Gabrielle Thompson

WHO: GABRIELLE THOMPSON
WHAT: SHOE DESIGNER
WHERE: SYDNEY, AUS
VISIT: www.tomgunn.com

FFF LOVES… A woman who adores shoes so much, she makes them!

What are your staples?
Black and White Jersey pieces are the essentials for comfort and understated luxury.

What are you indulgences?
Shoes!! I must have over a hundred pairs!! I die for MARNI, Dries Van Noten and Marc Jacobs but now of course, I only wear tom gunn!

What can’t you live without?
Skirts and dresses. I have a beautiful print vintage Diane Von Furstenburg dress that gets an airing every summer.

What is past its use-by-date?
I just noticed a few scary lurex pieces hidden in the back of the wardrobe that need immediate removal!

What is your wardrobe craving?
Anything from Dries Van Noten - I want it all!

About Gabrielle Thompson:
Described as ‘sophisticated with an edge’, tom gunn shoes are designed in Australia and made in Italy by Gabrielle Thompson and Shannon Gunn.

Defined by the pairing of contrasting textures and colours across designs, the namesake label holds a strong focus on the silhouette of the shoe, with a mixture of demure flats, elegant stilettos and statement-making platform heels featuring throughout the seasonal collections.

With individual styling, tom gunn shoes are made with beautiful leathers and exotic skins sourced from some of the top Italian tanneries and suppliers used by many famed international fashion houses including CoSTUME NATIONAL, Marni, Gucci and Longchamp.

Launched in 2008 for the Spring/Summer season, tom gunn stemmed from a shared passion for individual design and the belief that shoes should be like works of art for your feet.

Training at the prestigious Ars Arpel School in Milan, the designers’ love of shoes was fuelled further as they learned the importance of craftsmanship and design, ensuring each shoe is immaculately made with exquisite style.

Since their label debut, the designers now split their time between Australia and Italy, designing, pattern-making and sourcing the finest materials in their quest to create the perfect shoe.

Three years on, the tom gunn label has continued to rise, and is stocked in some of Australia’s most prestigious retailers including Jean Brown Gallery, Directions, Frockshop.com.au, Nancy King, Soletta, Chasing Bow and Stella & Myrrh.

2010 will also see the launch of the designers’ first collaboration with sophisticated Australian clothing brand SABA, where they have designed a unique colour palette across select designs from the collection, to be sold exclusively through select SABA stores.

As their signature style continues to evolve, it is their use of luxury materials, combined with their unique designs and unparalleled quality that has cemented tom gunn as one of the most coveted footwear labels in the Australian fashion industry.

Frances Phillips

WHO: FRANCES PHILLIPS
WHAT: MODEL/BEAUTY BLOGGER
WHERE: LONDON, UK
VISIT: www.stormmodels.com, www.modeltipoff.blogspot.com

FFF LOVES… Frances’ fabulous tips on her blog that will ensure your model status (and her new role as Agent Provocateur’s model)!

What are you staples?
Black skinny jeans. I like Nudie whom I have just discovered whilst in Australia. Acne and TopShop are great and JBrand does good leggings. I collect little singlets for layering.

What are your indulgences?
Leather jackets. I have about a million of them — my faves are from Burberry and TopShop (a great place for leather jackets). I love boots and shopping for rings and earrings. I like to buy silver pieces from markets and costume jewellery from Erin Wasson and Dannijo.

What can’t you live without?
Jeans. I wear them all the time.  

What’s past its use-by date?
Ugg boots — they are so comfy but not very cool anymore. 

What is your wardrobe craving.
I really want some great maxi dresses.

About Frances Phillips:
English model Frances Phillips is based in London and represented by the esteemed modelling agency, Storm (who also look after uber-models Kate Moss, Coco Rocha and Alek Wek). Frances, who is Agent Provocateur’s new model come December) is currently in demand shooting in Australia and is a much followed beauty blogger. Oh, and she is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the out. Go Frances!

Dijanna Mulhearn

WHO: DIJANNA MULHEARN
WHAT: FASHION WRITER & AUTHOR - WARDROBE 101
WHERE: SYDNEY, AUS
VISIT: www.wardrobe101.com.au

FFF LOVES… Dijanna is beautiful inside and out. We want her style savvy… and her Chloe biscuit blazer.

What are your staples?
A biscuit coloured Chloe blazer, American Apparel white tees, Acne jeans and Ferragamo loafers. It’s my uniform when I write, comfy and classic.

What are you indulgences?
Like everyone I love a great shoe. Pierre Hardy, Christian Louboutin, Prada and Alexander McQueen, always make me feel great and never shrink in the wash no matter how much weight I put on.

What can’t you live without?
My Carl Kapp deep red silk dolman sleeve dress. It’s a go-to garment whenever I don’t know what to wear and gets great comments every time.

