cant buy it? then rent it!

Vainglorious Aussie fashionastas with champagne tastes but coca-cola pockets can now afford a taste of luxury by renting designer items, just like their American counterparts. 
American website, bagborroworsteal.com, who founded the original concept of "rentable luxury" gained enormous publicity after being featured in the first "Sex and the City" film by Carrie Bradshaw's assistant, played by Jennifer Hudson. 

Australia quickly jumped on the bandwagon with the launch of loveme&leaveme, offering a similar service that rents out authentic designer bags, jewellery and accessories at weekly and monthly rates. The company has now also opened a boutique in Armadale Victoria, so clients can see the stock up and close for themselves. 

If renting is not your thing, you can also buy the 'lightly used' designer products at a reduced price, although for the better known designers, you'll still be looking at about $1500.

I'm sure I'm not the only one crossing my fingers to be invited to some grand event that will require a lux item hanging off my arm. Especially since at the moment, they are offering $100 off rental and $50 off purchase.... (shivers of excitement)

http://www.lovemeandleaveme.com/

"Romance was Born" highlights from the Rosemount Australian fashion week 2010

Some favorites from "Romance Was Born Spring Summer Collection shown as part of Rosemount Australian Fashion week in 2010. You just have to admire the eccentric, fantasy embeddded crafting of these outfits which are borderline kitsch yet masterfully creative. (photos from news.com.au)

"Romance Was Born is the product of Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales. The result is a crazy, fantasy fashion label for both men & women that combine eccentric pointless style with hand detailed features. Romance Was Born is not simply a clothing label, but rather a clothing experience. The technical pattern-making and over the top embellished designs create a playful yet professional fashion label that is Romance Was Born.

Anna and Luke seemed destined for success together, after meeting at East Sydney Fashion College, both studying fashion. The duo graduated and were selected to attend The Fourth International Support Awards in Italy. This is where the fun really began, as Anna and Luke turned down prestigious internship offerings from Galliano, to carve their own paths – Romance Was Born.

Romance Was Born is set apart from other fashion labels for the core reason that the label continues to combine elements of art, costume, theme and quality to create clothing collections that are best defined as wearable art that is now highly regarded and demanded.

Like any successful Australian fashion label, Romance Was Born has dressed the celebrities including individual pieces for music superstars Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Lilly Allen, MIA, and twin duo The Veronicas. Unsurprisingly, Romance Was Born has and will continue to be a hit at the annual Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. In 2009, Romance Was Born collaborated with Sportsgirl to release a one-off twelve piece wardrobe collection named Clownin Around". 

(excerpt of article taken from fashion review.com.au)

Blake Lively, the new face of CHANEL's Mademoiselle hand-bag line

picture from http://chanel-news.chanel.com

"Gossip Girl" star and rising hollywood starlet, Blake Lively has been selected to be the face of CHANEL's new mademoiselle handbag line campaign which will be photographed by Karl Lagerfeld himself. 
 
"She's a kind of American dream girl," said Lagerfeld. "I think she will become a great actress. It [the shoot] was an easy job because everyone fell in love with her."

As reported by vogue.uk, Lively and Lagerfeld were introduced by Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue US during Couture fashion week in July last year.

"How did Cinderella feel when she slipped on the glass slipper? How did Snow White feel when she met her Prince Charming?" Lively says. "A dream come true is an understatement. I can say that I feel like the happiest, luckiest girl around."

"I will always feel [the bag] is more than just a purse," she tells WWD. "It's a quilted case full of lipstick, love letters and the dreams and possibilities that I have always felt every time I see that beautiful CC."

Lively will join the other famous faces to have starred in Chanel campaigns including Lily Allen, Nicole Kidman, Audrey Tautou, Vanessa Paradis and Diane Kruger. The campaign will be released in mid-march 2011.

Artist Obsession: "Phoks"

came across these flashy mixed media fashion illustrations by "phoks", just thought i would spread the love.

 http://www.phoks.fr/