Monday 30 April 2012

Green With Envy

 Since opening the doors of its first boutique in 2000 the company quickly forged its reputation as “the destination for Australian designers” with its carefully curated collections of both established and up and coming brands.

From it's humble, Bridge Road beginning to opening two other flagship stores in the heart of Melbourne's city and presigious Chapel St shopping mecca - Green With Envy has grown to become THE destination for Australian fashion. Green With Envy has become more of a brand than just a boutique. It is a household name with it's house brand Nicholas, now stocked in several independent boutiques, including Scene Melbourne and To The Max. In March, the Melbourne-based boutique even flew in a sought-after collection of Alexander Wang bags, accessories and clothing, with many styles selling out in just days! 

Now, the next string to GWE's already highly-established bow is their debut into the virtual world of online shopping at greenwithenvy.com.au

To celebrate the launch of Green With Envy's online store, I have put together some key colour-blocked looks, hand picked from GWE's current collection.  What's next for GWE? We think world domination... 

Enjoy x Franky

Green

Green With Envy: GreenPink

Green With Envy: Pink Princess

Black+White

GWE: Black+White+Grey

Yellow

Green With Envy: Mellow Yellow

Maroon

Green With Envy: Red, Red Wine

Red

Green With Envy: Are You Red-dy

Blue

Green With Envy: True Blue

Franky+Elizabeth's Blogger Picks 

Green With Envy: Blogger's Picks

Thursday 26 April 2012

Quirky Tops

One of the easiest ways to put some spark back into an everyday outfit is by adding a quirky or unique top. Here are some of my favourites from Asos and Nasty Gal with cute designs and prints like the Chanel 'CC' logo made with bananas and bones. Love! 
Quirky Tees

Coated Denim

These leather-looking, coated jeans are part of the latest trend in winter jeans. Incorporating the pop colours we've loved all Summer, these jeans give your Winter wardrobe a boost of glamour and are perfect for heading out in when the nights turn chilly.
Coated Jeans

A Fistful of Apologies - A Room Full of Laughs!


 
Last Saturday night, I was fortunate enough to attend my first-ever live show at the annual, Melbourne International Comedy Festival. 

I was out to dinner at a cheap Thai restaurant on Swanston Street with a couple of friends, when half way through my Papaya and Prawn Salad, a friend of a friend of ours called to say she had a spare ticket to the comedy festival and asked me if I would like to have it. 

Naturally, I obliged. Afterall, it's practically ingrained in my DNA as an Australian to love anything funny, anything free, and anything that comes with an excuse to have a drink with friends!

The ticket was randomly selected to a show entitled, "A Fistful of Apologies"; and despite his ironic surname, Tommy Little knows how to deliver BIG comedy. He's performed on The Today Show, as well as the The 7pm Project; and during the month of April he's starred at his own Com-Fest gig in the basement of Arthur's Bar on Flinders Lane. 

Beat Magazine named him "the future of funny", whilst the Adelaide Advertiser admits "you can't help but smile at Tommy Little". Indeed, at his live show, "A Fistful of Apologies", Little brings all of his critical acclaim to the floor in a witty, well-timed performance chronicling the many lessons he's learnt the hard way in life. 

As a self-confsessed 'middle class man', born and raised in the waspy, Melbourne suburb of Surrey Hills; Little delivers some cheeky, yet bitingly accurate digs at the superfluous pomp and frivolity of upper middle class suburbia. Nothing is sacred in this live comedy hour - from macaroons to everyday 'coffee connoisseurs' - his tongue is quick to poke fun at all the ridiculous idiosyncrasies, which are readily adapted in modern society. 

As one reviewer from the Herald Sun noted, "his ability to banter with his crowd, full of quick-witted one-liners and genuine enjoyment of his surrounds, makes Little's show a very funny hour". Certainly, this is the case for those sitting in the first two rows who were frequently spotlighted by Little, as he interacted with several members of his audience in what turned into a hilarious hour of quick-witted, cat and mouse banter. He is incredibly sharp-tongued, intelligent and fast on his feet - turning even the most mundane audience responses into an unexpected pun, striking anecdote or larger-than-life reenactment.  


The show revolves loosely around a single piece of advice bestowed upon him by his father: "no matter how wrong you are, always stick to your guns", from which a web of hilarious incidents and  crazy events begins to unravel. With his impeccable impersonations and outlandish caricature depictions, Little has a true talent for recapturng a moment and creating characters before your eyes.


I thoroughly enjoyed Tommy Little's "A Fistful of Apologies" and since seeing the show, have developed a whole new appreciation for stand-up comedy. I look forward to supporting more local talent at the 2013 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. 

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Scarf Print

Scarves do not just have to be reserved for tying around your neck or donning on your favourite designer bucket bag. In fact, traditional scarf prints have become increasingly popular choices for designers the world over and are being incorporated into everything from blouses to blazers! 
Scarf Print

Welcome to The Jungle

This SS it's all about loud prints and themed patterns. Last week, we reviewed the gorgeously girly floral-print trend in pants and jeans. Now, it's time to step out of the garden and into the wild with these fun, jungle-print pieces inspired by both tropical rain-forests and Amazonian jungles.  

Welcome to The Jungle



Jungle Fever

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Pretty In Peplum

Peplum is a short, overskirt or ruffle that can be attached to the waistline of a skirt, jacket or dress. It celebrates a woman's' curves and is a renown symbol of pinup-style glamour. Today, peplum has been reintroduced into fashion and given a modern twist, incorporating bright colours, textured fabrics, shorter hems and frivolous prints. Use a skinny belt in a contrasting colour to cinch in a voluminous peplum silhouette at the waist. 

Left - Michelle Williams wowed us at the Oscars this year proving that peplum is still the cornerstone to quintessential, timeless glamour in the scarlet, Louis Vuitton gown. 


