LEVEL UP

Shooting with Jesper was so fun, natural and easy - he asked me to style myself for this shoot, and of course, those are always my favourite shoots to begin with. Maybe the timing was serendipitous, but having felt somewhat uninspired by fashion lately, this turned out to be a style story I was super proud of.

Eclectic 90s, Tokyo-inspired rave wear was the narrative, with a nod to Delia’s catalogues and unintentionally a homage to thrift shopping as well (three quarters of the garments worn in this shoot were thrifted).

Homegrown style was the focus here, with the emphasis placed on what it means to interpret and create your own unique identity through fashion rather than consuming a store-prepared look.

I love that this was an important element to Jesper, and that it was why he said he reached out to me!

It is such a huge honour to work with this incredibly talented photographer and be able to showcase to you these works.

Check out Jesper Hede on Instagram

CULTURES OF KINDNESS

Enter a world where the prevailing culture is kindness, thanks to RMIT Fashion Honours student Sammi Guss and her fondness for the fusion of comfort and innovative design. With garments that envelope you in what can only be comparable to a warm hug, Sammi's oversized silhouettes and feature knit panels combine in this development shoot for her collection Cultures of Kindness. Shot at Moorabin's Karkarook Park on a beautiful Sunday with some surprise animal companions, the positivity and tenderness depicted in this shoot were truly coloured throughout the magical day.

Thank you to this wonderful team for having me!

PHOTOGRAPHER: MICHAEL FOXINGTON
DESIGNER: SAMMI GUSS
MAKEUP: MICHAELINDA PAUL
MODELS: PIERCE AND JASPER

YESTERDAYS VIRGINS

Photographer: Geena Glass
Designer: Yesterdays Virgins
Makeup: Lauren Dell'Arciprete

CHATTING WITH SIMONE WILD

Why do we take socks so for granted when they have the potential to be such a luxe outfit accent? They’re basically the lychee smoothie of the apparel world (criminally under-appreciated, okay).

Cue Simone Wild, and her small but almighty Germany-based label specialising in sensuously soft velvet socks. You’ll be hurriedly hiding your fishnet collection in shame (and your boyfriend’s cringey Santa Cruz socks) once you lay eyes on these beauties.

Available in muted tones including soft rose, mustard and olive green, you can’t help but feel transported back to childhood days in your grandparent’s 70s-style lounge room. Simone Wild allows you to luxuriate in that special place where demureness and hedonism meet.

Tell us a bit about your background in design and fashion;

Everything started with a tailors’ education. After that I studied as a product developer in fashion and moved to Berlin for different jobs, from design to pattern making.

In 2010 I decided to return to Stuttgart and start working for the contemporary fashion store ave as Buyer and Deputy Store Manager. Due to my job I’m totally into fashion and always on a journey to find out what’s new and necessary for the upcoming season.

Where did the idea for velvet socks originally spring from?

Summer shoes always arrive in winter to the stores, but if I buy something I immediately have to wear it and that’s the reason I love to wear socks with mules, pumps and sandals. Velvet is currently a big topic in fashion; I was searching to find socks made of velvet but I couldn’t find any, so I decided to make a pair for myself. I was wearing them and everyone I met loved them and asked if I could make some for them too - that was the beginning of the project. 

We recently saw your socks on the runways in South Korea; can you tell us about that opportunity and what it was like working with other showcasing designers?

That was a really spontaneous cooperation; Kiok contacted me on Instagram because my tictail shop was sold out. They told me that they would love to combine [the socks] with their collection for fashion week in Seoul and if there was an opportunity to receive them ASAP. I was on holiday at the time and the show was one week later, but I thought it could be a great opportunity and I liked the style of Kiok. So, when I came back I started to sew and produced the whole order in one night to send express to Seoul. The socks arrived just in time on the day of the show. The collaboration was really nice and uncomplicated it was a pleasure that my socks had their first big performance in South Korea. 

What advice would you have for young creatives looking to turn their work into business ventures like your own?

Go for it - but do it within your own possibilities and as you feel good about it. The first 700 pairs of velvet socks I sewed myself and I still made my full time job. Only when it started to run, I decided to make bigger steps.

What's next for you?

Currently I have no idea what the future will give me - but for the moment I have to organize my production and start working with shops all over the globe. This will be a lot of work but also much fun and new inspiration. In any case, my size range must increase because a lot of men are interested and I would love to expand the color palette. 

SHOP SIMONE WILD
BROWSE SIMONE WILD INSTAGRAM

DŽO

Photographer: Kalindy Williams
Designer: DŽO
Makeup: Michaela Todorovski

CHATTING WITH JOANNE T.

