It's competition time! WIN a 2 hour Personal Shopping Session!

It's no secret that I LOVE the warmer weather.

I feel happy, energetic and motivated, but that's just the beginning!

My favourite part is, you guessed it, the FASHION! Floaty dresses and skirts, strappy sandals, dewy skin, just-got-out-of-bed hair and dressing up for parties and events- it's so appealing!

That is, when you know what to wear, what suits you and you find shopping enjoyable.

If not, you have come to the right place!

I am giving away a 2 hour Personal Shopping Session for you (or a friend/ mum/ dad/ daughter/ partner/ nan/ etc)!

In this session, we will have a consultation to figure out your unique body-shape and how to dress to accentuate the best bits and play down the not-as-great bits, work out your must-have items and then hit the shops to find you a style that is perfect for YOU!

To win this prize, all you have to do is:

1. Like my page: https://www.facebook.com/Anniebrownfashionstylist

and

2. Write a post on my facebook page stating in 25 words or less why you (or a friend) need a Spring Personal Styling Session with me! Get creative :)

It's a simple as that!

The winner will be drawn on Thursday 12 September at 7pm.

*Please note the shopping session will be taken in the ACT only.*

Good luck lovelies, I can't wait to see your responses!!

xx

A Wardrobe Audit? What's that?

The Ultimate Wardrobe, non?

Ah Spring. How I've missed thee.

I daresay we're not quite through with Winter yet but today is the first day in months that I've opened the doors and windows for most of the day and have picked the first delightful crop of jonquils to display in a big vase in my kitchen. I even sat outside for a bit reading Vogue in the sun.

Glorious.

I don't know about you but as soon as these sunny skies start appearing after months of Winter chilliness, I start wanting to get organised. I push the re-start button in Spring and my attention turns to health, the new season fashion and Spring-cleaning. I get strangely interested in de-cluttering and arraying my life and home.

And what better place to start than my wardrobe!

I have a few Wardrobe Audits coming up with my clients and it got me thinking about how important it is to do a good 'ol fashioned wardrobe clear-out from time to time. Every 6 months, I make sure I clear out the items that are no longer serving me, are tired or I've simply lost interest in as my style evolves.

So what exactly is a Wardrobe Audit and what are the advantages of booking one with me?

A wardrobe audit is the perfect way to start your new style journey. I like to recommend a wardrobe audit before personal shopping as you need to first have a clear idea about what items are in your existing wardrobe before you try to add to it.

1. We will begin with a consultation to assess your needs, uncover a new style that is uniquely you and ascertain your shape and what colours and styles will suit you.

2. We will de-clutter and array your existing wardrobe, identifying which pieces are no longer serving you.

3. We will identify which items could be brought back to life with tailoring, mending or dry-cleaning.

4. We will ‘shop your wardrobe’- making combinations from existing pieces and creating new outfits that you may not have previously thought of.

5. We will make a shopping list of items missing from your wardrobe that will maximise your current options.

At the end of the audit, I hope you will have clarity and direction and be ready for the next part of your style journey!

If you would like to book in with me for a Wardrobe Audit, email me at anniebrownstylist@gmail.com

CBR Collective- Canberra's very own designer incubus

In recent articles I’ve been highlighting the creative genius that is coming out of Canberra of late. Hip creative hubs, fashion shows and new designers are cropping up everywhere you look. I have even recently heard some out-of-towners saying that Canberra was ‘cool’. Now that’s got to be good news for the most paid out city in Australia.

It’s crept up slowly, this new era of innovation, but it’s here and everyone is feeling it. The buzz is that there are more opportunities to make your mark as a creative person. There is a creative industry that is insular yet supportive as everyone wants to see it grow. Dare I say it, designers, stylists, photographers and other creatives can now make some sort of a living off their craft. This is big news.

That’s not to say it’s an easy road. The big fishes are swimming in a bigger pond these days. However the difference between Canberra and the bigger cities may be that we support each other in a really healthy way, the competition isn’t generally so cut-throat and we share ideas and information freely to boost the industry.

A perfect example of this is Canberra’s first fashion and designer collaboration, CBR Collective. Established by Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre in partnership with Canberra Centre, CBR Collective provides Canberra based designers with the opportunity to grow or establish their brand. The boutique is run with designers and an experienced retail manager. Designers from Canberra are being encouraged to get involved in this unique retail concept and initiative which includes mentorship and peer and industry support.