What is past its use-by-date?
My Sergio Rossi pointed toe, knee length black leather boots. They have taken me all over the world and are as comfortable as an old friend. I just can’t ditch them.

What is your wardrobe craving?
An Yves Saint Laurent Smoking Suit, happy with either vintage or a Pilati interpretation.

About Dijanna Mulhearn:
Dijanna Mulhearn has over twenty years experience in the fashion industry. From retail to events management and fashion writing Dijanna has worked with major brands including Akira, Belinda boutique and Oroton Australia, managed PR for Harper’s BAZAAR as well as heading up the PR and advertising for luxury label Prada in Australia.  Dijanna knows fashion inside out. She created and wrote the long running weekly column Wardrobe 101 at the Sydney Morning Herald which was syndicated to The Age and Brisbane Times online and regularly contributes to Grazia. Dijanna lives in Sydney with her husband and son.

Gabi Perezutti-Isacson

WHO: GABI PEREZUTTI-ISACSON
WHAT: DESIGNER FOR CANDELA
WHERE: NEW YORK
VISIT: www.candelanyc.com

FFF LOVES… Candela’s South American style with a generous dash of NYC cool thrown in to spice things up.

What are your staples?
Candela dresses.

What are your indulgences?
Ummmm … Chanel.

What can’t you live without?
Taylor men inspired shoes.

What is past its use-by-date?
Nothing. I am pretty good at giving away.

What is your wardrobe craving?
Belstaff motorcycle jacket. Like the one Noami Watts had on Eastern Promises.

About Candela: 
South American duo Natalia Kuks-Jacobs and Gabriela Perezutti-Isacson created the first Candela collection in 2004. The label took off when they pioneered the bohemian look that was taken from their ranching background in Argentina and Uruguay. From leathers and chunky knits manufactured in Argentina to cotton voiles, silks, and embroideries produced in India, Candela’s pieces are feminine, without being over the top. Ornamented with occasional bows, ruffles, lace, and creative pops of color, Candela combines wistful, natural looks with fashion-forward city style. In less than a year Candela found itself selling to more than 200 hundred stores worldwide, including Harrod’s, Beams, Henri Bendel, Saks Fifth Avenue, Intermix, Scoop, Fred Segal, Kitson, and many more. In Spring 2006 the first Candela shoe collection was born and has become an integral part of their collection, making up about 65% of their business today.

With Candela’s continued success and growth, the brand is looking to launch an e-commerce site in early 2010, with plans of opening a Candela retail store shortly thereafter. Candela NYC is currently sold at Saks Direct, ShopBop, Calypso, Urban Outfitters, and will be in Neiman Marcus Direct for Resort/Cruise. 

Celebrity fans include Lindsay Lohan, Lauren Conrad, Kate Hudson, Fergie, and Ciara.

Sara Hills

WHO: SARA HILLS
WHAT: PUBLICIST
WHERE: SYDNEY, AUS
VISIT: www.row-a-view.blogspot.com

FFF LOVES… Sara’s aesthete’s eye.

What are your staples?
Ellery tee’s and boots, leather pants, Hermès collier de chien bracelets, YSL rings.

What are you indulgences?
Givenchy pants, Balenciaga cone heels.

What can’t you live without?
My engagement ring.

What is past its use-by-date?
My black jackets …

What is your wardrobe craving?
Some new mini denim shorts ready for summer …

About Sara Hills:
With a career in public relations for over 5 years, Sara Hills is one of Australia’s most celebrated and in-demand publicists, with an eye for fashion, style, and a recently turned fashion blogger.

Regularly working with the country’s best-known faces, brands and publications, Sara has earned a reputation for her diversity, experience, and sense of style.

Sara’s newest venture is Row A View, a unique fashion blog, covering high end fashion shoots, photography, model talent, street style and Australian designers new ranges. Watch this space …

Corinne Lewis

WHO: CORINNE LEWIS
WHAT: ARTIST
WHERE: BRISBANE
VISIT: www.corinnelewis.com.au

FFF LOVES … Corinne’s sumptuous and colour saturated fashion influenced art, with meticulous attention to texture, fabric and detail.

What are your staples? 
Vintage dresses; La La Latrobe for the latest; Metalicus, Stella & Minx for layering; embellished belts, Italian boots and scarf for every winter occasion!

What are you indulgences? 
Inspiration for my paintings: 50’s cocktail dresses, especially embellished with sequins, beads, brocade, coupure lace… extravagant details, full flowing sleeves. Vintage hats, Lover lace dresses, Zimmermann, Gail Sorronda’s frills, Romance was Born lace. My last indulgence; my one of a kind George Gross navy wedding dress.

