe in Unique Beauty and i love being a part of its creation. I'm optimistic-magic does happen and just when you need it! And I'm intuitive and spontaneous, that's a must in our industry.
What are your three tips for feeling great?
1) Prepare good food and share it with others.
2) Dress up! Go on, make the effort.
3) Go to bed early with your lover and don't get out till brunch the next day. Then you can start all over again!


The issue includes an event wrap of Hair Expo 2007. Accompanying the various pictures from our show "The Byrds" is a very flattering review, which I have added to "The Byrds" blog further below.

Whitehouse Shoot

As the head of the Styling and Design Coordination department for the Whitehouse Institute of Design, it fell to me to style a photo shoot for the college. The images are needed for a new institute brochure and for inclusion in the new Whitehouse web site. Tha garments are really ornate in nature, so it was a challenge for the styling direction to keep the detail and still look slick and directional. Of course, the success of any shoot relies upon the skills of the team: hair by Suki Hairdressing, makeup by Vanessa Eisenberg, styling assistance by Claire Hansen, Mirriam Andersen- Ward and Brad Preston, and photography by Kylie Coutts.

Diva Awards

DIVA= Drag Industry Variety Awards. Now you don't get a more willing client than a Drag performer wishing to out do every other drag queen at the DIVA night at the Australian Jockey Club. Damien Ross is a performer working full time in the 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' cast, and needed to make an enterance as 'Freeda Corsett' her drag performer identity. Our mutual friend, Paul Gambin (who is on the board of the DIVA committee), introduced us and it was a designer/client marriage made in heaven. I designed and constructed a black satin 40's glamour gown under a faux fur coat trailing an 8 meter boa around the hem. Of course, I had the expert assistance of Charles Chan to 'build' this beautiful coat as it was physically impossible to push 12 meters of fur under the machine.




Cutting to the chase, Freeda won 'Belle of the Ball' and another drag performer demanded Freeda leave the coat to her in her will. At the event we had the pleasure to meet celebrity photographer Morgan Carpenter. Morgan captured some very descriptive images of Freeda. Here is one I like and you can see Morgans complete portfolio at samesame.com.au


In addition to Freeda's outfits, Paul Gambin and Finbar Leong requested suits in my beatuiful jacquard fabrics for the event.

The Byrds

In June 2007, Goldwell/KMS offered Adam Noble of Next Hair Salon in Canberra the 30 minute finale show for Hair Expo. Adam approached producer/choreographer Sally Clark to coordinate the models and movements, and Ross Fairhurst and his team to design all the make-up. I was invited to design and produce the outfits, 32 in total, along the theme of 'Birds'. Below you may recognise outfits resembling canaries, flamingoes, magpies, penguins, hawks, swans and peacocks. These photos were taken and generously supplied by Wendell of Tito Media.



The following review of the show appears in the August/September 2007 issue of Culture Magazine:

Welcome to Birdland
A brilliant counterpoint to the melting pot of themes and fantasy on show in Generation Next was a sublime show by Canberra wunderkid Adam Noble and his team at Next Hair. Sponsored by Goldwell and brilliantly portraying fashion as an advanced form of bird life (with a cheeky David Attenborough running commentary), Adam in collaboration with the Whitehouse School's brilliant fashion designer Peter Dwyer, took more than 1200 people in the audience on a journey that featured 'bird life' of all descriptions and personality traits. From the self-possessed peacock, through the street tough magpie, the pretty flamingo down to penguins and birds of prey, all manner of fashion and behaviour was exposed. One of the most brilliant shows to ever hit the Hair Expo gala stage fusing killer hair, including Adam's bespoke precision cutting, to couture fashion with fun and a touch of fantasy.

Paper for money

Evelyn Miles shoes were in the process of designing their next add campaign and asked me to design one of my signature 'Paper Dresses' for them. The paper TuTu is a wonderful piece and I have won awards with it in the past, so I decided to offer them a fresh piece. It took seven hours to create. I instructed the Melbourne stylist (sorry can't remember her name) to cut down the individual paper strands to reveal the model. It should be fitted higher on the crotch line, but never mind, it still looks great.

Working with snakes

In Feburary this year, I was invited to assist Amanda from the Nishler Hair Salon in Hobart, create a shoot for her hair submission, along with photographer, Ian Golding. She had the idea to use live snakes, so I felt that an appropriate styling strategy would be to create a look that related to either 'Cleopatra' or 'Medusa'. I had seven pairs of Gold Bikinis made up and flew in to Tasmania with two suit cases of gold jewlery ( generously loaned by Conte Moda in Sydney) and "Hey Presto!!" Cleopatra with snakes!

Restrained

Matthew Nischler from the Nischler salon in Hobart invited me to design and style a shoot for him, with Ian Golding behind the camera. I had an idea to do a beauty shoot with girls tied up to industrial rubbish - 'Beauty thrown away'. In the end, the "tossed away" element was toned down, however my 'hording' is still evident in the background. If I was to have my way, the vague facial expressions need more distress, and a lot more 'bondage'. Oh well , next time!!

Cars and Couture

Being part of a wonderful team ensures a successful job. PR agency George P Johnson handles the Lexus account and wanted a fashionable approach for the Lexus reveal, during the 2007 International Sydney Motor Show. They (luckily for me) engaged Sally Clark to produce the reveal and she proposed a 'Spring Racing Carnival' theme. As we have a successful working relationship, she offered me the task of styling the event. Sharon Blain from The Art of Hair performed a spectacular job with classically styled up do's, and the talented Julie Elton applied the make-up. I spent weeks designing and pushing 'Sinamay' (spelling) under the machine to create, what i think, are fabulous 'race day' hats. It's all about colour and movement. This is one of the highlights of my year, event couture at such a stylish level. Bring it on!!!!

Paper Ball Gowns

Kate Jones from Suki Hair Design was entering the Generation Next showcase at Hair Expo 2006, and needed a creative director to conceptualise a show for her. I am mad about paper and proposed a show consisting of 10 paper ball gowns using recycled paper. The electro pleated paper was provided by Rado Pleaters in Surry Hills. My students from the Styling Department worked with me for 4 weeks (2 days per week) to design and construct these wonderful 'garments'. Here is a 6 minute video of the show.

Paper Dresses

The preparation for the photo shoot.






Photo shoot with Kylie Coutts.