Hi Everyone!
A few months ago, Carmel Haugh form iAM Productions
invited me to be part of the opening night of a new and exciting
art space in Brisbane on Tuesday the 13th of August.
Fish Lane Studios evolved out of a dormant space, upstairs in the
Fox Hotel at South Brisbane into 5 residency studios for artists/creatives
to produce and showcase their work.
The aim for the project is to nurture and cultivate emerging creative
talent and the creatives selected for the inaugural residency are Chris Bennie,
Hannah Bronte, The Wandering Room, Michelle Xen and The Fashion Archives.
For the opening, I threw the idea of a naff fashion parade out the window
and collaborated with incredibly talented Brisbane based dance choreographer
Claire Marshall to work on a contemporary performance piece.
The music for the show was performed live by friends from local experimental band
Naked Maja who played an extended techno version of their latest single Take.
In the show, we previewed some of our Spring/Summer collections with women's
pieces from Verner, P.A.M. and Kinoak and menswear from Melbourne label Pageant.
Hair was done by Lisa Guadala from my favourite boutique salon, Lila Boheme in New Farm,
using Kevin Murphy.
Makeup was done by amazing stylist whom you may already know from Mecca
and Mecca Maxima, Amy O'Farrell from Immaculate Makeup.
Backstage in Look 1
Matthew Nguyen and Anthony Trojman wearing Pageant
Liz Whelan and Frances Hannaway wearing Verner
Backstage Look 2
Anthony Trojman in Pageant, Liz Whelan in P.A.M., Matthew Nguyen in Pageant and Frances Hannaway in P.A.M.
Moving through the space in Verner and Pageant SS13
They danced around the space flanked by the artist's installations, moving and pushing through surprised guests (wearing P.A.M. and Pageant SS13)
Brisbane band Naked Maja played live for the performance.
Keyboard player and vocalist Emma Sayer was dressed by Kinoak SS13.
The party continued on with a fantastic performance by Michelle Xen and The Neon Wild
I'd like to thank everyone for their amazing talent and energy.
It was a real honour to be involved and such a fun night.
All of these photos are by another genius Megan Cullen.
Last week, The Fashion Archives officially launched their innovative website with an an opening
party at Fish Lane Studios where they are currently creatives in residence.
Devised by two young, modern Brisbane women of style and ambition Nadia Buick and
Madeleine King, the site is a documentation of fashion in Brisbane and Queensland, past and
present.
The Fashion Archives Team - Founders Madeleine King and Nadia Buick with web designer Patrick King,
standing in their studio space at Fish Lane Studios.
The site will be updated regularly in Issues like an on-line magazine.
It is an interesting and easy read and the website has been expertly composed by designer Patrick King.
If you can stand it, you can listen to an interview with me (?!) talking about how I started Blonde
Venus etc and other fashion stories…
Bi-Coloured Dress with Square Armhole
Oversized Modernist Shift Dress in Two Tone
Grey: Linen/Acetate
White: Viscose
Side Pockets
Side Splits
Generous Fit
Made in Australia
White/Grey
Sizes 6 to 12
$396
Bi-Coloured Dress with Square Armhole
Oversized Modernist Shift Dress in Two Tone
Black: Linen/Acetate
Navy: Viscose
Side Pockets
Side Splits
Generous Fit
Made in Australia
Black/Navy
Sizes 6 to 12
$396
Square Armhole Top
Two Tone Boxy Shape Top with Angled Drape Side Detail
Grey: Linen/Acetate
White: Viscose
Generous Fit
Made in Australia
Grey/White
Sizes 8 to 12
$349
This sounds cliched, but Christopher Esber was seriously the shining light
at Australian Fashion Week this year.
A minimalist designer with an amazing skill for avant garde pattern making,
Christopher impressed international press and buyers with his fashion
forward aesthetic.
This is his first delivery for the season (selling fast!) with more styles
coming soon.
Christopher Esber is available exclusively in Brisbane at Blonde Venus.
You can also view and shop the collection on line here:
This interesting concept art exhibition opens this week
in conjunction with the annual BigSound live/music conference.
Curated by Brisbane music identity and founding editor of TOM Magazine on-line
Sean Sennett, the Imaginary Noise exhibition will see artists create
album covers for records that were never officially released,
never completed or simply never previously imagined.
The designs will be reproduced as a large digital print, so viewers
will feel like they are walking through a giant record collection.
Artists include Ken Done (yes!) Reg Mombassa, Michael Zavros
and WeBuyYourKids.
Speaking of BigSound we have Two Double Passes to give away to the live events!
With performers like Robert Forster and Billy Bragg, these babies are worth a fortune!
How: Follow us on Instagram #blondevenuslovesyou
Post a photo of what you think of as Brisbane = Good/Cool and hash tag us.
We will pick a winner on Sunday and remember that BigSound is an 18+ event!
There are so many events on this weekend, it's quite ridiculous.
That's spring for you!
On Friday night, I'm heading to an exhibition called Selfiephilia
featuring works from emerging Brisbane artists Dana Lawrie, Lee Lombardi,
Nicola Scott and Tyza Stewart.
The show is at The Hold Artspace at Level 2, 274 Montague Road West End
and runs until the 15th of September.
Also on Friday night, I'm going to see two of my favourite Australian bands Day Ravies from Sydney
and Brisbane's Multiple Man play, amongst others at the Four Thousand Birthday Party.
It's Denim Everything and it's at Black Bear Lodge and it will be crazy and fun.
We are even giving away a $50 voucher for the best dressed denim clad Lady.
In fact, if you would like weekly updates of what's happening around town, Four Thousand is
the ticket.
Just subscribe here:
I've just unpacked our Antipodium delivery from the Sex, Lies & CCTV Collection.
Details coming soon...
Come and visit me with a Flamingo Cafe soy latte and say hi!
Thea X
blonde venus
707 ann street
fortitude valley 4006
queensland
australia
t + 61 7 3216 1735
http://www.blondevenus.com.au
707 ann street
fortitude valley 4006
queensland
australia
t + 61 7 3216 1735
http://www.blondevenus.com.au