What can’t you live without?
My eclectic vintage collection, a mix of 40’s glamour, 50’s dancing dresses, and 80’s sexy ruching and exaggerated silhouettes. My fave piece for the moment; a Studibaker fur and sequined waisted jacket or my Grandmother’s creation from the 60’s — a Dr Chivago style black coatdress with leopard print fur hem and collar, cinched waist and full skirt… my Mum wore it back then. More recently I’m in love with my Rock & Republic leather jacket.

What is past its use-by-date?
Denim shorts of any kind.

What is your wardrobe craving?
Vintage Valentino! Just a once in a lifetime! J’Aton Couture, a pair of the latest Just Cavalli jeans but I’d settle for Nolita. Of course with Summer approaching, I have my eye on high waisted bikinis from Zimmermann.

About Corinne Lewis:
Fashion, old-world beauty and the feminine form; it’s clear Corinne Lewis has a thematic preference when it comes to her art. Faceless forms draped in folds of fabric and strings of pearls pose on her canvases. Vibrant colours dramatically dance with light and shadow across their flesh. Corinne’s elegant and luxurious neo-realistic style breathes life into her work creating a collection that is distinctly stylish and sexy.

Corinne has always been an artist at heart. As a child, a brush or pencil were never far away and as she grew older, her passion grew stronger. Throughout her schooling career she won many art awards and was accepted into the Queensland College of Art.

She graduated in 1992 as a graphic designer and briefly pursued work with a couple of advertising agencies. However, the dissatisfaction of computer-based design saw her make the decision to go it alone as an artist.

She displayed work in group exhibitions on the Gold Coast and Brisbane and had success with a series of flower pieces in Montville. The soft curves and flowing folds of her floral technique helped develop her style and its influence can be seen in her current work.

As an artist, Corinne draws on a vast collection of stimuli. From her adventures in England, France and Italy studying old masters Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Rubens and the work of photographer Guy Bourdin, to her infatuation with screen legends Audrey Hepburn and Ginger Rogers, Corinne’s works have seen an eclectic mix of influences.

She has also received inspiration a little closer to home with work by fellow Brisbane artists and friends Virginia Morrison and Andy Wild proving very influential. So, too, has a collection of garments created by Corinne’s fashion designer grandmother and aunt which Corinne still paints and wears today.

Marnie Goss

WHO: MARNIE GOSS
WHAT: DIRECTOR AND OWNER, FROCKSHOP.COM.AU
WHERE: BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
VISIT: www.frockshop.com.au

FFF LOVES… her super-stylish eye for picking exactly what every Fatale is dying to wear. Plus 24/7 shopping is simply to-die-for.

What are your staples?
Kain tees, J Brand jeans, Cable cashmere knits and A.L.C. black slouchy pants. They are all high quality, basic items that I will have for a very long time. 

What are you indulgences?
My Balmain for Giuseppe Zanotti military boots. They aren’t the most practical purchase. As the military trend won’t be around forever but they were too good to pass up!

What can’t you live without?
Smythe blazers as they come in the most beautiful cuts and fabrics and go with everything. I also can’t live without Zimmermann Swimwear. Summer would not be the same without their gorgeous bikinis.

What is past its use-by-date?
My flat knee high boots. We have had some great times, but it is time to say goodbye.

What is your wardrobe craving?
The new season collection from Camilla and Marc, especially their new jewellery range. It is also in desperate need of the beautiful slouchy blazers from Ellery.

About Marnie Goss:
Fashion entrepreneur Marnie Goss is no stranger to high end fashion - after finishing two degrees in Communications (PR) and Business (Marketing) at university, she packed up and shipped off to the shores of the United Kingdom where she developed a love for online shopping and international fashion labels, and worked with renowned brands such as Krug champagne and Versace. After a career high as a publicist for Louis Vuitton, Marnie returned to her home shores and quickly identified a gap in the market for a luxury fashion website – and Frockshop was born.  She’s certainly on the road to success – with 10,000 hits a day to the website, a rapidly expanding client base boasting about 50 exclusive labels from Australia and further ashore including Antipodium, Josh Goot, Zimmerman, Ginger & Smart, Camilla & Marc, Lisa Ho, J Brand, and CC Skye, and a loyal customer base placing orders every season, frockshop.com.au is the online destination of choice for Australia’s label-lovers. A self-confessed workaholic, Marnie admits that working for herself is the biggest motivator, and it only takes the click of a mouse to prove her hard work has most definitely paid off.

Jennifer Kassell

WHO: JENNIFER KASSELL
WHAT: FASHION DIRECTOR & HEAD BUYER MYCATWALK.COM
WHERE: SYDNEY
VISIT: www.mycatwalk.com

FFF LOVES… a mycatwalk 24/7 shopping fix and her “shoe love is true love” attitude!

What are your staples?
Grey marle oversized boys singlets, leather shorts, crystal necklaces and nude heels.

What are you indulgences?
Shoes, I have no boundaries. In my opinion, shoe love is true love.

