PORTSEA POLO 2018

The fashion obsessed trotted(see what I did there) into Portsea anyway they could this past weekend, by bus, helicopter or even by boat. Dressed in their best threads to impress the masses, the crowd spent the day on the sidelines, sipping their cocktails, listening to music, whilst watching the sport that is popular with high society and the Royal Family. For a day the Melbourne social scene migrates to Peninsular for The Alfa Romeo Portsea Polo. It is an annual event offering up polo, fashion and celebrity spotting which is one of the hottest tickets on the social season calendar in Melbourne during summer. 

Blazer: @thespectrecollection

Shirt: @prada

Pants: @peterjacksonau

Shoes: @florsheimaus

Let’s be honest, only a handful of attendees actually purchase their tickets with the intention of watching opposing teams scoring points on the polo field, but rather for the opportunity of rubbing shoulders with politicians, celebrities and the wealthy. People fly in in from interstate to attend as it really is one of only a handful of events where you can play with the rich and famous in such a small environment. Marquees line the arena and inside are the fashion pack sporting their best polo looks.

Malinda wears: @charly_thorn_designs

On the day the ladies had their fair share of picnic at hanging rock lace and crochet frocks that were topped off with straw hats and the most rented bag in Australia, the YSL tassel handbag (so over this bag, can we move on ladies!). It was great to see a number of the ladies branch out and wear some bright colours and prints, but the interesting footwear to tread the grass arena peaked my interest with many opting for colourful wedges and embellished shoes. One of the refreshing ensemble highlights was a sunflower short one piece that was all kinds of sass. The females definitely took more risks when it came to their ensembles than men with many adorning their perfectly GHD'd curled hair wrapped in a head scarf. The smartest accessory of the day was truly an umbrella, with the weather playing havoc with downpours that would last from a minute to 40 minutes it was the ultimate weapon to save you from looking like a drowned rat.

It is always nice to be surrounded by so many people who take pride in what they wear and it is a fantastic event to get dressed up in your finest to mingle at such an aristocratic event.

Preparation for the polo can start months and weeks in advance to ensure that your outfit is on trend with many planning their outfit in advance and scheduling an appointment with their tailor or designer of choice. Women tend to shop months in advance so they do not run into another lady wearing exactly the same dress. My sources on the day were keeping count of how many frocks were repeated with one tally hitting 7. Guess it pays to plan ahead ladies.

I never like to look like anyone else and tend to be prepared in advance. For those of you that know me, I am not afraid to stand out in the crowd and rarely shy away from wearing unique colourful pieces, or unusual prints, and for the polo this year I wanted to take it one step further with the help of The Spectre Collection with a personalised piece no other gent would have in the arena.

For the educated fashionista the popular dress code for males is usually a blazer, linen shirt and a pair of chinos. Rarely do you see a man that is not wearing blue or beige. Think of a preppy frat boy, Polo Ralph Lauren commercials or any 90s slasher flick where frat boys meet their doom by a knife wielding maniac. If you can imagine it, that is pretty much what you will see. A sea of muted pastels, sweaters over the shoulders, polo shirts in crisp white, fitted knee length shorts paired with loafers. 

Whilst most gents opted for plain, light colours or stripes and checks in linen, lightweight cotton shirts, it was great to see some guys experiment with florals, double breasted blazers, bold colours, collarless shirts and runners instead of loafers. It was fantastic to see a handful challenging what is traditionally the classic polo look. I congratulate these men on wearing their bright hues of blue and purple, patterned fabrics and pops of pink. Well done boys.

There was so much beige in the arena this year I could have made a fortune if I opened a stain removal service stand at the entrance. Beige, beige, beige, some more beige, wait there is some more beige followed by a little more beige. I have not seen so many blue blazers with beige trousers on men since I visited Adelaide for Adelaide Fashion Week last year. As much as I respect the traditional dress code I was half expecting a flash mob to Backstreet Boys. 