Jewellery design grad Jo Tan has taken the internet by storm with her refreshing, tribal-influenced take on nose jewellery. I was lucky enough to chat with Jo about her label Joanne T.  to find out more about the fascinating Central Saint Martins graduate and her intriguing debut collection.

Tell us a bit about your artistic background, where you’re currently based, and how you came to work with jewellery.

I graduated from Central Saint Martins, London last summer. Currently I am based in Malaysia. Since [I was] young, I have always been interested in objects that interact with the human body and I believe art and design are one of the ways that I could express myself without any restriction. During my year in Foundation studies, I was allowed to try out different design pathways. Jewellery design is among one of the subjects that I tried out and I found that I enjoy craftsmanship. Thus, I decided to pursue this field. 

Your graduate collection’s title, “Not Your Average Beauty”, lends itself to ideas regarding identity and the value we place on beauty conventions - tell us about the thematic direction of your work, and what you most would want the public to take away from your work.

My works are concept driven and my design development uses a topical approach. My design revolves around the idea of "In jewellery I ensure dialogue". Using minimal and subtle design, I create visual impacts, conversation and interaction through or with jewellery. 

Your nose cuffs have garnered considerable attention on the internet, and were covered by Vogue France. What was your design process like for these avant-garde pieces, and what motivated the idea behind your elaborate take on nose jewellery in particular?

While I was working on the collection, I was interested in the topic of beauty and plastic surgery. I notice that it is a huge trend, especially in Asia where I come from. This then made me start to research plastic surgery and experiment with different structures and shapes that could be placed on the face. The nose was chosen because it is one of the most common facial [features] for plastic surgery. Thus, the creation of nose pieces emerged.

How important has social media and an online presence been for you to establish your name in jewellery - or in wider terms, fashion?

Both social media and an online presence have really helped me in exposing my works to any possible audience out there, since information can be easily accessed and spread through the internet these days. 

You incorporate classic stones, diamonds and pearls into your pieces. What was your process like in sourcing quality materials and elements to put together your creations?

When it came to sourcing materials and elements for the creations, I spent time in both research and talking/meeting people from the jewellery industry to gain information and knowledge. The opportunity to study in London and travelling around different parts of the world have also allowed me to gain relevant information and knowledge in material sourcing.

Tell us about where you see yourself moving forward from here - continuing jewellery, or maybe expanding into other areas?

Currently, I am working on developing my own brand and establishing a client base. I look forward to collaboration opportunities with people from a different design background. Jewellery would be the core in my design career, however, I am always open to any new opportunities. 

Photographer: Zhonglin
Stylist: Yii
MUA: Alicia
Model: Andrea B

BROWSE JOANNE T. INSTAGRAM
BROWSE JOANNE T. FACEBOOK

PENNY DROP x EFP

If Barbie took a bunch of LSD and rode her unicorn to the strip club, you’d probably find her adorned in Penny Drop. Enjoy these wonderfully whimsical images, created by a team of super talented and passionate creatives. 

Photographer: Evan Fowler Photography
Designer: Penny Drop
Makeup: Lauren Dell'Arciprete

WASTELAND WARRIOR

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

BEAÚT

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

LIPT

We shot on a scorcher of a day, but working with this killer team of babes around the Abbotsford area was a great way to enjoy the sunshine. I loved playing around in LIPT's über-cute signature printed garments, some of the comfiest co-ords and dresses I've had the pleasure to play dressups with. After hearing Jodie's (one of the masterminds behind LIPT) story about the brand's fruition (the label's name has it's roots in Perth slang, who knew? Well, I didn't anyway), you have to give props to their nationwide hustle. LIPT's been seen on some of the most kickass young female DJs of the country, so naturally I was stoked to shoot in these colourful pieces. 

Thanks for having me, babes!

Photographer: Bianca Lamont
Designer/Stylist/Director: Jodie Ruoso
HMUA: Kaelie Todorovski

SHOP LIPT THE LABEL

JACKIE

Thank you Jackie, for taking these beautiful portraits of me - although I often love reverting to strong poses and strong presences in front of the camera, the softness and moodiness of this shoot is something that I've fallen in love with. Thank you for coaxing out my vulnerable side - this is one of the only times I've been able to appreciate Melbourne in it's native rainy state.

PS. I'm totally obsessed with these glasses from TIJN Eyewear! 

