Gala Curios Enamel Lace Jewellery

Many a month ago I recall seeing something of this whimsical and fantastic calibre on the blog of fashion blogger Susie Bubble of the Style Bubble! I can't believe Gala Curios (a brand I have previously covered) have created such diverse pieces in terms of design as well as the materials used. The necklaces you see before you are made from lace covered in enamel for a hardened look on a thin and chic silver chain. I love the minimalist chain which doesn't detract attention away from the large and feminine pendants- only recently I received my Stolen Girlfriends Club ring in silver with a bow motif and I already want to get the gold plated ring as well! Bows are such a great feminine statement, and when done well I think they look brilliant but when done wrong they make jewellery look cheap and tacky and clothing becomes childish rather than chic.

If you don't like the lace effect as well as perforated nature of the material then there's also the ribbon necklace covered in enamel which is the perfect size and shape for a large statement bow on a silver chain. I can't wait to get my hands on one of these enamel bow necklaces from Gala Curios for myself, especially in my favourite colour, lilac. The knot at the centre of the bow shown above looks a little neater than the lace bow but for both types of necklaces the bow loops and end sashes look great being a little larger and spreading out towards the ends.

If you have the money to splash around, maybe the lace bib necklace in aqua blue would be worn layered upon another necklaces, such as the lilac bow necklace which I believe has a bit of a longer chain to it. I've been in a bit of a fantasy mood lately- it must come from staying up a little too late and scouring Etsy for some of the coolest clothes and jewellery. If I had to choose between the bow necklaces and the small lace bib necklace I would choose bows since I like a longer chain but that's not to detract from the beautiful colour of this piece. Also, with different coloured enamel lace and bows there's contrasting chains in either rose gold, silver and yellow gold which are all pre-determined.

I've tracked down a website that sells these necklaces for just under $100 each so as soon as my term-deposit clears, I sort out the laptop situation for university endeavours as well as selling a few more bits and pieces on eBay I should be all clear to get my hands on a piece from Gala Curios! I love their jewellery, there's a statement and dramatic theatre approach to their designs but they use great materials such as precious metals as well as leather and lace dripping with enamel. The bow necklaces are a great way to add a statement to a plain dress and since I'm in love with my resin rose necklace, why not add another feminine motif and fragile necklace to my collection?

The Untameable Abbey Lee Kershaw

I've been overtaken by a sort of fierceness today, I best the description is desire. Abbey Lee Kershaw is one of the hottest slices of model property at the moment and I'm proud to say that she came from the land down under. At the moment I need to meet new people and make new friends and I know that if I felt as beautiful as she looked than I would have no problems about letting my personality show. It's a bit of a fine balance really, and I wouldn't mind getting something pierced like my nose to put myself out there as a force to be reckoned with but I've already been cautioned against it this year.

I adore anyone putting themselves in the shoes of Max from the children's book 'Where the Wild things Are' and wearing a crown as well as a fluffy jumpsuit. It's a photo shoot I plan to tackle myself one of these days when I get the guts as well as a fluffy grey hood to pull over myself.

Abbey Lee's got a few piercings including several on her ear as well as her nose and nipple. It really works well to this effect when her fingers are covered in silver rings and there's a wild and rugged setting sitting behind her. She seems to take it all in her stride though and looks empowered by her wild environment. That's what I need to do really, be empowered by my new setting of university and be friendly and out-going.

When I had envisioned my Summer holidays and break in between high school and university I had thought of sunset soaked beaches as well as sand in my sheets and water leaving my hair with a dreamy curvaceous twist. I got a few things right but the photograph above could only be captured with fingers built for precision as well as the gorgeous Abbey Lee featuring in the photograph. I would never be game enough to wear such a swimsuit but I do like the use of gathered elastic intertwining across the stomach as well as the peach colour in the sunset light. From this angle you can see just how skinny this supermodel is and I would love to have that kind of body- unfortunately my stomach trumps my mind when it comes to wars over food and eating.

I hadn't quite anticipated the influence Abbey Lee Kershaw would have on my life when I first clapped eyes on her photograph in an edition of Vogue about two or three years ago- seeing her without a top as she is in the photograph above mildly inspired this spineless wonder to dream about getting her nipple pierced. The plan never came to fruition since I don't have anything except my first ear piercings done but it's always been a secret piercing I've wanted to have done ever since seeing the image. Just because it's in Vogue, doesn't necessarily mean it's classy, though the piercing was a simple bar bell with ball bearings in a silver colour.