So back to planning in advance. I visited The Spectre Collection showroom and met with the delightful Joanne to discuss the event, my style and personality. Their attention to detail both in design and fit is a rarity with the team working with you on a design to personalise it to your needs. The result? A fantastic vibrant yellow satin blazer with unicorn motif with brown lapel. This I knew no one else would have which is something I love about bespoke suiting. It is perfect opportunity to be unique and personalise your wardrobe. The team at The Spectre Collection nailed this blazer and have the ability to combine style, fit, quality, your personality, into one item. Their customer service is excellent and not just in the showroom, from start to finish the process was flawless, professional and fun. A lot of brands both male and female could learn a lot from the team at The Spectre Collection, especially around customer service.  

Ben and I both wearing: The Spectre Collection

Back to the polo! Between chukkers the arena converts into a runway for both men and ladies strutting the field to people watch and be watched. Whilst the rain dampened the field and created a few side stepping puddles, people took the opportunity when the sun broke to lap the arena. It is a great way for meeting people and I was stopped many a time by both ladies and gents asking where I found this one of a kind blazer. A pair of delightful ladies stopped me mid walk to ask why I did not enter the fashions on the field, an investor stopped me to ask if I would be interested in joining his hedge fund as he clearly thought I had money to burn wearing this blazer, I had numerous young lads ask if they could try on the blazer and was stopped to take pictures with people I would likely never see again. It still amazes me how fashion can be a conversation starter and bring people together who would not normally converse.

Whilst the rain may have kept the crowd smaller this year and people inside their expensive marquees as compared to previous years, the day was still full of fun and plenty of entertainment.

Somehow I think I will be visiting The Spectre Collection prior to my trip to Milan and Paris next month. Look out world, I think I am going to have a new addiction to support.

Stay tuned to Instagram for much more.

SUMMER IS CALLING

Summer usually means less style with long days spent at the beach to stay cool. For men you can stay cool whilst looking good when the temperatures soar.

Shirt: James Harper

Shorts: Boohoo

Shoes: Lacoste

I am a huge fan of  the beach as I am sure so many of you are. It is relaxing, with nothing to do but read a good magazine, dips in the water and sunning yourself on the sand like a lizard. 

Swimwear: Marcuse

Shorts of course are a wardrobe necessity in the Australian sun. When I find a style that fits I purchase them in every colour possible. For my long 34 inch legs finding shorts that fit in all the right places can be significantly hard. 

Shorts: Boohoo

Shirt: YD Australia

I enjoy the preppy style, but do like to mix it up with some pastels or bright colours, it is summer after all which is the funnest season of all when it comes to lifestyle. One of the safest choices is navy shorts and a classic white shirt. There is so much class and elegance in a shirt that is multi- purpose.

Shorts: Connor 

Shirt: Oxford

Swimwear: Marcuse

Hat: David Jones

You don’t have to play it safe. Black or navy shorts can add new life to your existing wardrobe by adding a colourful solid shirt or florals. Branch out and try to work them into your wardrobe. You will look effortlessly chic for any beach encounter. 

So head to the beach in something practical yet comfortable. 

Stay tuned to Instagram and Facebook for more updates on my daily looks. There is much coming up over the next few weeks that you will want to see! Happy new year!

HORSING ABOUT

From the races, to the polo, it has been a massive week of social activity. The social season in Melbourne has truly kicked off with with many outdoor activities taking place. These are some of the biggest social events of the year where fashion meets lifestyle.

Horsing around at the AAMI Derby Day where everyone continues the strong tradition of dressing smartly and appropriately in black and white. Think my fair lady racing style. Here I paired a James Harper blazer and shirt with Jack London trousers and a waistcoat. I of course had to wear some splash of colour so brightened it up with a few colourful accessories.

Trotting through the week to Kennedy Oaks Day, otherwise known as "Ladies Day". What fun it was to watch all the fashion on the field competitions. So much colour and creativity when it comes to the crowd. The lovely sunny day was perfect for my Oxford blazer and waitcoat, topping the outfit off with the Flemington pink rose. 

There are a number of polo matches held in Melbourne over the course of two months with Portsea Polo being the crowning jewel in socialites calendar. This year I am starting off with Werribee Polo at Werribee Mansion, followed by Twighlight Polo conculding with Portseas Polo in January. Let's be honest, no one attends to actually watch the seven chukkas, the horses, or players(although there are some very attractive players). The real sport here is the people watching. Wearing Bell & Barnett  blazer, Oxford shirt and pants from Entre Amis.