Currently, 6 designers share the tenancy: E4, FibreStudio Design, M&TM, Pure Pod, T-Heinrich and sofia polak. Other labels being stocked are: Hutch, PNC Metalsmith, Tango & James, I Heart Threads, Cynthia Jones-Bryson and BM designs, with a vintage label coming soon.

Anna Pino, CEO of Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre says, “It’s not just about the retail outlet, but also about supporting the development of broad based business skills and expanding the reach and appeal of their products. Lighthouse and Canberra Centre will remain actively involved with CBR Collective during the first six months with the intention to then hand total control over to the collective itself’

M&TM

“A number of businesses in Canberra have come on board and joined Lighthouse in supporting this creative and entrepreneurial initiative,” says Ms Pino. Its start-up stage also has benefited from a local patron who prefers to remain anonymous.”

“As awareness of the creativity of our local designers increases so does the demand for their collections of fashion and accessories, creating a stronger economic base for the designers and a stronger local industry.”

sofia polak

I spoke to one of the designers in the collective, Janette Lenk of T-Heinrich, to find out why this initiative is helping her grow her business.

Why did you decide to get involved with CBR Collective?

I had been thinking about my own store for a while. Then I heard talks that a fashion incubator was coming and I had to know more… Lighthouse came up with the whole concept and branched out to designers, they have been very supportive in making it CBR Collective happen (thank you). I felt this was as better time as ever and show casing with other Canberra designers would be perfect. It was the next step for me and my label and I wanted to be able to point my customers to a store and CBR would be it!

What has been the response from customers to the store thus far?

Many Canberrans have been saying that this is something they have been waiting for, it has been a long time coming. I had one of Canberra’s fashionistas, Sarah Kelly, come in and she couldn’t get enough. She loved the fact that she could now go in to a store and buy quality local designers items. I mean, people love to support locals and the response we got on the opening VIP night was awesome – you couldn’t move in the store.

How do you think CBR Collective will be a beneficial platform for Canberran designers? How has it benefited your label, T-Heinrich?

It is a platform for the designers to develop and learn from this wonderful opportunity. Also the fact that we have a great support network with the other designers and Lighthouse. We are all in it together and to bounce ideas off. It also gives us ideas of where we want to go next, each designer has their own motive – and this it’s an unlimited positive platform - the sky’s the limit. In fact I think this will only make designers hungry for constant expansion and creative evolvement - it’s very exciting! After seeing how healthy my sales have been, it is motivating – my product is wanted and I want to make my customer happy.

What does the future of CBR Collective look like at this stage?

With the interest from customers and designers there is a bright future for CBR Collective. We are in stages of planning individual designer/VIP nights. We have a ton of creative ideas and we want to make it an experience when shopping at our boutique. We offer a unique experience, the fact you can speak to the designers yourself is a one off; you can even give feedback to the designers. We all hope to be here, well in to the future.

What advice would you give to other emerging designers?

Go get em! Be hungry for it. Network where ever you are, you never know who is around the corner or who the person you have just met knows. Having a clear goal of what you want right from the start helps. Take little steps to achieve where you want to be and watch yourself grow. Learn from your mistakes and be POSITIVE.

6. Where do you see your label in 5 years?

I love this question, in the next few years I want to be able to sell a completed collection with pieces replicated a thousand times (laughs). I want to design coats in wonderful colours, textures and design my own fabric prints. Studying overseas in Italy or Paris is also on the cards. AND long term, I wouldn’t mind selling in Myer or David Jones.

Janette in T-Heinrich

I know where I’ll be shopping this weekend and who knows, I may just bump into the designers themselves. There are not many places where you can do that.

n recent articles I’ve been highlighting the creative genius that is coming out of Canberra of late.  Hip creative hubs, fashion shows and new designers are cropping up everywhere you look. I have even recently heard some out-of-towners saying that Canberra was ‘cool’. Now that’s got to be good news for the most paid out city in Australia.
It’s crept up slowly, this new era of innovation, but it’s here and everyone is feeling it. The buzz is that there are more opportunities to make your mark as a creative person. There is a creative industry that is insular yet supportive as everyone wants to see it grow. Dare I say it, designers, stylists, photographers and other creatives can now make some sort of a living off their craft. This is big news.
That’s not to say it’s an easy road. The big fishes are swimming in a bigger pond these days. However the difference between Canberra and the bigger cities may be that we support each other in a really healthy way, the competition isn’t generally so cut-throat and we share ideas and information freely to boost the industry.
- See more at: http://www.stylehunter.com/featured/cbr-collective-canberras-very-own-designer-incubus/#sthash.fZJ5Ltlx.dpuf

My styling on the cover of the City News, appendicitis and shoe lust

I've been pretty quiet of late. Not by choice but because I got appendicitis and have been forced to rest and recover after some delightful emergency surgery. Feeling pretty blessed I have such an amazing boyfriend, family and friends who have dropped everything to look after me. Although it's been a pretty awful experience, I can't help but be thankful for all the love in my life and I can only hope I can repay the loves of my life with care and kindness.