TETRIK

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

SHOP TETRIK

GIRLHOOD

This shoot was definitely one of the more fun creative projects I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of. A true girl gang of six talented women came together for this day in the sun, and Ellen, the creative director behind the shoot, actually made and brought pink lemonade vodka - I'm pretty sure that's all I need to say to indicate how high the vibes were on this one.

I loved the way the idea behind this shoot seemed to marry a youthful innocence along with the tenacity of rebellion in the feminine adolescence. Pastel-ized babes smoking in the school bleachers, with peeks and pops of late 90s/early 2000s influence in the styling gave this shoot a definite charm and nostalgic feel. The second look ramped up the maturity and edge of the project, with black outfits and angular city building backdrops. I loved this look because of the capacity it granted to embrace a stronger presence in front of the camera, extending upon the idea of teenage girls on the brink of womanhood.

It was fabulous to work with the extremely talented and fun Missa and Chloe again, both of whom I was lucky enough to work with for the launch of Illicit Empress (check it out here).

Photographer: Melissa Cowan
Models: Myself, Ellen and Caitlyn
HMUA: Chloe Rose, Claudia Leahy

DUALITY

The concept for this shoot was born out of a desire to capture the very unique relationship I have with Paul - we are two individuals who are often either exactly the same, or polar opposites. At the risk of this sounding too much like a stars-in-my-eyes love letter, I wanted to visually explore the ways our personas both overlap and balance each other out. Wilson's trademark desaturated, minimalistic palette was something that complemented this idea immensely, in that - in combination with his brand of subtle yet effective styling - our true characters were able to take centre stage in these stunning images. Included in this photo set are some bonus images of myself in London, where Wilson and I had the good fortune to meet up and check out the Tate Modern's newest building on it's first day of being open - the Switch House. It is thanks to both Wilson's consistent stylistic choices as a photographer, as well as the intriguing similarity of Melbourne and London as cities, that it becomes near indistinguishable which photos are from which shoot.

Enjoy Duality x

 

SECOND SKIN

I absolutely loved the team for this shoot - every single person involved brought their own unique flavour of alternative style and taste to the final product. The result is a collection of strong images that instantly elicit a sense of nostalgia for rough-and-tumble youth rebellion.

It was so fun to pose with the incredible Atong Atem, get my hair done at Rokk Ebony thanks to Elena and Adam, sit in the makeup chair for the ever wonderful Helena Regina, be shot by the extremely talented Olivia Mroz, and of course, have the great pleasure to wear garments so stunningly created by Lucy of Make Me Loco.

The name of the project, Second Skin, describes the intricate processes involved in "tattooing" and "piercing" denim as if it were it's own dermis. The attitude and edge sewn into the very garments gives them the unmistakable flair of character that demarcates Lucy's work from others'. 

This is exactly the kind of shoot I've been aching to do for a while, thanks to everyone for having me along!

BROWSE MAKE ME LOCO

REALITY

The team behind Reality is one to keep an eye on. These relaxed fits, comfortable fabrics and clean-cut aesthetics combine to create garments that can’t go wrong - and create the kind of t-shirts, caps and totes that are versatile enough to suit most any situation. 

A huge thanks to the Reality crew for having me come hang out, punch darts and get comfy on a shaggy pink rug - is there really a better way to spend your Friday arvo?

Photographer: Jason Chan
Models: Charlie and Eitan

BROWSE REALITY

SOPHIE

I loved having the opportunity to shoot with Sophie, she's honestly one of the sweetest angels I've had the chance to work with. She completely allowed me to take the reigns on styling myself in my own clothes, which was obviously fun for me. I took a bit of a chance on the HMU work for this shoot and used Kylie Lip Kit in Kourt K for the feature eye detail - might leave that to the professionals from now on, though...

Thanks for making me feel like a babe, Sophie!

WELCOME TO THE EMPIRE

I’m so excited to finally launch Illicit Empress!

Welcome to the empire; 

I wanted to create a virtual playground for thoughts, feelings and ideas to connect with people beyond my laptop screen. 

This is my public commitment to nourish my creative side on a continual basis.

The aim of this is also to encourage more collaboration, to connect with likeminded (or differently minded) individuals and create new dialogues and discourses in work together. Illicit Empress will shine the spotlight on creatives and innovators making waves in their field. I’m so thrilled to be able to launch this site with the wonderful talents of Melissa Cowan (photographer) and Chloe Rose (HMUA)!

Feel free to get in touch via ellie@illicitempress.com if you are interested in working with me, and I would love to chat about possible projects together.

Thanks for visiting!

Watch this space :)