Fashion Designer? How to be one?

The fashion world is ruthless, and one that can take many years of hard work sweat and tears to get any where in it! Like a secret club that has one of those unbelievable entrance rules once your in you are in and on the way to great things.

In an effort to start 2012 off with a bang I have decided to share a little story of where some of the worlds best designers started and what types of jobs and studies they pursued. It is always great to see how other people got the being so great, think about it then take a leap and jump on into making your own story that someone will read one day and be inspired! Lets get to it!

If your like me and weren't born into royalty (as much as we tell ourselves we are a princess), money, fashionistas or lords and ladies, many of our innovative and leading fashion designers were not either. Take for instance probably the most iconic woman within the fashion world, Gabrielle Bonheur otherwise known as Coco Chanel, she started her career within the fashion industry as a clerk in a hosiery store. Manolo Blahnik was a jeans buyer for a local jean factory. Our jobs don't look so bad now do they! Christian Dior wasn't even in the fashion industry being an art dealer. Miuccia Prada was on the path of a science career with a PhD.

Getting back to Coco Chanel, she became a seamstress at age 18 she then met a man whom was quite wealthy and she became his mistress. Enjoy a life filled with diamonds, pearls and all things lavish at the age of 23. While enjoy a comfortable life style Coco began to make hats, all while her relationship was on the rocks she met a man who was willing to buy an apartment and shop for Coco to start her own business making hats. Coco became a licensed hat maker in 1910. Within the few years of opening this little hat shop business was booming with film stars and the who's who of France wanting hats. Coco then made a line of leisure wear that would turn so much into Chanel.

Now a days Chanel is one of the leading fashion icons of all time and with as much hard work and persistence it was due to pay off. So as I finish this blog I am off to design and keep persisting within the fashion world to one day be alike the very best Coco Chanel.

Coco Chanel 1883-1971. An inspiration and icon one to never be forgotten  

Fashionistas: Hot Holiday Trends

From laying on the beach until 2 to partying all night with family and friends, it is officially the holiday season! Festivals, public holidays and of course my favorite all of the holiday season sales!

To save you the stress of having to work out how to survive the holiday trends I have gathered some tips and tricks from my personal experience! ( Yes, I have the entire last week off with of course a touch of work here and there) Lets get down to business- How to be the hottest holiday'er where ever your holiday should take you!

Step 1. Keep Shopping Fun

Meet a friend for lunch or break shopping trips it into small, manageable chunks of time to keep it from being a chore, especially when the baby strollers are out in force in all major shopping centres. I nearly lost a leg due to a stroller in the City Myer store! If holiday shopping is one of the few times during the year that you can dedicate to looking for clothes for yourself, don't feel guilty about gifting yourself with a few outfits, go through your wardrobe and make a list of things you need and if you find something to die for on special 'Uh' how can you resist spoil your self! Even if you're short on time, there are still strategies to shop in a hurry (this is where my list, black jeans, flats, several bright and colorful skirts and a blazer come into play!).

Step 2. Plan Ahead

Schedule your beauty maintenance well in advance over the holiday period it is a MUST. It is a good idea to make an appointment when you are in your hair salon, nail and eyebrow bar, spray tan salon etc.. Its the best way to keep track of when you need to go back and easy because you already have your appointment no need to beg and plead over the phone just to get in! Hair color and cut, manicure and pedicures, even getting your outfits cleaned or tailored needs to go in your appointment book ahead of time it is the best way to be stress free and looking your best through the holidays! I am excited to get my locks colored and cut those Beach curls just kill my hair!

Step 3. Buy a Few Multi-Purpose Fashion Pieces

If you have more than one party to attend, you can stretch looks to cover them. Take, for example, a long-sleeve romantic blouse with lace trim. You can pair it with jeans for a casual party, with black velvet pants for a cocktail party or a long black skirt and heels for a more formal affair of course keep your Chanel hand bag in toe for all of these events. Stay well-prepared by stocking your closet with party 'musts' that will be classics you'll reach for every holiday season. Just remember that most separate tops can go from formal to casual just by switching out the bottoms, shoes and accessories. It is also a good idea to keep dresses that can go from day to night, best when at the beach! Laze around the beach in some sandals and large hat sunglasses a must, then swap them for heels some bronzer and diamonds you will be looking like a goddess the whole night while not making much effort!

Step 4. Save Where You Can

It's easy to blow a bundle at the holidays, especially when you have parties, Christmas, New Years Parties, festivals and holidays. Luckily, retailers start running big sales early in November for all sorts of holiday fashion look online some stores are onto sales early Nov saving you a lot of money over the Holiday period. Look for classic items like cashmere sweaters and coats at bargain prices especially on American websites as they are in the middle of their Winter. You probably won't find the hottest designer bags or accessories on sale, but there are ways to shop like highly successful sale shoppers. I once heard Tori Burch found a pair of Christian Louboutins for $149. Now that is what I aspire to! ( As does my Bank account!)

