Mens Fashion

We take a look at some of our favourite established and emerging Australian bloggers.

Oh how the world of fashion is changing. Just this year we’ve seen QR codes and Instagram invade the fashion industry, Kanye released his first collection, apparently bum-bags are in and sky-high pumps are out, and now they’re telling us that Bloggers are the most influential people in the fashion industry! Well I’m not so sure I agree with bum-bag fashion craze, but there’s no denying that Bloggers are quickly becoming the go-to people for fashion advice and inspiration.

Here at Streetfash, we love reading your blogs for the incredible outfit posts, style inspiration, and to swoon over your latest and greatest purchases. We know that you guys are in-the-know when it comes to fashion and we want to share the love. Since we are all about celebrating our finest homegrown fashion talents, we thought we would share some of our favourite local Bloggers (in no particular order). Some are professional bloggers, some are just starting out, but we think they are all amazingly talented and certainly worth a follow. Looks as though Sydney is giving Melbourne a run-for-their-money as the most fashionable city!

Through The Looking Glass 
Location: Melbourne 
Who: Giang Cao 
Why we love it: For the incredible photo documentation of people and places in Melbourne.

Il etait une fois 
Location: Melbourne
Who: Bianca Nardo 
Why we love it: For keeping us up to date on all of the latest happenings in the wonderful world of fashion. We especially love it when she throws in an outfit post.

All About Edie 
Location: Sydney 
Who: Mollie Stevens 
Why we love it: For her outstanding ability to mix high fashion staples with affordable trending items. Plus, she always looks oh-so-chic. This girl is one to watch!

Your Only Black Swan 
Location: Sydney 
Who: Lauren Hernandez
Why we love it: For her fun, vintage-inspired outfit posts, and photo diary type posts.

Modern Legacy 
Location: Someone let us know! 
Who: Kaitlyn 
Why we love it: A law student with impeccable street style, flawless grammar (how refreshing) and a heck-of-a-lot of amazing shirts! We love her effortless chic look and vintage ensembles.

Dear Mr. Cat 
Location: Sydney
Who: Brittany Ferns
Why we love it: For her adorable illustrations and artwork, her beautiful inspirational image posts, and previews of her new clothing label Otto Mode. Bookmark this site, she’s going to be huge.

Confident Liar 
Location: Sydney 
Who: Nicole Cooper 
Why we love it: Well her profile reads, “An extremely broke photography student, who can barely afford the bus home yet still manages to buy film.” We love it! Do yourself a favour and check out her beautiful photography. Enough said.

A huge thank you to Kaitlyn from Modern Legacy, Bianca from Il etait une fois , and Lauren from Your Only Black Swan for your gorgeous images.

Words: Christie Sinclair

I’m sure you’re aware of the recent shifts in consumer buying behaviour; our smaller boutiques and labels are suffering at the hands of international online rag-trader giants as Aussies turn to overseas markets for a competitive deal. Now more than ever, our independent designers need support to keep them afloat in this current retail crisis.

So what's the appeal in purchasing independent fashion? We discussed the difference in quality and exclusivity in Series One of our Independent Designer articles. But what about good old-fashioned shopping? I’m not talking about trawling through website after website, online store after online store. I know it’s rather convenient to shop online at times, especially when it means you don’t have to immerse yourself in a car-park battle or even get out of your pjs, but lets not forget the physical experience of shopping. Online shopping is a great way to browse products and help us quickly find what we are looking for, but the disconnection and lack of physical interaction only increases the difficulty choosing your product and post purchase dissonance.

Phoebe Garland, co-owner of Garland & Garland Fashion, a leading Sydney-based fashion agency believes we need to recognise the contribution independent fashion has made by reinforcing the personal service and the wonderful relationships you can have with the smaller boutiques and buying from Australian retailers.

“These smaller retailers have contributed significantly to building these multinational apparel companies. And, these are the retailers that are really suffering. They simply do not have the luxury of operating on the higher margins the chains stores and vertical operators do and they have quite often been lining the pockets of the big apparel companies for years,” she said.

Customer service is a notion most of us have consigned to oblivion now that we have the option of online shopping, but it plays a very large role in customer satisfaction and positive brand image. The physical connection between the consumer and a product is imperative, and it is the customer service that can help facilitate a positive outcome in the end.

It seems department stores and large fashion retailers pay little attention to customer service, which is interesting considering the vast competition from online stores and overseas e-boutiques. So if you are after knowledgeable and friendly staff who virtually live and breathe fashion, head to smaller boutiques and independent retailers.

There is nothing quite like stepping into your favourite boutique and knowing you will be greeted, assisted and treated like a friend rather than a potential buyer. You won’t have to search five floors and numerous un-manned counters, or have to deal with stroppy sales assistants who are more interested in simply making sales than helping you find the perfect garment. Although boutiques generally employ less staff, this allows more time for training and ensuring they employ the ideal candidate for the job.