Left - Blake Lively keeps it simple and classy in this conservative-yet-classic, Jason Wu for Target ensemble.
Right - Cara Delvigne models a tiger-striped Burberry peplum jacket with black skinny-leg jeans. 

Perpetual Peplum



Ready to Wear Peplum

Monday 9 April 2012

She Wears The Pants


Katherine Hepburn was known for her individual style and masculine dressing in the 1940's. Glamour icon, Jackie O was a style starlet in the 1970's. And in the current decade, we look up to industry experts and fashion bloggers like Olivia Palermo to gain insight into global RTW trends. The wide-leg pant has at long last made a comeback onto the catwalk and looks fabulous belted with a silk shirt for classic or corporate chic. Palazzo pants have also been featured in a range of bright colours and statement prints for a more flamboyant and daring look. Remember: keep the top simple and let the pants do the talking, or should I say, walking...  


Fancy Pants


Look 1 #Nice + Neutral

70's Starlets


Look 2 #Bold + Beautiful

Palazzo Party


Look 3 #Pyjama Party

Pyjama Party

Saturday 7 April 2012

Pants in Full Bloom

Last SS, it was all about brights and colour blocking. This year, Spring has sprung full bloom in the Northern Hemisphere (a season ahead of us down under) and has unveiled a blossoming new trend in floral patterned pants. Incorporating the same brights and pastels we loved last year, these irresistibly girl designs add another dimension to statement trousers. But be warned, in order to avoid looking like you just stepped out of a Forever New catalogue, pair these pants with a neutral coloured top and avoid teaming with lace at all costs! There's sweet, and then there's sickly sweet. 
Floral Mania


Pants in Full Bloom

Pimped Up Kicks

When travelling in New York recently, I couldn't help but notice how big sneakers are in the US compared to back home. Converse, Doc Martin's and Vans appear all across Broadway and are donned on the feet of street style savvy New Yorkers everywhere. "New Yorkers do a lot of walking and running around. It's the city that never sleeps,  you need comfortable shoes or you won't keep up!" one Lower Eastsider told me. 

Not only are sneakers a practical choice of footwear in the US, they're also nearly half the  price a they are in Australia; and readily available in all kinds of colours, patterns and materials. At the Converse All Stars store on Broadway, you can even custom-design your own unique set of cons, which are then hand made and ready to be collected in two business days. 

Here are some colourful, quirky and bedazzled sneakers I have put together for inspiration, with the hopes that maybe we Melbournians will walk a mile in a Manhattanites' shoes. 

Look 1 #Colourful Converse

They're the All American sneaker, and now they come in some out-there new colours to get you one step closer to colour blocking perfection!
Coloured Converse


Look 2 #That Print Cray

First there was the block colour trend and now we're seeing unique and individual patters, pop up in fashion and accessories world-wide. Here are a few lovably quirky designs, to make your feet the feet-ure of your next outfit. 
This Print Cray


Look 3 #All That Sparkles + Shines

I have an inherent love for all things sparkly and shiny, and went absolutely Lady GaGa over some of the sequin embellished sneakers I saw in New York and LA recently. This assortment of blinged up, glitter kicks are the perfect way to funk up any outfit and look great with skinny leg jeans for edgy, street style. 
Sparkly + Shiny Sneakers


Look4# Designer Kicks

When it comes to top trends and designers, the apple usually doesn't fall far from the tree. The same applies to these stylish sets of sneakers, behind which you will find designers such as Guiseppe Zanotti, Lanvin and Mui Mui.  
Designer Sneakers

Sunday 1 April 2012

Future Music Festival 2012

Future Music Festival 2012 was a well organised, carefully planned out event. Melbourne festival-goers were treated to a beautifully sunny day on Labour Day weekend. The event ran much smoother than previous years with no tedious lines to get to the bar and toilet cubicles (even the little things like having the water and toilet rolls changed frequently, ensured that patrons were never inconvenienced on the day).

Myself and my friends arrived at Flemmington at around 4 to see US DJ, Skrillex, perform. He put on a great set and played many of his well known tracks such as the remix to Avicii's Levels and of course, Bangarang. However, with the minimal coverage surrounding the stage, the sound seemed to get lost in the crowd and I must admit it did feel a little strange dancing to dubstep in broad daylight... Despite his huge following, I think Skrillex's set would've sounded much better and been more suited to an eclosed space like 'The Boiler Room' tent where The Bloody Beatroots performed a few years ago and it went off!!!

After Skrillex's set we caught bits and pieces of bands such as Friendly Fires and The Rapture who put on a great show but did not have as much audience support or involvement during their performances. As the sun began to set, we made our way over to Knife Party, which would've been a great set if it weren't for the overzealous crowd and their boisterous dancing which became quite confronting, if not violent, and ruined the overall audience experience. After 15minutes of hardcore dubstep a few of us decided to move on to the main stage and see the infamous party boy, Fatboy Slim rock out his epic 2 hour set. After seeing Fatboy perform in Ibiza, Spain last year - I knew to expect big things and he certainly delivered. He played all his old tracks as well as some fun remixes to get the crowd energised and ready to dance.

Then finally, at 8pm the trio we'd all been waiting for: Swedish House Mafia, hit the main stage and belted out an incredible three hour set complete with lazer show, video and sparks. SHM were nothing short of amazing and were well worth the $150 ticket to see them. My only complaint was that the sound throughout the entire day was too soft.

All in all a fun day with some fun people. Here are some snaps I took as well as an adaptation of what I wore on the day! Enjoy x Franky

Future Music Festival

My FMF 2012 outfit



My boyfriend and I after Skrillex 



On shoulders for Fatboy Slim!


Swedish House Mafia (above + below)