After a week of watching horses on the track and the wonderful people trackside, it is time to turn my mind to sourcing some wonderful pieces for my Eurpoean adventure. Stay tuned to instagram for more. 

PHOTOSHOOT Vol.1

I have a real desire of creating different content and experimenting with various creative outlets and styles. In order to continue to develop  I like to step out of my comfort zone and shake things up by collaborating with and meetings as many creative types as possible.

Who doesn’t love meeting other creative types and endeavoring on a creative adventure together. It changes your perspective and opens what I call “art eye” more whilst stepping out of your comfort zone. I had the wonderful opportunity of spending a few hours with Jon Cordiano and Mary Tham Photography.

Jon and I discussed the concept ahead of time and luckily we were both in sync with what we were thinking and developed the style further of what we wanted to achieve by creating a mood board. Once that was done, a few props were required to pull the whole thing together and presto we were off to meet with the 

photographer.

Mary is a freelance Photographer based in Melbourne, Australia and specialises in Street and Fashion Photography. Her work has been featured in various magazines and it was wonderful to gain the experience with her and Jon. After all I am no professional model.

The good thing about this experience is that there was not one director and everyone could bounce ideas off each other, have input and bought something to the table. Fluid and authentic, it was great to have such improvisation. Check out the images below, you can find us all on Instagram at the Mary Tham Photography, Jon Cordiano and GFASHCOLLECTIVE.

 

 

Images: Mary Tham Photography

Clothing: James Harper

Jack London

Peter Werth

STATEMENT SOCKS

We’re living in the era of experimental fashion which is perfect for those who love to make a bold statement. That’s the great thing about statement socks, they pack a punk and are relatively inexpensive (depending on the sock you wish to sport).

Blazer: Oxford

Shirt & Tie: James Harper

Pants: Department 5

Shoes: Ted Baker

Socks & Ring: Paul Smith

Sunglasses: Dangerfield

Everyone practically wears socks on a daily basis and even fashion minimalists can’t argue with this easy to style accessory. For men the statement sock is the equivalent of a statement necklace, a purse or handbag for women and when spending more than a few dollars on a pair you do want people to see them.

Shoes: Ben Sherman

Socks: Gucci

Not just for women, the statement sock “trend” can easily be adapted to men’ fashion making every one of your outfits stand out! The “trend” is nothing ground-breaking and has been around for many decades, but the variety of socks now available, how you choose to style them is new. From embellishments to colours and patterns it is time for the bare ankles to move aside for this pepped up explosion of individuality.

Statement socks make every outfit stand out in the crowd. If you are more courageous and want to make a statement then this “trend” is for you.

Socks:Ted Baker

Wear them with confidence and pride by mixing them with a chunky statement shoe for a strong styling atheistic. Making your socks the focal point of your outfit is easy by wearing a minimalist ensemble. The key is to build your look from the feet up.

Socks:Ted Baker

For those a little more daring and flamboyant, you definitely want to pair your socks with a great pair of shorts that end above the knee to show off the details of your statement socks. Summer is just around the corner, so it’s only natural to want to show off your legs with this great combination. Some may argue that this look is very geeky. Have you not heard of geek chic?

Socks &: Paul Smith

As far as office attire goes, sock experimentation requires a fairly simple getup (a tonal look is always a safe bet). Utilising a pair of your favourite loafers can take your look from drab to fab and reinvent and bring focus to your shoes.

Socks: Gucci

Before settling on a pair of socks, I recommended that you know what you want the socks to do. Do you want them to be the focal point, do you want them to contrast with what you are wearing, match or compliment. I am a firm believer in fit for purpose. The statement sock trend is going nowhere, choosing correctly is important, although fortunately this accessory is relatively cheap to purchase and dispose of.

It is time to get experimental and pimp up your ankles, the options are endless that you can try this summer. Have fun with your ankles and throw in a bit of colour, pattern, or print. 