Skill shortages are also not a problem as many independents employ ‘stylists’ as opposed to sales assistants, whose role is to assist the customer in finding the perfect garment using their broad knowledge of fashion and the particular brand.

Celebrity Stylist, Amber Renee agrees that stylists can drastically enhance the shopping experience by providing independent, educated advice to assist the consumer in selecting the best possible garment in the least stressful manner. She also notes that stylists advice is generally not biased as they are not pressured by sales targets or under any conflict of interest.

“If the stylist is educated on body shapes and skin tones they can provide advice that relates directly to that customer – rather than show what’s been the ‘best seller’ or ‘what everyone loves’.”

Words: Christie Sinclair

New Zealand-based menswear label, I Love Ugly have kicked off their Spring 2011 collection with a bang, releasing an idiosyncratic collaborative short film titled ‘A Conventional Camouflage’.

The film embraces concepts of their latest range, also titled ‘A Conventional Camouflage’, inviting viewers into the quintessential I Love Ugly world of unique textures, patterns and unorthodox design

From its humble beginnings as a small T-shirt label, the label’s founder, illustrator and designer, Valentin Ozich has successfully transformed I Love Ugly into one of News Zealand’s leading menswear labels. The slightly eccentric take on classic pieces and designs has attracted a cult following; the label is now well known for obscuring the lines between fashion and art to create enduring collections, successfully bucking the transient nature of the fashion industry.

Designs by I Love Ugly are available now at the Streetfash online store here: I Love Ugly.

Words: Christie Sinclair

Orri Henrisson's first fashion film First Snowfall in Montreal is a collaboration between the label and Melbourne filmmaker Liam Gilmour. The fashion film was first released as part of No Home in Melbourne in March 2011.

The film depicts a timeless and barren wasteland and a fractured narrative of two characters portraying vastly different emotions, whose lives intersect, all be it briefly. The film attempts to show the power of image as opposed to linear storytelling, specifically focusing on light and the hard contrasts it presents.

TRIMÄPEE’s FALL 2011 fashion film 'Birth' is an incredible collaboration between the Melbourne label and renowned Australian fashion photographer Christian Blanchard and Filmmaker Steven Protuder.

The film focuses on creating a beautiful serene mood and utilises amazing post-production effects. TRIMÄPEE’s FALL 2011 Collection “Umbilical Ventriloquial” is inspired by birth. From the intriguing way an offspring grows and feeds, to the uncanny bond which is shared; TRIMÄPEE explores the physical connection vs. the innate connection between mother and child.

With a team of over 30 people, the cast and crew bring to life an amazing interpretation to the minds and concept of the TRIMÄPEE designers.

Like the perfect pair of shoes or the perfect bag, the right pair sunglasses can be a hard thing to find. When it comes to sunglasses, it’s a topic that for once is driven not so dominantly by trend, but by which pair is right for you.

Driven by the popularity of the famous, perhaps now more infamous Rayban Wafer, a retro-esk look is still strong on the scene. Round is dominating current popular trends, however, a little less John Lennon and a little more relaxed cool.

Delicate details and fine metal trims are what to look for, adding a sense of quality and effort. With the boom of vintage sunglasses, people literally have a new pair every week, so remember to go out on a limb and be different! The range available, from high end designer to second hand markets is endless! Hunt around and choose creatively.

Words and Photos: Max Sanderson

In today’s competitive fashion world being multi-talented is almost a must have attribute to achieve success. James Lachlan is a model and fashion blogger based in Melbourne as well as working at the reputable high end boutique Marais Melbourne. Having practicing modelling for several years, James knows a thing or two about the fashion industry and his European hard edge looks certainly grab your eye!

While not modelling, James is one part of the blogging duo (James Lachlan and Samuel Nicolausson-Soames) from fashion blog Marble House which has just recently hit the scene. Part editorial part personal, Marble House is an insight into the minds of these two creative boys. His style is contemporary sophisticated and yet a little grungy. James is a man who knows how to be creative with his style injecting his personality and individual sense of fashion.

Words and photos: Max Sanderson

Cold and windy winter days certainly call for some gear to keep warm. Cities like Melbourne really embrace the winter months showing off some great layering and heavy outfits. Every winter you need a staple piece to keep warm and go with everything. Whether it be your heavy felt coat the leather biker or a classic cotton trench.

This time of year the icy days really hit hard so you really cannot go past the quality of a well made woollen coat. Good layering can be hard to achieve the simple minimalist style of a woollen felt coat is a perfect way to not over-do-it. Strolling a vintage market or breakfast on a sunny crisp winter morning is just delightful as is the perfect apparel to do it in: the trench coat. Clean classic sophisticated yet cool it is really the staple piece that will never go out of style and last you years.

Cold, cold winter do it in style.