Maybe a part of her appeal as a model comes from her shameless and often scantily clad body, although I will admit does make a girl feel jealous as well as  sorry for herself when staring at the pages of magazine covers and editorials all day and then dismally comparing her own body to something as gorgeous as Abbey Lee Kershaw. The side profile photographs of her stomach alone are enough to put a girl to shame, not to mention her gorgeous hair whether you were a fan of her long light brown locks or the new peroxide blond Abbey.

I love the background and setting for these black and white editorial photographs of Abbey; the contrast between light and shade creates spooky shapes and shadows on drift wood and sand and she knows how to channel the dark and mysterious look perfectly. I'm getting a little better at focusing my eyes and attention on a camera but it will take some minor miracle to focus my attention in such a beam-like manner. I never really had the ambition to become a model, knowing that I wasn't quite the required height, didn't have the looks and needed to lose weight so being photogenic was never a real concern of mine- although my mother was disappointed with a few bad school photos as so many mothers are. I'm practicing a little bit on occasion now for outfit posts and finally getting on track with my New Years Resolution blog-wise.

It's still Summer and only halfway through and I've already got Autumn and Winter on my mind- I can't wait to wear layers and rug up and carry a thermos around the campus with me. I'm eagerly awaiting more additions on an online website in terms of fur jackets but I think I'll settle for amazing vintage kimonos and wearing long sleeve shirts and tights under jeans. For the first time in my life I won't be restricted by a uniform but I'll probably get bored with picking out what to wear each day within two weeks. I was a little inspired to see a girl wearing Blackmilk leggings in cathedral stained glass window style with a top for red bull despite my gripes against caffeine energy drinks. I have great ideas sometimes but execute them often poorly.

There's a variety of facial expressions

Wallets by Serpent & the Swan

Serpent & the Swan are just one of many brands you can find on the online store The Grand Social, and unlike a lot of other online stores I have mentioned in passing this one is actually Australian! I broke tradition last year in avoiding the Boxing Day sales in inner-city Melbourne and not hitting the big name department stores but instead focused my attention on the sale section of online stores such as these two leather wallets featuring a horse motif. They were originally roughly $150 AUD but are now both less than $80 and while I already have a very good and sturdy leather wallet which I paid $100 for, I don't have a black wallet and the horse head zipper attachment on the first wallet is rather cute.

The second wallet features two horse heads in a sort of baroque and cameo style facing in opposite directions as well as a loosely tasseled wrist strap. This would be such a chic wallet to bring while hunting around local and friendly markets. I myself am very anxious for the return of the bi-annual Finders Keepers Markets that feature some of my favourite new names in jewellery and crafts. Both of these lovely wallets come in black leather with a soft buttery touch to it as well as small braided detail on the sides for the zip. Although there is technically less detail in the first wallet I wish I could have both the detail on the leather and horse head attachment for my wallet doubling my horsey pleasure.

The Eleventh Hour: Melt

Melt is the second collection of this youthful Sydney label, The Eleventh Hour which featured more of their signature french seams, folding and almost "architectural" strtucture of their clothes in luxurious materials and classic colours. It was this collection that I frist spotted while milling about the Alice Euphemia blog site on brands that they sell and my imagination was captured by the alluring sheer material as well as the sharp collars and vintage strcture of the dresses. This dress features a cut-out section at the back as well as sheer sleeves to really establish itself in a league of its own in terms of structure as well as adding a clever new twist to the garment.

The style of garment construction that The Eleventh Hour really lend themselves to could be described as classic, stylish and chic but with the use of luxurious materials as well as sheer materials to create seductive pieces. I'd like to see their take and use of lace material in their next resort collection as well as colours aside from baby blue, white and black. The backdrops used for their pieces and collection folios really allow their to be a heavier emphasise on the craftsmanship of each of their pieces.