More on Instagram

HOW TO CARRY-ON

Winter Feast Dark Mofo 2017

These days with budget airlines offering cheap fares to nearby cities for the cost of weekly transport to work, there has never been a better time to jump on a plane and explore. Yearly I make the sabbatical trip south to Hobart for the Dark Mofo festival. Dark Mofo is an annual festival curated by MONA and celebrates the darkness of the winter solstice with 2 weeks of non stop performance art, parties and showcases all of Tasmania's great produce. So how does one pack for a 3 day weekend away to "the island". Making most of the affordable airfares and only packing one bag is quite the task, especially when you need numerous outfits and costumes for parties. There has never been a more affordable time as ever to start travelling with only carry-on. How do you make the most of your carry on? Everything you will see I am wearing as carried in carry on luggage.

Choose your bag wisely

Firstly, packing well starts with choosing the right bag. It is so important. A well designed bag with pockets, zips and compartments will make packing a breeze. Select the right shape and size bag, in line with your airlines code for carry on. That is a given. Other important factors to consider is the weight of the bag, before it has items inside! It is wonderful to have a beautiful crafted bag with lots of embellishments, but this automatically makes your bag heavier. Make sure the bag is comfortable to carry, either by its handles or by shoulder strap. This bag will be attached to you for your trip. Personally I like to travel with some sort of style and grace. As much as a back pack has the benefits of keeping your arms free, there is nothing stylish about looking like someone on a tour group.

For this trip I have selected my trusty Ted Baker duffle bag. It fits the airlines codes and is lightweight, stylish and can hold up to a weeks worth of clothes.

Plan your outfits

This is the main step. Planning your ensembles accordingly to the activities that you will be attending. For instance for my trip to Hobart I required two outfits per day, plus two costumes (2x3+2= 8 outfits required) One mandatory item I required was a coat to brave the elements. Even though the city provides plenty of fire outdoors to keep you warm, you still need a coat. Obviously multi purpose items are great as they are easily combined. For instance I packed a reversible cloak coat from Jack London, two outfits one item of clothing. Choosing light weight fabrics that will dry quickly if you need to wash and rewear are a bonus!

When you have planned your outfits, you need to catagorise what you have (shirts, sweaters, jewellery) and see if the items can be mixed and matched with each other providing you with more combinations. If you wear lots of black this should be relatively easy. The next key step is CULL. Unless you are taking a certain necklace or shirt for a reason it does not belong in your suitcase. If it is a statement piece you require, I fully understand but you will need to play sacrifice. People tend to over pack and take too much with them and do not wear half of it. Take only what you need. If you are taking an item "just in case", don't even consider it.

Coat: @jacklondon_official
Shirt: @briggins_clothiers
Vest: @connor_clothing
Jeans: @jeanswest
Shoes: @hm_man
Bag: @Gucci

Now of the outfits you have planned, you need to select what I call "your plane outfit" This is the outfit that has the most weight. Heaviest coat, heaviest shoes, denim and any of your bulkiest items. Of course you do not want to be a marshmallow sitting in your seat, but this is a very strategic way of boarding the plane with more goods. Especially if your flying into a colder climate, such as Tasmania. Getting more bang for your buck so to speak!

Sunglasses: @dangerfieldclothing

Coat: @oxfordshop
Sweater: @ted_baker
Shirt: @hm_man
Pants: @connor_clothing
Shoes: @moschino

Accessories

Personally I do not travel with huge amounts of accessories or over pack. If I am flying to a warmer climate all I need is 5 swimsuits and a few singlets and shorts. I try to keep my shoe addiction to a minimum when packing, one pair on my feet and one in the bag. Truth be know in Tasmania you are not going to be wanting sandals at an event celebrating the winter solstice! Boots on the plane and the trusty Moschino loafers for walking around perhaps? Jewellery, scarves, gloves and watches I tend to wear on the plane or have stuffed inside my coat at check in. This is smarter way of boarding and saves on smaller items taking up room inside your carry on.

Transliminal Dark Mofo RBMA 2017

Suit & harness: @slickitup

Personally I am not a fan of travelling with huge amounts of electrical products. For a quick getaway I can normally get away with just my smart phone. I try not to bring big cameras, tablets etc. Although the one item I always bring is my trusty smart phone tripod to take pictures. It takes up relatively no room and weighs nothing!

How do I pack the bag?

