It’s not enough to refer to Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren’s creations as simply fashion. Rather, they undoubtedly produce stunning works of art, and their couture collections often blur the lines between wearable fashion and art. This differentiates the Dutch designers from other prominent fashion houses, as the pieces from their bold collections would not be seen on the typical celebrity at the red carpet.
Every collection has a unique theme that may reflect current events and is completely embodied by the unsubtle designs which never fail to intrigue an audience. For Viktor & Rolf, a jacket is not just a jacket and a dress is not just a dress; they are individual creations of art and nothing less.
I had the pleasure of viewing many of their creations at the Viktor & Rolf exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. It was an insightful display of their work which successfully brings attention to their exciting artistry.
These Dutch designers are proof that fashion can be an art form.
When I was five, my eyes would be glued to the television during the ‘Can’t get you out of my head’ video. I admired Kylie’s array of cheeky outfits (who can forget that white number that resembled a bed sheet) and exciting choreography accompanying the infectious beat. To me she has always appeared as a cool, sexy princess who would know what to do in any situation, and I think that was conveyed through the fabulous costumes she wore while performing.
I was able to see plenty of her incredible costumes at the Melbourne Arts Centre ‘Kylie on Stage’ exhibition where admission is free. It showcased outfits from her first tour in 1989 and until her Kylie Aphrodite Les Folies in 2011 – and it is clear that costumes have been a big thing with Kylie. Every tour had a specific theme, and the gorgeous outfits expressed the theme she wanted to capture with the help of powerhouse designers Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce and Gabbana, Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano and Australian designers Peter Morrissey and Mark Burnett. Some of the costumes were eccentric and loud, others were glamorous and classy, and others resembled an ancient Greek goddess. There is one thing for sure: a pop princess must always have an out-of-this-world wardrobe.
Here are just some of her beautiful and bold outfits featured in chronological order.
When I was enviously staring at these creations, it was like I was a child again. Some of these outfits were constructed out of the most exquisite fabrics and embellished by Swarovski crystals and stunning pearls. I would literally do anything to try on some of these pieces, just so I could feel like a highly successful pop princess. Oh well, maybe in my next life.
The Kylie on Stage exhibition only runs until January 22 at the Arts Centre Melbourne, so make sure you see it before it leaves! x
Fashion and feminism do not always come hand in hand; scores of women view fashion to be an oppressive sphere that attempts to convince women that the only way to be considered ‘beautiful’ is to conform to standards laid out by the dictators of the fashion industry, who are often men. Plenty of women regard Vogue Magazine, considered the fashion bible, as a beacon of sexism that undermines a woman’s worth. And let us not disregard the lack of diversification of the female body as plastered in magazines and seen strutting down runways in nothing larger than a size 2 mini-skirt. It is far from perfect or positive, and the fashion industry appears to exude a certain unattainable exclusivity thanks to celebrity endorsements and high fashion magazines. It is clear that the industry has plenty to work towards, and as someone who wants to work in the industry, it is an unsettling reality. Although it is necessary to acknowledge the negative aspects of the fashion industry, fashion itself is not a rigid and institution. For me, it is the most liberating medium I can use in order to express myself.
Fashion has been a facilitator of my exploration through feminism. In a world where women have historically had a lack of means to express themselves and communicate their thoughts, fashion has been used as defiance to their oppression. Some of the most iconic and outspoken women paved the way for change using the clothes they wore, setting aside cultural and societal conventions to make way for female empowerment. Coco Chanel, Frida Kahlo, Josephine Baker and Audrey Hepburn are just a handful of women who each showcased unique and controversial styles, proving to women all over the world that being yourself and staying true to your values is a wonderful thing. Thanks to these women, others were inspired to push against their limitations and explore their capabilities in a way that led to cultural revolutions and the success of the feminist movement. It is remarkable that such power stems from style, which is essentially comprised of clothes, individuality and a hint of courage.
I’m not planning on instigating any cultural revolutions anytime soon, but I think I will start with using fashion as a way to summon confidence within myself. In the end, personal style showcases your individuality and is not indicative of what you can achieve. I would hope that when I choose to dress in a feminine way that I am not considered to be naïve or less capable, and if I want to dress in a way that is considered sexy, that my value as a person is not undermined and I am treated with the respect I deserve. It is most empowering when people can make decisions about the way they look without concerning themselves with the opinions of others or the stereotypes of gender, sexuality, age and ethnicity. And this is a message that must be relayed by the fashion industry.
