GLOOM
A 60 day process, 30 hours of hair craft, countless products used, and 1 shoot.
Director, Hair Colourist, Stylist, Extension Technician - Krysten Monaghan, Emilly Hadrill Hair Extensions
Photographer - Dennis Murphy, Dennis Murphy Visuals
Maxine Zanoni’s work to date shows promising potential for her future as a photographer, and with a portfolio that really speak for itself, I was so excited to shoot with her.
And you know that when I get told to dress in a way that expresses my “true identity”, you’re gonna end up with a monstrosity like this - enjoy!
In the realm of local small businesses and young upcoming labels, Tetrik stands out - boxy, structured silhouettes straight out of some darkwave nether-dimension, it's only a matter of time until the Melbourne label overruns the streets of Tokyo, Berlin and beyond.
I was thrilled to be asked back for my third time (!!!) to shoot with Tetrik, and if you ever have the good fortune to cross paths with one of their amazing core team Aidan, Kim or Bri, I promise you'll leave with a smile on your face.
With a background in creating fabric structures you may recognise from your last doof (check out Tetrik Structures), designer Aidan's winter offerings for Tetrik include warm, fleece lined fabrics, new patterns and prints with their signature purple accent, and a perfect, versatile array of layer-ready garments for our unpredictable midyear weather.
Combined with an emphasis on wearable, unisex designs, Tetrik's future-focused vibe is all the more appealing when you realise just how well each item has been crafted with top-quality fabrics and utterly precise construction.
Like so many of the shoots I'm incredibly lucky to work on, this one was an adventure in complete and utter babe-town. Playing in the comfiest, most badass sets and big-bad-boots in this local wasteland is something I'd do again any day. Letting out my inner nu-cybergoth never felt so right, so a huge thanks to the dolls who invited me to be apart of this fun project!
And big love to Kim and Bri for letting me play in some Tetrik for the camera again -
Tetrik is definitely one of my fav local labels, and it totally hits the nail on the head when it comes to that cyber neogoth industrial oil slickin' dark pixie vibe (oh hell yeah) so support your locals and shop Tetrik today.
For the more colourful bubblegum pixies, you can support your locals too - make sure to check out Goo Life and Creatura, also pictured above.
Photographer: Briannagh Clare Photography
Models: Fox and Sham
This darkly romantic, nu-goth nostalgia-fest was a concept just begging to be executed - and so it was, in the most stunning way imaginable by a team of superstar creative babes.
Photographer: Hannah Alexander
Designers/Stylists/Directors: Lucy Dickinson, Emily Andersson, Steph Schafer
HMUA: Chloe Rose and Gabby Webb
Models: Georgie and Kristen
Not many restaurants force you to clear your throat and loudly say "Pussy" to place your order, and not many restaurants have you dining in cramped prison cells. Then again, not many restaurants are like Alcatraz ER.
Thanks to a viral video, the restaurant has become known to travellers, foodies and lovers of all things eccentric across the globe - and, being someone who I'd like to think fits into all three of those categories, it was a place I was absolutely not going to miss.
Even the detail in the waiting area was up to par - once we tracked down the restaurant in the second story of a Shibuya building, warning signs flashed and the graffiti across the dilapidated concrete walls was telling. Alcatraz ER is a themed restaurant like so many in Japan, but it's eerie commitment to it's unique concept - a medical prison, or mental asylum - is what made it unforgettable.
The wait was thankfully short, and our charismatic host led us through the restaurant, greeting us with the characteristic Japanese welcome ("Irashaimase!") before gesturing towards tiny cramped staircases that led to our cell. We sat on the floor cross-legged behind metal bars, and our metal table clanged as we worked out how exactly to arrange our limbs without knocking ourselves out against the low-hanging industrial lights. To order, there was a metal pole chained to the bars - and like the prisoners we now were, we had to use it to bang against the bars to get a waiters' attention. The menu? Something else entirely.
Fried rice boobs, beef pussy, you name it. The drinks were the real appeal though - their signature cocktails with dildo stirrers and IV blood bags were standout favourites, but my used-condom cocktail won out - the presentation and the way it was made in front of us complete with "semen" dripping out of the condom (hmm) was mind-blowingly unlike anything I could have expected.
Then came the crowning jewel - dessert.
How could I not have ordered this exquisite delicacy? As soon as I set eyes on it months ago, eyes glued to my laptop screen, I knew I had to have it.
If you've got the guts to go and experience Alcatraz ER, make sure it's something you don't miss.
Every once in a while, you have the good grace and fortune to work with people who are full of light, positivity and creativity, and every time you do you get to know that the resulting works will be stunning no matter what. This is what I was able to experience working on this Tetrik shoot with Bri and Kim - it’s what makes shoots feel like fun instead of work, and reminds me why I love shooting.
I’m madly obsessed with these gorgeous threads by Tetrik, it’s the ultimate combo of comfort and style, which is a line I’ve really been toeing lately (I’m sorry that I keep wearing what could probably pass for pyjamas to uni, but also, I’m really not sorry at all). Everything’s black so obviously, I die for it.
Photographer: Briannagh Clare Photography
Models: Myself and Kim Little
I had an amazing time collaborating on this shoot - Aleira Moon was a ball of energy and whimsy, and her creative vision was definitely one I fell in love with as soon as I first laid eyes on her work. The idea behind this shoot was "Colour Punk", and while incidentally a lot of the final shots turned out beautifully in black and white, playing in this colourful abandoned building with so much gorgeous light pouring in made for a great day.
Lucie Stauff was the talented soul behind the hair and makeup - I've never worn such intricate braids before, and I'm still left in awe of her patience and skill!
Lastly, I especially fell in love with the stunning headpiece by Crystal Eclipse Crowns - Michelle, the Melbourne-based creative behind the label, makes magical crowns, hair combs and other jewellery with unique gemstone pieces.
Yeah, the amazing results of this collaboration have left me on a creative high, to say the least.
