2010 - A Blank Canvas

And so it is - a blank canvas waiting to be interpreted. The New Year is upon us. Before we can see in the New Year with a kiss from our sweetheart and a thousand broken resolutions we need to find the perfect dress. Whether the setting is a balmy evening or a winter wonderland, it is always a magical time when the slate is wiped clean and we can look forward to the unknown.

Embrace the new opulence that this season is becoming best known for. Exquisitely feminine fabrics, siren heels that compliment boyish cuts, strong quirky detailing and luxe accessories are the essence of this year. If all else fails though there is always the little black dress. These are my faves that I have seen lately. Revel in their loveliness and remember that the countdown is on.

So forget what you could have done this year, embrace the innocence of the young night and step into a smouldering after dark hue that will see you though until the morning light.

NYC - Melting Pot of Street Fashion

New York, I love you – you will never bring me down. Out of all the cities we will visit in a lifetime, some stain the memory indelibly. New York is one of these cities. There is no other place that makes one feel as inspired or alive as the city that never sleeps. In a place where art is the essence of life, fashion is central to this art. From the designer stores and elegant cafes of the Upper West Side to the rambling markets, second hand book stores and vintage boutiques of the Lower East Side, there is something for everyone. If there is a line to be crossed in the stakes of fashion, the line has been well and truly crossed in a land where anything goes.

It is difficult to pinpoint the current trends as everyone looks unique and interprets style in their own way. New York is addictive and I would do anything to be able to bottle the style of the devastatingly cool people who walk the streets. Jumpsuits are worn with crafty accessories, fringed dresses are offset by the highest heels and men’s preppy shirts are worn with little else. The reason that you never see two people wearing the same thing is the fact that there are SO many places to shop. A great little discovery was “The market NYC” which is a young designers market brimming with creative talent that is yet to be discovered.

The back streets of the lower east side are full of stores that seem like you wouldn’t know they were there unless someone in the know showed you. The best thing to do is to simply let yourself get lost. A couple of gems are the “Pixie Markets” which sells designer wares at a discounted price and “Flying A” stocking vintage pieces alongside quirky American labels.

For such a huge city, you can feel as if you are part of a quaint village wandering around aimlessly happy. The people can seem nonchalant however when you have the pleasure of speaking with them, they are passionate and animated. On top of this, they are very well aware that they are lucky enough to live, in my opinion, in the coolest city in the world.

Keeping in Tune with the Trends

Rock concerts have long been a breeding ground for the newest looks to emerge. Whether it be 80’s throw back, preppy or hippie chic – concerts are the perfect opportunity for the darlings of fashion to try out their fashion forward looks. This can be seen from the moment I walk into the grungy run down interior of the Electric ballroom. Packed to the brim with people channeling every look of the season, the air is rife with anticipation for what’s to come. The link between fashion and music can’t be defined as the on trend crowd sway patiently through the support acts, waiting for Paulo Nutini to make his entrance.

When Nutini strolls onto stage and begins to sing in his raw, earthy voice, punctuated by his acoustic guitar, it is truly spellbinding. The crowd erupts in excitement throwing their wildly accessorized hands in the air. With the songs mostly fresh and new, the performance exudes vitality and energy on Nutini’s part which is quickly passed onto the audience.

Nutini and his band in graphic printed shirts and washed out 90’s denim are precisely on trend – I get the impression however that they couldn’t care less. This is until I remember that Nutini is the man who wrote a song about how great it feels to wear a new pair of shoes. It is then that I release he has the coolest look of all – the one that looks as if you haven’t tried even if you have spent hours looking just so.

While the audience stands transfixed through Nutini’s quieter and perfectly composed rockier ballads, I take a moment to people watch. There is a mish mash of on trend styles in the room. High waisted shorts worn with school girl cute socks and sky high heels. Fringed waistcoats worn over tiny corseted tops that hide a multitude of sins and playsuits in every length and colour. Outfits are completed with exuberantly colored scarves, trilby hats and retro shades.

Nutini commands your attention in the way in which he performs. He is completely relaxed on stage to the point where you almost feel as if he is performing just for himself. This too can be seen in someone who is completely at ease with their fashion choices. It’s about throwing together different eras, trends and influences to create something altogether unique.

Whether it be the young fan dancing in the crowd or the musician allowing them to do so, music and fashion creates a collaboration that allows us all to perform on our very own centre stage.

The Wonderland of Winter Fashion

As the night air chills and the morning remains ethereal I am reminded that winter is quietly approaching. For some this means never ending darkness, frost covered windows, jumping up and down at the bus stop to try and stay warm and drizzle that even the prettiest umbrella won’t keep at bay. For me it means winter clothes. Beautiful, woolly and snuggly – UK designers have it sussed when it comes to looking cool yet remaining warm.

This season there is something for everyone. A nod to the 80’s with the shoulder pad theme and embellished knits, hundreds and thousands of sequins and beads, jumpers laced with angora to give that lovely fluffy effect and sumptuous velvet. Look out for new collections from Future Classics, Sonia Rykeil and French Connection. As far as accessories go ethical label NV London Calcutta shows classic bags in the softest leather and silk scarves in prints that will brighten up any winter day.

As far as shoes go, this season will be all about the over the knee boot – a perfect combination of sex appeal with timeless elegance. Spilling over from last season, the shoe boot isn’t going anywhere. Updated to look a little tougher, wear these with your prettiest lace frock for an on trend contrast.

Cast your eyes over my wish list, place your leather encased fingers firmly on the pulse and let me remind you why winter is anything but dull.

Origami Dolls - Peek into the collection

So it begins. A small step heading up the winding staircase of the London fashion industry. If a picture tells a thousand words then a collection tells a precise story – one that will hopefully captivate the listener and intrigue the glittering fashion world.