There is no doubt that there have been notable changes in the industry. The androgynous look is on the rise, there is a growing response to the call for a greater variety of body shapes and skin colours on show, and there has been outward support for feminism by designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Maria Grazia Chiuri, who is the first female creative director of Dior. Despite being long overdue, these acts are crucial as they give people the confidence to embrace who they are and to explore that through fashion. Although I don’t need affirmation from high profile designers that the feminist movement is important and necessary, it does raise awareness of the fight for gender equality and garners acceptance. And supporting the movement for gender equality is something I will continue to do through self-expression as conveyed by my fashion choices.
NOTE: Care must be taken to ensure that the clothes you’re putting on your back to proclaim your feminism or self-identity is not contributing to the exploitation of children and women in the textiles industry, which is something I have learnt recently. Being a feminist means supporting other women and preventing their mistreatment, and one sure way you can do that is through shopping ethically. Click here for a list of how top fashion brands rank in worker welfare.
I adore silver bags and silver shoes so much so that I can’t resist buying them whenever I spot them in-store or online, which has become a dangerous obsession for my bank account. I recently impulsively bought a silver metallic faux leather jacket from Zara when I noticed it from the shop window and of course I have no self-restraint despite the ‘NO MORE SHOPPING’ rule I had imposed on myself just hours earlier. BUT it has been the only silver leather jacket I have probably ever seen thus far so I didn’t need to justify it further.
And just before that, I had splashed out on a pair of silver leather mules from Topshop that are as comfortable as they are pretty. Mules have been re-introduced into the trends department thanks to fashion’s new affinity with comfort, as they emulate slippers but are acceptable to wear in public. Furthermore they are not very high, which my poor crippled hips are thankful for. Comfort aside, they are silver, which is possibly the most fundamental factor.
The next issue is, with my abundance of silver clothes, shoes and accessories, how do I coordinate them? One must not simply wear a silver bag with silver shoes and a silver jacket, no matter how much one would like to. I would potentially become a public hazard and blind people.
popsugar.com
So within this outfit I encapsulated the perfect amount of silver metallic, consisting of my jacket and mules.
Working that Kimmy K pose
Aaaaand one with my kitten Sebastian, because he matches.
But then again, too much silver is never really enough.
Jacket: Zara
Dress: Bardot
Shoes: Topshop
Cat: Rescue centre, yay!
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So, I should have done this blog post a couple weeks ago but exams/sickness got in the way. And even though the races have long gone and people are shifting their sights to the holidays, I’m going to talk about it anyway.
I went to the final day of the Melbourne spring racing carnival wearing an outfit that incorporates something old and something new. This particular day did not require a specific theme a part from being described as ‘family day’, so I decided to go with a navy look. By basing the outfit around my mum’s classic races hat, I found my navy cullottes and Witchery gilet and had practically sorted my outfit. Like my outfit for Derby Day, I attempted to only wear things that I already own, and almost succeeded if it wasn’t for the navy crop top I needed. I count it as a success anyway. The nude court shoes and navy purse (thanks Mum, again!) polished the look.
I went for something appropriate and sophisticated; something that embodies my perfect races style. Needless to say, I felt like I looked a little too mature, as this day is notorious for the younger crowd coming out and flaunting bare legs and stilettos. As I said in my previous post: we are not heading out to the clubs. But I suppose they probably are afterwards, so who am I to judge?
Gilet: Witchery
Pants: the Fifth
Bag: Vintage
Top: Kookai
Shoes: Human Premium
Hat: Vintage
Hope everyone’s having a wonderful week so far! x
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The Melbourne spring racing carnival is upon us again, where we see that the true winners are not in fact the horses, but women’s racing fashion. I attended Derby Day with my girls and I was stunned by not only the wonderful weather, but by how gorgeous all the women and men looked dressed in traditional black and white. The colour combination was flattering on everyone and the creativity involved in assembling outfits was marvellous.