What can’t you live without?
My jacket collection, black ksubi sunglasses and toe rings.

What is past its use-by-date?
My wardrobe gets a good clean out every month so it’s thankfully pretty up to date. I could probably let go of the last standing sequined piece and let her rest in peace.

What is your wardrobe craving?
Nude leather shorts. There is definitely a small space just waiting for the perfect pair to reside.

About Jennifer Kassell:
Jennifer is the Fashion Director and Head Buyer at MyCatwalk.com

Mycatwalk.com is Australia’s leading online designer fashion store. Where MyCatwalk conquered others have followed - it was Australia’s first online boutique – but it still remains the largest e-boutique of it’s kind, attracting over 5 times the traffic of the closest competitor.

MyCatwalk’s Fashion Director Jennifer Kassell brings a wealth of experience in Buying, Fashion, Industry contacts and personal flair to her creative role. With a finger on the pulse of style trends and opportunities in every country, Jennifer has collaborated with the crème de la crème of Australia’s leading fashion designers which has seen her managing projects as far afield as New York, Hong Kong and London, as well as her home town of Sydney. Jennifer has a holistic, hands-on understanding of the Australian Fashion Industry and is regarded by many as a key influencer thanks to her unique personal style – pulling eclectic, casual and chic pieces together in perfect harmony. This is a lady who absorbs fashion in every sense of the word and translates this into key trends for her loyal customers.

Emily Pero

WHO: EMILY PERO
WHAT: PUBLICIST
WHERE: SYDNEY
VISIT: www.evhpr.com

FFF LOVES…  Emily’s style. We would die for her wardrobe and adore this beautiful shot of her by Garance Dore

What are your staples?
Bassike tees, bassike jeans, basically bassike…

What are your indulgences?
Scanlan & Theodore leather pieces and Guiseppe Zanotti shoes

What can’t you live without?
Converse, my leopard print coat and my hooded oversize army jacket.

What is past its use-by-date?
Anything in my fridge

What is your wardrobe craving?
More accessories

About Emily Pero: 
Working in communications for over 6 years, Emily’s area of expertise lies in fashion and the arts. The Senior Publicist at EVH, Emily looks after brands like bassike, Superfine, Ellery & Rachael Ruddick. She is also a communications consultant for Chalk Horse gallery in Sydney - www.chalkhorse.com.au. She has written for various national and international publications and and currently is a contributor to Russh Magazine.  

Faux Fuchsia

WHO: FAUX FUCHSIA
WHAT: BLOGGER (& SOLICITOR)
WHERE: BRISBANE
VISIT: fauxfuchsiastyle.blogspot.com

FFF LOVES… Faux Fuchsia’s witty repartee as she actions her life while reporting on what she’s wearing, eating, cooking and doing.

What are your staples?
Silk frocks with pockets. At last count I owned over 70. I love Chloe, See by Chloe, Milly and Tibi.

What are you indulgences?
My Pucci dresses. If they weren’t so ‘spensive I’d buy tonnes more.

What can’t you live without?
My three YSL clutches from Jean Brown. Functional and beautiful at the same time.

What is past its use-by-date?
Nothing at the moment as I’ve just had a ruthless declutter and given tonnes of things to the Salvation Army and my girlfriends.

What is your wardrobe craving?
By Malene Birger dresses (I wear the ones I own to death and am obsessed with getting my mitts on more) and I’d also like another Missoni scarf.

About Faux Fuchsia:
Faux Fuchsia is a enigmatic, witty, late 30s solicitor from Brisbane who shares tales of her life through her eponymous blog. Originally inspired to blog as a way of keeping in touch with family overseas, Faux Fuchsia now enjoys a loyal following from around the world. Faux Fuchsia endorses good grooming, glamour, blowdried hair, dresses (aka frocks), Barbie nostalgia, decorating, cooking and entertaining, gardening, decluttering, watching movies, reading and thank you notes. Chipped nail polish revolts her.

Moshtahri Hilal

WHO: MOSHTAHRI HILAL
WHAT: BLOGGER & ILLUSTATOR
WHERE: HAMBURG
VISIT: drawingfashionista.blogspot.com

FFF LOVES… this 16 year old fashion maven with a craving for clothes, drawing and all things fashion.

What are your staples?
White T-shirts and high waisted skinny jeans

What are you indulgences?
I´m just 16 and I don´t earn my own money. My expensive pieces are for others bargains.

FFF’s Jane and Elizabeth / illustration by MoshtahriWhat can’t you live without?
Lots of handbags. I hate to have no selection.

What is past its use-by-date?
Status dressing.

What is your wardrobe craving?
The Sophia Coppola Louis Vuitton bag

About Moshtahri:
Moshtahri writes and illustrates her popular blog, thedrawingfashionista, drawing on her love for fashion, poetry and philosophy. She is constantly inspired by fashion luminaries such as Tim Walker, Grace Coddington and designers such as Miu Miu, Celine and Chloe. 