The shape and material of their collars in relation to the rest of their blouse construction is what catches my eye; it's reminiscent of the Miu Miu 2010 collection but a bit more minimalist and formal. That leaves it the versatility to be dressed up and styled with a range of different jackets and jumpers as well as pants to evoke a certain mood as intended for a stylist of fashion blogger. I really should get the motivation to do some of that myself but I have yet to clean out my room properly, sort out things to be sold on eBay or work to find a space for photography for this to become a proper styling blog. In the words of my wise brother: "Can't be assed".

Long have I searched for a bustier top that doesn't look cheap and isn't an expensive vintage piece being resold past it's intended value- I was almost surprised by the bold move in stucture and the garment The Eleventh Hour chose to take on but the result is fantastic! On a hot day in Australia I may be able to get away with wearing a piece like this with long and airy gypsy pants and long silver necklaces. The styling for the photo shoot advertising the second collection of the Sydney label, Melt, opted for classic and chic pleated pants that taper towards the ankles. I love the result of airy and free clothes with the formal and straight-forward and luxurious material that have combined to create such a signature look for the brand with a casual flair.

I only have to wear formal attire when the occasion calls for it or when I'm trying to dress to impress at a job interview but I really do love the long and trailing tails of the jacket, the large lapels and soft pleats of the jacket. This is what impression The Eleventh Hour have left upon me and what I believe to be their design and construction at it's best, relaxed and within its element. It makes me feel hopeful for young Australian brands such as themselves to make an appearance at RAFW. The slick design also reminds me of some of Ellery's more minimalist designs and dresses before they branched off to use more materials with texture and colour to them. Still- it's nice to find a brand with a greater focus on the fine details rather than the overall and sometimes, dramatic aesthetic of an outfit. Maybe what's most appealing is the way it's worn without a shirt and the bare skin showing in between the jacket.

I'm curious to know as to whether the fols and intricate pleats of this dress would fair well without the aid of a belt but I do like the use of folds of material that don't look stiff and uncomfortable. The design is eye-catching and perhaps the most far-fetched or rather fantastic of the Melt collection. Maybe something more suited to what performer Lady Gaga would wear at a funeral with the accentuated and winged hips as well as the ruffles of the skirt. In this minimalist shade of black in a near-transparent black material the black somehow catches the light in a way I haven't really seen before. I do hope that The Eleventh Hour continue to go from strength to strength and invest in making more of these types of pieces in their collection that are playful and whimsical in terms of their shape and movement.

The Eleventh Hour: Modern Romance

This Sydney based label first came to my attention when scouring the Alice Euphemia website. The 'Modern Romance' collection is the 2010/2011 Resort collection and the debut for this fashion label. The future looks bright for the up-and-coming brand on the move with their strong emphasise on the structure of clothing as opposed to the colour or material. I do find the absence of colour and the minimalist approach as a young person to be a bit plaintive but it also allows the label to establish an identity within the fashion world through structure. The Eleventh Hour describes their own aesthetic as "architectural".

Their earlier pieces featured quite a few sheer panels which I find interesting and alluring but it does make the piece less accessible and easy to wear when in public unless of course there was something underneath like a leather bustier as well as leggings to save grace. It's a bold move construction wise, I'm just not too sure whether it would have payed off in terms of profits.

The Eleventh Hour was founded by Sydney based designer Anne Tu. Described as being a haven, catering "for those who appreciate quiet details, clean lines, luxurious fabrics and precise tailoring."

It certainly doesn't have any of the theatrics of Romance was Born but there is a mature look about it as well as versatility to wear the pieces at work functions with the drapery pants and jackets. The lacy dresses remind me a bit of Lover by Susien Chong in its early days of the Rose Army collection which I do love. The sweet lacy and black ruffled dress can easily have attitude added to it by wearing Doc Martens and silver skull jewellery.

I love the sweet sheer ruffles that mimic a cape structure with this black ruffled dress and pointed collar- it all seems so Edwardian to me. It's a dress like this that I adore for it's simple design but also the glamor about it as well as the luxurious material. For a singer or any other musician who wants to dress with style this dress is perfect, ticking the boxes for dressing in musicians black but the dress is also light weight and would let you move freely. Yesterday while awaiting for my shift to start I saw two gorgeous necklaces that would suit a dress of this style- one was a small cameo and marcasite piece and the other was a cow skull in sterling silver. You can chose your accessories to create and evoke a certain atmosphere. The skull would be more suited to using a Ouija board and burning candles while the cameo necklace would be suited for high tea with the queen. Pieces like this really rev my engine- versatility all in the same style of dress means you get twice the wear out of them. Despite all my dresses I don't have a nice plain, little black dress yet.