Every little bit of space is prime real estate inside your bag. Place shoes and other flat items at the base of your bag. Socks, underwear etc roll up nicely to stuff inside your shoes. Roll all clothing tightly, this also cuts down on ironing at your destination. Do not fold. Any fragile items should be placed lastly or if they are smaller, stuffed inside another item. For this trip I had to travel with a bunny mask I had as part of my costume. This I literally carried onto the plane in a paper bag.

Coat: @oxfordshop

Sweater: no name
Pants: @connor_clothing
Shoes: @hm_man
Bag: @gucci
Sunglasses: no name

Benefits

Other benefits to only selecting carry on includes saving time at the airport, no check ins required, head straight to the gate with your ticket, disembark the plane and head straight to your destination. You should not be stressed when going away and this is a simpler way of traveling and you need not worry that the airline has lost your baggage. It is a freeing experience to realise how much you actually don't need and you can experience the world without being burdened by "stuff" as Andrea would say. Looking forward to visiting Hobart very soon. It is a enchanting city that I wins a piece of my heart each time I travel there. In saying that I do look forward to coming home and going into my closet and saying hello to all the things that did not get to come with me.

WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE

Who else can relate to this? That feeling of warmth and excitement as your heart starts to beat a little bit faster. An item that is an extension of your personality or something you know that you will wear to death! This treasured piece can awaken a lust and desire that you thought not possible, and then your fingertips grab it immediately and its like meeting an old friend. You fall in love with it and simply must have it? 

Shirt: @moschino

Shorts: @bauhausclothing

Jacket: @boohooMANofficial

Shoes: @roberto_cavalli

Sunglasses: @kmartaus

Falling in love can also cause heartbreak. I read an article recently about "Compulsive Spending Disorder" where it stated " Sufferers may feel compelled to splash out on things they do not need, want or use because they enjoy the recognition or importance that being a big shopper brings, or to bolster low self-esteem". After initially laughing at this article with a friend, I did seriously contemplate if I had a shopping addiction. The truth is, I do not shop to boost low self esteem. I do not shop for anyone else. I rarely shop with people. I have no need to be seen in the latest season. In fact when and what I purchase, is because I have fallen in love and I have it for many many years. I cannot help that I easily fall in love with beautiful colours and fabrics, embellished accessories, well constructed bags or unusual shoes. 

I could restrict my "love affairs" by resisting entering a store, not opening a shopping app on my phone or reading the delightful love letters of sales from mailing lists I have joined. Temptation is everywhere, including the window displays on Collins Street, Melbourne. 

 

Sunglasses: @oxfordshop

Coat: @boohooMANofficial

Shirt: @oxfordshop

Jeans: @cottonon

Shoes: @doucals

Who doesn't like new things? A new shirt is just like a new hair cut. A new pair of shoes can make you feel like you can take on the world, and don't get me started with a new suit. WORLD DOMINATION. 

Suit/Shirt/Accessories:@briggins_clothiers

Shoes: @doucals

Falling in love ultimately leads to heart break. Your favourite shoes can no longer be saved by taking them to the repair man, your favourite bag has had an accident with a stain. Unfortunately some love affairs are not meant to last a lifetime. Others are. I still have items from 10 years ago that I still wear and every time I wear them it ignites the passion I felt initially. The cruelest heartbreak is the "haunting and longing". Nothing haunts me like the things I did not buy. 

Blazer: @oxfordshop

Shirt: @helmutlang

Pants: @boohooMANofficial

Shoes: @boohooMANofficial

Bag: @doucals

Sunglasses: @kmartaus

In this day an age of mass produced "disposable" fashion, quality, cut, style and design are the key points of difference that instantly run through my head when I fall in love. If it is a sample, it makes it even more desirable. If it is a one off...........all bets are off. If it is an item I cannot find in stores in Australia, immediately I will fall a little bit more in love. Yes the industry may be designed that way, but so is my heart. 


Ultimately, you can never control your heart. If you fall in love with a giant sequined panda sweatshirt, so be it. Truth is if you love it and wear it with love and passion, everyone around you will love it and the energy you are producing. When love finds you, I say "grab it with both hands and never let go" unless I am on the other end of that item. Then watch out!