 

Natalie Hughes

WHO: NATALIE HUGHES
WHAT: BLOGGER & ILLUSTATOR
WHERE: LONDON
VISIT: www.cannedfashion.com

FFF LOVES… her quirky yet chic, classic style. We adore her drawings especially those cheeky pugs.

What are your staples?
A brightly coloured coat (my current favourites are a red Aquascutum and bright pink boatneck number - I feel like Jackie O when I wear it!) and my orange Hermes scarf, which I tie to EVERYTHING!

What are your indulgences?
I probably spend the most on shoes and bags - my most recent indulgence was a pair of Chanel ballet pumps. I always think about my purchases in terms of cost-per-wear - those were definitely a good investment! 

What can’t you live without?
My black leather skinnies. I’ve worn them to death! 

What is past its use-by-date?
I have a couple of smock dresses which I probably should have left in 2001 but I can’t bear to part with.

What is your wardrobe craving?
A few more calf-length skater skirts, lots of caramel, and a Burberry trench.

About Natalie Hughes…
Natalie Hughes resides in London together with her buckling wardrobe and imaginary pugs, Margot and Pearl. She works as a writer by day and by night Natalie draws waifish girls in expensive outfits and plays dress up. An average day for Natalie involves stalking Anna Dello Russo, eating several tons of cucumber maki, and talking at length about said imaginary pugs.

photo by Jas Lehal

Paula Walden

WHO: PAULA WALDEN
WHAT: PKW DESIGNS
WHERE: BRISBANE
VISIT: www.paulawalden.com

FFF LOVES… her delightfully quirky and sculptural pieces, created with a clean palette and architectural aesthetic.

What are your staples?
LBD by Jean-Paul Gaultier, in contrast… I adore Therese Rawthorne’s simple slips.

What are your indulgences?
Shoes…

What can’t you live without?
My gold, deco inspired ring I made myself - I would not be me without this piece…I wear it everyday, it’s solidified as part of my identity.

What is past its use-by-date?
Festival shirts I’ve collected over the years… I love how used and worn they’ve become though.

What is your wardrobe craving?
Something red: dress in form… sexy in aspect.

About Paula Walden:
Paula Kyle Walden, aka PKW, designs and creates statement costume jewellery and accessories.

Officially trained as a jeweller, during her apprenticeship Paula was a finalist in the Jewellery Association of Australia’s bi-annual competition. Now fully qualified and with years of experience, she is invited to enter the Harper’s Bazaar Diamond Design Guild Awards annually.

However, this fine-jeweller by trade, is self-confessed as “a designer at heart with a constant intuitive sense of fashion”. She is one year away from graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Art with Fashion at the influential Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and will complement her accessory designs with the launch of her fashion collection in mid-2010.

Paula Kyle Walden launched PKW two years ago and continues to push the boundaries of what is regarded as ‘costume jewellery’.

Identified as promising new talent, PKW has collaborated with fashion designers Gail Sorronda (‘Bird’s of Prey’ collection) and George Wu (2009 bespoke collection); both of which were previewed at Rosemount Australian fashion week and Mercedes Benz Brisbane Fashion Festival.

Each PKW collection embodies a strong emotional narrative. “I dream, I explore, I create and take true happiness, vibrancy and light with it all,” says Paula.

“Desire for jewellery is a conscious wish for any individual to release an expression of whom they aspire to be; each collection is an inner-battle of sorts between one’s mind and heart.”

The uniqueness of Paula’s designs, paired with the fact that all pieces are hand made in Australia; make PKW a highly covetable product.

Rebecca Thompson

WHO: REBECCA THOMPSON
WHAT: FASHION DESIGNER
WHERE: MELBOURNE
VISIT: www.rebeccathompson.com.au

FFF LOVES… her label’s Boho style and use of luxurious fabrics.

What are your staples?
Mother of pearl ring on finger always, glossed lips and Rebecca Thompson plait dress – I have about 4 different versions of this frock, its my no brainer staple.

What are your indulgences?
Two new purchases of Copenhagen’s fabulous D.CO tall suede boots in Texas Taupe and Midnight Blue — just had to have them! I did have a vision when purchasing, knowing they would look great with our latest  collection “Midnight at the Oasis”.

What can’t you live without?
Rebecca Thompson ¾ “Sparkle” jacket, peps up any basic outfit from white jeans and singlet to any plain dress. It’s a saviour.

What is past its use-by-date?
A lot of my basics need to be replaced from sport socks to the long sleeve plain black and white tops.

What is your wardrobe craving?
A new piece of Chelsea De Luca Jewellery — something beautiful and statement making. A new leather jacket to throw over day dresses for winter and a pair Zoe Kratzman tangerine suede pumps… can’t wait to christen them!