A selection of inspirational treasures in your mind start the timely and intricate process. Dolls, circles painted perfectly on already rosy cheeks, impossibly long eyelashes, origami, paper planes, whimsical geisha girls, fragments of hand painted silk and velvet, the sound of butterfly wing, perfectly formed bows, foreign films shot in impending darkness, love letters, antique jewels, tea cups.

An inspiration becomes an idea – a sketch on thick textured paper. Crumbled and thrown away, start again, colours bleed into one another, charcoal smudges and the final idea is here. Old fashioned pattern cutting, printing, fabric is draped and folded into itself, pockets form, meticulous hand stitching leaves invisible traces of blood from a million pricked fingers.

A china doll leans against a dirty wall in a derelict Victorian house. Studded kitten heels and leather accessories adorn her and compliment her delicate outfit. The room is silent bar the click of a camera and the rain outside.

AW2010 London will see the arrival of the new Kelly Love collection – Origami Dolls.


Artwork by Jolene Nettleinghame at http://www.brokendoll.org.uk/

Venice - Fashion’s Labyrinth

This June saw me in the winding alleyways and canals of Venice. If you’ve ever been there, you will know that the city is a maze of labyrinth style streets, men in striped shirts offering you a trip down the canals in their quaint gondolas, amazing food and of course in true Italian form, fashion to die for. The streets are ablaze with the latest styles. The shop windows are inspiring alone which creates a new love affair around every corner, be it with leather gloves, exquisite tailoring or the latest ‘it’ bag.

Like most cities, Venice is one of contradictions. In parts of the city where tourists flock it is an invasive assault on the eardrums, however when you walk a little further and go beyond the centre, the silence is deafening. The buildings of Venice seem so beautifully fragile yet almost every wall is flawed with graffiti. And the latest trends are a mix of bright hues encased in stark white, sharp tailoring against whimsical creations and pretty dresses with rock n roll accessories. French navy, burnt orange and rich purple sit along side nude and mink to complete the palette of the season.

All of that said, I cannot write of fashion in Italy without mentioning menswear. With iconic designers such as Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Giorgio Armani, men have been allowed to express a form of elegance in their dress not seen in any place in the world. This can be seen in their accessories alone; Cashmere scarves, detailed leather shoes and stunning leather holdalls which grace the arms of perfectly groomed gentlemen. Now, if this isn’t a reason for Italian women to spread their fashion wings and look the part of ladies, then I don’t know what is. One thing’s for sure, Italy is definitely one step ahead of the fashion pack… but most of us already knew that…

What’s this all about then?

The romanticism of fashion and life will be captured many times over on this journey. From a self named fashion label, to capturing the tunes of style around the world, to working for ASOS.COM in London.

It’s more than just telling you about me, it’s about maintaining a presence that will help you to remember that there is beauty in everything – you just have to know how to look.

What’s it all about then? Wouldn’t you like to know? ;)

Australian Fashion Week AW2009/2010 - Aurelio Costarella

The lights are dimmed. Voices fade until there is no sound bar the click of cameras and stilettos. The warehouse has been left empty with only carefully placed gold circles on the concrete floor. A faint shadow of willowy limbs stands straight and confident at the end of the runway. Deep beats cascade into the room a little too heavy on the bass before the music becomes slightly softer and an exquisite creature comes into view. She is quietly seductive in a way that makes you almost forget about the clothes until you realise that this is the intention of Aurelio Costarella. The woman should be noticed first and foremost, no matter how beautiful the gown.

The thinking behind these extremely feminine clothes was light-hearted. The way in which these garments were constructed was not. The carefully hand moulded silhouettes wrap around the body so artistically and the ruffles are placed so elegantly that a few of the dresses actually take my breath away.

The collection is a mixture of earthy tones, bright bangles and metallic beading with immaculately stitched embroidery. There is a selection of teeny cocktails dresses not for the faint hearted and floor length gowns that billow softly with every step.
An interesting contrast between the femininity of the embellished fabrics and the little quirks of the clothing is apparent throughout the show. The low cut corsets are enough to make one blush which twists the glamour around on its heels and make the whole show feel a little more provocative and a little less sweet.

As I leave other shows, the striking impression left by this collection becomes more apparent. There was a certain charm about the interaction between the audience, the construction of the garments and by Costarella himself as he mingled with people who had come to marvel in his works of art. Although achieving simplicity in fashion is one of the toughest things to do, achieving the striking beauty and originality of Costaerella’s collection is just as tough and somehow a little more rewarding for both the designer and the very fortunate one who will eventually own one of the pieces of the season.

Catwalk Genuis

Catwalk Genius is a UK based website that stocks new up and coming designers as well much loved established designers including Laura Lee’s, Tatty Divine and Nicola De Main.

My collection “Beautiful Side of Everything” was captured by their amazing stylists and photographers to create this image which I love!

Beautiful Side of Everything

Kelly Love is my self named fashion label. It all started when I packed my bags and moved independently to Japan. It was here in a tiny photography studio that the idea of a clothing line originated whilst helping a Japanese Fashion Designer, Sin Nakamayal, to launch his own label.

After travelling around Asia, studying at KVB Institute of Technology in Sydney and completing work experience with Akira Isogawa, Charlie Brown, Fleur Wood and Hussy I landed a job working for the prestigious boutique label “Baccini and Hill.”

It was during this time that I launched my first collection “Beautiful Side of Everything" at Australian Fashion Week, New Generation Show. A collection of light and feminine styles were created, including floaty dresses, silk camisoles and French knickers using a palette of cream, antique peach, willow green and Black.