sing for your supper

Sometimes there comes a time when you have to sing for your supper. Fortunately for me I have a plate of leftovers to be microwaved and a voice that is not quite ready for public consumption.

Should I keep up this whole writing gig however, I may just find myself busking on the streets of Melbourne to earn a pretty penny.

Having said that, the good news rolled in this week (and funnily enough has continued to do so ever since). I managed to pull an article in Fashion Journal 97.

You can grab yourself a free copy at most fashion boutiques, chain stores and cafes in and around your city, or check out the online version HERE

A big thank you to editor Leah White for persisting with my piece and how can I forgo a mention to the lovely ladies at TV who made it all possible...Ingrid Verner and Monika Tywanek (http://www.tvthelabel.com/)

And lastly I'd like to thank the higher beings from above, without which, I never would've made it this far in life

*cue music and shameless tears*

nothing but flowers - TV collection AW10

So a little before the madness that encapsulated my Christmas I was in touch with the lovely ladies (Monika Tywanek and Ingrid Verner) that form the duo of fashion forward Melbourne label, TV. Luckily for me Ingrid was able to take a few minutes out of her very busy schedule to answer three of my most pressing questions (see below!!)

In addition, the girls were kind enough to send me a preview of what I would no doubt be sporting come Autumn/Winter 2010. Nonetheless after having viewed the lookbook I was neither surprised nor shocked that I had fallen in love....again, with a TV collection.

Eclectic designs, outrageous prints and quality craftsmanship are all once again present and are seemingly the only constant that follow on from collection to collection. You see, TV unlike other Australian fashion labels (take note Sass and Bide and your tried and tested tassels, frills and your barely there cut out dresses three seasons into the mix), don't stick to a working formula or try and transition what worked last season into the next. TV is all about the future, the present and the now, with little care for what has been done seasons before.

Each TV collection definitely has that modern element to it but at the same time you feel as if you are taking a giant step into an insanely amazing vintage closet filled with goodies you would never normally pair together.

Ingrid on the inspiration behind the latest collection, Nothing but Flowers:

The "Nothing But Flowers" collection retains a few tiny key concepts from last season (laser cutting, linear patterned knits) with a shift from harder more militaristic undertones toward the more feminine and optimistic. Fabrics play an important role in defining the concept. The contradiction between the natural and the unnatural; between the floral and the fluro. It's a bit of classic hits collection, of highly wearable pieces that in many ways defines the principle direction for TV.

Ingrid on her favourite piece from the recent collection:

The tapestry jeans and floral jumpsuit and the hand knitted fox stole

Ingrid on the development of TV and how they strive to do something completely different with each collection:

TV’s dynamism stems from its willingness to take risks. Absent is the compulsion to stick to a working formula or dwell on past success. We like keeping ourselves interested so we try not to get stuck on one thing and repeat it every season. International designers don't influence our label. Instead, the constant theme across each TV collection is the interplay between my designs and Monika's expertise in textile development.

P.s. a big thankyou to Monika and Ingrid for their time and the most enjoyable sneak peak of my new autmn winter wardrobe!

psychosomatic addict insane

Got some splendid new things to post about in the next week; including a look at the latest collection from ultra lovely Melbourne label TV along with a few words from designer Ingrid Verner on the inspiration behind it all.

In addition, I have managed to get a hold of the band folk at Little Red to share a few thoughts on their recent tour de force of the UK...yes they have managed to survive in one piece, kudos to them. And lastly fashion photographer Elvina Mae (to whom I am a large fan) has kindly donated some time to answering a few of my questions.

Worked a death-becomes-her 13 hour day yesterday and despite the aches running rife through my body I managed to drag myself off to Revolver (yes revolver of all places) in the wee small hours of the morning to catch my sister's boyfriend's DJ set.

You can ch-check out his stuff at www.myspace.com/kraymermusic

Managed to muster up the strength to snap a few photos while I was out, all the while enjoying the sounds emitting through the place, including an epic remix of the Prodigy's Breathe. Brought back so many memories of my rebellious youth (and their amazing set at Big Day Out earlier this year).

So until next week, I part ways with the wise words...go forth and drink merrily this Saturday 19th of December, i know i will be :)

psychosomatic addict insane - Breathe by the Prodigy

tune in

Perusing the racks at Alice Euphemia last week (a monthly must do for all Melbournites) I came across too many a design that I so desperately "need". Funnily enough they were all from the same label - TV.

Born and bred in Melbourne, TV is the spawn of good friends and designers Monika Tywanek and Ingrid Verner. With some five collections now tucked firmly under their stylish belts, TV has become one of the rising labels in the Melbourne boutique scene and a future force to be reckoned with on a national level.

Throwing caution to the wind it is obvious that these two designers care little for boundaries and instead push their ideas to the limits with each season. Everything is unique and little of this season would lay claim to something akin to seasons before. You can see that their strength lies in difference and versatility rather than staking claim on one particular style and tweaking it from collection to collection. In my opinion it's a little different to what is out there at the moment; in that it mixes the on-trend with the slightly offbeat and quirky...and for that I am all the more happy to feast my eyes upon what TV has to offer.

On the rise, TV is sure to garner more of the attention it so rightly deserves and I'll be happy to tune in prime time and watch the ratings skyrocket.