Hello there baby angels,
I'm writing this two days after Day 3 (making today Day 5) so as you can imagine I am a tired zombie-esque not-entirely-sober wreck right now, so I'm not going to give you a huge essay about the show. I'm sure some of you will be happy about that.
I spent most of the night on NEON WATCH. As those of you who actually read my blog will know, I predicted that neon was on the way out. Days 1 and 2 of the festival have proved me wrong, so I was determined to see if the high-end was still embracing the trend as much as the high-street.I covered the Sportscraft show on Day 4 exclusively for Couturing.com, so when that goes live I'll be able to post it here too. Until then, here is a fun, albeit delayed, post for you. Enjoy, my little popsicles.
ARTHUR GALAN AG
Do you think they could use a prescription lens in the visor? If the answer is no, I'll have to sit this one out. Fortunately? Unfortunately? You tell me.Plenty of the classic, tailored silhouettes we've come to know and love from Sir AG. Bonus points because the models were wearing Adeles by Tony Bianco, and I was wearing them too. But I was in the audience. But bonus points.Neon watch: 0
ABOVE
I'm going to be blatantly honest here- why were the models dressed as tuck shop ladies? I've edited my snaps of this collection down to 4 not for space-saving purposes, but because I'm usually a big Above fan and I wanted to show you how nice most of their collection is. The garments themselves are DIVINE, but I need to have a few stern words to the runway stylist.
Neon watch: Is yellow a neon? (imagine me saying that in a Regina George "Is butter a carb?" kind of way.)
CARLY HUNTER
I'm mad for relaxed separates. Almost as mad as I am for neutrals. Carly Hunter spiced up her colour palette with some rich coppers and rusts, and some amazing digital printed sheer numbers. There was even a bit of metallic in there!I love you, Carly. Be friends with me.Neon watch: 0
ALICE EUPHEMIA
The first time I went to Alice Euphemia I was in year 10 and they had a series of about 20 pop-up dolls cut out of magazines stuck on a teeny tiny runway.For this reason, I will always love them.Neon watch: Neon PRINTS! And SEQUINS! Three trends in one! I feel like I should hate this but for some reason I'm totally fine with it!
LIFEwithBIRD
There were peaches and lavenders and inks and sands and digital prints and draping and pretty and I LOVE YOU.Neon watch: Not up in here
JAYSON BRUNDSON
You may notice that I have only included 1 photo from this collection. This is for a number of reasons (aka 2 reasons).Firstly, the photos turned out... for lack of a better word... shitty.Secondly, taffeta is something I would only wish upon someone really bad. And not good bad. BAD bad.
Neon watch: Sorry too distracted by taffeta suit.
YB J'AIME by YEOJIN BAE
So it opened with a Rachel from Friends stylez floral nightie thing dress thing, then moved onto delicious pastels and clashing prints. Thank you for breaking my heart then making everything right again.
Neon watch: 1. And it was pink.
MANNING CARTELL
Never knew I could feel like thissssssssss like I've never seen the sky beforrrre something something something every day I love you more and morrrre something something la la AND IIIII WILL LOVE YOUUU UNTIL MY DYYYYINGGG DAAAAYSo I really like Manning Cartell...Neon watch: Don't care love you
THURLEY
If I have to look at that incredible neon floral pant suit one more time on someone who isn't me, I'll be really upset. I need it. I'm left feeling like this: How does Annaleise Smith look the way she does?Neon watch: Okay yeah but like... Thurley.
We are greeted with croissants, apricot Danishes and fresh coffee upon arrival at Bassike Hawksburn’s launch breakfast- the perfect beginning to a lazy Saturday.
Bassike’s very first Melbourne boutique is situated on the picturesque, tree-lined Malvern road, already a bustling hub for the inner suburb’s fashion elite. The space itself is immaculate- huge glass windows providing an abundance of natural light, bare walls with pale wood details and a simple vase of cherry blossoms. The store features clean, fluid lines, entirely appropriate given the label residing within these walls.
Bassike’s stunning SS12 collection, which has been in stores since July, comprises of basics in classic cuts made of premium quality fabrics. Grey marles and oatmeals broken up with citruses and amber yellows. Sheep skin vests, silk Lurex shorts, and a hooded dress made of 100% organic brushed cotton fleece, all made in Australia with the most impeccable attention to detail.
The ongoing success of the Bassike range lies in its exceptional craftsmanship. The cuts are simple and classic, featuring such fluid design that putting the perfect outfit together becomes truly effortless. There are simply no garments that cause the “But I have nowhere to wear this!” turmoil within a prospective buyer as everything in the boutique is so very wearable. What sets Bassike’s designs apart is the quality and longevity of each garment. You won’t find yourself buying an ordinary pair of jeans- these are the perfect, acid wash, slouchy-fit unisex jeans made of ‘30 year no holes’ Japanese denim.
Formerly only stocked in Melbourne within David Jones, Fat and smaller boutiques, the Hawksburn store offers a far more tangible experience for shoppers, with the store decor adding an entirely new element to the Bassike persona. The boutique stocks more than just the Bassike label and is interspersed with fine imports allowing shoppers to integrate Bassike with other designer garments. The store encourages a “high-low” approach to dressing, enabling customers to focus on teaming basics with a number of luxury imported garments. Among these statement pieces we find an immaculately detailed 100% pelle leather jacket by Girogia Brato, hand dyed and crafted in Italy using artesian technology as well as a mint, apricot and lemon striped knit, imported from Berlin based label Maiami, crafted from 100% virgin wool- the first shear of the sheep.
Designers Deborah Sams and Mary-Lou Ryan are visibly excited to be welcoming their well-heeled guests into their first Melbourne boutique. “It’s so nice to finally bring Bassike here,” Ryan, originally from Melbourne, tells us. “We have been waiting to open a boutique down here for a long time but it was really important for us to find the perfect space- we didn’t just want to settle. As soon as this [space] went on the market, we realised the time was right.”
Bassike’s Resort 12/13 collection will be hitting stores in October. We’re told to expect an exciting new colour palette incorporating even more wearable neutrals with splashes of soft cherry blossom- fitting, given the Hawksburn boutique’s interior.
Each Bassike piece is timeless and adaptable, infused with a subtle luxury. The opening of the Australian design duo’s first Melbourne boutique is set to provide their Victorian customers with a personalised Bassike retail experience.
Visit Bassike at 617 Malvern Road, Hawksburn.
Images by the divine Anne Hasegawa for Couturing.