Anywho.

Before my appendix decided to cark it, I got to be involved in a very fun and very Wintery shoot for the City News magazine. The image I styled graces the cover, do you like?

The model, Deirdre, is just a gorgeous girl, in looks and personality and has the most charming Irish accent ever! She was a treat to work with and was the hilarious and witty photographer, Andrew Campbell. Another stylist, Janette, who I work with through Westfield, styled another of the looks. The location was the Albert Hall and it was perfect. It's such a romantic place and I think it's under-utilised in Canberra because it really is a charming space.

The insanely beautiful clothes were from Pink Inc, Braddon (I want those Pedro Garcia shoes! May have to save my pennies though- they're $699 but SO worth it).

OK back to the couch with a cuppa for me. Enjoy xx

Boutique Lust: Pink Inc

When I walked into the opening party for new boutique, Pink Inc, I forgot where I was for a minute.

Was I in Paris? London? New York? Nay, I was in Canberra, witnessing the birth of a truly awe-inspiring space that is unlike anything we’ve seen here before.

Many Canberrans know the name Pink Inc, as for about a decade it resided across the road from it’s current locale and it has always been the go-to destination for high-end and exclusive Australian and International brands.

Yet as the bustling hive of Braddon is being re-developed and earning a reputation as being the hippest hub of Canberra, it was the perfect time for Pink Inc to re-launch and begin a new era. New shop, new vibe. Even more fabulous.

What a feast for the senses. There is inspiration at every turn.  On the walls, local artist Lisa T has created a whimsical flower garden and the embodiment of the Pink Inc woman.



Quotes from David Bowie and Marilyn Monroe line the walls and only the best flooring by Missoni creates a canvas to compliment the store.

Pink Inc has another fabulous quirk- a shoe and accessories nook filled to the brim with exquisite delights. It feels like your own private haven, the stuff from which dreams are made. Boots by Pedro Garcia. Pony hair stilettos by Kirrily Johnston. Bangles by Megan Park. Bags by Jérôme Dreyfuss and a sparkly clutch by Easton Pearson. Need I go on?

Not to be forgotten of course, are the clothes! Racks of delicious and dazzling designer threads by the likes of Romance Was Born, Easton Pearson, Josh Goot and ELLERY just to skim the surface.


 Pink Inc is world-class and from the clothes to the service to the surroundings, it feels like home. And a very fashionable one at that.

Why a statement necklace can make your outfit

A little something I wrote for Stylehunter and something I preach all the time!

In my role as a stylist, I often get met with blank faces when I ask my clients whether they accessorise. The responses are generally the following: ‘It’s too much effort’, ‘I don’t have time’ or ‘It’s too overwhelming’.

This is fair. With all the options out there, how are you meant to find the exact accessories to match your outfit, easily and without spending a fortune?

Well ladies, I have a style solution for you and it doesn’t have to be expensive or confusing. In fact, it can be fun and once you start, you’ll wonder why you resisted for so long.

The accessory du jour is a statement necklace and for good reason. It can transform an outfit from drab to fab in 5 seconds flat...

Read the full article at Stylehunter.com

http://www.stylehunter.com/featured/why-a-statement-necklace-can-make-your-outfit-annie-brown/

xx

Fashfest Night 2- Highlights

I was hugely lucky this week to be invited to report on Canberra's answer to fashion week, Fashfest. It was an amazing display of local designers. We have so much talent here and Canberra welcomed a fashion production of this scale and caliber to showcase all the creatives that live here. It certainly lived up to expectations and attracted national media coverage, as it should have.

I was given media passes for Night 2 and Night 3 and got to see the back-stage area and hit up the VIP. This was my coverage of Thursday night for HerCanberra.com.

Night number two of FASHFEST sure did have a tough act to follow after the rave reviews from last night’s inaugural opening but despite the high expectations, it did not disappoint.