About Rebecca Thompson:
Rebecca Thompson, 36, was 18 years old when she joined the fashion industry. After being knocked back the first time (she was knocked back a total of 3 times) from RMIT fashion she studied Art & Design for less than 6 months. Deciding that she had no interest in being  an artist, Rebecca applied for fashion positions. Where she eventually landed a position at a fashion agency.
 
Rebecca later returned to study, but never completed the 4 years P/T Fashion textiles and merchandising degree at MIT (now affiliated with RMIT). After 16 years as a keen observer of behind-the-scenes rag trade action, Rebecca Thompson decided the time was right to bring her own line of deliciously different clothing and accessories into the spotlight.
 
Hence in 2000, whilst residing in Sydney, Rebecca Thompson’s self titled label was born. A month after the label started she moved back to Melbourne and hasn’t looked back since. Her melting pot style and timeless quality has struck a chord with the Australian press and television industry, with the inimitable Rebecca Thompson style being featured in the enormously popular Secret Life of Us, Rove Live and in more than one celebrity marquee at every Spring Racing Carnival since the year 2000.
 
Today Rebecca Thompson live 3 to 4 months in Delhi, with her “Indian family” who have completely adopted her and for the rest of the year she resides at home in Melbourne. Half way through the year, Rebecca Thompson’s label will celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Lydia-Jane Saunders

WHO: LYDIA-JANE SAUNDERS
WHAT: JEWELLERY DESIGNER & STYLIST
WHERE: SYDNEY
VISIT: www.lydiajewels.com www.lydiajanesaunders.com

FFF LOVES… her quirky and colourful jewellery collections.

What are your staples?
Black leggings, colourful tops and sparkly shoes.

What are your indulgences?
My favourite indulgence is my orange and black Gucci Hobo bag and my Matthew Williamson purple coat with bright pink stitching. I can’t wait until winter to wear it again. My third indulgence are shoes — all shoes: heels, flats, boots. A friend calls my spare room The Shoe Room. So true!

What can’t you live without?
Colour. I very rarely wear all black. Also jewellery.

What is past its use-by-date?
A lot of my wardrobe as I’m a hoarder. My mother had amazing clothes that I would wear today had she not thrown them out. I’d like to keep my precious clothes for my future daughter.

What is your wardrobe craving?
Paul and Joe has the most amazing purple backless dress with silver adornments on the shoulders. It is divine but I am on a self imposed spending ban for a few months!

About Lydia-Jane Saunders:
Lydia-Jane Saunders is a Sydney based contemporary jewellery designer and fashion stylist who also regularly travels to London. Her work covers Fashion and Beauty publications, Celebrity portraiture, Designer look books, Advertising, Stock Photography, Fashion catwalk shows and Still Life/Props.

Lydia-Jane is the creator and producer of her self-titled label. Lydia has always had a love of fashion and accessories. She started a jewellery label at 20 years of age before relocating to London to be a Fashion Stylist. Whilst Lydia is now back home and regarded as one of Sydney’s great stylists, it was only a natural leap back into jewellery. She believes a career in Styling and Jewellery very much complement each other.

Her label is inspired by her love of the fine things in life and her exceptional eye for detail. Throughout her life Lydia has been fortunate enough to live in Sydney, London and Luxembourg. These experiences and travel have helped develop her creative flair and eye for beauty.

Sauling Kan

WHO: SAULING KAN
WHAT: CLIENT MANAGER, LANDOR ASSOCIATES
WHERE: HONG KONG
VISIT: www.landor.com

FFF LOVES… her incredibly eclectic sensibility and style.

What are your staples?
The little black dress, Comme des Garçons ruffle cotton dress, Dolce & Gabbana and Martin Margiela dress; Calvin Klein skinny jeans; heels: Marni wedges, Louis Vuitton black patent tall boots, Christian Louboutin gold ankle wrap platform and anything by Giuseppe Zanotti; and lots of accessories — vintage, sparkling or oversized jewellery, cashmere scarves and wraps (essential for travelling), big belts and anything animal print especially leopard.

It’s definitely worthwhile to invest a bit more for quality, craftsmanship and comfort.

“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” Coco Chanel.

What are your indulgences?
Shoes, shoe cabinet, python and crocodile handbags and clutches.

What can’t you live without?
My shoes, Oliver Peoples sunglasses, Ports 1961 metal and lace necklace, vintage diamond ring (from my godmother) and vintage pearl ring (from my mother).

What is past its use-by-date?
Many things including my 20 year old polka dot dress. Perhaps it’s time to get rid of it, let someone have it or  “deconstruct n reconstruct” some of my favourite ‘old’ things.

What is your wardrobe craving?
Hermès bone necklace, Lanvin cocktail dress and Zagliani metallic python clutch.