The cape which has a button through seam of a shirt is a bit more casual then the ruffled black dress, the styling of a hard wood floor with a white painted wall shows off the pieces in black really well but the white background doesn't do justice to the detail, stitching and structure of the white pieces in the collection. I'm commentating and favouring the black pieces a lot more as well due to my own personal taste- if I can get it in black then I usually buy it in black. The sheer nature of the dress means you'd do better to wear a tight-fitting body dress underneath to save grace. I myself own a Stolen Girlfriends Dress which serves that very purpose which had a large red, tartan bow on the back. I use it for sheer things instead though and for layering and extra warmth. This dress would probably be more suited for wearing in Summer/ Spring due to the sleeves of the cap making layering just that little more difficult.

Designer of The Eleventh Hour Anne Tu studied at the esteemed St George College of Fashion and Technology, before spending three years at Kirrily Johnston as head design assistant, and cutting her teeth with UK based minimalist experts, Preen.
Anne personally oversees the the production of her pieces within Australia, ensuring that the details on the pieces are kept flawless, that the edges are smoothly bound and the french seams are carefully and expertly crafted to ensure the pieces are beautiful on the inside as well as the out.

“The Eleventh Hour aesthetic can be described as architectural. Intricate shoulder pleats look as never ending as the Scalinata stairs of Rome, translucent panels as irregular as the windows of a Frank Lloyd Wright home and elongated collars as sharp as the Empire State Building.”

Making appearances in fashion magazines such as Oyster, Russh, Fresh It as well as Russh online, I expect bigger and better things from Anne Tu and the creative dream team at The Eleventh Hour in the seasons to come. Maybe even their own show at RAFW with more pieces dabbling in colour as well as keeping up with their strong emphasise on architectural structure and french seams. If you're interested in seeing some of the pieces in store, head on down to Alice Euphemia or Fame Agenda in Melbourne or Fallow or Bessie Head if you find yourself in Queensland. Expect to see a post on their most recent collection 'Melt' appearing shortly.

Romance Was Born: AW 12

 

While aimlessly searching for archives of the Alice Euphemia blog in the hopes of finding something good, I struck gold. There was some of the more recent Romance was Born collection posted in November so within the last month. I may be lucky in still finding some of the treasures in their stor! I was captivated by the embroidered detail on the jeans shown above- when I had been taking Textiles as a class I had tried to do something similar to a pair of jeans I bought cheap but it didn't end that spectacularly and I only wore them once. Where I failed Romance was Born has succeeded, I love the pairing of the casual pieces of the jeans with the black knitted jumper but there's a touch of glamor with the metallic gold heels on the model. The clouds are stitched in a sort of oriental style with rounded edges mimicking scales and I like the rays of the sun across the legs and the stars near the waist of the jeans. I should save up for a pair of these, I only have two pairs of jeans that I use these days and I could be in the market for a third pair if I was swayed...

 

Romance was Born is known for using lots of bold and bright colour as well as strange geometric patterns and I was glad to see the trademark pieces that this Australian label is known for included in some of the pieces shown on the Alice Euphemia website. I like the coupling of the tights with the firmly structured bright fuschia blouse as well as the skirt thrown in the mix for variation in colour and breaking apart the ensemble.

 

My second favourite piece of what's shown here and what first caught my eyes was this brightly coloured smock dress featuring an owl motif over a bright purple background. I'm very comfortable in dresses of this structure, they're a good height and I own a few so seeing Romance was Born make one in such a cool and kooky print made my heart leap. I love the styling here as well, it's very plain I suppose in one way with black tights, gold heels and a milkmaid braid over the front but you could easily dress up an outfit like this using a black evening jacket. If I won a small lottery certainly I'd be after this piece but I may choose the jeans first shown in this post over this owl dress if it all came down to it. Also there's a few pre-loved Romance was Born goodies on eBay, I've seen a circular sort of tent shaped ying yang dress go for a bit so I guess I'll just play it by ear for now.