Night one of Fashfest had created a media frenzy and I was keen to find out what all the fuss was about. Sure enough, upon entering the large industrial space at the airport and taking in every detail, I knew Fashfest was out to impress.

There was an air of anticipation from Canberra’s fashion pack, assembled on the chilly night to support local talent. The champagne and canapés flowed and the music created an upbeat ambience.

People-watching was a dream, and the crowd seemed to vary from hip creatives to the more conservative and everyone in between, chatting about the space, the vibe and of course, what the designers were going to produce in their shows.
The smooth electronica sounds of local band Safia were the perfect backdrop and it wasn’t until I actually noticed the band itself that I realised it was live music. They were impressive and another indication of Fashfest’s commitment to showcasing local talent.

With the scene set, it was time to begin the show! Nestled between three Canberra bloggers, I was in prime viewing position. Here is what I – and my photographer, Joel Cope – saw:

 

Jenifer Aniela

 

Jenifer Aniela’s designs were first off the rank, and the models glided down the runway in ethereal creations that were conjured up images of mermaids on land. Gowns and mini-dresses with sequin detail and floating trains caught the breeze as the model’s walked. The standout piece was a rainbow-coloured gowned that was ruched at the front with fabric that floated out the back like the wings of a butterfly.

Sovata

Next up was a very feminine collection from Sovata. Jewel tones like emerald, cobalt and orange punctuated outfits that had a 1930’s/ 1940’s feel. The outfits were styled to perfection, with impressive matching headpieces and gloves. My favourite outfit was a black cowl-neck top and incredibly high waisted emerald pants, belted with two leather straps at the waist, short leather gloves and a contrasting architectural headpiece. An unexpected combination but executed with perfection.

Purepod

The third designer was Purepod who produced a pretty, wearable collection reminiscent of the 1950’s. The pieces were flattering and I feel any woman could wear them and feel comfortable. Floral headpieces and girly headbands complimented belted a-line dresses and shirtdresses that were paired with tights in contrasting colours. My pick of the bunch was a pale blue printed a-line dress complimented with a floral headpiece- such an elegant pairing that any woman would feel pretty in.

Andie Meredith

As Andie Meredith’s show began, the pace of the music picked up and the model’s strode to the beat. This collection was polished and I could see myself in many of the pieces. The collection was made up of a lot of separates, and it seemed as though the whole collection could be mixed and matched making it very wearable. Shift dresses, maxi’s and vests were the staples and glittery scarves and leggings were in the mix to add razzle-dazzle to the neutral pieces. My fave was a Lurex midi-dress with handless gloves. Perfection.

Gabrielle Everitt

 

Gabrielle Everitt was next and her collection evoked the feel of a garden party in country England- incredibly feminine. The models held pretty lace umbrellas; lace being a common element of the garments. Pretty dresses, suits, blazers and vests in off-white and neutrals. The models played up to the audience, smiling and curtseying with an elegant air. My pick of the ensembles was a pale blue, floaty maxi dress with a rope belt that made me long for spring.

Sofia Polak

Sofia Polak’s collection was next and models came out in rows of 3 in elegant yet eddy designs that could easily be worn to the races or weddings. Each model wore a lace eye-mask creating a darkly romantic vibe. Sofia creates evening and bridal pieces that are very wearable but have surprising elements. Dresses with peplum and leather detail added an element of surprise. The standout piece was a bridal gown with a peplum frill and leather belt. Now that’s my kind of wedding dress!

Baku

 

The swimwear designs of Baku were out next in their collaboration with Mont. Bikini’s and one pieces were paired with puffer jackets, beanies and heels that brought swimwear into a chillier format. The swimwear pieces were bright and cheerful and looked easy to wear. The models were cheeky and fun and strutted their incredible bodies down the runway in such a natural way, I forgot it was almost winter!

Sarah Joseph Couture

 

The final collection of the night was by Sarah Joseph Couture and boy was it couture! Sublimely executed designs wowed the audience; the attention to detail was phenomenal. There was a bit of everything in this collection- Aztec beading, jewel-encrusted bodices, lace, flapper and animal print. I had a hard time choosing the standout piece- it was a toss-up between the first piece and the last. The first gown made from exquisite black lace with a plunging neckline and striking red underlay. The last piece and an absolute showstopper for the entire show was a black cutout, bondage-meets-couture piece with a tulle skirt. The model pulled the daring look off with aplomb and the audience reacted with gasps and wide eyes.

Photos by Joel Cope