About Sauling Kan:
Sauling Kan is a senior client manager with Landor Associates, one of the world’s leading strategic brand and creative design consultancies

Elizabeth Harrison

WHO: ELIZABETH HARRISON
WHAT: LUXURY, FASHION & LIFESTYLE EXPERT AND CO-FOUNDER OF HARRISON & SHRIFTMAN
WHERE: NEW YORK
VISIT: www.hs-pr.com

FFF LOVES… The essential ‘Party Confidential’ series by Elizabeth and her business partner Lara Shriftman. Don’t plan anything until you have read these bibles!

What are your staples?
Tory Burch, Club Monaco, DVF Dresses, Theory, J Crew, J Brand, Seven Jeans

What are your indulgences?
Christian Louboutin, YSL, Peter Som, CRUMBS Red Velvet Cupcakes (FFF notes: think rich cream cheese frosting, topped with red velvet crumbs and edged with white sprinkles). 

What can’t you live without?
My Blackberry!

What is past its use-by-date?
Mini skirts

What is your wardrobe craving?
A Victoria Beckham dress, and a Gilles Mendel sheared mink coat.

About Elizabeth Harrison:
Luxury, fashion and lifestyle expert Elizabeth Harrison co-founded Harrison & Shriftman in 1995. The agency specializes in public relations, marketing and events for high-profile luxury brands. Harrison & Shriftman currently has 50 employees spanning three offices in New York, Los Angeles and Miami.

Over the years, Elizabeth has assisted in building world-class brands that include Juicy, Jimmy Choo, W Hotels, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas and Grey Goose. Harrison & Shriftman’s impressive client list continues to expand its reach within the global market.

A 2002 top entrepreneurial leader in Inc. magazine’s list of 500 fastest growing private companies, Harrison & Shriftman joined Omnicom Group, the world’s largest communication company in 2003.

Prior to co-founding Harrison & Shriftman, Elizabeth, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, studied abroad in Paris with the College’s prestigious Reid Hall program. After a year of extensive travel abroad, Elizabeth began her career in editorial. Working at publications that included Elle and Worth, Elizabeth gained extensive experience across all aspects of the industry.

Following a position as an Assistant Location Manager on the Oscar Award-Winning film Forrest Gump, Elizabeth began her storied career in public relations. She landed a coveted position with Peggy Siegal, where she played an integral part in creating and executing exclusive, star-studded events surrounding theatrical releases.

After executing numerous noteworthy events with Harrison & Shriftman, Elizabeth and Lara parlayed their entertaining expertise into co-authoring several books. Their four successful books have garnered press in notable media outlets such as Departures, Glamour, The New York Post and The Today Show. A line of Party Confidential products was launched on HSN in September, 2007.

Elizabeth is an active supporter of numerous charitable organizations. She has served on the board of Love Heals the Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education for over ten years, and has continued her involvement with the Step Up Network as part of the organization’s Luminary Circle.

Elizabeth is often invited to share her luxury branding insights at high-profile conferences and summits. In April of 2008, Elizabeth lent her expertise in luxury as a panelist at Harvard Business School’s Retail & Luxury Goods conference. She has also served as a panelist for Step Up Women’s Network’s “View from the Top” seminar and was invited to Harvard’s Dynamic Women in Business conference to speak on an entrepreneurship panel. Recent conference highlights include speaking at Columbia’s Women in Business conference, Wall Street Journal’s Insight Exchange Panels in Washington D.C. and Las Vegas and Mercedes- Benz Fashion Festival “Fashion Forum” in Brisbane Australia.

Elizabeth currently resides in New York with her real estate developer husband Keith Schwebel and their two young daughters Charlotte and Georgia.

Chelsea Sutrisno

WHO: CHELSEA SUTRISNO
WHAT: DESIGNER
WHERE: NEW YORK
VISIT: www.chelseasutrisno.com

FFF LOVES… her clean, mean NY-style. Plus we ADORE black. Easy peasy fashion-easy. 

What are your staples?
Everything black! LNA leggings, a long t-shirt and a DKNY cozy. There are literally 20 ways to wear the cozy. It looks like you’re wearing a different outfit everyday, but you’re not.

What are you indulgences?
Christian Louboutin.

What can’t you live without?
Good food, my Blackberry and my Hunter rainboots. It rained today and I can’t imaging walking around without them.

What is past its use-by-date?
My Tory Burch flats, there’s a hole on the sole. I think it’s time to buy new ones but it just takes so long to break them in!

What is your wardrobe craving?
Boots. Either ankle boots or thigh-high boots for going out and a pair of Balenciaga flats.

