SOLDIERS OF STYLE

I am obsessed with American Indians and this picture was a big inspiration for my first collection. I just love how they express their loves, life and beliefs and take it to the nth degree - they wear it all and are true to what they love - so cool! And I totally dig the colours, textures, attention to detail and artistry in which it is created and expressed - a true style statement! And a visual display of bravery, being true to oneself and being a fighter! Rock on!

This is what has totally got me hooked right now...army/military/anything with a uniform/badge/medal!! Yes the colours ROCK and I love the embellishment but again I think it's the fighter/bravery vibe..it's very Love Chile. I want women to feel strong and brave. Wear their badges of honour with pride! I discovered the most insane vintage army shirts from the 60's/70's yesterday which I will be embellishing and adding to my new collection. They are killer! Some even have the name tags still on - I love that you can sense their story and their journey. Plus they will look super cool with all my shoulder pads, feather and chain pieces.

Can't wait to show you!

Achtung Baby! xx

INSPIRE ME

I have been working hard on my new collection over the last few weeks, sewing, gluing, playing with chains, rhinestones, tassles and velvet and I'm almost done. It got me thinking alot about inspiration and why we love what we love. It's such a personal thing and from my point of view it's really cool to see what's in my head and my heart, the things that are resonating with me right now come to life in my new collection. I am still deciding on a name for the collection

(I'm thinking 'Shamansim' - a shaman is someone who follows their own path and listens to their heart and intuition, ultimately healing others)..do you like it?

That's ultimately what inspires me, people who are unique, that rock out to their own beat and are not dictated to by trends/fads..don't get me wrong I LOVE fashion, but I like it my way and like to make it work for me. I'm big on mood boards, they are a great way to express what's intrinsic to you. The process of making them is SO therapeutic to me - it really stirs me up and inspires me. I always do them for my designing but I've started making them as gifts or canvas's for the home&for friends...the picture above is one I made for my dear friend Arrnott - I picked all the things he loved and put it on canvas. I loved it so much I wanted to keep it! Being a fellow visual creature - Arrnott kept the bow - that really inspired him! The bright yellow contrast against the black and white really spoke to him

What speaks to you? Follow it and have fun with it!

Be inspired

xx

xx

FLY HIGH BUTTERFLY

(Abstract Butterfly artwork by my favourite artist Alan Aldridge)

I was honoured and thrilled to attend the Butterfly Foundation Chrysalis Ball last night.

A room filled with love, life stories and hope. My label Love Chile has been connected with The Butterfly Foundation for a couple of years now and we created a fabulous fashion fundraiser together last year. I am super excited about creating more fundraising and awareness opportunities for them in the months and years to come. They are such an amazing organisation who are dedicated to supporting people who are suffering with eating disorders and negative self image www.thebutterflyfoundation.org.au

Having been there myself I know first hand how devastating these issues can be and indeed how misunderstood they still are.

The other element of the evening that really inspired me was the energy of not only the people in the room but in particular the wonderful women behind Butterfly. Created by one amazing lady, Claire Vickery, who had dealt with ED's first hand and decided to do something about it..to create a support base, a foundation that could make a difference...in spite of one particular naysayer who told her she would 'never get that up'..well she certainly showed him and indeed all of us what can be created when you have passion..that any dream you have really is possible!

The CEO of Butterfly, Christine Morgan, also made a beautiful speech and quoted one of my favourite pieces of writing by Nelson Mandela - I have it on my bedroom wall actually! So many of us are scared to fly, to show our true selves. Lack of self worth is a common factor with Eating Disorders, it certainly was for me..but Butterfly, like Love Chile is all about showing people how to find and spread their wings. Fly high Butterfly! I'll leave you will Mr Mandela...

'Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you.

We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us

It is not just some of us, it is in everyone.

And, as we let our won light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our fear

Our presence automatically liberates others'

xx

Original Sin

While digesting my RAFW experience and working through a mild case of CFF -

'Chronic Fashion Fatigue' - (mostly due to stupid shoes), I reflected on the shows, the stand outs and the leave outs! It was great to be a part of it and play in fashion land all week but not alot of shows really blew me away and I really resonated and agreed with an article written by Vogue Editor Kirstie Clements in yesterdays Sunday Telegraph, Kirstie said.

'A good show is more than just fashion - it's the casting of the models, the music, the styling, hair, make up, the pace, the build. It's a piece of theatre, that, when married with design ability, is just magical! It's when you remember why you were so enamoured with fashion in the first place'

So true!! Fashion should be a story, deep, layered, textured...have some guts -Camilla, Alex Perry, Ellery, Romance was born and new comer Elliot Ward Fear were my favourite story tellers this year. They danced to their own beat and we all should too. If you ask me it's a SIN not to, a 'SIN on originality' not be true to who you are and what you want to express to the world. Be like Bianca Jagger in the pic above and stand out from the crowd kids.

I love this quote

'Never compete

Never compare

Run your own race and soon others will be

Chasing you'

Mmmmmm Hmmmmmm! xx

To the Most beautiful Woman in the world

You are like

The sunniest of days

The prettiest of pictures

The warmest of hugs

And the sweetest of chocolate

You gave me life

You held my little hand

You gave me a voice and soft words to speak

You picked me up when I fell

You are not always right next to me

But you are forever in my heart

My dearest Mumma – you are a divine goddess

And I thank the Angels for sending me the brightest berry in the bunch! xx

NOW THIS IS HOW YOU TELL A STYLE STORY!

Romance was born would have to be one of my favourite labels..they are genius, such amazing story tellers. Their attention to detail, vision and amazing skill.

Alot of the shows at RAFW this week, while great haven't really moved me.

I didn't get to see the Romance show live but even just looking at these pictures astounds me! The don't follow trends, give a care to what people will think and the Industry is purring at their fashionable feet. I'm all for fashion that follows it's own beat and these guys are singing the song beautifully. Totally inspiring! They deserve every success and I don't think it will be long before they take over the world!

Viva la Romance was born xx