Full lace dresses were a hit, alongside off-the-shoulder dresses and capes for the more adventurous types. Gladiator heels have made a tremendous comeback this season, matched with crown headpieces that are gaining more momentum with every racing carnival. Many women wore tailored pants or jumpsuits, which looked chic and fresh, especially when paired with killer heels. There are not too many rules involved in races fashion, but the main one I stick to is to keep it elegant, and to avoid looking like you are going to the clubs. This is a classy day for classy ladies and gents (unless one too many cocktails have been consumed).
I opted for a classic look featuring a pencil dress with lacing by Runaway, a flower fascinator, a Napoleon Perdis clutch and simple black heels. The fascinator was the main element of my outfit, and I bought it years ago at a stall at the South Melbourne market. The entire outfit was inexpensive and comprised of items I already had in my wardrobe. Fortunately, it was very easy to put together and I didn’t have to spend a cent.
Happy Races!
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I think I have discovered what my life-long love will be: Shoes. I had convinced myself that my love would always be dresses, but then I took a second look at my shoe collection and recent receipts of purchases and it was undeniable. I am a shoe-a-holic, essentially a Carrie Bradshaw, minus the expensive taste (for now).
A recent purchase included these ankle-strapped pointed flats from Witchery. Ankle-strapped flats were popular in fall/winter ’17 collections as shown by Valentino, Isabel Marant, and Vivienne Westwood, taking the sweetness out of the generic ballet flat and pumping it with a splash of grunge. I went with the black pair because when it comes to shoes, I can always match them with anything in my mostly-black-wardrobe.
Until the sun comes along, I think I’ll stick to my black and grey.
Dress: Bardot
Jumper: H&M
Bag: Nine West
Shoes: Witchery
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So many balls to attend and so many dresses to choose from. Being an ardent shopper means that I have a wardrobe that provides for any occasion, so naturally that includes plenty of formal wear options. But after having a sneaky shop on asos and finding ‘the dress I really must have’ (all of them tend to come under this category), I justified purchasing a new dress for the next uni ball. Because if you can’t stop thinking about it, then it must be fate- isn’t that right? Further justifications included not having the summer glow needed to pull off my variety of colourful dresses I purchased last summer, and also as this dress features long sleeves, it is an absolute must for a winter ball, obviously. Sometimes I impress myself with my creative reasons.
Not to take anything away from the dress, I wore black peep-toe Guess shoes with a matching black clutch. I love the reflective silver and pink beads- the only issue is how delicate it is! Probably have to avoid the mosh pits with this one.
For an impulsive online shop, there were no regrets. In fact, regrets are for the weak, and you ought to remember that next time you question your snap purchase.
Dress: asos
Shoes: Guess
Clutch: Kate Hill
Hair and make up by Lana Fried.
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Melbourne experienced a glorious taste of spring with temperatures reaching a rather pleasant 21 degrees. For the first time in weeks I left the house without a coat and it was oddly exciting to wear merely a jacket and scarf. It really is the small things that get us Melbournians through winter.
Khaki is a colour of the season, so I matched my maxi dress from Topshop with a vintage scarf incorporating a diversity of colours. Gold tends to compliment khaki, so I rocked the old Docs for a feminine-combat-chic look. I feel like I could take over the world in my hulking gold Docs.
Dress: Topshop
Jacket: Muubaa
Shoes: Doc Martens
Bag: Sportsgirl
Scarf: ?
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We are having a ridiculously cold winter here in Melbourne, and there are no signs of improvements in the near future. It has come to the point where beanies are not just a cute accessory but are an utter necessity if you don’t want your head to freeze up and lose brain function upon stepping outside. Many people vehemently refuse to wear beanies on the basis of not knowing how, or they question whether the slouched piece of material suits their facial shape, which is why there are endless tutorials and how-to guides on styling a beanie. This seems a bit excessive as clearly it works like any other accessory; it simply needs to match something else incorporated into your outfit. And, like Doc Martens, there is a time and place for the beanie.
I naturally gravitate towards black accessories to make it easier on my wardrobe, and in this case I have matched it with black ankle boots, and complimented my oxblood red satchel with dark red lipstick. It’s easy to only stick with darker shades in winter, but I always aim to integrate a little colour to avoid fading into the sky’s backdrop.
Check out that beanie bling.
Dress: Witchery
Shoes: Diana Ferrari
Bag: Leather Satchel Co.
Beanie: Witchery
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I Like Your Shirt 