About Chelsea  Sutrisno:
Chelsea Sutrisno is an up-and-coming contemporary designer based in New York City. Chelsea spent her childhood in Jakarta, Indonesia, and then moved to Los Angeles in her early teens. An alum of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, she holds a Degree in Fashion Design.  Her experience in the fashion industry includes work with BCBG Max Azria Group, Chanel and the Gucci group. In late 2009, she launched the Chelsea Sutrisno label.

Influenced by both the laid-back attitude of Los Angeles and the edginess of New York City, Chelsea aims to provide simple yet modern style. The label is defined by its sleek black silhouettes and seeks to change the concept of black on black by juxtaposing handpicked fabrics of various textures. Chelsea Sutrisno is forward, versatile and refined.

Rachel Gilbert

WHO: RACHEL GILBERT
WHAT: FASHION DESIGNER
WHERE: SYDNEY
VISIT: www.rachelgilbertsydney.com

FFF LOVES.. to peruse net-a-porter.com for her chic and feminine designs. The perfect dress for the ultimate FFF!

What are your staples?
My Gucci tattoo flats, my new boyfriend jeans from Bergdorf Goodman’s, and my basic white t-shirt’s. It may as well be my uniform. This look is my year round look, update the jeans every 6 months to stay on trend, change up your accessories consistently and the look will never date!

What are your indulgences?
My Alexander McQueen jewelled heels.

What can’t you live without?
My Gucci chain necklace, I wear it everyday and goes with everything! It is now discontinued, so I would die if I lost it!

What is past its use-by-date?
Nothing! I clear out my wardrobe every 3 months with clothes I haven’t worn in the last 3 months! This way my look is always updated with new pieces but consistent with classic pieces!

What is your wardrobe craving?
Printed Day Dresses… Owning a label that is mostly eveningwear is fantastic for when I go out at night, I have 100’s of dresses to choose from but day is limited, you just can’t go wrong with a beautiful printed day dress! I just bought an amazing Diane Von Furstenberg printed jersey maxi…

About Rachel:
With luxury embellishments as her personal hallmark, five celebrated high-end collections under her belt, and a cluster of A-list stars clamouring to wear her red-carpet creations, Designer Rachel Gilbert on course to become a leading fashion figure in Australia and across the globe.

With an enviable reputation achieved in an incredibly short time, Rachel Gilbert began honing her design skills in 2001 with iconic Australian label Lisa Ho – a role she walked into fresh from training at the Whitehouse Institute of Design. From there she was headhunted as Head Designer at Nicky Hilton’s label Chick, a position which saw Rachel splitting her time between LA and New York to promoting the high profile brand among key buyers in the US fashion industry. After two years with Chick, Rachel headed back to her homeland for the role of Womenswear Designer at Morrissey, with vast experience, industry contacts and a head full of ideas to break into the fashion world with her eponymous label.

Having previously shown her first collection at Mercedes Australia Fashion Week in 2002, Rachel Gilbert Sydney was relaunched at RAFW with her luxury designs evoking critical acclaim and leaving the fashion industry anticipating her next move.

Now based in Surry Hills, Rachel Gilbert Sydney has taken the world by storm – her collections are sold on the biggest online designer store Net-A-Porter alongside legendary labels such as Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen, the designs are stocked in 80 boutiques and e-stores throughout Australia, and Gilbert’s reputation is riding high in the northern hemisphere with stockists in the UK, Greece, France, USA, and Italy to name a few.

And the future is looking even brighter for this self-made fashion maven; US songstress Taylor Swift chose a Rachel Gilbert dress for a recent Sydney film premiere, Aussie TV personality Natalie Bassingthwaighte consistently requests Rachel Gilbert for her glamorous photo shoots and TV appearances, Rachel has branched out from evening wear to include casual daytime pieces such as knitwear and leather, with her forthcoming collection featuring cotton dresses maxi dresses, and leopard print garments, and in September Rachel will be joining the ranks of Comme de Garcons, Roberto Cavalli, and Stella McCartney, collaborating with Sportsgirl to create a diffusion collection for the high street store.

Francene Storie

WHO: FRANCENE STORIE
WHAT: INTERNATIONAL FASHIONISTA
WHERE: HONG KONG

FFF LOVES… Her supermodel-esque style, long glammy locks and legs, and uber-luxe styling. She is a master shopper that parts crowds and can sniff out the most delicious finds in a fashion-second. 

What are your staples?
Serfontaine skinnny jeans, Loeffler Randall Matilde flat boots and t-bags maxi dresses.

What are your indulgences?
My collection of Hermes enamal bracelets, Missoni kaftans and my Herve Leger bandage dress.  

What can’t you live without?
My J Brand jeans.

What is past its use-by-date?
10 year old very worn Prada boots!

What is your wardrobe craving?
Loeffler Randall knee high boots and a vintage fur vest.

About Francene Storie:
Australian born and bred, Francene is based in Hong Kong and travels around the globe frequently seeking out the most beautiful fashion and accessories to be found.