Step 5. Remember That Shape wear is Your Friend

I have a confession to make as does some of my girlfriends who we do 'Bootie Camp' with yes I ate way too much Christmas Day the trifle was a delight and all that champagne over New Years was perfect to bring in the New Year however now my body is making me pay and jiggley bits are appearing! UGH! Stress less about it its the holidays your allowed to enjoy yourself and over iindulge! This is where shape wear is your best friend! When products like Sassybax (a bra that eliminates back fat) and Spanx will keep you looking slim on the sly. Time to pull out the Spanx and shaping camis to keep you looking sleek.

Step 6. When in Doubt, Wear a Little Black Dress

The beauty of a little black dress is that it will take you to just about any party -- except the most casual or most formal -- and look perfect. Just freshen up your look by switching out accessories (for example, add a bright heals to set off your amazing summer glow or cute accessories!)

While I sit in the office once holiday and party gal to regular crazy PA duties I wish all you holiday'ers a great summer holiday and if you are working keep your chin up there is always the weekend! Xx



Tip for Tat! Top 5 Exfoliating Tips!

Exfoliating your skin is not only great prep for a spray tan but also great to boost a bright and radiant appearance. All of which are what we are all searching for this summer! So to help you this summer I have compiled my top four exfoliating tips to ensure a brighter and luminous appearance.
Firstly, forget the fluffy nylon bath things your Nana gives you with the bottle of body wash. Secondly throw out the bacteria infested loofah that has been sitting in your shower for way too long! They are generally too abrasive for your skin anyway! Instead trade them all in for a basic wash cloth! Your new best friend when it comes to exfoliating. Exfoliating gloves are also a god sent- use them in a circular motion for best result!

1. Apply oil to skin

2. Take a dry brush or gloves to the skin starting from your feet- light strokes!

3. Next, step into the shower use a sugar or salt scrub starting again from your feet using circular motions.

4. Rinse, apply a salicylic acid body wash, pay attention to knees, heels and elbows. If you have back acne focus on this area as well.

5. Dry skin and apply a moisturizer

I hope these few handy hints are helpful and let your skin glow and pop like the fire works on New Years Eve!

In with the New

I love living in Brisbane, the people, the city and most of all my favorite boutiques and fashion stores.
The Met in Fortitude Valley has re-opened its doors after going through renovations. The club is back to its best, with more seating and most importantly a great new floor to dance the night away with your girlfriends! They have a great dj line up for NYE as well check it out!
Before you hit the dance floor with your girlfriends the best place to eat, drink and catch up on all the gossip you have to try Vepiano's, a great Italian restaurant that will have you coming back for more! Yes Carb heaven, I like to call it my cheat meal of the week, to justify all the carbs, it is definitely worth it!
So check out these new hot spots and enjoy them with your very best girlfriends!

ALERT- Cheap Thrills

Make the most out of your wardrobe these days I am find more and more that I am shopping around for the best deals and making the most out of my money, yes I will go and purchase that Vintage no name skirt that costs more than a small car but it will pay off in the amount of times I wear it and all the compliments seem to ease the fact it cost what felt like the earth!

However it is what you team the amazing earth costing skirt with that will put the bang back into all your bucks! I watched an interview with Marc Jacobs the other day and he was explaining the fact that women can pair an amazingly cut skirt with a plain t and look so chic and stylish and this is the trick to fashion and all of my cheap thrills sometimes a cheap thrill is a better feeling than purchasing that bag you have been lusting over for over a year. Anyway back to my amazing earth costing skirt that fits like a glove that I never want to take off, which in fact i usually don't! Eek I know this is gross however I do confess I part with it for 24 hours while it is at Elaundry being cleaned. Getting back to wearing my amazing skirt generally every second day which means teaming it with different colours, textures and accessories all of which I like the challenge of. And can be picked up at an amazing price all you have to do it keep your peepers open for them!

Take a basic t, add my amazing skirt, my boyfriend watch and I am out the door! Or add a basic tank top from target or kmart yes I shop at kmart it makes me feel justified when I buy my Vintage pieces. Grey, white, pink, black all the colours of the rainbow tank tops and I will have several different outfits add a necklace, bangles up to my elbow, my obsession with boyfriend watches I seem to collect total tally 4 as of now and once again I have reinvented my skirt! Oh not to mention add some killer heals for night or some sweet flats and I am good to go from day to night!

Fashion is somewhat suppose to be fun, and fun doesn't have to come at a earth busting cost all you have to do is be smart and choose the correct pieces to spend that earth busting and bank account busting buck on!
Stores that supply such "great bargains", as my dad calls them, Kmart (don't be ashamed everyone has shopped there admit it or not), Collete Accessories, Target (they have a great line for city chic women), online sales including Urban Outfitters, Shop Bop (amazing sales on Diane Von Furstenberg) and of course Camelia Carlton! Enjoy and also enjoy looking at a healthy bank balance for once! Xx CC